'Heat maps' find cervical cancer

Posted by Neill Abayon

A new test that uses heat to examine blood can be used to detect cancer, according to US scientists. 

The "plasma thermogram" examines the proteins inside blood, including those produced by tumours.
A study, in the journal Plos One, showed the test could detect cervical cancer and how advanced it was.
Cancer Research UK said thermograms might improve detection, but more evidence on the accuracy and reliability was needed.

Screening for cervical cancer currently involves a looking for abnormal cells in a smear test and detecting high-risk viruses that can cause the disease.

The study, at the University of Louisville, used the plasma thermogram technology to analyse blood samples.
The sample will respond differently to heat depending on the types of proteins contained in the blood. It results in a thermogram - like a fingerprint - of the protein content.

The system was tested on 67 women with different stages of the cervical cancer to see if it could detect the differences between the patients and healthy people.

More here.


 

Gardasil Is Dangerous As Well As Unproven

Posted by Neill Abayon

Gardasil, A Vaccine Being Forced On Young Girls, Is Dangerous As Well As Unproven

Merck's Gardasil vaccine is supposed to prevent young women from getting cervical cancer. Now the FDA has approved a claim for two less common cancers as well.

Gardasil really prevents some (but not all) of the genital warts that may lead to cervical and other cancers. This leads to the supposition that it will also prevent cancer. Whether it will actually prevent cancer is unknown.

Partly because three painful and expensive ($375) shots are required, Merck's marketing plan has been to persuade state legislators to make the shot mandatory. Company money has flowed to governors and legislatures to make this happen.

As of July, the federal government's Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System has received over 9,700 reports of problems since the vaccine's introduction in 2006. These include paralysis, seizures, and miscarriage. Twenty deaths have been reported although the government has not acknowledged a link yet.

Read the full article here.