Clearance in Detecting Skin Cancer and Curing It

By Adhirath Bollapragada


Published: October 4th, 2013
Author: Gaurav Krishnamurthy


Source: http://www.medgadget.com/2013/10/esteya-system-for-skin-cancer-treatment-gets-fda-510k-clearance.html


Summary:
        
         Skin cancer is one of the most common cases of cancer, combined with incidents with the breast, lung, prostate, and colon. Even though one of the main forms to cure and treat skin cancer is surgery, research has found an alternative way in which skin cancer can be treated and cured; Electronic Brachytherapy. In addition, High Dose Rate (HDR) are alternatives to treating skin cancer, but a third way has been cleared. The Esteya system uses a click on applicator and easily maneuverable, using high LED brightness. As a result, the time it takes to complete the treatment is very short. In addition, the Esteya system can be used anywhere, as it requires minimal shielding and is highly portable. A tungsten applicator shield protects healthy tissue from excessive radiation exposure. Also, the Esteya system lowers the patient lines. This all seems like advertisement, but the Esteya system is mainly used for areas on the human body where it is dangerous to undergo surgery in. The Esteya system is especially relevant for cancers of the nose, ears, eyelids or lips, where surgery may cause disfigurement or require extensive reconstruction. 

Connection:
        Even though this is a complicated article, consisting of a video as well, it touches upon the role of a cell in the human body and how dangerous any type of cancer can be. Cancer is an excess of cells in the human body, concentrated or not, in which cells do not undergo mitosis and have a function in the body. There are many types of cancer; brain cancer, breast cancer, etc. However, this article connects to the unit about cells because it focuses on the importance of the cell cycle; most importantly mitosis. Mitosis is a phase when the parent cell doubles its chromosomes to distribute to the two daughter cells that will form later on. But when cells keep reproducing and do not die, increasing a concentration of cells in one area or all over the body, known as a malignant tumor,  it is known as cancer. The cells don't function in a way to help the body, and do not maintain a balance within the body too. So, this article talks about another way in which skin cancer can be cured. This is just only a small accomplishment in curing cancer, but there are many more to come. 

Skin cancer associated with lower risk of developing Alsheimer's

May 16, 2013

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/16/skin-cancer-associated-with-lower-risk-developing-alzheimers-study-finds/

Summary

Albert Einstein College of Medicine recently conducted a study to observe the relationship between non-melanoma skin cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Richard Lipton theorized that cancer's constant cell division would protect against the death of specific groups of cells characteristic of Alzheimer's. Lipton gathered and observed 1,102 people averaging 79 years old for around 3.7 years. Originally, no one had been diagnosed with dementia and 109 individuals had been diagnosed in the past. By the end of the study, 126 people developed dementia (100 were Alzheimer's) and 141 people had developed skin cancer. Only two people with skin cancer also developed Alzheimer's. This implied that people with skin cancer were 80% less likely to develop Alzheimer's. Currently, it is unknown why non-melanoma skin cancer actually reduces the likeliness of developing Alzheimer's.

Connection

This article relates to our study of the human body systems because both skin cancer and Alzheimer's disease impair the functions of the important body systems. Skin cancer affects the Integumentary system that protects the internal organs important to human survival. Alzheimers affects the central nervous system that receives, processes, and sends signals to the peripheral nervous system.