Device cures leukemia in tests
Story By: Bea Karnes
Source: NBC
A Florida man says he may have found the cure for cancer. Leukemia sufferer John Kanzius has invented a device that draws rapid heat from radio frequencies and uses nanoparticles to take out cancer cells.
"I think sharing with the public gives people a chance to make up their own minds," said Kanzius. The invention just needs some financial backing, roughly $8 million. With that money the treatment could be ready for human trials by 2010.
Animal trials have already shown success. Kanzius says the nanoparticles enter the cancer cells. Those cells are then exposed to radioactive frequencies, they heat up, and then die in minutes while leaving healthy cells intact.
"This is very exciting to me to see new things come up, and maybe some things that don't include chemotherapy," said breast cancer patient Susan Cooley. Since November, Cooley has undergone short chemo sessions every week for her breast cancer.
"I think the toughest part was losing my hair. Isn't that silly? That's silly, but it's so true. And it's so insignificant when I look at the whole scope of everything. But to me that was a big deal," said Cooley. She knows her biggest issue at hand is winning the battle against cancer.
Researchers need to find out exactly who will be a candidate for the homemade treatment. Many cannot be helped with standard therapies and doctors say it's way too early to even think about compiling a waiting list.
"I don't want to provide false hope. You can't take somebody who literally is in their final weeks and treat something like this. You just can't do that," said cancer researcher Dr. Steven Curley.
Right now, researchers are testing the device on seven types of cancer. They estimate it will be six years before they know if the equipment fully works, but they guarantee they can cut that time in half if more money is donated.
