Breast Cancer Detected Early by Gas-filled Silica Sphere Markers

Breast cancer tumours an be located by microscopic gas-filled spheres of silica developed by chemists, radiologists, and surgeons at the University of California, San Diego.

It could also reduce the need for second surgeries and minimize pre-surgical discomfort for patients.

Breast Cancer - Causes, Risks, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Staging, Treatment, Prevention & Prognosis
Breast cancer is a cancer that affects the breasts or mammary glands. Early detection and lifestyle changes help in controlling breast cancer.

Researchers created spheres of silica and filled them with perfluoropentane, a gas that has been used before in short-lived contrast materials for medical imaging.

"These little gas-filled microbubbles stick to human breast tissue for days and can be seen with ultrasound. If doctors placed them in early stage breast cancer, which is difficult to see during surgery, they could help surgeons remove all of it in the first operation," said William Trogler.

"Instead of just using a Geiger-counterlike device to say you're getting closer to the radioactive seed, you could actually see where to carve," said Andrew Kummel.

Breast Cancer - Prevention and Management with Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle choices may or may not cause breast cancer but healthy lifestyle changes can open up avenues beyond breast cancer. Good habits will allow one to fight breast cancer and to live with dignity.

It could also help surgeons remove non-palpable tumours in a single operation, said Sarah Blair, a surgeon at Moores UCSD Cancer Center.

The find is reported in the forthcoming issue of the journal MedChemComm.

Breast Lumps Screening
Breast lumps must never be neglected but instead be subjected to medical examination to rule out cancer.

Source-ANI

Interesting Facts About Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and in 2020 and nearly 2.3 million breast cancers were diagnosed globally.