New Microwave Therapy Could Reduce Mastectomies

Researchers from university of Oklahoma have found a novel method that not only destroys a large number of cancer cells but also cuts down the need for mastectomies by 90%.The new therapy known as Focused Microwave Thermotherapy makes use of microwave technology to combat cancer cells.The technique was tested on tumors in the range of 1 inch to 1.5 inches that often require mastectomy. When the heating therapy was used within two hours of patients receiving chemotherapy, the tumors shrunk rapidly. The percentage of patients needing mastectomies using the new therapy was reduced from 75 percent to 7 percent.

This research initiated by Dr. William Dooley, who led a group of researchers at the Oklahoma school, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, the Comprehensive Breast Center in Florida and St. Joseph’s Hospital in California. The findings of the study will be published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology.Dr.williams believes that this new therapy could be a blessing for end stage breast cancer patients who are the one often subject to mastectomies. The therapy has been approved by the FDA and will begin the next phase of clinical trials this year for test on even larger tumors.