Q. Cancer is prevalent in our family and I live in fear both for my 75-year-old mother as well as myself. My father died recently of cancer and my mother has been struggling with depression and her own fears about getting breast cancer, the disease that killed her mother. Is there any new research out on cancer detection?
Coincidentally, a University of Missouri researcher is developing a tiny sensor, known as an acoustic resonant sensor, which is smaller than a human hair and could test bodily fluids for a variety of diseases, including breast and prostate cancers.
“Our ultimate goal is to produce a device that will simply and quickly diagnose multiple specific diseases, and eventually be used to create ‘point of care’ systems, which are services provided to patients at their bedsides,” said Researcher Jae Kwon. “The sensor has strong commercial potential to be manifested as simple home kits for easy, rapid and accurate diagnosis of various diseases, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer.”
This could mean good news on the horizon for your family. Also, April is National Cancer Control Month, sponsored by the American Cancer Society – a great time to focus on habits that can improve the health of you and your family.
“Healthy personal habits can reduce the risk of cancer,” wrote President Barack Obama in last year’s monthly proclamation. “Smoking accounts for thousands of cancer deaths every year, and quitting – even after many years – can greatly reduce the risk of cancer.
“Physical inactivity and obesity may cause a substantial proportion of colon, breast, endometrial, kidney and esophageal cancers in the United States, so maintaining physical activity and a healthy diet can help prevent cancer, among other diseases. Finally, moderating alcohol intake and sun exposure can help protect Americans.”
Attitude can play an important role as well in staying healthy. Perhaps your mother is in need of companionship since the passing of your father. Why not contact Home Instead Senior Care to find out how a CAREGiver could keep your mom working toward a healthy life.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, log on to www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the home detector kit, log on to http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2010/0217-small-liquid-sensor-may-detect-cancer-instantly-could-lead-to-home-detection-kit/.
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