Scorpion Venom: A New Cure for Treating Brain Tumor

In the field of medicine, brain surgery is considered as one of the most delicate operations, which is performed by surgeons. But with the help of latest research it has been found that this job is no more difficult as physicians soon could be able to paint tumors that will help in increasing the visibility of tumors. All this would be possible with the help of nature's deadliest venoms of Scorpions.

Since ages doctors are removing cancer, which is the only way to remove it. No doubt, dealing with brain tumors is often tricky as the surgery can be difficult; it requires an expert eye and steady hand to remove all of the cancer.

After decades of intense research, scientists are successful in developing a molecule that illuminates cancer cells, which is developed by using scorpion venom. This molecule will surely help surgeons navigate delicate brain operations.

Dr. James Olson is the man behind the development of the molecule which will turn tumor cells radioactive. Once he was questioned about his future plans by one of his professors then he told that he wants to deliver light to cancer which means that he wants to develop something that helps in making cancer cells shine so that they can be easily identified.

The goal behind creating the molecule is to navigate tricky tumors-removing surgeries in real time. Not only was this the main purpose of the creation but also it is developed to guide new therapies for breast, brain, skin, prostate, colon and other cancers.

The scorpion venom connects itself to cells that are not healthy and provides surgeons a "flashlight" to identify the tumorous cells, which eventually make it much easier for them to perform the surgery.

The occurrence of brain tumor and intracranial neoplasm is associated with the formation of abnormal cells within the brain. However, there are two main types of brain tumors, one is malignant or cancerous and the other is benign tumors. Almost all types of brain tumors develop certain symptoms that vary according to the part of the brain involved. The symptoms include vomiting, headaches, problem with vision, seizures and mental changes.

The causes of majority of brain tumors are still unidentified. However, some risk factors may occasionally be involved which include ionizing radiation, Epstein-Barr virus and number of genetic syndromes such as exposure to the chemical vinyl chloride. For the treatment of tumors several things are used in combination such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Brain Tumor Cancer Types And Treatment Options

Brain cancer is a disease in which particular cells in the brain grow and form a mass that interferes with the general functioning of the brain like muscle control, sensation, memory and such other functions that help you control your body. Tumors that are made up of cancerous cells grow and spread to other parts of the brain. These are called malignant tumors. Those tumors that are non cancerous, do not spread and are basically localized. These are called benign tumors. Primary tumors are those that develop in the brain cells. Secondary tumors are those that develop in other parts of the body and then spread to the brain. These are also called as metastatic tumors.

Brain cancer grades

There are four different classifications of brain cancers:

Grade I - Benign tumors with a slow growth rate. Look like normal brain cells.

Grade II - Malignant tumors that look less normal than Grade I tumors.

Grade III - Malignant tumors that look very different from normal cells. They grow actively and look distinctly abnormal.

Grade IV - Malignant tumors with distinctly abnormal looking cells that grow and spread rapidly.

Brain tumor cancer treatment

Brain cancer treatment approach is customized as per individual diagnosis. The treatments depend on the cancer type, the location in the brain, the size of the tumor and the age and general health of the patient.

The treatment options for brain tumors are categorized as surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. As per individual diagnosis, a combination of any of the above mentioned methods is used.

With surgery, the tumor is cut away from normal tissues. This is an invasive approach to treat cancer. The other two methods are non invasive. Radiation therapy helps destroy the tumor with high energy radiation that is focused on the tumor to destroy the cells. It destroys the ability of the tumor to replicate and spread. Generally X - Rays or Gamma rays are used for this purpose. The radiation is highly focused and does not affect the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor.

In chemotherapy, certain drugs and medicines are used to destroy the tumor causing cells. There are many types of drugs used. These drugs are designed to fight different types of cancer cells. The entire procedure keeps the healthy cells safe from the effects of the drugs.

Some tumors are declared as inoperable because, surgically removing them can negatively impact other parts of the brain. The surgeon takes this call. However, it is very important to understand that one surgeon may declare a tumor inoperable, but another surgeon may be able to operate it. It's a good idea to take a few opinions before giving up.

Other treatment options may include heat treatments and immunotherapy. For all the procedures mentioned, there are some side effects. With surgery, there could be swelling, a possible damage to healthy tissues or seizures. With chemotherapy, patients can experience nausea, vomiting, hair loss and low energy levels. Radiation therapy is known to have similar side effects as chemotherapy.

Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital in India which providing surgical and non surgical treatments for all types of cancers including brain tumor cancer treatment and shares information to awareness of treatment options for brain cancer.

Did the Power of Prayer or Pembrolizumab Cure Former President Jimmy Carter?

Former US president Jimmy Carter announced his brain cancer has disappeared, but is it due to a miracle or a medical miracle?

In August 2015 former President Carter had elective surgery to remove a tumor on his liver. As a part of the process a scan discovered four spots on his brain. The diagnosis was stage IV melanoma. Stage IV melanoma is a kind of cancer that starts in the cells that produce the pigment that gives your skin its color, known as melanocytes. A stage IV diagnosis means it has spread via the bloodstream, or through the lymphatic system, to other areas of the body. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that approximately 76,160 cases of melanoma (also referred to as malignant melanoma) were diagnosed in the United States in 2014. While melanoma accounts for only approximately 5% of skin cancer cases, it is estimated to be responsible for the vast majority of skin cancer deaths. The prognosis is generally not good for a person diagnosed with stage IV melanoma, especially one that has spread to the liver and the brain. The overall 5-year survival rate is about 15% to 20%, depending on the age and overall health of the person. The median survival is 6-10 months. The traditional course of treatment is surgery to remove tumors, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and more recently, clinical trials, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. However, these numbers may be changing as the newer immunotherapy and targeted therapy have led to important improvements in patient outcomes. Recently an immunotherapy treatment made the news when it arrested acute lymphoblastic leukemia, saving the life of an infant in the UK.

Pembrolizumab breakthrough treatment

Former President Jimmy Carter was given a new breakthrough treatment Pembrolizumab. Pembrolizumab is sold under the brand name Keytruda and was developed by Merck & Co., Inc. in the United States. In September 2014 it was one of the first immunotherapy drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Instead of killing cancer cells, immunotherapy drugs are designed to boost the body's immune system to fight cancer. Pembrolizumab is a monoclonal antibody. Recent studies involving Pembrolizumab have shown the drug has increased overall survival of melanoma patients. Although the long term outlook is still unknown, it is only thought to extend survival in patients and not necessarily be a cure.

Science Proves the Healing Power of Prayer

It's no secret that former President Jimmy Carter is a devout man. Carter was born and raised in Plains, Georgia as a Southern Baptist. He continued his religious beliefs into adulthood. He attends church everywhere he travels, teaches Sunday school, performs missionary work and is known to pray every day. Prayer groups around the world have undoubtedly been praying for the healing of the former President, along with his family and friends. For the devout, there never has been any question that prayer has the power to heal, but others are skeptical and want scientific proof. Current research from leading hospitals and universities across the U.S. has shown conclusively a belief in God really is good for you, making you healthier and happier, and helping you live longer. Prayer is a practice that reaches across all religions, and even to those who do not believe in a deity. "Studies have shown prayer can prevent people from getting sick - and when they do get sick, prayer can help them get better faster," Duke University's Harold G. Koenig, M.D., states. An extensive review of more than 1,500 reputable medical studies "indicates people who are more religious and pray more have better mental and physical health." And out of 125 studies that looked at the link between health and regular worship, 85 showed regular churchgoers live longer. A CNN poll concluded that 73% of Americans believe in the power of prayer. Research that primarily focused on the power of prayer in healing has almost doubled in the last decade.