A new technology has now given doctors the ability to see cancer cells easier while they operate.

According to Huffington Post, Dr. Samuel Achilefu, who is a professor of Radiology at Washington University, developed the amazing technology. Achilefu focuses on how to catch the entirety of the cancer cells and how much tissue needs to be removed.

Most doctors find differentiating between healthy and cancer cells can be hard, so in a regular lumpectomy, they remove part of the breast to treat the cancer. That will also include removing healthy cells and sadly, even with all their precaution, 25% of patients need redo their procedure to remove more cancerous tissue.

With this new technology, they can now inject patient with a type of dye that attaches to the cancer cells. The glasses are then used through an infrared light and it allows the surgeon to see the abnormal cells glowing.

"The primary goal of the technology is to make sure that the surgeon does not operate in the blind, it's to make the cancer cells light up like Christmas trees," said Achilefu.

As of now, the glasses are used on skin and breast cancer patients but they hope one day it can be used to remove a variety of cancer cells. This is definitely a step forward to a brighter future for people diagnosed with cancer.

 

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