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July 24, 2008 11:29:35 PM CDT

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Predicting Cancer Is All in Your Head

Posted Apr 14, 08 1:28 PM CDT in Science & Health 

(Newser) – A simple test on cells from the mouth could help doctors predict which smokers will develop lung cancer, Reuters reports. In a test group, 95% of subjects with the genetic damage associated with cancer in their lungs had the same damage in their mouths.

A reliable test could spare patients invasive lung biopsies. "We are talking about just a brushing inside of the cheek to get the same information we would from lung brushings obtained through bronchoscopy," said one of the researchers.

Source Reuters

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Using Riverain's OnGuard Chest X-ray CAD technology to detect suspicious nodules that may be early-stage lung cancer is another early-diagnosis tool, though mouth swabs would be even less invasive.   (AP Photo)
Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, although only about 10% of people who smoke develop the disease.   (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
The ability to use a mouth test to diagnose lung cancer may diminish the need for more involved (and potentially dangerous) procedures.   (KRT Photos)
Damage to genes in cheek cells like these indicated similar damage in lung cells in a study at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.   (University of Wisconsin)
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cancer  • smoking  • medical breakthrough  • lung cancer  • University of Texas


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