Vanderbilt Medical Center logo Painful biopsies have to be conducted in an attempt to diagnose potential skin cancer in patients. The researchers at the Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, have come up with their latest invention, a sensor that detects skin cancer minus the biopsy requirement.

It is predicted that an estimated one in every three person in the United States may get affected with Basal Cell or Squamous Cell cancer. The Basal cell and Squamous cell cancer are said to be the most commonly occurring forms of cancer in people. It is also stated that annually about 7000 people get victimized and die from the fatal melanoma cancer.

Skin cancer is believed to be most affected by light skin colored people, who are highly exposed to the sun for a long period of time.

Skin cancer is a disease, where malignant cells are discovered in the outer layers of the skin. Skin cancer can be caused due to many factors, namely, excessive sun exposure; other factors include hereditary and environmental factors.

In order to skip the painful procedure of biopsies for skin cancer diagnosis, these research scientists have come up with their breakthrough invention. They are said to have developed a sensor that has the ability to detect carcinoma, cancer causing agents within a patient’s skin. This detection is said to be based on how light is attenuated when it passes through a patient’s skin.

This breakthrough invention is believed to have the capability to modify skin cancer diagnosis. This hand-held device is a non-invasive cancer scanner. It diagnoses skin lesions on a patient, without the patient having to go through avoidable biopsies. The traditional method of biopsies include the cutting out or biopsy of the affected area in order to test for cancer. Such biopsies can now evidently be avoided with the introduction of this latest cancer scanner device, which promises a painless skin cancer diagnosis.

The risk of developing skin cancer may be avoidable in certain cases.

  • Reduction in excessive exposure to direct sun rays.
  • Effective use of sunscreens is also suggested.
  • Wear appropriate clothing that adequately protects and shields the body from harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.

    • Barb Cramer, the Director of Video News Services, has the story in the Vanderbilt Medical Center video release.