A new device is helping put a cap on the growth of deadly brain tumors called glioblastomas, which kills most patients within a year of diagnosis.
Dr Maciej Mrugala, a neurosurgeon at the University of Washington Medical Center says, "the tumor sort of infiltrates a healthy brain and that's why it's so difficult to remove completely."
Doctors at the University of Washington are some of the first to use this FDA-approved cap called T.T. Fields to help kill the cancer.
A battery pack fuels the electrodes. At the right intensity, the electricity stops the cancer cells from growing, even killing them.
Dr. Mrugala, says even though the electrical fields can shrink tumors, they don't hurt healthy cells and early studies show there's no other serious side effects.
Right now TTF Therapy is only being used for patients whose glioblastomas have regrown, but clinical trials are beginning for patients newly diagnosed
Dr Maciej Mrugala, a neurosurgeon at the University of Washington Medical Center says, "the tumor sort of infiltrates a healthy brain and that's why it's so difficult to remove completely."
Doctors at the University of Washington are some of the first to use this FDA-approved cap called T.T. Fields to help kill the cancer.
A battery pack fuels the electrodes. At the right intensity, the electricity stops the cancer cells from growing, even killing them.
Dr. Mrugala, says even though the electrical fields can shrink tumors, they don't hurt healthy cells and early studies show there's no other serious side effects.
Right now TTF Therapy is only being used for patients whose glioblastomas have regrown, but clinical trials are beginning for patients newly diagnosed
