Voyager Online: Sci Facts

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So you're into sci fi? But what about sci fact? Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction...

Each month our very own Voyager Science Queen* will bring you interesting, quirky and downright bizarre tid bits from the world of science. And its all completely, totally, 100% true!

January Sci-Facts

New Hope for Our New Year

With a new year starting out, I thought that an appropriate topic for this month’s Science Page might be new medical breakthroughs. These breakthroughs may seem to be mainly about female-related diseases, but as every man also risks breast cancer, and has at least a mother in his past, I feel that these advances should enlighten and encourage everyone. As well, any advances in ontological medicine will eventually filter through to other areas, such as pancreatic cancer.

Cervical Cancer Vaccine

The majority of Cervical Cancers are thought to be sexually transmitted, caused by a few types of the Human Papilloma Virus. Infection with HPV usually occurs in the early years of sexual activity – infection is easily preventable by the use of condoms - but it takes up to twenty years for it to develop into a full-blown malignant tumour.

The University of Queensland and the Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Centre in Brisbane, using funds donated by the Queensland Cancer Fund, are about to begin clinical trials on a cervical cancer vaccine, targeting the prevention of HPV infection. If these trials are successful, this will mean a great saving in both life and financial concerns in the long term. Annually, more than 1000 Australian women are diagnosed with the disease and require treatment, and over 300 of those women will die. Worldwide, about half a million woman will succumb to the disease.
I personally have known women who have suffered from active cervical cells: my mother and my sister. My sister had to have a hysterectomy, which is a painful and soul-destroying procedure for any woman. I have daughters, and knowing that they may never have to suffer the same fate as their aunty gives me enormous hope.

While the trials are still taking place, I must emphasise that this does not reduce the importance for a regular pap smear for adult women. Prevention is the best cure, but until we have that prevention, early detection is still vital and the best defence against dying from cervical cancer.

Breast Cancer Vaccine

This investigation into breast cancer is more in the line of a treatment rather than prevention. The ‘vaccine’, a mimic of a naturally occurring antigen against cancer, is for use with patients who have been receiving chemotherapy for the disease, rather than a general vaccine for use within the population; it is an immunological technique to improve the patient’s immune system, to help reject the cancer.

The ‘vaccine’ also appears to help fight melanomas and colon cancers. As all three cancers appear within both genders, this new technique is offering hope for a wide range of cancer sufferers.

It may not be generally known, but men have a higher fatally rate when they are struck with breast cancer, as they are not trained in early detection. So, a malignant breast tumour usually a chance to reach a fatal progression, to the point the cells may have invaded other tissues in the body. Recently, a clear connection between the occurrence of breast cancers and lung cancers have been discovered, and medical statisticians believe that a number of male fatalities previously blamed on lung cancer were incorrectly diagnosed breast cancers.

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I find both these discoveries very encouraging. As good as the medical profession has become at detecting and treating cancer, prevention is better that cure. So, looking into a bright new year, I see a bright new future, with less loss of life and less suffering – and all thanks to our hard working scientists.

I hope you all have a lovely New Year. My resolution for this year…to write more. It’s the same one as last year, and the year before…

*The Voyager Science Queen is also known as Lynne Green

So, who is this woman who attempts to entertain us with Science?

Well, I really am a scientist. I have a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Queensland, in Zoology. And, at the moment, I am working in a Pathology laboratory.

I have always been intensely curious about every aspect of our universe, from the teeny tiny workings of the gene right up to the mind-bending forces that are twisting and knotting inside a blackhole. So, now I am sharing a brain stuffed full of trivia…and hopefully entertaining people at the same time.

As well, I write Fantasy stories and novels. One day, I hope to have a book published, but don't hold your breath. Reading is my other major love, and my favourite authors are Terry Pratchett and Isaac Asimov, though I could list hundreds of others. If I had one wish, I ask for more time to write!

Read previous Sci-Facts:

As the worm turns
Forensics
A Grab Bag of Facts
Bits and Bobs
Australian Achievements
Getting Your Attention
May Sci-Facts
After the Big Bang
The Big Bang
Ashes to ashes; Dust to dust
Twists in the tale
Robots in the Swim and other things
The Tachyon and other things

Looking for more scientific oddities? Have you checked out Dr Steven Juan's website? He is, quite literally, the wizard of odds!