Killing Breast Cancer and Jamming Radar at MIT

An unexpected development in microwave radar research at MIT's Lincoln Labs yielded a new weapon in the war against breast cancer. While Dr. Alan J. Fenn was working on a missle detection technology, he observed that the focused energy from microwaves could be used to heat and kill cells that have lots of water and ions (atoms that are electrically charged). Cancer cells fit that description, but healthy cells won't be harmed, since the beam of energy won't affect surrounding tissue. His research led to two clinical trials with early-stage breast cancer patients, and promising results. Dr. Fenn presents his work in a new book, "Breast Cancer Treatment by Focused Microwave Thermotherapy."

• New book documents MIT breast cancer therapy
• Phasing Out Breast Cancer