Given yesterday’s post on the possibility of massive life extension, I found this report on Singularity Hub about cancer detection to be quite interesting. Talking of technologies that may emerge in forty or fifty years is one thing, but we musn’t forget that there are some very big medical advances just around the corner. The latest biosensor chips that can detect certain forms of cancer are one of these life-changing advances that will literally save hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of lives.
I’ll let you head over to Singularity Hub to find out more about just how these chips work (we’re not afraid of sending traffic onwards to interesting sites here at Future Conscience!). Briefly, what this technology will allow are very fast detection methods for a number of different types of cancer – as well as other illnesses. Using these devices will become common place upon visiting a doctor, and will drastically increase the number of cancers that are detected early enough for successful treatment.
It brings up images of being able to have this capability on hand at all times. We have already become very comfortable with the idea of carrying around smartphones, and given enough advancement in these biosensors it will be interesting to see them combined with such devices.
How many years away until we no longer need to go to a doctor for a diagnosis, but rather for recommended treatment and confirmation of what we have already been told?
This will not only greatly increase our ability to treat disease and illnesses that rely upon early detection, but it will also mean that doctor’s time and efforts are better spent treating rather than diagnosing. Of course, we’re a way off before we can rely on the findings of such technology – but it may not be as far away as we think.
Certainly, there will be trial use through a transition period to ensure that such technology is accurate enough for wide-scale use. But given ten or fifteen years, it is not at all unconceivable that these biosensors will be available at every clinic. How long after that before they are available in every household? It’s certainly an exciting prospect.
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