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Bee venom may help fight breast cancer, researchers from the University of Western Australia believe. And although this is only the beginning of the research, there is a chance that it will bring a breakthrough in the treatment of this most common cancer disease among women around the world. Scientists have already shown that the anti-cancer compound contained in bee venom completely destroys the membranes of cancer cells within an hour. But that’s not all of the good news.
Anti-cancer compound of bee venom – destroys cancer cells within an hour
Researchers from the University of Western Australia tested the effect of bee venom on cells of different types of breast cancer: triple negative, HER2 positive and hormone dependent (HR +). They found that a peptide in the venom called melittin inhibits the growth of the first two breast cancer subtypes (triple negative and HER2 positive). “We observed that melittin completely destroyed the membranes of the cancer cells within 60 minutes,” said Dr. Ciara Duffy, author of the study.
Moreover, within 20 minutes, melittin severely limited the ability of cancer cells to send out chemical signals that play an important role in cancer development.
Scientists believe that melittin could be used together with chemotherapy. As they emphasize, the next stage of the research will be to determine the dose of this compound that is optimal for the effectiveness and tolerance of the body (scientists have created a synthetic version of melittin).
The study used the venom of 312 bees but also bumblebees from Australia, England and Ireland. The bee venom was effective regardless of its origin (bumblebee venom did not show anti-cancer effect).
While scientists describe the research as “exciting”, it is important to remember that this is still an early phase of testing and more evidence is needed for the effectiveness of bee venom.
Every year, over 18 Polish women hear the diagnosis: breast cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women around the world. Every year in Poland, over 18,5 thousand women find out that they have breast cancer, and more than 6,6 thousand. of them dies. What is worse, Poland is a country in which the morbidity and mortality due to it are constantly increasing (breast cancer is the second, after lung cancer, cause of death for Polish women). Meanwhile, according to estimates, 1/3 of them could have saved their lives – if they had been diagnosed early enough. As the Onkocafe Foundation – Better Together Foundation emphasizes, the problem lies both on the system side and on the consciousness side.
According to the National Health Test of Poles conducted by Medonet, Polish women neglect mammography, even though it allows for early detection of up to 90-95 percent. cancerous changes and save a life. It turns out that in the last two years this study was performed by 36%. female respondents aged 45–54 and 68 percent. respondents aged 55–64.
It is also not optimistic about breast ultrasound, which is recommended once a year for women up to 30 years of age. Meanwhile, as many as half of the women in the survey admitted that they had never done this survey. In the last 12 months, only 17% of them have had it. Polish women. Breast self-examination, instead of – according to the recommendations – once a month, women usually perform only a few times a year.
You may be interested in:
- Should Polish women fear cancer? The disturbing results of the National Health Test of Poles 2020
- A touching letter from a girl whose mother died of cancer. «Inside me something is breaking and breaking»
- Scientists about mammography: screening for 40 years instead of 50 years can save lives