Researchers at the University of Cambridge found a new way to make brains glow, literally. The team created this fluorescent chemical for the convenience of surgeons during brain tumor surgeries.

Brain is a complex organ. And brain surgeries, being among the most complicated and life threatening surgeries, can be done in a more convenient way.

The patient will be given a fluorescent chemical to soak the tumor cells. Then, because of the glowing chemical, the tumor will lit up in bright magenta which makes it easier to be seen.

Surgeons will easily distinguish cancer cells and tumors from parts of the brain. Glowing in neon lights, the gray matter will be identified easily. It is like a white cloth reflected with UV rays in black light.

Aside from convenience, glowing brain can also prevent unnecessary damages that sometimes happen in a brain surgery.

This new technique is being tested by the Researchers at the University of Cambridge. The main subjects on their study are over 60 gliobastoma patients that are newly diagnosed. Gliobastoma is the most harmful and unfortunately the most common type of brain tumor.

Brain Cancer: The Deadly Disease

There are more than 600,000 US people with brain tumors according to the National Brain Tumor Society. To which 28000 of the said population are children.

On the other hand, Australia has 155 new cases of brain cancers every year. And around 1200 brain cancer patients are dying annually.

Metastasis or the spread of the cancer all throughout the body is also faster compared to other cancers. In fact, brain cancer is the second leading cause of deaths in children next to leukemia and also the second leading cause of deaths in females.

Based on statistics, people with brain tumors, malignant or non malignant, are continuously increasing. And only brain tumor removal surgery is the most effective yet the most risky solution to this health problem.

So if this glowing chemical will be enhanced and used, the future of brain cancer patients as well as brain surgeons will be better.