A hunk a-hunk of burning hope

Show tunes haven’t been the norm – more likely blues and dirges.

But it may be time to “Start Spreading the News”?

Not quite ready to shout out the “Hallelujah Chorus”

But definitely a moment to hum along with “Climb Every Mountain”

“No, No, Nanette“ is on the verge of transforming into No, No malignant tumors!

Quietly put into play years ago by Rice University researchers picking through their notes for a little silver bullet.

They composed a tiny plan

Seriously: nano-sized tiny.

But that wasn’t the size of their hopes and dreams.

Desperate doctors and cancer patients called from their bedsides. They said they “Heard It Through the Grapevine…”

But all Jennifer West and Naomi Halas could whisper was “Hang on, Sloopy! Hang on!” Their work progressed slowly – building to a crescendo this week.

(Image: Pjillip Capper/commons.wikimedia.org)

These maestros of the small minuet steps – these specialists of nanotechnology have struck a golden chord.

In concert with their team, a new medical treatment for cancer is developing: it’s “Love is like a Heat Wave“

Tiny nano-sized glass particles can be covered with gold which allows them to absorb infrared light and become very hot.

These bright nanoshells may be injected intravenously into cancer patients. Surprisingly, the coated particles collect in tumors but not healthy tissues.

Just the right tune!

With an infrared light source, the nanoshells may be heated hot enough to destroy tumors but the healthy surrounding tissue isn’t damaged.

After almost a decade of work, scientists know the nanoshells aren’t toxic and will only gather in tumors not healthy blood vessels.

Wild applause!

“It’s a Small World After all!”

No longer poison the entire body hoping to kill one malignant invader.

Requests for encores!

Possible a rousing chorus of “Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya’ tomorrow”?

“The Eyes of Texas” have been scrutinizing a small trial of head and neck cancer patients with smiles.

Now a larger group of lung cancer patients are lining up to “Shout, put your hands up. Shout!”

Trials begin in Cancer treatment Centers of America hospitals in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Chicago.

If successful, approval by Food and Drug Administration might come next year

Here’s hoping it’s “Happy Trails” to all of you.

’cause it would be a “Blue, Blue Christmas Without You-all.”

Cancer screening: it’s worth a polka!

Join the dance and live,

Phil the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

Read more: 

• “Rice Team Achieves a Cancer Milestone“
• “Sneaking drugs into cancer cells with carbon nanotubes“
• “Gold nanoparticle prostate cancer treatment found safe in dogs” (w/video).

Related post: “Thought in any direction”

How great this news sung out in November?

Bloggers for Movember is a movement to promote mental health and/or cancer issues.

Discover more about it from Le Clown, whose post became Freshly Pressed.

You can grow a mustache in support or try a less ticklish alternative use Le Clown’s post as your guide.

Expect to see more from bloggers next week about Movember.

• LeClown and others are holding posts until Monday to show solidarity with the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
• Just a heads up here – maybe you want to participate?