Ultrasound therapy may be used to treat breast cancer in the future

Currently, some countries are trying ultrasound therapy to treat breast cancer, but this therapy is still in the experimental stage and has not yet been widely used in clinical practice.

Ultrasound therapy uses concave mirrors and acoustic lenses to focus high-frequency sound waves (1~30MHz) beyond the human hearing range at one point on the human body to achieve the effect of ultra-high energy ultrasound. The temperature of this point will rise, and when it reaches a certain temperature, it is enough to injure and kill cells.

Its main operating method is to use a piezoelectric ultrasonic generator to generate ultrasound waves. Since the wavelength of ultrasound waves is very short, they can be focused into a narrow transmission beam and propagate in a straight line. Then, based on the reflection and refraction principles of its propagation, lenses and curved surface reflections are used to focus the sound beam on the lesion.

However, clinical trials have confirmed that inappropriate ultrasound exposure can cause damage to many tissues and organs in the body. For example, ultrasound exposure can affect the patient's heart activity and rhythm. Large doses of ultrasound can slow the heart rate and induce angina pectoris. In severe cases, heart rate disorders may occur and even cardiac arrest may occur.

In addition, ultrasound can have a great impact on connective tissue, and the breast contains a large amount of connective tissue. If there is a wound on the breast, ultrasound irradiation can stimulate the growth of connective tissue, while also softening and dissipating it, which can soften the connective tissue and affect the shape of the breast.

However, medical workers are currently trying to solve these problems so that ultrasound treatment of breast cancer can be widely used to benefit all patients.