Gene therapy

Tuesday, 23 February 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

It is always better to take preventive action than taking treatment after getting the disease. There are several non communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetics, heart ailments, etc due to genetic defects. This is called Chromosome defect. If this defect exceeds 46% in the blood cells, the possibility of having such disease is greater.

It is reported that such defects could be detected even 30 years in advance. Actress Angelina Jolie’s mother had womb cancer and Angelina was advised that there was 87% possibility for her having cancer. She had undergone proper surgery in advance and is happy now. This treatment has been available in selected western countries and in India since 2013. It may be expensive. This is an appeal to the medical experts to express an opinion as to whether it is available in Sri Lanka and also of any alternative treatment available which is less expensive.

It could be started in private hospitals and extended to government hospitals later.

S.R. Balachandran