Cancer is often found to be malignant by tests that expose patients to a certain amount of radiation. This of course does not help ones condition any except to furthur spread the disease and making it more difficult to cure. There certainly exists a dilemma in that what is used to diagnose cancer is often found in the cause of it as well. What is needed is a way to effectively diagnose cancer without harming patients whose bodies do not respond well or tolerate radiation.

DNA meters that are able to measure highly methylated DNA that indicate positive or abnormal levels could possibly be used for such tests. When a sample of DNA is placed on a flourescent strip it can be hybridized and analyzed by flow cytometry. This can be very useful for cancers of the lung, throat, breast or prostate ect.. When these devices are used as in office biopsy procedure, the results are instantaneous and preparation for the test will not be necessary. Most of all this test is without radiation. Any findings are preliminary, in that one then may go to a surgeon who will then provide options for  treatment. These meters are portable and are an alternative means to results with less agitation to the cancer that can be caused by high doses of radiation. A test that involves radiation may be used to determine if the disease has spread, but once the disease is confirmed with the use of the DNA meters large doses of radiation can be avoided.