This is Why Doctors Would Want Computerized Assistants for Cancer Care

Computers assist us in our everyday activities ranging from our work to our studies and even our housework. Now even doctors want a little bit of help from computers and other technologies as they attempt to improve the overall level of the cancer care they can offer to their patients. Due to how quickly a disease like cancer can spread, it is important the diagnosis comes as quickly as possible.

The computers used for cancer care and treatment can make personalized suggestions based on the condition of a patient. This could help doctors save valuable time from thinking of the best course of action in order to cure their patient. This could allow more time for the actual intervention and treatment of the disease. This speed potentially means that there is a greater chance for doctors to save a cancer patients life and rid them of their illness.

The use of computers in cancer care is a collaboration between technology superpower IBM and a group of various medical centers based in New York City. The joint project got underway in 2013 and is described by an article from NPR as "exploring the use of computers to help analyze a wide range of genetic information and the scientific literature with the goal of quickly formulating precise treatment plans for cancer patients."

An essential part of the effort is the supercomputer Watson from IBM. Watson is capable comparing the wide variety of genetic differences between the healthy cells of an individual and the cells of the same person, which have been affected by a type of cancer. Aside from this already impressive feat, Watson is also able to read "800 million pages per second ... from medical literature to patient records to doctors' notes," says Christine Douglass who works at IBM Watson Health.