Callum Jones
Much of the internet has been left amazed at a video of an immune cell fighting off an aggressive and deadly cancer cell.
Cancer is a devastating condition that most families have likely been affected by
in some shape or form.
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2022, there was an estimated 1.9 million new cancer cases diagnosed in the US.
While we all know how devastating the disease can be, we often don't get an illustration of how it attacks the body.
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However, one particular video uploaded to YouTube by the channel Science Learning Made Easy has showcased an immune cell defeating a deadly cancer cell.
"Witnessing the dynamic confrontation between the immune system's T-cells (depicted in yellow) and a vigorously aggressive cancer cell (illustrated in magenta) is truly awe-inspiring," Science Learning Made Easy wrote in the caption of the video.
The immune system is the system in your body that fights off infection, and is made up of various types of immune cells.
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T-cells are a special form of white blood cells that the immune system uses to help protect the body from illnes and help defend it against cancer.
As perfectly documented in the video, the T-cells sees the cancer as 'foreign' cells that doesn't belong in the body, so it ultimately attacks and tries to destroy the cancer cells.
In the video, the T-cells successfully manage to do this and beat cancer in the process.
The video has since been re-uploaded to Reddit, leaving many social media users amazed.
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"The human body is freakin wild. It amazes me how it just all works," one Redditor wrote.
"Immune Systems along hormones, to me, are the craziest s**t nature ever evolved," a second added.
"An entire universe happening inside of us," a third remarked, while a fourth quipped: "Wow, videos like this makes me think each and every cell is alive and not just chemical reactions taking place."
Sometimes, not everything goes to plan and the cancer can actually outsmart the immune system.
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Cancer cells can trick the immune system into thinking they’re healthy cells, meaning T-cells are not deployed to attack them.
Cancer cells may activate the 'checkpoint' process, which makes the immune system stop attacking the cancer too early.
With the continued research into cancer, hopefully some sort of cure will be developed in the near future.