[junge.23]

Jeff- I really connected with your reflection—especially your point about how much this technology could change the way we support patients. I was also surprised by how little cancer material is needed with these new diagnostic tools. It really made me think about how early detection might shift the entire treatment plan, like more surgeries instead of chemo or radiation, which could mean very different conversations and teaching moments with patients.

I’m glad you brought up the ethical side too. I feel the same way—it’s amazing technology, but we definitely need clear guidelines, kind of like with AI. Your questions about how it will actually be used (injection? pill? regular blood draws?) are ones I had too. It’s exciting but also a little mind-blowing to think about where all of this is headed. Thanks for sharing such a thoughtful take!

Jen-I really enjoyed your post—it honestly made me feel less alone in feeling a little out of my depth with the graphene quantum dots article haha! I loved your comment about storytelling and quantum tech too—it’s so true, putting it into a narrative makes something that complex feel way more approachable. And the fact that MRI came out of quantum theory? Amazing!

It’s so cool that you work closely with lung cancer patients—I imagine that makes this kind of innovation feel both exciting and super relevant, even if it’s not quite in our day-to-day yet. I was also fascinated by the idea that just a few cells or slight pH differences could guide treatment. It makes you realize how personalized care might really look in the future. Especially for a majority of lung cancer patients who are diagnosed in late stage- i feel this could really help with early detection. Thanks for sharing!

[junge.23]

Hi Everyone! My name is Jessica Junge. Thanks for participating in the discussion topic this month 🙂

1. Knowledge Gained:
The article opened my eyes to how rapidly cancer diagnoses are expected to rise and how innovative molecular diagnostics are evolving in response. I was surprised to learn that these tools can detect cancer with far fewer cells than before.

2. Influence on Practice:
Although I’m not directly involved with this topic, earlier diagnoses could significantly shift patient care- especially for pancreatic and lung cancer patients who are unfortunately diagnosed in later stages. This would influence how we, as nurses, educate and support our patients through their treatment journeys.

3. Questions Raised:
The article raises important questions about practical application: How will this be administered to patients? what kind of ongoing monitoring should we expect?

4. Agreement with Conclusions:
I agree with the author’s optimism but also share the concern about how we responsibly implement these technologies. Like the evolving AI in healthcare, graphene-based tools hold great promise, but their use must be guided by thoughtful ethical frameworks. More research and human clinical judgement are needed before widespread implementation.

[pauley.18]

1. What was the knowledge gained from the article?
In reading the articles, I had no idea that the MRI was considered a quantum technology, but had many of the high-risk breast patients that we saw in clinic use for early detection. I am though not surprised that with the advance in technology everywhere else in life, that new techniques for cancer diagnosis are emerging. I have some experience in using different DNA and genetic testing for the aid in helping to prevent the later diagnosis of patients for certain cancers but think that being able to use even less in trying to diagnose a cancer and even potentially sooner is amazing for potential patient outcomes.
2. Will the research/information in this article change or influence your practice? If so how?
I am not certain this will change my practice as I work in the endoscopy unit and most of what we are doing is screening colonoscopy for patients. I wonder though if one day some type of quantum imaging can be done in place of this to limit some from having to complete the bowel preparation for the procedure.
3. What other questions does the article raise about current practice?
In reading the articles, there was the topic of confidentiality being maintained. With the rise in platforms being compromised, would there be too much potential for patients’ private information being breached and getting into the wrong hands.
4. Do I agree/disagree with the authors of these articles? I do agree that this technology will become the new norm in diagnosing certain diseases/cancers. Technology has been improving in so many ways and will continue to do so.

[pauley.18]

Teresa, I never even thought about how big companies could make these tests cost way more than they should to make a profit and also make the decision on if/when they should really be used.

Jeff, like you, I too agree that in the grand scheme of things, these technologies can be less of a burden on patients due to not needing large sample sizes and being quicker in diagnosing certain diseases/cancers.

[mccall.278]

Hello everyone! My name is Halle. I work in an outpatient clinic at Martha Morehouse.

What was the knowledge gained from the articles? I was not familiar with this topic before reading the articles. I have learned that the cancer diagnosis rate will double in the next 15 years. I was also unfamiliar with graphene quantum dots. I learned that graphene quantum dots are able to sense elements for early cancer detection, thus leading to increased success rates of treatment and reduction in cancer related deaths. Another interesting topic I learned was quantum algorithms and computing. Algorithms are being developed to mimic the behavior of molecules, and this is allowing researchers to formulate new drugs and accelerate drug production to fight cancer.
Will the research/information in this article change or influence your practice? If so, how? I think graphene quantum dots will influence my practice as a GI oncology nurse at some point, but I am not sure the timeline or logistics of implementing this as a nurse. If this technology is able to detect cancer earlier on and we can formulate drugs quicker, as a nurse I will need to be able to educate my patients on this new technology and how it is used.
What other questions does the article raise about current practice? A couple of questions come to mind regarding the articles. The big question is how much will this cost our patients? When is this technology likely to become available in the healthcare setting where I work? What education and participation do we as nurses have with this technology?
Do you agree/disagree with the conclusions of the author, why? I think this is an amazing advancement in healthcare, especially for early detection of cancer. My biggest concern would be that processes and procedures that should be put in place prior to this technology being used in the healthcare setting. Education and training needs to be provided to all healthcare providers as well.

[mccall.278]

Teresa- Hi Teresa! I do agree this topic was not something I have heard before and it was a bit of a hard read since I was not familiar with it prior. I am interested and wonder if big companies will pick up this technology and will make it more expensive for patients as well.

Jeff- I do agree with your statement that our patients will benefit from less invasive approaches for needing biopsy samples. This could potentially lead to an earlier diagnosis and treatment options, maybe even less chemotherapy and radiation prior to surgery.

[Author]

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