FORT MYERS, Fla. - WINK News has been following part-time Sanibel Island resident John Kanzius for some time now. His technique to kill cancer could revolutionize the way the disease is treated. Now, he's getting some help from golf legend Arnold Palmer.

Palmer's family has been touched by cancer. He and his daughter are cancer survivors, but his wife of 45 years, Winnie, lost her battle with abdominal cancer. When Palmer learned of John Kanzius's work, he became interested in the treatment.

Kanzius has Leukemia, and despite having no medical background or college degree, he has made it his personal mission to fight cancer and help others.

"During my second round of chemo I saw young couples going through the same wrenching side effects of chemotherapy as I was." Kanzius explained to WINK News' Jennifer Stacy. "I thought there has to be a better way to treat cancer."

WINK News has been along for the ride, following Kanzius' medical research. His innovative approach has caught the attention of scientists worldwide.

"I don't know if it's the answer we've been looking for but the researchers sure seem to think so," Kanzius explained to WINK News. "They have called it the greatest find in 20 years of research."

Kanzius agreed to show Arnold Palmer his approach.

Kanzius demonstrated how tiny pieces of metal called nano-particles can be heated by radio waves. Those nano-particles can be injected into the body along with a targeting molecule, and used to attack cancer cells.

Twenty of the heated particles can kill a cancer cell in seconds, leaving healthy cells intact with no side effects.

"Right now we have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the process works, that the nannoparticles within the cancer cells release so much heat so quickly that the cancer cells die almost instantaneously." Kanzius explained to WINK News.

"I got very excited about it - having so much experience in my family with cancer." Palmer explained to CBS station KDKA. "Something like John Kanzius and what he's doing and the potential for this machine - this thing he's doing - is fantastic."

The treatment is currently being tested on animals.
Human trials are still a couple of years away.

As WINK News first reported in March, Lee Memorial Health System will be one of a handful of locations that will conduct human trials on the new cancer treatment.

WINK News spoke with John Kanzius about Arnold Palmer's support. Mr. Kanzius says he is happy about the news, because the more money made available to the research, the sooner we can all benefit.