It was a good year for those of us who want to live longer and be stronger, healthier, happier, sexier, smarter, and better-than-ever. To help us be all that and more, here's a re-cap of the ten biggest medical breakthroughs, scientific findings, and technological advances of 2007.

Lung cancer is not only the leading cancer killer in the US, but it is responsible for more deaths than the next three most common cancers: colon, breast, and prostate. One reason lung cancer is so deadly is that it's hard to detect until it's really too far advanced to treat. But a new blood test, arriving on the scene in 2007, may just change all that. Called LC Detect, the test measures blood levels of a protein that often signals lung cancer. While the test alone won't confirm a diagnosis, it can help docs find this deadly killer sooner - while it can still be treated.

For those who hate needles, this is big news. But oral medications are problematic too: they can damage the esophagus, stomach, kidneys, liver, gallbladder and more - and all that before they ever make it into the bloodstream where they can do some good. Pharmaceutical companies made huge strides in this area in 2007. We now have new medications that are absorbed through the skin, administered via inhalers, and dissolved under the tongue.

Skin delivery systems were developed for medications used to treat Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, depression, ADHD and pain. To help diabetics avoid the pain of needles, both skin-transmission systems and insulin inhalers were developed and run through clinical trials. A new lung cancer inhaler system can even target the sites within the lungs where cancer cells are located - opening up the possibility of avoiding traditional chemo, with all its terrible side effects.

The promise of stem cells - not quite yet, but soon - sound like the stuff of science fiction. We'll grow new organs, heal damaged tissues, ward off the effects of aging, replace plastic surgery, and maybe even put an end to many of the most devastating diseases of our time. But, until 2007, stem cell research was controversial since the only workable source was live human embryos. Now scientists are able to get stem cells from amniotic fluid - the watery fluid that surrounds the fetus during pregnancy and is discharged during childbirth. With four million babies born each year in the US, these amniotic fluid-derived stem cells, or AFS for short, are plentiful. Umbilical cords and newborn foreskins are possible additional sources. Let's hope science makes good use of the suddenly abundant supply in 2008!

Well, girls, we can now toss the tampons, skip the bloating, and maybe even pass on the mood swings. The new birth control pill, Lybrel (think "liberal" or "liberating") allows us to go period-free. FDA-approved in 2007, Lybrel is the first and only low-dose combination birth control pill that provides the same low level of hormones every day, so for as long as you take it, you won't have your regular monthly period.

6. We have a new way to keep our skin clear and acne-free.

In 2007, the FDA cleared a dermatologist-office process for literally vacuuming pimples off our bodies. Called PPx, or Photopneumatic Pore-Cleansing System, costs about $2000 spread over about six sessions. How does it work? First, facial pores are gently vacuumed to remove excess oil that blocks pores, and then a broadband light (laser) is used to dissolve away any remaining impurities left behind. Between 70 and 85 percent of those tested responded well to PPx, says George Washington University's Clinical Professor Dale Isaacson, MD. Important note: it seems to work best on lighter skin tones.

Responsible for about 15,000 deaths in 2007, this killer was once thought to be silent until it was too late. However, this was the year that researchers discovered that there are actually early warning signs, which include 1. Pelvic or abdominal pain, 2. Bloating, 3. Feeling full quickly or having difficulty eating, and 4. Having to urinate often or feeling an urgent need to go. If women heed these signs, early detection and successful treatment is now possible - all we have to do is spread the word. Also in 2007: breast cancer research made strides as discoveries were made about the gene mutations responsible for the disease.

4. The dreaded Alzheimer's Disease may have lost it's grip.

In 2007, researchers developed the first drug - gamma-secretase inhibitor - that actually blocks the progress of the disease rather than just fighting symptoms. Early studies have demonstrated that the once-a-day pill reduces the brain plaques caused by this disease by 38%. Clinical trials have reached advanced stages, and are going well.

Instead of associating sun exposure with skin cancer, we can now think of it as our daily dose of a super-nutrient. This year, researchers discovered that Vitamin D not only fights osteoporosis but helps the body ward off diseases as varied as diabetes, gum disease, colon cancer, breast cancer, and multiple sclerosis. And unlike many nutrients, the sources of Vitamin D are pretty limited: sources include sunshine, salmon, and tuna. Sunlight is the best source of all. If you live in the northern part of the US, you'll get less Vitamin D from sunshine than people living in southern regions - especially in the winter. Both men and women aged 19-50 should get at least 200 international units (IU) per day, and after age 50 the RDA goes up to 400 IU.

Canadian researchers say they have developed a simple molecule that dramatically slows tumor growth without harming healthy cells. Called DCA (dichloroacetate), the compound revives the body's own mitochondria that have damaged by the cancer. Once the mitochondria are working again, the theory is that the body should be able to detect and destroy the abnormal cells. While this research came a long way in 2007, there are still some issues around side effects to be worked out.

A 2007 University of Cleveland study reports that, for women whose sex drives have gone underground, a testosterone patch may be the answer. The study's 64 participating women reported an average of four to five additional "satisfying" sexual experiences per month. While these patches are FDA-approved only for men, about 20% are being prescribed for women. And doctors prescribing them report that, once they've tried it, their female patients are reluctant to give it up.