FREE ESSAY ON CANCER

CANCER

During a shower one day you notice a lump that was not otherwise there. The next day you
see a doctor. The lump you have identified is diagnosed as cancer. Now you need to figure
out what to do. There is no absolute cure for cancer, but there are different ways to
treat it. One treatment is the traditional from by seeing a doctor who possibly could use
radiation, chemotherapy or other drugs. Another way of treating cancer is with
alternative forms of medicine by using acupuncture naturopathic and homeopathic doctors
who prescribe more natural forms of healing using a combination of the two. When using
the combination of the two treatment techniques, one can receive the full benefit of all
available options. The medical profession should acknowledge allowing alternative
medicines in conjunction with traditional medicines to ease suffering as well as
prolonging the lives of cancer patients. In order to make a decision on a treatment for
cancer, one must understand what cancer is and the current treatments used. Cancer starts
when a cell ceases to function properly, mutates and begins to multiply rapidly. A cancer
cell has an abnormal chromosome which sends ' the wrong ' message to the other parts of
the cell, which causes the cell to grow rapidly as it multiplies. These multiplied cells
form a lump called a malignant tumor which is the cancer. [Cancer] knows no boundaries
and plays no favorites; it can be found among people of all races and ages, both rich and
poor, black and white, male or female (Fine 9). Cancer is a very serious disease many
people live with. On average  about 1.2 million people are diagnosed with [cancer] every
year (Noonan A3). Cancer is not a contagious disease; it can not be passed form one
person to another. Like the statistic from above, imagine the fact that  cancer kills
more than 500,000 Americans every year -approximately one person per minute (Noonan A3).
Many people each year are killed by cancer, yet there are more who continue to live with
this disease. There are many different kinds of treatments to ease the pain and sometimes
even kill the cancer. The most accepted form of treatment is through traditional
medicine. This includes radiation ,chemotherapy, surgery and also improving ones
lifestyle to prevent future episodes of cancer. Radiation is a method that uses 
high-energy x-rays, electron beams or radioactive isotopes to kill cancer cells without
exceeding safe doses to normal tissue ( Dollinger 48). There are two different types of
radiation therapy, externally and internally. When giving externally the medical
profession uses Orthovoltage equipment that treats external types of cancer like skin
cancer. Internally giving radiation involves one of the following treatments, Internal
(Systemic ) Radiation therapy, Interstitial Radiation Therapy, Intracavitary Radiation
and Intrauminal Radiation therapy. Radiation can be giving Like chemotherapy radiation
therapy has similar side effects like nausea, vomiting, a burn some what like a suntan
that tans then peels and ulcer may develop as well. Chemotherapy can cure some types of
cancer. This form of therapy is given in many different ways. It can be taken orally with
a capsule, pill or in liquid form. Other ways it can be taken is through a syringe into a
vein, artery or the muscle. The most commonly known form of chemotherapy is given
intravenously through IV drip devices. Chemotherapy is a very risky method to heal for
the drugs used are so dangerous that if an unprofessional or unqualified doctor mixed the
wrong dosage it would be fatal. This therapy does have some side effects. When taking
chemo treatment there is a possibility of  nausea, vomiting, hair loss, sore mouth,
diarrhea and/or depressed blood counts (Dollinger 480). Another form of treatment is
surgery, to remove the cancer. This involves removing cancerous or possibly cancerous
cells known as tumors. Other times surgery is the only option after using chemotherapy
and/or radiation treatment. Changing ones' lifestyle maybe necessary for both pre and
post cancer. According to the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for
Cancer Research is there has been developed a new dietary recommendations list to improve
ones' chances for avoiding cancer in the future. To name a few; one  should have 10
servings of fruits and vegetables daily and pass up high salt foods that increase stomach
cancer risks ( Napier 118 &120). Generally one should eat right because it is proven a
good diet means a good healthy life. Although traditional medicine can help and sometimes
kills the cancer, it is not the only outlet to be considered. Alternative medicine has
been know world wide for thousands of years. The chines, Scandinavians and even the
Mexicans have had home remedies to reduce the suffering of cancer patients. Some of the
many techniques have been used for many generations, and together with traditional
medicine they can each help solve to purpose to eliminate the cancer. Shark liver oil is
a good example of the alternative treatment. Shark liver helps in the in the  regression
of tumor growth in cancer and [gives] protection from radiation  when used with this
traditional form of treatment (Solomon 11). The Squalamine in the  shark liver oil
stimulates production of the red and white blood cells which help destroy tumor growing
ability (Solomon 137). The majority of clinical doctors don't recognize the use of the
less traditional medicine. Even in the cases when alternative medicines prevent some of
the side effects known from methods such as chemotherapy. An example of this is Una de
Gato or cat's claw. This herb is used to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy. Another
form of a alternative treatment method for cancer is using a Modified Citrus Pectin. This
method is said to make  sugar molecules attach themselves to cancer cells in the blood
stream which prevent cancer cells from attaching to the body's organs (Citrus 3). Todays'
medical profession needs to not focus on one type of medicine and one type of treatment,
but the whole retrospect of all that is available in all fields of study.  Once dismissed
a quackery, such alternative treatments as acupuncture, massage therapy, whole-foods
nutrition and herbal remedies are now being invited wholesale into that innermost sanctum
of conventional medicine, the hospital (Suzukamo 1). There has been an increasing
interest in alternative medicine in the last decade which is why all doctors need to be
informed of other options. Hospitals are now beginning to accommodate these needs because
some  hospital officials said they are taking this step because patients speaking with
their wallets are demanding it (Suzukamo 1). Todays' society is changing fast and with
the doctors of today being reeducated about alternative methods people that suffer from
diseases such as cancer will have a better survival rate compared to in the past. Dr. Dan
Foley, vice president of medical affairs for a hospital said it is  probably in the last
50 years, we've spent to much time looking at high-tech stuff, but it's time to get back
to treating the patient (Suzukamo 2). Many still believe that alternative medicine is not
right for them, but it is now and should be offered as a assessment to how cancer
patients are being treated now. The window of opportunity needs to be open to everyone
and every hospital around the world not just a selected few. A more traditional, newly
used treatment for cancer is GLI-328. GLI-328 is and experimental method of gene therapy
which  is being tested in 44 hospitals world wide (Goldberg 71). How GLi-328 works is by 
cutting out a portion of the tumor and implanting it with 'suicide' genes, from mouse
skin cells containing altered mouse leukemia virus, and this will cause the tumor to
begin to self destruct (Goldberg 71). Once the virus is inside of the tumor it begins to
infect the rapidly dividing cells and not the normal functioning cells. This makes the
vulnerable to the antiviral drug Ganciclovir.  Ganciclovir is used to treat a disease of
herpes called cytomegalovirus ( Goldberg 72). This new treatment has been  safe and
effective in four out of ten patients; reducing tumor fifty percent (Goldberg 73). This
new, modern medicine can be used effectively with other more natural methods to treat the
on going battle for cancer. According to Marie Cargil  the combination of [the] two
medical systems acupuncture and modern medicine [will] help cancer patients (Cargil 86).
Chinese forms of medicine like acupuncture are strengthening to the body to protect it
against other pathogens. When acupuncture is used in combination with  surgery, drugs and
radiation there is an  fifty percent improvement among the involved patients (Cargil 86).
 If you look at tumors like a bunch of grapes on a vine, you could say current drugs and
chemotherapy treat the grapes, but these new drugs treat the vine so the grapes will
wither and die (Noonan A3). The above quote was said by Dr. Judah Folkman who also
believes using new technological advances and more natural alternative treatments can
help more than just traditional forms of recovery. Traditional, modern techniques for
treating cancer has made a significant impact on todays' society. When diagnosed with
this deadly disease using the more advanced medical treatments in conjunction with more
natural medicine one can obtain the most beneficial treatment to accommodate to whole
person. Clinical doctors do not openly recommend alternative uses of medicine, but it is
very good thing to discuss with ones' doctor to get as much help to overcome the cancer.
Todays' medical profession needs to be more open to societies greater need to live longer
and suffer less from one of the most painful diseases known to man, cancer.