FREE ESSAY ON CANCER TREATMENT

CANCER TREATMENT

In recent years Cancer is disease that has seemed to captivate and frighten Americans.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. with more than 1 million new
cases occurring a year. With each day scientific findings aid a better understanding of
the causes of the disease. These findings have opened doors to help treat cancer patients
more effectively. Scientists have gained a more specific knowledge of individual cancers
and now through the wonders of science have found effective treatments for the disease. 
To treat Cancer doctors and scientist need an understanding of what the disease actually
physically does. Cancer is defined as new growth of tissue resulting from a continuing
proliferation of abnormal cells that have the ability to invade and destroy other
tissues. Cancer is not restricted to what type of cell and tissue it may emerge from.
Therefore, they describe the disease as a large number of diseases as opposed to just on
single disease. Because Cancer involves cells that can easily enter the bloodstream the
disease has the ability to spread rapidly throughout the body making it an even more
dangerous disease. 
Another factor in successful treatment of Cancer is to understand the causes for the
disease. It is believed that a combination of several factors produce the disease.
Inheritance 
is said to play a roll in about 20 percent of Cancers. Although it is more prevalent in
cancer types such as breast and colon. Viral infections play a large role in cancer of
animals. In humans different DNA viruses can cause leukemia and Burkitt's lymphoma. Long
term radiation also plays a role in the mutation of DNA that may cause Cancer.
Environmental factors are estimated to be responsible for about 80 percent Cancers.
Factors such as tobacco smoking are said to cause 30 percent of cancers and diet is
believed to cause about 40 percent. Only with a complete understanding of the physical
characteristics and causes of Cancer can scientists and doctors begin to develop
effective treatments. 
Currently there are three major ways of treating Cancer; surgery, radiation, and
chemotherapy. 
The idea behind surgery for treatment of cancer patients is to remove all malignant cells
and tumors. With new, more precise, surgical advances, far less tissue is required to be
removed thus resulting in a quicker recovery and less chance for serious disability.
Surgery is most effective if done in the early stages of Cancer, although it is effective
in more developed stages in relieving symptoms. Surgery is also used to make other forms
of treatment, such as radiation, more effective. With the reduction of the tumor through
surgery radiation treatment may effectively eliminate the tumor.
Radiation treatment of cancer uses gamma rays attack Cancer causing tissue. Since tumors
are more sensitive to radiation than normal tissue radiation can effectively eliminate or
reduce harmful tissues that surgery can otherwise not remove. Since normal tissues are
not as easily harmed by radiation, the negative effects on healthy tissue are not 
as severe. If the tumor is reduced through radiation, it may become possible for a doctor
to eliminate the tumor through surgery. Radiation can also sterilize tumors thus
preventing or slowing the spread of the Cancer through the body. This can also help
doctors remove the tumor more easily through surgery, and provides a much less involved,
painful surgery. The combination of radiation and surgery, if effective, can offer a cure
with fewer negative side effects to the patient.
The final traditional means of treating cancer is Chemotherapy. This form of treatment
involves the use of drugs. Chemotherapy is used when Cancer has grown throughout the body
and is no longer accessible through radiation or surgery. Although after chemotherapy,
surgery is often used to eliminate remaining Caceres tissue. In this treatment drugs are
administered and pass through the blood stream effecting Cancer tissue and healthy
tissue. Since the drugs affect healthy tissue the patient will become sick from the
treatment but because healthy cells divide faster than malignant cells the patient is
able to recuperate. Chemotherapy, like all Cancer treatments, is most effective when
administered early the early stages of the disease. It is also important that the
treatment is consistent and administered frequently in order to achieve the most
successful results.
Cancer is disease that has not only plagued American society, but the world for several
decades. With new advances in science and technology humans inch closer to effective
treatments of the disease. Presently, medical advances occur daily and bring new hope to
the victims and potential victims of diseases like Cancer. In a world that 
has had its fair share of ups and downs with technology, medical advances have proved not
only interesting but useful. Without these advances in medical technology many lives
would never have been saved and many more in great danger.