Cancer has been present in the human history since time immemorial. Our 21st century science has come a long way in understanding cancer: how some cancers (but not all) are caused, how some cancers (but not all) may be successfully treated, and how some cancers (but not all) can be prevented from occurring or recurring in individuals. But, in general, the prevention and complete eradication of all cancers still elude us.
There are three potential solutions: Cure, Prevention, and Containment
Cancer Cure
You may not know it, but during everyone’s lifetime, cancer cells are continually formed in the body at various intervals as a result of various metabolic activities and environmental exposures. Changes to the genes in charge of cell multiplication happen constantly, leading to a potential for the uncontrolled division of cells—and that is what cancer is. Such genetic change occurs even in people with no genetic predisposition to cancer. To put it straight, cancer cells are a normal occurrence in every human being.
The deadly element of cancer arises when these cells continue to multiply and multiply. They then send out “daughter cells” to other parts of the body where they do the same. Soon the cancer cells take over space and steal nutrients needed by normal cells, disrupting the function of vital organs.
Why do cancer cells do this?
My insight here is that multiplying is the primordial survival mechanism of any cell. From the very first cell on Earth that divided into two so that it would start over, all its progeny cells survive by multiplying.
Since the natural urge of a cell in the body is to multiply, there may be nothing we can do to prevent it. This means that we may never be able to “cure” the disease of cancer, technically speaking.
What we can do?
We need to seek to limit the multiplication, as well as to prevent the cells in an initial cancerous site from spreading to other parts of the body.
Strategy: In 2022, President Biden announced a reignition of the Cancer Moonshot Project to reduce the cancer death rate by half within 25 years in the United States. Almost 2 billion dollars is committed to funding treatments targeting specific mutations in lung cancer, leukemia and skin cancers and new or improved immunotherapies for cancers of skin and blood. Funds were aimed to accelerate early detection of lung and colon cancers through low-dose CT scans and refined colonoscopies, respectively.
Shortcomings: Although the above project will improve the lives of people with cancer and cancer survivors, the fact remains that patients will still have to experience the fear and anxiety associated with the diagnosis and the financial burden of tests and treatment. A “cure” may not last for long or, the cure for one type of cancer may not be effective in another. For example, a cure for the cancer of the lining of milk duct in the breast may not be effective for milk lobule cancer.
In addition, there is no guarantee that there won’t be cancer cells still left in the body that could become active later, or survivors could still experience side effects of treatments, both short-term and long-term.
As a best-selling author and Nationally Syndicated Columnist, Dr. John Poothullil, advocates for patients struggling with the effects of adverse lifestyle conditions.
Dr. John’s books, available on Amazon, have educated and inspired readers to take charge of their health. There are many steps you can take to make changes in your health, but Dr. John also empowers us that we must demand certain changes in our healthcare system as well. This article is an excerpt taken from “Diabetes: The Real Cause and the Right Cure”, now available in a second edition.
Follow or contact Dr. John at drjohnonhealth.com.
Check out more lifestyle stories here.