Cancer is an enduring disease that has claimed millions of lives and dates back to 3000 BC(Edwin Smith Papyrus, Ancient Egypt), yet it still haunts humanity today.
That said,today, cancer is less deadly than ever. Multiple modern treatments have already proven to be effective against cancer, thus removing its status as a ‘death sentence’. Today we shall explore this disease and the multiple treatments that already exist and are being developed to combat it.
What is cancer?
Before going into the treatments, let me just give a simple rundown of cancer. Cancer - being a genetic disease - is caused by mutations/changes to our genes, making tumours, which then change cell function; making them tumours, and leading to changes in how they divide, leading to them dividing uncontrollably and destroying normal tissue.
Tumour types
There are 2 types of tumours
Benign
These tumours are concentrated in one part of the body and are unlikely to spread to other parts of the body
they can cause pain or other problems if they press against nerves or blood vessels or trigger the overproduction of hormones, as in the endocrine system.
Malignant
These are tumour cells which spread throughout the body through the bloodstream
While they form on benign tumours, benign tumours break off and thus spread into other parts of the body
At this stage, cancer becomes potentially life-threatening
Risk Factors
There are many risk factors for cancer, called carcinogens
Alcohol consumption
Exposure to ionising radiation(UV light ,X-Rays ,Gamma Rays)
Obesity
Smoking/Vaping
Unsafe sex
Genes
Environment
Health Conditions (ex: ulcerative colitis)
Existing Cures
There are several treatment options available for cancer, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy. The specific treatment or combination of treatments used will depend on the type and stage of cancer, as well as the overall health of the patient.
Surgery: This involves the removal of cancerous tissue through an operation. Surgery is often used to treat solid tumors and is typically the first line of treatment for many types of cancer.
Radiation therapy: This uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy can be delivered externally, using a machine to target the tumor, or internally, through the insertion of radioactive material into the body close to the cancer cells.
Chemotherapy: This uses drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs can be given intravenously or orally and travel throughout the body to kill cancer cells.
Immunotherapy: It is a relatively new treatment that uses the patient's own immune system to fight cancer. It can help the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, or block signals that cancer cells use to avoid detection.
Targeted therapy: It is a type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific cancer cells without harming normal cells. They target specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival.
Hormone therapy: This treatment stops cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow. Some types of cancer, such as breast and prostate cancer, depend on hormones to grow, so hormone therapy is designed to lower the levels of these hormones or block their effects on the cancer cells.
In some cases, a combination of treatments may be used, and clinical trials may also be an option for patients with cancer. Additionally, researchers are actively working on developing new treatments and therapies for cancer, including immunotherapies that harness the power of the immune system to fight cancer cells, and gene therapies that target specific genetic mutations that drive the growth of cancer cells
It's important to mention that which of these treatments are recommended and in which order may vary depending on the specific type, stage and progression of cancer, as well as patient's health, goals and preferences.
New treatments
There have been multiple new developments in the world of oncology ranging from genetic engineering to AI.
Precision oncology
Precision oncology is said to be the ‘best new weapon to defeat cancer’(Chief executive of Genetron Health, Sizhen Wang). It involves studying the genetic makeup and molecular characteristics of cancer tumours in individual patients, thereby identifying changes in cells which cause cancer to grow and spread.
Since these treatments are targeted, unlike chemotherapy, there would be less harm to healthy cells and fewer side effects.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence and machine learning are being used to revolutionize cancer care and diagnosis. It involves using AI technologies to analyze X-rays and detect cancer, which would reduce the need for imaging experts. Another way AI helps is through risk profiling for common cancers, leading to early detection.
CAR-T-cell therapy
CAR-T cell therapy is a new cutting-edge treatment for cancer and has seen recent success specifically in Leukemia, particularly in the case of Doug Olsen, who was diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukaemia. The CAR-T cells injected into his body had seemingly killed off cancer within a few weeks, and since then, he has been in remission for more than 10 years. From then on, some CAR-T cell therapies have been approved by the US food and drug administration.
CAR-T-cell therapies involve removing immune cells called T cells from a person with cancer, and genetically altering them so that they produce proteins — called chimeric antigen receptors, or CARs — that recognize cancer cells. The cells are then reinfused into the person, in the hope that they will seek out and destroy tumours.