The Influence of Cancer at BODIESThe Exhibition - Essay Example

The Influence of Cancer at “BODIES…The Exhibition” Table of Contents Table of Contents Introduction 2 Lung Cancer 2 Breast Cancer 4 Pancreatic Cancer 5 Liver Cancer 6 Colon Cancer 7 Conclusion 8 Sources Cited 9 Introduction “BODIES…The Exhibition” is an educational program based around the display of human anatomy, using corpses of diseased individuals who left their remains to science for medical purposes. The visual power of seeing the human body exposed and transparent after death is shocking to the casual viewer, yet the power of the exhibit is in how the display communicates the breakdown of the organs in disease. “BODIES…The Exhibition” operates in one manner as a warning to the people who view the corpses, as the gross effects of human diseases are explicitly displayed, and this in turn encourages the return of behavior in the individual to a healthy lifestyle. Yet, “BODIES…The Exhibition” also functions as an educational exhibit where students can study the anatomy of the human body in its normal and abnormal forms in order to see directly how the effects of disease transform the individual to ultimately result in death. The controversy of this exhibit is generally overcome in the first hour of viewing, with shock and horror slowly transforming into fascination with the details of human anatomy. Ultimately, “BODIES…The Exhibition” is an excellent opportunity for students of medical science to study the effects of ravaging disease and to conduct research into the physical effects that disease has upon the body. Because cancer is one of the leading causes of death in America, the exhibition provides a venue to learn more about this disease in detail, as well as encouraging the learning of healthy lifestyle habits that will assist in the prevention of these diseases from occurring. Lung Cancer One of the most powerful anti-cancer messages found at the “BODIES…The Exhibition” display is related to the effects of lung cancer in cigarette and tobacco smokers. According to Cheryl G. Healton, CEO of the Legacy campaign to encourage people to stop smoking, “Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and cigarette smoking causes most cases of lung cancer. Nearly 75 percent of lung cancer deaths in women and almost 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men are a result of smoking.” (Tobacco World, 2010) The “BODIES…The Exhibition” display shows a stark example of the differences between a healthy human lung, and one that has been decimated by cancer. The blackened effects of smoke, tar, and other accumulated residues in the lung can be seen clearly by the viewers, causing many smokers to question whether they really want to continue to engage in this type of behavior after seeing the effects on the body. Many anti-smoking groups, such as The American Cancer Society, have invited the “BODIES…The Exhibition” display to locations across the country to show the “Respiratory Gallery” publicly, in order that viewers will be able to see the stark contrast between healthy anatomy and the lungs of smokers. (Valdez, 2010) Dr. Roy Glover, Chief Medical Director of “BODIES…The Exhibition” highlighted the importance of this educational campaign to the public when he stated, “Tobacco-related death is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and, if we can positively influence one person who visits BODIES…The Exhibition and sees the damage caused by smoking, then we have done our job.” (Tobacco World, 2010) The “Respiration Gallery” shows how the exhibit functions as a public service message to encourage healthy lifestyle choices in individuals by displaying the stark realities of lung cancer, and the exhibit also encourages these choices by providing related health information on smoking cessation. Breast Cancer Breast Cancer awareness groups have also followed the example of The American Cancer Society in attempting to use the “BODIES…The Exhibition” displays to raise consciousness for their movement. “BODIES…The Exhibition” uses the same methodology as the lung cancer display with breast cancer, by showing a comparison of a healthy breast in the same room as a cancer victim and her diseased breast. The emphasis of this display is to encourage women to also seek early inspection of breasts by qualified physicians in order to attempt to detect the “lumps” which are the early signs of this form of cancer. According to LiveStrong, part of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, “Breast cancer typically starts as a small group of cells in the breast that begin to grow in an out-of-control manner. Consequently, some of the earliest effects of breast cancer are localized lumps and masses within the breast.” (Cloe, 2011) The Mayo Clinic reports that breast cancer can spread to the entire body from the original lumps, and thereby affect even the lungs, bones, liver, and other organs. (Cloe, 2011) Because there is no direct causality known between lifestyle issues such as smoking and the onset of breast cancer, early detection or vigilant awareness is the most important aspect. If the lumps signifying early detection of the disease are found, they can usually be removed by doctors through surgery that is less harmful and destructive than late stage detection which may require the removal of the entire breast. By presenting this information with a stark visual portrait of the disease, “BODIES…The Exhibition” provides a public service message that encourages women to seek early detection and healthy diet as the primary means to address the unique problems that breast cancer presents to women. Pancreatic Cancer The “BODIES…The Exhibition” display calls direct attention to Pancreatic Cancer, highlighting this particularly with the fact that Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently died from the disease on their blog. The “BODIES…The Exhibition” display states that 44,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer are detected by doctors each year, and that an estimated 37,000 people in America die of the disease every year. (BodiesExhibit, 2011) “BODIES…The Exhibition” allows visitors to view the effects of pancreatic cancer on the body through its typical use of transparent corpses and cadavers that have dedicated their bodies to science. The U.S. National Library of Medicine lists pancreatic cancer as a leading cause of death in America, and describes the main treatment for the disease as the “Whipple Operation.” (Dugdale et al., 2011) The Whipple Operation involves the removal of the “pancreas, the gallbladder, the duodenum, the pylorus (outlet of the stomach) and the distal (lower) part of the stomach.” (Dugdale et al., 2011) The best advice for the avoidance of pancreatic cancer is a healthy lifestyle, as there is not known a cause and effect relationship between the onset of this disease and specific environmental factors. Like breast cancer, genetic propensities may ultimately determine the development of pancreatic cancer in individuals, making it a dangerous form of cancer because it is also difficult to detect. Steve Jobs famously avoided medical treatment for his pancreatic tumor when first detected, instead preferring to attempt alternative treatments to the disease but ultimately having his liver replaced through transplantation when the cancer spread to other organs. Time Magazine reported, “Pancreatic cancer is one of the faster spreading cancers; only about 4% of patients can expect to survive five years after their diagnosis.” (Park, 2011) Liver Cancer The “BODIES…The Exhibition” display shows a vividly scarred or cirrhosis beset liver of a deceased person and compares this to a normal, healthy liver specimen. Liver Cancer is another major cause of death in America, with chronic alcohol abuse contributing to this disease in the same manner as smoking effects the lungs. The U.S. National Library of Medicine states that, “In most cases, the cause of liver cancer is usually scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). Cirrhosis may be caused by: Alcohol abuse (the most common cause in the United States) Autoimmune diseases of the liver Hepatitis B or C virus infection Inflammation of the liver that is long-term (chronic) Iron overload in the body (hemochromatosis) Patients with hepatitis B or C are at risk for liver cancer, even if they have not developed cirrhosis.” (Dugdale et al., 2011) The main ways to avoid the onset of this disease are to keep a healthy diet, avoid the abuse of alcohol, and to receive the vaccinations against Hepatitis that are available from a healthcare professional. If liver cancer is contracted, chemotherapy, liver transplant, or radiotherapy may be used to treat the disease, according to Cancer Research UK. (CancerHelp, 2011) As advance awareness remains a critical element to prevention of liver cancer through the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, the viewing of scarred liver specimens in cadavers at the “BODIES…The Exhibition” display can inspire people to maintain vigilance on their lifestyle to avoid the causes of this disease, and also to encourage others to do the same by avoiding alcoholism. Colon Cancer According to Medicinenet, “Globally, cancer of the colon and rectum is the third leading cause of cancer in males and the fourth leading cause of cancer in females.” (MedicineNet, 2011) At “BODIES…The Exhibition” the effects of this disease can be seen in graphic detail in comparison to a healthy large intestine. The causality of colon cancer has not been definitively determined, as in most cases of lung and liver cancer which relate to abuse of the organs. Most researchers believe that diet, elimination cycles, environmental exposures, and genetics combine in the cause of colon cancer. This form of cancer can be detected and potentially treated early through the regular use of colonoscopy examinations which are beneficially for both male and female persons. The American Cancer Society has stated that a diet that is high in red meat will also increase the potential onset of colon cancer. (Chen, 2010) In viewing the effects of colon cancer at “BODIES…The Exhibition,” it is clear that the disease will ravage the human body and require considerable medical attention, such as chemotherapy, amputation of the lower intestine, or treatment with new drugs such as “Provenge” by the Dendreon pharmaceutical company. As the effects of colon cancer are widespread across the population, but African American and Eastern European males are considered most highly at risk statistically, these groups should pay the most attention to screening processes while any male over the age of 60 should also have a routine colonoscopy examination for prevention. (Chen, 2010) While dietary and genetic factors appear to be the most important in the causation of colon cancer, the vivid displays of the disease at “BODIES…The Exhibition” should make it clear that this disease is a severe threat to individual and national health, and encourage both researchers and students to increase their efforts in searching for a cure. Conclusion There is one experience which consists of reading about a disease, and another to see the cadavers on display with the vivid details of their disease made transparent to the world as in “BODIES…The Exhibition.” Even the most detailed photos in medical textbooks fail to carry the full impact of disease that the cadavers at “BODIES…The Exhibition” communicate to the crowd. As the majority of the viewers of this display appear to be students and not medical professionals, the information presented and graphic detail of disease offers a preventative message for lifestyle choices that can assist in the national development of anti-cancer initiatives. For this reason, The American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer and Lung Cancer awareness groups have all joined together with “BODIES…The Exhibition” to use the facilities of the displays in alignment with their anti-cancer messages. Whereas lung cancer, liver cancer, and colon cancer are related in some ways to lifestyle choices, there is not always even in these instances a direct relationship between personal mistakes or individual faults and the onset of disease. Rather, deep genetic issues, environmental exposures, immunity, cell regeneration, and old age all combine in ways that continue to elude scientific research to find a cure in the causation of cancer. One effect of the “BODIES…The Exhibition” display should be to encourage participants or viewers to increase their resolve to find a cure for cancer. Because this involves not only scientific research, but also individual lifestyle choices such as quitting smoking, maintaining moderate alcohol use, eating a good diet of fresh whole foods ideally free of chemicals, pesticides, and other artificial preservatives, as well as avoiding other toxins in the environment that might be present in pollution, individuals should attempt to take responsibility for their own health as a means to avoid cancer. The main message promoted at “BODIES…The Exhibition” is the need for awareness, and the power of awareness in creating action. Therefore, the graphic detail in this display can be justified in the manner that it brings awareness to a larger segment of the population that may typically ignore scientific or medical warnings related to cancer, and to encourage personal responsibility in the face of death. Sources Cited BodiesExhibit. Pancreatic Cancer: The Silent Killer. BODIES…The Exhibition, 10-31-11. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. ‹ http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/news/90-pancreatic-killer-silent-killer.html›. CancerHelp UK. Hepatocellular carcinoma is cancer. Cancer Research UK, Types of treatment for liver cancer, 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. ‹http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001325/›. Chen, Yi-Bin. Colon cancer. A.D.A.M., Inc., URAC, 12/28/2010. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. ‹http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000262.htm›. Cloe, Adam. How Does Breast Cancer Affect the Body? LiveStrong, Mar 8, 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. ‹http://www.livestrong.com/article/23300-breast-cancer-affect-body/#ixzz1dyen228e›. Dugdale, David C. III, MD et al. Hepatocellular carcinoma. A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia, 8/24/2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. ‹http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001325/›. Dugdale, David C. III, MD et al. Pancreatic carcinoma. A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia, 8/24/2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. ‹http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001283/›. MedicineNet. Colon Cancer (Colorectal Cancer). MedicineNet, Inc., 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. ‹http://www.medicinenet.com/colon_cancer/article.htm›. Park, Alice. The Pancreatic Cancer That Killed Steve Jobs. Time, October 5, 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. ‹http://healthland.time.com/2011/10/05/the-pancreatic-cancer-that-killed-steve-jobs/#ixzz1dyYoWf7x›. Tobacco World Blog. The Exhibition Partner to Encourage Life Without Cigarettes During Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Cigarette reviews and news, 02 November 2010. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. ‹http://cigarettesnews.blog.com/2010/11/02/the-exhibition-partner-to-encourage-life-without-cigarettes-during-lung-cancer-awareness-month/›. VALDEZ, EMILY. Bodies Exhibit Aims to Help Smokers Kick the Habit. Fox 8 News, November 18, 2010. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. ‹http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-bodies-exhibit-aims-to-help-smokers-quit-txt,0,4604135.story›. Read More