Evolution of Cancer Treatment over the Last Decade - Research Paper Example

Evolution of Cancer Treatment over the Last Decade Introduction The human body is composed of a complex combination of cells, peripheries, organs and organ system. In the eyes of various experts and specialists human body happens to be the most complex machinery in the world, this can be associated to the fact that only the skeleton in humans is made up of more than 200 different kinds and types of bones. The organs and organ systems that exist in the human body are interdependent and are equally important for the healthy functioning of a person’s life. For instance take heart alone without the heart in a body one cannot imagine the circulation of blood in the veins and arteries of the body, not only this, but if blood is not circulated then the liver may cease to perform its function and in turn, kidney shall stop filtering the waste out of the body. If waste is not excreted out of the body then it will obstruct the digestion procedure and hence the process of assimilation will be hindered and ultimately the body will lack the energy that it requires to perform various tasks and thus one can imagine how the machinery inside the body functions. The Interdependence of Organs and Growth in Human Body The most significant components, however, in the body that lays the foundation of the entire human structure are cells. Cells in medical terms are known to be the building blocks of a human body. Every organ is composed of these cells. Blood circulation is the most important condition that is to be met for the continuation of life in a body cannot take place without the presence of cells. But the paradox is, if these cells start growing unnecessarily than they may prove to be as dangerous as being fatal. Cells in a human body are produced by the multiplication of existing cells and splitting of these cells provides the human body with its cell requirement from time to time. When the body does not require some cells, they die and are drained out of the body in various forms. However if the cells began to divide and give birth to more cells without the body needing them then this causes complexities in the body and leads to a disease known to us as cancer. Cancer is the abnormal growth of body cells and it may take place at any portion of the body. What is Cancer? Growth of the human body is a natural phenomenon and it takes place by virtue of the dispensable ability of the body cells. A cell divides into two, two divides into four and four into eight and so on and so forth, as per the body requirement. The DNA in the cells contains all the information regarding growth or demise of cells in the body if this information is corrupted, by reasons to be discussed later, leads to abnormal, malign growth of cells leading to cancer. The immune system of the body is capable to combat this malignant growth of cells but to a very limited extent. Once the growth goes beyond controllable limits the symptoms and effects of cancer will be prominent. The following figures illustrate the idea (PubMed Health). Diagrammatic illustration of Cancer Impact of Cancers in Numbers To date, there exist more than 200 different types of cancers. The web of cancer is engulfing more and more people into death every year and it accounted for more than 7.6 million deaths in 2008 alone. Lung Cancer, Stomach Cancer, Liver Cancer, Colon Cancer and Breast Cancer are the most commonly recurring cancer types in humans. Cancer Type Number of Death Registered in 2008 Lung 1.4 million Stomach 740,000 Liver 700,000 Colorectal 610,000 Breast 460,000 The table above gives an account of deaths caused by different types of cancers in 2008 (Fact sheet N°297). As can be seen lung cancer is the most fatal and common of all, is mainly due to excessive smoking. Causes of Cancer Most deaths are caused by Lung Cancer in 2008 signifies that smoking is one of the primary causes of cancers among humans however there are various other causes of cancer as well. Exposure to ultraviolet and other high frequency radiations, intake of alcohol and excessive use of smoking, viruses and bacteria causing infections and ageing are one of the premier causes to cancer (CNN). The treatment and diagnosis of this fatal disease has gained advancement and medical attention in recent past and there has been various landmarks achieved by the field of medicine in generating and inventing methodologies that could assist them in treating patients carrying cancer cells on their body. The following section of this paper will discuss the evolution that cancer treatment has come across over the period of time. Treatment of Cancer and its Evolution The oldest surgical treatment of cancer can be traced back from the Egyptian era of pre 500 BC, where Cancer was considered to be a disease that cannot be treated and the surgery was made by means of a painful methodology of fire drill, where the malignant cells were removed by using fire and other man made instruments to truncate the cancer cells from the body. Post 500 BC came to limelight the Humour Theory from an ancient Greek Physician based on traditional and conventional methods of treating human illnesses such as bloodletting. It was believed that the blood in the body may have risen to unnecessary levels and thus it was expelled out of the body with the objective to get rid of the unwanted blood that may have accumulated over some bodily organ, voluntarily. Post 1000 AD marked the commencement of excision into cancer therapy. The affected segment of the body was excised until the point where the affected portion was completely carved out of the body and the healthy tissue looked prominent. This type of a treatment looked good on the face of it, however it was very perilous when it comes to the treatment of major organs of the body such as breasts. Renaissance period, with respect to the treatment of cancer, holds great importance as a lot many landmarks were achieved in the field of science and medicine. Great minds like Newton and Galileo came to the surface with eye opening theories and unasked questions becoming the word of mouth in public. In this era with the expansion of science and education the scientists and physicians were able to better understand the human body and its diseases and surgery was identified and introduced to be the best possible cure of the cancer. With their understanding of the human body, physicians were better able to understand the nature of different kinds of cancers and thus propose and different therapy and surgery to each kind, differently (Knol). The nineteenth century led the field of medicine in to an era of the study of micro organisms with the use of the latest invention known as microscope. For the first time in history the disease of cancer was studied at a micro level and physicians found themselves in a better position to learn the development of cancer and malignant cell growth in the body based on their observations and studies instead of assumptions and guess work done in the past. This era was also marked by the introduction of anesthesia and rearing and development of pathologists. Anesthesia made the cancer surgery painless for the patient while the pathologist was now a specialist who could study and examine the removed infected tissues from the body and advice the surgeon regarding the surgery and its future possibilities. Twentieth century opened doors to another era marked by continuous advancements and developments made in the field of medicine. Genetics, cell cycles, radioactivity and growth and division of cells this lead to the beginning of endless possibilities in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer among the physicians and doctors. The medical experts and researchers got to study various dimensions of this disease and got closer to its treatment and cure. New discoveries were made to unveil the unheard causes of cancer. This made inroads into not only the cure and treatment of cancer but also into ways that could help in prevention of cancer. Heredity and genetics opened new chapters into the study of cancer as the experts analyzed that inheritance plays a vital role in the adoption and acquisition of cancer by individuals. Twentieth century also led to the science and mechanism of transmission of cancer from one living being to another and this time the inroads were made into the transmission of cancer from hen to man. The hen carried a virus that if transmitted into the human body could embed itself their and transform into a tumor with the passage of time. So here this can be noticed that although science and technology assisted the field of medicine and took it an extra mile a head in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer but on the other hand it also disposed a lot of intricacies that were unveiled before. The scope of cancer kept on broadening and doctors were now looking for quicker and safer modes of treating cancer among the millions affected every year. Treatment of Cancer in the New Millennium This skeptical and intriguing scenario led the field of medicine and doctors to this new millennium. The technology has progressed at lightning speed during the first decade of this century. Fantasies have been transformed into realities. The developments in the treatment of cancer are one such set of examples. Mutilating and painful incisions and operations have become a rare medical practice when it comes to the treatment of cancer. Cyrosurgery, Radiation Therapy and Hormone Therapy are the modern methods employed by physicians today to treat their patients for cancer. These new procedures have completely revolutionised the conventional methods of treatment and removal of cancer from the body. Now with these latest inventions at the disposal of doctors and physicians a patient does not even realize that he has been treated for cancer. In Cyrosurgery the malign cells are made frozen and then removed all at once without peeling the body of the patient. Radiation therapy uses fast paced radiations to diminish the size of tumors and in majority of cases kill the cells with a scissor even touching the body of the patient. The dead cells are then drained or excreted out of the body. Among the various modes of Hormone Therapy, Molecular-Targeted Drugs and Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer are the most commonly practiced methods. In Molecular-Targeted drugs, medicines are made use of, to treat and control the growth of cancer cells. However this method is for the initial phases of cancer diagnosis and it is time consuming as well. Photodynamic Therapy refers to the usage of the combination of a specific drug and a particular light to kill the cancerous cells in the body. Indeed the treatment of cancer has become more convenient and painless in recent times but this development has downside to it as well. The Radio Therapy and other methods are entirely based on technology and their usage is overwhelmingly dependent upon the knowledge, skill and caliber of the physician. Hence the treatment of cancer in modern age is discriminatory and specialized and is not accessible to one and all alike. LDCs and Third World Countries are snail paced at adapting to the technological advancements, similarly the physicians in these countries are not equipped with the skill to handle sophisticated tools for the treatment of cancer and this limits the treatment of cancer and the developments made in recent times, geographically (Wells). On the other hand the treatment with modern techniques is expensive and is not accessible to everyone alike. Every year millions of patients lose their fight with battle at the hands of poverty and unavailability of modern tools of treatment of the disease. This is where modern technology has lagged behind in its impact from the older times where though the limited knowledge of physicians and less sophisticated tools were available for the curing of this disease but were accessible to one and all alike (Knol). Conclusion With the entire discussion in hand one can clearly observe the developments and transformations that the diagnosis and treatment of cancer has been through over the period of time. The researches and extensive studies conducted by physicians and scientists have made the diagnosis and treatment of cancer way simpler and convenient as compare to the past with the inception of notions like Hormone Therapy and Radiation Therapy. However the authorities in developed nations must collaborate at the international level and ensure that the newly invented and introduced sophisticated methods of diagnosis and treatment of cancer are not only accessible and viable for the well to do class in the world. Works Cited CNN, A look at the most common cancers, 29 Jan 2009. 30 Nov 2011. Fact sheet N°297, Cancer, n.d. Oct 2011. 30 Nov 2011. Knol. History of Cancer Treatment. 23 Mar 2009. 30 Nov 2011. PubMed Health, How do cancer cells grow and spread? 19 Mar 2010. 30 Nov 2011. S. D. Wells, Hospitals raking in cash from unnecessary surgery for dying seniors, 29 Oct 2011. 30 Nov 2011. < http://www.naturalnews.com/034013_hospital_profits_Medicare.html> Read More