NationStates Jolt Archive

Although we've made strides at conquering this monster, it now appears that it takes so many different forms that a specific cure will have to be developed for each sort. There is no "silver bullet."

Will we ever have a cure?

Spam!

Pappy!!
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=10208255&posted=1#post10208255

Cancer is just a bastard. My aunt has lung cancer and has had 1/2 of each lung removed. She cant even walk from the sofa to the kitchen without having to sit down. And now they think it has spread and/or evolved into skin cancer. My lord...

Pappy!!
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=10208255&posted=1#post10208255

Cancer is just a bastard. My aunt has lung cancer and has had 1/2 of each lung removed. She cant even walk from the sofa to the kitchen without having to sit down. And now they think it has spread and/or evolved into skin cancer. My lord...
I changed this thread into a general thread about cancer. Should prove interesting.

So sorry to hear about your aunt. :(

well you might wanna request it to be renamed.....or else they will trash it. And they will want to hang me for it too!

I always have this paranoid feeling that I will get cancer one day. WHen in reality, its highly more likely for me to end up with diabetes. Another bastard of a disease.

lol Viagra....

well its no surprise to me that you are taking it like a champ and have a positive outlook. I think its remarkable that you are handling it like that. You and Zooke are both in my prayers.......email me or tg me if theres anything I can do.

I dont think we hear enough about cancer research nowadays. Are they slacking on finding the cure or is there good solid research being done?

well you might wanna request it to be renamed.....or else they will trash it. And they will want to hang me for it too!

I always have this paranoid feeling that I will get cancer one day. WHen in reality, its highly more likely for me to end up with diabetes. Another bastard of a disease.
Well, I found out a number of interesting things while they were doing that bastid of a physical on me:

* I have a couple of mild anurisms. Both are very small and uniform so the doctor told me not to even bother having them checked for another ten years or so, especially if I get back into strenuous physical exercise, which I intend to do as soon as possible.

* I have a gallstone, which is not very big as of yet, so no need to be concerned about that.

* My blood sugar was slightly elevated, but now days they try to jump on that early, so I'm on a diet that severely limits my pasta and bread intake.

* My colesterol is well within normal limits, but they said the diet will help that as well.

* My weight is also within normal limits and I don't have a pot, which is definitely a good thing! :D

* My cardio-vasular function is that of a man about 1/2 my age, which is probably a result of having run ten miles every other day for many years. The cardiac specialist even asked me what the hell I was doing in his office! :D

All in all, not too bad for an old man who just had his prostate removed! :D

Not bad at all.....I salute you. Preventative measures are so important and I didnt realize that until I was about 28. I watched my dad die a slow painful death, which could have been avoided had he taken care of himself.It made me realize...."damn...you better start taking better care of yourself Kel."

which I should start doing immediately!


i'm going to bed love....see you tomorrow. :fluffle:

Not bad at all.....I salute you. Preventative measures are so important and I didnt realize that until I was about 28. I watched my dad die a slow painful death, which could have been avoided had he taken care of himself.It made me realize...."damn...you better start taking better care of yourself Kel."

which I should start doing immediately!

i'm going to bed love....see you tomorrow. :fluffle:
"Love." She called me "love!" [ does a delighted lil dance ]

Night sweetie!

Of course they will, assuming they don't chop up the entire rainforest.

Pappy!!
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=10208255&posted=1#post10208255

Cancer is just a bastard. My aunt has lung cancer and has had 1/2 of each lung removed. She cant even walk from the sofa to the kitchen without having to sit down. And now they think it has spread and/or evolved into skin cancer. My lord...
I'm sorry to hear that. I hope it all turns out okay:fluffle:

I've had quite a bit of experience with cancer...Let's run down the list.

Grandfather only quit smoking when he started coughing up blood. Big surprise here, died of lung cancer. Didn't help that the house was built into a mountain, and therefore had high radon. Also in the genetics from both parents.

Grandmother. this is a fun one. She had colon cancer, cervical (I think), skin (possibly caused by a chemical spill from the Sikorsky helicopter factory behind her house), and finally brain. All had atleast mild relation to genetics.
My mother, after a colonoscopy, said "never let me say my mother never gave me anything. She gave the the yearly gift of a camera and garden hose up the ass", then went back to sleep.

Great uncle died of lung cancer (fully genetic as far as I know)

Uncle has lung cancer (lived in basement of high radon house)

friend died 6 months ago due to leukemia which later spread.

sisters friend has leukemia, but is now 90% clear as of last check

edit: friends (ex girlfriend actually) mother has breast cancer...I had to explain what was going on to her younger brothers (15 and 10). That wasn't easy

Me and my sister are pretty much guarenteed to have atleast one kind of cancer. I'm not helping it by smoking, but I am planning on quitting. soon.

My mom has 6 brain tumours. Seems to be doing fine though, she goes in for treatment 4 times a week.

lol Viagra....

well its no surprise to me that you are taking it like a champ and have a positive outlook. I think its remarkable that you are handling it like that. You and Zooke are both in my prayers.......email me or tg me if theres anything I can do.

I dont think we hear enough about cancer research nowadays. Are they slacking on finding the cure or is there good solid research being done?
there is some good research being done...particularly St. Judes. It isn't publicized nearly as much, which is sad...there is currently a new chemo under testing out in Seattle. My friends mother is in the testing. You keep your hair, sickness is reduced, and it is looking to be pretty effective. Not effective enough to save her sadly, but will keep her alive and decently healthy to see her oldest graduate college, and her youngest into atleast late middleschool.


Well, I found out a number of interesting things while they were doing that bastid of a physical on me:*snip*
oy...lol. Of course you would have that long of a list. Just can't do anything the easy way now can ya;)

It seems, if Zookes assertations are correct, that "physical" reactions to certain visual stimuli (ie a certain documentary) are still strong (hey, she asked me to check it out for her and "tease the hell out of [you]" for it);)

No, I don't think there will ever be a "cure for cancer."

Because all the various forms of cancer are in a lot of ways different. There will no more be a "cure for cancer" than there ever will be a "cure for viruses" or a "cure for bacteria" (antibiotics come close to that last one - but again, it's a whole set of different things, not a "single cure for bacteria". And many are developing resisnance now anyway.).

The one thing cancers have in common - they end up being groups of cells that grow and divide way more than they're supposed to.

But unfortunately, it is very hard to harness that to "cure cancer", since normal cells also grow and divide, so it is hard to target the cancer without also killing normal dividing cells.

Other than that, cancers can be quite different. There are various mutations that can start cells on the path to killing you.

So my guess is that no, there will never be a "cure for cancer." However, I hope that eventually we'll have found ways to deal with the most common types of cancers, thus effectively making most cancers treatable...

There is a cure. It's vitamin b17. Look it up.

There is a cure. It's vitamin b17. Look it up.

Are you serious? Or is this sarcasm?

Hmm...what cancer does it work with, though?

Sadly, no. I don't think so. I think we'll get some effective treatments that will help lower the fatality rate, and will provide better treatments, but considering what cancer is... No, I don't think we'll see an outright cure ever.

It's sad to hear that so many NSers have been touched, either personally or from a loved one, by it. To join the list, my father died of leukemia contracted thanks to the almighty wisdom of the US DoD (US Army x-ray tech in Vietnam with improaperly shielded equipment and delt with many men coming out of the field coated in the anti-foliant Agent Orange).

Thankfully I, no my sister, got childhood leukemia, but we're both at increased risk for it later in life, as well our children.

There is a cure. It's vitamin b17. Look it up.
thats preventative, but not a cure (also, there is no clinical proof for its effectiveness)

the closest we have to a cure is chemo, radio, and surgical removal. All 3 are harsh and invasive. New drugs are in the works, but as said before, what kills one will not kill the other.

It is actually interesting how they find cures. First you find a chemical (through radioactive tracking) that goes to the proper area of the body. Then you find a chemical that will kill the cells you want killed, while leaving (most) of the good cells alive. Then you figure out a blend that will work. Alot of very expensive work in that.

sadly, genetic engineering looks to be the most promising "cure" for cancer, but I don't see that working, as cancer is the result of a mutation, which can occur later in life.

Me and my sister are pretty much guarenteed to have atleast one kind of cancer. I'm not helping it by smoking, but I am planning on quitting. soon.
Quit. NOW! :p

There are several things people who are prone to genetically inherited cancer can do to minimize their risks. You probably know most of them already, but here are a few I've recently learned about:

* Eat lots of leafy, green vegetables, as well as broccoli, carrots, etc.

* Drink pomagranet juice. Really high in anti-oxidants. Also cranberry juice and tomato juice.

* Make sure your diet includes lots of roughage. It helps greatly in preventing colon cancer.

* Do not smoke or use alcohol to excess, although one or at the most two glasses of red wine per day has beneficial effects.

* Above all else, keep yourself in good physical condition. There is a high correlation between excess body fat and various forms of cancer. Besides, you'll be better able to endure the various "treatments" if you're in good shape.

I think for a general cure it would require the development of some type of nanotech - or other molecular level - approach.

I can see it happening eventually, but not in the space of the next few years.

Quit. NOW! :p

There are several things people who are prone to genetically inherited cancer can do to minimize their risks. You probably know most of them already, but here are a few I've recently learned about:

* Eat lots of leafy, green vegetables, as well as broccoli, carrots, etc.

* Drink pomagranet juice. Really high in anti-oxidants. Also cranberry juice and tomato juice.

* Make sure your diet includes lots of roughage. It helps greatly in preventing colon cancer.

* Do not smoke or use alcohol to excess, although one or at the most two glasses of red wine per day has beneficial effects.

* Above all else, keep yourself in good physical condition. There is a high correlation between excess body fat and various forms of cancer. Besides, you'll be better able to endure the various "treatments" if you're in good shape.

oy...I'm planning on quitting. I can stop for a day or two, but then want one. Tis a dirty dirty habit that I really wish I never started (damn stress). Doesn't help that the last two times I tried to quit were finals week (stress) and in the caribbean (freedom and lots of alcohol). But I swear I will quit.

Dad is a doctor, so I find out alot of stuff from him...there is a bit of debate about the effects of antioxidants as it is too new of a concept to really have clinical backing. I'm actually in a study that has helped to prove that cholesterol causes heart attacks and all that good stuff (started out as a nurses study, and is now the children of nurses [my mother])

that being said, they cannot harm you. Green tea is very high in antioxidants, as are most fruits.
cranberry juice is great for urinary tract. Fiber is great for digestive tract. Both are susceptable to cancer, and these things are known to help prevent cancer.

recent studies have shown that two servings of any alcohol are beneficial. It forms a perfect bell curve (0 drinks does the same as 4, 1 as 3, and 2 is peak benefit). Red wine will help the heart, beer the gut, and liquor depends on ingredients. Take this carefully, as you CAN become addicted to those 2 servings a day.

smoking is the single worst thing you can do (Yes, Eut. I know, I know.) It kills all systems, and has no substantial benefits to outway cost. Don't start. If you do, stop.

being in good physical shape will never harm you. Expanded muscles means more bone (females take note of this in particular). Also, expanded lungs (in case of partial removal, you have a greater base ammount) stronger heart (able to heal faster) and better immune system (potential to knock out even cancer in earlier stages).

If I think of more, I'll add.

I believe that, within 50 years or so, there will be a cure of nearly every type of cancer that we have in existence, even if the cures will be spotty and people will be better off with some sort of vaccine. Frankly, a vaccine might be the better route. Humanity will overcome cancer and AIDS in this time, however, as long as the will is there.

Politics and corporate strangleholds may not prevent a cure from being developed for cancer or AIDS; it may, however, slow down the spread of such a cure or even a vaccine. Imagine trying to vaccinate all of Africa, Southeast Asia, and India; it's hardly practical.

The bad news is that new diseases will pop up in their place. Some diseases are largely the fault of humans; others are just misfortune. SARS and most types of flu are just misfortune with transmission by some normal human habits such as travel; cancer is almost entirely a human issue, considering that lung cancer is caused mainly by smoking, working in mines, or living around chemicals. Cancer will make it difficult on us, since it does come in so many forms and can likely evolve into more resistant forms of cancer. We can beat cancer, and vaccines are likely going to help (though not as much as for AIDS), but we can't get complacent. Viruses and bacteria aren't going anywhere, and humanity is always going to be fighting diseases.

smoking is the single worst thing you can do (Yes, Eut. I know, I know.) It kills all systems, and has no substantial benefits to outway cost. Don't start. If you do, stop.


But smoking is cool. All the other kids say so.

Although we've made strides at conquering this monster, it now appears that it takes so many different forms that a specific cure will have to be developed for each sort. There is no "silver bullet."

Will we ever have a cure?

I think the question is - is it possible to stop it before it turns into cancer - something like a preventer rather than a cure which those at risk can take to lower their chances.

There are some cancers out there which can be plain well stopped through simple diet, exercise and healthy living, whilst others are through bad luck; if the avoidable ones can be reduced, and a way to prevent the others, it would be alot better than simply trying to look for that magical silver bullet.

If there is to be one, however, it'll have to be custom tailored to each individual's cancer type, thus making it completely uneconomically viable from a drug mass producers point of view.

I believe that, within 50 years or so, there will be a cure of nearly every type of cancer that we have in existence, even if the cures will be spotty and people will be better off with some sort of vaccine. Frankly, a vaccine might be the better route. Humanity will overcome cancer and AIDS in this time, however, as long as the will is there.

Politics and corporate strangleholds may not prevent a cure from being developed for cancer or AIDS; it may, however, slow down the spread of such a cure or even a vaccine. Imagine trying to vaccinate all of Africa, Southeast Asia, and India; it's hardly practical.

The bad news is that new diseases will pop up in their place. Some diseases are largely the fault of humans; others are just misfortune. SARS and most types of flu are just misfortune with transmission by some normal human habits such as travel; cancer is almost entirely a human issue, considering that lung cancer is caused mainly by smoking, working in mines, or living around chemicals. Cancer will make it difficult on us, since it does come in so many forms and can likely evolve into more resistant forms of cancer. We can beat cancer, and vaccines are likely going to help (though not as much as for AIDS), but we can't get complacent. Viruses and bacteria aren't going anywhere, and humanity is always going to be fighting diseases.

You are mostly right. the only issue that comes in is where cancer itself comes from. Unlike sars or aids, it is not an independent organism taking over the body. It is completely non-transmissable (IE you can not catch it). It is caused by a mutation in the genetic structure of cells. these mutations are usually fixed naturally by certain enzymes, or the cell dies. However, carcinogens cause so many mutations, or mutate so many cells, that one or two may survive. The mutations in cancerous cells causes them to grow and reproduce unchecked. (Actually, interestingly enough, if a carcinogen hit the right part of a cells genetic code, it could cause the cell to, lets say, glow in the dark, instead of become cancerous). As such, cancer itself can't mutate on its own, and can't reproduce and spread to new hosts. Types of cancer are finite. I don't think that a vaccine would work on cancer as the mutations occur during life. Genetic conditioning could make a person less likely to get these mutations tho.

As for other diseases, most of them rise from cities and living in close quarters with animals. It is only a matter of time and mutations before they make the leap from "monkey disease" to "monkey disease that can infect humans" to "human disease"

But smoking is cool. All the other kids say so.
atleast I can say that is definatly NOT why I started.