Will there be a cure for cancer in this country.

?Cancer? is a word that can spoil anyone?s good mood.

To oncologists, it is a collective idea covering more than 100 malignant diseases. In our century cancer is ?Killer No?.2.and the struggle against it is an unrelenting one. Many people believe that many of its forms will be defeated before the year 2000. Does this optimism have any foundation?

We certainly do pin great hopes on the ?20th? century and there is every reason to believe that many varieties of cancer will be defeated before it ends. Discoveries in biochemistry, geneti?s, virology, immunology and many other sciences are good omens. We can already talk about the characteristics of cancer cells. They multiply sporadically, invading and destroying the normal tissue surrounding them. The cell can be spread through the blood or lymph canals throughout the organism and new accumulations are produced, which we call metastasis. Many or the attributes of cancer cells have been described- the structure of their envelope, genetic characteristics, biochemical peculiarities, the pattern of behavior, multiplication and growth etc. Electronic microscopes have photographed the cell?s tiniest components. And yet, the cell closely guards its chief secret. We still don?t know the basic cause of the regeneration of a normal cell into a tumour cell.

It has been proved that some tumours in animals are of viral origin. As for human tumours, proof exists that the so-called lympho - sacromas in children living in equatorial. Africs- are of viral origin. Nevertheless, cancer is not infectious. Numerous observations have shown that cancer is not transmitted from one human being to another. There are no grounds to fear contagion. If this were so people working in medical establishments in constant contact with ontological patients would be the first to get it. But, ig they do develop cancer, the incidence is not any higher than for the overall population.

Every tumour form has its own set of causes. Twenty six chemical substance the so called cancerogenous substances which are likely to induce different tumours - have been discovered .To prevent contact with these cancerogens means in reality to prevent cancer. A great deal has already been done to this end. There are other factors conductive to malignant growth- natural - climatic conditions and noxious habits and noxious customs habits like smoking.

According to Academician N.N. Petrov of the Academy of Medical Sciences one of the founders of oncology in our country it is incorrect to speak of any single cause of cancer. This is one of the reasons why tumour growth is studied by advocates of the chemical origin, as well as by virologists, immunologists and people in many specialties and sciences.

And yet, can we talk about prevention of malignant tumours if the main cause of why they originate is known? Yes, we can. There have been many instances where active prevention of a diseases was practiced long before its cause was discovered. Edward Jenner, who came up with the idea of inoculations against smallpox, was unaware of the pathogen of the disease. Louis Pasteur developed an anti-rabies vaccine long before the pathogen was isolated. Preventing malignant tumours includes the prevention of occupational tumours, the detection and treatment of pretumour conditions, the combatting of noxious customs and habits, mass oncological screening and a proper anti-cancer health education.

There are more than 20 institutes of oncology, roentgen logy and radiology and about 300 specialized oncological clinics. There are mass screenings at outpatient clinic and consultation centres.

Suffice it to say that 80 to 90 per cent of all instances of pretumour conditions are revealed during these screenings. One of the most effective ways of controlling cancer is to put cancer cases on the list for regular follow ? up treatment at specialized clinics.

The idea of ?a cured malignant tumour? has a definite meaning. A person is considered cured if he or she still alive five years after treatment, without relapses or the development of metastases. But many people live for 15-20 years and more after treatment.

Only recently, a women with cancer of the uterus. Now chemotherapy not only cures her, but give her a chance to have absolutely healthy children. Of course a lot depends on the doctor, but the patient?s attention to his own health is also important. Once my teacher N. N. Petrov was asked if there is specific reaction to cancer. This was his answer. Yes, there is ? there are even two reactions: The person?s correct reaction to his complaints. If the two reactions coincide, the patient can usually look forward to a positive outcome ?Today many effective ways have been elaborated to spot cancer tumours early- cytological, chemical and immunological techniques, different X ? ray methods, etc. In recent years combined treatment has been increasingly favoured: surgery is combained with radiation or chemotherapy, and radiation treatment with drugs. The laser has opened up prospects of blood surgery, and today a surgeon can perform the most intricate operations in a fraction of a second without anesthetizing the patient. Electronic accelerations and gamma therapeutic equipment are used to expose tumours situated deep in the tissues to radiation.

Date: 2016-06-13; view: 131