Understanding Cancer

Yes, those are the odds. On average, every third person we meet walking on the street will suffer from cancer sometime in their lives. And one out of four Singaporeans will die from it.

Most of us would have had the experience of someone close to us suffering from this dreaded disease, perhaps an acquaintance or even a relative. Despite cancer being so closely associated with our lives, many misconceptions about the disease abound. Many are left wondering if everyone carries cancer cells in their bodies and the disease is just waiting to erupt.

Cancer cells are derived from normal cells of the body. The cells of our body are constantly subjected to potentially damaging exposure such as environmental pollution, smoking, radiation and certain food. Some people are also more prone to such eff ects as a result of their genetic makeup.

Damaged cells may lose the normal mechanism controlling the usual process of cell growth and death and thus transform into cancer cells. Our body has an intrinsic mechanism for damage-repair and destruction of abnormal cells to suppress possible cancer cells from arising. Nevertheless, there will be occasions when this defense mechanism fails. Cancer cells are capable of multiplying at an alarming rate. By the time a tumour can be felt or seen on an X-ray, it would often measure at least one centimeter in diameter. A tumour measuring one centimeter carries a billion cancer cells and have already undergone the multiplication process thirty times. A further ten multiplications will create a trillion cancer cells, invariably causing death.

Can cancer be prevented?

Our incomplete understanding of the processes of cancer formation has handicapped our attempts to prevent cancer. Multiple factors cause cancer. Some of the processes have been elucidated, but much remains a mystery.

Many sensible recommendations for cancer prevention fall into the realm of common prudence. Some examples include avoiding cigarette smoking or the excessive use of alcohol.

The use of medications to prevent cancer has some successes in certain cancer-types. Drugs such as tamoxifen and raloxifene have demonstrated effi cacy in the reduction of breast cancer risk. However, as these medications may cause certain adverse eff ects, their use are currently limited to people who are identifi ed by their physicians to be at increased risk of breast cancer.

Vaccines against cancer-causing viruses are the latest weapons in our arsenal. A vaccine, Gardasil®, against human papilloma virus that plays a big role in cancer of the cervix, has recently been made available. The use of special diets and certain micronutrients such as vitamins to prevent cancer has created much interest in the medical community as well as the general public. Unfortunately, most well researched clinical trials have failed to demonstrate the eff ectiveness of this approach. With little rigorous scientific data supporting these myths about special diets in cancer prevention or for treatment, this approach remains unproven.

View Article As Advertise in Borneo Bulletin Friday, 23-Nov-2007