Cancer: The Costs, Causes, And Cures Essay -- essays research papers

Cancer: The Costs, Causes, and Cures Cancer is a major killer of people all around the globe. We do not have a definite cure, but the amount of research done on this one disease costs on the average of $1.2 billion dollars annually, and $20 billion annually in care of cancer patients. What is Cancer? Cancer is a broad ranging term that is used by many people, including medical professionals such as doctors. Cancer, in its most fatal and aggressive form, is of a larger class of diseases known as neoplasms. There are two forms of a neoplasm: benign or malignant. A benign neoplasm is encapsulated, or surrounded, so that it's growth is restricted, whereas a malignant neoplasm is not closed in. Malignant tumors grow much more quickly than benign forms and spread into the surrounding normal tissue, and virtually destroy it, (Grolier Electronic Encyclopedia, Cancer). The question is, what exactly is cancer? Cancer, is the break down and mutation of the cells of the body, when the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) sequences in those molecules are disrupted and errors form in the structures, (Grolier, Genetic Code). This mutation spreads through surrounding tissue until it disrupts major systems in the body (such as respiratory, digestive and waste management) cause that system to fail. What causes Cancer to become active? Since it is believed that almost all people have some type of cancer in their body, (although benign), any person that comes in contact with a carcinogen, (any cancer-causing agent), will cause these benign cells to become malignant. It is when the cells become malignant, that cancer actually occurs. Cancer, in this context, can be caused by many different agents; chemical, biological or physical. Chemical Agents Chemicals that can cause a benign cell to become active include things such as complex hydrocarbons, aromatic amines, certain metals, drugs, hormones, and naturally occurring chemicals in plants and molds. Hydrocarbons and nitrosamines can be found in cigarette smoke and may contribute to the condition called "lung cancer". Other chemicals that seem to cause incidents of "bladder cancer", such as 2-naphthylamine, were used in the dye industry for dyeing cloth, but when a number of cases of cancer turned up, its use was discontinued. Vinyl Chloride, a chemical gas, has also appeared, seeming to cause "liver can... ...ct the end of most major diseases early in the next century. Once we are able to read and modify the data and instructions found in our own DNA, we can directly access the way we as living beings will grow and evolve. However, we will have another problem, and that is of population. If there are no diseases to disrupt the growth of our population on this planet, we will soon overcrowd, and we may not yet have the technology to leave this world. However, I think we will still be better off without cancer. References Tetzeli, R. (1990). Can Power Lines Give You Cancer? FORTLINE Magazine, 49, 80- 85 Pitot, H.C. M.D. et al. (1992) Cancer. Grolier Electronic Encyclopedia,1992 ed. Search phrases: CANCER, GENETIC CODE, DNA, RNA Clarke, D. & Dartford, M. ( 1992). Cancer Treatment. How It Works: The New Illustrated Science and Invention Encyclopedia, 414-418 Abeloff, M.D. et al (1991) Cancer. Encyclopedia Britannica: Macropedia, 534-542 Drill, V.A. et al (1991) Drugs and Drug Action - Chemotherapy. Encyclopedia Britannica: Macropedia, 553-560 American Cancer Society et al (1992) Cancer. Compton's Multimedia Encyclopedia,1992 ed. Search phrases: CANCER, CHEMOTHERAPY, GENETICS