The war on cancer--where do we stand?
1982
Progress in cancer research regarding its complexity, prevention, and treatment is discussed for the general public. While no overwhelming breakthrough has been announced, progress in the last decade has been remarkable. Certain cancers (testicular cancer, Hodgkin's disease, acute leukemia in children) can now be cured in most patients. Also, cancer causes are now better understood. Evidence of the disease's variability and complexity helps explain why it occurs unpredictably and why treatment doesn't necessarily work for all patients. Current knowledge of the basic biology of cancer has contributed little to prevention strategies, but epidemiological studies have identified certain preventable causes (e.g., cigarette smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, high-fat diets, exposure to certain chemical carcinogens, and radiation exposure). A recommended alternative to high-fat diets is a low-fat, high-fiber diet. The most conspicuous progress in cancer treatment has been in the area of chemotherapy. It is now possible (with certain cancers) to subject cell samples to preliminary chemotherapy before starting actual patient treatment. Studies also have shown that Laetrile is ineffective for cancer therapy and may produce toxic effects. While cancer treatment progress appears optimistic, it is not anticipated that therapy will become simple. (wz)
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