Cancer cannot be defined under the category of a single disease. These uncanny unpredictable malignancies included in cancer can literally affect every organ of human body. Thus to curb this emerging menace, cancer research is the reliable tool.

Cancer research helps in the identification of the respective causes of cancer and develops the strategies for the diagnosis, prevention and cure for cancer. The various features those are included in cancer research

*  Molecular bioscience
*  Epidemology
*  Clinical trials and comparison of various cancer treatments
*  Cancer applications, which range from therapy of hormone, chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, gene therapy, immunotherapy etc.
*  Functioning strategies of cancer research

The areas of research for cancer treatment are basically genetics, environmental and chemical factors, mutations, diet, etc. Cancer research includes the discovery of tumour suppressor genes. These genes play a decisive role in researching about the innumerable cancer types. It also includes a detailed study regarding the stages of oncogenes, the dramatic cell proliferation, development of tumours, 

Institutes for cancer research

There has been a tremendous increase in the number of institutes conducting cancer research. More that four hundred million dollars in invested in these institutes by the government, charitable institutions and pharmaceutical industries. Some of the renowned cancer research institutes are American Association for Cancer Research, Cancer Research UK, Dana-farber/ Harvard Cancer Centre, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and Australian Cancer Research Foundation.

Recent Updates

The number of deaths caused by cancer has witnessed an apparent decrease in the past years. New York Times recently revealed that there has been a tremendous decrease of around twelve thousand deaths caused due to cancer when compared with the early nineties.  There has been prominent research in the cancer types including prostate, breast and lung.

Advances in breast cancer research

It has been discovered that the xenoestrogens normally found in cosmetic, nail polish removers, lotions, pesticides and insecticides cause hormonal imbalances and disrupt the normal functioning of the immunity system.

Advances in lung cancer research

It has been discovered that early detection of ultra violet photography helps in reducing chances of skin lesions and skin cancer. UV camera and photodynamic therapy is another evolving tool for the diagnosis.  
 

Advances in prostate cancer research

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancer types affecting males. The Prostate specific antigen test is one of its diagnosis tools. The specific reasons behind the causes of prostate cancer are still unknown. It has been discovered that prostate cancer mostly affects the black men. It has also been discovered that anti-inflammatory medicines, for example aspirin helps in reducing the chances of prostate cancer.

Drawbacks of cancer research

One of the setbacks to the ever-evolving cancer research is the discovery of treatments, which focus a minority of cancer types. In addition to it, the entire research for changes and their implementation in the cancer cases is quite slow. Thus there is no focussed treatment tuned for every individual cancer patient. Though the usage of natural cellular defense has aided in granting remission to for cancer patients serving at their fourth stage, there has been no amalgamation of allopathic and herbal drugs so far.

Thus, it’s a subject of serious consequences whether the cancer research of today is really fast paced and evolving or just incompetent to meet the needs of cancer patients.

There are different forms of cancer that can occur in the living beings. All different kinds of cancer, begin with the body cells. Human body is made up with many cells and when these cells expand they outgrow other cells, which are necessary to keep the body healthy. When these cells die, other cells are formed. But when these new cells are not formed in the correct manner or when they are formed at the time when the body does not require them, these extra cells results in cancer or tumour.  

Cancer occurs when the group of cells show uncontrolled growth further from the normal limits. 

Cancer takes place in people belonging to any age group. However, it is said that it increases or causes severe pain with the increment in the age.  According to a survey, it was found that 13% of deaths are caused due to cancer. 

All cancers are the result of irregularities in the genetic material of the distorted cells. It occurs due to inhalation of tobacco smoke, radiation, chemicals, or through infectious agents. The cells of cancer are formed from the normal cells because of amendment or mutations of DNA or RNA. These mutations occur suddenly or due to other factors such as nuclear radiation, ultra-violet rays or through electromagnetic rays. These generate mutations, which result into cancer. 

Cancer cells can spread to the other part of the body through the blood circulation or through lymph systems. Cancer is not a one kind of disease and there are many kinds of cancer. The main among its kinds are:

·         Carcinoma- In this type cancer begins in the tissue or in the skin or it can cover the internal organs of the body.

·         Sarcoma-in this cancer begins or starts with the bones, muscles, blood vessels, or in other connective or loyal tissue.

·         Leukaemia-here cancer starts in the blood- organising tissue such as the bone core and causes the numbers of blood cells to be organised and thus enter the blood.

·         Lymphoma and myeloma-in this cancer begins in the cells of the immune system.

·         Central nervous systems- here cancer occurs in the brain or in the spinal cord.

There are only three ways for treating cancer that is through surgery, radiation or through chemotherapy. But with enhancement in levels of research, specific treatments are developing in order to cure different kinds of cancer. The targeted therapies have shown progress specially in deducting the abnormalities in certain cells.

Radiation and chemotherapy destroys the immune system. The respective cancer can again crop up in future if a person has taken the treatment of radiation or chemotherapy early before the correct period. All these methods only shrivel the cancer; they don’t help in removing the disease entirely. Radiation also causes damage to the normal cells of the body. Thus cancer refers to the class of diseases so it is improbable to say that there will be a single cure for cancer treatment. 

Cancer, being a chronic disease, should be treated with utmost care. In your quest to fight with this severe disease, the role of the doctor who treats you and helps you fight this disease also become important. Consultation with an oncologist and a cancer specialist is must for every cancer patient.

National Cancer Institute is a leading institute giving out excellent doctors dedicated towards cancer treatment. Doctors play quite an important role in educating people about the disease. They are the one’s who launch new initiatives and keep people posted about new techniques and treatment methods for cancer. Since cancer doctors are in extensive touch with family members and relatives, they are the ones who can provide valuable guidance and advice to family members.

Cancer Doctors can help their patients in getting out of the disease. They can advice their patients and their relatives about life style, eating habits. They also ask their patients to keep away from smoking or eating of junk food. This advice proves more valuable as compared to the drugs and medical treatment.

Department of Health is another active institute that provides timely guidelines regarding up gradation of any medical treatment and technology. As a cancer patient, it is quite important for you to stay in regular touch with your doctor and seek their advice without fail. While deciding on curing treatment, your doctors can better advice as to which medical cancer treatment would your body respond to. They help you know that whether you should go for surgery, radiation therapy or for hormone therapy. Surgery or radiation therapy performed, depends entirely on how proficient the cancer doctor is as performing his task.

Cancer doctors also play an important role in giving you guidelines on the estimated cost likely to be incurred in the treatment of an acute cancer. They realize that cost plays an important role in helping you decide the type of treatment you should go for. Hence, they give you correct estimate of the cost and nuances involved in each type of treatment.

Information about oncologists and cancer doctors can be obtained from different associations and institutes. Journal of clinical oncology, annals of oncology, American journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine etc provide you details about the top oncologists in India and abroad.  Internet is another important medium by which you can obtain details about good can treatment hospitals and institutes. It would also keep you up to date regarding any developments in this field.

Patients and their family members usually place 100% faith in their doctor and oncologist. This exceeds the amount of faith that they place in God. However, a cancer patient should remember that visiting a doctor and following his suggestions or ideas is only the beginning. You need to take complete care of yourself and your diet. 

Prevention is better than cure. However, if you become a victim of cancer you should make no delay in contacting oncologist and following his advice religiously. 

Treatment is the only way by which you can cure this disease.