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 types of cancer treatment available in the market to cure cancer. Some are safe and mild, while others are little strong and harsh for the body. Depending upon your bodily strength and will power, you should choose the right type of treatment for yourself. There are chemical treatments as well as surgery treatments as well as herbal treatments.

In the below section, we discuss in detail the different types of cancer treatment methods:

Chemotherapy:

The most commonly used method for cancer treatment is chemotherapy. It is also used as a supplementary method along with various other treatment methods like surgery and radiation therapy. The treatment is aimed at attacking the cancer generating cells in the body and stopping their growth in the body. One of the most harsh and strong methods of fighting cancer, chemotherapy has several side effects like blackening of skin, hair fall and baldness, loss of appetite. However, not all people notice or face these side effects. 

Chemotherapy works to destroy growth of any new cancer cell in the body, any recurring cancer cells as well as to destroy the cancer cells that do not get destroyed because of surgery. The type of drugs to be used depends upon your medical condition as well as your medical history. Chemotherapy can be done through injections or by taking pills or by rubbing a cream on your skin or by feeding the medicine in your artery.

Surgical Treatment:

Surgical treatment for cancer is adopted when there is a lump formation in any particular part of the body. In such circumstances, it is easily possible to cut out that portion, i.e. the tumour and any surrounding tissues, and separate it from the body. However, surgery cannot necessarily be used to cure cancer. It can’t be used when the cancer cells are wide spread in the body and do not affect any specific organ.  Once surgery is done, doctors often follow it by chemotherapy to completely remove cancer cells.

Radiotherapy:

It is also possible to cure cancer with the use of radiation. The therapy that uses radiation is called as Radiotherapy. Radiation is nothing but a special type of gamma or x-rays used to damage or hurt the cancerous cells and stops their multiplication.

Biological Therapy:

Proteins are used in order to build up the immunity system by creating white blood cells in your body and to fight the destruction creating cancer cells. Ability to produce cancer-killing cells, called the T-cell and B-cell is increased with the help of proteins.

Herbal Treatments:

Combination of natural herbs can be used for curing cancer. Usually, such treatment methods are safe and do not involve any side effects. The treatment process, however, progresses a little slowly.

Hormone therapy:

This is used to cure breast cancer or incidence of prostate cancer. This therapy blocks the cancer producing hormones from staying active. Medication is also provided to block the body from producing cancer-generating hormone. This treatment is used to affect the cancer diseases that are fuelled due to a particular hormone growth.

Before deciding upon the right type of treatment, it is essential to consult your doctor and to seek his advice as to the right type of treatment for you.