Interesting
Nov 26th, 2008 at 5:59 am by Susie
I had no idea it was this common:
Cancer researchers have known for years that it was possible in rare cases for some cancers to go away on their own. There were occasional instances of melanomas and kidney cancers that just vanished. And neuroblastoma, a very rare childhood tumor, can go away without treatment.
But these were mostly seen as oddities — an unusual pediatric cancer that might not bear on common cancers of adults, a smattering of case reports of spontaneous cures. And since almost every cancer that is detected is treated, it seemed impossible even to ask what would happen if cancers were left alone.
Now, though, researchers say they have found a situation in Norway that has let them ask that question about breast cancer. And their new study, to be published Tuesday in The Archives of Internal Medicine, suggests that even invasive cancers may sometimes go away without treatment and in larger numbers than anyone ever believed.
At the moment, the finding has no practical applications because no one knows whether a detected cancer will disappear or continue to spread or kill.
And some experts remain unconvinced.
From “Carcinoma Angels” by Norman Spinrad, in “Dangerous Visions”
My fear is that this will encourage insurance companies to take a “wait and see” approach, to treatment.
Cancer is always at the most fundamental level a matter of corrupted DNA. Cells suffer an error in the translation of good DNA structure, when the process of mutation occurs. We would still be swinging in the trees if no mutation at all could have occurred over the millions of years of the earth’s history. We have code checker cells constantly looking for mis-translations in DNA, or corrupted DNA. When any cell mutates it can become cancerous, or rapidly dividing and in an out-of-control way. Some of our cells are rapid dividers anyway, such as those that line our mouths(replaced every few days), and the cells lining our intestines(every day).
The ones that are trouble, are the ones that also have orders to clump together(tumors) or divide so rapidly that they crowd out the original good cells which they closely resemble(leukemia). If we are fairly healthy, meaning we have strong immune system function, our own hunter cells(T-lymphocytes are some) are constantly able to recognize and kill our offensive rapid divider cells and others detected as foreign. Very unfortunately, cancer cells are capable of mutation on their own behalf and can disguise themselves as healthy cells and hide from the killer cells. The fact that cancer can go away on its own is not so mysterious, when you consider that we have our own built-in defense system working constantly on our behalf. Now it it obvious that things that limit our immune system’s fighting power give a boost to the unruly mutants which may be trying to get a foothold in our bodies. Alcohol, and tobacco are at the top of the list. Smoking gives a boost to almost all forms of cancer cells because it acts as such a strong depressant on our immune system. Sadly, depression and anxiety are also heavy burdens for our bodies defenses. Fighting cancer requires a mixture of modern treatments and practicing of positive attitudes and behaviors, sometimes easier said than done. My wife has had breast cancer, her mother died at 48 from metastatic breast cancer, my sister died at 56 from the same, and my wife is a certified oncology nurse studying to become a nurse practitioner in oncology.