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Angela Tu

Mrs. Palcko

English 112

11 May 2017

The Depths of Cancer

Throughout countless years of pain and suffering, cancer has been taking countless

numbers of lives in a blink of an eye. In a survey among fifty public high schoolers, seventy-four

percent of the individuals had or has a current family member diagnosed with cancer. Although

the majority of individuals are aware of cancer, many may not know the formal definition.

Cancer is a generic term used to refer to a broad spectrum of diseases related to abnormal and

uncontrolled cell division. In the world, cancer is one of the deadliest diseases. While numerous

cancer victims have been in suffering, new discoveries for preventions of the carcinogenic

disease along with supportive cancer organizations have risen to meet the needs of cancer

patients. All over the globe, cancer has impacted a great amount of lives by not making them

powerless, but making them stronger.

When cancer appears within an individual, their story would arise, expressing their

struggles and perspectives of the diagnosis. One inspiring story took place in Washington. Elana

Simon, a teenage girl, survived an extremely rare cancer, a cancer that, Only about 200 people a

year worldwide are diagnosed... with (Associated). Even after overcoming liver cancer, she

ended up teaming up with experts from multiple research cancer organizations, and had them

inspect the gene flaw in her disease. Taking advantage of her computer skills, Simon also

decided to help research another type of rare cancer, by arranging data concerning mutated genes
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(Associated ). Even though Elana has faced the obstacle of cancer, in the very end, she still

volunteered to save others who have suffered just like her. Unlike Simons rare form of cancer, a

girl named Emily Whitehead encountered, ...the most common form of pediatric cancer

(Centre Daily). She had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. At the brink of death, the National

Institute of Health came to the rescue and was able to fund for young Emilys treatment at the

Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, or the CHOP. After removing millions of Emilys T-cells,

types of white blood cells, they were then genetically engineered by the CHOP and other

researchers, programming the cells to fight other cancer cells in her body. Miss Whitehead was

the very first child to test the treatment, and the procedure was a success (Centre). Although the

Whiteheads took a huge risk of having Emily undergo the experiment, not only did she come out

cancer-free, but had also aided numerous research organizations in the process. In both stories,

the cancer patients persevered through all their hardships, and accomplished more than just

surviving, but helped lengthen the research for others. With countless numbers of patients

fighting everyday, they become warriors of survival and heroes of research. Since cancer has

been an endless problem, many may wonder what they could do to decrease the risk of diagnosis.

Through the multiple studies of cancer, there are infinite numbers of theories and ideas

on what people should practice in order to benefit the prevention of cancer. According to Ian

Olver, a cancer researcher, bioethicist, and oncologist, he believes that the everyday behavior of

an individual plays a major role in preventing cancer. Professor Olver explains that

interchangeable lifestyle habits would include, ...dietary intake, smoking, chewing betelnut,

alcohol consumption, and physical fitness. Aside from lifestyle, other researchers have their

own supported views on the initial cause to cancer, and what could be done to prevent it. As a
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homeopathic practitioner, Heidi Stevenson argues that genes do not cause cancer. In fact, she

believes that the modern environment causes cancer. Basing off her point on ancient societies,

Stevenson claimed that the malignant absence in mummies proves to her that the natural world

today compared to ancient times is nowhere near the same. In fact she trusts that modern factors

such as, modern chemicals, plastics, pesticides, fertilizers, drugs, lack of sunlight (vitamin D)

and stress are all causes of carcinogenic diseases. Therefore Stevenson is set on the idea that

the modern world today is the true cause of cancer. The American Society of Clinical Oncology

on the other hand, trusts that genes do cause cancer. Arguing that, ...it takes multiple mutations

over a lifetime to produce a cancer cell, the non-profit confirms that cancer is a genetic disease.

Adding onto their point, the association claims that even though someone may be exposed to

environmental factors, another could not be prone and still be diagnosed with cancer, proving

cancer is simply based around genetics. As can be seen, there are many factors that could play a

role with the risk of cancer. When ordinary people are vulnerable to diagnosis they need and idea

to reach out to and rely on. This is how cancer organizations rise up to power.

Throughout many courses of cancer stories, cancer organizations have stepped up to save

the ones in need. One of the many supportive groups would be the World Health Organization,

or the WHO. According to the WHO, they estimate, ...that annual cancer cases will rise from 14

million per year in 2012 to 19 million by 2025 and 24 million by 2035 (Cancer). Every year,

this association would release valuable information on new discoveries of cancer, giving people

an insight on the appropriate way to live in the modern day world, without increasing their risk

of cancer. They apprise individuals to make wiser choices on their lifestyle and support them

when they go down their journey of cancer. Another beneficial group would be the American
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Cancer Society. Recently, the ACSs latest mission statement is to, ...save lives, celebrate lives,

and lead the fight for a world without cancer (Mission). With a future goal ahead, the ACS has

been funding, researching, and informing the public on the new discoveries of cancer. Of course,

the WHO and the ACS are only a couple of the many other cancer research organizations that

share the same aspirations as them. Overall, with cancer patients calling for help, numerous

cancer associations out in the world would answer their call. There is hope everywhere,

balancing the air of wariness..

With cancer lurking around the environment, new stories, ideas, and organizations have

sprung up, fighting to bring an end to all the constant suffering the world has possessed for many

years. Cancer is a worldwide epidemic that needs to be solved, and unfortunately, this

carcinogenic disease cannot just get rid of itself.

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Works Cited

American Society of Clinical Oncology. "Genes Cause Cancer." Cancer, edited by Jacqueline

Langwith, Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow. Accessed

15 Nov. 2016. Originally published as "The Genetics of Cancer," 2009.

Associated Press. Surviving a Rare Cancer, a Teen Helps Study It. Newsela | Surviving a Rare

Cancer, a Teen Helps Study It, 18 Mar. 2014,

newsela.com/articles/teen-scientist/id/3082/.

Accessed 23 May 2017.

"Cancer." Global Issues in Context Online Collection, Gale, Cengage Learning, 2016. Global

Issues in Context,ic. galegroup.com. Accessed 11 Nov. 2016.

Centre Daily Times. Girl Saved by Groundbreaking Cancer Treatment Lobbies for More

Funding. Newsela | Girl Saved by Groundbreaking Cancer Treatment Lobbies for More

Funding, 2 July 2013, newsela.com/articles/patients-lobby/id/420/#. Accessed 22 May

2017.

"Lifestyle habits cause cancer." PNG Post-Courier [Papua New Guinea], 11 Nov. 2015, p.

6.Global Issues in Context,ic.galegroup.com. Accessed 11 Nov. 2016.

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Mission Statement. American Cancer Society, 12 Jan. 2017, www.cancer.org/about-us/who-w

e-are/mission-statements.html. Accessed 24 May 2017.

Stevenson, Heidi. "The Modern Environment Causes Cancer." Cancer, edited by Jacqueline

Langwith, Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link. G

alegroup.com/apps/doc. Accessed 10 Jan. 2017. Originally published as "Cancer Is

Man-Made, Not Caused by Genes or Living a Long Life: Study Documents," Gaia

Health, 17 Oct. 2010.