Throughout their entire lifetime, people remain vulnerable to chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other life-threatening conditions that often impede activities of daily living. The attack of such illnesses has an enormous personal and financial impact to the patients and their families.
Despite the availability of sophisticated medical technology equipment and devices, which are primarily used in preventing and treating chronic illnesses, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, remain to be the leading causes of mortality in the whole world. Cancer, however, has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death in America. This is according to an article published by the New York Times in October 2011.
On the other hand, the news about the increasing rate of death caused by cancer versus cardiovascular mortality may not be as gloomy as it may sound to the field of oncology for it can help intensify the number of foundations and private organizations that will offer grants for cancer research.
What is it?
Cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of the cells in the human body and that frequently leads to the formation of tumor. The spread of tumor throughout the body indicates the seriousness of this malignancy.
This medical condition occurs in several forms and affects different parts of the human bodies, the reason that makes it a complicated disease. More so,it cannot be diagnosed nor treated that easily.
How it starts
Human body is made up of innumerable number-billions-of cells. Generally, cells in the body divide faster during the early years of a person's life for physical growth. Thereafter, when a person becomes an adult, most cells divide only to replace worn-out dying cells to mend injuries. However, if cells continue to grow and form new abnormal cells, the cancer cells are formed. These cells grow out of control and can even invade other tissues. The excess cells that lump together form a tumor, eventually become cancer.
Ways to diagnose
In order to find out whether a person is afflicted with the disease, he or she should undergo any of the following diagnostic tests:
· Biopsies
· Imaging tests
· Laboratory tests
· Genomics tests
The burdens
Majority of people with the sick cells and their families are depressed due to emotional and financial struggle. The financial burden is caused by bloating medical expenses for treatment. More so, anxiety, confusion, fears, and feeling of hopelessness could possibly hit the patients and their families.
Importance of research
Discovering and developing new ways to diagnose, prevent, and treat this life-threatening disease give hope to the cancer patients, even to the entire oncology society. Today, cancer research continues to be the most significant initiative in the world of medical study.
Advanced treatments give hope
The funding sources for research of influential discoveries and breakthroughs in the oncology community predominantly rely on donations from the general public, business investors, and national organizations.
Fortunately, the increasing number of grants for cancer research provides better funding opportunity for doctors and researchers all around the globe for these professionals are determined to find ways to prevent the growing number of the malignancy. Also, they are persevering to better the quality of diagnostic tests and treatments to uplift the life of the people afflicted with the "Big C."
Erin Millano has always been passionate to improve the quality of life of marginalized, low-income individuals, and families. She is a lobbyist, freelance photojournalist, and proposal writer.