Effective Cancer Prevention and Modern Treatment Methods
How to Prevent Cancer
The risk of cancer can be reduced by avoiding exposure to agents that facilitate its emergence, known as carcinogens:
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco: Chemicals in tobacco are responsible for one in three cancer deaths, particularly lung cancer. Alcohol increases the risk of developing various cancers, including mouth, larynx, esophagus, and liver cancer.
- Limit sun exposure: Avoid excessive sunbathing and always use sunscreen. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is a major cause of melanoma.
- Follow a healthy diet: Excessive consumption of fat and calories promotes the growth of colon cancer. Conversely, consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables has a protective effect.
- Maintain healthy sexual relations: Sex without a condom increases the likelihood of infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is linked to cervical cancer.
Cancer Treatments
Today, while cancer remains a serious disease, there are many treatments that significantly increase the life expectancy of patients or even lead to a complete cure.
Primary Treatment Modalities
- Surgery: The removal of the tumor mass. To be effective, it must remove the tumor completely, including a border of healthy tissue to ensure no tumor cells remain.
- Radiation therapy: The use of radiation to kill cancer cells. Note that radiation can also damage normal surrounding tissues.
- Chemotherapy: The administration of drugs that kill cancer cells. These drugs may also affect normal cells to a lesser extent.
- Hormone treatments: The use of drugs that counteract the effects of specific hormones. These are commonly used for breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers.
- Immunotherapy: The use of agents that enhance the immune system, which then works to eliminate the tumor. Recently, a vaccine has been developed that prevents cervical cancer caused by the papilloma virus.
The Immune System and Lymphocytes
Types of Lymphocytes
- B lymphocytes and antibodies: B lymphocytes produce antibodies, also called immunoglobulins. These proteins bind to the antigens of microorganisms, marking them for destruction by other white blood cells.
- T lymphocytes: When a virus infects a cell, it leaves behind envelope proteins. T cells recognize these proteins as antigens and destroy the infected cells, preventing the virus from reproducing. Each T lymphocyte recognizes a specific antigen.
The AIDS virus (HIV) replicates specifically in T cells, weakening or destroying them. This compromises the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to infections that would not affect a healthy person.
Common Pathogens
- Bacteria: Cholera, pharyngitis
- Viruses: Influenza, mumps
- Protozoa: Amebiasis, malaria
- Fungi: Candidiasis, histoplasmosis