by Ashley Lippin
Cancer has been a common disease that has affected many people as well as affecting their loved ones who are close to the person they lost to the disease. It is devastating to watch people as young as children, teenagers, young adults, and adults are a victim to cancer. Cancer can be in someone’s genetics as well as be caused by an action like how smoking causes lung cancer. Brain tumors are in my genetics and I have lost many family members including my father to brain cancer. In November of this year, researchers have finally had a break to begin treating this horrible disease.
Researchers have tested a combination of radiation treatment and a substance that blocks the transforming growth factor beta for treating glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is a form of a brain tumor that is usually too large and would destroy too much brain tissue to be removed once the cancer is found in someone’s brain. The scientists used mice to test their theory and transplanted glioblastoma cells into the brains of mice. It was concluded with the combination of radiations and the substance; they survived longer than the mice that only received radiotherapy. The tumors grew more slowly and did not invade the entire brain which allowed a longer life span. This theory is going to continue to be tested and could be the beginning to finding a cure to help the victims of the horrible cancer.
I think that brain cancer has been one of the most common deaths in all ages that does not involve in making bad decisions. This person did not choose to drink and get behind the wheel of a vehicle, it could be from the person’s genetics like my father’s case. It is devastating to see how many cases of cancer there are every year. However, it is relieving that scientists are being able to start finding ways to slow down the growth of the tumor to give people more time with their families. However, what is needed to find a cure and to stop allowing cancer to get our lives? How late is too late to start using this substance to slow down the process? Can everyone use this method? What are the side effects?
Source
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111123133356.htm - Article
By: April Salerno on April 2, 2012 at 4:01 pm
This article was very sad, but I am convinced that scientists are on the right track for finding options to slow the process of some cancers and eventually finding cures. With the substance that blocks the growth factor beta along with the usage of radiation, I believe that will prolong one’s life tremendously because of the slowing of the process. I agree with the person who wrote the article, where it is so unfortunate that this disease cannot be stopped, that it is genetic and there is not a specific cure.
By: Katelynn Snyder on April 3, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Cancer is a horrible disease that effects so many people. Scientists have been working and researching for many years to try and find a cure but unfortunately there seems to be no answer. This article is great and gives hope for those dealing with brain cancer that they will be able to have a longer time to spend with their loved ones. Hopefully they will be able to find something that not only prolongs cancer but cures it for good so there will not be anymore people suffering. Genetic diseases are terrible since the person did not do anything to cause the disease which also makes this type of cancer hard to understand. Once scientists find a cure life will become a lot easier and they may even be able to find a way to prevent genetic diseases.
By: Colleen Grenon on April 3, 2012 at 4:06 pm
As time goes by, more and more people have horrible cancer stories. It seems like cancer is taking over the world and it is not fair. As you stated, many cancers are caused by individual actions, but this article is not the case. Whenever something seems to be wrong with the brain it makes me very nervous due to the severity. It is interesting to read about the ways scientists come up with when trying to cure cancer. In this case, the mice were necessary to test the new ways to see if they would work. I understand that this study does not completely cure brain cancer, but it allows people to buy some more time. Another reason this new way of treatment is beneficial is because it is one step closer to curing the horrible disease. But I am also curious of the side effects because we all know that chemotherapy and radiation damages people in so many ways when trying to heal cancer.
By: Elizabeth Spiller on April 3, 2012 at 8:32 pm
I enjoyed learning about this article because I can relate to this topic as well. Last year I lost a very close friend of mine to brain cancer. Just like Ashley pointed out, it had nothing to do with any bad decisions she had made, just an unlucky genetic makeup. She was only 20 years old, so it gives me hope that scientist are finding new research to treat brain cancer. It was interesting to see how scientist are transplanting Glioblastoma as well as radiation to treat the disease. Also, how the mice that received this treatment, lived twice as long was a fascinating discovery as well. I hope research like this continues, and one day there will be a complete cure to brain cancer.
By: George Savaides on April 5, 2012 at 2:02 pm
I believe this article gives us hope that they are moving in the right direction in finding a cure to cancer. It is evident that cases of cancer come from the decisions people make to harm their body but when people are diagnosed with the case because of genetics, it makes it even more disheartening. It is very difficult to lose a loved one from cancer especially when it comes from genetics. I found it interesting how scientists are transplanting Glioblastoma as well as radiation to treat the disease. I question the side effects that come with the treatment but believe if the method is good enough to be a cure, the side effects would be something the person would take to live with. Any method that scientists are finding to prolong someones life after being diagnosed with cancer would be something people will be happy to hear about.
By: Devora Mendoza on April 11, 2012 at 11:58 pm
As a person who lost a loved one to brian tumor, this article is definitely a source of hope for those who are still battling with this disease and for the caretakers. That being said, you do make a good point with your question about side effects. At times, many cancer patients refuse treatment because of the medications’ side effects. I think this is a great start to continuing to try to find a cure. Although this does not guarantee the elimination of this type of cancer, slowing it down and allowing for a longer life span is certainly a great possibility. Great job of your blog!