This article was contributed by Chris of Spend It Like Beckham
According to Cancer Research UK, someone is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes. These diagnoses affect many individuals, countless families, and change so many lives. The survival rate of cancer currently sits at 50%.
Cancer is something many of us fear. Hearing statistics like the above only adds to this fear. Cancer fearmongering is often used to spread misinformation, sell products, and get clicks online. While risks for cancer should be considered and listened to, it’s also important to listen to the positive stories.
And, believe it or not, there are often several positive cancer stories to listen to. There are countless survival stories to inspire hope, brilliant tales of fundraising, and beautiful stories of community. Plus, there are often updates to cancer treatments many of us miss in the news cycle. To help with feelings of despair, here are four advancements in cancer treatments.
mRNA Technology
This technology was used to develop the COVID-19 vaccines. When injected through a vaccine, it can help teach cells how to respond to other cells. In this case, the mRNA technology can help the body build an immune response to abnormal proteins that cancer creates.
There have been various trials testing this technology as a cancer treatment. In particular, it has been used for pancreatic cancer. Considering the survival rate for this kind of cancer is only 44%, new improvements in cancer treatments are encouraging to see.
Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs)
This treatment directly targets cancer cells. However, unlike chemotherapy, it does so without as much damage to the body. It does this by using monoclonal antibodies to hit the cancer precisely.
This drug is currently being used to treat breast, bladder, lung, and stomach cancers. While it is still new to the medical world, it has proven successful in many trials. The FDA has even approved it, so its use will only continue to grow.
Immunotherapies
Immunotherapies have existed for several years. They utilise our own immune system to fight cancer. While they are effective, their success has improved over time.
One to highlight is the use of the oncolytic virus. This virus can both kill the cancerous cells and boost the immune system. However, the immune system is able to tell the oncolytic virus is, in fact, a virus, and will eliminate it before it has the chance to destroy the cancer cells. Therefore, researchers had to find a way to disguise the virus so it had a chance to do its job before being eliminated by the immune system. Researchers at the University of Sheffield were able to disguise the virus inside immune cells, allowing it to travel through the bloodstream to find the cancer cells.
Cervical Cancer
Earlier this year, a study revealed that there were no cases of cervical cancer in vaccinated women. Girls are offered their HPV immunisation around the ages of 12-16. This immunisation helps prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), typically spread through sexual activities.
HPV is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer. By vaccinating against this disease, cervical cancer has drastically lowered its numbers. It suggests there may be a day when cervical cancer is a rare disease.
There Is Hope
These advances show that there is hope for the future. From success stories to new treatments, there are positives when it comes to cancer news.
It’s also important to remember that cancer is constantly being researched. New trials, experiments, and research are always taking place to better understand this disease. As this continues, the future only continues to look more positive.
Peace of Mind from LifeConnect24
If you or a loved one are living with cancer, or are in the process of recovering, it’s often reassuring to know that help is available on those days you don’t feel as strong. A personal alarm from LifeConnect24 could help. If you have a fall or feel ill and need support, our caring team are always available at the press of a button. Call today on 0800 030 8999 to find out more.
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