Research and Describe Cancer as the Debilitating Illness (Essay Sample)

Cancer is a debilitating illness. What is your stand on patients trying alternative methods like herbals etc.? Is there a particular method that has proven most effective? Discuss your answer in no less than 500 words.
Cancer is defined as a medical condition that leads to abnormal growth of cell whereby they divide with little or no control. Several factors are known to increase the risk of getting cancer and they include; pollutants, exposure to radiation, lack of physical exercises, obesity and certain infections. An estimated 5 to 10% of cancers are entirely hereditary with most cancers developing through a combination of hereditary and environmental factors. In developed countries cancer is the leading cause of death and it is the second leading cause of death, after heart disease in underdeveloped countries. Advancements have been made in the search for ultimate cure of cancer and now it is possible to eradicate the tumor or slow its growth and spread in the patient’s body. These treatments depend on the type and stage of cancer and they include; surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy or a combination of any of them.
The treatment of cancer is viable only if it is detected early enough and the appropriate treatment procedures are applied correctly. Some patients have undergone cancer treatment therapies and they got healed. However, this is not the case for majority of the patients. As a result some of them lose hope with life and commit suicide while others turn to alternative ways of treating cancer such as use of herbs, religion, complementary medicine, nutrition and diet.
There are numerous herbs that are said to cure cancer and its related symptoms. With the advent in the communication technology the use these herbs is gaining popularity especially with the internet. Unfortunately, there is no solid scientific evidence that proves applicability of such herbs. Nevertheless, a few herbs are known to help contain specific complaints that come with cancer; valerian root is known to help reduce anxiety and stress, muscle pains are relieved by the use of capsicum cream and also ginger tea helps ameliorate nausea. There are no such strict controls in the manufacture of herbs unlike in the manufacture of drugs where its safety and effectiveness have to be proven before being used or sold to the wider population. Hence, the need for on to talk to the doctor before such supplements as some of them reduces the effectiveness of the standard medication.
Scientific research suggests that nutrition may play a role in the prevention of cancer, with observational studies showing that cancer is more pronounced amongst some people with certain dietary habits e.g. people who take in diets with lots of meat products are more likely to suffer from colorectal cancer. Also there is no scientific data that agrees with the use of vitamins and supplements to decrease the risk of cancer. In fact some of them are known to increase the risk of getting cancer such as high doses of vitamin E increases prostrate cancer risk among men. This show that no diet has been proved useful to slow, reverse or even cure cancer, therefore it is not recommend to abandon standard drugs and rely solely on.
Complementary medicine is mainly used to help cancer patients feel and can neither slow nor cure it. Therefore it is not recommended to stop standard medication in...