Who Is Winning the War

on Cancer
Human Biology 1090
Alissa Dabasinskas

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Who Is Winning the War on Cancer

While the cancer disease continues to take more and more lives of those we
love, doctors struggle to discover a true cure for all forms of cancer. Below I
have summarized two arguments on whether or not we are winning the war
on cancer. I will cover over a few of the many issues that face cancer, and
why we are dying from it. I will then discuss the two opposing sides on who is
winning this battle, some societal influences, and finally my position
statement on this issue.
Cancer can be brought on by many outside sources or simply by genetic
factors, however the treatment for cancer seems to always be the same.
Genetic factors that cause cancer, Can be inherited from our parents. They
can also arise during a persons lifetime as a result of errors that occur as
cells divide or because of damage to DNA caused by certain environmental
exposures. Cancer-causing environmental exposures include substances,
such as the chemicals in tobacco smoke, and radiation, such as ultraviolet
rays from the sun (What is Cancer 1). Cancer is described as group of
diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or
spread to other parts of the body (What is Cancer 1). And though while
many justify that cancer is more popular today due to prolonged life, many
scientists think environmental factors play a bigger part.
John Seffren argues that we are winning the war on cancer due to the fact
the tobacco and Cancer communities came together for a world meeting.
While tobacco is a negative environmental factor, and the cause of most
throat and lung cancers, it is not proven responsible for breast, brain, and
many other forms that people suffer from. While Seffren makes good points
on how to help end the battle with cancer such as We must accelerate
discovery by redoubling and balancing our cancer research portfolio we

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must promote and elevate prevention into public policy and standard
practice nationwidewe must drive delivery of state-of the-art cancer care
and control at the community level (Seffren 67). These statements are very
vague and leave room for error. It is known that we must improve our
situation with cancer, but reiterating the statement will solve nothing. After
reading Seffrens argument, the summary includes the chance of winning the
battle with cancer is there, but has not yet been won.
Reynold Spector lists more facts and charts in his argument, simply stating
that we are decades behind schedule with defeating cancer. Many of the
positive statistics are shown with cancer patients that were treated early on
the discovery of their cancer, while those who have had the disease have a
higher chance of death. Spector makes a wonderful point about the battle
with cancer, because while cancer will probably always occur within a society
The treatment should also improve the quality of life (Spector 74). Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery hinder ones ability to live a normal life for a
period of time or for the rest of their life, a cure should include a similar or
better lifestyle. Spector brings up the argument of a smart-drug, something
that knows cancer and kills it. However the drug the FDA approved for this
called Bevacizumab has side effects that are not so different from the older
non-specific chemotherapy (Spector 76). In most instances we do not know
exactly how the cancer was caused, and not all cancers are the same, so it
raises the question: can a smart drug even be effective at killing all forms of
the disease?
Cancer is generally more feared than heart disease or diabetes, and more
often than not requires a support group due to the negative atmosphere that
naturally surrounds the predicted outcome. Society is full of individuals who
choose to eat unhealthy, smoke, and in addition we have more chemicals in

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our foods than ever before. It is possible cancer is around due to some of
these factors. While cancer diagnosis continue, we play catch up with
learning about the disease. I do not feel we are winning the battle on cancer,
however if we continue to have a goal on stopping this disease, maybe
someday soon we can talk about cancer as lightly as we talk about the
common Flu.

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Works Cited
Seffrin, J. R. (2006, September). Winning the War on Cancer: Public Health or
Public Policy Challenge? Vital Speeches of the Day.
Spector, R. (2010, January). The War on Cancer: A Progress Report for
Skeptics. Skeptical Inquirer.
What Is Cancer? (2015, February 9). Retrieved March 30, 2016, from
http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/what-is-cancer