| As medical breakthroughs are discovered every day | | | | dramatically since 1993, and a report by the New |
| and preventions, cures and treatments become | | | | York Times states that in 2007, 12,000 fewer cancer |
| available for hundreds of diseases, cancer remains the | | | | patients died than did in 1993. Also stated in the |
| number two cause of death for men and women in | | | | article is that much of the progress comes from |
| the United States behind heart disease. | | | | "early detection and treatment of some of the |
| This does not mean that cancer research is void of | | | | leading causes of cancer death -- lung, colorectal, |
| major breakthroughs or that it is not coming along as | | | | breast, and prostate tumors." |
| fast as advancements in other fields. It simply | | | | One area in which the most improvement has come |
| indicates that while new treatment technologies, such | | | | is radiation therapy. Radiation Therapy is -- just as it |
| as radiation therapy are being developed and | | | | seems it would be -- the process of treating |
| researched, they are not being accomplished at the | | | | cancerous tumors via radiation. Radiation Oncology, |
| same rate as diabetes, influenza, and cardiovascular | | | | the practice of physicians who use radiation therapy, |
| disease treatment and preventions. | | | | involves dozens of different specialized treatment |
| One of the problems with cancer treatment is that it | | | | methods, which implement highly sophisticated |
| is difficult to establish prevention techniques, to some | | | | technologies and equipment to deliver precise beams |
| degree. While doctors and scientists have learned | | | | of radiation to the affected area without coming into |
| that tobacco, asbestos, and other carcinogens can | | | | contact with the surrounding tissues. An oncologist |
| cause the disease; there are no strict guidelines that | | | | can use a multitude of specific therapy methods, only |
| can guarantee a person will be free from cancer. | | | | a couple of which are IMRT, or Intense Modulated |
| Some people have even argued that cancer is not a | | | | Radiation Therapy, and TomoTherapy - each of |
| disease, but a "condition" and that, while avoiding | | | | which has its advantages and both of which are |
| tobacco and cancer causing agents can help, there is | | | | effective for issuing precise doses of radiation. |
| really nothing that can be done to reduce your | | | | Only a radiation oncologist can help you decide |
| chances of developing cancer beyond that. | | | | exactly which form of radiation therapy might work |
| Radiation Oncology -- Advanced Treatments | | | | best for a particular type of cancer, but overall |
| Though the number of diagnosed cases of cancer | | | | advancements in oncology gives new hope to cancer |
| may not be lowering quite as much as hoped, the | | | | patients across the world. As science continues to |
| number of deaths per diagnosed case has fallen | | | | develop new tools and treatment methods, society |
| dramatically in the past few years. As a matter of | | | | can inch closer to a world that is cancer-free. |
| fact, cancer mortality rates have dropped | | | | |