Why would breast cancer be more important than other cancers?
There is a lot media coverage on breast cancer than any others. Many more organizations gather funds for that cause than any other type of cancer. Why? Why would people divide their efforts and independently search for cures against that specific type of cancer? Wouldn't it be way more efficient to have a single (possibly international) organization to gather funds for developing a cure against cancer, since it's the exact same illness in breasts than in intestines and everywhere else? I know that cancer is an umbrella term, but in molecular terms, the same imbalances and genetic defects give rise to all types of cancer. Sure, many environmental factors give rise to the different types of cancer: -Skin cancer is mostly caused by UV damage to DNA; -Evidences point to the bacterium Helicobacter Pilori as a cause of stomach cancer; -Lung cancers are mostly caused by carcinogens in cigarettes and asbestos; But breast cancer is on par with all the other types of cancer in terms of ultimate cause: a genetic defect. Cells don't go astray, they simply execute the genetic information they have; and if part of that information is missing or abnormal, either the cell dies (by apoptosis) or forms cancer I'm not discriminating women or any such ridiculous thing! That person "..." clearly has a biased opinion of others. My point is, why not putting more emphasis on "fighting CANCER" than fighting "breast cancer," if the solutions to breast cancers are the same than for any other
Cancer - 10 Answers
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1 :
Two reasons: 1) Cancer that affect different parts of the body are not the same. Each tissue that develops into cancer has it's unique properties such as metastatic potential, metastatic (spreading) patterns, susceptability to radiation and chemotherapy, speed of spread. For example, there are two common forms of skin cancer: melanoma and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Melanoma will spread quickly and if left too long has a high mortality rate. BCC invades surrounding tissue but won't spread to other tissues like melanoma. Each cancer requires it's own research team. 2) Also, a one large organization will end up having higher overheads as it deals with the paper work of trying to coordinate so many researches. This will mean funds will be used for paper work and not research. Breast cancer has a lot of media coverage because it can affect younger women and has a higher disease burden than say prostate cancer which affects older men (usually). Also, the surgery (if appropriate) for breast cancer has many side effects including scarring. Older people still have images of radical mastectomies in their head (I'll let you do a google image search). Hope this helped.
2 :
You don't know what you're talking about. There is not an equivalent cancer in men, and this one is extremely extremely common in women, as is cervical. So, if you want to complain about it being really visible then don't bother, you are lucky you don't need to worry about getting them. That is the point of all these organizations, mainly to spread awareness, as women need to constantly check their bodys and get their vagina wedged open and scraped to check. Maybe you should read up on it. There are plenty of organizations including ones that cover all cancers. If you want one to get more awareness for a certain thing then go and campaign for them and get that awareness yourself. If you just hate women then why don't you find a better argument to complain about how the sexes are not treated fairly.
3 :
First - no, cancer is not just one illness that happens to occur in different parts of the body. There are over 200 different diseases that comeunder the umbrella title of 'cancer', and all are caused by different things, so no one strategy can prevent them, and different cancers respond to different treatments so no one treatment can cure them all. There will never be a magic bullet that cures all cancer. It's not that breast cancer is more important than other cancers, it's that it has a higher profile. And the answer to why that should be is simple - hard work. Breast cancer awareness campaigns and BC Awareness Month started as a campaign by ordinary women, many of them with cancer, to raise awareness so that people knew the symptoms, examined themselves regularly, attended their routine mammograms etc. Enthusiastic participation and hard work by women made it grow into something nationally, then internationally, recognised (and then big business cashed in). Any group of people can start such an awareness campaign for any illness. There are other cancer awareness months, ribbons etc; but no cancer campaign has had the sheer hard work put into it that breast cancer awareness has. There are also many, many organisations that are dedicated to research into all types of cancer. I agree that awareness needs to be raised about other cancers too.and while I hate 'competitive illness' I can see why there is resentment about an imbalance in awareness raising and fund raising. But bear in mind that most awareness and fundraising campaigns around specific illnesses and conditions (not just cancers) are started by a handful of people who feel passionately about that illness because they or someone they love has it. And the people who started the campaign for breast cancer awareness just happened to be extremely hardworking and imaginitive. Also, charities concentrating on a single type of cancer are important - when I was diagnosed I was hugely glad, and in retrospect more grateful than I can say, to find websites dedicated to information on breast cancer and giving the opportunity to read other women's experiences of it and talk to others going through it.
4 :
Breast cancer does not affect a lot of young women (thank God) usually it is a cancer that one in eight women will get later in life. You do not see too many cases of this cancer in women that are not yet in their thirties and beyond (usually hits in late 40's) so women between 21-35 are usually cancer free as far as the breast is concerned. Men need to be aware of prostate cancer in their 50's. I do not think it is more important than other cancers, I feel a loss to every person that loses a loved one to cancer. My wife had breast cancer and now her uncle has bladder cancer and a good friend at work has pancreatic cancer. Basically cancer are cells that somehow go astray and do not duplicate correctly and then continue to grow abnormally. Cancer in different parts of the body need to be cured according to that body part. That is how people survive cancer and that is why it needs to be detected early. Even breast cancer as a cancer is treated differently and there is not one cure all because there are variations of cancer in the breast. So somebody's stage two breast cancer among ten women not one could be the same and each stage two cancer would be a little different. To keep humans alive scientists and doctors need to find out which treatments are best for which cancers. So trying to keep people alive and then finding a cure for cancer could be two different things. There are tons of clinical trials that are being tested now for many kinds of cancer. At the same time awareness about cancer continues in the media. If by chance something works for one kind of cancer it could possibly be a cure for other kinds of cancer. The more hands in any pot the more difficult it would be to cure cancer. When politics get into the formula of anything it slows down the process so if anything international was done, I would take a group of so many doctors and scientists and have them work as a team outside of politics. Basically it is not the same illness in breasts and other body parts. It is not even the same in the category of breast cancer itself. That is why it is a difficult disease to cure. The more public awareness about cancer any kind is only good for finding a cure for the disease. If something works in one then efforts can be made to see if it would be successful in other types of cancer. But ideas like this one is valuable because it brings thought to possibilities and possibly a small team of international doctors and scientists are already trying to come up with a cancer cure. Whenever it does happen it will not be soon enough.
5 :
The premise of your question is incorrect. Cancer is an umbrella term for many similar diseases. Cancer is not, "the exact same illness in breasts (as) in intestines and everywhere else." Every type of cancer is important, because every type of cancer effects people. Breast cancer is one of the most pervasive and, if detected early, one of the most responsive to treatment. It is because of its widespread incidence and the hope to save lives through early detection that breast cancer gets a good deal of attention. Doctors, life scientists, and health professionals worldwide are working towards new treatments for many types of cancer. In addition, important primary research to help understand the underlying causes and processes of cancer are providing new foundations for future cures.
6 :
There just happen to be a lot of people focused on breast cancer. They do a good job of alerting the media and public, conducting breast cancer walks, and collecting money for research. Any group can focus on any form of cancer it wants to. But if you just collect a big pot of money, what is the fair and equitable way to distribute it. Each form of cancer is detected using differing methods. Some cancers are more prevalent in women then men. Breast cancer requires mammograms and MRI's. Prostate cancer requires a physical exam and blood work. So someone who is concerned with breast cancer would fund educating women, mammograms, MRI's, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Colon cancer people support colonoscopys. In a way, each cancer has it's only little world, although in all cases it may be "cells gone wild". And then some cancers are caused by the environment and that would mean educating the public to toxic waste dumps and chemical pollution of our waterways and asbestos materials. Cancer covers a huge territory and you kinda have to break it down into more manageable parts.
7 :
To me it's not. I have brain cancer and for the life of me I do not understand why I keep getting emails, phone calls and snail mails from people I know who know of someone who know of someone who has breast cancer and wants me to support their cause. Many of these people are my friends and/or family. Me personally, the last time I looked, I need my brain (the computer of the body) a lot more than I need my boobs.
8 :
No cancer is worse than the other. Each cancer can kill. I had breast cancer twice. Each time I thought I would die. but my brother died of brain and spinal cancer, My sister had 5 kinds of cancer. She lived. Each cancer is just as nasty as the others and no matter how you try to justify it, it all comes out the same. Every cancer, be it breast, brain, or any other kind, they can kill. I was one of the blessed one. I lived, but I could have also died. So no cancer is especially breast is worse than the other. It's cancer cells that destroy healthy tissue and cells. All cancers are genetic defects. I hope you can understand that. Be blessed
9 :
There is more coverage for 2 reasons: 1 - it is the #3 killer of women, and 2 -more famous people are being diagnosed, and thus are in the news. As for a global fund gathering, ALL countries would have to agree on something, and that will never happen -- our govt. can't even agree within itself... Another reason there is more of it in the news is that the generation known as Baby Boomers are getting older, and most often it hits older women. Also, people with similar types cancer tend to gravitate to each other for support, etc. People. for example. with lung cancer will care most about it, rather than other cancers. Take myself as a better example: I am in terminal stage breast cancer, and quite frankly, I could care less about other cancers at this point. And my last point about the "popularity" [a disgusting term], of breast cancer -- is due to mental effect it causes. Having a doctor say you may lose a breast or part of one to surgery is equal to telling a man he would have to lose all or part of his manhood. So please... a little sensitivity for what we go through, okay? Thanks.
10 :
Breast Cancer is a sickness where in the cancer cells became abnormal, in this manner, cancer cells immediately grow and divide speedily than the healthy cells. Tumors are some cancer cells that form growths. Some tumors immediately grow, and sizes of tumors are all increasing. Through the blood and the lymph systems, a cancer cell has the ability to be spread to other body parts, which is called the metastasis. If the cancer starts at the breast, then it is called a breast cancer, and it can also be found in a mammogram, this is if a woman feels a lump on her breast or by the doctor's examination. It is very important to do monthly self breast exams, and if you are over 40 years of age, it is necessary to have a yearly check up to your doctor or a mammogram each year because breast cancer is prone to women with such age, not unlike with younger women, check ups are done less. Why is this so? Well, it is because after menopause, breast may either be lumpy or firm if you feel it, a woman who is already menopause has lesser estrogen, so that means breast will feel much softer and will be less lumpy
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