Cancer Alternative Treatments
Kristine Thomas
Professor Lee
Bio 120-171
November 25, 2012
“Alternative cancer treatments”
Is radiation therapy and chemotherapy the best resources out for the fight against cancer?”
Cancer has been around for most of human history. Evidence of cancer has been discovered in fossilized bone tumors, as well as in human mummies from ancient Egypt. Western medicine has made great discoveries toward cancer treatment, but I often wonder are there more efficient and more effective treatment options out there. In America most cancer patients undergo chemotherapy or radiation for the treatment of cancer. Although the FDA approves these treatments for the battle against cancer some people may argue that these procedures cause more harm than good. Through some investigation I have found that the vitamin B12 holds some major cancer fighting agents and has had great success stories in other countries but America’s FDA refuses to approve such medical practices. Are there alternative cancer treatments out there and do we have more options against the fight of cancer than we are led to believe?
Let us first discuss the most widely used cancer treatments in America which are known as radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy uses gamma rays that are a known cancer causing agents and chemotherapy which was first developed as a U.S. Army poison gas program during World War II. Not sure what gamma rays are? Gamma rays are the most dangerous form of radiation emitted by a nuclear explosion because of the difficulty in shielding them. This is because gamma rays have the shortest wavelength of all waves in the electromagnetic spectrum, and therefore have the greatest ability to penetrate through any gap, even a subatomic one, in what might otherwise be an effective shield. Gamma-rays are not stopped by the skin. They can induce DNA alteration by interfering with the genetic material of the cell. DNA double-strand
Professor Lee
Bio 120-171
November 25, 2012
“Alternative cancer treatments”
Is radiation therapy and chemotherapy the best resources out for the fight against cancer?”
Cancer has been around for most of human history. Evidence of cancer has been discovered in fossilized bone tumors, as well as in human mummies from ancient Egypt. Western medicine has made great discoveries toward cancer treatment, but I often wonder are there more efficient and more effective treatment options out there. In America most cancer patients undergo chemotherapy or radiation for the treatment of cancer. Although the FDA approves these treatments for the battle against cancer some people may argue that these procedures cause more harm than good. Through some investigation I have found that the vitamin B12 holds some major cancer fighting agents and has had great success stories in other countries but America’s FDA refuses to approve such medical practices. Are there alternative cancer treatments out there and do we have more options against the fight of cancer than we are led to believe?
Let us first discuss the most widely used cancer treatments in America which are known as radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy uses gamma rays that are a known cancer causing agents and chemotherapy which was first developed as a U.S. Army poison gas program during World War II. Not sure what gamma rays are? Gamma rays are the most dangerous form of radiation emitted by a nuclear explosion because of the difficulty in shielding them. This is because gamma rays have the shortest wavelength of all waves in the electromagnetic spectrum, and therefore have the greatest ability to penetrate through any gap, even a subatomic one, in what might otherwise be an effective shield. Gamma-rays are not stopped by the skin. They can induce DNA alteration by interfering with the genetic material of the cell. DNA double-strand