What is Cancer?

What is Cancer?

          Cancer is considered an enigma in today's society.  It kills hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Cancer is different from most other cells is cancer itself is a cell that turns against its body by irregularly multiplying at an abnormal rate.  There may not be a definite cure to such a disease, but doctors and scientists are working furiously to find a remedy.  They are analyzing almost every sample of blood, scanning strands of DNA, and searching upon millions and millions of cancer cases to find a way to stop the disease.  Some known causes of cancer include smoking and obesity. Avoiding such things can help to reduce the chances of not being afflicted by cancer.  One must exercise to avoid obesity and eat healthily.  The problem with cancer is that it is constantly changing to resist antibiotics and medicine.  As it adapts, cancer becomes unique and is different in every case, making it harder to pinpoint an exact cause and cure.  Richard Klausner, the director at the National Cancer Institute, likens cancer to evolution in a bottle.  This means that with its ability to rapidly adapt to its environment, cancer evolves very quickly.  Due to this, scientists can study cancer cells to discover how evolution works and perhaps expand science even further.  I have had my own experiences with cancer.  My grandmother suffered from cancer and passed away a few months ago. I had a friend who was suffering from cancer.  With so many of my friends and relatives undergoing cancer, I feel the need to encourage scientists and doctors to continue searching for the perfect cure. Cancer may still be prevalent in to today's society, but with knowledge and contribution, we will soon be able to eliminate the threat of cancer.