STAGE IV CANCER: BATTLE NOT LOST YET !
About Author:
Dr. Vishwas B. Chavan
Ph.D. (Biochemistry)
Andheri (East), Mumbai – 400069
vishwaschavan2003@yahoo.co.in
Abstract:
The word “Cancer” is still synonymous with death for common people and the “stage IV cancer”, which is typically known as “last stage cancer”, is loss of hope even for medical community.
Many times patient presents to clinic, when cancer had already crossed IInd or IIIrd stage. This is mostly due to the reason that cancer may not have any symptoms at initial stages. Even if there are any symptoms, they can be mild and vague. Further rising cost of healthcare forced many patients, particularly women, to delay approach to physician. Therefore it is not uncommon for cancer patients to hear sentences like, “You are too late”, “You should have come earlier” etc. which is more depressing. This is a humble attempt to give the these patients some ray of hope.
So, in this 21st Century, is it necessary, that cancer should be equal to death all the times, even when it has reached stage IV? To get answer of this question, we need to first know what stage IV cancer is and what its effects on human body are.
As most people know, cancer or malignancy means uncontrolled growth of any cell of the body. The mechanism which controls the growth of cells is lost in malignant cells. Cancer can occur in any cell of body and hence any organ can be affected by cancer, though cancers of some organs are more prevalent in some populations.
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