BIOLOGY: WEEK 7




There have been many improvements in our understanding of cancer.  However, we still have not figured out the exact causes of cancer.  Although we understand the basic mechanism in which the disease operates, there are many pieces of the puzzle that need to be solved.  Some scientists think that cancer may be caused by a specific cocktail of environmental factors, genetics and cell mutations in combination with an individual's unique makeup.

The increase in sophisticated treatments includes immunotherapy which focuses on harnessing the immune system from within to fight the disease.  Chemoimmunotherapy attaches chemotherapy drugs to antibodies that are specific for cancer cells.  The antibody then delivers the drug directly to cancer cells without harming the normal cells, reducing the toxicity of chemotherapy.  As the survival rate for cancer patients continues to grow in the next decade, we are still clutching on to the hope for a miracle cure.







The TCM approach to cancer differs from the western approach in many ways.  Chinese hospitals offer acupuncture and herbal medicine alongside western treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.  Acupuncture can help to strengthen the immune system during the aggressive treatments used for cancer.  It can also help to alleviate the symptoms of pain associated with the disease.  Herbal formulas are routinely given to boost immune function and to protect liver and kidney functions during chemotherapy.  Many herbs are given to cancer patients because they exhibit anti tumor activity within the body.

The most interesting difference in the TCM approach is how Chinese medicine views the human body as a whole system in which body and mind have no differentiation in the treatment of disease.  TCM addresses the psycho-emotional aspect of cancer during treatment since emotions are included as possible causes for cancer.  The imbalance of emotions upsets the normal functioning of the body and leads to a pathway for disease.  The TCM approach attempts to heal the whole rather than dissecting the body into individual parts to be cured.


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