What is cancer? What causes cancer and how is it treated? *UPDATE*

Summary

This script discusses the importance of understanding cancer, its various types, and treatments. It highlights the complexity of cancer, the significance of individualized treatment plans, and the advancements in cancer therapy, including genomic profiling, targeted treatments, and immunotherapy. The role of integrative oncology in enhancing conventional treatments is also emphasized.

Takeaways

• 👨‍⚕️ Cancer affects a significant portion of the population, with one in two men and one in three women expected to be diagnosed with invasive cancer in their lifetime.
• 🔬 Cancer cells are abnormal, having lost the normal control mechanisms that regulate cell growth and division, leading to uncontrolled growth and potential spread.
• 🌐 Cancer can occur anywhere in the body, as every part of the body contains cells that can potentially become cancerous.
• 💊 Common cancers vary by gender, with breast cancer being prevalent in women and prostate cancer in men, while lung and colon cancers affect both sexes.
• 🧬 Each cancer is unique, even within the same type, such as breast cancer, requiring personalized treatment plans based on individual genetic profiles.
• 🏥 After a cancer diagnosis, the stage of the cancer is crucial to determine, which includes information about the extent of the disease and whether it has spread.
• 🔄 Cancer treatment is complex due to the over 200 different types of cancer, each with unique characteristics and variations within the cancer cells themselves.
• ⚕️ Primary cancer treatment methods include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, each targeting cancer cells in different ways.
• 🧬 Advances in genomic profiling allow for more precise and personalized treatment approaches, potentially leading to better outcomes and fewer side effects.
• 🛡 New immunotherapy drugs are designed to enhance the immune system's ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells, marking a significant shift in cancer treatment.
• 🌿 Integrative oncology combines conventional treatments with complementary therapies like acupuncture and nutrition to create a holistic treatment plan for each patient.
• 🏠 Cancer Treatment Centers of America offers a comprehensive approach, with all necessary resources and team members working together to manage symptoms and side effects, supporting the patient's overall well-being during treatment.

Q & A

What is cancer at its simplest level?

At its simplest level, cancer is a condition where cells lose the ability to follow the normal control mechanisms exerted by the body. These cells continue to grow and may spread, forming a mass known as a tumor and potentially metastasizing to other parts of the body.

Why is it important to understand cancer?

Understanding cancer is crucial because it affects a significant portion of the population, with one out of every two men and one out of every three women being diagnosed with invasive cancer in their lifetime. Knowledge about cancer helps in early detection, treatment, and potentially prevention.

What is a tumor and how is it related to cancer?

A tumor is a mass or clump of cells that forms as cancer cells grow and divide. It is a physical manifestation of cancer within the body, indicating the presence of uncontrolled cell growth.

What is metastasis and why is it significant in cancer?

Metastasis is the process by which cancer cells spread from their original location to other parts of the body. It is significant because it indicates that the cancer has advanced and is more difficult to treat, as it can affect multiple organs and tissues.

Why are breast cancer and prostate cancer common in women and men respectively?

Breast cancer and prostate cancer are common in women and men respectively because these are the primary reproductive organs in each gender, making them more susceptible to developing cancerous cells.

How can cancer treatment be individualized based on the type of cancer?

Cancer treatment can be individualized by understanding the specific genetic abnormalities and characteristics of a patient's cancer. This allows for tailored treatments that target the unique aspects of the cancer, potentially improving outcomes and reducing side effects.

What are the primary methods for treating cancer?

The primary methods for treating cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Surgery involves physically removing the cancer, radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to target cancer cells, and chemotherapy employs drugs to kill rapidly dividing cells.

Why is cancer treatment complex?

Cancer treatment is complex due to the diversity of cancer types, each with unique characteristics. Additionally, cancers are not homogeneous, often containing multiple subtypes of cells that may require different treatment approaches.

What is the significance of genomic profiling in cancer treatment?

Genomic profiling of a tumor provides a detailed genetic fingerprint of the cancer, which can guide treatment by identifying specific genetic abnormalities. This can lead to more targeted therapies that are more effective and have fewer side effects.

How do new drugs designed to interact with the immune system help in cancer treatment?

These new drugs work by teaching the immune system to recognize cancer cells, enabling the immune system to attack and kill the cancer cells. This approach can be more effective in eliminating cancer cells and can potentially result in fewer side effects.

What is integrative oncology and how does it benefit cancer patients?

Integrative oncology is a holistic approach that combines conventional cancer treatments with complementary therapies such as acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, and nutrition. This approach aims to manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and enhance the body's ability to fight cancer and tolerate treatment.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ Understanding Cancer: Basics and Treatment Options

This paragraph delves into the fundamental nature of cancer, explaining it as a disease where cells lose normal control mechanisms and begin to grow uncontrollably, potentially spreading to other parts of the body. It highlights the prevalence of cancer, mentioning that it can affect anyone and occur anywhere in the body, with a focus on common types like breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer. The paragraph also touches on the individuality of cancer, emphasizing the importance of personalized treatment plans based on the specific type and genetic profile of a patient's cancer. It outlines the primary treatment methods: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, and discusses the complexity and heterogeneity of cancer, including the challenges of treating different subtypes within a single tumor. The summary concludes with an optimistic view of current advancements in cancer treatment, including genomic profiling and immunotherapy, which aim to improve patient outcomes and reduce side effects.

05:03

🌟 Advancing Cancer Care: Integrative and Personalized Approaches

The second paragraph focuses on the comprehensive care provided at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, emphasizing the integration of conventional oncology treatments with integrative therapies such as acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, and nutrition. It underscores the importance of supporting the patient's immune system and overall well-being during treatment to enhance the body's ability to fight cancer and tolerate treatment. The paragraph also discusses the holistic approach of addressing side effects and symptoms proactively, with the goal of maintaining the patient's quality of life. The oncologist's perspective is shared, expressing a commitment to not only eradicate cancer but also to help patients return to a normal life. The summary concludes by reflecting on the significant progress made in cancer treatment over the past 30 years, highlighting the current era as one of the most promising with effective treatments that have fewer side effects and enable faster recovery.

Keywords

💡Cancer

Cancer is a term used to describe a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. In the script, it is the central theme, with the speaker explaining that cancer cells lose the ability to follow the body's normal control mechanisms, leading to unregulated growth and potential spread throughout the body.

💡Tumor

A tumor is a mass of abnormal cells that divide and grow uncontrollably, often forming a lump. In the context of the video, a tumor is described as a clump of cells that grow and divide, representing a localized form of cancer that may or may not be malignant.

💡Metastasis

Metastasis refers to the process by which cancer cells spread from the original tumor to other parts of the body, forming new tumors. The script mentions that cancer cells can 'get smart' and spread to other places, which is the process of metastasis, making treatment more complex.

💡Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a specific type of cancer that affects the breast tissue. The script points out that breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, emphasizing the importance of understanding that even within the same type of cancer, there can be significant individual variation.

💡Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a cancer that occurs in the prostate gland in men. The video script identifies it as a common type of cancer among men, highlighting the gender-specific nature of some cancers.

💡Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs and is common in both men and women. The script mentions lung cancer as an example of a cancer type that affects a broad demographic, illustrating the widespread impact of cancer.

💡Colon Cancer

Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is cancer that starts in the large intestine. The script includes colon cancer as another common type affecting both genders, emphasizing the prevalence of certain cancers.

💡Genomic Profiling

Genomic profiling is the process of analyzing the genome of a tumor to understand its unique genetic makeup. The script discusses how genomic profiling can help in tailoring treatment for individual cancers, indicating a move towards personalized medicine.

💡Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer cells more effectively. The video script explains how new drugs are designed to 'teach' the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells, representing a significant advancement in cancer treatment.

💡Integrative Oncology

Integrative oncology combines conventional cancer treatments with complementary therapies to create a comprehensive treatment plan. The script describes how integrative oncology at Cancer Treatment Centers of America includes therapies like acupuncture and nutrition to support the patient's overall well-being during treatment.

💡Oncologist

An oncologist is a physician who specializes in oncology, the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The script mentions the role of an oncologist in providing personalized treatment plans and the goal of helping patients return to a normal life after cancer treatment.

Highlights

Cancer affects approximately 50% of men and 33.3% of women at some point in their lives.

Cancer cells are abnormal and uncontrolled, growing and potentially spreading throughout the body.

Cancer can occur in any part of the body with cells, affecting both men and women differently.

Breast cancer is common in women, while prostate cancer is common in men, and lung and colon cancers affect both sexes.

Breast cancer varies significantly from person to person, necessitating individualized treatment plans.

Cancer diagnosis raises questions about the stage of the disease and its spread within the body.

Cancer is a complex disease with over 200 different types, each requiring unique treatment approaches.

Tumor heterogeneity means that different subtypes of cancer within the same tumor may require different treatments.

Primary cancer treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, each targeting cancer cells in different ways.

Advancements in cancer treatment are significant, with new options emerging frequently.

Genomic profiling of tumors allows for personalized cancer treatment strategies.

Understanding genetic abnormalities in cancers helps in developing targeted therapies with fewer side effects.

New immunotherapy drugs are designed to enhance the immune system's ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America offers integrative oncology, combining conventional treatments with alternative therapies.

Integrative oncology aims to control symptoms, support nutrition, and boost the immune system during cancer treatment.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America provides a comprehensive approach to managing side effects and symptoms.

The goal of oncology is not only to eliminate cancer but also to help patients return to a normal life.

With over 30 years of experience, the current treatment options for cancer are the best and most effective ever seen.

Transcripts

One out of every two men and one out of

every three women will be diagnosed with

invasive cancer in their lifetime for

this reason it's really important to

know more about what cancer is, what

makes it up and how it's treated.

At the simplest level, cancer or cancer

cells are cells that have lost the

ability to follow the normal control

that the body exerts on all cells.

In our body we have billions and billions of

cells and they have different functions.

It's a very complicated process under

incredibly phenomenal control, and if

something goes wrong and that control is

lost and particular cells escape the

normal control mechanisms and they

continue to grow and they may spread

that's what we call cancer.

As those cells grow and divide, they turn into a

mass or they clump together and that's

what we would call a tumor and then they

can get smart and then spread other

places and that's what we call metastasis.

Cancer can actually occur anywhere in the body

because there are cells everywhere in the body.

In women, one of the most common cancers of course is breast cancer.

In men, prostate cancer

and in both men and women lung cancer and colon cancer are common cancers.

One of the things we're now learning is that

just because you have breast cancer doesn't

mean that your breast cancer is the same

as the person that's sitting next to you

that may have breast cancer and

therefore you can get an individual

treatment plan that's based on you as an

individual and your particular cancer type.

Once the diagnosis of cancer is made, of course,

the next obvious question is what do you do.

There are several things that are really relevant

the stage of the cancer which is information

about where is the cancer. You say it's a

particular kind of cancer, how much

cancer is present? Has it spread? Is it in lymphnodes?

Has it spread to other organs of the body?

Cancer treatment actually is

very complex and part of the reason is

because cancer is this constellation of

over 200 different diseases.

The have some common characteristics but they're all

very different from each other.

In addition to that, the cancer itself is

not homogeneous. There may be three or

four or five or six different slight

variations in the cancer cells that are there.

People ask, 'why, why does my cancer not

go away, it shrunk by seventy percent.

What's wrong with the other thirty percent?'

Well, it's probably different subtype of that cancer

which is going to require a different kind of treatment.

Primary methods for treatment of cancer

or surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Surgery is when you literally remove the cancer.

You make an incision, you find the cancer and you cut it out.

Radiation is actually taking what we call photons,

the same thing that you use to take an x-ray picture

in order to treat a focal area of cancer.

Chemotherapy is using a drug or chemical that's either

taken by mouth as a pill or given

through an IV into the vein targeting

those cells that are dividing more quickly.

Receiving a diagnosis of cancer can be a frightening thing.

The good news is that today is probably

the most exciting time in history in

terms of the treatment of cancer options

that didn't exist a few months ago

certainly didn't exist a few years ago.

Like the ability to genomically profile

a tumor and to take that individualized

fingerprint of that cancer may direct us

to tailor treatment in very specific ways.

As we learn genetic abnormalities

in individual cancers, we're able to more

effectively target those abnormalities

for the individual cancer, not only to

improve the outcome for

the patients relative to the cancer,

but also hopefully result in less side effects

because the targets will hopefully be

less in the normal tissue and more in

the cancer itself.

New drugs have now been designed to

teach the immune system

how to see the cancer cells for what they are

so the immune system can actually do the

job at killing off those cells.

We've unlocked a key interaction in how cancer cells

and immune cells interact and by

affecting that interaction teaches the

immune cell to be smarter and see the

cancer cell for what it is and get rid of them.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America

we have a very robust,

integrative oncology program.

Integrative oncology is taking those conventional

oncology treatments and integrating those

with therapies like acupuncture,

naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, nutrition,

to blend those together and to create the

most appropriate treatment plan for that

individual patient at that moment in time.

So having your symptoms and side effects

under control, having your nutritional status and your

immune system as well as your energy

supported during treatment better

positions you to fight the cancer and

tolerate the treatment course.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America has all their

resources under one roof. All of these team

members really try to address any sort

of side effects or symptoms that you may

be having before they occur.

If we can keep your body strong, if we can

keep your hope up and you feeling strong

emotionally and if we can keep your

immune system in a good place you're

going to tolerate the treatment much better.

No matter what cancer you have,

this is a person who has a life and

family and friends and so forth and so

my goal as an oncologist is to not only

get rid of the cancer,

but for you to then live a normal life again.

I've been an oncologist now for over 30 years

and the options for treatment are

the best that I've ever seen them.

They're more effective with fewer side effects

and faster recovery so that you can live

as normal life as long as you can

we've never had better opportunities then we do today.