Alice,
a down to earth 19-year-old, has been betrothed to an English nobleman.
The
story begins at her extravagant engagement party where we see her escape
the
party to consider her future as well as her marriage to the nobleman. In
doing so she spots a white rabbit in the gardens, chases him, and falls
down a rabbit hole. She finds herself in 'Underland'
which resembles her childhood nightmares with talking animals, the
villainous
red queen, among others. Alice comes to the realization that she is
destined to conquer the Jabberwocky and restore the rightful white queen
to the throne.
INTRODUCTION:
The
number of Americans dying from cancer since the 1990s has been declining
steadily. Currently, for all existing cancers the survival rate for the next 5
years is at 67 percent. The probability that cancer will become a patients'
death sentence depends on various factors. These factors include cancer growth,
how much cancer has spread, which effective treatments available, individuals’
overall health, and others.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The
most common cancer type found in women is breast cancer whereas for men it is prostate cancer. Both lung cancer and colorectal cancer affect both men and
women at similarly high numbers. Cancer can form in any location in the human
body. Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancer
develops when the body's normal control mechanism stops working. Old cells do
not die and instead grow out of control, forming new, abnormal cells. These
extra cells may form a mass of tissue, called a tumor. Certain cancers for
example, Leukemia, does not form tumors. [B]
There
are 5 forms of cancer that exist. Cancer that originates in the skin or tissues
that line internal organs is known as Carcinomas. Those that develop in ones’
bones, cartilage, fat, muscle, or other connective tissues in the body are
called Sarcomas. Leukemia begins in the bone marrow and blood. Finally, cancers
concerning the central nervous system (aka: CNS) originate in the brain and
spinal cord. Thus, deciding on proper and effective treatment options depend on
which cancer type, stage of cancer, whether the cancer has spread, and
patients’ general health status. The goal with specified treatments is to
terminate as many cancerous cells possible while reducing damage to nearby
healthy cells. [B]
The
3 main treatment options include surgery where the physician directly removes
the tumor, chemotherapy where chemicals are used to kill cancerous cells, and
radiation therapy where X-rays are applied to terminate cancer cells found in
the body. Although two patients may develop the same form of cancer, each
patients’ cancer differs drastically from another. [B]
Within a single type of
cancer, such as breast cancer, researchers are discovering sub-types that each
requires a different treatment approach. Unfortunately,
these treatments do come with a broad range of side effects and patients
typically need extra maintenance for their overall well-being. Factors such as
pain, fatigue, depression, and other side effects of cancer treatments demand a
greater focus other than just the disease itself. [B]
Nutrition
therapy, Naturopathic medicine, and Oncology Rehabilitation are all examples of
the types of supportive care services that are available to cancer patients.
Nutrition therapy aids in the prevention of malnutrition and reduces side
effects. Naturopathic medicine takes natural remedies and boosts patients’
energy while also minimizing side effects. Oncology rehabilitation to rebuild
strength and overcome some of the physical effects of treatment. Medicine focused on the ‘Mind-Body’ tends to improve the emotional well-being
through counseling, stress management techniques, and support groups. [B]
The
future of cancer treatment lies in providing patients with an even greater
level of personalization. Doctors are beginning to offer treatment options
based on the genetic changes occurring in a specific tumor. An innovative new
diagnostic tool, the genomic tumor assessment, examines a patient’s tumor genetically
to identify the mechanism that caused cancer. Genomic tumor assessment may
result in a more personalized approach to cancer treatment. [B]
The most common misconceptions of where or how cancer
originates tends to make sense especially when based on old theories are
typically scientifically wrong. This can erroneously lead to mass anxiety and
worry, hinder proper cancer prevention and effective treatment decisions. These
ideas are spread by self-made wellness specialists who claim that cancer is a
man-made disease, inflicting fear in people that this disease is a direct
result of modern life elements. [A]
Popular
ideas of the ways that cancer originate, and spread can make a lot of sense,
especially when they are based on older theories. These ideas on cancer are
scientifically wrong and can lead to unnecessary worry, hinder good prevention,
and treatment decisions. Here are the most common cancer misconceptions. [A]
DEODORANTS:
Currently,
there is no evidence that links chemicals in antiperspirants and deodorants
with alterations in breast tissue.
MOBILE PHONES & WIFI:
When
the body's DNA is damaged and sending normal healthy-cell-replication processes
askew, 'Ionizing Radiation' (like X-Rays, Radiotherapy) carry a large amount of
energy far beyond the capabilities of mobile phones. Wifi transmits even less
energy than a mobile phone (aka: cell phones).
The
majority of cell phones are used by people worldwide and there are some who
claim that these devices cause serious health risks such as cancer. In 1992
only a few people used mobile phones until 2008 when phones were available
worldwide and the number of people who developed brain tumor barely changed. Between
the years 2000 until 2016, WHO (world Health Organization) conducted an
'Interphone Study' that included thousands of people across 13 countries.
They
discovered that mobile phones did not increase an individuals' chance of
getting a brain tumor. Thus, the relationship between RF (radio-frequency)
radiation in cell phones and cancer is weak to non-existent. The
best studies completed so far have stated that cell phones do not cause cancer.
Cancer is caused by genetic mutations, and cell phones emit a type of
low-frequency energy that does not damage genes.
SUGAR:
Research
has revealed that cancer cells consume more sugar (glucose) than normal healthy
cells. However, no studies express that eating sugar will make cancer worse or
cause it. In addition, not eating sugar will make cancer shrink or disappear is
a common misconception. A high sugar diet can contribute to gain excess weight
and obesity, on the other hand, is associated with increased risk of developing
cancer.
ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS:
When
researches conducted studies of artificial sweeteners and their safety, no
evidence was found that would cause cancer in humans. The artificial sweeteners
(aka: ‘sugar substitutes’), Sweet ‘N Low (aka: ‘saccharin’), Equal or
NutraSweet (aka: ‘cyclamate; aspartame’), Sweet One (aka: ‘acesulfame
potassium), and Splenda (aka: ‘sucralose’). Except for ‘cyclamate’, these
artificial sugars have been approved by the FDA in the US.
HEREDITARY:
Cancer
is caused by harmful changes (mutations) in genes. Harmful mutations inherited
by parents is merely a 5 to 10 percent risk. Instances where multiple family
members develop the same type of cancer with an inherited cancer-causing
mutation are known as “familial” or “hereditary” cancers. The remaining 90 to
95 percent of cancers are caused by mutations that happen during a person’s
lifetime as a natural result, called “non-hereditary” or “spontaneous” cancers.
FAMILY RELATED:
Roughly
38% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives.
Majority of cancers are caused by genetic changes that occur throughout an
individual’s life. It is typically a natural result of aging and exposure to
environmental factors (ex: tobacco, smoke, and radiation). The type of foods
consumed, the amount eaten, and frequency of exercise can influence the risk of
developing cancer.
AIR EXPOSURE:
Exposure
to air will not make tumors grow faster or cause cancer to spread to other
parts of the body.
ATTITUDES:
Currently,
there is no existing scientific evidence that one’s attitude is linked to the
development of cancer or dying from it. Being diagnosed with cancer, it is completely
normal to feel sad, angry, or discouraged and other times be upbeat and happy.
Individuals’ with a positive attitude may be more likely to maintain social
connections, stay active, physical activity, and reaching out for emotional
support can help cancer patients cope better.
POWER LINES:
According
to most recent studies, the electric energy emitted by power lines is easily
shielded or weakened by walls and other objects. Power lines emit both electric
and magnetic energy. The magnetic energy emitted by power lines is a
low-frequency form of radiation that does not damage genes.
ORGANIC FARMING:
The
belief that organic food has 'anti-cancer' properties is popular. However
according to the 'World Cancer Research Fund', led by Michelle McCully, was one
of the largest leading authorities on a diet and its correlation to cancer. But
no strong evidence exists to provide support the myth that organic foods offer
added protection from cancer (compared to conventionally grown produce).
HERBAL PRODUCTS:
Some
studies may suggest that alternative therapies (certain herbs) can help
patients cope with the side effects of cancer treatment. But, scientifically speaking,
no herbal products have been shown to be effective for treating cancer. Some
herbal products may even be harmful during radiation therapy or chemotherapy as
they can interfere with how effectively these treatments work.
SURGERY:
The
risk of cancer spreading to other regions of the body during surgery is
miniscule. Following standard procedures, surgeons use special methods and take
many steps to prevent cancer cells from spreading during biopsies or surgery to
remove tumors.
CHEMICALS & POLLUTION:
Everything
people breathe is a chemical. We are protected from exposure to industrial
chemicals that would harm our health thanks to EU regulations. However, there
is a minor risk of lung cancer associated with air pollution. Other chemical
myths on cancer risks are using plastic bottles and deodorant.
CONTAGIOUS:
Cancer
is not a contagious disease, spreading easily from one person to another. The
only way that cancer can spread like that is from having an organ or tissue
transplant. (A person who receives an organ or tissue from a donor who had
cancer in the past may be at increased risk of developing a transplant-related
cancer in the future).
This
risk is extremely low, every 2 out of 10,000 organ transplant cases. Doctors
avoid the use of organs or tissue from donors who have a history of cancer.
Some individuals have cancers caused by viruses (aka: ‘form of human
papillomavirus’, or ‘HPV’) and bacteria (aka: ‘Helicobacter pylori’). While a
virus or bacterium can spread from person to person, these cancers cannot
spread from person to person.
THE TRUTH:
The
best thing people can do is to stop smoking, maintain a healthy weight, and
avoiding excess sun exposure. Cancer is becoming more and more common because
it is a disease of old age. many people have cancer who in earlier times would
have died much younger. However, some aspects of our modern lifestyles do
increase our chances of getting cancer.
LINKS:
(A)
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/myths
(B)
https://www.cancercenter.com/what-is-cancer/
(C)
https://animationscreencaps.com/alice-wonderland-2010/35
(D)
https://www.gaurdian.com/cancermyths
*Please note! These images are not mine. They were found on
various tumblr, pinterest, google image sites! If any are yours’ please let me
know so that I can give you credit for them! Also the people in the images have
no relation to the diseases, illnesses, or cancers I write about. Thanks so
much & enjoy~
