NEWS > HEALTH > OVARIAN CANCER REDUCTION IN MEN GIVES NEW HOPE FOR CURE

OVARIAN CANCER REDUCTION IN MEN GIVES NEW HOPE FOR CURE

July 29 2009

Washington, DC – Cancer has long been a term filled with terror. That terror has only been amplified as science continues to battle the disease in all its various forms. Once a term associated with the heavens, the term has come to be known as death incarnate. Science though has made significant strides in fighting the disease,
defeating some forms of it entirely and with every victory comes hope that one day the species will be totally cancer-free.

One of the more successful battlefronts in recent years has been in the fight against ovarian cancer. Once a virtual death sentence new advances in surgical procedures and medication has made the fight against the disease one of the most exciting for the medical community. New studies into the battle against the disease further indicate the success against the disease with many showing virtually no occurrences in men across the United States. That new data coupled with increasing survival rates among women has given new blood in the battle against the once unstoppable disease.

“This is the first time we have seen an almost complete elimination of any form of cancer in a definable segment of the population. This data is some of the most exciting I have ever come across in my more than twenty years of fighting cancer and gives me and the entire medical community a huge boost. Knowing that we can completely eliminate a form of cancer from one population shows that our efforts are working,” said Dr. David Campbell of USAMRIID. “Obviously the first success we should have is with women. If we can apply the same techniques to women we can possibly eliminate the disease forever. It will be tricky of course but this success gives us hope t hat someday everyone will be free of ovarian cancer.”

Citing the increased number of ovaries in women Dr. Campbell further stated that a full cure might still be a few years away. He also stated that they have seen a dramatic reduction in cases of testicular cancer amongst women in the U.S. giving them hopeof defeating that disease as well.

“This is the first time we have ever had really clear cut news on the success of the cancer fight. Most often we see slowly declining numbers but as yet we have never had that ‘Aha!’ moment that most people have been looking for. This is the first time since cancer became a full time battle that we have had the opportunity to really see a
leap forward in the fight. This news should bring a lot of hope to pretty much everyone,” said Scrape TV Health analyst Rebecca Phelps. “There is of course no guarantee that this success will translate to other forms of cancer. The biggest challenge in battling the disease has always been its versatility. Each version of the cancer is unique and can even change from person to person and that has always made it a slippery disease for science. This news though shows that it can be caught.”

The study is believed to be the first comprehensive study into the occurrence and mortality rates in men. Previous studies have shown similar levels of the disease but have been considered incomplete. The study was requested by the Obama administration and reportedly cost in the neighbourhood of $100 million.

“This will no doubt be touted as a win for the administration but much of this work
was done during the Bush administration and should really be credited as a success for them. Either way, it’s very good news especially for those who have been touched by cancer. This disease has tormented so many for so long but now it appears that we have gained an upper hand and that will hopefully lead to more success,” continued Phelps. “I can think of no other form of cancer that has such primordial fear attached to it. So often people afflicted with the disease even if they survive are profoundly affected especially if they are no longer able to have children. Now that fear is going by the wayside and whole generations of men will be able to grow up not having to fear ovarian cancer.”

The study cited the lack of ovaries in men as the principle reason for the decline.  

Lauren Hebert, Health Correspondent

NEWS > HEALTH > OVARIAN CANCER REDUCTION IN MEN GIVES NEW HOPE FOR CURE