A Brief History of the War on Cancer

I have recently been wondering why there is so much cancer today and we don't hear much about it much as we read books about history. Yesterday I was reading a batch of letters from one of my distant relatives circa 200 years ago. The letters spanned many years and made frequent references to people who had died. Many died of "the fever" or something similar. 

Is it because the name cancer is a relatively new term that we had so few references to it from that time. The question on my mind was, "Has there been a marked increase in cancer as a byproduct of technological progress?"

As it turns out the answer is yes, there has indeed been a marked increase of people having to deal with cancer, though not entirely linked to technology. Smoking as a way of life may be relatively new, and tobacco is a known carcinogen. On the flip side, mortality rates have dropped.

Here are a few things I learned while looking into this a bit more.

Ancient and Medieval Perspectives

The earliest recorded references to cancer date back to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, where papyrus writings detailed cases of tumors and growths. I didn't expect that. I assumed it would be someone like Hippocrates who would be among the first to address cancer. It turns out that I was correct, though, that Greek physicians like Hippocrates and Galen did address this issue. They wrote that it was caused by an imbalance of bodily fluids. They coined the term "carcinos" (Greek for crab) to describe the invasive nature of certain tumors, resembling the crab's pincers.

Emergence of Scientific Inquiry

It was not until the Renaissance that scientific inquiry began to reshape how cancer was understood. When I was at the Gallileo Museum in Florence this past April, I found it quite fascinating how many directions his inquiring mind took him. One outgrowth of these explorations was the invention of an early version of the microscope, using lenses to amplify tiny things the way telescopes enlarge craters on the moon. 

The development of microsopes enabled researchers to observe cells and tissues, paving the way for more precise observations of cancerous growths. Rudolf Virchow, a 19th-century German pathologist, introduced the concept that cancer originates from abnormal cells within tissues.

19th and 20th Centuries Discoveries

The 19th and 20th centuries marked a turning point in cancer research. The advent of anesthesia and aseptic surgical techniques enabled more effective tumor removal. Marie Curie's groundbreaking research on radiation furthered understanding of cancer's response to different treatments. In the mid-20th century, the discovery of DNA's structure and the identification of oncogenes transformed how scientists perceived the genetic basis of cancer.

War on Cancer and Modern Advances

The "War on Cancer" was officially declared by U.S. President Richard Nixon in the 1970s, leading to increased funding for research and a focus on prevention and treatment. Since then we've seen the development of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapies, revolutionizing cancer treatment approaches. Breakthroughs in understanding the role of the immune system have resulted in the emergence of immunotherapy as a promising avenue for treatment.

Precision Medicine and Genomic Insights

In recent decades, advancements in genomics and molecular biology have bee reshaping cancer research and treatment. The identification of specific genetic mutations driving certain cancers has enabled the development of targeted therapies tailored to individual patients. This approach, known as precision medicine, holds the potential to maximize treatment effectiveness while minimizing side effects.

Holistic Approaches and Supportive Care

The history of cancer also includes a growing recognition of the importance of holistic care. Palliative care and supportive interventions have become integral to cancer treatment, focusing on improving patients' quality of life and managing symptoms. While researching ethical issues in terminal health care 30 years ago, I learned of the challenges oncologists have to deal with with regard to pain management. Too often, their hands were tied by red tape (regulations) restricting the use of pain meds out of fear that patients would become addicted. 

The Reason I Wanted to Write about This

When I was growing up there had been a lot of cancer in my grandmother's family. She was one of six siblings. Four of them died of cancer. Her sister Isabel got it twice, having survived cancer in her thirties with surgery and a colonoscopy. Later in life she was not so fortunate. With this history in mind I always wondered if there had been something in the water where they grew up or if the cancer were in the DNA somehow. 

Future Outlook

Despite significant progress, cancer remains a complex challenge. A half century of pouring money into cancer research has produced many new insights, though solutions remain elusive. The need for effective early detection continues to drive research efforts. Some are hoping that the advent of artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and advances in personalized medicine will provide new avenues for tackling cancer.