With the help of revolutionizing technology used in the medical field, cancer can be detected in its earlier stage, and treatment is innovative and can be started sooner. Even though there are innovative ways to treat cancer, there is not an official cure for cancer because the disease is extremely complicated. Cancer is “the number two cause of death in Americans” (Chan, par. 1). This means that cancer is a big problem, and a cure for cancer needs to be found soon. Natasha Loder says, “Medicine has done a great job of reducing deaths from heart disease and stroke but less so with cancer” (Loder, par. 1). The question, “Why is there no cure for cancer?”, is still a big one in cancer research. One part of the solution lies in the genetic code, or DNA, of a cancer …show more content…
Every person’s DNA consists of twenty-three chromosomes, and each chromosome contains several genes. The problem occurs when the genes start to mutate when the cells are uncontrollably dividing. One genetic mutation is not powerful enough to cause cancerous cells to grow out of control; cancerous cells start to grow out of control when about five or six genetic mutations occur (Green, 3:54-4:03). Once multiple genetic mutations occur, cancerous cells start to form tumors that can metastasize. Artrake Studio says, “Cancers become almost incurable once they metastasize” (Studio, 0:49-0:52). Even though there is technology to help detect cancer in the early stages, it can not be detected until the cancer has metastasized and is too late to effectively treat. Artrake Studio also says, “One of the complexities of aggressive tumors is that they can have multiple populations of slightly different cancerous cells” (Studio, 2:15-2:21). When the cancer has multiple populations, it is even harder to treat. Each tumor can produce a number of subclones that needs treated, but a treatment may only work for one of the subclones, making it hard to treat all of the factors of a patient’s cancer (Studio,