When Cancer Disappears

The New York Times published an article titled "When Cancer Disappears" on Monday October 26/09.   It is probably the most fascinating and informative report I have every read.

I have not had time to read through the many many comments that follow the report but what I did read compelled me to pass it forward to this board.

Here is just one quote from the esteemed Dr. David Servan-Schreiber  of the University of Pittsburgh....

“Cancer lies dormant in all of us. Like all living organisms, our bodies are making defective cells all the time. That’s how tumors are born.

But our bodies are also equipped with a number of mechanisms which detect and keep such cells in check.

In the West one person in four will die of cancer–but three in four will not: THEIR DEFENSE MECHANISMS WILL HOLD OUT.” 

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/when-cancer-disappe

I read this also and found it fascinating, as I am one they choose to wait and watch instead of clean out lymph nodes that are positive with papillary cancer.  My cancer is iodine resistant.  Great article!

It was an interesting article. One thing I want to point out, though, for clarity's sake. When they say that 3 out of 4 defense mechanisms will hold out, that does NOT mean that 3 out of 4 people diagnosed with cancer will fight it off. They're talking 3 out of 4 of the entire population not getting cancer, even though 100% of us have the potential to get it. I just wouldn't want to see that one  get misquoted and taken out of context.