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couloirjunkie268 karma

Cancer can be cured and always has been able to be. Surgery for many cancers is a cure. However, for many, many others cure is a very long way away. Earlier this year a group described the first true cure of a patient with metastatic breast cancer through use of immunotherapy, and we have certainly seen patients who would most certainly have died of their cancer responding so well to treatment with immunotherapy drugs that their cancer is in remission for long enough for them to live a full and happy life before dying of a different disease (is that a cure?).

couloirjunkie189 karma

"Smoking cigarettes doesn't cause cancer" is probably the one that used to be the craziest.

couloirjunkie157 karma

Good question. There's still a lot of interest in the principle that some cancer cells are able to divide and form cells that can either go on to differentiate or continue to divide, and that there is a small population of these cells that drive both cancer progression and resistance to therapy. The evidence that it is these cells alone that drive resistance, or that they are pluripotent is generally lacking in my view (although some researchers will disagree). Understanding how cancers can mimic or evolve aspects of stem cell physiology I think will help drive new approaches in cancer though.

couloirjunkie136 karma

There is no good evidence that vitamin C will treat any form of cancer. RGCC is a private provider of tests to detect circulating tumour cells. The cells are detected because they have markers of epithelial cells, which are not normally found in the blood. There are a number of reasons why this can happen, and false positives are common - it is not generally used as a primary screen for cancer. Cancer is usually confirmed by a CT scan, or other imaging of the tumour in the more developed nations, followed by biopsy and pathology. I'm not sure how you can help him, apart from being his friend, and being there for him when he sees doctors. Maybe a counsellor or therapist?

couloirjunkie99 karma

Yes. Teaching University students at all levels (undergrad, masters, PhD) is incredibly rewarding. It also makes me have to think harder on what we know about cancer, as many of the students ask really interesting questions.

This generation of students are dynamic, interested, challenging and hard working. They may provide different challenges from when I was a student, but they are just as questioning, generally better able to find sources for their material and more passionate about engaging the public about science.