; Derycke S; De Wagter C) In order to get a radiation beam of high enough intensity to hit the tumor, without damaging surrounding tissues, several lower intensity beams were directed to the tumor from different directions. This method decreases damage to surrounding tissues but, it does not work on all cancer and still has some side effects. Another method with side effects used to treat cancer is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a word to describe chemical agents (drugs) that are used in the treatment of various types of cancer. (Medical Oncology and Hematology Associates) Chemotherapy works by killing rapidly dividing cells. Cancer cells are rapidly dividing, but unfortunately so are white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, cells lining the mouth, stomach and intestines, hair cells, and reproductive cells. These factors are part of the reason there are so many side effects with chemotherapy. Damage to these other rapidly dividing cells lead to loss of hair, nausea, sore mouth and decreased immune response.The side effects still associated with radiation and chemotherapy have led many researchers to look to new areas for cures. The breathtaking pace of gene discovery in the last two decades, coupled with the birth of recombinant DNA technology, gave rise to the concept that genes may be manipulated and used as drugs. (Kong HL) Family friend and nationally renown genetic therapist, Ken Culver is working on genetic cures for cancer. One technique he and his team are pioneering is the idea of injecting the genetic code of a curable disease into a cancerous lump via recombinant DNA. The theory is that the disease will take over the cancerous cells and then the lump can be cured by the cure for the disease. Gene therapy has the potential to provide cancer treatments based on novel mechanisms of action with potentially low toxicities. (Roth JA; Swisher SG; Meyn RE)Many of you have probably heard of cancer patients taking a...
