Cancer is the generic name for more than 100 specific diseases, all of which are distinguished by the rampant or uncontrolled growth of abnormal body cells. The condition has been known since antiquity. In the contemporary developed world, it is a major cause of death, killing an estimated 33% of the population. Deaths largely occur in the 55-75 age group, but cancer also affects younger people and children.
The organs or body parts vulnerable to
cancer are the brain, mouth, larynx, throat, oesophagus, lungs, breasts, stomach, pancreas, liver, bladder, spleen, prostrate, womb, ovaries, testicles, colon, rectum, skin and blood. In other words, virtually every internal organ!
Simply speaking, the mechanism involved in the inception of cancer is that the cell's natural regulatory mechanism has gone awry at a microscopic level, allowing a rampant growth of non-regulated cells, which develop into a tumour. As the tumour outgrows the original organ, pieces of malignant tissue often separate and enter the bloodstream, or lymph system. The cancer cells often proliferate, becoming attached to other organs and create new tumours. Accordingly, from an initial cancer of the pancreas, the spread of malignant cells may progressively reach the lungs, kidneys, stomach, breast, colon or even the brain causing new tumours in their wake. Because of this phenomenon, cancer specialists concentrate on containing malignant tumours at source.
Mainstream scientists now believe that the causes of cancer are either genetic or environmental. The causative agents fall into 3 groups: chemicals, viruses and radiation. But the big 3 are generally considered to be smoking, alcohol and obesity, if we are to believe the mass media and conventional medical literature. However, they conveniently gloss over the inordinately deleterious effects of 30 years of testing nuclear weapons and the plutonium still being released into the environment from nuclear power stations. In addition, vested medical interests, especially those of the pharmaceutical monopolies, are responsible for suppressing research data on the deleterious effects of Western medicines and its suspected carcinogenic contribution.
Practitioners of Feng Shui are convinced that the condition known as geopathic stress or "bad land" is a major cause of illness and cancer. Apparently, the effect of certain mineral deposits, low level electro-magnetic fields, natural radiation and the presence of subterranean water or "black streams" under dwellings is considered to be carcinogenic.
However, the pathological lifestyle lived by most people, the mass consumption of "junk foods" and avoidance of natural, wholesome foods, especially fruit, the ingestion of harmful additives in foodstuffs and the high level of stress and anxiety common in the world today must bear a considerable part of the blame. Scientific research is still in its infancy as regards the carcinogenic effects of the ozone depletion and the consequent increase in solar and galactic radiation.
Significant improvements in cancer treatment have been made since the middle of the 20th century, through a combination of timely and accurate diagnosis, selective surgery, radiation therapy and chemo-therapeutic drugs. However, one cannot but help think more research into
natural therapies as cancer antidotes would ultimately be more beneficial.
