Essay on Cancer for Students and Children

500+ words essay on cancer.

Cancer might just be one of the most feared and dreaded diseases. Globally, cancer is responsible for the death of nearly 9.5 million people in 2018. It is the second leading cause of death as per the world health organization. As per studies, in India, we see 1300 deaths due to cancer every day. These statistics are truly astonishing and scary. In the recent few decades, the number of cancer has been increasingly on the rise. So let us take a look at the meaning, causes, and types of cancer in this essay on cancer.

Cancer comes in many forms and types. Cancer is the collective name given to the disease where certain cells of the person’s body start dividing continuously, refusing to stop. These extra cells form when none are needed and they spread into the surrounding tissues and can even form malignant tumors. Cells may break away from such tumors and go and form tumors in other places of the patient’s body.

essay on cancer

Types of Cancers

As we know, cancer can actually affect any part or organ of the human body. We all have come across various types of cancer – lung, blood, pancreas, stomach, skin, and so many others. Biologically, however, cancer can be divided into five types specifically – carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, leukemia.

Among these, carcinomas are the most diagnosed type. These cancers originate in organs or glands such as lungs, stomach, pancreas, breast, etc. Leukemia is the cancer of the blood, and this does not form any tumors. Sarcomas start in the muscles, bones, tissues or other connective tissues of the body. Lymphomas are the cancer of the white blood cells, i.e. the lymphocytes. And finally, melanoma is when cancer arises in the pigment of the skin.

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Causes of Cancer

In most cases, we can never attribute the cause of any cancer to one single factor. The main thing that causes cancer is a substance we know as carcinogens. But how these develop or enters a person’s body will depend on many factors. We can divide the main factors into the following types – biological factors, physical factors, and lifestyle-related factors.

Biological factors involve internal factors such as age, gender, genes, hereditary factors, blood type, skin type, etc. Physical factors refer to environmental exposure of any king to say X-rays, gamma rays, etc. Ad finally lifestyle-related factors refer to substances that introduced carcinogens into our body. These include tobacco, UV radiation, alcohol. smoke, etc. Next, in this essay on cancer lets learn about how we can treat cancer.

Treatment of Cancer

Early diagnosis and immediate medical care in cancer are of utmost importance. When diagnosed in the early stages, then the treatment becomes easier and has more chances of success. The three most common treatment plans are either surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

If there is a benign tumor, then surgery is performed to remove the mass from the body, hence removing cancer from the body. In radiation therapy, we use radiation (rays) to specially target and kill the cancer cells. Chemotherapy is similar, where we inject the patient with drugs that target and kill the cancer cells. All treatment plans, however, have various side-effects. And aftercare is one of the most important aspects of cancer treatment.

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  • National Cancer Awareness Day: Empowering Hope and Health

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Coveted as one of the most notorious diseases in the world, cancer has known to be one of the leading causes of death across the world. Cancer in any form is life-threatening and people often shy away from discussing it. However, cancer awareness can be of great benefit to the common people.

Long Essay on Cancer

In this long essay on cancer, we are providing you with cancer meaning, speech on cancer awareness. Go through this cancer essay to get a complete overview of this deadly disease.

In a recent study conducted in 2018, it was found that around 9.5 million people died that year owing to cancer. The World Health Organisation has revealed that cancer is the second leading cause of death across the world. The statistics in India are also no better and as per recent figures about 1300 people die every day owing to cancer of different types. Cancer types and causes have seen a steady increase in the past decade which does not bode well for the world population.

Meaning of Cancer

Before we proceed in this essay on cancer, we must understand cancer's meaning or what exactly is cancer? Cancer is the term given collectively to any and all forms of unregulated cell growth. Normally, the cells inside our body follow a definitive cycle from generation to death. However, in a person suffering from cancer, this cycle is unchecked and hence the cell cycle passes through the checkpoints unhinged and the cells continue to grow.

Types of Cancer

Now, that we have a preliminary understanding of the meaning of cancer, let us proceed to the cancer types or specifications. Cancer types are usually named after the area they affect in the body - usually like skin, lung, pancreas, blood, stomach among the others. However, if classified biologically, there are primarily five types of cancer. These include - leukemia, melanoma, carcinoma, sarcoma, and lymphoma.

Leukemia is the type of cancer that originates in the blood marrow and is a cancer of the blood. In this cancer type, no tumors are formed. Melanoma is regarded as one of the most dangerous types of cancer as in this, the skin coloring pigment or melanin becomes cancerous in nature. Carcinomas are cancers of the various types of glands or organs such as the breasts, stomach, lungs, pancreas, etc. Cancers of the connective tissues such as the bones, muscles, etc are classified as sarcomas. Lymphomas, on the other hand, are cancers of the white blood cells. Among the most diagnosed types of cancers are carcinomas.

Cancer Causes

In the present day living environment, a number of factors are liable to cause cancer. However, in many cases, one single factor cannot be attributed or held responsible for causing cancer in an individual. The substances that are known to be cancer-causing or increasing the risks of cancer are known as carcinogens. Carcinogens can range from anything from pollutants to tobacco to something as simple as processed meats.

The effect of carcinogens, however, on different individuals is different and it is also dependent on a number of factors, be it physical, lifestyle-choice, or biological. The physical factors enabling the effect of carcinogens include exposure to different environmental conditions such as UV rays, X-rays, etc. Cancer among mining workers because of their constant exposure to asbestos and fine silicone dust is common. Biological factors generally include hereditary factors, such as the passing of a mutated BRCA1 or 2 mutations from mother to daughter in case of breast cancer. In addition, they also include factors such as age, gender, blood type, etc. Lifestyle choice refers to habits such as smoking, drinking, radiation exposure, etc, which can act as triggers for carcinogens.

Cancer Treatment

In this segment of our essay on cancer, we will discuss the various types of cancer treatments involved and their applicability. The most commonly applied cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Often, these treatments are given in a combination of one with the other. Surgery is usually performed in the case of benign tumors usually followed by a short cycle of preventive chemotherapy. The treatment of chemotherapy includes a combination of drugs targeted to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy, on the other hand, makes use of radiations to kill cancerous cells. All these treatments are usually known to have side effects, so after-care for cancer survivors is also equally important.

The kind of treatment best suited for a patient is usually determined by the physician. The most important aspect of cancer treatment is early diagnosis and immediate medical intervention. The chances of surviving or beating cancer increase by a paramount value if diagnosed in the early stages.

Cancer Awareness

In India, and many other countries, speaking or discussing cancer is still considered taboo and this perception is in dire need of a change. Always remember cancer awareness is the first step towards cancer prevention. You must come across survivors sharing their journey by means of speech of cancer awareness. It can be of great benefit to know about the disease beforehand as it will keep you wary of any signs or symptoms you might come across and bring the same to the notice of your physician immediately. This will help in preventing or fighting cancer more effectively.

Short Essay on Cancer

To provide you with a grasp on the subject matter, we have provided a short essay on cancer here. Cancer is a disease in which the cells in specified or different parts of the body start dividing continuously. Cancer is usually caused by specific substances that affect several factors in our body. These specific substances are called carcinogens.

Cancer can be caused owing to exposure to pollution, radiation, harmful substances, poor lifestyle choices, etc. Cancer is best treated when detected early. Usually, surgery as well as other treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc. are used to treat cancer.

Cancer awareness is one of the best means that help in preventing and fighting the disease.

Points to Remember About Cancer

Students are recommended to remember the point of facts so it can be helpful for the students to write an essay with ease. Below are listed a few quick points for the convenience of students who are opting to write an essay on Cancer—

Cancer is a condition in which the cells divide in vast numbers uncontrollably which results in impairment and other damage to the body.

Excessive alcohol consumption, poor nutrition or physical inactivity and, excess weight of the body are some of the causes of Cancer. 

Genetic factors can be responsible for the development of cancer. 

Some genetic malfunctions occur after birth and factors like exposure to the sun and smoking can increase the risks. 

A person can also inherit a certain predisposition for a particular type of cancer. 

Chemotherapy is one of the treatments for cancer that targets the dividing cells, it can cure cancer but the side effects can be fatal. 

Hormone Therapy is another way for treating cancer where the medication targets certain hormones that interfere with the human body. Hormones are essential in breast cancer and prostate cancer. 

Immunotherapy is another way where the medication and treatment target the immune system to boost it.

Personalized medication is one of the newer developments where the treatment is more personalized depending on the person’s body and gene. It is believed that this kind of treatment can cure all types of cancer. 

Radiation therapy is the treatment in which a high dose of radiation is given out to kill the cancerous cells. It can be used for shrinking the tumors before the surgery. 

Stem cell transplant is essential for blood-related cancer like leukemia and lymphoma. In this treatment, the blood cells are removed that are destroyed by chemotherapy and radiation and then the cells are put back into the body after being developed by the doctors. 

Surgery is also a part of the treatment. 

Leukemia, Breast cancer, thyroid cancer, melanoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, pancreatic, endometrial, colon, liver, and bladder cancer are the types of cancer that people are diagnosed with every year. 

The most common types of cancer are lung cancer and melanoma.

Cancer is classified by doctors in two ways. 

First, by the location of the cancerous cells. 

And secondly, by the tissues that are affected by it. 

Metastasis is a condition where cancerous cells spread to different parts of the body. 

Improvements in the rate of cancer have been seen over the years after a significant drop in tobacco consumption and smoking. 

The outlook of cancer depends on the severity, type, and location of the cancerous cells.  

Some cancer can exhibit symptoms while others don’t so it is always advised to report anything to the medical expert if something is wrong. Cancer doesn’t exhibit many symptoms unless it is in an advanced stage so it is usually better to go for regular checkups. 

Tumors can be caused in the brain and spinal that can be cancerous in nature. 

Germ cell tumors give rise to sperm and eggs in the body and it can be caused in any part of the body. 

Quick Ways to Remember and Write an Essay on Cancer

Do the research

It is essential to write the valid points and present them in this essay as it is based on Cancer. An essay on Cancer must be comprehensive and should ideally contain the context related to this topic hence, it is very important for a student to know about this topic thoroughly in order to write the essay brilliantly. 

Analyze the question

A student must understand the intention of the essay and know the terms that are needed to be used. It will clearly form an essay that consists of all the valid points related to cancer. 

Remembering the information on Cancer

Cancer as a topic is vast because there are several types of Cancer and writing about all of them is not possible in a condensed essay so it is important to understand and remember the points which are more essential than the others to be mentioned in the essay.  

Defining the terms and theories

It is essential for a student to explain the terms being used in the essay. For example, writing the names of the types of Cancer is not enough, it also has to be explained by the student on how it affects and how it may be treated. 

Organize a structured essay 

Students must write the essay in a coherent manner which must begin with the introduction to cancer, followed by the body of the essay that must contain the types of cancer, treatment, and other information regarding the topic of Cancer. It must be well concluded later to tie everything up neatly. 

Cancer is, undoubtedly, one of the most life-shattering diseases. Together, let us make an effort to take on this disease with more care and hope.

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FAQs on National Cancer Awareness Day: Empowering Hope and Health

1. Differentiate Between Cancerous and Non-Cancerous Tumours.

The unregulated cell mass inside the body is known as a tumour and can be specified to a particular area or the uninhibited cell growth may spread to the surrounding tissues. Based on this, tumours are majorly classified into two types:

Benign Tumours: This type of tumours are usually regarded as non-cancerous as they are specified to a particular area and can be surgically removed without causing damage to the surrounding tissue.

Malignant Tumours: These tumours, on the other hand, have broken free from their site of origin and spread to other tissues, usually through the bloodstream. These tumours are cancerous in nature and usually require other treatments.

Cancer Essay

500+ words cancer essay.

Cancer is a leading cause of death globally. The World Health Organisation estimates that 10 million people will die of cancer in 2020, and more people will die in the coming years if action is not taken. More than 70% of all cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, where resources available for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer are limited or nonexistent. This essay on cancer will help students know about this disease and the prevention method.

Students can also go through the list of CBSE Essays on different topics. It will help them to improve their writing skills and also increase their scores on the English exam. Moreover, they can participate in different essay writing competitions which are conducted at the school level.

What Is Cancer?

Cancer is a group of diseases characterised by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Cancer cells develop because of multiple changes in their genes. These changes can have many possible causes. If the spread of cells is not controlled, it can result in death. There are many known causes of cancer; they include tobacco use, smoking, alcohol, excess body weight, inherited genetic mutations, hormones, and immune conditions. These risk factors may act simultaneously or in sequence to initiate and/or promote cancer growth. There are many types of cancer. Cancer can develop anywhere in the body and is named after the part of the body where it started. For instance, breast cancer that starts in the breast is still called breast cancer, even if it spreads (metastasises) to other parts of the body.

Cancer Prevention

Cancer prevention is achieved through primary, secondary, and tertiary methods. Primary cancer prevention is achieved through two mechanisms: the promotion of health and wellness and the reduction of risks known to contribute to cancer development. Primary prevention aims to reverse or inhibit the carcinogenic process through modifications in a patient’s diet or environment. Secondary cancer prevention includes screening and early detection. Screening for cancer refers to checking for the presence of disease in populations at risk, and early detection is defined as testing for cancer when no symptoms are present.

Secondary prevention seeks to detect cancer at the earliest possible stage when the disease is most likely to be treated successfully. Tertiary cancer prevention is applied to those individuals who have already been diagnosed with malignancy but are now candidates for screening and early detection of secondary malignancies.

How to Fight Cancer?

The promotion of a healthy diet and physical activity is one of the best ways to fight against cancer. Avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes and such items which are hazardous to health. Cancer mortality can be reduced if cases are detected and treated early. So, early diagnosis, screening and treatment reduce the severity of cancer; and it can be cured.

Apart from spreading awareness among people and educating them to know the early signs of this disease. Also, the education will upgrade the information about exercise, dietary habits, sun exposure, smoking cessation, and recommended screening practices. We all can together fight against this disease and make our country cancer-free.

Cancer is a dangerous disease, but it can be cured. Required instruments should be provided to the hospitals so that the screening and initial detection of cancer can be done at the early stage. In national health insurance, the treatment of cancer should be included with an emphasis on providing financial support to the patient and his family. The expensive immune and targeted therapies should not only be for those upper-income people. These facilities should be made accessible to all people at affordable costs. Thus, it will increase access to health services and strengthen the health systems for low and middle-income people.

Students must have found the “Cancer” essay useful for improving their essay writing skills. They can get the study material and the latest updates on CBSE/ICSE/State Board/Competitive Exams at BYJU’S.

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Essay on Cancer | Cancer Essay for Students and Children in English

February 12, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay on Cancer: A disease that creeps up on life when you least expect it and you have no idea how to fight it. A disease that can happen to any part of your body and can dismember you for life. Yes, we are talking about cancer. Cancer is a disease that not only breaks your body down but cripples you from your mind. To help students for writing an essay on the topic ‘Cancer’, we have presented them with long and short essay samples. Along with this, we will also provide ten pointers on the theme that will work as guidance for framing the essay.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Cancer for Students and Kids in English

We are providing a long essay of 400-500 words and a short essay of 100 to 200 words on the topic of Cancer.

Long Essay on Cancer 500 words in English

Cancer Essay is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

“Once Cancer happens, it entirely changes the way you live for the rest of your life.” This statement in a subtle way conveys us the dangerousness of the deathly disease that is cancer. You might think that people who work out two hours a day and drink protein shakes to refine their abs, how can they fall prey to cancer? Well, Cancer does not adhere to any such rules or fitness routines. It happens if it is meant to happen and that is the only explanation that cancer offers.

Now, what is Cancer? As many people assume, cancer is not just a disease caused by karma to take falsified revenge. Cancer is a disease that is caused when cells develop abnormally anywhere in the body. There are over 200 types of cancer that have prevailed over the years. Cancers that have shown up frequently are Lung and prostate cancer, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Endometrial Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, and many more.

Cancer symptoms and signs are not very specific as they depend on the specific grade and type of cancer, but the symptoms that are seen are fatigue, weight loss, pain, changes in the skin, unusual bleeding, persistent cough or voice change, fever, lumps or tissue masses.

There are many tests to screen and diagnose cancer but the most common one used is by examination of a biopsy sample of the suspected cancer tissue. After the diagnosis, another important part is determining the stage to which cancer has progressed. The cancer spread is generally given a number from 0 to 4, the last being the most aggressive.

Determining the stage of cancer also helps in determining treatment protocols. Treatment also varies as per individual cancer a person suffers from. But the most common protocols are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. There are many home remedies or other treatments but the patients are strongly advised to discuss this with their doctors.

Though its none of our faults, our gender plays an active role. A compiled report by cancer research in the UK states that the chances of men dying from cancer are 40% more than women and they are 16% more prone to get the disease. People with skin types 1 and 2 are more prone to getting cancer. Old age and genes also play as a strong competitor in reasons for getting cancer. So, there is no bar for what kind of person may get any kind of cancer.

Cancer affects a mind more than the body that is its victim. But Quitting is no answer. Some people may have to be strong and steady to help their family and have many pressing issues on their hands. You can be in denial or be overwhelmed with your situation but all you have to do is express your feelings or cope up positively. Cancer may ruin your body but your life depends upon your mind. You have the choice to select if you are a warrior or a weak person in this war against cancer.

Short Essay on Cancer 150 words in English

Cancer Essay is useful for students in classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Cancer is a disease that does not give any indication of its arrival. Cancer is caused when cells multiply at an abnormal rate in any part of the body. Cancer generally is of 200 types but the most frequently seen cancers are Lung and prostate cancer, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Endometrial Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, and many more.

The symptoms of cancer are not defined as they vary according to the stage and type of cancer in a person. The same thing goes with the treatments of the infected person. Fatigue, weight loss, a lump under the skin or areas of thickening, changes in the skin, etc. There are many ways to diagnose cancer but the most common way in which it is used is the examination of a biopsy sample of the infected area.

Cancer treatments can be very depressing to the mind and can financially put a great hole as well. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy frequently used remedies to cure cancer. There are also other treatments but they have to be in the strict supervision of a doctor. Thus, cancer is a dangerous disease that can be won against willpower and proper guidance against it.

10 Lines on Cancer Essay in English

  • Cancer is a disease that is caused by abnormal growth of cells in a body.
  • Cancer is a disease that is not bound to any specific kind of person, it can happen to anyone.
  • Males have 16% more chance than females in falling a victim to this disease.
  • The symptoms of cancer are not defined well as they depend on individual cancer.
  • The common symptoms are fatigue, weight loss, a lump under the skin or areas of thickening, changes in the skin, etc
  • The treatments also vary as per different cancers.
  • The most common treatments for cancers are Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
  • Old age people are also easily prone to this disease.
  • Factors like skin tone and genes are a major reasons for cancer.
  • People with skin types 1 and 2 are prone to cancer and people with skin types 5 and 6 are the least prone to cancer.

FAQ’s on Cancer Essay

Question 1. How many types of cancers are there?

Answer: There are 200 types of cancers prevailing currently in the world.

Question 2. Who is more prone to cancer?

Answer: Cancer can be inflicted at any age but the risk grows with age. People who are 50 or above 50 are diagnosed frequently.

Question 3. Can cancer be caused by injuries?

Answer: No, bruises, rashes, or falls are not linked to cancer in any way.

Question 4. Is cancer a contagious disease?

Answer: No, Cancer is not a contagious disease in any way.

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Home > Cancer Research Catalyst > Cancer Survivors: In Their Words

Cancer Survivors: In Their Words

This year alone, an estimated 1.8 million people will hear their doctor say they have cancer. The individual impact of each person can be clouded in the vast statistics. In honor of National Cancer Survivor Month,  Cancer Today would like to highlight several personal essays we’ve published from cancer survivors at different stages of their treatment. 

essay writing on cancer

In  this essay , psychiatrist Adam P. Stern’s cerebral processing of his metastatic kidney cancer diagnosis gives rise to piercing questions. When he drops off his 3-year-old son to daycare, he ponders a simple exchange: his son’s request for a routine morning hug before he turns to leave. “Will he remember me, only a little, just enough to mythologize me as a giant who used to carry him up the stairs? As my health declines, will he have to learn to adjust to a dad who used to be like all the other dads but then wasn’t?” he questions. 

essay writing on cancer

In  another essay from a parent with a young child, Amanda Rose Ferraro describes the abrupt change from healthy to not healthy after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in May 2017. After a 33-day hospital stay, followed by weeklong chemotherapy treatments, Ferraro’s cancer went into remission, but a recurrence required more chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Ferraro describes harrowing guilt over being separated from her 3-year-old son, who at one point wanted nothing to do with her. “Giving up control is hard, but not living up to what I thought a mother should be was harder. I had to put myself first, and it was the hardest thing I had ever done,” she writes.

In January 1995, 37-year-old Melvin Mann was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, which would eventually mean he would  need to take a chance on a phase I clinical trial that tested an experimental drug called imatinib—a treatment that would go on to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval under the brand name Gleevec. It would also mean trusting a system with a documented history of negligence and abuse of Black people like him: “Many patients, especially some African Americans, are afraid they will be taken advantage of because of past unethical experiments like the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study​,” Mann writes, before describing changes that make current trials safer. Mann’s been on imatinib ever since and has enjoyed watching his daughter become a physician and celebrating 35 years of marriage.

essay writing on cancer

In  another essay , Carly Flumer addresses the absurdity of hearing doctors reassure her that she had a good cancer after she was diagnosed with stage I papillary thyroid cancer in 2017. “What I did hear repeatedly from various physicians was that I had the ‘good cancer,’ and that ‘if you were to have a cancer, thyroid would be the one to get,’” she writes.

In another piece for Cancer Today , Flumer shares  how being diagnosed with cancer just four months after starting a graduate program shaped her education and future career path.

For Liza Bernstein, her breast cancer diagnosis created a paradox as she both acknowledged and denied the disease the opportunity to define who she was. “In the privacy of my own mind, I refused to accept that cancer was part of my identity, even though it was affecting it as surely as erosion transforms the landscape,” she writes . “Out in the world, I’d blurt out, ‘I have cancer,’ because I took questions from acquaintances like ‘How are you, what’s new?’ literally. Answering casual questions with the unvarnished truth wasn’t claiming cancer as my identity. It was an attempt to dismiss the magnitude of it, like saying ‘I have a cold.’” By her third primary breast cancer diagnosis, Bernstein reassesses and moves closer to acceptance as she discovers her role as advocate.

essay writing on cancer

As part of the staff of  Cancer Today , a magazine and online resource for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers, we often refer to a succinct tagline to sum up our mission: “Practical knowledge. Real hope.” Part of providing information is also listening closely to cancer survivors’ experiences. As we celebrate National Cancer Survivor Month, we elevate these voices, and all patients and survivors in their journeys.

Cancer Today is a magazine and online resource for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers published by the American Association for Cancer Research.  Subscriptions to the magazine are free ​ to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers who live in the U.S. 

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Oncology — Breast Cancer

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Essays About Breast Cancer

Brief description of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the cells of the breast. It is the second most common cancer in women and can also affect men. Breast cancer can be invasive or non-invasive and is often detected through screening and self-examination. Early detection and treatment are crucial for improving outcomes and survival rates.

Importance of Writing Essays on This Topic

Essays on breast cancer are significant for academic and personal exploration as they provide an opportunity to raise awareness about the disease, its risk factors, prevention, and treatment options. Writing about breast cancer also allows individuals to share personal experiences, advocate for research and support, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding this prevalent health issue.

Tips on Choosing a Good Topic

  • Consider exploring the latest research and advancements in breast cancer treatment and prevention.
  • Reflect on personal experiences or those of loved ones affected by breast cancer for a more personal and impactful essay.
  • Investigate the societal and cultural impact of breast cancer, including awareness campaigns, advocacy, and support networks.

Essay Topics

  • The Role of Genetic Testing in Breast Cancer Prevention
  • The Impact of Lifestyle Choices on Breast Cancer Risk
  • The Emotional and Psychological Effects of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
  • The Importance of Early Detection and Screening for Breast Cancer
  • The Societal Stigma and Misconceptions Surrounding Breast Cancer
  • Exploring Alternative and Complementary Therapies for Breast Cancer Patients
  • The Influence of Support Networks and Advocacy Groups in Breast Cancer Awareness
  • Analyzing the Economic and Social Burden of Breast Cancer on Patients and Families
  • Debunking Common Myths and Misinformation about Breast Cancer
  • The Role of Hormone Therapy in Breast Cancer Treatment

Concluding Thought

By writing essays on breast cancer, individuals can contribute to a better understanding of the disease, its impact, and the importance of ongoing research and support. Engaging with this topic through writing can help raise awareness, provide support, and inspire positive change within the community.

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117 Breast Cancer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Breast cancer is a prevalent and life-threatening disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide. It is important to raise awareness about breast cancer, its causes, prevention methods, and treatment options. Writing an essay on breast cancer can help educate others, spread awareness, and provide support to those affected by the disease. To help you get started, here are 117 breast cancer essay topic ideas and examples:

  • The history of breast cancer research.
  • Understanding breast cancer: Causes, risk factors, and prevention.
  • The impact of genetics on breast cancer development.
  • Exploring the different types and stages of breast cancer.
  • The role of hormonal imbalances in breast cancer.
  • Environmental factors and their link to breast cancer.
  • The importance of regular breast self-examinations.
  • The significance of early detection in breast cancer survival rates.
  • The impact of breast cancer on mental health.
  • The emotional journey of breast cancer survivors.
  • The role of support groups in the breast cancer community.
  • Breast cancer in men: Understanding the challenges and misconceptions.
  • The importance of mammograms in breast cancer screening.
  • The role of lifestyle choices in breast cancer prevention.
  • Exploring the various treatment options for breast cancer.
  • The impact of chemotherapy on breast cancer patients.
  • Radiation therapy: Benefits and side effects.
  • Surgical interventions for breast cancer: Mastectomy vs. lumpectomy.
  • Breast reconstruction surgery: A personal choice after breast cancer.
  • The role of targeted therapies in breast cancer treatment.
  • The impact of hormone therapy on breast cancer patients.
  • The role of immunotherapy in advanced breast cancer cases.
  • The psychological effects of breast cancer on patients' relationships.
  • Coping strategies for dealing with the emotional toll of breast cancer.
  • The role of nutrition in supporting breast cancer treatment.
  • The importance of exercise during and after breast cancer treatment.
  • Alternative and complementary therapies for breast cancer patients.
  • The financial burden of breast cancer treatment.
  • Breast cancer advocacy: The fight for better research and resources.
  • The role of technology in advancing breast cancer detection methods.
  • Breast cancer awareness campaigns: Their impact on public perception.
  • Breast cancer in developing countries: Challenges and solutions.
  • The impact of breast cancer on fertility and reproductive choices.
  • The role of genetic testing in breast cancer risk assessment.
  • The relationship between obesity and breast cancer.
  • The impact of race and ethnicity on breast cancer outcomes.
  • The importance of early education about breast health.
  • Breast cancer in young women: Unique challenges and considerations.
  • The role of social media in raising breast cancer awareness.
  • Breast cancer and pregnancy: Navigating treatment decisions.
  • The impact of breast cancer on sexual health and intimacy.
  • The role of survivorship programs in supporting breast cancer patients.
  • The impact of breast cancer on workplace dynamics and discrimination.
  • Breast cancer and the LGBTQ+ community: Unique experiences and challenges.
  • The importance of clinical trials in advancing breast cancer research.
  • Breast cancer and the role of epigenetics.
  • The impact of stress and emotional trauma on breast cancer outcomes.
  • The role of advocacy organizations in supporting breast cancer patients.
  • Breast cancer and the role of spirituality in coping.
  • The impact of hormone replacement therapy on breast cancer risk.
  • The role of patient navigation programs in improving breast cancer outcomes.
  • Breast cancer and the impact on body image and self-esteem.
  • The significance of breast cancer education in schools and colleges.
  • The role of art therapy in supporting breast cancer patients.
  • Breast cancer recurrence: Challenges and treatment options.
  • The impact of breast cancer on caregivers and their mental health.
  • The role of exercise in reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence.
  • Exploring the relationship between breast cancer and autoimmune diseases.
  • Breast cancer and the impact on fertility preservation options.
  • The role of palliative care in supporting advanced breast cancer patients.
  • The impact of breast cancer on survivorship and quality of life.
  • The role of community-based organizations in supporting breast cancer patients.
  • Breast cancer and the impact on body image in the media.
  • The importance of peer support in the breast cancer community.
  • Breast cancer and the role of spirituality in healing and recovery.
  • The impact of breast cancer on families and children.
  • The role of mindfulness-based interventions in supporting breast cancer patients.
  • Breast cancer in the elderly population: Challenges and considerations.
  • The importance of clinical breast exams in early detection.
  • Breast cancer and the impact on sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • The role of survivorship care plans in supporting breast cancer survivors.
  • Breast cancer and the impact on fertility preservation options for transgender individuals.
  • The significance of dietary supplements in breast cancer prevention.
  • The impact of breast cancer on body image and self-acceptance.
  • Breast cancer and the role of spirituality in coping with treatment side effects.
  • The importance of breast cancer education in underserved communities.
  • Breast cancer and the impact on mental health in marginalized populations.
  • The role of music therapy in supporting breast cancer patients.
  • Breast cancer and the impact on access to healthcare in rural areas.
  • The significance of breastfeeding in reducing the risk of breast cancer.
  • Breast cancer and the role of integrative medicine in treatment.
  • The impact of breast cancer on sexual identity and gender dysphoria.
  • The role of survivorship clinics in addressing long-term effects of breast cancer treatment.
  • Breast cancer and the impact on body image in different cultures.
  • The importance of mentorship programs for young breast cancer survivors.
  • Breast cancer and the role of spiritual practices in coping with treatment side effects.
  • The impact of breast cancer on mental health in refugee populations.
  • The significance of art therapy in supporting breast cancer patients during treatment.
  • Breast cancer and the impact on healthcare disparities in minority communities.
  • The role of laughter therapy in improving the well-being of breast cancer patients.
  • Breast cancer and the importance of culturally sensitive healthcare practices.
  • The impact of breast cancer on mental health in adolescent survivors.
  • The significance of dance therapy in improving physical and emotional well-being of breast cancer patients.
  • Breast cancer and the role of mobile health applications in self-management.
  • The impact of breast cancer on mental health in immigrant populations.
  • The importance of peer mentoring programs for breast cancer survivors.
  • Breast cancer and the role of mindfulness meditation in managing treatment side effects.
  • The impact of breast cancer on mental health in the LGBTQ+ community.
  • The significance of pet therapy in providing emotional support to breast cancer patients.
  • Breast cancer and the role of community health workers in improving access to care.
  • The impact of breast cancer on mental health in rural populations.
  • The importance of gardening therapy in promoting well-being among breast cancer survivors.
  • Breast cancer and the impact on mental health in older adults.
  • The role of equine therapy in supporting emotional well-being of breast cancer patients.
  • The significance of telehealth in improving access to healthcare for breast cancer patients.
  • Breast cancer and the impact on mental health in low-income populations.
  • The importance of aromatherapy in managing treatment-related symptoms for breast cancer patients.
  • The impact of breast cancer on mental health in individuals with disabilities.
  • The role of horticultural therapy in promoting emotional healing among breast cancer survivors.
  • Breast cancer and the significance of patient navigators in improving health outcomes.
  • The impact of breast cancer on mental health in incarcerated populations.
  • The importance of acupuncture in managing treatment side effects for breast cancer patients.
  • Breast cancer and the impact on mental health in military veterans.
  • The role of aquatic therapy in improving physical and emotional well-being of breast cancer patients.
  • The significance of technology-based interventions in supporting breast cancer survivors.
  • Breast cancer and the impact on mental health in individuals with substance use disorders.
  • The importance of laughter yoga in promoting emotional well-being among breast cancer patients.

These essay topic ideas provide a diverse range of perspectives on breast cancer, allowing you to choose a topic that resonates with you. Remember to conduct thorough research, use credible sources, and share compelling stories to make your essay impactful and informative. Together, we can continue to raise awareness and support those affected by breast cancer.

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A close up of pink prostate cells.

Friday essay: I survived stage 4 prostate cancer – now I’m meeting the cells that unravelled my world

essay writing on cancer

Research Fellow, Prostate Cancer Research Group, Monash University

Disclosure statement

Tim Baker works part-time as a research fellow for Monash University's Prostate Cancer Research Group.

Monash University provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU.

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Research assistant Hong Wang retrieves a small, clear, plastic tray from a stainless-steel incubator and places it carefully on the laboratory bench at Monash University’s Prostate Cancer Research Group.

And suddenly, there they are.

Tiny, pink slivers of live human tissue suspended in clear liquid, like floating bonito flakes. It’s almost anti-climactic. These are the source of my existential dread, the unravelling of my world over the past nine years? It hardly seems credible.

Not for the first time on this wild ride, managing a stage 4, metastatic prostate cancer diagnosis, I ponder how I got here. More specifically, how I’ve ended up on this unlikely date with my nemesis. I don’t recall swiping right. Their profile looked awful. Red flags everywhere.

A hand connected to a chemotherapy tube in a hospital.

My 20-year marriage was just one of the casualties of my diagnosis and its brutal treatments. It was the late ’90s when I last dated, and the world has changed. I’ve changed. What to wear? How to make conversation? How to spot a narcissist? (I think cancer qualifies – so full of itself, so little room for anything else, endlessly taking up space, so oblivious to the suffering of others.)

This journey to meet my nemesis has brought me full circle. I grew up in the vast, flat, landlocked expanses of Melbourne‘s eastern suburbs in the ’70s – not the best start in life for a surfer and career surf journalist. Nearly 40 years after I migrated north for balmier coastal climes, I’m again traversing this familiar landscape. Suburbia has endlessly replicated itself here, on the road to the university’s Clayton campus, spreading ever outwards, encroaching into green spaces, arterial roads stretching like tentacles into former farmlands.

And yet for me there’s a warm glow of nostalgia as all those squat, triple-fronted, brick-veneer homes and soulless new housing estates, Melbourne’s ubiquitous milk bars and fish and chip shops, whizz by out the windows of my mum’s Honda Jazz. Golden memories of suburban footy matches, Friday night hang-outs at the local shopping centre, sculled Lilydale cider or cask wine, late-night steamed dim sims, first kisses and other teen intrigues.

Here I am, now 59, nine years after my diagnosis, still astonishingly, not just alive, but fit and healthy, returning home for a surprising new work gig – a research fellow reporting on prostate cancer research.

Fragile rogues

Professor Gail Risbridger (AM) has an unrivalled knowledge of hormonal cancers and the tricky business of keeping cancer cells alive in the lab. This skill-set, and a staunch fearlessness to stake her ground in a male-dominated field, led to the formation of this group. After reading my memoir of my cancer diagnosis, Patting the Shark , Risbridger invited me aboard this hub of cutting-edge medical research.

Read more: Physician heal thyself? After 4 years of treatment for stage 4 cancer I just wanted some encouraging words from my oncologist

Today is my first day on the tools, and in the lab, at Monash University’s School of Biomedical Sciences and a face-to-face appointment with the small clusters of rogue cells that have threatened my life.

The Monash group has one of the largest collections of live prostate cancer cells in the world. Many have outlived the men who donated them, carefully retrieved from biopsies, radical prostatectomies (the surgical removal of a cancerous prostate) or donated to medical science upon their owner’s death. This collection, known as MURAL (Melbourne Urology Research Alliance) has assisted the research of scientists globally.

These live cancer cells make it possible to test numerous treatments at once and in varying combinations, until the more promising treatments have passed the many hurdles to move on to human trials.

Prostate cancer is now Australia’s most common form of cancer, having recently overtaken breast cancer. In this country, one in six men will be diagnosed with this cancer. There were 22,000 new cases diagnosed in 2022 and 3,500 deaths .

Ironically, these rogue cells, which wreak such havoc and are so difficult to eradicate in the human body, are extraordinarily fragile and challenging to keep alive outside of it. We are, biologically, the perfect hosts.

To meet these cells, the unseen enemy within that has so profoundly upended my life, I make my way towards the biomedicine school down the aptly named Innovation Walk, a wide pedestrian boulevard lined with towering gum trees. I’m surprisingly calm, with just a hint of frisson, hoping the date goes well.

I find Risbridger on the third floor, at her desk working on a thesis that attempts to capture the multitudinous highlights of her life’s work: “Hormones in development and diseases of the male – a collection of published works from 1980 to 2024”. A kind of greatest hits album from an illustrious scientific career.

Gail and I have met several times before, at medical conferences and for coffee catch-ups and Zoom calls. For the past couple of years, I’ve played a role as a “consumer voice” or patient representative on several research grant applications, a requirement to ensure the patient experience informs their research focus.

On my first visit here in that role a year ago, I was moved by how warmly I was received: a living, breathing human face representing the patients whose lives these scientists are trying to save, the reason so many bright, brilliant minds are spending the best years of their lives hunched over microscopes and manipulating cancer cells. Young, bright-eyed PhD students introduced themselves to me, eager to explain their research focus.

Once prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland and migrated, or metastasised to the bone, as mine has, treatments are considered palliative, aiming to extend life rather than cure. And the frontline treatment of what’s euphemistically termed “hormone therapy”, or more bluntly known as chemical castration, comes with an alarming suite of debilitating side effects.

I was delighted to learn that one of the Monash researchers’ recent grant applications had quoted a line about the effect of this therapy from my memoir:

Discussing quality of life for men with prostate cancer while chemically castrating them is a little like recommending a good dentist while punching someone repeatedly in the face.

These researchers saw my perspective on the travails of life on hormone therapy as an asset in making the case to fund research to find better and less toxic treatments.

I’ve already experienced nine years of efficacy from the frontline treatment of hormone therapy, sometimes also known as Androgen Deprivation Therapy. Most men get two to three years, before the cancer mutates and is considered “castrate resistant”, at which point, the therapy becomes ineffective.

Living with advanced prostate cancer has been compared to being a frog on a lily pond. You stay on each lily pad until it can no longer support you, then hop to the next lily pad before you sink, and so on, hoping you don’t run out of lily pads. Prostate cancer researchers are tasked with developing new lily pads.

A frog sits on a lily pad.

‘Rigour, reproducibility, accuracy’

Risbridger’s special skill of keeping prostate cancer cells alive in the lab was developed in the ’90s during a Fulbright Scholarship at the University of California, San Francisco, under the mentorship of Professor Gerry Cunha, “a fantastic anatomist, teacher and musician”, she recalls.

She was at the forefront of the emerging field of stem cell research, and learnt to manipulate stem cells to become prostate cells. With a ready supply of both healthy and cancerous prostate cells, and an ability to keep them alive in the lab, she could study the drivers of growth in both. “Understanding the mechanisms that control normal versus tumour growth from stem cells is crucial,” she says.

But the skill-set to undertake this cutting edge research was surprisingly domestic. Risbridger recalls Cunha asking her, “How good are you at sewing?”

“I said, ‘I do a lot of needlework and embroidery.’ He said, ‘You’ll probably be very good at this.’”

Far from taking offence at this gendered line of questioning, she saw the sense in it. “Hand-eye co-ordination is very critical, and good fine motor skills are needed to handle these delicate cells and tissues. Embroidery is about careful neatness.”

Stem cell research was a new and controversial area of research science in the ’90s, thrust into mainstream consciousness by Dolly the Sheep, the first mammal to be cloned from a cell taken from an adult mammal. “Stem cells give rise to specialised cells such as bone, skin, teeth, prostate etc,” explains Risbridger. “Until Dolly, we thought of it as a linear process; from stem cell to specialised cell … Dolly proved that wrong … you can manipulate a stem cell’s fate and even reprogram specialised cells.”

This knowledge, combined with the ability to keep prostate cancer cells alive in the lab, was the breakthrough that would make the work of the group possible.

The other lucky break was then-US President George W. Bush’s prohibition of the emerging field of stem cell research on ethical grounds. US prohibition became Australia’s opportunity. Risbridger was funded by the US Department of Defence to work on prostate stem cells for over eight years. “It was exciting and completely serendipitous,” she says.

A combination of vision and pragmatism continues to drive Risbridger’s research today. “What you want in science is rigour, reproducibility, accuracy,” she says, “because people want to be able to repeat what you do. Often the innovative is quite boutique and left-field.”

Delicate-loooking intruders

After lunch, I’m handed into the care of Hong Wang, a member of the research support team, who’s worked with Risbridger for over 25 years, part of the female-dominated workforce that has been attracted to the group. Risbridger believes this leads to a more co-operative, less hierarchical work culture, and female researchers have been drawn to work under a female mentor, even if it’s on a male disease.

Wang and I step into an antechamber between the offices and the lab, and don handsome blue smocks, hair nets and latex gloves. Wang retrieves the tray of prostate cancer samples from the incubator, carefully maintained at 37 degrees, the temperature of the human body, in an atmosphere composed of 5% CO₂, with a vessel of water at the bottom to maintain ideal humidity levels.

The tray is made up of a grid pattern of circular compartments, each the size of a five-cent piece, like a miniature ice cube tray. And in each compartment, suspended in a clear fluid, are live prostate cancer cells. Other samples are set in small mounds of clear gel, like well-organised pimples, which provides everything the cancer cells require to remain alive.

They look harmless and benign here in the lab, too small and frail to threaten human life, to invade the organs, bloodstream and even bones of a grown man. I stare ponderously. This is what all this fuss has been about? The endless cycles of blood tests and scans, chemotherapy infusions, targeted radiation, the long dark nights of the soul and existential terror.

The suppression of my testosterone cut off these mutant cells’ fuel supply and ability to grow and spread, leaving me depressed, sexless, at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even suicide.

Surely, I wonder, it must be possible to eradicate these delicate-looking intruders from the human body without making life feel almost unbearable for their unfortunate hosts.

The scientists here feel similarly and have devoted their lives to this quest. Current research projects include bipolar hormone therapy; that is, starving the body of testosterone, then hitting it with high doses of testosterone, which has the potential to “shock” the cancer into remission, while alleviating many of the side effects of traditional hormone therapy.

But so far no one has been able to discern why this is effective in only around 30% of patients, while this therapy risks fuelling progression of the cancer in others.

Then there is immunotherapy (empowering the body’s own immune system to recognise and fight cancer cells). So far this has proven elusive for prostate cancer because of its tendency to mutate and find ways around existing treatments. Identifying which patients might respond to immunotherapy and how it is best delivered remains an ongoing investigation here.

Tempting fate?

I’m invited to look at these live prostate cancer cells under the microscope and suddenly they look less benign, more sinister. I squint to focus and soon a foreboding, alien landscape reveals itself.

Healthy prostate cells look a little like the inside of a pomegranate, ordered, fairly uniform in shape and size and spacing.

Prostate cancer cells appear more haphazard, misshapen, clumped together randomly as they mutate and multiply without restraint.

The degree of chaos in the cells’ appearance reflects the aggressiveness of the cancer and is measured by something called a Gleason Score. Mine registered an alarming nine out of ten on diagnosis, which makes my continued good health even more surprising to my oncologist.

essay writing on cancer

I wonder if I am tempting fate with this close encounter, giving visual reality to a threat that has lain dormant for several years, giving me an unexpected reprieve. Let sleeping dogs lie, and all that.

On the other hand, meditation has become a major part of my self-care and in more esoteric moments I dare to believe in a kind of magical thinking, that the striking visual appearance of these cells might allow me to imagine these untamed cells being corralled back into order and obedience. Not a lot of medical science at work here though.

As I raise my eyes from the microscope, I’m snapped out of my metaphysical musings by the sterility of my environment. I’m a research fellow in a medical science lab, not a wellness guru extolling the power of the mind.

Still, I’m happy to have a bet each way. I’ll continue meditating, considering my cancer a teacher that can move on once the student has fully learned their lessons, in the hope of defying a prognosis I’ve already outlived by several years.

But I’m inordinately grateful someone’s doing the hard science of developing better treatment options.

  • Prostate cancer
  • Cancer research
  • Friday essay

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Essay on Cancer

List of essays on cancer, essay on cancer – introduction, types and conclusion (essay 1 – 150 words), essay on cancer (essay 2 – 250 words), essay on cancer – for school students (essay 3 – 300 words), essay on cancer – for medical students (essay 4 – 400 words), essay on cancer – for science students (essay 5 – 500 words), essay on cancer (essay 6 – 600 words), essay on cancer – written in english (essay 7 – 750 words), essay on cancer – for ias, civil services, upsc, ips and other competitive exams (essay 8 – 1000 words).

Cancer is a disease which is related to the abnormal growth of cells in a particular part of the body. Since the last decade, cancer has become one of the most feared diseases of all times, particularly due to the difficult treatment one has to undergo and the limitations of the treatment in curing this disease during later stages of cancer.

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for school and college students. Furthermore, those students preparing for IAS, IPS, UPSC, Civil Services and other competitive exams can also increase their knowledge by studying these essays.

Introduction:

Cancer is a group of more than 100 diseases that can develop in almost anywhere in the body. Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.

Types of Cancer:

There are various types of cancer. They include:

1] Breast cancer: This is type of cancer that forms in the cells of the breast.

2] Prostate cancer: This is type of cancer that occurs in a man’s prostate. This is a small walnut sized gland that has the duty of producing seminal fluid.

3] Lung cancer: This is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs and this occurs mostly in people who smoke.

4] Leukemia: A cancer of blood forming tissues, hindering the body’s ability to fight infection.

Conclusion:

We have seen various types of cancer but the types of cancer we have are hundreds but we had mentioned just a few. Each type of cancer comes with various symptoms and various ways of curbing it.

Cancer is a disease that has been around for centuries, but it has never had such an impact on public health as it has now. Cancer is the increase in the number of cells in human beings at an abnormal rate. Doctors have been discussing the reasons behind this increase for the past fifty years. One is tempted to think that there are no reasons behind this occurrence and that it is just a natural phenomenon, people die all the time. Right?

The thing is that the number of cancer cases has increased in the past decades and a lot of this increase is attributed to the influence of different types of radiation. Even though most of the really dangerous substances (or sources of radiation) are not allowed near people. What else can be causing such an increase in cancer cases?

Some doctors have made a discovery regarding cancer that can really help us get rid of this problem. Following down the line of the argumentation presented in the famous “China Study” more doctors are advising their patients to change their diet because it can help  in their fight against cancer. Not only that but a proper diet can also be the best prevention.

When you are a student your metabolism is young so you do not feel the bad effect of your habits as much as older people do but as we age the side effects of our bad choices will become obvious. We can teach ourselves to listen to our bodies and to prevent cancer but to do that we, first of all, have to defeat our habits.

Cancer is uncontrolled and unchecked development of abnormal cells in a part of the body. Cancerous cells develop just like another cell in the body. They, however, keep growing and can form a mass then subsequently becomes tumors. Since cells are present in every part of our body, cancer can also grow in all parts of our body.

Causes of Cancer:

One great scientific mystery in our world is the cause of cancer. Scientists from all over have tried and failed in isolating any particular action, substance or environmental factors that can lead to cancer.

However, scientists all over the world agree that cancer is caused by substances known as carcinogens. These substances are introduced to the body when we are exposed to or consume materials containing them. One of the confirmed sources of carcinogens is exposure to radiation from x-ray machines.

Cancer Treatment:

There are various ways to treat a person infected with cancer. These modes of treatment are chosen depending on the type of cancer, the stage of development and the health peculiarities of the cancer patient. In other cases, several modes of treatment are combined to treat a single patient.

Some of the modes of treating cancer are in fly highlighted below:

1. Surgery to remove Cancerous tumors from the body.

2. Radiation therapy to reduce the growth of cells.

3. Chemotherapy for destroying cancer cells.

4. Stem cell transplant.

Prevention of Cancer:

Just as there are no agreed actions, materials and exposure that causes cancer, there are no generally accepted means of preventing cancer. However, there are certain habits that can limit a person’s exposure.

Some of them are highlighted below:

1. Healthy environment and diet.

2. Reduction of exposure from the sun.

3. Keep your weight low.

4. Avoid the use of tobacco.

Early detection of cancer has been hailed as the most potent way of treating this menace. Though scientists are still in the business of searching for a cure, we as humans can prevent cancer by regular medical check-ups.

Cancer is one of the second largest fatal illnesses across the world. One of the horrific words a human being can listen to is being diagnosed with Cancer. The word Cancer brings alarm and anxiety to the listener. Cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in one part of the body which can even spread to other parts if not treated at an early stage. Neoplasms or tumour are the subset of these abnormally grown-up cells which often results in a mass or lump.

What causes Cancer?

Those agents which cause cancer are termed as Carcinogens . These can be classified into physical, chemical and biological. Physical Carcinogens include ultra violet and other ionizing radiations. Food adulterants such as aflatoxin, tobacco smoke, drinking water contaminant such as Arsenic, asbestos etc., are termed as Chemical Carcinogens. Viruses, Bacteria and other parasites which cause infections and eventually lead to Cancer are categorized under Biological Carcinogens. Ageing also causes cancer as the risk of the cellular repair mechanism weakens as we age.

Significant Symptoms of Cancer:

Some of the major symptoms of cancer include unexplained weight loss, extreme fatigue, persistent sores that do not heal, changes in the bladder and bowel movements, odd bleeding and discharges, change in voice due to cancer indication in larynx and lumps and bumps on the skin.

Preventive Measures:

Some of the risk factors which needs to be addressed to prevent cancer may include avoidance of tobacco, being overweight or obese, unhealthy eating with less vegetables and greens, physical in-activity, avoiding pollution etc. Apart from the mentioned, vaccination against HPV and Hepatitis B Virus, controlling hazards while at work, reducing exposure to ultra violet and ionizing radiation etc., can help prevent being infected by Cancer.

Assessing the type of cancer and the stage is very important because every cancer type has a different pattern of treatment from surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy . The treatment that is used to relieve the cancer patient from their pain and enhance the quality of life for the patients and their families is termed as Palliative care.

World Health Organization has partnered with UNO and other non-profit organizations to ensure every country is being made aware of the non-communicable diseases and the prevention of cancer and its control. Insights to develop Centers of Excellence to provide quality treatments and to conduct research on the carcinogenesis should be provided to governments and to help the people.

The abnormal cell growth in our body which spreads to other parts as well is what is termed as cancer. Around four lakh of people in India are known to be affected by this disease every year. More so, around half of them are not able to survive as they are usually detected in the last stages of cancer. Hence it is all the more important to educate the people about this disease and its symptoms so that it can be detected early and the lives of the people suffering from it can be saved.

Cancer can affect any body part. The part that is affected gives it the name, for instance, lung cancer which affects the lungs, skin cancer in which the skin is affected and so on. However, we can broadly divide cancer into four types. The first one is Sarcoma which is known to affect the blood vessels, bones, muscles cartilages and connective tissues. The second type of cancer is Carcinoma which affects the internal organs of the body or the skin. The third type is the Lymphoma. This cancer affects the lymph glands and the lymph nodes. The last type in which cancer can be categorised is Leukaemia which largely affects the parts forming blood such as the bone marrow.

Symptoms of Cancer:

Although no particular cause is known to trigger this disease, some activities have been associated as the cause of different types of cancer. The first and foremost is smoking. Excess smoking affects the entire respiratory system thereby leading to the onset of lung cancer. More so chewing tobacco is also attributed to giving rise to mouth and throat cancer. Similarly, alcohol is attributed to be the cause of stomach, liver and gallbladder cancer. Summarising it, all the ill habits of society and urbanisation have been attributed to this disease. Even radiations coming from X-ray machines can prove harmful and lead to cancer. That is why there are proper laws an protection in place when exposing people to these harmful radiations.

Treatments Available:

If detected in early stages, cancer can surely be curable. Surgery is one of the primary steps of curing this disease. If required, doctors remove the body part affected such as the uterus, gallbladder or the breast. Thereafter, through radiotherapy, the cancerous cells on the other affected parts of the body are killed so that they don’t spread to other parts. Chemotherapy is done using the strong chemical in order to kill the cancerous cells. Other methods such as tumour suppressing genes are used in different types of cancer as may be the need advised by the doctors. Whatever the method, it is extremely difficult to go through the pain and social stigma such as loss hair which comes alongside the treatment of cancer.

Living with this Disease:

It is indeed very difficult to live with this disease as not only this disease is not fully curable but the treatment is so tough that it scares even the toughest of individuals. We, as a society, must support the people suffering from cancer and help in their difficult times. We must not discriminate them and must understand that is already suffering a lot and must not do anything which further aggravates their sufferings.

Cancer is a severe disease in which there is abnormal growth of cell that spreads around the human body. Many people in the world are struggling with this disease. Consistently around 10 million cases are analyzed. These number of cases are expected to increase around 20 million by 2020. It turns into the most widely recognized reasons for death. Due to abnormal cell growth, it develops & affects the overall body weight. Prolonged cough and abnormal bleeding are some symptoms of this severe disease. The developed abnormal cells first make their impact on organs then slowly moved as poison. Cancer disease can be identified in the beginning periods. The medical professionals are still trying to catch this disease.

One of the main causes of cancer is smoking. Other causes include tobacco, consumption of alcohol, obesity, lack of physical activities, exposure to UV radiations, etc. Age factor and changes in genes are yet other factors that cause cancer.

Cancer has different types which can be divided into various forms:

i. Skin Cancer:

It is the most common type of cancer which can be seen in many people. Every year more than 1 million people are affected by skin cancer. Skin cancer happens due to the overexposure from the sun. The thicker ozone layers directly harms our skin, which increases the chances of skin cancer.

ii. Lung Cancer:

This type of cancer is related to the cells inside the lungs. The symptoms of this type of cancer are chest pain & sudden weight loss. It is also known as lung carcinoma. As a process of metastasis, the growth of abnormal cell growth spread inside the lungs. Smoking is a fundamental driver of Lung cases.

iii. Kidney Cancer:

Another name of kidney cancer is renal cancer. Renal Cell Carcinoma and Transitional Cell Carcinoma are the types of kidney cancer. This development of cancer happens after the age of 40 years. Smoking can twofold the danger of kidney malignant growth.

iv. Leukemia:

This cancer starts developing in the bone marrow, which leads to a high number of abnormal white cells. Acute myeloid leukemia or acute lymphocytic leukemia are the sorts of leukemia. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy can be used as the treatment for Leukemia.

Cancer Staging:

It is important to understand the staging factor of this severe disease. Diagnosis of cancer in early stages helps to tackle this disease by proper treatments. During the initial stages of cancer, proper surgeries or radiotherapy can help to overcome cancer. When the broken cancer cells move to other parts of the human body, then advance treatment is suggested by the professionals. But when a patient is in the final stages of cancer, he needs a treatment which covers his whole body. Chemotherapy is a therapy which is used to circulate the bloodstream. Professional doctors use various test techniques to identify the stages of cancer. Stages are used to describe the severity of cancer.

In the initial stage, cancer can be prevented through medication, proper surgeries and light treatment. In the advance stages of cancer, chemotherapy and radiation therapy is useful. Above all, the best way to keep cancer away is to stay away from smoking and tobacco, eat healthy food and a lot of green vegetables, and do some physical exercise daily.

It is very difficult for a cancer patient to fight with the final stages of cancer. To deal with this severe problem cancer symptoms should never be ignored. More than 70% of cases are seen only due to smoking. At every stage, it is essential that everyone must adopt a healthy diet plan & exercise daily to prevent this disease. A person who has a good and healthy lifestyle can fight with cancer more strongly.

Current trends in global health mention cancer. Cancer is currently one of the leading causes of death globally. It is an illness in which abnormal cell growth develops and affects parts of the human body as it advances, it has the potential to spread from one part of the body to the other. It is a chronic illness that imposes a great economic burden on a nation because its management is costly. Cancer occurs in different parts of the body and are classified according to where it has affected. In India, men are mostly acted by lung, oral, lip and neck cancers whereas women are affected by cervical, breast and ovarian cancer. The detection procedure varies with the type of cancer while the treatment varies with the stage of the cancer progression. Mostly early stages of cancer have better prognosis compared to late stages of cancer.

There are modifiable and non-modifiable factors that predispose an individual to cancer. Non modifiable factors include age and genetics. With an increase in age, the rate of cancer incidence increases. The genetic predisposition to cancer increases the incidences of suffering the disease. Modifiable factors include lifestyle habits like drinking and smoking tobacco which increase the incidences of lung, oral, esophageal among other cancers. Diet is also a predisposing factor especially one that is less in vitamin supplements.

Physical inactivity and obesity predispose to cancers of the colon, breast and others. Sexual activity in women with multiple sexual partners predisposes them to cervical cancer due to the transmission of HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). The environment also predisposes to cancer because of the chemicals, radicals and radiations that interact with human beings.

Detection of Cancer:

The detection varies with the type of cancer and so screening is done for each type differently. It is advisable that people get regular checkups of the whole body so that early detection facilitates effective and curative treatment. Screening of cancer is done using detailed examination of the physique, laboratory and histology tests, radiological and magnetic imaging techniques among other methods.

The campaigns against cancer advocate for early detection by teaching the public on the early signs of cancer. In breast cancer awareness for example, the public is made aware of physical examination of the breast and if they detect any abnormal growth or lump, they are to seek further investigation. Early detection is important because it results in successful treatment. In the detection, the cancer staging is done, which is usually four stages, stage one, two, three and four. Stage one has the best prognosis whereas stage four has the poorest prognosis.

Treatment of Cancer:

Once cancer is detected, a range of treatment options is provided. Treatment depends on the types of cancer and the staging. It can be treated by surgery whereby excision of the abnormal growth is done. Surgery is done for non-hematological cancers and those that have not metastasized to other parts of the body. An example of surgery is mastectomy to treat breast cancer.

Chemotherapy is another treatment option that involves the administration of anticancer medication that eliminate the abnormal cells in the body. Another treatment option is radiation therapy that uses ionizing radiations to destroy cancer cells. Radiation is also used to make tumors small. It is used to treat solid tumors and it depends on the sensitivity of the tumor to the radiations. It is targeted at the nucleic acid destruction in the tumor cells.

Consequences of Cancer:

Cancer is a chronic illness that could result in very serious consequences even with treatment. Cachexia is the extreme wasting of the body that causes death in cancer patients. Economic burden to both the individual and the nation is experienced in cancer treatment because the treatment modalities are costly. The economic burden results in decline of the nation’s economy and increased healthcare costs to the population.

Mental illnesses result from cancer because it is a terminal illness and most patients become mentally unstable upon diagnosis. The quality of health is affected in a country when there is high incidences of cancer and the performance is greatly affected, which cause poverty and economic crisis for individuals.

Cancer is a serious illness that impacts the lives of people and the nation negatively. It is evident that cancer has diverse treatment options but the problem is that people do not go for checkups. Checkups are important in early detection, which usually results in successful treatment and less burden of cancer in a nation and in individuals.

Cancer is basically an agglomeration of various diseases that involves the abnormal growth of cells with the ability to spread or invade other body parts. Cancers are quite different from benign tumours in that the latter does not spread or invade other body parts. Some of the many symptoms and signs of cancer include abnormal bleeding, a lump, weight loss that is unusual, prolonged cough and bowel movement change. Even though these listed symptoms and signs of cancer, they might be caused by other things so it is necessary to be diagnosed. Today, we have more than 100 various kinds of cancer that affect us humans.

History of Cancer:

It is believed that cancer has been in existence for a majority if not all of the history of man. Breast cancer was the first form of cancer that was recorded and this happened around 1600 BC in Egypt. Between 460 BC and 370 BC, Hippocrates spent time analysing various types of cancer and referred to them as crayfish or crab. The name was as a result of the crab-like look of the malignant tumour and the lateral extension of the distended veins and tumours.

Factors Causing Cancer:

It has been discovered that the major cause of deaths as a result of cancer is the use of tobacco and it accounts for about 22 percent of the total number of deaths due to cancer. Poor diet, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption and a lack of exercise and physical activities accounts for another 10 percent of deaths caused by cancer. Some other causes and factors that contribute to cancer include environmental pollutants, ionizing radiation exposure and certain infections.

In most developing countries, infections like hepatitis B, Helicobacter pylori, papillomavirus infection of humans, Hepatitis C, HIV and Epstein Barr contribute to fifteen percent of all cancers. All of the factors listed above change the cell genes. There are always a lot of genetic changes before the development of cancer. About 10% of all cancers are as a result of genetic defects that are inherited from a parent. Asides the symptoms and signs that are used to detect cancer, screening tests are also a good way of detecting cancer. Cancer is normally thoroughly investigated using medical imaging; it is then confirmed through biopsy.

Development of Cancer:

A tumour or neoplasm is a collection of cells which have gone through growth that is not regulated and most times form a lump or mass. Every tumour cell exhibits the six important characters that are necessary for the production of the malignant tumour.

The six characteristics are:

1. Cell division and growth without all the signals that are proper.

2. Continuous division and growth even though the signals given are contrary.

3. Cell death that is usually programmed is avoided.

4. The divisions of the cell are quite limitless in number.

5. The construction of blood vessel is promoted.

6. The tissues are invaded and metastases are formed.

Cancer Prevention:

The prevention of a lot of cancers can be ensured by trying to maintain a weight that is healthy, not smoking, consuming a lot of whole grains, fruits and vegetable, avoiding the consumption of a lot of alcohol, reduction in the amount of red and processed meat that is consumed, getting vaccinated against some infectious diseases and the avoidance of too much exposure to sunlight. It is sometimes useful that there is early detection in cases of colorectal and cervical cancer and this can be achieved through screening. The usefulness of breast cancer screening is highly controversial.

The treatment of cancer is usually done by combining surgery, radiation therapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy. A very important element of care is the management of symptoms and pain. In cases of advanced disease, palliative care is of utmost importance. The extent of the disease at the commencement of treatment and also the form of cancer that is involved go a long way to determine the odds of survival. Using the adopted survival rate at five years, children that were under the age of 15 when they were diagnosed have an average rate of survival of 80% in most developed countries. In the US, the average rate of survival for the five year period is 66%.

90.5 million  people were living with different cancers in 2015. It has been reported that every year, close to 15 million reports of new cancer cases are filed. These do not include the cases of skin cancer. Cancer results in more than eight million deaths every year which is about 15.7% of the total number of deaths every year.

In males, prostate cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer and colorectal cancer are the most widespread cancer types. In females, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and lung cancer are the most widespread cancer types. Apart from melanoma, if we include skin cancer in the amount of new cases of cancer every year, it is going to be 40% of the total number of cases.

Brain tumours and lymphoblastic leukemia that is acute are the most widespread cancer types in children but in Africa, lymphoma that is no-Hodgkin is the most widespread. The total number of children that are under the age of 15 that ended up being diagnosed with one type of cancer or the other in 2012 is around 165,000.

With an increase in age, it has been seen that the risk of getting cancer also increases significantly and the number and occurrence of cases of cancer in developed countries in more than the number and occurrence of cancer cases in other countries. The change in lifestyle and increase in the number of people living to a very old age in countries that are developing contributes to the increase in the rate of the occurrence of cancer. Cancer is believed to have a financial cost of up to 1.16 trillion dollars every year.

Cancer can be extremely dangerous when it is not discovered early and when adequate and proper care and attention is not given to the treatment. Therefore it is very important to go for regularly screening to find out if there is need for caution or treatment.

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Cancer Essay Writing: Crucial Tips

The success of every essay strongly depends on the topic you cover. If you choose a boring and irrelevant theme, you will hardly meet success. Your main idea ought to be captivating and bring some importance. Therefore, you should study your theme from different angles and choose the most effective. Students of medical colleges compose assignments on various diseases. Undoubtedly, an essay on cancer is amongst the most popular.

That is one of the most serious and widely spread diseases in the world history. It exists in various forms. Accordingly, there are lots of similarities and differences. A researcher will definitely have what to write about. You won’t lack ideas. It’s only necessary to decide, which kind you will disclose in your college essay about cancer and what significance it may bring to your readers.

Writing about Cancer in a College Essay Step-by-Step

Writing about cancer in a college essay is a pretty typical, yet not too easy task. Decide which topic you wish to disclose. One of the most popular concepts is to write about lung cancer. It is a widely spread kind of disease throughout the globe.

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Afterward, you should gather some evidence on this matter. Make sure you can trust the informative sources you wish to use in your cancer essay. Craft an outline to see how the things are supposed to develop. Your next move is to write an initial draft. Then, you should revise your draft and possibly, write another one if the first was too weak. After you are entirely sure that you’ve depicted all things as they should be, write the final version and submit it.

Cancer Essay Introduction

After you have a plan and the necessary information, you may start to compose a cancer essay introduction. At first, you should grab the attention and introduce the general idea of your paper. Thus, you may begin with a short historical overview.

For instance, begin like this “Lung cancer is a common and serious disease. It wasn’t recognized as a disease until 1761. Thus, it took many lives without any hope to survive.”

The next part of your writing about cancer in an essay is the implementation of the thesis. “Lung cancer continues to take the lives of many people throughout the globe, and it should be prevented at any cost.”

Cancer Essay Body

The next stage is the cancer essay body. It is when you should develop the main argument and some sub-arguments. You should use effective and approved facts. For instance, you should mention the statistics. Approximately 1.3 million people die because of this terrible ailment each year.

Mention the role of the genes as one of your subtopics. That is not a hereditary ailment. Nonetheless, there were registered multiple cases when children suffered the same disease as their parents did. Therefore, you ought to investigate this matter too.

Another sub-topic may be based upon mental and physical outcomes of this cancer kind. Reveal how it affects the human body in both directions.

Afterward, speak about some preventive measures to reduce the percentage of its occurrence. In addition, mention the ordinary and new methods to treat this ailment. For instance, many severe health problems are being treated with the help of the stem cell therapy. Cancer is no exception. Find facts about this methodology.

Cancer Essay Conclusion

The final stage of your writing is a cancer essay conclusion. It should be concise and summarize your main point with other words. Mention your central question once again. Afterward, express your opinion.

For example, it may sound like this “Lung cancer is the disease of millions and it should be prevented and treated properly. The stem cell therapy has a huge potential to help this matter. Nonetheless, people should also give up smoking and maintain the lifestyle to improve their health conditions and escape this horrible disease.” As you can see, the conclusion of a cancer essay doesn’t differ from any other research projects.

Cancer Essay Outline Example

If you want to compose your paper fast, you’ll need a good plan. It shows what sections you need to fulfill. Thus, the work runs smoothly and quickly. Therefore, a cancer essay outline will come to you in handy.

  • General idea
  • A thesis statement
  • Development of your concepts
  • Implementation of the evidence and examples
  • Summarization of your project

Make a captivating first line, introduce subtopics and the main argument. Develop your thesis and sub-topics in the main plot, which should be supported by good examples. The defining chapter is a summary of your main points and your opinion about the entire issue.

Cancer Topics for an Essay: Interesting Suggestions

Under the condition, you lack some ideas about what topic to choose we can help you. We have a list of propositions on this important theme. Make allowances for the next cancer topics for an essay:

  • The main reasons why breast cancer takes place.
  • W hat are the most effective preventive measures against cancer?
  • How can cancer be treated?
  • The major differences and similarities among various forms of cancer.
  • Can the stem cell therapy really help to overcome cancer?
  • Why chemotherapy is dangerous when people treat cancer and what are the alternatives?
  • What form of cancer disease is spread the most and why?
  • Which cancer form is the most dangerous?

Memorize these concepts. Create similar ones. Thus, you’ll surely write a good cancer essay about the problem, which really matters and contribute to its solving.

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What really matters at the end: perspectives from a patient, a family member and an oncologist

It is not uncommon for physicians to write about what “they think” matters to patients. This essay explores “what really matters” from the perspective of a patient, a family member of another patient and an oncologist. The patient was a 58-year-old woman with recurrent metastatic small bowel cancer. The family member is the spouse of a 48-year-old man who had advanced gastroesophageal cancer. The medical oncologist is a mid-career clinician–scientist who cared for both patients.

The perspectives presented in this essay evolved from conversations that occurred initially between the oncologist and each of the other authors individually; eventually, the three authors met to discuss writing an essay. The three sections were written independently to ensure that they accurately reflected each author’s personal perspectives.

A patient’s perspective

After my diagnosis, I had to accept that I am not invincible. Once diagnosed with cancer, you will never be treated the same again. You will be perceived as fragile, weak and frail. Unless they have walked your path, others cannot know how tired, cold, weak, painful or anxious having cancer can be.

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At this juncture, it would be well advised to accept that this is your diagnosis, your life, your death and that you must own it. The cancer trail will be less burdened by accepting the impermanence of the human condition. We are truly equals with the same conclusion no matter what our wealth, status or privilege. Without fear of death, we can live as full a life as possible. I chose to live joyfully and not accept just to exist!

In walking my cancer trail, I have been blessed to cross paths with some amazing people. It is imperative to have a medical team that is competent, attentive, efficient and compassionate. Doctors with minimal egos. Doctors who have ears for listening. These doctors know the difficult art of listening, have the ability to stay focused and to make my concern important. Good listeners know how to make me understand their perspective and give me time to process; this makes me feel worthy and important. These doctors are very aware that waiting breeds anxiety and distrust. The diagnosis of cancer quickens time and patients lose patience; the good doctor will realize this. My experience has been superb, blessed with staff who never left me worried if the test has been booked, the diagnosis delayed or my symptoms untreated.

As a patient, we too have obligations to our doctors. We must give our doctors permission to be honest. Sometimes with this honesty comes words of pain, but this in turn facilitates an understanding so that if the patient says, “no thank you,” the doctor will understand. This honesty comes not from ego or extended education; it comes from the heart. Honesty builds trust, and trust leads to better communication, better symptom management and an enriched quality of life. I have always felt like my voice is heard. I often see a flush of relief from the young doctor who realizes that I understand where this race stops, so he need not find words to mask the seriousness of the situation. I encourage these doctors to speak openly.

Some of my friends were amazed that I declined chemotherapy. It was the correct decision for me; I have had three plus years and a gifted life. Treatment becomes an addiction for some patients who become terrified to stop and lose their support team. I pay close attention to “appointmentitis.” My team understands that each day is precious and make every effort to stack my appointments.

Having loving friends and family, and a stable home make cancer bearable. Having physical touch reinforces that “someone still thinks I am worthy of touch.” The warmth of hands relieves anxiety and offers connection. To be hugged or held reminds the patient that they are loved. I have relied on calming activities such as gardening, walking, music and working the farm. I seldom think about cancer unless I am at the clinic. I now pay close attention to and appreciate my many blessings.

A family member’s perspective

I became a widow at 42 years of age. I lost my husband after a 16-month battle with metastatic gastroesophageal cancer. Cancer is a word no one ever wants to hear, especially if it is preceded by the word incurable. It is amazing how two words together can have such a big impact. Our epicentre comprised three people: my husband, his oncologist and myself. We were anchored together as a team within moments of his diagnosis. In this context, the process of “team-building” is full of paradox and irony. Patients and families seek out the best and most compassionate care, to build a “dream team,” all within the “nightmare” of cancer. We all know where this path ends. It is just a matter of negotiating the time between the start and the finish.

As the primary caregiver, my role was to listen, interpret and organize information in a way that was digestible and honest while looking for hope. This was the most difficult task. “Making lemonade out of lemons,” as my husband would say. I sought to make each day the best possible for my husband and my family; to free them from emotional pain, physical discomfort and anxiety. Most days, this was easier said than done. I discovered early on that the “system of care” was not a system at all. “System” implies connection between parts forming together as a whole. What I encountered was, for the most part, contrary to this definition. A set of binders containing all necessary health and care information became my constant companions. This enabled collaboration among parts of the system where there was none.

We did have glimmers of hope and cause for celebration. The first line of palliative chemotherapy gave us nine months within which to make happy memories. We planned activities to make the most of our time together. We pushed the boundaries for travel while doing our best to mitigate risk.

It was hard to know what to hope for. The most hopeful scenario would be to get better and never look back. Without that option available, the guiding light for me was to balance the desire for more time with quality of life. I had the good fortune of reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. This book in some way influenced my every decision. Our decision-making was framed within a context of humanism and compassion as we balanced “curative” versus “care-ative” approach to treatment options.

In the darkest of days, there is opportunity for learning and growth. Despite finding ourselves in a scenario we could never have imagined, our team became a cherished relationship characterized by compassion, hope, care, comfort and understanding. Perhaps that is the key to success as a caregiver, to seek out the people who and things that contribute to the best possible life in the face of death. It is all any of us could hope for under the circumstances.

An oncologist’s perspective

I gravitated to oncology because of the rich doctor–patient relationships. I knew I would cherish these privileged conversations throughout my career. During my training, I was surprised by the magnitude of “benefit” associated with many standard palliative therapies. Although some treatments offer substantial benefit to patients, I was struck that many standard treatments extend life by only a number of weeks. These initial impressions were formed when I was more layperson than oncologist; years later, I still wonder to what extent patients understand how marginal some of our treatments are. Despite limited benefits of many standard regimens, I learned how oncologists can make a real difference through compassion and symptom management. Having been in practice for a decade, I now retain a healthy skepticism about how much our drug therapies actually benefit patients. In caring for the two patients described in this essay, I struggled with how to balance discussions of benefit and harms, and trying to strike a balance with hope and realism.

I worry that technology-driven medicine has led to a decline in our traditional “art” that emphasized caring and compassion. The quality-of-life “cost” of new therapies to a patient and the associated financial costs to society make it increasingly important to discuss these issues. However, I have learned that no two patients are alike in how they balance the pros and cons of treatment for incurable cancer. What remains uniform across all patients is the need for honest communication and compassion. For a number of reasons, including the fear of taking away hope and emotional discomfort, these conversations may not happen as often as they should.

Although I try to communicate clearly these issues to my patients, I know I could do a better job. Many tests and treatments are done because they represent “standard care,” even though the extent to which they align with the values of each patient is not clear. I struggle with questions such as how to explain the absolute benefit of therapies better? How to help patients find hope in incurable cancer? At what point is “hope” helpful and at what point is “false hope” harmful? Is there intrinsic value in “doing something?” What really does matter to my patients? Although careful research might provide insight to some of these questions, the most powerful lessons will come from our patients and their families.

Putting it together

Patients and families facing incurable cancer will have unique goals, preferences and needs. What unifies us is the search for hope and meaning, when from the outset, there appears to be none. We all hope for long lives filled with joy and meaning. When that time is cut short, we must shift our hope toward care that is focused on a life that is free from as much pain, discomfort and anxiety as possible, and a death that comes as peacefully and humanely as possible.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Gord Sinclair and Duncan Sinclair for their input on earlier drafts of this manuscript.

We lost Penny just before the submission of this article. We offer these perspectives as a tribute to the many lessons we learned from her. We hope that our combined voices will provide comfort and support to others on similar journeys.

CMAJ Podcasts: article reading at https://soundcloud.com/cmajpodcasts/171285-enc

This article has been peer reviewed.

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A&S Magazine » Spring 2022 » Confronting Cancer through Creative Writing

Confronting Cancer through Creative Writing

Spring 2022

Every day in the United States, an average of 5,200 people receive the grim news of a cancer diagnosis, according to the American Cancer Society. Junior Joyce Ker can relate to the awful duress felt by patients and their families. She experienced it firsthand when doctors discovered her father’s lung cancer.  

To uplift patients with cancer like her father, Ker started a project called Dear Cancer. It seeks to help patients confront their new realities and express themselves through the process of creative writing.  

Too often, Ker says, society marginalizes patients with cancer. Instead, it focuses on the medical details of their disease and deems their personal experiences less essential or simply worthy of pity.  Ker hopes to help alleviate patients’ mental anguish by offering them a creative outlet.   

essay writing on cancer

The ultimate goal is to make a difference in the illness experience of cancer patients. I hope Dear Cancer can make patients feel as if they are not alone, that they have the power to tell their stories on their own terms, and that their narratives matter.”  —Joyce Ker

The oldest form of healing

Backed by a Provost’s Undergraduate Research Award (PURA), Ker is developing a writing workshop tailored to patients with cancer. Participants will read and discuss pieces of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, all touching on the journey that is cancer. Attendees will also compose and share their own creative works, giving voice and visibility to their unique experiences. Ker envisions the moderator-facilitated workshops taking place in person, as pandemic conditions permit. Or, as a remote or hybrid experience if more appropriate.  

“Storytelling is considered to be one of the oldest forms of healing,” Ker says.  

Ker has engaged in creative writing since high school. She received recognition through nominations for the Best New Poets anthology from the University of Virginia and for the Pushcart Prize, among other accolades. She is also a pre-med student and plans to attend medical school after graduation. Her choice of primary major—the interdisciplinary medicine, science, and the humanities major—further reflects the melding of fields that increasingly run parallel to each other.  

The first workshops

Ker is currently working on implementing the first workshop with a group of patients staying at the Hackerman-Patz Patient and Family Pavilion. The building provides short-term housing for Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center patients and caregivers.  

Ker hopes other medical institutions will adopt the Dear Cancer approach.  

“When you confront, grapple with, and explore experiences that have inflicted suffering, and in some sense irrevocably changed your life,” says Ker, “and then you write about it, it can be so empowering.” 

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125 Breast Cancer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best breast cancer topic ideas & essay examples, 💡 most interesting breast cancer topics to write about, 📌 simple & easy breast cancer essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on breast cancer.

  • Breast Cancer: Concept Map and Case Study Each member of the interdisciplinary team involved in treating patients with cancer and heart disease should focus on educational priorities such as:
  • Breast Cancer Symptoms and Causes The mammogram is the first indication of breast cancer, even though other indications such as the presence of the lymph nodes in the armpits are also the early indications of breast cancer.
  • Breast Cancer and Its Population Burden The other objectives that are central to this paper are highlighted below: To determine which group is at a high risk of breast cancer To elucidate the impact of breast cancer on elderly women and […]
  • Mindfulness Practice During Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer She discusses the significance of the study to the nursing field and how nurses can use the findings to help their patients cope with stress.
  • Breast Cancer: The Effective Care Domain Information about how the patient is seen, how often the patient is seen, and whether she will return for mammograms can be collected and analyzed to verify the successful intervention to extend consistency with mammograms.
  • Garden Pesticide and Breast Cancer Therefore, taking into account the basic formula, the 1000 person-years case, the number of culture-positive cases of 500, and culture-negative of 10000, the incidence rate will be 20 new cases.
  • Breast Cancer as a Genetic Red Flag It is important to note that the genetic red flags in Figure 1 depicted above include heart disease, hypertension, and breast cancer.
  • Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium Analysis Simultaneously, the resource is beneficial because it aims to “improve the delivery and quality of breast cancer screening and related outcomes in the United States”.
  • Drinking Green Tea: Breast Cancer Patients Therefore, drinking green tea regularly is just a necessity- it will contribute to good health and physical vigor throughout the day and prevent severe diseases.
  • Breast Cancer Prevention: Ethical and Scientific Issues Such information can potentially impact the patient and decide in favor of sharing the information about the current condition and risks correlating with the family history.
  • Breast Cancer: Epidemiology, Risks, and Prevention In that way, the authors discuss the topics of breast cancer and obesity and the existing methods of prevention while addressing the ethnic disparities persistent in the issue.
  • Breast Cancer Development in Black Women With consideration of the mentioned variables and target population, the research question can be formulated: what is the effect of nutrition and lifestyle maintained on breast cancer development in black women?
  • Breast Cancer in Miami Florida The situation with the diagnosis of breast cancer is directly related to the availability of medicine in the state and the general awareness of the non-population.
  • Breast Cancer: Genetics and Malignancy In the presence of such conditions, the formation of atypical cells is possible in the mammary gland. In the described case, this aspect is the most significant since it includes various details of the patient’s […]
  • Genes Cause Breast Cancer Evidence suggests the role of BRCA1 in DNA repair is more expansive than that of BRCA2 and involves many pathways. Therefore, it is suggested that BRCT ambit containing proteins are involved in DNA repair and […]
  • Breast Cancer. Service Management The trial specifically looks at the effect on breast-cancer mortality of inviting women to screening from age 40 years compared with invitation from age 50 years as in the current NHS breast-screening programme.
  • Fibrocystic Breast Condition or Breast Cancer? The presence of the fibrocystic breast condition means that the tissue of the breast is fibrous, and cysts are filled with the liquid or fluid. The main characteristic feature of this cancer is that it […]
  • Coping With Stress in Breast Cancer Patients Therefore, it is important for research experts to ensure and guarantee adherence to methodologies and guidelines that define scientific inquiry. However, various discrepancies manifest with regard to the initiation and propagation of research studies.
  • Breast Self-Examination and Breast Cancer Mortality Though it is harsh to dismiss self-exams entirely due to studies that indicate little in deaths of women who performed self-exams and those who did not, the self-exams should not be relied on exclusively as […]
  • Breast Self-Exams Curbing Breast Cancer Mortality The results of the study were consistent with the findings of other studies of the same nature on the effectiveness of breast self-examination in detecting and curbing breast cancer.
  • Taxol Effectiveness in Inhibiting Breast Cancer Cells The following were the objectives of this experiment: To determine the effectiveness of Taxol in inhibiting breast cancer cells and ovarian cancer cells using culture method.
  • Control Breast Cancer: Nursing Phenomenon, Ontology and Epistemology of Health Management Then, the evidence received is presented in an expert way leading to implementation of the decision on the management of the disease.
  • Breast Cancer: Effects of Breast Health Education The design of the research focused on research variables like skills, performance, self-efficacy, and knowledge as the researchers aimed at examining the effectiveness of these variables among young women who underwent training in breast cancer […]
  • Community Nursing Role in Breast Cancer Prevention However, early detection still remains important in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. The community has thus undertaken activities aimed at funding the awareness, treatment and research in order to reduce the number of […]
  • Self-Examination and Knowledge of Breast Cancer Among Female Students Shin, Park & Mijung found that a quarter of the participants practiced breast self-examination and a half had knowledge regarding breast cancer.
  • “Tracking Breast Cancer Cells on the Move” by Gomis The article serves the purpose of examining the role of NOG, a gene that is essential in bone development and its role in breast cancer.
  • Breast Cancer Survivorship: Are African American Women Considered? The finding of the analysis is that the issue of cancer survivorship is exclusive, developing, and at the same time it depends on what individuals perceive to be cancer diagnosis as well as personal experiences […]
  • Gaining Ground on Breast Cancer: Advances in Treatment The article by Esteva and Hortobagyi discusses breast cancer from the aspect of increased survival rates, the novel treatments that have necessitated this and the promise in even more enhanced management of breast cancer.
  • Effects of Hypoxia, Surrounding Fibroblasts, and p16 Expression on Breast Cancer The study was conducted to determine whether migration and invasion of breast cancer cells were stimulated by hypoxia, as well as determining whether the expression of p16 ectopically had the potential to modulate the cell […]
  • Breast Cancer: Preventing, Diagnosing, Addressing the Issue In contrast to the MRI, which presupposes that the image of the tissue should be retrieved with the help of magnetic fields, the mammography tool involves the use of x-rays.
  • Dietary Fat Intake and Development of Breast Cancer This study aimed to determine the relationship between dietary fat intake and the development of breast cancer in women. The outcome of the study strongly suggests that there is a close relationship between a high […]
  • The Detection and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer The severity of cancer depends on the movement of the cancerous cells in the body and the division and growth or cancerous cells.
  • Breast Cancer: WMI Research and the Current Approaches Although the conclusions provided by the WHI in the study conducted to research the effects of estrogen and progesterone cessation on the chance of developing a breast cancer do not comply with the results of […]
  • Breast Cancer Susceptibility Gene (BRCA2) The mechanisms underlying the genetic predisposition to a particular disease are manifold and this concept is the challenging one to the investigators since the advent of Molecular Biology and database resources.
  • Prediction of Breast Cancer Prognosis It has been proposed that the fundamental pathways are alike and that the expression of gene sets, instead of that of individual genes, may give more information in predicting and understanding the basic biological processes.
  • Breast Cancer Survivors: Effects of a Psychoeducational Intervention While the conceptual framework is justified in analysis of the quality of life, there is the likelihood of influence of the context with quality of life adopting different meanings to patients in different areas and […]
  • Providers’ Role in Quality Assurance in Breast Cancer Screening In order to ensure the quality assurance of mammography, the providers involved in the procedure need to be aware of the roles they ought to play.
  • Clinical Laboratory Science of Breast Cancer The word cancer is itself so much dreaded by people that the very occurrence of the disease takes half of the life away from the patient and the relatives.
  • Induced and Spontaneous Abortion and Breast Cancer Incidence Among Young Women There is also no question as to whether those who had breast cancer was only as a result of abortion the cohort study does not define the total number of women in population.
  • New Screening Guidelines for Breast Cancer On the whole, the Task Force reports that a 15% reduction in breast cancer mortality that can be ascribed to the use of mammograms seems decidedly low compared to the risks and harm which tend […]
  • Breast Cancer in Afro- and Euro-Americans It is seen that in the age group of more than 50 years, EA was more at risk of contracting cancer, as compared to AA.
  • Breast Cancer Assessment in London In light of these developments, it is therefore important that an evaluation of breast cancer amongst women in London be carried out, in order to explore strategies and policy formulations that could be implemented, with […]
  • Breast Cancer: At-Risk Population, Barriers, and Improvement Thus, the principal purpose of Part Two is to explain why older women face a higher risk of getting breast cancer, what barriers lead to this adverse state of affairs, and how to improve the […]
  • Breast Cancer: Moral and Medical Aspects In addition to the question of the surgery, there is an ethical problem associated with the genetic characteristics of the disease.
  • Breast Cancer and AIDS: Significant Issues in the United States in the Late 20th Century Thus, the given paper is going to explain why these activists challenged regulatory and scientific authorities and what they demanded. That is why the enthusiasts challenged their practices and made specific demands to improve the […]
  • Breast Cancer Risk Factors: Genetic and Nutritional Influences However, the problems of genetics contribute to the identification of this disease, since the essence of the problem requires constant monitoring of the state of the mammary glands to detect cancer at an early stage.
  • Breast Cancer Genetics & Chromosomal Analysis In this paper, the chromosomal analysis of breast cancer will be assessed, and the causes of the disorder will be detailed.
  • Breast Cancer: The Case of Anne H. For this reason, even females with a high level of health literacy and awareness of breast cancer, such as Anne H, might still belong to the group risk and discover the issue at its late […]
  • Genetic Predisposition to Breast Cancer: Genetic Testing Their choice to have their first baby later in life and hormonal treatment for symptoms of menopause further increase the risk of breast cancer in women.
  • Breast Cancer: Causes and Treatment According to Iversen et al this situation is comparable to the finding of abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix, curable by excision or vaporization of the tissue.
  • Breast Cancer: Women’s Health Initiative & Practices The new standard of care shows evidence that a low-fat diet, deemed insignificant by the WHI study, is beneficial to women for preventing or improving their risks of breast cancer.
  • Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Pathophysiology The contemporary understanding of the etiopathogenesis of breast cancer addresses the origin of invasive cancer through a substantive number of molecular alterations at the cellular level.
  • Breast Cancer: Health Psychology Plan The goal of the plan is to identify the psychological issues and health priorities of the subject and propose a strategy for addressing them.
  • Best Practices in Breast Cancer Care Based on this, the final stage of therapy should include comprehensive support for patients with breast cancer as one of the main health care practices within the framework of current treatment guidelines.
  • Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Women With Breast Cancer The treatment of breast CA has developed over the past 20 years, and many treatment centers offer a variety of modalities and holistic treatment options in addition to medical management.
  • Breast Cancer Screening in Young American Women It is proud to be at the forefront of widespread public health initiatives to improve the education and lives of young women.
  • Screening for Breast Cancer The main goal of this paper is to describe the specific set of clinical circumstances under which the application of screening is the most beneficial for women aged 40 to 74 years.
  • Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign It may also need more time to be implemented as the development of the advertisement, and all visuals will take time.
  • Breast Cancer Patients’ Functions and Suitable Jobs The key symptom of breast cancer is the occurrence of a protuberance in the breast. A screening mammography, scrutiny of the patient’s family history and a breast examination help in the diagnosis of breast cancer.
  • Jordanian Breast Cancer Survival Rates in 1997-2002 This objective came from the realization that the best way to test the efficacy of breast cancer treatment and to uncover intervening factors influencing the efficacy of these treatments was to investigate the rates of […]
  • Breast Cancer Screening Among Non-Adherent Women This is one of the aspects that can be identified. This is one of the short-comings that can be singled out, and this particular model may not be fully appropriate in this context.
  • Breast Cancer: Treatment and Rehabilitation Options Depending on the site of occurrence, breast cancer can form ductal carcinomas and lobular carcinomas if they occur in the ducts and lobules of the breast, respectively. Breast cancer and treatment methods have significant effects […]
  • Women Healthcare: Breast Cancer Reducing the levels of myoferlin alters the breast cancer cells’ mechanical properties, as it is evident from the fact that the shape and ability of breast cancer cells to spread is low with reduced production […]
  • Breast Cancer Public Relations Campaign Audiences It is clear that the breast cancer campaign will target at women in their 30-40s as this is one of the most vulnerable categories of women as they often pay little attention to the […]
  • Health Information Seeking and Breast Cancer Diagnosis Emotional support is also concerned with the kind of information given to patients and how the information is conveyed. It is equally significant to underscore the role of information in handling breast cancer patients immediately […]
  • Breast Cancer: Disease Prevention The first indicator of breast cancer is the presence of a lump that feels like a swollen matter that is not tender like the rest of the breast tissues.
  • Breast Cancer Definition and Treatment In the case where “the cells which appear like breast cancer are still confined to the ducts or lobules of the breast, it is called pre-invasive breast cancer”.”The most widespread pre-invasive type of breast cancer […]
  • Breast Cancer Incidence and Ethnicity This paper explores the different rates of breast cancer incidence as far as the different ethnic groups in the US are concerned as well as the most probable way of reducing the rates of incidence […]
  • Treatment Options for Breast Cancer This type of breast cancer manifests itself in the tubes/ducts which form the channel for transporting milk from the breast to the nipple.”Lobular carcinoma: this type of cancer usually begins in the milk producing regions […]
  • Risk Factors, Staging, and Treatment of Breast Cancer This is so because huge amounts of resources have been used in the research and the development of the breast cancer drugs that in effect help the body to combat the cancer by providing additional […]
  • Case Management for Breast Cancer Patients In this respect, preventive measures should be taken in order to decrease the mortality rates all over the world in terms of cancer illness and breast cancer in particular.
  • The Second Leading Cause of Death is the Breast Cancer
  • The Benefits and Effects of Exercise on Post-Treatment Breast Cancer Patients
  • Women’s Experiences Undergoing Reconstructive Surgery After Mastectomy Due To Breast Cancer
  • Advanced Technology Of The Treatment Of Breast Cancer
  • Using Genetic Testing For Breast Cancer
  • The role of Perivascular Macrophages in Breast Cancer Metastasis
  • The Psychological Aspect Of Coping With Breast Cancer
  • An Analysis of an Alternative Prevention in Breast Cancer for Young Women in America
  • The Complicated Biology of Breast Cancer
  • The Impact Of Tamoxifen Adjuvant Therapy On Breast Cancer
  • The Prevalence Of Breast Cancer Among Black Women
  • The Embodiment Theory, Holistic Approach And Breast Cancer In The South African Context
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  • The Effect of Fast Food In Developing Breast Cancer among Saudi Populations
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  • The Causes of Breast Cancer – Genetically or Environmentally Influenced
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  • Types Of Preventive Services For A Higher Risk Of Breast Cancer
  • The Effect of Raloxifene on Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women
  • The Impact of Culture and Location on Breast Cancer Around the World
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  • Alternative Forms Of Medicine For Breast Cancer Rates
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Writing cancer

  • Original Article
  • Published: 08 January 2021
  • Volume 29 , pages 4375–4380, ( 2021 )

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essay writing on cancer

  • Ad A. Kaptein   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1333-7679 1  

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Novels and autopathographies that employ cancer as a central theme offer a wealth of opportunities for researching the way patients with cancer make sense of their illness and its treatment. Such literatures can also inform clinical care, because they can support patients in living with their illness. The use of novels and autopathographies for research and care in persons with cancer fits within the framework of ‘Health Humanities’, the interdisciplinary field where medicine and social science meet. This paper presents a concise overview of novels and autopathographies that explore cancer as their theme.

Literature searches were conducted using PubMed, major scientific journals of medicine and clinical oncology, and databases in the Health Humanities. Searches focused on novels and autopathographies where cancer is the central theme, which are available in English, and which can be considered to represent ‘high literature’.

Twenty-nine books were identified. The majority of the books were written originally in English, and breast cancer and lung cancer were the most frequently discussed types of cancer. The core themes identified were giving meaning to illness; coping with medical treatment; and the psychological and social consequences of illness.

Novels and autopathographies about cancer represent an innovative base for research on living with cancer and offer rich data on how people make sense of cancer and its medical treatment. Clinical implications of this review pertain to interventions based on bibliotherapy and expressive writing. Novels and autopathographies are just part of the Health Humanities context: a wide range of art genres may prove helpful in improving the quality of life of persons with cancer.

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Acknowledgements

I thank Professor Brian Hughes, Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland, for his comments on an earlier version of the paper.

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Kaptein, A.A. Writing cancer. Support Care Cancer 29 , 4375–4380 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05920-0

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essay writing on cancer

Tips for Sharing and Writing About Your Cancer Journey

A cancer diagnosis can shake you to your core and affect every aspect of your life. It can also leave you feeling overwhelmed with emotion and at a loss for words. During this complex and difficult journey, many patients say that they find solace and strength in documenting their experiences. Journaling can shift your thoughts away from cancer and provide you with an outlet for expressing feelings that you might not feel comfortable stating aloud. It can also help you focus on the more positive aspects of your life.

Writing about your cancer journey may prove to be easier than you think. The process will only require a few minutes of each day, but you can opt to spend as much or as little time on it as you like. You can also choose the format that works best for you, whether it’s writing in a notebook, typing on a computer keyboard or speaking into a voice recording device. Just be sure to date each entry for future reference. Other than that, there are no hard-and-fast rules.

Here are some ideas that might help you get started:

  • Keep your "notebook" beside your bed and write as soon as you wake up each morning. Record the first few words that come to your mind, which may help you recall and write about your dreams. This can also be a good time to write about your feelings, moods and plans for the day.
  • Commit to documenting at least one good experience, or one thing that you are thankful for, every single day. It could be something as simple as a child’s smile, a song that lifts your spirits, the sun’s rays streaming through a window or a perfect cup of coffee.
  • Create a freeform "collage journal" made up of interesting items that catch your eye throughout the day. Keep an envelope with you so that you can collect sketches, notes, clippings, receipts, images, leaves, stones or anything else that grabs your attention. When you look back at your collage, your right brain will focus on the patterns, colors and "big picture," while your left brain will zero in on the words and phrases.

Because your story is highly personal, sharing it with others can be a big step. If, when, how and with whom you share your cancer journal is entirely up to you. If you feel comfortable, you might consider including others beyond your circle of family members and close friends. For instance, some patients choose to take on the role of advocate. In this way, you can provide support to others who are living with cancer and raise public awareness, as well as help to advance cancer research, improve the quality of cancer treatment and address legislative and regulatory issues regarding cancer.

At Moffitt Cancer Center, we offer several supportive care programs designed to help our patients share their experiences. If you’d like to learn more, contact us at 1-888-663-3488 or complete new patient registration form  online. No referrals are necessary.

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Si no encuentra la información que busca o si desea programar una cita, llámenos gratis al 1-888-663-3488 .

essay writing on cancer

Cancer Essay

During the summer of 2003, I plunged into a two week nightmare. I felt robbed of my dreams and my hopes for sharing another year with my grandfather, or at least to utter the words of goodbye. On July 28th, 2003 my grandfather, Pantaleon Cabiao, passed away just a day after his birthday, from Prostate Cancer. The story I will share with you will be written in the best way that I can, although no one will ever understand how powerful my grandfather was in my life or how sorrowful this journey has been without him in my life. I was given only two weeks to encapsulate the entire notion of the first person in my family to have cancer. My family has always been intimate. The word cancer was foreign to our vocabulary. I only saw glimpses of what it was in the news and in my health textbook. In some way, I thought I was immune to getting cancer, for my family to develop cancer, or to even see the first person in my immediate family die from it. Death was also a term I was very unfamiliar with. At only fourteen years of age, I had only experienced the death of animals I raised. I have never been to a funeral. In my mind I internalized my grandparents would never leave me. I knew they were getting older as years passed. However, I would have never imagined to have death come pull my grandfather away from me so soon. My grandfather has been my best friend. He taught me how to hold a pencil and to write my name. He taught me how to be a leader, emphasizing our ancestor lineage of warriors. He taught me how to be a man and for that I will always be thankful. In 1999, my grandparents retired and they moved to Moses Lake. My grandfather was a very muscular individual. He exercised daily while he tended the family farm. He ate organically grown vegetables from his crops and in 2003, was only seventy-two years old. Almost every other weekend of the month, my family would drive three and a half hours from Seattle to Moses Lake to see him. I could remember his smile, as it gleamed with one missing tooth, as we pulled up on the Ranch driveway every other Friday evening. He was strong, intelligent, comical and loved discussing politics. He was the best grandfather figure I could ask for. In the first week of June, we were awakened with a call with my grandmother’s worried tone. My grandfather had suddenly fell from his bed while getting up to go to the bathroom, and was rushed to the hospital because he was paralyzed from the waist down. The entire family was shocked and confused because we all knew of his great health habits. They performed emergency surgery that night to remove the tumor in his back. The next morning when we arrived, his doctor informed us he had cancer and it was terminal. They warned us he only had a few months to live and our hearts sank to the floor. My grandfather smiled as we walked towards him. He assured us this will all pass. He told us sternly to be strong and to pray because prayer is the strongest form of medicine. I continued to pray days on end. The beginning of the school week, I could not focus on my academics. I was worried for my grandfather and just the thought of losing him caused me to be in denial. I rejected the thought of his passing and ignored the chatter going on at home. That week was the longest week of my life. I feared for his life. Soon, I started to ponder about my own life and how temporary our lives on this Earth really are. I started to rationalize maybe if he were to pass, I could go with him to ease my sorrow. I could not imagine losing him and I would not know what to do without him. Soon, many more thoughts clashed in my head as I worried about what would happen to the farm, how would my father react. I asked myself questions about why doctors could not have diagnosed it sooner. I hated my grandfather for not telling me. I could not eat or sleep for days. At the end of the week, on Friday afternoon while my family was packing a second trip to see him, I wept furiously wondering how much worse everything could be. To ease my pain, I created a life size poster. I cut up many of my baby pictures with him and pictures of us throughout the years. I found a special picture with him next to me holding my pencil. I had my parents enlarge the photo and created it as the focal point of my art piece. Because I was a very expressive writer, I decided to dedicate a poem to him. I wrote it in large cursive letters on his poster. I packed it away to bring it with me to the hospital and was again excited to see him. On Saturday morning when I arrived, my grandmother sat me down and explained over the week, his mental state had deteriorated. He was in and out of radiation therapy which was not successful. He no longer was able to recognize even her and she was worried on how I would react. My eyes started to swell with tears as I realized I missed my chance to say good-bye. I missed the final chance to tell him I loved him and how thankful I was for everything he had done. I have grown up so much as an established young man who excelled in school. Without his motivation, his guidance and inspiration – I would be lost. I had the urge to tear up my poster because it was useless. My grandmother held my arm tightly and explained that although he may not be talking correctly with his disillusioned state with the medication, she would advise me to sit on his side and recite my poem. I walked into his dark hospital room as the room reeked of a distinctive medical smell. I held his cold hand and told him I was there for him. My grandfather’s face was emotionless. Difficultly, as I trembled at each word, I recited my poem as best I could. I could no longer deal with the pain, so I put my poster down and left the room. My family bid their farewells until Sunday night. My mother, siblings and I drove back to Seattle on Sunday night. I was devastated he no longer remembered who I was or the fact that we could not spend his birthday with him. My father called and said they decided to rush him home to the Moses Lake ranch, which was almost two hours away from the Wenatchee hospital. As my grandmother, father and auntie rode in the rushing ambulance, they saw an unusual beautiful arch of white butterflies. My father also informed me of the weird visuals my grandfather was uttering about children gathering around him and seeing his mother and siblings who had passed years before. They knew his time was coming. They remember him saying he would like to pass in peace at his home. Until this day, I believe I still receive messages from my grandfather. At Moses Lake, on every visit, a little white butterfly would follow us grandchildren around. Surprisingly, whenever a celebration occurs within our immediate family, we would see a white butterfly on our Seattle window pane. At times when I am by myself, I suddenly receive a rush of the same hospital odor. He also talks to me in my dreams. With just two weeks notice, it stuns me every time that I remember how fast and traumatic that moment was in my life. Each year that summer comes by, I dedicate a moment to remember his life and celebrate the memories in the years I was able to share with him. In a way, the sorrow will be never ending, as a void will continue to reside in my heart. Cancer has robbed me of my chance to have my grandfather see me walk down my college graduation aisle, a moment he promised. I dreamed one day to see him waiting at the end of the line for his embrace. I learned that life should never be taken for granted and people you love are not with you forever. Human beings only live once. Within the limited previous time we have, it is essential to let people know how we feel and what difference they have made in our lives. Cancer does not just affect the victim but captures families as its prey as well. Watching my grandfather fight for his life is something I never want my own children to experience. Although he has passed away, his words continue to live on. I know he will forever reside in me and he truly has never left. Until this day, he has continued to help me achieve my dreams and still remains my main inspiration in all that I do. Howard Cabiao

What It’s Like to Respond to Mpox in Africa Right Now

I t was early morning in Burundi when one of our patients set out for the hospital, her baby strapped to her back and her sick four-year-old son cradled in her arms. When her little boy’s itchy sores started to weep and he would not stop crying, she knew she had to get him there as quickly as possible. They trekked for miles up a dusty red path, passing palm groves and rice fields as they made their way. When she finally arrived, the doctors told her they’d have to move her son to a separate building. “He has mpox,” they said.

Scenes like this are playing out daily all over Burundi—and in other Central African countries—as thousands of people are falling sick with a new strain of mpox that is ravaging the region. On Aug. 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the multiple mpox outbreaks occurring on the African continent were a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Although mpox has been around for decades, a new strain known as clade Ib has led to thousands of infections and hundreds of deaths in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Rwanda, and the Central African Republic.

The WHO declaration was meant to spur an international response. But what has this looked like on the ground? As doctors who have treated dozens of mpox patients in Burundi over the past four weeks, take it from us: the response has been passive at best. People are in desperate need of both medical care and basic resources.

Read More : What to Know About Mpox in 2024

The limited funding is largely being directed toward improving mpox diagnosis and surveillance. Almost nothing is left over to care for the sick or prevent the continued spread of mpox in communities most at risk. This is especially heartbreaking since this outbreak seems to preferentially strike vulnerable groups, including women, children, people with HIV, and those who face food insecurity. This gap in mpox prevention and care is especially acute in countries like Burundi, where the health system is already strained after decades of civil war and where diseases like cholera, measles, malaria, and malnutrition are all too common.

Health workers speak with patients inside a ward for women infected with Mpox at the Kamenge University Hospital's Mpox treatment center in Bujumbura, Burundi, on Aug. 22, 2024.

One of our other patients came to the hospital with her newborn whom she was breastfeeding. She had walked for hours to reach us, seeking help for the numerous painful lesions that now covered most of her skin. She was diagnosed with mpox, and we recommended that she stop breastfeeding to avoid the skin-to-skin contact by which mpox spreads. Having no other way to nourish her child, she became distraught at being asked to choose between the baby going hungry or the baby developing mpox. There were no vaccines to protect the baby and no other resources available to provide a safe feeding alternative for this family.

Read More : It’s Time to Start Taking Mpox and Bird Flu Seriously

This lack of care-focused resources for people with mpox is not a failure of science. Mpox is not a new disease, and there are vaccines and medications that can greatly alter its course. But these tools are not available in the hospitals and health centers that are tasked with caring for a growing number of people with mpox every day. A scant 250,000 courses of the only effective vaccine have been earmarked for DRC, when tens of millions of doses are actually needed to curb mpox’s spread. And smaller counties like Burundi have no access at all. By contrast, when one patient with the clade Ib strain was diagnosed in Sweden, the European Centers for Disease Control decided to recommend that travelers to Africa now consult their physicians about receiving shots.

Governments in the region are trying valiantly to respond to the mpox crisis. In Burundi, the government has developed a comprehensive national plan for managing mpox. But they should not have to shoulder the burden alone—and these regions desperately need partners who can immediately step up and provide:

  • Dignified services to those already sick with mpox, including care in the community for people who are stable and at the hospital for those who have severe disease or who are at high risk for it. Such care would include access to proven strategies for decreasing the sickness and suffering associated with mpox, such as antivirals, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory eye drops to prevent the blindness sometimes seen when mpox affects the eye. It would also address the socioeconomic needs of families: hunger, housing, childcare, and management of common comorbidities, including HIV.
  • Localized, preventive care . This works best when it originates within the community and could include adapting standard health-education messaging so that it is relevant for those most at risk. Epidemics exploit fractures in society and can escalate pre-existing tensions. Mpox mitigation measures should be paired with activities meant to foster collaboration and address other community needs.
  • Immediate vaccination in places where the epidemic is concentrated. Because most impacted regions face challenges with overcrowding and limited access to water, other preventive measures will be less effective. Releasing existing vaccines for use in Central Africa and making sure they can be imported, stored, and administered safely should be a priority.
  • Investment in strengthening health systems , since infectious diseases will always prey upon people whose health is most precarious. Instead of providing the bare minimum necessary to respond to mpox, donors should see this outbreak as a call for backing solid and lasting investments in building resilient health systems.

Models of mpox care that embrace these pillars have been developed in countries like Burundi. When the first patients with mpox began appearing in the rural areas, our team at Village Health Works—an organization founded by a Burundian to provide high-quality health care to those with limited access—launched a holistic response program called Halting the Mpox Outbreak with Equity (HOME). We stand ready to support the government regionally and nationally but need to mobilize resources to do so effectively.

Dr. Robert Musole, medical director of the Kavumu hospital (right), consults an infant suffering from a severe form of mpox at the Kavumu hospital in Democratic Republic of Congo, Aug. 24, 2024.

There is a global sense of fatigue when it comes to outbreaks, and mpox is no exception. What is happening to families in Central Africa can seem very far away. People reaching for their smartphones or laptops to Google where countries like Burundi are located should realize, however, that they already have a connection to Central Africa. The minerals that power these technologies have been extracted from the area by companies that have reaped billions of dollars in profit. Very little of this capital has been reinvested for the betterment of people living there.

The weak mpox response on the ground shows that governments and their international collaborations are impotent in the face of an outbreak like this. And really, it shouldn’t just be their responsibility: companies that get rich by taking materials out of this region of the world should have to reinvest in building sustainable health systems.

We are used to hearing the word “outbreak” in conjunction with the spread of an infectious disease. But an alternative meaning of the term is “a sudden increase in activity.” We urgently need an outbreak of solidarity and resource mobilization to end mpox in Central Africa.

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    Urinary Tract Infections and Pancreatic Cancer. The laboratory technician is supposed to culture the urine and use Gram's staining method to detect the microbes in the sample. The practitioners used a combination of mecillinam and cefotaxime to manage the condition. Patient HealthCare: Early Diagnosis of Cancer.

  7. National Cancer Awareness Day 2023: Closing the Care Gap

    Organize a structured essay . Students must write the essay in a coherent manner which must begin with the introduction to cancer, followed by the body of the essay that must contain the types of cancer, treatment, and other information regarding the topic of Cancer. It must be well concluded later to tie everything up neatly. Conclusion

  8. The Unique Hell of Getting Cancer as a Young Adult

    Around the world, cancer rates in people under 50 are surging, with a recent study in BMJ Oncology showing that new cases for young adults have risen 79% overall over the past three decades. In ...

  9. Cancer Essay For Students In English

    More than 70% of all cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, where resources available for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer are limited or nonexistent. This essay on cancer will help students know about this disease and the prevention method. Students can also go through the list of CBSE Essays on different topics ...

  10. Essay on Cancer

    Long and Short Essays on Cancer for Students and Kids in English. We are providing a long essay of 400-500 words and a short essay of 100 to 200 words on the topic of Cancer. Long Essay on Cancer 500 words in English. Cancer Essay is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

  11. Cancer Survivors: In Their Words

    In another essay from a parent with a young child, Amanda Rose Ferraro describes the abrupt change from healthy to not healthy after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in May 2017. After a 33-day hospital stay, followed by weeklong chemotherapy treatments, Ferraro's cancer went into remission, but a recurrence required more chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant.

  12. ≡Essays on Breast Cancer

    By writing essays on breast cancer, individuals can contribute to a better understanding of the disease, its impact, and the importance of ongoing research and support. Engaging with this topic through writing can help raise awareness, provide support, and inspire positive change within the community.

  13. 117 Breast Cancer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    Writing an essay on breast cancer can help educate others, spread awareness, and provide support to those affected by the disease. To help you get started, here are 117 breast cancer essay topic ideas and examples: The history of breast cancer research. Understanding breast cancer: Causes, risk factors, and prevention.

  14. Friday essay: I survived stage 4 prostate cancer

    Nine years ago, Tim Baker was diagnosed with stage 4, metastatic prostate cancer. Today, astonishingly, he is fit and healthy, and meeting the scientists researching new treatments for this disease.

  15. Cancer Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

    73 essay samples found. Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth. Essays on this topic could delve into the various types of cancer, their causes, and treatment options. Additionally, discussions might extend to the psychological and social impact of cancer on patients and families, advancements in cancer research ...

  16. Essay on Cancer: 8 Selected Essays on Cancer

    List of Essays on Cancer Essay on Cancer - Introduction, Types and Conclusion (Essay 1 - 150 Words) Introduction: Cancer is a group of more than 100 diseases that can develop in almost anywhere in the body. Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.

  17. Tips & Tools for Writing

    A good tip is to read your essay out loud. This will help you notice any problems or sections that need to be rewritten. Good grammar - Pay attention to grammar, spelling, and word choice. Mistakes can cause you to lose credibility and make your readers stop reading. Voice - You have a writing voice; use it!

  18. Cancer Essay Prompts and Tips to Prepare a Good Assignment

    The next part of your writing about cancer in an essay is the implementation of the thesis. "Lung cancer continues to take the lives of many people throughout the globe, and it should be prevented at any cost." Cancer Essay Body. The next stage is the cancer essay body. It is when you should develop the main argument and some sub-arguments.

  19. What really matters at the end: perspectives from a patient, a family

    It is not uncommon for physicians to write about what "they think" matters to patients. This essay explores "what really matters" from the perspective of a patient, a family member of another patient and an oncologist. The patient was a 58-year-old woman with recurrent metastatic small bowel cancer. The family member is the spouse of a ...

  20. Confronting Cancer through Creative Writing

    To uplift patients with cancer like her father, Ker started a project called Dear Cancer. It seeks to help patients confront their new realities and express themselves through the process of creative writing. Too often, Ker says, society marginalizes patients with cancer. Instead, it focuses on the medical details of their disease and deems ...

  21. 125 Breast Cancer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    Breast Cancer Patients' Functions and Suitable Jobs. The key symptom of breast cancer is the occurrence of a protuberance in the breast. A screening mammography, scrutiny of the patient's family history and a breast examination help in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Jordanian Breast Cancer Survival Rates in 1997-2002.

  22. Writing cancer

    Given the empirical literature available, the present essay focuses on the genre of writing as a source of value for patients with cancer, ... Patients with cancer stand to derive benefit—in psychological and social terms—from reading and writing about cancer. Literature can help them in enduring invasive and painful medical procedures ...

  23. Tips for Sharing and Writing About Your Cancer Journey

    Writing about your cancer journey may prove to be easier than you think. The process will only require a few minutes of each day, but you can opt to spend as much or as little time on it as you like. You can also choose the format that works best for you, whether it's writing in a notebook, typing on a computer keyboard or speaking into a ...

  24. Cancer Essay

    Cancer Essay. October 20, 2007. During the summer of 2003, I plunged into a two week nightmare. I felt robbed of my dreams and my hopes for sharing another year with my grandfather, or at least to utter the words of goodbye. On July 28th, 2003 my grandfather, Pantaleon Cabiao, passed away just a day after his birthday, from Prostate Cancer.

  25. What It's Like to Respond to Mpox in Africa Right Now

    Mpox patients in Burundi need more support, write doctors Jennifer Furin, Nesar Hamraz, and Eddy Jonas.