• Question: Will be ever cure cancer?

    Asked by 327rhed49 to David, Eva, Kate, Nicholas, Rachel on 9 Nov 2015. This question was also asked by xx.caitlin.xx, Lilybug005.
    • Photo: Rachel McMullan

      Rachel McMullan answered on 9 Nov 2015:

      Hi
      Cancer isn’t just one illness so there probably won’t just be one cure. There are lots of causes of cancer and lots of types and each one might require a slightly different treatment.
      Having said that scientists have made loads of progress in understanding cancer so I think there is a good chance we will be able to cure most cancers one day.

    • Photo: Nicholas Pearce

      Nicholas Pearce answered on 10 Nov 2015:

      Hey,

      There are many different types of cancers that all develop differently, so it’s unlikely that there will ever be a single cure for all forms of cancer.
      Scientists have made excellent progress at treating some types of cancer though – so good in fact that we do have cures for some cancers, particularly testicular and prostate cancers: about 99% of people who have those are cured quickly!

    • Photo: David Nunan

      David Nunan answered on 10 Nov 2015:

      Hey,

      As Rachel says, there are lots of different cancers and lots of different causes of cancer but I’m sure there will be a cure for most of them one day. It will probably be a mixture of medical drugs and some sort of genetic treatment that will help cure most of them.

      But whatever it is, it will end up being reported in the news and media. If it happens in my life time I’ll try to make sure that I look at the science behind any claims of a cure.
      At the moment there are a lot of “miracle cures” promised in the headlines which turn out not to be true.

      If it doesn’t happen in my life time, then maybe someone such as yourself with an interest in evidence will look at the studies that claim to have found a cure and make sure it is good evidence. I hope so.

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