Express press service
KOCHI: Although oncology in medicine has made great progress, fear and phobia related to cancer have only increased over time. In 1960, the five-year survival rate was about 10%. Today, the rate is over 60%, which means that 60 out of 100 patients would live after five years.
Many can be cured depending on the stage of the disease, the type, the associated problems and the condition of the patient. Additionally, where you receive the treatment and the skills of the practitioners are also important. A lot of money is invested in the search for new molecules to fight various types of cancer and behind this there is hard work, funding and approval of drugs by bodies like the Federal Drug Authority in the United States . Cancer research is also funded by society at large and by private organizations.
One example is the Max Foundation which has helped by distributing the life-saving drug imatinib mesylate to millions of people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, especially in third world countries. Breast cancer also enjoys a lot of support and is well known to the public who participate in breast cancer races, badge campaigns, etc. Celebrities like Angelina Jolie have advocated for such campaigns.
Prostate, unfortunately, was a backbencher. This cancer usually affects older men. The tumor has a low profile and its treatment has also been static over the years. If it was localized, depending on the patient, you could have a radical prostatectomy or radical radiotherapy.
You could say it is curative, but the side effects are not very mild. And if the cancer has spread (metastatic), hormone therapy is needed, where the effect of androgens has been reduced by several means (androgens are male hormones that can stimulate the growth and multiplication of prostate cancer cells ).
Even screening for prostate cancer with prostate specific antigens – a tumor marker seen in the blood was controversial as it produced many false negatives. But all of a sudden, the treatment of prostate cancer has seen a revival with the discovery of more than twelve exciting new molecules like the taxol-derived cabazitaxel, the hormonal agent Arberiterone, the immune agent Sipuleucel T and Radium 221 injected, an alpha particle that is injected into the vein. The reason for the development is mainly due to the good research funding.
How did it happen?
It all started when Michael Milken developed prostate cancer and was cured by radical surgery. When breast cancer received over $500 million in funding, poor prostate cancer received only $50 million.
Milken felt he had to give back and started a foundation that worked tirelessly to try and raise money for prostate cancer research. And the National Prostate Cancer Coalition was born, as was the Breast Cancer Coalition.
Clay Hamlin was a wealthy real estate developer. He too was a prostate cancer survivor and joined the coalition’s board of directors. Since he was from Philadelphia, he developed an annual fundraising event called Philly for Prostate (initially a golf event) to encourage all business leaders to donate to the cause. It later morphed into a huge fundraising event with dinners, talks, runs and races with many celebrities.
November is also known as Movember or the challenge to grow a mustache. November is also Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
To quote Movember members:
“If you want to make such a bold statement, you have to believe you’re gorgeous…Men with mustaches are bold. It takes balls to go against the grain and grow a mustache. He says, ‘I I don’t care what you think, society. “I love my facial hair.” Even girls could grow one and if they can’t just support it with whiskers drawn on their faces.
To end the story, the number of drugs for prostate cancer has increased, giving life and hope to its victims thanks to these two individuals and their funding, as well as several mustaches.
Do you have health issues that you want to share with a doctor? Looking for credible answers regarding symptoms, medications or lifestyle issues? Write to us at [email protected], and we’ll ask healthcare professionals to respond.
