The Battle Against Cancer
In 2015, there were over 500,000 cancer related deaths in the United States alone according to National Cancer Institute. This disease has ripped apart over 500,000 families. How can this continue? Cancer is one of the single most dangerous killers of humans. Even though there are people and organizations standing up to this disease, it is horribly apparent that is not enough. Humans need to band together and help those who have the disease, and the doctors trying to cure it.
Rod Echols is a colorectal cancer survivor who wrote an article about his experience at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. After he had blood in his waste, a doctor diagnosed him with hemorrhoids. However, Echols was not convinced solely from the history of colon cancer in his family. He went in for a colonoscopy and his fears were true;he had colon cancer. He then went in for a mildly invasive surgery where the doctor discovered that the cancer was further inside him and had spread to his lymph nodes. After surgery, he had chemotherapy and radiation. The treatment caused different symptoms, and the doctors advised him to change his diet. He is supremely grateful for his wife and his team. This is a prime example of someone with the help of doctors beating cancer and a symbol of hope.
The Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is an organization that is devoted to curing those with cancer and is the organization that helped to cure Mr. Echols. There are five nationwide hospitals: Chicago, Tulsa, Phoenix, Philadelphia and Atlanta. Richard J. Stephenson founded this institution in 1988 to combat cancer. He created CTCA after his mother died of cancer when they could not find the right care for her. After this, he vowed to make this different for others, so he formed the CTCA. CTCA’s goal is to serve those who need comprehensive top-of-the-line cancer care. The main standard that sets the CTCA apart from other clinics is how they work personally with their patients, trying to find the most comprehensive plan for them, not forcing their patients in a cookie cutter. They also offer cutting edge technology and work not only to cure their patients but to put them through therapies to keep their strength up and reduce symptoms. A way to help out is to visit patients, be in nursing units, help at the front desk, and so much more.
Cancer is a destroyer of humans that can seem like too much to handle at times. However, Rod Echols beat it and there are many organizations made to combat the rising tide of cancer. Together as humans we can beat this disease once and for all and save all of those future families. Cancer is a terrible disease and the only way to defeat it is unity of knowledge.
Works Cited
Echols, Rod. "Rod Echols." - Colorectal Cancer Survivor. CTCA, 01 Jan. 0001. Web. 06 Mar. 2016.
"Cancer Statistics." National Cancer Institute. National Cancer Institute, n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2016.