Word count: 1534
Would you like a cocktail…of therapies?
, Brain cancer is perhaps the worst kind of malignant tumour as it affects the very core of
human beings. Thoughts, emotions, movement, personality, control of vital functions, all
reside in the three-pound organ located in the skull. Because of its crucial role, the brain is
protected from toxins and pathogens by the brain-blood barrier (BBB), however, this
protection poses various hurdles when designing novel treatments. Another impediment of
the drug discovery process is a characteristic feature of most cancers, namely cell
heterogeneity. Trying to tackle this heterogeneity with a one-size-fits-all approach would be
unwise, thus, innovative therapies are being investigated. While combination therapies are
difficult to analyse in clinical trials, they are showing promising results in prolonging the
prognosis of cancer patients. Hence, upon analysis of the movie ‘Surviving terminal cancer’,
this essay will aim to present the benefits as well as the drawbacks of cocktail treatment
strategy, taking into consideration the point of view of both patients and clinicians.
Who is right, who is wrong? The patient or the clinician?
It was 2002 when Dr Ben A. Williams, a professor in experimental psychology, decided to
share his experience by publishing the book ‘Surviving “terminal” cancer: clinical trials, drug
cocktails and other treatments your oncologist won’t tell you about’ 1. Surviving what by
many has been called the ‘terminator’ when referring to glioblastoma multiforme (GBM),
sure is a story worthy of a book. Undoubtedly, various statements made by Dr Williams
reflect the unfairness people with cancer have to face daily, such as being denied access to
therapies that may be their only chance of survival or overlooking evidence that is different
from the standard treatment (debulking surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy).
However, since the publishing of the book, the way cancer is being diagnosed and treated
has changed significantly.
Hricak said that “Good care starts with a good diagnosis”, undeniably, having an early and
accurate diagnosis will define treatment and survival of the patient 2. Indeed, while Dr
Williams’ diagnosis was made through magnetic resonance imaging and analysis of the
sample, more refined subclassification of tumour subtypes is now achieved through
methylation analysis, molecular testing and epigenetics 3,4. The improvement in diagnosis
will allow for better-targeted therapies and personalised medicine so that patients will
incur fewer adverse effects.
Would you like a cocktail…of therapies?
, Brain cancer is perhaps the worst kind of malignant tumour as it affects the very core of
human beings. Thoughts, emotions, movement, personality, control of vital functions, all
reside in the three-pound organ located in the skull. Because of its crucial role, the brain is
protected from toxins and pathogens by the brain-blood barrier (BBB), however, this
protection poses various hurdles when designing novel treatments. Another impediment of
the drug discovery process is a characteristic feature of most cancers, namely cell
heterogeneity. Trying to tackle this heterogeneity with a one-size-fits-all approach would be
unwise, thus, innovative therapies are being investigated. While combination therapies are
difficult to analyse in clinical trials, they are showing promising results in prolonging the
prognosis of cancer patients. Hence, upon analysis of the movie ‘Surviving terminal cancer’,
this essay will aim to present the benefits as well as the drawbacks of cocktail treatment
strategy, taking into consideration the point of view of both patients and clinicians.
Who is right, who is wrong? The patient or the clinician?
It was 2002 when Dr Ben A. Williams, a professor in experimental psychology, decided to
share his experience by publishing the book ‘Surviving “terminal” cancer: clinical trials, drug
cocktails and other treatments your oncologist won’t tell you about’ 1. Surviving what by
many has been called the ‘terminator’ when referring to glioblastoma multiforme (GBM),
sure is a story worthy of a book. Undoubtedly, various statements made by Dr Williams
reflect the unfairness people with cancer have to face daily, such as being denied access to
therapies that may be their only chance of survival or overlooking evidence that is different
from the standard treatment (debulking surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy).
However, since the publishing of the book, the way cancer is being diagnosed and treated
has changed significantly.
Hricak said that “Good care starts with a good diagnosis”, undeniably, having an early and
accurate diagnosis will define treatment and survival of the patient 2. Indeed, while Dr
Williams’ diagnosis was made through magnetic resonance imaging and analysis of the
sample, more refined subclassification of tumour subtypes is now achieved through
methylation analysis, molecular testing and epigenetics 3,4. The improvement in diagnosis
will allow for better-targeted therapies and personalised medicine so that patients will
incur fewer adverse effects.
