My Position Research Paper

The Deadly Cancer

            It is estimated that there is more than 7 million deaths due to cancer each year (Pitot, Henry C.). There are numerous types of cancer that people can be diagnosed with. Some examples are breast cancer, brain cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer. A lot of people get cancer and many are long time survivors. One cancer that few survive for is pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is a very deadly cancer. One of the main problems is that the symptoms of this cancer are very unnoticeable until it’s too late to have the cancer removed. Another main thing is that cigarette smoking is the main cause to pancreatic cancer. Most of people who have pancreatic cancer smoked or have smoked at one point in time. People should not smoke and to help this happen the companies that make the cigarettes should be closed down because it is the cause of this very deadly disease.

            Pancreatic cancer is a disease that which cancerous cells are found within the tissues of the pancreas ("What You Need to Know About Cancer of the Pancreas."). The pancreas sits across the back of the abdomen right behind the stomach and is about 6 inches long ("What You Need to Know About Cancer of the Pancreas."). Pancreatic cancer is extremely deadly. There are very few people who survive this awful disease. After diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, 10 – 15 percent live the first year and less than one present one percent live 5 years (Brody, Jane E). Pancreatic cancer is so deadly that 95% of its victims will die from it ("Pancreatic cancer"). “The American Cancer Society estimate that 33,730 people in the United States will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006. About 32,200 people will die of pancreatic cancer in 2006 ("Pancreatic cancer.").” So, that means only 1530 people will live survive this disease in 2006.

            Doctors think that there are many things that could possibly put people at risk for pancreatic cancer like age, family history, diabetes or even being African-American ("What You Need to Know About Cancer of the Pancreas."). But, there is only one known thing that can put you at risk for pancreatic cancer and that is cigarette smoking (Brody, Jane E) . Smoking causes many other things too like lung diseases, heart diseases and strokes. Some people don’t even realize how bad smoking is for them. People who do smoke are 2 – 3 more times likely to get pancreatic cancer than non-smokers (Brody, Jane E).  Dr. Mack, an authority on pancreatic cancer from the University of Southern California, was interviewed and said ''But at this point, all we can tell people about preventing pancreatic cancer is to quit smoking, which they've got plenty of other reasons to do anyway (Brody, Jane E).”

Pancreatic cancer is very hard to detect and that is why it is the second most deadly cancer (Brody, Jane E.). Some people might not even realize that they have pancreatic cancer because as it is forming it has very few symptoms and it takes very long for the symptoms to show. A tumor in the pancreas that is 1 centimeter had been growing from 9-20 years (Brody, Jane E.). Many times the few symptoms it does have, are the same as many other sicknesses, so the doctors don’t even think the patient has pancreatic cancer. If the cancer is found when it is small, it is still very difficult to completely remove the cancerous parts because it has a tendency to spread on surrounding tissues (Brody, Jane E.). Dr. Michael Hamilton, coordinator for gastrointestinal cancer at the National Cancer Institute, says ''The pancreas is so deep in the abdomen; a slow-growing cancer takes a long time to manifest itself (Brody, Jane E.).”

 Some people may reiterate that researchers say that there are a lot of other causes, not just smoking, that can give you pancreatic cancer. Well, there are other possible things that might be a risk for pancreatic cancer but smoking is a proven risk ("Pancreatic cancer."). It is said that smokers have a 70% increased chance for having pancreatic cancer (Brody, Jane E.). There have also been many studies about smoking and pancreatic cancer.  The author says that a new study is Los Angeles County revealed that “smoking a pack or more a day was associated with a fivefold to six fold increased risk to developing pancreatic cancer (Brody, Jane E).”

People might also say that since so many Americans smoke they cannot shut down the cigarette companies because the people who are addicted will be very mad. But, that is exactly it; 1 in every 5 Americans smoke ("Cigarette Smoking."), and that is too many. If these people are so addicted to the nicotine and the cigarette companies are closed it will force them to stop smoking. If not stopped, at least 30% of the people who smoke will be diagnosed with cancer ("Cigarette Smoking."). Yes, the people might be mad but they will be happy when they are not in the hospital getting a surgery that will take weeks to heal from.  So closing the cigarette manufacturers will help many people to not get pancreatic cancer and other diseases too.

Smoking is extremely dangerous. It causes many diseases that can be life threatening. One of those diseases is pancreatic cancer and smoking is a main cause for that specific cancer.  The companies that make the cigarettes need to be shut down to help prevent this. It will greatly decrease the large number of people who are victims of this extremely deadly cancer.   

Works Cited

Brody, Jane E. "PANCREATIC CANCER: CIGARETTE SMOKING IS STRONGEST LINK TO DEADLY DISEASE." New York Times 25 Mar. 1986. Gale Student Resources In       Context. Web. 27 Sept. 2010

"Cigarette Smoking." American Cancer Society :: Information and Resources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms. Web. 04 Oct. 2010.

            "Pancreatic cancer." World of Health. Gale, 2007. Gale Student Resources In Context.        Web. 16 Sept. 2010.

Pitot, Henry C. "Cancer (disease)." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 2010. Grolier Online. 4       Oct. 2010 <http://gme.grolier.com/article?assetid=0050450-0>.

Unknown. "What You Need to Know About Cancer of the Pancreas." WHAT YOU NEED TO     KNOW ABOUT CANCER OF THE PANCREAS. Sept. 16 2002: n.p. SIRS   Government    Reporter. Web. 26 Sep 2010.

           

"Cigarette Smoking." American Cancer Society :: Information and Resources for Cancer: Breast,  Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms. Web. 04 Oct. 2010.