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Nathan Bingham

Ms. Gardner

English 10 Honors, Per. 5

17 November 2017

In Order to Save a Life

Dear doctors of the nation and the world,

Cancer. The name itself is like a sudden electric shock, especially to those who have a

family member who is fighting the disease or someone who has survived the disease itself. It’s

name disturbs families. It’s name bankrupts families. It’s name destroys families. But this

Goliath of a disease we call cancer can be caught before it becomes too dangerous through

routine cancer screenings. I’m Nathan Bingham and I know the hardships that come along with

cancer as my family was personally affected by it in the past. My grandfather passed away at the

beginning of 2017 due to cancer and therefore, I strongly believe that routine cancer screenings

are necessary in order to detect cancers early and save lives. The startling shock of a sudden

diagnosis can sweep anyone off their feet. Routine cancer screenings are vital to public health as

according to the World Health Organization as of February 3rd, 2014, “cases of cancer linked to

lifestyle--such as alcohol abuse and obesity--could soar 70% over the next 20 years”. But cancers

of any form are by no means new diseases to mankind.

The history of humans and cancer goes as far back as 400 B.C. when ancient Greek

physician Hippocrates, the Father of Modern Medicine, coined the term “karcinos” to describe
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tumors. This latin term would eventually evolve into the modern word “cancer”. But why should

cancer concern you? ​The National Cancer Institute​, which is one of eleven agencies that is part

of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, states that “When cancer develops...cells

become more and more abnormal, old or damaged cells survive when they should die, and new

cells form when they are not needed. These extra cells can divide without stopping and may form

growths called tumors. Cancerous tumors are malignant, which means they can spread into, or

invade, nearby tissues. In addition, as these tumors grow, some cancer cells can break off and

travel to distant places in the body through the blood or lymph system and form new tumors far

from the original tumor”. So why do some still suggest that routine cancer screenings benefits

aren’t greater than the potential risks? Improved financial stability, improved outcome, and

decreased stress are all significant benefits from routine screenings that heavily outweigh the

potential drawbacks.

And from derelicts to billionaires, cancers can affect and infect anyone. Improved

financial stability while battling cancer through routine screenings greatly benefits people who

live in low and middle income countries as, according to the ​Targeted News Service​, “Challenges

are clearly greater in low and middle-income countries, which have lower abilities to provide

access to effective screening programs, diagnostic services, including imaging, laboratory tests

and pathology - all key to helping detect cancers and plan treatment.” And financial burdens

from expensive treatments not only affect people living in middle and low income countries.

According to Ali Thaver, a reporter for the ​Baltimore Sun (Online)​, “...in the United

States...Approximately a third of cancer patients drop out of treatment plans because of costs.
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Treatment for cancer is expensive, and, despite insurance coverage, deductibles remain high.”

With fees for medicine and specialist’s visits and treatments and doctor’s visits, costs quickly

rise and can discourage patients from continuing with their treatments.

Early diagnosis however, also stated by ​Targeted News Service​, can “...greatly reduce

cancer's financial impact…[and] people can [also] continue to work and support their families if

they can access effective treatment in time”. This financial stability through early diagnosis

would allow for more people to continue their jobs in order to support their families and decrease

the likelihood of patients dropping out of treatments due to financial problems.

Early diagnosis through routine cancer screenings can also “...improve outcomes for

people with cancer…” according to Julia Haskins, a columnist for ​The Nation’s Health​, the

monthly newspaper of the American Public Health Association, which is also extremely

important as, according to ​Targeted News Service​, “...many cancer cases are diagnosed too late.

Even in countries with optimal health systems and services, many cancer cases are diagnosed at

an advanced stage, when they are harder to treat successfully”.

One of the largest arguments made by critics of routine screenings is that they result in

too many false positives which lead to cases of overtreatment. And while this argument may be

valid in certain and unfortunate cases, according to Liz Szabo, a journalist for ​USA TODAY​,

“Another study from Denmark --whose national health program keeps detailed records --

estimated the overdiagnosis rates at only 2.3%”.

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So take charge. You can inform your patients now or they can inform you later when it's

too late. And it’s your responsibility as doctors to provide your patients with the best care and

information in order to prevent illnesses. So talk to your patients the next time you see them, and

inform them on the benefits of routine cancer screenings, as it just might save their life.

828 Words
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Works Cited

"Early Cancer Diagnosis Saves Lives, Cuts Treatment Costs."​ Targeted News Service​, 2017​,

SIRS Issues Researcher​,​ ​https://sks.sirs.com​.

Haskins, Julia. "WHO's New Guidelines Promote Early Global Cancer Diagnoses."​ Nation's

Health​, Apr, 2017, pp. 19​, SIRS Issues Researcher​,​ ​https://sks.sirs.com​.

Szabo, Liz. "Mammograms may Lead to Unneeded Treatments."​ USA TODAY​, 10 Jan, 2017, pp.

A.3​, SIRS Issues Researcher​,​ ​https://sks.sirs.com​.

Thaver, Ali. "Calculating Costs in Cancer Care."​ Baltimore Sun (Online)​, 01 Jun, 2017, pp. n/a​,

SIRS Issues Researcher​,​ ​https://sks.sirs.com​.

“What Is Cancer?” ​National Cancer Institute​, National Cancer Institute ,

www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer.