Question: What are the latest finds on cancer cures other than what we
have now?
Dr. Hibberd's Answer:
Not long ago, we often had either a surgical cure or toxic remedies, often providing benefits to a select few responders.
Cancer treatment has undergone huge evolution since the 1960s and 1970s, with treatments that are more selective and indeed remarkable with improved survival and cures. Treatments available depend upon the cell type and malignancy involved, so comments here will need to be general. We now also have some very effective preventive strategies.
Available existing treatments are:
• surgery — replacement, removal, and transplant
• drug — known as chemotherapy in cyclic, pulsed, continual, and attached to imlplanted "beads"
• immunotherapy — modifying our immune response and in some cases obliteration of cell lines as in bone marrow transplants
• radiation therapy — provided to wide areas or selectively, as well as implantation of radioactive beads to selectively target involved tissues with doses that are less harmful to adjacent tissues
• other less well-known and unorthodox treatments like antiviral treatments, which now become considerations in managing malignancy development, and evolution
The human papillomavirus (HPV) quadrivalent recombinant vaccine (known as Gardasil) is now available and recommended for all young women from 9 years of age to 26 years of age.
Gardasil is an outstanding example of a vaccine that definitively prevents cervical cancer in vaccinated poulations as well as being protective against venereal warts and cervical dysplasia (otherwise known as a precancerous finding and one of the most common reasons for abnormal pap smears that generate biopsies, excisions, and treatments in women that are now preventable).
This is not a live vaccine and it will not cause HPV. It is most effective when given before exposure to HPV, and should not be withheld from patients who have been exposed to HPV. This is a highly protective vaccine that is given as three vaccinations over a six-month interval.
We are awaiting the safety and clinical trial data in men before recommending this to men and women beyond the current age stated.
This is a true breakthrough, and hopefully all women within the target age groups will request this vaccine from their physician. Now we do have a vaccine that will prevent malignancy. What a wonderful gift for your child.
My daughter has received this vaccine. Has yours? There can be little reason to delay this vaccination in my opinion.
Our hope in the future is to be able to use vaccines together with cell cloning technology to assist with prevention, treatment, and recovery from cancer.
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