We've come a long way in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer. The exciting discoveries of the past year mean more lives will be saved from cancer than ever before. Advances in immunotherapy PLENTY M/SHUTTERSTOCK Among the completely reassuring things scientists wish you knew about cancer is the research that's being done to eradicate the disease, in which abnormal cells multiply and take over in the body. Last year there were over 1,685,000 cases of cancer diagnosed, and nearly 600,000 people died. Standard therapies so far are surgery, radiation to kill the cells, and chemotherapy, which alters the DNA of cancer cells to stop them from reproducing. But radiation and chemo damage healthy cells too, so researchers have been looking for better treatments. New immunotherapy drugs use the patient's own immune cells to attack cancer. Stephen Hunger, MD, chief of the Division of Oncology, chief of the Division of Pediatric Oncology, and director...
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