...Unit 8 Assignment 1: Mutations and Cancer GE150 Date Due: May 17,2016 Elaine Leppert Lung Cancer Lung cancer, the most common killer cancer in the world, is largely caused by smoking. New results suggest that amongst smokers, some people may be as much as 80% more at risk than others because of their genes. By scanning the entire genomes of lung-cancer patients and healthy controls, research teams identified a region on chromosome 15 that seems to influence the likelihood of developing cancer. People possessing a certain set of mutations at this genetic location are more likely than others to have the disease. Research suggests about 50% of the general population carries a single copy of this cancer gene variant, while another 10% of the population is likely to carry two copies of this set of mutations, raising cancer risk by as much as 80% relative to people with equivalent lifestyles without the cancer-linked gene variant (Hopkin,2016). The most relevant genes in lung cancer include the following: EGFR, KRAS, MET, LKB1, BRAF, PIK3CA, ALK, RET, and ROS1 (El-Telbany & Ma,2012). Lung Cancer and the effects of smoking A typical smoker who refuses or fails to give up has a roughly 15% risk of lung cancer over their lifetime, but with two copies of the genetic variant, this rises to 23%. Researchers disagree over whether non-smokers who possess the genetic risk...
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...Abstract I decided that a very controversial subject was that of the legalization of Marijuana, both for medical and recreational use. I found that there are many health benefits to medical marijuana. There also can be many benefits to the recreational use/sale of marijuana. Like all controversial topics there cannot be positives without the negatives. Some of the negatives are accessibility to children, gateway drug and impaired driving. The legalization of marijuana has been a long debated and often heated subject. The federal government has not legalized the recreational use of Marijuana, but that did not stop four states from legalizing it with in their own borders. Through the course of this paper I tend to discuss the many pros and cons of the legalization of Marijuana. There are two main ways of legalizing marijuana; medical use and recreational use. Positives Currently there are four states and Washington D.C. that have passed the legal right to recreational marijuana, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Besides the medical benefits from marijuana there are also multiple reason why making it legal is a good thing. Colorado has seen a recent drop in crime rate. According to Rough (2015) “violent crime in the state has decreased by 2.2%, burglaries are down 9.5%, and overall property crimes decreased by 8.9%.” These numbers are a great starting point, these are numbers only after a year of the bill passing, and the next few years could show an even bigger...
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...your body when it is consumed. It interferes the brains and affect the way of how a body works. People believe that legal drugs are medicine that they consume when they are sick. These drugs are allowed by the doctors to prescribe to the patients to buy and consume them. Illicit drugs are known as the drugs that are illegal to make, use or sell as they are addictive. Speaking of drugs, people usually relate them to drug abuse, drug addiction and drug-related issues. People do not realize that a number of illicit drugs are actually scientifically proven to be medically useful to treat diseases. There has been numerous of arguments about the legalization of drugs and there is not a solution to this issue yet. There are actually a lot of pros and cons of legalizing drugs which most of the people did not notice of. Drugs may be advantageous in economic perspective by decreasing the...
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...Debate Topic Pro Side Bradley Switter 10/20/2014 BCOM 275 Mr. Jenkins Debate Topic Pro Side The highly controversial topic of legalization of marijuana has many different angles to look at from both the pros and cons of the topic. We will discuss the pros of this topic and some of the benefits of legalization of marijuana for recreational and medical use in the United States, The first pro for legalization we will will look at is the medical side. Marijuana has The next reason for the chose of legalization of marijuana was not only the legalization of just marijuana in general, but the debate of medical marijuana. In 1972, the US Congress placed marijuana in Schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act because they considered it to have “no accepted medical use”. Since then, 23 of 50 US States and DC have legalized the medical use of Marijuana (procon.org, 2014). These medical uses include reduction of naseua and vomiting in chemotherapy patients. This has been proven to be more effect than other drugs available. Neurological problems have been shown to be reduced by the effects of marijuana. It is approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis in ten countries. There have been varying results in studies but it is viable options if other means have failed. These are just a couple examples of medical uses that so a positive for the legalization of marijuana. The next area of a debate for legalization of marijuana could be the revenue debate. This revenue is a positive...
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...The history of marijuana and medical benefits Dona Rudd COM/172 March 20, 2012 Russell Murphy The history of marijuana and medical benefits Although possessing marijuana is a federal offense pending, some states allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, generating revenue for the states. There are 16 states’ and Washington DC, in which marijuana is being, used for medicinal purposes and not break any laws. Eighteen states’ are pending Legislation to legalize medical marijuana. There are documents stating that the Chinese used marijuana for paper, the process consisted of hemp around 2000 BC. According to Guither, P. Drug Warrant (2006), “America’s first marijuana law was enacted at Jamestown Colony, Virginia in 1619. It was a law “ordering” all of the farmers to grow Indian hempseed. There were several other “must grow” laws over the next 200 years. A person could be jailed for not growing hemp during times of shortage in Virginia between 1763 and 1767, and during most of that time, hemp was legal tender a person could even pay their taxes with hemp and try that today. Hemp was such a critical crop for a number of purposes including essential war requirements and rope, excreta. That the government went out of its way to encourage growth” Guither, P. ( 2006) (para 6). The history of marijuana Marijuana has many different names, Hemp, Ma, and Marihuana are just a few of the names in which marijuana is called. Marijuana and hemp...
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... Stem cell therapy has alleviated the suffering of thousands of people. Unused stem cells are being discarded instead of being used for research. (“Frequently asked questions.” 3) Stem cells are quite resourceful. They can easily be taken from our own bodies and stored just like blood. During radiation or chemotherapy, white and red blood cells can get damaged. These affected cells can easily be replaced with healthy stem cells that adapt. (Pros and cons of stem cell research, 1)The biggest debate about this topic isn’t about whether stem cells work, but who’s going to pay for the research. It’s not a matter of pro-life or pro-choice, it’s pro-science. If my family had the finances for stem cell therapy, we would have made sure that my grandmother was in as little as pain as possible when she was diagnosed with myeloma. No matter what type of injury or disease, cells can easily be replaced with healthy stem cells. (Pros and cons of stem cell research, 1) Stem cells are their own navigators in the body. When an area is affected by any type of disease or injury, they know exactly what to do. Stem cells have capability of growing into almost any type of cell. (Pros and cons of stem cell research, 1)Stem cells can be used in aiding those with Parkinson’s disease for the pain, they can be used in face lifts to...
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...the treatment of patients with serious health conditions is currently one of the top contentious debate topics in the United States. Until its prohibition in 1937, marijuana was one the top three most prescribed medicines in the United States. To date, 13 states have statutory laws legalizing medical marijuana; however, it is not legal at the federal level. Several pros and cons exist to support whether medical marijuana should be or not be legalized nationwide. The primary arguments in debating the pros and cons of legalizing medical marijuana nationwide focus primarily on medical benefits, disease prevention, medical risk, substance abuse, and legal issues. Many scientific professionals and patients claim medical marijuana provides some sort of medical benefits. Although it has been a contentious battle between the states and federal governments to legalize or not medical marijuana nationwide, there are three important points to take under consideration; first, marijuana is a potent analgesic in patients with chronic pain. Second, it is a strong anti-emetic for patients receiving cancer chemotherapy treatment. Third and most important, medical marijuana should be legal, so patients do not have to break the law to receive treatment. Across the nation state organizations strictly supervise medical marijuana to ensure it is grown, sold, and used properly. According to “Harborside Health Center” (n.d.), which is one of the United States largest dispensaries of medical...
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...Rape can mental and physically scar a person, and some women might not want to have a baby that was a product of rape. “Some of the rape victims can be minors. They wouldn’t be mentally or physically prepared to take care of the newborn baby. Why should such victims go through the ordeal of bearing a child, which is a product of some unfortunate incident of their life?” (Pros and Cons of Abortion). Another reason for some women to seek to get an abortion is incest. Incest can also be a reason for women wanted to get an abortion. Incest can often cause abnormalities, which was stated before, can take many resources, around a clock care, and a lot of family support. Rape and incest are tragic events and no women should have to face a reminder of her incident. Francis J. Beckwith stated, “It is argued that in these tragic cases the great value of the mental health of a woman who becomes pregnant as a result of rape or incest can best be safe-guarded by abortion.” (Beckwith). Beckwith also stated in the same article, “It is also said that a pregnancy caused by rape or incest is the result of a grave injustice and that...
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...Some of the “pros” for legalizing marijuana are: It can be a good source of additional tax revenue since an enormous amount of money is raised through government taxation of cigarettes and alcohol, so marijuana would create another item that can be taxed. Police and the courts would be freed up for more serious crimes such as terrorism, harder drugs, rape, murder, and so on. In addition, an already overloaded civil court docket would be improved; thus, the wait time for other cases would be reduced and the cost for public defenders, prosecutors, judges, juries, and court reporters would go down and there would be more room in prisons for more violent or harder crime defendants and there would be less of a chance of them getting out early due to overpopulation in the prisons. Drug dealers would lose most, if not all, of their business because legalization would lower prices and open up for competition; thus, drug cartels (which could include terrorists) would lose all or some of their customers. Legalizing marijuana would create proper means to settle disputes in purchasing marijuana. You can contact your lawyer or the police if a purchase goes wrong instead of dealers and buyers taking it into their own hands if they get ripped off, which usually leads to cycles of retaliation through violence. There are a number of medical benefits of using marijuana, one of the number one uses in the medical field is in the treatment of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Some even believe...
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...Medicinal Marijuana Jay Bradley Scott 156 09/15/2012 Tracy Alberry Medicinal Marijuana Medical Marijuana has been a controversial issue among many Americans and their politicians. Supporters for the legalization of the drug boast many of the drugs beneficial effects and uses. Some of these include, but not limited to alleviating pain, nausea, and increase in appetite for cancer patients on chemotherapy. There also is the added benefit of being able to tax the sale and distribution of marijuana. However, there are many who are against this drug being prescribed to patients with severe ailments. The opposition speaks about the harmful effects of this drug even though many government groups make the independent research of this drug difficult to attain approval. What research has been allowed to be carried out does support the drugs bad representation. Even though it is does have harmful effects on the body as any other plant being smoked would have. Opposition also uses the fact that marijuana possession is still illegal according to federal law. The use of medical marijuana has actually been going on in America much longer than many people would believe. The debate became increasingly heated in 1996, when California tried a new approach by making exceptions in criminal cases involving the terminally ill. This good intentioned planned was poorly carried out, yet it did ignite interest of other states in the legality of this herb as a medicinal drug. 17 states have passed...
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...Marijuana: Legal or Illegal One of the most controversial health issue topic has to be medical marijuana. The herbal medicine is legal in some states but illegal in many. The question to ask is why it is illegal in many states. What are the benefits for medical marijuana? There are pro and cons to this drug but is there too many pros for it be illegal? Yes. The drug has been legal to become a component to help improve the life of patients. Although millions of dollars are used for the drug war for marijuana, one drug that has positive effects can change the American economy by producing marijuana. What is marijuana? Also known as Cannabis, marijuana is known for a drug and a medicine. The major chemical in the herbal medicine is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). This chemical compound is the reason for some beneficial factors in medical. Some pros in making it legal would include stimulation of hunger in chemotherapy and AID patients, also patients with glaucoma. The medicine can be taken by vaporizing, smoking, drinking, eating and capsules. The best part of the drug is that there has been no lethal effect. No one has died from the consumption of marijuana. The THC in a person cannot be tested, such as a breathalyzer. The drug is grown naturally and it is coming through the soil, natural plants should not be illegal to have, especially a one that does much more. Growing cannabis would not only help the health system and lower drug wars cost, there would be more hemp, which is...
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...You have a brain tumor! This is a statement that I hope none of you every have to hear. But, unfortunately 8.2 out of every 100,000 people in the US have received this diagnosis according to the IRSA Website. A primary malignant brain tumor represents 2% of cancers diagnosed in the US. And even worse 13,000 Americans die from them each year…which is 2% of all cancer deaths per the IRSA website. So, tonight I would like to talk to you about one type of primary brain cancer that has affected my life personally. Glioblastoma Multiforeme…or as a June 6, 2000 article named it “ The Terminator” My mom was diagnosed with this cancer on Dec 30,2010 after showing signs that my family and I missed for months. My hopes are that by sharing the information that I have learned with each of you that you may be better educated in what to watch for, treatment options, prognosis and etc. Just in case it ever happens to you or someone you love. Let’s start with the facts. According to the IRSA website “Malignant tumors are life-threatening; they invade surrounding normal body tissue, and grow unusually rapidly”. “The tumor generally does not have a distinct border and may spread to other areas in the brain or spine…some of them to critical areas which can be life threatening immediately. Even benign tumors can be life-threatening because of their location. So, you might ask yourself…what causes a brain tumor? Tumors are caused by a change in the genetic structure or...
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...Stephanie Hernandez BLAW 235 July 12, 2015 Reasons Why Marijuana for Personal or Medical Use Should Not Be Legal: * Marijuana is usually the drug people call a ‘stepping-stone’ drug, or ‘gateway’ drug to the realms of more harsher and serious drugs such as heroine and cocaine. It is said that, more often than not, people who experience marijuana, even as a recreational, one-time thing, move on to more addicting substances that can produce a bigger high once their tolerance has been built up passed that of simple marijuana. * The number one reason I personally would take into consideration when deciding against marijuana is the fact that since drunk driving is already a thing, and kills hundreds of thousands of people a year, what makes people assume that there are not idiots out there driving high? Driving a vehicle under any substances should be considered a crime, and with the legalization of pot, it would become a more prominent issue of people driving while high, thus causing more accidents and even deaths. * Though I half-heartedly support the claims that medical marijuana may work wonders for people suffering from chronic and terminal illnesses, there are people out there who find drugs, even for medical purposes to be completely morally wrong. For some religious believers, any type of substance abuse, even medical, can and will be seen as a sin. Legalizing marijuana would send many religious fanatics into frenzy because of this aspect. * A very...
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...of ovarian cancer but they are misdiagnosed and unfortunately find out they have this disease in later stages. Advanced stages of ovarian cancer can cause women to lose hope as they face a reoccurrence. Ann at Lymphoma Club believes “For those facing relapses, sometimes it takes a little more “fight” to win the war against cancer. Never give up on yourself and never give up hope”. Women who learn they have ovarian cancer will have to learn about the different stages of ovarian cancer and what stage they fit in, what their treatment options are and how to cope with this disease. Debulking surgery with intraperitoneal chemotherapy is the choice for most doctors to use on patients with advanced stages of ovarian cancer. Advance stages of ovarian cancers have many controversial treatments such as neoadjuvent chemotherapy but debulking with intraperitoneal chemotherapy may prove better suited to save lives. Doctors are unsure of what causes ovarian cancer but they have concluded there are several risk factors which include obesity, age, smoking, family history...
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...thousands of years to treat a wide variety of ailments. However the United States government says the marijuana use is addictive and it is harmful. So the government makes it illegal even though alcohol and drugs of nicotine which used in cigarettes are legal. Why is it ok that medical marijuana may be legal in some states but not in others? The legalization of medical marijuana in United States would drastically reduce pain sufferers in our society. Legalizing medical marijuana benefits society by helping decrease government spending, and reduce health care costs. Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known. Just think to ourselves, is it ethical to deny a person who is having chemotherapy or radiation for cancer, a way to relieve nauseaness and pain caused from treatments? Is it ethical to deny a dying person in pain, get the relief from pain and get comfort? Is it ethical to deny someone who has chronic pain or debilitating pain a medicine that can relieve pain? Who has the right to do this? Even though the government does, it is unethical. Marijuana is a natural alternative medicine to help all these issues. The medicines the doctors have to prescribe, for pain like narcotics, have acetaminophen in them which can cause liver damage or even failures are more susceptible to be abused and addicting. There are a number of ethical issues that a doctor who prescribes medical marijuana faces while in a clinical office...
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