Argumentative Essay On Cancer Prevention

“Why haven’t we cured cancer yet? If we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we cure cancer? If we can harness the atom, why can’t we cure cancer?” (Gorski 1). Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Billions of dollars have been put into research for the cure, but it still has not been found. All of the funding is going towards finding a cure when prevention is much more effective. More research and money needs to be put into finding out how to prevent each cancer rather than focusing on a cure. Most types of cancers are not passed down from parents; many cancers are from the harm people cause to their bodies. John Thomas, a master of science in public health, states “the view that most cancers are a genetic disease

Since the National Cancer Program was made in the early 1990s, “cancer research has led to the development of early detection and treatment tools that have resulted in a 22% drop in death rates in both men and woman” (Seffrin 1). Preventing cancer has been much more effective in the past than looking for a cure. “Much of the progress against cancer in recent decades has stemmed from success in the areas of prevention and control” (Chan 1). Do people know how easy it can be to stop “a disease that is forecasted to kill more than 589,000 Americans this year” (Seffrin 1)? People need to realize what they are doing to their bodies. Most of society is disappointed that scientists and researchers are taking so long to find the cure when the prevention is already known. “We could prevent roughly half of all cancer deaths by applying what we know works: specifically, getting recommended screening tests and addressing harmful lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, obesity, poor nutrition, and inadequate physical activity” (Seffrin 2). Just lung cancer alone “causes more deaths than the next three most common cancers (colon, breast, and prostate) combined” (Chan 2). Scientists have already figured out lung cancer is caused by smoking, yet people continue to smoke. David Chan goes on to add that if the world stops smoking “that death rate will drop by 85 percent” (Chan 2). This statistic means if everyone quits smoking, death from lung cancer will drop exponentially. That is why prevention is a major key in solving the cancer