I’ve grown up in a family with no cancer, so know sweet FA about it. Three questions.

1. How does cancer kill? Suppose the cancer is inoperable, doesn’t metastasize, doesn’t get infected, and is in a peripheral organ such as the lower leg. Would such a cancer just continue to grow bigger without threatening the life of the patient? Or would it kill? And if so how?

2. What are (all) the options for prescription pain-killing drugs for cancer patients?

3. Again, suppose the cancer is inoperable, doesn’t metastasize, doesn’t get infected, and is in a peripheral organ. Suppose also that it is easily accessible from the surface. What’s the best way to reduce its growth rate by direct injection? As the lump gets bigger it becomes really easy to inject stuff into it without risk of injecting into some vital part of the anatomy. I was wondering if something could be injected that doesn’t spread (much) into the bloodstream.

Well, number 1: Cancer usually takes all the nutrients. It can also interfere with the normal processes of the body, which disrupts homeostasis and can kill you. If there are big enough tumour/s, it can squeeze vital organs. You can get cancer pretty much anywhere.

I don’t know about painkillers. Some cancers, like multiple myeloma, doesn’t really cause pain. Endone and morphine are common.

NFI about number three.

mollwollfumble said:

I’ve grown up in a family with no cancer, so know sweet FA about it. Three questions.

1. How does cancer kill? Suppose the cancer is inoperable, doesn’t metastasize, doesn’t get infected, and is in a peripheral organ such as the lower leg. Would such a cancer just continue to grow bigger without threatening the life of the patient? Or would it kill? And if so how?

2. What are (all) the options for prescription pain-killing drugs for cancer patients?

3. Again, suppose the cancer is inoperable, doesn’t metastasize, doesn’t get infected, and is in a peripheral organ. Suppose also that it is easily accessible from the surface. What’s the best way to reduce its growth rate by direct injection? As the lump gets bigger it becomes really easy to inject stuff into it without risk of injecting into some vital part of the anatomy. I was wondering if something could be injected that doesn’t spread (much) into the bloodstream.

Depends usually whilst there are many forms of cancer usually one of two things occur that is slow growing or rapid growing cancer . Often slow growing infiltrates the body metastasizing as it goes and grows. Rapid growing cancer often in at one site of the body and become a huge obvious growth like those huge masses that protrude from a person’s body internally or externally. fast growing protruding tumours can remain localized and may be treated by removal of the huge mass and then what other treatments necessary and a better prognosis as I understand things. Tumours like breast cancer and lymphoma can use the lymphatic system like a highway and even cause cancers in the uterus and ovaries even though originally starting in the breast tissues.

Basically the immune system doesn’t recognize the mutations resulting in cancer cells living and replicating. I am in favour of immune therapy – I believe this is our future of treating cancer.

mollwollfumble said:

I’ve grown up in a family with no cancer, so know sweet FA about it. Three questions.

1. How does cancer kill? Suppose the cancer is inoperable, doesn’t metastasize, doesn’t get infected, and is in a peripheral organ such as the lower leg. Would such a cancer just continue to grow bigger without threatening the life of the patient? Or would it kill? And if so how?

2. What are (all) the options for prescription pain-killing drugs for cancer patients?

3. Again, suppose the cancer is inoperable, doesn’t metastasize, doesn’t get infected, and is in a peripheral organ. Suppose also that it is easily accessible from the surface. What’s the best way to reduce its growth rate by direct injection? As the lump gets bigger it becomes really easy to inject stuff into it without risk of injecting into some vital part of the anatomy. I was wondering if something could be injected that doesn’t spread (much) into the bloodstream.

1. Depends on the type of cancer. The rest is yes/no/maybe due to the previous.

2. Opioid or synthetic opioid pretty much covers it plus some weirder things that don’t get used often (ketamine/clonidine et al), certain cancers (bone) things like bisphosphonates reduce pain but aren’t what you’d call an analgesic.

3. Cut it out then irradiate the area. Add chemo as well, again depending on the cancer. Your idea has been and is being tried for various forms of cancer to improve efficacy of radiation etc.

poikilotherm said:

>snip<

3. Cut it out then irradiate the area. Add chemo as well, again depending on the cancer. Your idea has been and is being tried for various forms of cancer to improve efficacy of radiation etc.

Best possible outcome: EARLY SCREENING/DETECTION

They caught the first indication of colon cancer during a routine colonoscopy
(requested by myself — being all to aware of my family history)
They clipped out the bad bit, no chemo or pain meds necessary.