Big Ideas How do we make cancer treatment worth it, work better, and less harmful?
4 snips
Apr 23, 2025 AI Snips
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Cancer's Genetic Complexity
- Cancer is highly heterogeneous, with differences between individuals and even among cells within a single tumor.
- This variability makes cancer especially difficult to treat effectively with a single approach.
Chemo's Indiscriminate Damage
- Traditional chemo and radiation target rapidly dividing cells but indiscriminately damage healthy cells.
- This causes debilitating side effects like hair loss, nausea, and low blood cell counts.
Chemo's Heart Harm in Kids
- About 20% of children treated with chemotherapy develop heart damage, and 3% progress to heart failure.
- Heart cells don't regenerate, so damage from chemo is permanent and serious, especially in children.