The American Cancer Society estimates 8 million people die from cancer each year worldwide. Today is World Cancer Day—a day when organizations cross political boundaries to raise awareness about the disease. Researchers in New York State continue working to eliminate the disease.
President Obama recently announced a precision medicine initiative that would research how to individualize medical treatment for cancer patients.
Dr. Paul Barr is the medical director of the clinical trials office at the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center
The doctor explains cancer manifests itself differently in each person and that’s one reason why it can be difficult to treat. However, strides have been made in treating certain types of blood cancer for example.
"A better understanding of the biology is being discovered. Patients are responding to targeted therapies: kinase inhibitors, pills that really target the cancer, have much fewer side-effects and we're now starting to see better responses."
In some cases, chronic myelogenous leukemia can be a chronic condition rather than a death sentence.
Barr says World Cancer Day is an opportunity to build awareness and show support for cancer patients, as well as lend support to the research organizations developing future cures.