A member asked:

Hello docs, is actual cancer treatment still quite primitive? is there still lots more to discover?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Carlos Encarnacion answered

Specializes in Medical Oncology

No and yes: The term "primitive" has to be taken in context of the current knowledge, technology, and medical standards (remember dr. Mccoy in the movie star trek IV talking about chemotherapy?) a radical mastectomy is now considered primitive and almost brutal but in the first decades of the 20th century was standard of care and cured many patients. We know a lot more now but there is much to be discovered.

Answered 6/10/2014

4.7k views

Thank

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