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Can Cancer Be

Prevented?
Interview Presentation

Overview
I Chose Cancer as my topic for my extended inquiry paper. I
focused my research on the causes and the prevention of the disease.
As part of my research project, I interviewed doctor Adeline Bah who
is an obstetrician-gynecologist at Ministry of Health of Togo.
Although doctor Bah is not an oncologist (a medical doctor
specialized in cancers treatment), she has already carried out several
surgical operations as part of the treatment of Breast and cervical
cancers. The interview was conducted by telephone and lasted for
about 10 minutes.

Overview

I explained to doctor Bah that I have to write a research project about cancer
prevention, and it is for this reason that I need her to answer some of my
questions. I also told her that I am planning to write about cancer in general and
not a specific type of cancer. She said it is fine. Then, I started asking my
questions.

What is cancer?

Cancer is not a single disease but hundredths of disease. In general, it is the


uncontrolled division of cells in the organism said doctor Bah. What do you
mean by an uncontrolled division? For instance, instead of having hundred
skin cells at the end of a cellular division, there is two hundred cells. This
cellular division represents an uncontrolled proliferation of cells replied
doctor Bah.

How does cancer begin?


Cells originated from the uncontrolled cellular division, form a mass. This
mass is called a tumor. This tumor will invade the region of the organism
which is concerned and may invade other nearby organs. At this stage, it is a
metastatic cancer. There are clinical signs suggestive of a cancer. However,
these clinical signs differ according to the type of cancer. For example,
pelvic bleeding is a clinical sign of cervical cancer whereas a persistent
cough is a clinical sign of lung cancer responded doctor Bah.

What are the causes of cancer?

Cancer does not have specific causes as such. There are risk factors such as
smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, and so on; which can increase
the risk of getting cancer. Also, a genetic predisposition may be responsible
for cancer. I mean the risk of getting increases when a family member has
already had cancer. However, the first cause of the cervical cancer is known.
It is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) answered doctor Bah.

How are these causes responsible for cancer?

It is a tough question. The risk factors of cancer are susceptible to damage


DNA and therefore lead to an uncontrolled cellular division. Also, some
genetic mutations can be transmitted among family members. That is why a
genetic predisposition is a risk factor for cancer said doctor Bah.

Can cancer be prevented?

Cancer can be prevented. By avoiding the risk factors of cancer, it is


possible to prevent cancer. If someone has already had a case of cancer in his
family, he must consult with a doctor in order to check if he does not have a
predisposition to develop the disease argued doctor Bah.

Is it possible that someone gets cancer, although


he avoided the risk factors of cancer?

It is almost impossible to have such case. In fact, by following the


prevention strategies of cancer, the chances of getting cancer are extremely
low, even for someone who has a genetic predisposition replied doctor Bah.
After this question, the Interview was over.

End of the Interview.


Overall, I found this interview useful. Although, there are certain things that
I knew already such as the definition of cancer, I learned a lot of things
throughout this interview. For instance, I learned that the cause of cervical
cancer is known and it can be prevented, and also I discovered that it is
almost impossible to get cancer by following the prevention strategies.
However, I need to evaluate these findings and the research, I have done
before in order to find an appropriate answer to my question. Above all, this
interview will help in the discovery of an answer to my initial inquiry
question.

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