The ability to detect cancer earlier was due more to the application of technologies such as X-ray imaging, magnetic resonance imaging and fiber optics that were developed independently from cancer research. Positive gains in treating cancer have mainly been made in the area of childhood leukemia and also testicular cancer. Extensive chemotherapy improved the average life expectancy of children affected with childhood leukemia from five to more than thirty-five years. Most recent results for breast cancer, affecting about one out of nine women, have also been positive. The results for other cancers such as colo-rectal and ovarian cancers are inconclusive, and in general not much has happened.
Cancer is multiple diseases - every tumor is different.
There is no single second step, though, but multiple pathways. The question now is where to take to it from here. Prof. Firestone is also wary about focusing on prevention alone. Another large problem with prevention is that you have to prevent all cancers, but ultimately treat only one. Cancer research has gone through stages with different approaches, from radiation to gene therapy, but with only limited success so far.