A chilling simulation has revealed the process by which a person might succumb to cancer.
The NIH projects that around 618,120 individuals will lose their lives to cancer in the United States this year. Lung cancer is expected to account for the highest number of deaths, followed by colorectal and pancreatic cancers.
Dr. Paulien Moyaert emphasizes that while cancer often results in death, it’s not always the direct cause. The disease inflicts a range of debilitating side effects on the body.
In a bid to explain this grim reality, Dr. Moyaert has released a harrowing 3D simulation on YouTube, demonstrating the distressing stages of how cancer may lead to death.
The video, lasting nearly four minutes, begins by detailing metastatic cancer, which is identified as ‘the most lethal.’ This form involves a single cancer cell detaching, traveling, and forming a new tumor.
Such a tumor can strike any organ, inhibiting its function.
The scientific presentation illustrates how cancer can expand and induce organ failure. For instance, if cancer invades the digestive system, it can halt digestion and nutrient absorption.
The simulation also demonstrates how a tumor might obstruct fecal matter, risking perforation and possibly resulting in a fatal outcome without surgical intervention.
Another scenario presented is cancer impacting the pancreatic ducts, leading to the pancreas ‘digesting itself.’
Pancreatic cancer is thus deemed one of the most agonizing and lethal cancer types.
When the lungs are affected by cancer, the simulation shows that patients may die from asphyxiation due to insufficient oxygen circulation.
This is noted as the leading cause of death in lung cancer cases within the simulation.
The second-leading cause of death from cancer is due to infections.
“Having cancer impairs immunity,” the video explains, “and chemotherapy exacerbates the issue by suppressing the bone marrow, where white blood cells are produced.”
Bone marrow can also be compromised by cancer cell infiltration.
“When cancer infiltrates the bone marrow, there eventually won’t be enough healthy marrow to produce blood cells,” the video reveals.
Consequences for affected bone marrow include anemia, a reduction in white blood cells—which normally combat infections—and a drop in platelets, which help control bleeding.
The video further discusses cachexia, a condition where cancer toxins suppress appetite and hinder food digestion.
This explains why cancer patients often experience rapid weight and muscle loss.
This alone can be deadly, as the video states: “Cachexia is estimated to occur in 50 percent of all cancer patients and is thought to directly cause up to 30 percent of cancer deaths due to heart or respiratory failure related to muscle loss.”
It accounts for 50 percent of deaths in gastrointestinal tract cancer patients and up to 80 percent in advanced pancreatic cancer cases.
Treatment can manage the condition for a significant period, but if cancer continues to progress, it may become overwhelming for the body.
At this stage, patients might be advised to prioritize comfort and the remaining quality of life.
“No one with cancer should die in pain,” the video asserts.
The simulation also addresses the challenges of surgical intervention for cancer.
It clarifies: “Because the major organs are so crucial for survival, they are difficult to operate on. Even if surgery successfully removes the tumor without damaging the organ, the tumor may return.
“All it takes is a few cells from the original tumor to remain.”
Hence, chemotherapy alongside surgery is critical for treating cancer.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and wish to speak to someone in confidence, you can reach the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day.