Do We Have A Cure For Cancer?

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Former President Jimmy Carter's announcement that he is cancer free has led many people to ask, "do we have a cure for cancer?"

The truth is that there is no single cure for cancer – in fact there are numerous forms of cancer with multiple treatments which can be effective or not effective.

Cancer, in simplest terms, is what happens when certain cells in the body grow wild without regulation. In the President's case, the disappearance of tumor cells in the brain after radiation treatment is not unexpected.

Unfortunately, it is quite likely there are microscopic growth unable to be seen by MRI and there may be new growths. These tumors will need to be treated either with radiation or through the aggressive therapy he is receiving. This does not mean the news for the President is not excellent -- one of the best ways to treat cancer is to control the spread of abnormal cancer cells. At this point this is happening.