cancer that changed history.
Famous patients who have suffered from cancer of head and neck
-head and neck cancer is one of the strangers of all cancers, but is the fourth most common tumor in men.
– by medical personnel may exist certain prejudices in how to handle them, and may not be deposited in them all the confidence in their collaboration, and this may even help that don’t gamble by ambitious treatments with aim healing.
-historical characters relevant as the kaiser Frederick III, Sigmund Freud or Beatle George Harrison suffered head and neck cancer. A review of your medical history and personal and social impact which this cancer in these characters helps the oncologist to understand this disease in a way more humanist.
Madrid, 2011-August When affected by disease is a known character, the interest in the disease increases exponentially among the general population. In regards to oncology, tumors with high incidence affected celebrities — such as breast, lung, colon and prostate — have often contributed to a greater general awareness. However, very rarely refers to characters who have suffered head and neck cancer, that there have been many and very relevant.
As a paradoxical exception, and although it shares similar risk factors with lung cancer, head and neck cancer continues to be little known, and in fact, arguably it is a tumor that ‘ socially ’ there is almost no ”, points out Dr. Javier Martinez Trufero, oncologist Hospital Miguel Servet in Zaragoza.
May exist certain prejudices among the medical community in the approach of this group of patients, not always with the disease as a result of preventable factors (alcohol or tobacco), and even if it is for these reasons, they deserve the same effort than any other type of cancer patient, to achieve the most ambitious therapeutic results ” adds Dr. MartÃnez Trufero ”.
This situation has led to the birth of an initiative — developed by the chemical company pharmaceutical German Merck and supported by a group of oncologists in the Spanish research group in cancer of head and neck (TTCC) — which is based on a series of publications designed to publicize how this not only cancer affects to a minority social group, but that can affect anyone. Throughout history this cancer has changed even the history or has had an important role in it.
An example is the cancer of the larynx which caused the death of kaiser Frederick III and led to the accession to the throne of Prussia of his son and successor William II, era that marked the beginning of an era of confrontation begins with World War I.
Another example is that of Beatle George Harrison with a cancer of the oral cavity joined other lung, which caused his early death at the age of 58.
A tumor of palate, result of his habit of CHD, also cost the lives of Sigmund Freud, father of psychoanalysis, died at the age of 83 after a long process of evolutionary, usual in this type of tumor. Much of his work could be very influenced by his illness.
Highlight the relevance of head and neck cancers has been throughout history is the goal of this series of patobiografÃas, claiming to give to know from a human point of view which means this disease, and promote the interest in this pathology of all professionals involved in your treatment. We hope that, through these relevant historical examples, we can help to stimulate the knowledge and research about these tumors, and contribute to humanising over our work. ”, concludes Dr. Martinez Trufero.
Three patobiografÃas have been published so far:
• cancer that changed history. Frederick III of Germany
• the quiet Beatle. George Harrison
• oral cancer. Sigmund Freud
in the coming months, the collection will continue with:
• Ulysses S. Grant. US President
• Giacomo Puccini. Composer
about Merck and the Merck Serono Division
Merck, the multinational German with major pharmaceutical and chemical tradition of the world, is today a company with sales of 9,300 euros million in 2010. With a history that goes back to 1668 and a success based on innovations developed by contributors with an entrepreneurial spirit, Merck has today with around 40,000 employees in 67 countries worldwide. Focused on two sectors of business – the pharmacist and chemist – all the activity of the company is organized around four divisions: Merck Serono and Merck Consumer Health Care (pharmaceuticals); and Merck Millipore and Performance Materials (chemical sector). Merck brings together its activities under Merck KGaA, whose shares belong to the Merck family 70% approximately. The remaining 30% is listed on the stock exchange.
Merck Serono is the Division of Merck biopharmaceutical. With sales of 5.7 billion euros and an investment in r & d of more than 1.1 billion euros in 2010, Merck Serono is committed to grow your business in the current therapeutic areas (Oncology, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, cardiometabolismo, fertility and neurodegenerative diseases), as well as developing new areas that may arise from the r & d, as the Rheumatology.
