When did chemotherapy first start?

If you think the idea of being poisoned to get better is counterintuitive, well, your great-grandparents would’ve seriously disagreed! With that said, chemotherapy has been around for centuries. In fact, it’s such an old school concept they referred to it as “chemo-radiotherapy”, but we’ll come back to that later. So good luck catching up on this story without feeling just a bit grateful for modern medicine and all its wonders.

The Ancient Egyptians

We’re talking waaayyy back in time here; over 3000 years ago when doctors had to work with what little information and tools they had available- which meant using arsenic mixed with honey or vinegar paste (yummy) for leukemia patients amongst other illnesses. Quite predictably patients usually died of poisoning instead of their “tumor”/disease’.

The Twelve Labours Of Hercules

Remember how kids’ fairytales are based off fables? Well not everything in mythology was fictional either (allegedly). This classical hero plunged a flaming arrow into an evil king’s ‘fire-breathing’, resembling animal’s s head- ala Hydra– through gaping jaws and did something supposedly magical afterward: soaked his arrows in the blood/semen-draining poison from those very beasts he killed & somehow didn’t manage to kill any humans too .. (!) Talk about precise archery!

Industrializing Cancer Care

As much as there have been many unsuccessful/disastrous attempts at treating cancer efficiently throughout history, things began taking shape in the early 1900s after extensive research by Edinburgh native Alexander Crum-Brown alongside fellow Scottish Francis Rutherford; where studies showed the benefits received from mustard gas exposure during WW1 actually carried over into killing human tissues post-exposure.. yay(?)

Nazi Science Surprisingly For Everyone…

(wait really?)

In 1942, nazi scientists had synthesized nitrogen mustard gas for Hitler’s army. Before making their escape at the end of WW2; they left behind research on this novel new “treatment” which our #ScientistSquad as well as many nations around the world began exploiting not long after.

Just How Intense Was It?

Do you have any idea how much cancer therapy has evolved? When Mustard Gas was first determined to be effective against human Tumors in 1943′ it was directly injected into veins but due its intensity (because -gas duh!) and prolonged horrific side effects (leukemia anyone?), which caused trial patients to suffer agony until death’ so newer methods started sprouting up.

The Limbsic System

The average person may never live long enough to realize that chemo causes a buildup of lactic acid that results in an acidic environment surrounding canerous cells, hence ultimately killing them off- But with modern technology we needn’t rely solely on Chemo anymore so the remaining viable drugs are conserved . Instead high-tech solutions like targeted radiation filters or even vaccine-like therapies are used now /the future’s bright folks!

A Plague On Both Your Houses

After initial studies showed successful albeit temporary tumor shrinkage under Chemotherapy treatment a grand total of two separate drug combinations were pieced together : CMF and CAF– both terrible combinations enabling all sorts unpleasant symptoms & promoting harsh physical reactions / if they’d sticked strictly to Shakespearian context their merchandise out come might have been different.’A plague on both your houses indeed!’

Wait What Is Cancer Anyway?

You don’t know what cancer is? Well, grab a seat my friend because it means those deadbeat science teachers who fell asleep mid-sentence during class actually missed out one hell-of-a fascinating lesson: You see when we observe things growing bigger than they should around our bodies it would make logical sense to believe they’re part of us until you realize that no, in fact…those suckers (angry cells) are living their best lives off of our energy reserves but don’t pay rent or anything!

Toxicity Levels

Fewer things give us more joy than simultaneously knocking two birds out with one stone ie. Therapeutics taken directly from the battlefield! However remeber we were talking about intravenous injections earlier? Well ever heard of vein sclerosis?

A buildup of collagen fibers that results from prolonged use damages once-pliant vessels and creates a scar-tissue-like clump within veins (no thanks!). Peripheral neuropathy (loss/damage to sensory nerves responsible for skin-hairpain touch sensation) is another unfortunate side effect.

It’s Just Like.. Airplane Food

All these unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting…hair loss, doesn’t cancer care sound like taking an airplane flight itself?? No seriously imagine: The constant grinding noise,jarring turbulence jars/ bright lights giving Headaches & Unsettling Crying Children- except this time there’s resistance on your veins instead!

Here We Are Now

Fast forward till date though we still have many problems dealing with Cancer-related illnesses despite all efforts made so far – terminal cases seem relatively commonplace/sadly uncurable but all such trials done over long have been working towards finding newer ways; lo’ nod if not total cure lowering adminstered amounts / toxicity levels along the way./ And as crazy as it sounds pieces fit together pushing forth this field’s evolution– Yea chemo treatments may turn patients into zombies every now and then but honestly half-baked medicinal technology is a thing too — So let’s take our progress when evr we find it alright?

Targeted Therapy – A Whole New World

In an ideal world, how possible or appealing would precision treatment without harsh side-effects be? WHO needs “regular” cancer care anyway! Targeted therapies are specifically designed to pinpoint certain proteins or features –most lethal- in those problematic cells that make them grow faster thus causing trouble. This has the effect of leaving healthy body tissues relatively untouched along with significant lowering quantities needed than your average Chemo.- Go us!

Patience is a Virtue They Say..

In summary we’ve been dealing with some variation of chemotherapy for millennia now, so if you think you had a bad experience getting used to adaptability during covid2019′ beware patients have had it worse on this front all throughout history; but our efforts/hardwork pay off eventually even if results might not be as conspicuous/instant as were aiming for at times – Just dont give up hope, seriously– never stop dreaming big: That maybe next week may hold your last successful treatment yet known.

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