2007年VOA标准英语-Cancer Survivors Weigh Odds When Disease Recurs

By Melinda Smith
Washington, D.C.
03 April 2007
 
Watch Cancer report 

The World Health Organization projects that cancer mortality rates are on the rise.  More than 70 percent of the seven and a half million deaths from cancer in 2005 occurred in low and middle-income countries where prevention and treatment are limited.  On the other hand, because of good medical care, millions of other people can now say they are 'cancer survivors¹,' especially if they are cancer-free for at least five years.  VOA's Melinda Smith looks at one part of the cancer equation that few experts want to talk about: what happens when the disease comes back.

 
White House spokesman Tony Snow
In the last month, Americans watched as two high profile people acknowledged publicly that their cancers have returned. 

In late March, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow discovered that his cancer had returned after his colon² was removed two years ago.  Snow's cancer is considered stage four on a scale of five stages.  With each increase in stage, the chances of a cure are lowered. 

The wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards faces similar odds³ in her fight against breast cancer.  Now in stage four of the disease, Elizabeth Edwards revealed her cancer has spread.  While it is still treatable, it is not considered curable.

 
Elizabeth Edwards
In many cases, a combination of chemotherapy, radiation and powerful drugs can prolong life.  But Dr. Michael Fisch of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas says there are no guarantees.

“It is not possible to make an accurate prediction about an individual and whether their cancer will come back or not,” he says.

Cancer death rates in the United States have dropped two years in a row.  That is hopeful news for those cancer survivors who make it past the first five years, and then another five.  But Dr. Michael Fisch says it is not unusual for patients to find the cancer has returned years later.

 
Dr. Michael Fisch
"That patient's risk of recurrence⁴ doesn't go away at five years, or six years or 10 years," adds Dr. Fisch.  "Certainly, the longer things go well for you, the better."

Research has shown that terminally ill patients in advanced stages of the disease often believe their chances of survival are better than they really are.  While doctors say hope can help, it can also lead patients to pursue aggressive treatment that prolongs pain and suffering.  Physicians often estimate end of life will come sooner than the patient thinks it will.  But when the reality of death becomes apparent, most patients say they want to know the truth.

1 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

2 colon   

n.冒号，结肠，直肠

参考例句：

• Here,too,the colon must be followed by a dash.这里也是一样，应当在冒号后加破折号。
• The colon is the locus of a large concentration of bacteria.结肠是大浓度的细菌所在地。

3 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

4 recurrence   

n.复发，反复，重现

参考例句：

• More care in the future will prevent recurrence of the mistake.将来的小心可防止错误的重现。
• He was aware of the possibility of a recurrence of his illness.他知道他的病有可能复发。