7 big questions about cancer, answered

The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center's Davendra Sohal, MD, associate director for clinical research at the Cancer Center and professor of internal medicine in UC’s College of Medicine, was featured in a New York Times article where oncologists answered seven big questions surrounding cancer today. 

Answering the question how inflammation can affect cancer, Sohal said eating an unhealthy diet can upset the balance of our microbiome which allows certain bacteria to grow unchecked. This may cause chronic inflammation that can lead to colon or pancreatic cancers.

Sohal said there is optimism in the fact that cancer death rates have dropped over the past 30 years, with certain cancers that used to be "death sentences" more like diabetes, a complicated disease that can be treated with manageable side effects.

“People live with the disease for a long time,” he said.

Read the New York Times article.

Featured image at top of Davendra Sohal. Photo/UC Health.