Medical Advances in the past five years.

[chemist12]

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Hello there, I am not a Doctor or a medical student. Merely a curious citizen.

I was wondering, are major medical advances frequent and noticeable?

Specifically, have things improved dramatically in the last five years? Or are improvements barely noticeable - except when compared over long periods of time (e.g. 50 years).

I know that HIV treatment has improved, but does it improve a lot occasionally, or a little bit constantly? Specifically, in the last five years. Can the majority of people who contract HIV today, expect to live to an old age?

In terms of cancer, over the last five years have we managed to dramatically increase the odds of survival? Also, the quality of life?

Do most Oncology patients die? For the ones who do survive, are they able to live a full life or does the treatment destroy their body for life?

Thank you for any replies.

 

[gutonc]

Do most Oncology patients die? For the ones who do survive, are they able to live a full life or does the treatment destroy their body for life?

Every patient, with (or without) any disease dies. Some just do it more rapidly than others.

 

[chemist12]

Right, but in terms of advances?

I guess I mean "surviving" long enough to get to a state where, due to old age, rather the HIV or the side effects of chemotherapy, your immune system becomes so weak that it cannot fight off even the common cold and so you die *cough* of old age *cough*.

Before you answer, I am aware that HIV attacks the immune system, so let's just say that I am referring to an individual with HIV surviving to the age that a healthy person without HIV might get too - before his or her immune system weakens.

 

[CanIMakeIt]

Right, but in terms of advances?

I guess I mean "surviving" long enough to get to a state where, due to old age, rather the HIV or the side effects of chemotherapy, your immune system becomes so weak that it cannot fight off even the common cold and so you die *cough* of old age *cough*.

Before you answer, I am aware that HIV attacks the immune system, so let's just say that I am referring to an individual with HIV surviving to the age that a healthy person without HIV might get too - before his or her immune system weakens.

If you have HIV or are scared that you might have HIV - please talk to a real-life doctor and get yourself tested. Not everyone responds the same to medications and no way of predicting future as yet - AFAIK.

 

[TKib]

Why is this thread still up?

 

[gutonc]

Why is this thread still up?

Because, while it's a ridiculous question, it's not clearly homework help or personal medical advice.

Dumb? Yes. Against the TOS? Not obviously.

I like to err on the side of benign neglect in these cases. Just ignore it and it will go away.

 

[chemist12]

If you have HIV or are scared that you might have HIV - please talk to a real-life doctor and get yourself tested. Not everyone responds the same to medications and no way of predicting future as yet - AFAIK.

I do not have HIV (as far as I know), and am not worried that I have it.

The questions arose from a discussion I was having the other day with someone who said that for all the funding medical research receives, very little improvements are made.

I pointed out to her that (at least in my country), both life expectancy and good health expectancy is increasing every year.

She said... well it doesn't matter I guess.

Why are these dumb questions? Would you expect non-medical people to know the answer to these questions?

I also checked the rules to ensure that I was posting within them.