THE CURE FOR CANCER?

This article proposes to discuss the cure for cancer, as well as its eradication. Today, we all live with a very serious problem in society: Cancer. There is no discrepancy in medical understanding that the survival process of living beings is driven by mitosis and meiosis, a well-known fact of our time, which can be summarized as the multiplication of one cell into two, through a procedure that consumes a great deal of energy produced by the cellular organelles known as mitochondria.

It is through cellular respiration that the division process is possible, because the chain of production of our energy currency—ATP—is carried out by a series of chemical reactions within the cells that follow the genetic structure contained in DNA. DNA clearly determines everything that happens to us, especially the law of survival, and therefore the point at which a cell must divide. However, when the element arsenic enters the human body—here referred to as the organic block (for didactic purposes)—the process of cell division, necessary for survival, is put into question, which may lead to the development of cancerous cells.

These statements are supported by the possible configuration and position of arsenic in the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements, and, as can be seen, this scientific article involves a considerable amount of knowledge from Genetics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, among other related fields, given that the subject under discussion involves a series of complex factors, highlighted here by the proposition: to eradicate cancer, in all its forms, without exception.

To make this possible, this work will not consider whether cancer is benign or malignant, but rather its entire framework, without focusing on specific parts of the organic block. The task is Herculean, but also necessary.

THE BEGINNING OF THE DISCUSSION

Cancer can be considered a set of more than 100 diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells, which may form tumors and spread to other parts of the body through what is called metastasis. As stated, mutations in DNA are the origin of these harmful cells that disturb the body for different reasons. Symptoms and treatment methods also vary.

In this article, what is analyzed is the behavior of the element arsenic in relation to the entire organic block of a living being. Contrary to the principle of carbon, arsenic is seen as a “poison” to all forms of life, but nevertheless, it is still considered an essential element for the life of these beings. The maximum tolerance of this element in the human body is 12 nanograms. Many defend the thesis that arsenic is not an essential element for the human body; however, it is necessary to remember the presence of this element in several points of human nutrition, such as rice, seafood, among other foods. Therefore, it is worth defending the essentiality of arsenic for the entire ecosystem, and within this ecosystem, this harmful element is present in high quantities.

Biochemistry presents a master logic that everything in excess is harmful and everything absent is not advisable, and so it is with arsenic. Being part of the Periodic Table, this element cannot fail to be considered indispensable to life. Arsenic is a metalloids naturally present in the Earth’s crust, found in soils, rocks, and groundwater; moreover, it is released into the environment by volcanic eruptions, weathering processes, and human activities—mining, metal smelting, pesticide use. Given this prognosis, the element circulates among different compartments (soil, water, air, and organisms) through chemical and biological processes.

In soil and water, arsenic exists in different oxidation states: arsenite and arsenate. Arsenate predominates in aerobic environments, while arsenite is more common in anaerobic environments. Furthermore, some microorganisms can methylate arsenic, transforming it into less toxic organic compounds, such as monomethylarsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid.

This undoubtedly has a serious impact on organisms such as plants, algae, and aquatic animals. Plants and algae can absorb arsenic from soil and water, accumulating it in their tissues; aquatic animals (such as fish and crustaceans) also accumulate arsenic, usually in less toxic forms. It is important to note that at elevated levels, arsenic causes toxicity, affecting growth, reproduction, and survival of species.

In summary, it is essential to keep in mind that arsenic is not a nutrient essential to life, but nevertheless, it participates in chemical and biological cycles that shape the ecosystem, mainly as a contaminant and selective pressure factor. With regard to cell division, this toxic role is therefore crucial, since we are increasingly exposed to this element, which may be a major probable cause of all forms of cancer by reacting with phosphates and giving rise to cancerous cells.