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Our philosophy lecturer has instructed us to write two essays, where one of it is regarding the current issues in science and the other one is related to Steve Jobs' speech in commencement for Standford University in 2005. So I'm going to share with you guys both of the essays that I'm about to write in here. 

Let's start with the current issues in science. From a brainstorming session with our lecturer, I have come out with an issue that is close to my heart (he said, write something that is you) which is about Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. 

I still well remember the day when my sister called me when I just finished a class in 2010 and she told me that our father has just passed away, which is a bittersweet news in a way that my father don't have to suffer anymore from the war that he can't no longer win. My father has been diagnosed with a nose cancer for almost three years before that. The recurrence of the cancer took away a joyful life of him. Nose cancer or nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the nasopharynx, that is located behind the nose and above the back of throat. NPC is a rare type of head and neck cancer where it is more common in Africa and East Asia. 

It is vital for us to know the symptoms of NPC as it difficult to be detected early because it isn't easy to examine and may mimic others disease more common conditions. In fact, in early stages NPC may not cause any symptoms. Early symptoms may include one or all of this which are frequent nose bleeds and blocked nose. Hearing problems such as ringing and pain, also might trigger the awareness of one to go on a medical check up. As the diseases progress, the symptoms may include coughing out blood, swallowing problems and breathing or speaking difficulties cause by a blocked nose. My late father also experienced hearing loss as the cancer getting worse. Keep in mind though, all of the symptoms mentioned are more likely to occur with many other diseases and health conditions that are less serious than NPC.

Like some other cancer diseases, what causes the gene mutations that lead to NPC is still unknown. However, the cancer has been strongly linked to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Some scientist said that the genetic material from the virus mixes with the genetic material in the cells of nasopharynx and the change in the genetic material causes the cells to grow and divide abnormally, causing cancer. Additionally, some risk factors that may cause the existence of NPC, or other cancers in oneself is the tobacco use and diet. People who is smoking for a longer period of time and those who consume diet low in fruits and vegetables and rich in salt-cured fish and meats, have the higher chance to get NPC. Interestingly, age and gender is also the risk factors for one to have NPC. Men who is between 40 years old and younger than 55 years old, are two times more likely to get NPC than women. As for my father, who was a part time labour worker that build and repairing houses, might get it from his work environment as he work around wood dust, is one of the risk factors. 

There are couple of choices of treatment for NPC patients to choose from to have a better quality life. Radiotherapy is one of them and there is two type of radiotherapy which are external radiotherapy and internal radiotherapy. External radiotherapy is when the radiation is directed at the tumours from a sources outside the body, meanwhile internal radiotherapy is when the radioactive substance are placed directly or near the cancer cells. Another choice of treatment for NPC is chemotherapy, which was being used by my father along with radiotherapy, is the use of anti-cancer drug to destroy the cancer cells. It will be given before, during and after radiotherapy treatment in the various forms, including pills and injection. Similarly, biological therapy also used as the treatment for NPC where it uses the patient's immunes system to fight cancer. Surgery, a procedure to find out if cancer is present, to remove cancer from the body or to repair a body part, is used when NPC is not response to radiotherapy. 

Generally speaking, NPC can be prevent by using no tobacco products, drink alcohol moderately, healthful diet and of course, do a regular medical check up. From my father's experience, it is definitely better to prevent than to cure or in this case that don't have a specific cure, to treat. Do not lose any hope because no matter what happen, I believe God has a way to show what is happening is worth more than anything in this world. 

So, there you go. My essay. My other essay, I will put it on here sooner. Hopefully, you enjoy my essay.