Calgary, You Are Amazing!

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Well one would imagine the goal would be a cure to cancer. Which through decades of research and billions of dollars has yet to be found. All these cancer research places seem to accomplish is finding ways to make people die slower.

And in many cases, improve quality of life.

Unfortunately in many other cases, extend life by a few agonizing months

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Well one would imagine the goal would be a cure to cancer. Which through decades of research and billions of dollars has yet to be found. All these cancer research places seem to accomplish is finding ways to make people die slower.

Cancer is a very difficult and volitaile topic of conversation. I am not sure if you have been touched by the disease. I have, my dad had brian cancer. He had an operation years ago and has been free for 20+ yrs. I also have lost a close friend to cancer, he went very quickly and painfully.

If the research is successful in extending a patient's life and helping reduce pain/make the patient more comfortable, so they can have more time with their family and friends, then hell I would say that is a win. I would have loved more time with Matt.

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Cancer is a very difficult and volitaile topic of conversation. I am not sure if you have been touched by the disease. I have, my dad had brian cancer. He had an operation years ago and has been free for 20+ yrs. I also have lost a close friend to cancer, he went very quickly and painfully.

If the research is successful in extending a patient's life and helping reduce pain/make the patient more comfortable, so they can have more time with their family and friends, then hell I would say that is a win. I would have loved more time with Matt.

Twice. My grandpa died of colon cancer very early after his diagnosis.

And my best friend's dad passed away from mesothelioma last year. All the medication managed to do was make him sick and miserable and in even more pain for the last several months of his life.

Sure early detection and tumor removal are great, the best ways to beat it. But we knew that 20 years ago, it wasn't exactly rocket science to figure it out. What have they figured out since then with all their money?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Twice. My grandpa died of colon cancer very early after his diagnosis.

And my best friend's dad passed away from mesothelioma last year. All the medication managed to do was make him sick and miserable and in even more pain for the last several months of his life.

Sure early detection and tumor removal are great, the best ways to beat it. But we knew that 20 years ago, it wasn't exactly rocket science to figure it out. What have they figured out since then with all their money?

I can't answer that question, it is a bit above me.....


I guess what I am interested in is what do you believe we should be doing. Should we stop searching for a cure, along with aids? The survival rates for some forms of cancer is increasing. I don't believe that all research is focused totally on a "magic bullet". I believe there won't actually be a light bulb moment, I suspect the "cure" will be progressive.


What do you believe we should be doing?

[habernac]

it's hopeless, just give up!

[Knut]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Twice. My grandpa died of colon cancer very early after his diagnosis.

And my best friend's dad passed away from mesothelioma last year. All the medication managed to do was make him sick and miserable and in even more pain for the last several months of his life.

Sure early detection and tumor removal are great, the best ways to beat it. But we knew that 20 years ago, it wasn't exactly rocket science to figure it out. What have they figured out since then with all their money?

Ok. Let's throw some numbers out there instead of just using your fantastic anecdotal evidence. US numbers, but applicable.

http://www.innovation.org/index.cfm/...Against_Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, the cancer death rate fell 22% for men and 14% for women between 1990 and 2007, which translated to 898,000 fewer deaths from the disease in this period.[vii]

The tremendous value represented by this declining death rate is evident in research findings by University of Chicago economists Kevin Murphy (a MacArthur fellow) and Robert Topel. They report that reducing cancer death rates by 10% would be worth roughly $4.4 trillion in economic value to current and future generations.[viii]

The chances that a cancer patient will live at least 5 years has increased across cancers. In 1975-79 the 5-year survival rate was less than 50%. By 2004 (the most recent data available) survival rose to 67.3%.[ix]

Survival is increasing dramatically for many forms of cancer. Between 1975 and 2004 (the most recent data available) 5-year survival went up 19% for women with breast cancer (75.5% to 89.9%), 50% for men with prostate cancer (66.4% to 99.9%), 35% for patients with colon and rectum cancer (48.7% to 65.9%), and 46% for lung and bronchus cancer (11.5% to 16.8%).[x]

The American Society of Clinical Oncology identified 12 major cancer treatment advances in 2011 that had the potential to reduce cancer mortality, of these, 10 are related to new medicines, better ways to use existing medicines, or newly approved medicines.[xi]

Follow the citations at the bottom to get into it deeper.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Hesla

Ok. Let's through some numbers out there instead of just using your fantastic anecdotal evidence. US numbers, but applicable.

http://www.innovation.org/index.cfm/...Against_Cancer











Follow the citations at the bottom to get into it deeper.

almost makes it worth while......