Cancer and business

When I was initially diagnosed a family member was sharing their opinions that there would be no cure soon because of the financial boondoggle for the pharmaceuticals and the medical providers.   During our conversation I was thinking "another crazy conspiracy theory".  Then I saw the large number of patients at my Cancer Center and I am not so sure anymore.   

I guess I’ve never been much of a conspiracy theory kind of guy. I believe Elvis is really dead. I believe there really was a moon landing, and an attack on 9/11. I don’t believe that there is a 10 cent potion that you add to your gas tank that lets you get 500 miles to the gallon, but big oil is keeping it a secret. I don’t believe that there is a 10 cent pill that cures cancer with no side effects, but is being kept a secret by the drug and cancer companies.

The people I’ve run into in my cancer journey are dedicated and caring individuals who are doing their best to defeat cancer and relieve the suffering of its victims. I’m sure some are making a good living doing it. I’m sure some of them have even gotten rich doing what they do. But I believe that without exception, if given a choice between making lots of money dispensing cancer treatments, or selling hot dogs from a wagon in the street, there would be a hot dog vendor on every corner.

Sure, some of the people responsible for giving me theses extra years are living well. Maybe they have fancy cars and big houses, and go on exotic vacations. Probably some of the support people are running out of paycheck before running out of month, but even some of the cats that aren’t getting fat off the system treated me like I was the most important person on the planet.

Yes there is a cancer business. Yes some are getting rich from that business. But they’re all pushing the limits of their talent and ability in an effort to cure and relieve. So if indeed I’m helping fill the fuel tank on someone’s yacht, a tank of fuel is a small price to pay for what they’ve given me.

 Yes I’m sorry there is a cancer business, and yes, I’m also sorry Elvis is dead, but it is what it is -  no more, no less. 

Interesting topic. It does fall into the Big Conspiracy bucket when viewed industry wide on a global basis. We know and read about individual cases where trial data is doctored to get pharma approval and such. Clearly money plays a big part in what finally gets approved due to the enormous resources inovolved to get to market. It certainly seems plausible that a very promising project just does not get the right level of support and funding and lesser effective but those better tied to resources and politics move forward.

It is hard to image with reasearchers affiilated with so many different countries, many at war or not particularly friendly with each other could collectively orchestrate any collective effort to subvert basic science, vetting, and funding of promising projects. One could argue there are a handful of global cancer companies that might collude to control it but personally it is a stretch to me. The corporate medical industry is different that the typical corpration where maximizing money is the sole goal. Medical industries have a moral code in that the industry is populated with professionals who have sworn to a morale code and that makes it unique. This is one area where I feel grand conspiracy does not fit very well. 

denistd said:

C & B

I too am not a party to the conspiracy stuff, I do sometimes wonder, given the visciousness of this disease and it's treatment, why we do not do more to catch it early, this is where the money factor takes over.

As to earlier detection, this is an entirely different topic as it is tied to money but in a different way. Everyone talks about practicing preventative medicine and I will include early diagnosis into this category rather than an early step of treatment although it does belong there technically. To early detection and treatment sits in the gray area a bit.

Anyway, there are many diseases that can be diagnosed and treated earlier but there are costs associated with it. And in a warped way, like the original post, one could think there are forces who rather let diagnosis go late so the cost (ie profit) is greater. One of the potential benefits of the exclusion of preexisting conditions may reduce the incentive to defer diagnosis and treatment if there is more saving by preventing and treating early.

In the case of cancer, the diagnosis has physical health costs such as radiation and barium injections and such. So it is also a balance not of just econimics but also balance of harm vs benefit. No easy answers.

Hondo said:

We got Money

There are a lot of people out in this world who will sell their soul for a dollar. I believe we will see a lot better tools for treating cancer but will never see a cure for it.  Just my take

Tim Hondo

Bart, I just saw Elvis at my local coffee shop wearing a black scarf and red sunglasees. You must be mistaken!

unfortunately i beleive there will be no cure due to the money side of cancer.  like you said, its a multi billion $ business and i'm afraid the people in the right places see more in the money then in the cure.  just my 2 cents.

dj

D Lewis said:

Cancer is not ONE disease

Cancer is not one disease, and there will never be a single cure for cancer. That complicates things.

Deb

Is just that. There are too many people involved in research to suppress information in this age of digital citizen journalism.

Guzzle said:

Elvis

Rick, you are talking Bull. Elvis was in my local pub having a pint with Jimi Hendrix & Jim Morrison. They are ex pats as they get left alone over here and make a living impersonating themselves. So I know you are telling fibs as he couldn't be in two places at once!

Medicine is a business.     

Due to the nature of the disease (really thousands of diseases) in the cancer spectrum, a single cure?  Not likely.  Many, multiple, hundreds of cures-all on the horizon and all very profitable.  Like drilling for oil.  You may hit a few dry wells, but hit that motherlode!!!

Maybe this is the reason that people from all over the world come to the US for medical treatment.  We have the best because medicine is a business-A business run by corporations whose purpose is to maximze the wealth of their shareholders.

Oh, wait, there goes my warm and fuzzy view of my disease and treatment.  Sorry, there is no  Easter Bunny.