Interesting set of articles in yesterday's New York times

[Christine MH-UK]

The opinion articles in yesterday's New York Times (e-mail version at least) were all about cancer. They are free, but you have to register with the website.

Susan Love 'To Break the Disease, Break the Mold' on why progress against cancer has been so slow
http://www.nytimes.com:80/2007/04/01/opinion/01susanlove.html?th&emc=th

Shannon Brownlee, 'Feeding the Cancer Machine'
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/opinion/01brownlee.html?th&emc=th

Harold Varmus, 'The Answer is Inside' on the need for a genetic approach to cancer from a former head of the NIH
http://www.nytimes.com:80/2007/04/01/opinion/01varmus.html?th&emc=th

Ralph W. Moss 'Patients over Patents' some interesting ideas.
http://www.nytimes.com:80/2007/04/01/opinion/01moss.html?th&emc=th

David G. Nathan 'The Smart-Pill Solution' on how genetics is transforming cancer treatments. Not earth-shattering for anyone on herceptin, but it is good the message is getting out.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/opinion/01nathan.html?th&emc=th

[R.B.]

Thank you for posting this very thought provoking series of articles, encompassing some profound observations.



Human nature and the way we structure out reward system and value system would seem based on your posts to create its own problems - which are unsurprising conclusions. A perennial problem history would suggest.

The attempts at full blown alternatives have not lasted and created their own notable failings.

But at a basic level can society afford to not look more closely at prevention and reasons for occurrence including "environmental" factors and diet when considered at the level of the competitive health of nations, the cost of health care, and the potential unrest and alienation caused by potential economic exclusion from health care?


RB

[RhondaH]

have you seen THIS?

http://www.natlbcc.org/bin/index.asp?strid=128&depid=3&btnid=2

Rhonda

[R.B.]

Rhondah

Thank you for posting that link. No I had not seen it.

I read a while ago that government have started funding prevention research in Australia.

Maybe somebody should introduce a comparative measure of "the health of the Nations" to get both us and goverments to focus more on cause and prevention.

RB

[Christine MH-UK]

Hi RB,

In Europe the EPIC study is looking into the correlates of cancer by studying the diet of people across Europe and their rates of cancer. The idea is that the diet across Europe is very varied, much more so that the diet in the United States or Canada, so the study might yield some information on what foods increase/reduce the risk of cancer. So far they have had some interesting findings, such as a relation between eating white bread and kidney cancer.

[R.B.]

Thank you for posting that Christine.

I will look it up. I did not know about it. I have been rather occupied with other things lately.

Thank you for your trouble.

RB