Am I the only cynic re drug companies and cancer?

[R.B.]

The drugs industry is the usual mix of human greatness aspiration mixed up with money, status, need for approbation, the need to hold down a job, the way organisations work, the way we respond as individuals etc.

There are some wondrous products, but I suspect future generations whilst admiring some, will look back (if we last that long) at others with a mixture of amusement and horror at some in the same way as we would consider mercury, arsenic, hanging some radio active material round the male particulars to assist with fertility, etc (which I am sure equally were prescribed in the belief they were the best available at the time).

For me the biggest issue is that there is no perceived profit in trying to research the cause of this huge increase in western conditions. If western conditions continue increasing at the present rate, and the variety of treatments and costs continue increasing how will nations be able to afford to treat their citizens. How will society cope with the wider consequences illness brings. How will the untreated or those receiving "second rate" treatments feel.....

So often in trails on omega three I see "this shows promise more research required" and the follow up does not seem to materialise. And it will not until governments fund research and the public through the courts and supermarkets demand change.

How long did it take before it was accepted that smoking was not a healthy activity. Trans fats were good for you until recently - and when did companies and government start shifting seriously in terms of trans fats - I suspect when a several million dollar legal suit was won in California. And always in the back ground there were a few largely ignored who were warning smoking and trans fats were bad, but it suited a whole range of people to ignore their warnings for a long time.

I hover between cynicism born of my observation of myself and experiences in dealing with large organisations, seeing "disasters" unfold where it was convenient to ignore an obvious truth, a series of un-intentioned "kneejerk" reactions without ill-will or malice for protection of self job or ego, indifference or lack of understanding, powerlessness..........., and on the other side the hope that we can do better, a feeling born of inspiration by others.