Should cancer funding be distributed more evenly?

[shyguy1]

This is something I've been pondering for sometime.

 

We lost my mother to stomach cancer in 2003.

 

She had been experiencing stomach pain for a few years prior to the diagnosis in 02 and was told it was everything from heartburn to ulcers.

 

I realize this might ruffle some feathers.. but I personally feel that cancer research funding should be a little more balanced.

 

Breast Cancer research is up here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prostate Cancer research is here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything else including Stomach Cancer research is here.

 

I'm not trying to lesson the importance of finding a cure for Breast and Prostate Cancer... clearly they are very important diseases and my heart goes out to those suffering from either one and their loved ones.

 

I simply feel that all the other various types of cancer shouldn't more or less be put on the back burner.

 

Cancer is a dreaded disease and it's my sincere hope that in time all forms are found to be curable.

 

I also have no problem with Breast Cancer getting the most funding... and Prostate Cancer the 2nd most funding.

 

Having said that 'a little' more funding for the other types would certainly be nice... I can't help but wonder if my mother (and countless others) might still be alive had there been a little more balance.

[Cognitive_Canine]

I understand how you feel.

 

However, there is only so much money being given and it's going to go to the one that take the most lives.

 

Maybe there is a more specific cancer fund that you can try and work with.

[shyguy1]

I understand how you feel.

 

However, there is only so much money being given and it's going to go to the one that take the most lives.

 

Maybe there is a more specific cancer fund that you can try and work with.

 

This makes since...

 

however there are types that cost more deaths than breast or prostate, yet get a small fraction of the attention.

 

Lung Cancer being but one... granted a lot of lung cancer is caused by the avoidable act of smoking... but there are cases of nonsmokers developing that type of cancer as well (rare as it might be)

 

In addition to this, while I personally don't understand just why someone would choose to start smoking.. I don't think people should be more or less be given a death sentence for making the mistake of starting and then eventually getting lung cancer from it.

 

Don't know how updated this website is....

 

link removed

 

but it shows 1.3 million deaths a year from lung cancer... nearly 1 million due to stomach cancer.. 662,000 from liver cancer... and 665,000 from colon.

 

Breast Cancer while still being high, is listed all the way down at 502,000.

 

Again I don't even have issue with Breast Cancer and to a lesser extent Prostate Cancer getting the majority of the attention, what bugs me is that they not only get the majority... but in essense what seems like nearly all of it in terms of both research and funding being spent.

 

For the record there is no specific stomach cancer fund that I am aware of, though in the end while I would be remiss if I didn't mention that part of my venting is due to losing a loved one to a less funded form of cancer.

 

More than that though, I simply feel that those currently suffering from countless forms of other cancers, deserve more of a fighting chance... and they sadly enough aren't going to get it.

 

That is unless they get some research money coming in.

[capbit]

I'm not sure, but the amount of funding might have to do with the number of people a year affected with that type of cancer. But I know what you mean, I lost my mother to breast cancer. I think no matter what type of cancer, there are foundations dedicated to finding a cure.

[Cognitive_Canine]

It is true about lung cancer, btw. One of my professors brought this up.

 

Lung cancer is seen as something that someone does to themselves. So, there is a lot less sympathy for it. The breast cancer foundation has really pushed a lot of their stuff. Think about it. Those commercials, the pink ribbons, etc.

 

Breast cancer is seen as something that effects our mothers, sisters, daughters....so, it becomes more personal.

 

Also, breast cancer (I may be wrong) is one of the most preventable cancers. Isn't a lot of funding going to awareness and ads put out to ask women to screen more?

[Haven]

Why not question the entire federal government's budget? With the amount of money spent in Iraq in one month, they could probably fund an entire year's worth of research.

[melrich]

but it shows 1.3 million deaths a year from lung cancer... nearly 1 million due to stomach cancer.. 662,000 from liver cancer... and 665,000 from colon.

 

Breast Cancer while still being high, is listed all the way down at 502,000.

 

 

I think these numbers probably don't tell the real story as breast cancer and prostate cancer are among the most curable. I think if you looked at the contraction figures rather than the deat figures it would be quite different.

 

Having said that I do appreciate the OP's sentiments. As someone else said, there is only so much money to go around and as these cancers do have a very good recovery rate, they get a signioficant proportion of the research dollars.

 

That said, you also have to be aware that the research and development they do in breast cancer and prostate cancer will also benefit the treatment of other cancers.

[shyguy1]

Why not question the entire federal government's budget? With the amount of money spent in Iraq in one month, they could probably fund an entire year's worth of research.

 

Now this is a good point and I am 100 percent in agreement.

 

Too bad I don't see us leaving Iraq anytime soon.

 

I fully expect far too much of our budget to continue to be spent on this unnecessary war.

[shyguy1]

I think these numbers probably don't tell the real story as breast cancer and prostate cancer are among the most curable. I think if you looked at the contraction figures rather than the deat figures it would be quite different.

 

Having said that I do appreciate the OP's sentiments. As someone else said, there is only so much money to go around and as these cancers do have a very good recovery rate, they get a signioficant proportion of the research dollars.

 

That said, you also have to be aware that the research and development they do in breast cancer and prostate cancer will also benefit the treatment of other cancers.

 

Looking at contracting numbers right now.. and it does indeed look like Breast and Prostate Cancer are among the most contacted.

 

I think it's telling though that while they are among the most contacted forms of cancer, comparatively speaking the death rates are lower than certain other types.

 

Also while I agree that research and development into the two aforementioned forms of cancer will benefit the other types, cancers vary in the way they develop and the way that they respond to various treatments.

 

For this reason the benefit for other forms of cancer will be somewhat limited, unless more attention is shown to those forms of cancer specifically.

 

There's countless marketing tie ins for prostate and especially breast cancer, as well as months dedicated to each.

 

It would be nice if a few of the others had at least a 'week' or two where they were brought to the public's attention a little more and by proxy had increased funding during said time periods.

[melrich]

It would be nice if a few of the others had at least a 'week' or two where they were brought to the public's attention a little more and by proxy had increased funding during said time period.

 

Can't disagree with that.

[Cognitive_Canine]

well, shyguy, maybe you should be the one to start the awareness for stomach cancer.

 

It starts with someone. You gotta know that the people who made the breast cancer foundation so big were probably survivors or loved ones.

[capbit]

It would be nice if a few of the others had at least a 'week' or two where they were brought to the public's attention a little more and by proxy had increased funding during said time periods.

 

I agree, there are many other forms of cancer that the general public isn't even aware of, that can probably be prevented.

But if we dedicated a week each for the other types of cancers, well, that would be a depressing year wouldn't it?

[just M.E.]

I agree that Breast Cancer gets a lot of attention and in part this has been due to the solidarity of women. Many of the fundraisers are brining in large amounts of money, not only from the events but large sponsorship. In this, Breast Cancer has exceeded other cancers, but the awareness it has brought out is inspiring. I know 4 Breast Cancer Survivors and only one death.

 

I just did the Danskin Women's Triathlon and that is a Breast Cancer Event, later this summer there is the Tri for the Cure. These are huge events and not sponsored by government monies. In this the Breast Cancer Foundations have done a tremendous job.

 

Maybe the other foundations will learn from this also.

[capbit]

well, shyguy, maybe you should be the one to start the awareness for stomach cancer.

 

 

That's a good point. A friend of mine who lost his father to brain cancer decided to hold a charity run in honor of him. He gathered up almost 150 people for the event and received a generous amount of donations! I think things like that really opens peoples eyes.

[CarnelianButterfly]

I just want to say that even though it appears that only one type of cancer is being addressed, the research is really not so totally focused. Certainly there are specialized treatments depending on the region the cancer effects, but the understanding and annihilation of the cancer can still be fundamentally the same. Cancer research in one area could very well be retrofit to other regions of the body.

[tryinrealhard]

I agree. Funding for cancer research should be more evenly distributed. Unfortunately the guilt society feels regarding treatment of breast cancer patients in the 60s and 70s continues to influence research trends today. I know in the medical center where I go to school there are many projects investigating stomach cancer and other GI cancers, but the number of projects will need to increase quite a bit bfore they even approach breast cancer numbers. If you would like to help the cause in your mom's memory,you can make a donation to a research fund.

 

I know how you feel though, I wish there was more money going to preventing suicides by keeping guns out of the hands of people on antidepressants, and by not providing zoloft to suicidal people. Maybe my dad would be around.

 

Still, no matter how pressing the issue, it will take a couple of millionaire's kids to sucumb to such illnesses before they will be given the attention they deserve. I know this sounds cynical, but that's how it seems to me.

[Haven]

I just want to say that even though it appears that only one type of cancer is being addressed, the research is really not so totally focused. Certainly there are specialized treatments depending on the region the cancer effects, but the understanding and annihilation of the cancer can still be fundamentally the same. Cancer research in one area could very well be retrofit to other regions of the body.

 

That reminds me, I actually know two people who are doing cancer research - one with skin cancer, another with breast cancer. Some of the experiments and type of research they are doing are very similar.

[infinitecore]

 

Everything else including Stomach Cancer research is here.

 

I'm not trying to lesson the importance of finding a cure for Breast and Prostate Cancer....

 

Progress in medical research is generally underfunded, very slow, and is stymied by the FDA. That includes research for the most common and publicized conditions such as diabetes and the cancers you listed above.

 

I don't keep track of these but, in addition to being relatively rare, isn't stomach cancer incidence actually decreasing?

 

I know this can happen to anyone ( my grandpa didn't survive this ) but research funding is biased in favor of the most competent research proposals involving the most feared and probable conditions.

 

Maybe you yourself can make the biggest difference by being a stomach cancer researcher.

[ghost69]

what really sickens me is the leona helmsley bequest was $8B, yes 8 billion dollars to dog research. wth?