Biopsies of end-stage melanoma patients are used to find drugs to help others who relapse
Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.comEnlisting the dying for clues to save others
Seeded on Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:52 PM EST (msnbc.com)
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Leave a Comment:
An interesting article! I hope they can find what gene mutations brings about the higher than normal protein levels in the tumors and find a cure. Kudos to the researchers and to the patients who put themselves through more pain to help future victims.
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I am very pleased to have read the article & acquire the names of cutting-edge research in Melanoma. I have 7 of the 9 risk factors for it according to the American Dermatological Assn., have had 2 Basil Cells removed & both my father & uncle have had it. I am bookmarking their research just in case I have the very bad luck to develop it; frankly I'm terrified, but I would feel so humbled to be able to contribute to scientific research.
Enough of this foolishess and waste. Everyone will die they need to come to terms with that fact. It is a disgusting waste of time and money, not to mention the torture of sick individuals, to try to find a cure only the wealthy and selfish will ever benefit from.
I tend to agree. Torment people with terrible treatments that destroy what function their bodies have left, and then after all that, ask them to give to science. Long ago I stopped believing that medicine is motivated by a desire to cure disease. As time goes on it has seemed obvious that pharmaceutical companies can't keep going if they actually cure disease...
My hat is off to the man who allowed the biopsy, however. Nothing but good for that action.
Higher levels of Vitamin D is a far better cure for cancer than all this torture being done on people daily.
The medical community would have you believe that sunlight is bad. They even classify it as such a danger, it is in the SAME category as Plutonium!!
While they tell people to stay out of the light (which means you are vitamin D deficient unless you take supplements), your chances for disease and cancer skyrocket.
Now, is the sun and tanning beds bad for you? YES and NO. They are bad for you IF you are nutritionally deficient, but if you eat right, or take some very good quality supplements, not only is the sun and tanning beds good for you, you have an 80 percent less chance of cancer, diabetes, most diseases and say goodbye to the cold and flu.
Problem with all this is that with big pharma spewing it's lies the public gobbles up and instead of getting some sunlight, they have us putting on toxic SPF formulas which reduce your vitamin D and also have chemicals in them that are KNOWN to cause cancer.
They have the public absolutely under their control and people don't think for themselves anymore.
So, don't believe me. Go to some reputable holistic websites and get the real information on vitamin D, sunlight, tanning beds and how our food supply (GMO FOOD) is the new pandemic.
Haters can spam away, but there is more proof of what I just said than the so called studies from big pharma.
www.naturalnews.com
www.mercola.com
NOBODY is responsible for you being healthy except yourself. Learn, change, live and stop being led down the path to being sick and giving your money to the same companies who will NOT find a cure for anything, but they are not even looking anymore.
Thanks for sharing this story. It is heartwarming to see so many very sick people give of themselves to help others. Someday we will learn how to really cure these diseases instead of just giving people more time.
"At his own expense." This is the part that has stayed with me. His treatment has failed, he's going to die anyway, and the doctor has the nerve to ask him to undergo a surgical biopsy and pay his own travel. Unbelievable.
Basic science research is not the best funded field to work in. The lab could barely afford their operating costs from the sound of it.
Kudos to the patient for still being willing to help out.
But, the doctor himself paid for the biopsy, which is very expensive.
When my husband was dying from incurable cancer, he made the conscious choice to donate his body to science, so they could learn more about his cancer. He would have volunteered to be part of this project. He knew it was too late for him, but he wanted to give others the chance he didn't have.
And I would encourage others to seriously consider it. No, it isn't for everyone, but it is worthwhile to try to save the life of another.
Kudos to Dr. Lo and his assistants for continuing his research.
My mother was the same way. She would've volunteered for this type of study if had it been available when she was alive. Even though she the odds were against her from the beginning, she was proud to take part in several clinical trials that may give hope for others in the future.
They really should offer to pay for the plane trip. What a raw thing to ask of a dying person. As if the hospital and researchers have no money. I find that they asked him to pay for the trip disgusting.
Beth-basic science research that is academia and not industry is not the best funded arena of medicine to work in. These investigators are not the ones living in mansions and driving a maserati into work. Kudos to the patient for still being willing to fly down for the biopsy.
True, Heather. And, the doctor himself pays for whatever insurance doesn't cover of the biopsy.
What is really annoying is that the drugs that are developed from the biopsies of the dying and the personal sacrifice of the researchers will cost a fortune to the cancer patients who use them and make a fortune for Roche, which has made no real contribution to the research.
How very Kavorkianesque ... ! Isn't that what autopsies are for?!
And we keep hearing how expensive it is for big Pharma to develop a drug, when it's doctors fighting for research grants and patients willing to offer their bodies (at their expense) to help. Pity...
I would do it. But, then again, I would live-donate a kidney, part of my liver, etc., and even my body (after death) to science for research if it would help 1 other person not die a horrific death from cancer. Too many people I know have died that way, and are dying that way as we speak.
Not donating ones organs or body after death is one of the most disgusting examples of human greed I can imagine.
talk about Heroes! If I were in that situation, I hope I could make these courageous decisions- if I had the money to maybe- just maybe- save one life. How incredibly uplifting that these patients chose to do this. Don't we all want to make a mark on the world somehow? Maybe save just ONE?