I was utterly shocked to read of Chrichton’s death today, and I couldn’t help but wonder what his own feelings on the matter might have been.

Regardless of whether or not you have enjoyed his books, it is clear his life exploration has always been at the limits of science and imagination through his writing.

What would he ask in this case?

If I were him I’d ask: What progress has medical science made in the fight against cancer?

I can’t help but sound ignorant and pessimistic here, (and I encourage you to comment), but as far as I can tell all we have done is marginally increased the effectiveness of our only tool: “chemo”.

I recall a conversation I had with an ex-oncologist at a wedding a few months ago. When he talked about his departure from the field (mostly because it was hard and depressing), I asked “but what about all the new drugs and technology”. His answer depressed me severely: “Just a bit of life extension, no significant stuff happening”.

WTF? This is the information age, that simply won’t do.

While petri dish wins are much appreciated, it would seem nothing is happening. Is this true? Is it that drug companies aren’t providing incentive to research effective (instead of profitable) cures? Is it that universities are only interested in small battles?

This is a disease that has been understood and studied frivolously for decades now… what gives? When is the nanotechnology, stem cell therapy, gene therapy, telomere therapy, star trek therapy supposed to kick in?

Soon I hope.

Now before you pummel me with examples, I do indeed inspect some of the latest news in research, and I do recognize that sometimes the small findings can lead to bigger successes later on… but I have been subjected to so many false hopes, so many clinical trials that lead to disappointment, I suppose I have become jaded.

Forgive the rant, but I want answers… use the form below