Cancer and the Business of Medicine
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The federal budget for cancer research is $31 billion, but cancer victims and taxpayers are asking, where are those promised breakthroughs? We look at the expectations and the realities of a disease that's more complicated the more we know. Also, Obama makes his fourth trip to the Gulf since the spill, and the US team survived a tie with England, but a crucial injury could dampen its chances to move to the next round of the World Cup.
Banner image: Several cancer-related organizations hold a rally 'calling on the administration and Congress to reject measures that will devastate Medicare patient access to diagnostic imaging services, and hit rural communities the hardest' on October 14, 2009 on Capitol Hill. Photo: Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images
Making News
Obama Makes His Fourth Trip to the Gulf since Oil Spill ()
President Obama is back on the Gulf Coast today for the fourth time since the oil spill, and he’ll address the nation about it tomorrow night. Meantime, the pressure continues on BP. Harvey Morris is in Houston for the Financial Times.
Guests:
- Harvey Morris: Houston-based Correspondent, Financial Times
Main Topic
Cancer: Big Business and the Painstaking Search for a Cure ()
Five years ago, cancer researchers were predicting "miracle treatments" — even vaccines -- based on the billions being spent on genetics. But the more they know, the more complicated cancer becomes, and even the American Cancer Society has tempered its optimism. Cancer victims, and members of Congress, are increasingly impatient with the slow pace of improvement. Are financial conflicts part of the problem? Given what’s known about personal habits like smoking, about occupational hazards and the environment, should more be spent on prevention?
Guests:
- Sharon Begley: Science Editor, Newsweek
- Leonard Lichtenfeld: Deputy Chief Medical Officer, American Cancer Society
- Samuel Epstein: Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition
- Josh Sommer: Co-founder and Executive Director, Chordoma Foundation
- Jill O'Donnell-Tormey: Executive Director, Cancer Research Institute
Links:
- Begley's cover story on 'desperately seeking cures'
- 2008-2009 report of the President's Cancer Panel
- American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2010 meeting
- National Cancer Institute
- Lichtenfeld on rethinking cancer treatment
- Epstein's 'Cancer Gate: How to Win the Losing Cancer War'
- Cancer Vaccine Collaborative
- Cancer Vaccine Acceleration Fund
Reporter's Notebook
This One's for BP: US Ties England on Goalie's Spill ()
The US team was happy to get a 1-1 tie with England on Saturday, based on an inexplicable error by the English goalkeeper. Now, America's goalkeeper may be out of action for the next match in South Africa. Tim Howard makes his living in England, where he's been named the Premier League's goalkeeper of the year. But in World Cup matches, he plays for the US, as long as he's healthy. Steve Goff is covering the action for the Washington Post — vuvuzela's and all.
Guests:
- Steven Goff: Soccer Writer, Washington Post
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