Deputy Chief Medical Officer, American Cancer Society
Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the American Cancer Society, he blogs at Dr. Len’s Cancer Blog
PROFILE
Leonard Lichtenfeld
Guest
FROM Leonard Lichtenfeld
Which Way, L.A.?
Cancer and the Business of Medicine The annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology brings together the latest on cancer research and treatment. Patients and their families pray for news of a breakthrough. Businesses look for investments; entrepreneurs look for opportunities. Last week in Chicago, some 4000 studies were presented to 30,000 top experts — but one warned there's "a growing sense that our optimism needs to be tempered a bit." We hear from him and others about how financial conflicts, personal habits and occupational hazards impact inroads against the disease.
To the Point
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?
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To the Point
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
Left, Right & Center
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.