Without a doubt, every person in the Corporate Club audience has been touched by cancer - a friend, loved one or even themselves. With two of the premier hospitals in the world in our own backyard, it was time to ask the experts, 'Is Cancer Curable?'
Monica Robbins of WKYC moderated the panel of Dr. Stanton L. Gerson MD, Director of The Seidman Cancer Center, University Hospital and Dr. Derek Raghavan MD PhD, Professor of Medicine, Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic.
They began with a simple question, 'What causes cancer?' which led to an interesting and thought provoking discussion of cancer and its future.
Even the decision to have tests to determine the probability of one's getting cancer is not cut and dry. The most noted tests, BRCA1 and BRCA2 are often used to determine a woman's chances of breast cancer. But as the doctors pointed out, before these two tests there were other tests that were proven to be inaccurate. Many women had radical surgery done as a result of these tests that they may or may not have needed.
Men have a PSA screen done to determine if they have or may have prostate cancer. If the tests determine that prostate cancer is present or inevitable, it still does not mean that any action is required.
There are natural herbs and foods that can be used to help the immune system. Most patients with Aids do not die from Aids but from the cancer that resulted from a compromised immune system.
The doctors cautioned people about the things they've heard that will cause or cure cancer. In most cases if you hear about it on television or read it in a magazine, it is not to be relied on. These discussions should be had between you and your doctor for the best, most accurate advice.
The question of research was addressed and a sense of alarm was present as the doctors spoke of the problems with funding and research grants. They implored their rapt audience to push politicians to better fund research before people start choosing other career paths because there is no future in a research program.
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