| Every year in September millions of Canadians pay | | | | pretty much like the ones that were being used back |
| special tribute to a very special young man named | | | | in 1980 -- surgery, chemo-therapy, and radiation. |
| Terry Fox. Terry was the young Canadian who after | | | | Of course we are told that cancer cure rates have |
| having his leg amputated because of cancer decided | | | | substantially improved. But these statistics are easily |
| he would run across Canada to raise money for | | | | manipulated, and advocates of continuing the current |
| cancer research. That run took place in the spring | | | | research regime have such a vested interest in |
| and summer of 1980 and was known as the | | | | pointing to their success that their claims have to be |
| "Marathon of Hope". | | | | met with at least mild scepticism. |
| After 142 days of running 26 miles a day (a | | | | One source that confirms this scepticism is this quote |
| marathon a day), and after 3339 miles, Terry was | | | | from a 1998 article called "Cancer Research -- a |
| forced to end his run near the city of Thunder Bay, | | | | Super Fraud?". Commenting on the US National |
| Ontario on September 1, 1980. His cancer had | | | | Cancer Program Dr.John Bailer said, |
| returned, and this time it was in his lungs. | | | | "My overall assessment is that the national cancer |
| Several months later while still just 22 years old Terry | | | | programme must be judged a qualified failure" Dr. |
| succumbed to cancer. | | | | John Bailer, who spent 20 years on the staff of the |
| Running for "Cancer Research" | | | | U.S. National Cancer Institute and was editor of its |
| The initial objective of the Marathon of Hope was to | | | | journal. Dr. Bailer also says: "The five year survival |
| raise roughly 25 millions dollars -- one dollar for every | | | | statistics of the American Cancer Society are very |
| Canadian at that time. Terry's goal was actually met | | | | misleading. They now count things that are not |
| before he died, due to donations and pledges made | | | | cancer, and, because we are able to diagnose at an |
| during his run and during a telethon held shortly after | | | | earlier stage of the disease, patients falsely appear |
| he was forced to end his run. | | | | to live longer. Our whole cancer research in the past |
| In that short spring and summer of 1980 Terry had | | | | 20 years has been a total failure. More people over |
| become one of Canada's most important and | | | | 30 are dying from cancer than ever before... More |
| inspirational heroes, and the legacy of the "Marathon | | | | women with mild orbenign diseases are being included |
| of Hope" has lived on for 25 years, increasing in its | | | | in statistics and reported as being 'cured'. When |
| appeal and scope every year. | | | | government officials point to survival figures and say |
| The annual "Terry Fox Run" continues to be held | | | | they are winning the war against cancer they are |
| annually across Canada, the US, and other countries | | | | using those survival rates improperly." |
| around the world. According to current sources, the | | | | Disrepectful? |
| Terry Fox Run has now raised more than $400 million | | | | To many people comments like this sound like an |
| for cancer research. | | | | insult to the millions who have put their hope in a high |
| Are we further ahead after $400 million? | | | | tech cure for cancer. And many are afraid to |
| For Canadians Terry Fox is the ultimate hero, and this | | | | question the status quo because of the respect we |
| makes it sacreligious to even suggest that all is not | | | | have for people like Terry Fox. |
| well with the Marathon of Hope and the "cancer | | | | But I wonder if a 22 year old with the innocence and |
| research" that it fuels. | | | | courage to take on the impossible task of running |
| Nevertheless I suspect Terry himself would be | | | | 5,000 miles on one legwould be happy with the way |
| surprised that we are not further along the road to a | | | | things are today. |
| "cure for cancer" after raising and devoting such an | | | | Would Terry Fox be happy to see that some cancer |
| amazingly large amount of money to that cause. | | | | society branches in the US devote only about 10% |
| The amounts of money raised in the US and other | | | | of the funds they raise to the actual delivery of |
| countries are even more staggering, and in spite of | | | | cancer services? Would he understand why |
| very few tangible results to show for the "research" | | | | substantial portions of cancer society budgets go for |
| that is carried on, people continue to shell out money | | | | the purchase of real estate and buildings rather |
| because they have been told, and continue to believe | | | | thanactually helping cancer victims and doing research |
| that a cure is "right around the corner." | | | | into the causes of cancer? |
| Is it possible that the cancer research industry may | | | | Would he be pleased to learn that the boards of the |
| have become a cushy gravy train for the thousands | | | | major cancer organizations are filled with executives |
| of fund raisers and researchers who make their living | | | | with ties to drug and chemical companies? |
| this way? | | | | Would he take comfort in the fact that the |
| Some critics have even suggested that the "cancer | | | | well-known environmental causes of cancer are |
| industry" has become little more than an arm of the | | | | virtually ignored by researchers because these so |
| pharmaceutical and chemical industries? (For an | | | | often implicate food, chemical and drug companies? |
| interesting article that offers a critical analysis of the | | | | Would he be glad that the efforts of researchers and |
| America Cancer Society, go to American Cancer | | | | fund raisers might actually be standing in the way of |
| Society: The World's Wealthiest "Nonprofit" | | | | real progress in the fight against cancer because |
| Institution. | | | | these researchers are so often in the employ of the |
| Legitimate questions we should be asking | | | | very corporations that profit from the sale of cancer |
| At the very minimum it seems a perfectly legitimate | | | | causing products? |
| question to ask "How much 'cure' has all this money | | | | Back in 1980 when Terry was running through |
| bought us?" | | | | Ontario he was asked by a passerby if he thought |
| I don't know. But I suspect it is not a lot. I may be | | | | he was being used. "I want them to use me more." |
| hopelessly behind the times, but it seems to me that | | | | was Terry's reply. |
| most of the "cures" being practised these days are | | | | |