The costly war on cancer

While we are discussing cancer here are two interesting TED talks about it:
TED Blog | Understanding cancer through proteomics: Danny Hillis on TED.com
William Li: Can we eat to starve cancer? | Video on TED.com

The first discusses about how we are approaching cancer the wrong way (even by how we name it after parts of the body). And talks about the analysis of proteins as a new method for fighting cancer. The second talks about anti-angiogenesis to effectively pull back veins to stop "feeding" tumors.

Originally Posted by unsung truth

William Li: Can we eat to starve cancer?

I was going to post this up myself before I saw you had! Further, I have heard that moderate to fast growing cancers can only use glucose for fuel, not ketones. I've seen several sources that suggest that a high fat, moderate protein, low carb diet can halt/reverse cancer by shifting the body into ketosis and starving the cancer of glucose. If this is true, I believe everyone should know it. It seems like we should already, eh? To me, it's indicative of the information not being profitable.

Off topic, I've also heard that our most deadly ailments are caused by insulin/insulin resistance, including heart disease, cholesterol, and cancer. Something to research and consider for your own life, I'd think!

Dichloroacetic Acid (DCA) can induce apoptosis in cancer cells in the right doses.

A big cost in America is that to currently our best way to treat cancer (assuming it can't just be surgically removed) is with a form of radiation therapy. Two things that are going to cause a severe cost raise due to this:

1. As the technology developes, and more machines such as the Proton Radiation Therapy device are installed in hospitals, both the high initial cost of the machine and the still shockingly high cost of running the machine will cause a price rise in cancer treatment.

2. Due to the intense fear that Americans have over anything that is even slightly related to Nuclear Technology, over-regulation and an over-abundance of false malpractice suits will also drive up prices of new Nuclear Medical technologies.

It's a sad field that I'm going into, but hey, irradiating people! :D

The US government actually holds some patents in medical marijuana. Ironic isn't it?