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Busting the Cure Balloon and Finding a Workable Solution
“The cure cannot come soon enough.” As someone who works in healthcare, and who speaks to patients and their loved ones every day, this is a statement I hear frequently. Whether we’re talking about someone’s cancer diagnosis, or Alzheimer’s Disease, or ALS, or MS, or diabetes… it seems to be everyone’s hope – that a cure is on the horizon. When my father was alive, and in his 24th year after his prostate cancer diagnosis, he lamented the fact that he had exhausted all his treatment options and that nothing else was going to keep his cancer in check. “I just need to stay alive long enough for them to figure out the cure!” he told me. I kept my mouth shut. Because… I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in today’s healthcare environment, the idea of a CURE, for most diseases and maladies, is just plain fantasy. Not gonna happen. (And Dad would have felt like I had busted his balloon.) Why not? Because – as cynical as this sounds (and is) – it’s because curing someone of whatever their disease is means no more money can be made from them. Let me repeat that – and put it into other words – follow the money! The very businesses that tell you they are seeking cures – AREN’T. Because if they cure you, then you are no longer the cash cow you’ve been. As I said – cynical. But when you think about it for a moment – you know it’s true. There are other “cure” related concepts that are ridiculous. One is that “someday there will be a cure for cancer” – which is like saying “someday all politicians will agree.” bone cancer cells Oh come on!! In effect, “cancer” is dozens (hundreds?) of different diseases! They may all – mechanically – work in similar ways, as zombie, dividing, invasive cells. But they will all require different treatments employing many different approaches; not just one treatment for “cancer.” Even pain can’t be cured. It can be reduced through management using drug and physical therapies. Medical science, and the drug, biologic, and device companies, are all about helping you MANAGE your pain. They would love for you to become dependent on their products – because, of course, they can make a fortune from that. OK. Now that I’ve popped your fantasy balloon of finding a “cure”…
