Are Current Cancer Treatments Effective

There has always been the theory that once they operate and the air gets to the cancer, it is downhill from there. When you look at the many people who have cancer, who then have surgery, and are then worse off, you have to wonder. Perhaps it is an illusion. Perhaps they would have gone downhill anyway.

We seem to be fairly good at detecting cancers, at least those in mid to late stages. Most treatments are ineffective at this stage of the disease. What we are not good at is detecting cancers in the very early stages where treatments can be very effective. If caught early cancer treatments can be very effective. We are not good in the predictive sciences - but then there is not a lot of money in predictive medicine which is a shame since prevention is better than any cure.

That really is the issue. Dollars. Drug A is good at fighting the cancer - but it has side affects so drug B is required. Drug B has side affects so drug C is required. Meanwhile, just to be safe, doctors also use drug A1 - also with side effects - and on it goes. The reality is that one super drug could do the trick, but that is less money for the drug companies. A preventative drug would be even better.

Are current cancer treatments effective - yes - at filling the drug company bank accounts. Are they effective in treating the patient - often yea if diagnosed early enough - otherwise, the treatment can be worse than the disease.