"This year marks the 50th anniversary of the “War on Cancer” declared by Richard Nixon, a former President of the United States of America. By signing into law the National Cancer Act on December 23, 1971, Nixon hoped this action to be the landmark legislation taken by his administration. Nixon apparently had confidence that cancer would be conquered in 5 years."
You're right, there are a small handful of unusual cancers that we have cures for, and that's great. And some small progress has been made overall. But a lot of money has been spent, and it has been half a century or more, and we don't have much to show for our efforts.
> You're right, there are a small handful of unusual cancers that we have cures for, and that's great. And some small progress has been made overall. But a lot of money has been spent, and it has been half a century or more, and we don't have much to show for our efforts.
Yes, it would be better if we had more complete treatments but it’s far from nothing. I have a friend who was given 6 months to live a couple decades ago, right before a treatment for his not especially rare cancer was approved. He didn’t expect to see his daughter leave elementary school but is still around for her post college career – and as a scientist himself is keenly aware of how much hard work made that possible. We can simultaneously acknowledge that progress has been made but cancer is one of the hardest problems humanity has tackled.
You're right, there are a small handful of unusual cancers that we have cures for, and that's great. And some small progress has been made overall. But a lot of money has been spent, and it has been half a century or more, and we don't have much to show for our efforts.