Geesh . . . still kickin' around the wireless power . . / General Chatting / Forums

Forums

4hv.org :: Forums :: General Chatting

« Previous topic | Next topic »

Geesh . . . still kickin' around the wireless power . .

previous 1 2

Move Thread

LAN_403

Chris Russell

Thu Aug 28 2008, 02:42AM

... not Russel!
Registered Member #1 Joined: Thu Jan 26 2006, 12:18AM
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Posts: 1052

Dr. GigaVolt wrote ...

Sounds like you've been watching too many of them Michael Moore movies.

Why no cure for cancer yet? There are plenty of cures. However, each cancer is different and requires its own separate approach. Its like saying, we'll we found a cure for herpes virus, now why can't we cure *ALL* viruses.

Quite true. Cancer isn't something that we really have the technology to cure right now.

It's true that cures are tough to develop, and that treatments are a lot easier. It's also true that treatments mean a lot more recurring income than a cure. It's tempting to then think of it all as a big, dark conspiracy, but the sad fact is that corporations aren't capable of that kind of thinking. They will do what is profitable, always. That means that cancer treatments sometimes take a back seat to erectile dysfunction medicine. AIDS medications won't always get the same level of funding as baldness medications. It's not pretty, but I'm sure Viagra sales are paying the way for an Alzheimer's treatment.

I'm sure if Merck could roll out a pill that could cure all forms of cancer tomorrow, they would. They could charge $50,000 per dose and most people would consider it a bargain, compared to the cost of months of treatment, possibly followed by a lengthy hospitalization and death. They're just not going to spend $500 billion on the off chance that it might be possible.

Ultra7

Thu Aug 28 2008, 03:42AM

Registered Member #1157 Joined: Thu Dec 06 2007, 12:11PM
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 307

Chris Russell wrote ...

Quite true. Cancer isn't something that we really have the technology to cure right now.

I never aimed my comments at cancer.
You guys misunderstood me.
I said that there is more money to be made on treatment of something than a cure for it.

I understand that it is next to impossible to classify "cancer" as just one thing causing all the different maladies.
However, lets take a look back at the last thing that was "Cured".
That was small pox, right?
We get the vaccine as children, and poof, you will never get small pox.
But that might be because small pox spreads like wildfire and kills you before you get a chance to treat it.

Call me a moron if you want.

aonomus

Thu Aug 28 2008, 07:56AM

Registered Member #1497 Joined: Thu May 22 2008, 05:24AM
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 801

I'm a student in the Chem/Bio fields and I know a PHD doing research on a potential cure, but its far off. Half the problem is difficulty in the solution to the problem, the other half is the way the system works (as Chris addressed).

My original statement was mainly as an example of the way research grants work. In the biology research world, cancer is your blank cheque for research grants. In the US, national security and anti-terrorism is your blank cheque for research grants. What the guys in the original article did was try to drum up some interest so that more people know about the field of research and might be more inclined to contribute money towards them.

Chris Russell

Thu Aug 28 2008, 12:21PM

... not Russel!
Registered Member #1 Joined: Thu Jan 26 2006, 12:18AM
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Posts: 1052

Ultra7 wrote ...

However, lets take a look back at the last thing that was "Cured".
That was small pox, right?
We get the vaccine as children, and poof, you will never get small pox.
But that might be because small pox spreads like wildfire and kills you before you get a chance to treat it.

Call me a moron if you want.

A counter to that example would be polio. It's not particularly violent or fatal, at least when compared with something like HIV, but leaves many people injured and needing treatment, yet it got "cured" anyway. Or, for that matter, the HPV vaccines that are out now, that will almost certainly lead to a drastic decrease in cervical cancer rates once in widespread use. If the long term strategy was to purposely require people to become ill and purchase expensive long-term treatments, neither of those would have ever been developed.

Ultra7

Thu Aug 28 2008, 02:48PM

Registered Member #1157 Joined: Thu Dec 06 2007, 12:11PM
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 307

Sorry guys, I was a little "off" last night.
I let my opinions get in the way of reasonable thinking.
I've spent time in a hospital watching my cousin die of leukemia, and saw the whole sense of "detached indifference" from the care givers.
Perhaps my views are skewed on this matter and I need to re-examine them.

Fraggle

Sat Aug 30 2008, 06:16PM

Registered Member #1526 Joined: Mon Jun 09 2008, 12:56AM
Location: UK
Posts: 216

They have little choice but to be that way. If they became involved with every patient they`d be suicidal!
I`m sorry about your cousin :o(

coillah

Wed Sept 03 2008, 12:13AM

Registered Member #1517 Joined: Wed Jun 04 2008, 06:55AM
Location: Chico CA
Posts: 304

so wireless power eh?

pretty nifty

previous 1 2

Moderator(s): Chris Russell, Noelle, Alex, Tesladownunder, Dave Marshall, Dave Billington, Bjørn, Steve Conner, Wolfram, Kizmo, Mads Barnkob