Same Guys, Different Room: Why we don’t have a Breast Cancer Vaccine

We could, you see, have a preventive breast cancer vaccine sooner, not later. I remember in my conversations with Dr Devra Davis, we talked about the ridiculously long delay for the declaration that smoking causes cancer; yup, the money was in the tobacco, and many of the honchos in the ACS were smokers.  So, it would seem to me that now the money is in big Pharma, and the FDA just doesn’t have the baba....guts (keeping it clean) to stand up to them or to turn down the money.  I read that in August 2011, the FDA gave Dr Keith Knutson the approval to proceed to the trial phase for two new cancer vaccines that fight cancer; the goal—to prevent recurrence.  While this is huge, what struck me is that maybe the FDA and Big Pharma thought this was okay because the caveat is that you won’t qualify for the vaccine unless you’ve already agreed to take their toxic and very expensive chemo.  So what if women don’t want to be diagnosed with breast cancer; have they considered this?  Have they considered that many don’t want to be told they have to accept chemo? Apparently not.  However, it moves; we will see this vaccine—if we live long enough.  Thank you, Dr Kathleen Ruddy for an informative and humorous post.  I have no doubt that this vaccine will become a reality; my hope is that it is sooner than later. http://breastcancerbydrruddy.com/?p=4183#more-4183

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. Find Elyn at www.elynjacobs.wordpress.com. To tune into the Survive and Live Well show, visit www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm, EST.

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Click here to view Elyn’s story on CNN Money–Seven cancer survivors confronted life-threatening diseases and turned their experiences into successful small business ideas; read the stories of survivors whose cancer inspired them to help others with cancer.