Are drug companies denying us the cure for Cancer?
Categories: Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products
Curing cancer is an ultimately important, yet seemingly unattainable goal of organizations and individuals worldwide. But what if the answer was as simple as using a drug that has been around for age? Amazingly, that's what some scientists may believe to the be the key to curing the dreaded disease. Here's the explanation: It was discovered years ago that an inefficient process called glycolysis was used to generate energy in cancerous cells, while healthy cells utilized specialized mechanisms called mitochondria . Glycolysis was always thought to be a symptom of cancerous cells, but some researchers have started to wonder: what if it's the cause?
Studies show that when given a drug called dichloroacetate (DCA for short,) normally used to treat people with mitochondrial diseases, was given to cancer cells, glycolysis stopped and normal the mitochondria process resumed. And, when given to rats, the drugs decreased the size of tumors.
There's a problem though. DCA can't be patented, so drug companies are hesitant to run trials on it because, well, they don't stand to profit from it. So, I may be over simplifying here, but a drug that could change the world is being denied to the public because of the almighty dollar? That's more than a little infuriating -- it's downright disgusting. In the meantime, while drug companies race to find an alternative drug that can be patented and has similar effects to DCA, which will no doubt be outrageously expensive and subsequently not available to the people that need it the most, we'll wait and hope we and our loved ones don't get taken down by the Big C. For some of use, my father for instance, it will be too late.
Studies show that when given a drug called dichloroacetate (DCA for short,) normally used to treat people with mitochondrial diseases, was given to cancer cells, glycolysis stopped and normal the mitochondria process resumed. And, when given to rats, the drugs decreased the size of tumors.
There's a problem though. DCA can't be patented, so drug companies are hesitant to run trials on it because, well, they don't stand to profit from it. So, I may be over simplifying here, but a drug that could change the world is being denied to the public because of the almighty dollar? That's more than a little infuriating -- it's downright disgusting. In the meantime, while drug companies race to find an alternative drug that can be patented and has similar effects to DCA, which will no doubt be outrageously expensive and subsequently not available to the people that need it the most, we'll wait and hope we and our loved ones don't get taken down by the Big C. For some of use, my father for instance, it will be too late.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mike 1-18-2007 @ 4:10PM
greed is what its all about why find a cure that would make you loose your job selling drugs to the public, the CIA funded research and devlopment of the hiv problem under the false name of a vaccine but the war was over now we have a new war and the government will lie in a heartbeat money is what fuels the fire and the medical profession aint gonna loose no money
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Kelly Keane 1-18-2007 @ 4:56PM
I have had cancer 5 times, never made it 5 years cancer free sence I was 19 years old...This story is very upsetting to me to believe that our goverment and so called health care would but the $$$$$ infront of life, not to mention the extreem pain the current treatments put a person through, and lets not even mention the childern who suffer unbelievable with it...GOD help them!
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joe mosley 1-18-2007 @ 5:14PM
I find this completely disgusting. I,ve lost my grandfather,
my father, and numerous other relatives to cancer. 22 years ago
I had colon cancer.Why did I survive when no one else in my
family has? I have no idea. But if this story is true, it really
says a lot about the society we live in.
Reply
Jim Stratton 1-18-2007 @ 4:56PM
Why cant another country like canada or mexico or cuba or germany produce it and do tests on it .If they found a cure for all cancer most people would live to be 120 easily.
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Jim Stratton 1-18-2007 @ 5:13PM
Why cant another country like canada or mexico produce it and test it If it worked people would live to be 120 easily.
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Marva Taylor 1-18-2007 @ 8:15PM
If the drug is not patentable then why can't the public just purchase it and use it? Does this mean that access to the drug is being denied to the public as well?
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walt gooder 1-30-2007 @ 2:43PM
I have been trying to buy Sodium dichloroacetate. It can be purchased without prescription but only to business, industry or institutions is what I have learned. Does anyone know better?
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ljee 2-05-2007 @ 5:10AM
I would so gladly use DCA, but I can't find where to order it... please if somebody knows...help before its too late
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Rebecca 2-05-2007 @ 5:15PM
The drug companies may not be interested, but don't you think health insurance companies could stand to save a lot of money?
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Darrel 2-12-2007 @ 10:08PM
Um, Canada is the one doing the research in the first place....Right at the University of Alberta.
They are going to be running trials in the immediate future. There is no big conspiracy, the researchers have funding - even if it isn't from drug companies. This is not a cure for cancer, at the moment it is only a promising avenue of research.
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Kraig 3-06-2007 @ 1:07AM
I've seen a site where you can purchase DCA for "pet" use. I am not endorsing the use in humans, but want to give the information for those looking for it.
The site is http://www.buydca.com/
Kraig
Reply