Ask A Cancer Survivor » Chemotherapy http://askacancersurvivor.com Surviving Cancer Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:15:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 The Chemotherapy Profit Motive Part two http://askacancersurvivor.com/chemotherapy/the-chemotherapy-profit-motive-part-two http://askacancersurvivor.com/chemotherapy/the-chemotherapy-profit-motive-part-two#comments Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:34:50 +0000 admin-cancer-survivor http://askacancersurvivor.com/?p=99 In my previous post The Chemotherapy Profit Motive Part one I pointed out that oncologists are the only group of doctors who are permitted to buy drugs wholesale (chemotherapy drugs) and sell them retail.  I questioned if the motivation for treating cancer patients with chemotherapy might be based on the profit they make by doing so.  I like to think that they choose chemotherapy based on the information they have on the benefits to the cancer patient of chemotherapy.

And where do you think the oncologists get their information about the drugs they are selling? It comes from the pharmaceutical sales person. Do you think that information might be biased?

How did this practice start? It started because Medicare and the insurance companies wanted to save money by transferring cancer treatments out of the hospital and into the hands of private practice oncologists. Again, it’s all about the money. Unfortunately, that greed backfired and we the patients are paying the price. Since that policy was initiated, prices for many cancer drugs soared to tens of thousands of dollars a year.

All chemotherapy drugs used in the United States have been approved by the FDA. Does that make them safe? Do you think pharmaceutical companies influences the FDA into approving dangerous drugs the way they influence the private practice cancer doctors? I do.

I believe the pharmaceutical companies, and their lobbyists, have too much influence over the decision-making and policy of oncologists and the FDA.

It is well known that the FDA has allowed many drugs, including chemotherapy, to remain on the market in spite of serious risk factors. How did it come to pass that dangerous drugs get approved by the FDA and oncologists make significant profits from selling them? Meet the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the drug industry trade group

PhRMA lobbied for the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) of 1992. The drug industry agreed to help finance the approval process – in exchange for an FDA promise to speed up its deliberations. Does this make the FDA financially beholden to the industry it is supposed to regulate? I think so.

There are many natural non-toxic chemotherapies that kill malignancies. Laetrile, which is basically vitamin B17 selectively seeks out and destroys cancer cells and is available in many plant foods. It does that without harming healthy cels. Maybe the farmers who grow those plants should give oncologists a commission for selling their crops.

In spite of the tone of this article, I AM NOT AGAINST going to an oncologist for cancer treatment. I am not against all chemotherapy treatments. I am suggesting that you do get a second opinion.

I almost died from my first two rounds of chemotherapy (Read My Story). I also felt the first group of oncologists were arrogant and egotistical. I wasn’t at all comfortable with them. I then returned to the cape where I live and started my treatment all over again. My doctor on the cape, Dr. Victor Aviles, did in fact treat me with chemotherapy. It was not the same drug as the Boston doctors used. I do not believe he chose this drug because of the profit motive. It was the drug best suited for my particular cancer. I always felt very comfortable with him.  In fact I believe I owe my life to him

My closing thought. If you are not totally comfortable with your doctor, get another one. There are wonderful, dedicated and honest oncologists out there. You may have to visit several to find the right one for you.

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]]> http://askacancersurvivor.com/chemotherapy/the-chemotherapy-profit-motive-part-two/feed 1 The Chemotherapy Profit Motive http://askacancersurvivor.com/chemotherapy/the-chemotherapy-profit-motive http://askacancersurvivor.com/chemotherapy/the-chemotherapy-profit-motive#comments Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:57:57 +0000 admin-cancer-survivor http://askacancersurvivor.com/?p=95 Have you ever heard a cancer survivor say, “The treatment was worse than the disease?”  I’ve certainly said that. Why do you think that, even though there are serious and dangerous side effects of chemotherapy, it is still the choice treatment of many oncologists? Could it be because administering chemotherapy is very profitable for the oncologists?

Did you know that oncologists are allowed to profit from the sale of chemotherapy drugs? It is totally restricted and exclusive for oncologists. I don’t know of any other group of doctors who are allowed to profit from the sale of drugs.

Think about this. A noteworthy amount of income for oncologists comes from the profit they make from selling the chemotherapy drugs. Do you think that is why chemotherapy is is the treatment of choice by many oncologists? Is it “All about the money?”

Do you think oncologists might be influenced to give you the drug that they’re going to make the most profit from? I like to have the faith that my doctor has my best interest at heart. Unfortunately, the money incentives, does something to destroy my faith.

Oncologists are very much like the business owners of retail stores. According to a recent NBC News Report, oncologists make most of their income by buying products (drugs) wholesale and selling them to patients at retail.

Like any business owner, the private practice oncologists, are entitled to, and deserve to make a living. My question is; should they make their money from treating patients or by SELLING the drugs? Other types of doctors don’t have that option.

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