Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 17/11/2014 16:59:37
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Genetic research is pointing towards combination treatments as the way forward for effectively curing cancer in the future.
Read a transcript of the interview by clicking here (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/interviews/interview/1000993/)
or [chapter podcast=1000901 track=14.11.14/Naked_Genetics_14.11.14_1002905.mp3](https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenakedscientists.com%2FHTML%2Ftypo3conf%2Fext%2Fnaksci_podcast%2Fgnome-settings-sound.gif&hash=f2b0d108dc173aeaa367f8db2e2171bd) Listen to it now[/chapter] or [download as MP3] (http://nakeddiscovery.com/downloads/split_individual/14.11.14/Naked_Genetics_14.11.14_1002905.mp3)
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Here's a controversial response.
Cancer research is very interesting as it takes us into the fundamental mechanisms of living cells and demands a whole lot of fascinating stereochemistry, but is it all useful?
Having eliminated most infectious diseases, and having the capability to eliminate hunger, we are living in an unsustainable world where our survival depends on burning fossil fuels to supply the fertilisers and power the sewage plants we need to maintain an increasingly elderly and unproductive population. A small change in the world's climate, which is inevitable, will cause untold hardship to millions of our descendants.
So what, overall, are we trying to achieve? By avoiding one cause of death we increase the probability of another, and add to the potential burden of incompetent, incontinent old people on every aspect of our finite resources. At what point should we say "no more" and allow ourselves and our fellow citizens to die a dignified death instead of spending months or years drugged to the eyeballs and shuttling between hospitals until someone decides to dehydrate us?
I'd like an answer, because as my 70th birthday approaches, I need to plan my exit strategy and explain it to those with a legitimate interest.
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... as my 70th birthday approaches, I need to plan my exit strategy and explain it to those with a legitimate interest.
"Advance directive" ? ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_health_care_directive#England_.26_Wales
or get a tattoo [:)] ...
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.mirror.co.uk%2Fincoming%2Farticle152249.ece%2Falternates%2Fs615%2Fjoy-image-2-35334928.jpg&hash=7bb359341609458a07926b638f0d9f87)
a General Medical Council spokesman said most doctors would ignore her DNR tattoo. He said: “Mrs Tomkins’ tattoo would not be enough information by itself for a doctor to make this decision on in an emergency.”
He said DNR wishes need to be put in writing and witnessed, or for a health attorney to be appointed.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/gran-has-do-not-resuscitate-tattooed-152251
IMO people in the UK should be more concerned about being denied treatment by the NHS, (whose function is to minimize the cost of illness to the state) , rather than worry about the possibility of having treatment administered against their wishes , as the former is the more likely scenario ...
"[some] UK Cancer Survival Rates Below Third World"
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uk-cancer-survival-rates-below-third-world-011145460.html#PmbOgA1
Re : http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2814%2962038-9/abstract