Herbinator: Hidden agendas

I wrote this letter to the editor in response to the Calgary Herald's feature on the war on cancer. This local blogger picked it up and made a few comments on my letter, saying it was some good news to hear my views. Thanks, Herbinator

Re: "Canada's war on cancer," Oct 30.

You covered only the medical industry's answers to cancer through poison, cut-and-burn techniques. The pharmaceutical establishment's answer to every illness through our sickness care system is to treat the symptom and not the cause. In fact, the prognosis is generally only articulated after the treatment starts because then they have a better idea of how long it will take for the average patient to die as a result of poison, cut and burn.

Pharmacology is a lucrative industry, and has more to gain by ensuring they don't find cures. Your bleak picture supports corporations and shareholders by settling for a discussion on pain management drugs. Essentially, you encourage everyone to face certain death and simply manage the pain.

People participate in droves in the latest walk or run for the cure. Untold millions are raised annually, providing research money for pharmaceutical companies to create more expensive drugs with no results. More lucrative research, more money for the researchers, and no answers, except better pain management?

You failed to highlight alternative therapies where many find answers. Cancer need not be a death sentence. Our bodies make cancer cells every day, and our immune systems destroy them. Paint instead a picture of hope, where people win that war by strengthening their bodies' ability to do the job they were designed to do.

Adele Sanoy, Calgary

Subsequently an offended doctor from the Tom Baker Clinic responded to the article focusing her discussion on the care and hard work of her and her colleagues. Not my point. I am not negating her sincerity or efforts. I wish she would read my letter again.

As long as she continues to be sick of the conspiracy and the controversy over this, she will refuse to look at the facts.