Too Many Cancer "Cures"

I know that curing cancer or at least helping to fight it is very important, not only for the victims but for researchers as well. However, we need to draw the line somewhere when pharmaceutical companies use it as a competition. I usually read about anything that has to do with cancer in Google and Yahoo! news, but today will be the last time that I take them at all seriously without proof.
Apparently, 2 companies have made statements today about their drugs being a cure for cancer. #1 says it is the best and #2 says it is better than company #1. So who do we believe? Answer: None of the above.
At the bottom of each article was also a statement given by the companies telling how much they plan to make off of the drug and how much there stocks have risen. Is money really the important part of research or is it healing. I would opt for the latter, but then again, I am not a scientist or a money hungry mongrel, and I do in fact have cancer. Are they trying to cure cancer or just their bank accounts?

Note: I refuse to list the names of the companies I am writing about due to the fact that I do not agree with their ethics and will not give any additional publicity to them.

Is Early Detection Helpful?

You may want to automatically exclaim "Yes!"..but you would be wrong. According to recent studies, early detection of relapses in certain cancers does not have any significant effect on treatments.
A study conducted in 10 different countries included 265 women who had early detection tests and began chemotherapy and 264 women who waited for symptoms to arise before seeking chemo. In conclusion, the 2 groups showed the same survival rate as well as the ones who chose early detection proved to that chemotherapy worsened their quality of life.
So is early detection helpful or harmful? Is chemotherapy all that they say it is? Should we spend the money on tests that really aren't necessary?

Note: the "early detection" is for relapses of cancer..not for initial diagnosis. I haven't found any study about initial diagnosis as of yet, but will keep you posted if I do

Stem Cells and Cancer

Ok, I found this very interesting. In a recent report, scientists are now developing a way to fight cancer using stem cells from bone marrow. Now, I know that stem cell research is controversial (I for one believe in it as long as the cells are from your own body), but if they can take a portion of some of YOUR own bone marrow and eliminate your cancer, then I am all for it. The stem cells attack only tumors and not healthy tissue and your body will not recognize them as foreign invaders, leaving it safe and effective.
So far this study has been conducted on mice and in cultures, but has proved to be effective in lung, breast, and cervical cancers. Not to mention it is showing a promising 38% success rate. Though this is not available as of yet, the hope is for human trials to begin in 2 - 3 years.