Monday, April 1, 2013

Conspiracy Theories and Cancer

Stop me if you've heard this one before: Cancer is cured. It has been for a long time. But the [fill in the blank] are keeping the cure a secret because they're making so much money treating cancer patients.

That's a theory that's been going around for I don't know how many years. Usually, the alleged conspirators in this plot are the pharmaceutical companies who don't want to let in on the cure because it would eat into their profits. They're also experimenting on people. And, by the way, don't eat the Soylent Green. See, I do love science fiction, but there's more than just a space separating science from fiction.

There's so much crazy out there that I expect to hear conspiracy theories from everyone.. about everything. I just didn't expect to hear the cancer conspiracy theory from a nurse. Here's how it went down.

I was visiting my primary care physician and as I sat in the exam room, I saw this magazine:


As an editor, this sensationalist headline bugs the crap out of me. Granted, I've never had to compete on the newsstand like Time does, but the idea that a magazine journalist is going to reveal to the world how to cure cancer is absurd, misleading, insulting, and, to all the people looking for answers and hope, cruel. So I was about to engage my nurse on the subject.

Me: "Oh, I see you have the Time magazine that's gotten a bit of attention."

Nurse: "Oh yeah, that. Well, they found the cure a long time ago."

Me (doing my best Scooby Doo): "Huh?"

Nurse: "Yeah, I heard that years ago at Dana-Farber, they..."

Me: "You know I work at Dana-Farber?"

Nurse: "Oh. Well, didn't they fire a, um, not a doctor. What do they call them?"

Me: "A researcher?"

Nurse: "Yeah. They fired him because..."

I'll just stop the conversation there... NOT because she stopped. Oh no, she continued. She continued, even after I added that I'm not just a Dana-Farber employee, but also a CANCER PATIENT! She claimed that Dana-Farber didn't want to cure cancer because they made so much money treating cancer patients. Dana-Farber. A non-profit. That has curing cancer as part of its mission. Now, I'm not naive enough to think that just because you attach a non-profit label to your organization, you guarantee goodness. But I've seen the dedication and commitment of Dana-Farber doctors, nurses, and what do you call them, oh yeah, the researchers up close. And, you know what, they have cured some cancers. And hopefully more cures are on the horizon. But there is no conspiracy.

I wanted to scream at her but I remained polite. She was a nurse and she had to take my vitals. Plus she probably had access to needles and other sharp things.

Look, everyone's entitled to their opinion - crazy as it may sound. But if you're going to be a nurse, shouldn't you have the trust and faith in your fellow healthcare professionals? Shouldn't you at least vet some of your crazy theories before your launch them on your patients? Or at least, check your patient's chart before you open your mouth.

--Michael


14 comments:

  1. Yes if you are going to be a nurse you should have trust and faith in your fellow healthcare professionals! I agree!!
    That was very unprofessional to say what she did to you. Sometimes I wonder what goes on in people's heads.. Think before you speak!!
    I have been a patient at Dana Farber for 10 years this April and do not believe any conspiracy is going on there!! I was diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer ( follicular non Hodgkin's lymphoma) in 2003 and thanks to the dedication and commitment of my doctors and nurses I am here 10 years later cancer free. People are living longer and having longer durable remissions with fnhl because they are making great strides forward because I believe there is no conspiracy theory.
    Donna
    Fnhl survivor

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. WHAT A GREAT MIRACLE THAT I HAVE EVER SEE IN MY LIFE. My names are Robert Mary
       I’m a citizen of United Kingdom, My younger sister was Sick of
      breast cancer and her name is Robert Jane, I and my family have taking
      her to all kind of hospital in UK still yet no good result. I decided
      to go to the internet and search for cancer cure so that was how I
      find a lady called Sarah peter she was testifies to the world about
      the goodness of a herbal man who has the root and half to cure all
      kind of disease and the herbal email was there. So I decided to
      contact the herbal man for my younger sister help to cure her breast
      cancer. I contacted him and told him my problem he told me that I
      should not worry that my sister cancer will be cure, he told me that
      there is a medicine that he is going to give me that I will cook it
      and give it to my sister to drink for one week, so I ask how can I
      receive the cure that I am in UK, he told me That I will pay for the delivery service.  The courier service can transport it to me so he told me the amount I will pay, so my dad paid for the delivery fee. two days later I receive the cure from the courier service so I used it as the herbal man instructed me to,
      before the week complete my sister cancer was healed and it was like a
      dream to me not knowing that it was physical I and my family were very
      happy about the miracle of Doctor so my dad wanted to pay him 5
      million us dollars the herbal man did not accept the offer from my dad,but I don't know why he did not accept the offer,he only said
      I should tell the world about him and his miracle he perform so am now
      here to tell the world about him if you or your relative is having any
      kind of disease that you can't get from the hospital please contact
      Dr.ogididanspelltemple@gmail.com or WhatsApp  him +2347065002556,instragram @ogigidanofficial  for the cure, he will help you out
      with any problems you have.To get more information you can message me via email  robertmary8947@gmail.com

      Delete
  2. Unprofessional and tactless, not to mention incredibly stupid! But like all conspiracy theorists ....

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  5. My support in your fight, it must not be easy for you.
    Still there are evidence that the cancer rate growth last few decades and it has to be connected with some reason. Stress, bad food, pollution ???
    Someone has to know why, so it is suspicious why there are not information, or they are hidden.
    As far as I know vegetarians has lower cancer rate, and people living in non urban areas.
    Additionally if someone analyze the pig flu panic from few years ago, it is no surprisingly why people do not believe to pharmacists and doctors.

    I hope you will win.

    Best wishes

    George

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hmmm. This book is really interesting! Many cancer alternative treatment center guys will surely appreciate this! Keep blogging! Have a nice day.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What more could i have need in life when i was healed by Dr. Iroko who helped me with the herbal medicine which i used for my bone cancer. it was already stage 5 and i thought death was the only option for me. But God used my son to help me who saw on the internet that there is a Dr. called Iroko who can help cure my sickness even when it was already at stage 5 i contacted this man and tell him my problems and told me to come down that i will be fine. He sent me a herbal medicine which i bought from him and he told me to drink from it 2 times a day which i did and he told me that if i do that for a week i will be fine. The first time i took from the herb i know i will be heal cause i feel the reaction of the drug, i five days time i was ok and i called him and told him that my pains where gone he told me that i need to make sure i take it for the remaining 2 days and i did and now my pains are gone. When my situation was too big for the hospital i run to dr. iroko and i will forever be grateful to him. His contact email is

    herbalbestsolution23@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. A conspiracy is something that only need a few to be carried out.
    Then they just need to filter the information available to us and there you go. Look for real testimonies in youtube.

    ReplyDelete
  9. few week ago I felt some pains and I went to the hospital my doc told me I had hpv about 1 yr and I need to start the treatment early, he gave me some medicine to be taking and I told him no I’ll not, because I hated taking medicine when I won’t not see cure for the purpose. After I got home I started getting worried searching for strong advice and I found valid natural treatment online lot people says they got hpv cure from Dr onokun and I email Dr Onokun 3 days passed, I purchase his cure online some weeks after the process taking his treatment i got cured. I went for checkup twice after taking the natural treatment from the herbalist called Dr onokun and i tested negative. contact him on email: Dronokunherbalcure@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. few week ago I felt some pains and I went to the hospital my doc told me I had hpv about 1 yr and I need to start the treatment early, he gave me some medicine to be taking and I told him no I’ll not, because I hated taking medicine when I won’t not see cure for the purpose. After I got home I started getting worried searching for strong advice and I found valid natural treatment online lot people says they got hpv cure from Dr onokun and I email Dr Onokun 3 days passed, I purchase his cure online some weeks after the process taking his treatment i got cured. I went for checkup twice after taking the natural treatment from the herbalist called Dr onokun and i tested negative. contact him on email: Dronokunherbalcure@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I’m here to testify about what Dr Oseremendid for me. I have been suffering from (GENITAL HERPES VIRUS) disease for the past 4 years and had constant pain and inching, especially in my private part. During the first year, I had faith in God that i would be cured someday.This disease started circulating all over my body and I have been taking treatment from my doctor, few weeks ago I came across a testimony of Rose Smith on the internet testifying about a Man called Dr Oseremen on how he cured her from 7 years HSV 2. And she also gave the email address of this man, advise anybody to contact him for help on any kind of diseases that he would be of help, so I emailed him telling him about my (HSV 2) he told me not to worry that I was going to be cured!! Well, I never doubted him I have faith he can cure me too,, Dr Oseremen prepared and sent me Healing Oil, Soap, roots and herbs which I took. In the first one week, I started experiencing changes all over me, after four weeks of using his Roots/ Herbs, Oil and Soap, I was totally cured. no more inching , pain on me anymore as Dr Oseremen assured me. After some time I went to my doctor to do another test behold the result came out negative. So friends my advise is if you have such disease or know anyone who suffers from it or any other disease like HPV, HBV, HIV, ALS, HBP, CANCER etc. you can contact Dr oseremenfor help via dr.oseremenvadi@gamil.com or whatsapp +2349056394313

    ReplyDelete
  12. WHAT A GREAT MIRACLE THAT I HAVE EVER SEE IN MY LIFE. My names are Robert Mary
     I’m a citizen of United Kingdom, My younger sister was Sick of
    breast cancer and her name is Robert Jane, I and my family have taking
    her to all kind of hospital in UK still yet no good result. I decided
    to go to the internet and search for cancer cure so that was how I
    find a lady called Sarah peter she was testifies to the world about
    the goodness of a herbal man who has the root and half to cure all
    kind of disease and the herbal email was there. So I decided to
    contact the herbal man for my younger sister help to cure her breast
    cancer. I contacted him and told him my problem he told me that I
    should not worry that my sister cancer will be cure, he told me that
    there is a medicine that he is going to give me that I will cook it
    and give it to my sister to drink for one week, so I ask how can I
    receive the cure that I am in UK, he told me That I will pay for the delivery service.  The courier service can transport it to me so he told me the amount I will pay, so my dad paid for the delivery fee. two days later I receive the cure from the courier service so I used it as the herbal man instructed me to,
    before the week complete my sister cancer was healed and it was like a
    dream to me not knowing that it was physical I and my family were very
    happy about the miracle of Doctor so my dad wanted to pay him 5
    million us dollars the herbal man did not accept the offer from my dad,but I don't know why he did not accept the offer,he only said
    I should tell the world about him and his miracle he perform so am now
    here to tell the world about him if you or your relative is having any
    kind of disease that you can't get from the hospital please contact
    Dr.ogididanspelltemple@gmail.com or WhatsApp  him +2347065002556,instragram @ogigidanofficial  for the cure, he will help you out
    with any problems you have.To get more information you can message me via email  robertmary8947@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. HOW I GOT CURED FROM LUPUS DISEASE,
    I'm here to testify about what Dr.Ovie did for me. I have been suffering from (LUPUS DISEASE) for the past 4 years and had constant pain,especially inside my body. During the first year,I had faith in God that I would be healed someday. This disease started circulating all over my body and I have been taking treatment from my doctor, few weeks ago. I came across a testimony of a lady on the internet testifying about a Herbalist Dr called Dr.Ovie on how he cured her from LUPUS DISEASE. And she also gave the email address of this man and advise anybody to contact him for help for any kind of sickness that he would be of help.so I emailed him telling him about my (LUPUS DISEASE) he told me not to worry that i was going to be cured!! Well i never believed it,, well after all the procedures and remedy given to me by this Dr. Ovie a few weeks later i started experiencing changes all over me as Dr. Ovie assured me that I will be cured,after some time. i went to my doctor to confirm if i have been finally healed behold it was TRUE,the test came out negative. So friends my advice is if you have such sickness or any other at all you can contact Dr. Ovie for help.You can contact him on email> ovie.miraclemedicine1@gmail.com or contact Dr Ovie on yahoo email> ovie.miraclemedicine1@yahoo.com  Call or WhatsApp Dr on +2349056393169  Dr Ovie is specialized in curing the following,DIABETES HEPATITISCANCERHIV/AIDSUNABLE TO GET PREGNANTLUPUS STROKEHSV 1&2HPVPARKINSON DISEASE.

    ReplyDelete