October Cancer Awareness Month: What Good is Science or Fundraising for People with Cancer Who Are Treated Inhumanely?

Today in our community there was a walk for the race for a cure against Breast Cancer. The women involved in the walk were so proud of themselves and shared their stories of who in their life had survived Cancer. They were dressed from head to toe in pink with their pink ribbons.

And they stopped me and asked me why I wasn’t racing for a cure?

As many of you know I have lost my Mother to Cancer in January and we were denied any services in our community including but not limited to Hospice but for the last three days of her life and only at the Hospice Center. And as a person who has lived through this I see that there is hypocrisy in the entire fund raising and racing for a cure.

Research is great. I am a researcher. I appreciate Science but when basic human services are not being provided to screen and provide early detection of cancer let alone provide humane and compassionate care for those who are suffering from cancer, research is a moot point. So much money is focused on research and so little monies to provide basic human services. What is the point of Race for the Cure?

Children don’t have health care in this country. They don’t have education and people don’t have jobs. And if you or your family member gets cancer you are on your own. There are not even primary care giver support groups. Cancer support is completely disorganized but everyone outside of it and sitting on the side lines are making themselves feel good by raising money. I remember it last year at this time and they had the stand up to cancer fundraiser. And I was caring for my dying Mother thinking where is all the money going? Anyone who stands up to cancer gets mowed down by it and again there was not an ounce of compassion for my Mother, my autistic child or myself. I didn’t get one day of respite care in two years. And all this money everyone pays to make themselves feel important and good, where does it all go? Because my family never saw a dime of it. And if you think it was to pay for cancer care, think again. While my Mother was dying in Hospice I had her bill collectors calling me and demanding I pay her medical bills. Why would anyone give another dime to cancer research until people and their families who are stricken with the disease are treated humanely?

Fundamentally, we have to ask ourselves what good is any research if we have lost our humanity for other people.

I have lived this. There was no one for us. And ten months later we still haven’t been provided any support. When humanity fails what good is Science? And if Science is not good when Humanity fails then why fundraise for Cancer besides grease pockets of those making a fortune off the hardships of others?

I realize this may sound really harsh but it is reality of what happens when you or your family member suffers from cancer and don’t think it can’t be you. We thought it couldn’t be us as well.