End of suffering, death from cancer predicted by 2015
March 14 2008 / by futuretalk / In association with Future Blogger.net
Category: Health & Medicine Year: 2015 Rating: 13
By Dick Pelletier
In 2003, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, then director of the National Cancer Institute outlined his goal to eliminate suffering and death from cancer by 2015. “This prediction does not mean that we will eliminate cancer by then,” he said, “I don’t know when that will happen. But the challenge is to understand the disease and create interventions so that no one will suffer and die prematurely from cancer.”
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton supports von Eschenbach’s
goal to end death and suffering from cancer by 2015. If elected,
Clinton promises to end discrimination by insurance companies
against cancer patients and will double the National Institutes of
Health and 
National Cancer Institute budgets. In addition, she will
increase by fivefold the number of patients participating in cancer
clinical trials.
“Cancer is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for people under age 85,” Clinton says. “One in two men and one in three women will get cancer in their lifetime, and more than 1,500 Americans die every day from this dreaded disease. We must strive to change these awful statistics.”
This makes cancer the second deadliest disease category, after heart disease. But while mortality rates for heart disease and many other sicknesses have dropped by more than half since 1950, cancer death rates have stayed pretty much the same.
Equally dismal are the economic costs associated with cancer. In 2005, the economy suffered losses of more than $200 billion, mostly due to work time lost from cancer treatments and deaths caused by the disease.
Experts divide the war on cancer into three phases – detection, treatment, and monitoring, and many believe that tomorrow’s nanotech systems offer the best chance for defeating cancer.
Early Detection provides the best chance for patient survival. Tumor cells typically divide 40-50 times during their life cycle; but by the time physicians spot the tumor, it is often more than 80% mature and growing too fast to be stopped. However, researchers believe that soon-to-be-developed nanotech systems will identify cancer cells much earlier, giving doctors plenty of time for successful intervention.
Today, Treatment involves chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery, but these do not always work. However, proposed nano-devices zero in on cancer cells creating tiny “nano-bubbles” that destroy cancer without harming neighboring cells. This will eliminate negative side effects such as hair loss and weakened immune systems.
Monitoring involves detecting recurring cancer after initial treatment and remission. Nano-technologists are developing an easy-to-use sensor that will perform quick cancer checks and predict the potential danger of tumors. This system will improve efficiency of point-of-care and clinical testing, and provide near real-time diagnostics during surgery.
Most researchers consider the approaches described above as strong likelihood for success. But some cancers are drug resistant or they mutate after initial therapy and even these futuristic nano-treatments may be ineffective. This is where a more drastic approach may be needed.
Futurist Ray Kurzweil believes that to eradicate cancer permanently will require development of tiny nano-robots that could become reality by 2025 or before. These “smart” ‘bots will flow through the bloodstream correcting faulty DNA, keeping our bodies in perfect health forever.
Get ready to enjoy an amazing cancer-free “magical future.”
Comment Thread (5 Responses)
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I think that most cancers will be manageable by then but wouldn’t be surprised to see a few remain intractable.
Posted by: Jeff March 15, 2008
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Interesting piece on News of the Future located here that argues that in 2020 “the number of new cases of cancer could “exceed 16 million worldwide” due to “the growing and aging population, and adoption of unhealthy lifestyles.” Hmm… interesting perspective, but seems entirely accel-unaware to me. I bet you’d disagree as well, Dick?
Posted by: Marisa Vitols March 15, 2008
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In 2005, NCI announced a five-year plan commitment to develop and apply nanotech to fight cancer. “Nanotechnology has the potential to radically increase our options for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer,” officials said.
To carry out the commitment, NCI has created affiliations with key universities, research centers, and laboratories; and will also expand collaborations with the FDA to insure that breakthroughs reach clinics in a timely manner.
It is because of this enthusiasm that many forward-thinkers are convinced that all cancers can be manageable by 2015 – nobody will suffer the pain and death that cancer dishes out today.
Posted by: futuretalk March 15, 2008
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I’m not worried about the technology. It’s available, it’s out there waiting to be discovered. My concern is the lack of money going toward its R and D. Pharmaceutical companies make so much money from treatment, not prevention, so it’s in their interest that people continue to have AIDS, cancer, etc. And because the pharmaceutical companies have tons of lobbyists, although politicians say they’re “for finding that cure” somehow it never ends up on the agenda because special interests get in the way. OR, as in recent years, government funding for the sciences has been significantly cut because there are “more important issues” to put money towards (let’s not go there…).
So my question is, since it isn’t profitable for the companies (not blaming them, just a fact) and the government doesn’t see it as a priority to channel money toward scientific R and D, how long is it going to take for us to reach these break-throughs? Hopefully the quantification of legislative procedures or accurately totaling deaths, lost capital, etc. will force this stuff onto the agenda. Or maybe we’ll rely on other countries for medical tourism?
Posted by: Fishka March 17, 2008
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While tomorrow’s medicines opens up huge markets and profit potential, entire classes of existing pharmaceuticals such as chemotherapy agents worth billions in revenues will be displaced. But financial consultants say not to worry. Today’s 10 billion dollar nano-health industry will soon grow to 100 billion, and with expected advances, it could one day become a trillion dollar industry.
Today’s drug companies that stand to get hurt as this future evolves, will simply move into new technologies and become stronger than ever.
Posted by: futuretalk March 17, 2008
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