The diagnosis of cancer is certainly one of the most dreaded of human experiences and we all admire the courage of those who must face this malady. Unfortunately, the focus on cancer survivors, a fund-raising and marketing tool for a number of companies and organizations, can be misleading.
Cancer encompasses a wide spectrum of diseases, some of which are far more responsive to current therapies than are others; even specific types of cancer vary widely in their prognosis, depending upon their stage, their aggressiveness and their susceptibility to surgery, drugs and radiation. Furthermore, access to certain treatments may be affected by a number of variables, including financial, social and medical factors.
Cancer survivors are fortunate to have had responsive tumors and the means to treat them. We must not imply that individuals who fail to recover are less courageous, less motivated or somehow less deserving of a cure. Despite our efforts toward the prevention and early diagnosis of cancer, luck continues to play a significant role in its treatment; hopefully, ongoing research and a commitment to universal health care will eventually eliminate this variable and all cancer victims will become survivors.
