Is it really the case that we’ve made no substantial progress on cancer? The current age-adjusted mortality rate is the same as in 1930, and the recent decline only tracks the fall in smoking.https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/the-cancer-industry-hype-vs-reality/ …
-
-
Yet one more piece of momentum that broke in the early ‘70s?
-
Have you seen this chart from Medical Nihilism? Suggests that Dan is on to something. https://www.amazon.com/Medical-Nihilism-Jacob-Stegenga/dp/0198747047 …pic.twitter.com/KoaYOk5JBM
- 4 more replies
New conversation -
-
-
I thought this was interesting since local incentives presumably push him to be *optimistic* about rate of progress.
-
What about Gleevec et al? I'm sympathetic to the concerns over early diagnosis distorting the stats but there seem to have been some real innovations, moreso in cancer than other fields.
- 12 more replies
New conversation -
-
-
Keith, astounding book! One of the reasons Electronic Medicine will define the 2020s. We are at the precise of something quite grand. It is an amazing moment in time: https://twitter.com/brianroemmele/status/1227723706178256898?s=21 …https://twitter.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1227723706178256898 …
- 1 more reply
New conversation -
-
I think it depends a lot on the metrics. The stat that my old job uses is that 10 year survival in the UK has gone from 24% in 1970 to 50% in 2010. I now work for the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation and 5 yr survival rates have gone from 13% in the 50s to 85% now.
-
So definitely progress, it just shows up in different ways. And as you say, non-treatment factors mean its a bit of a moving target. Hope the new wave of immunotherapies and personalised medicine can make a big impact either way.https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers/our-research-strategy …
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
Totally true. If you add all gov funding, US, Rest of World, private funding, Pharma investment, the progress is embarrassing!
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
-
-
I think context is needed. Compared to infectious disease or even to the first wave of cancer therapeutics, progress has been frustratingly slow, and for some particular diseases it's been non-existent since 1971. But there are others that we're *much* better at treating now.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.