Cancer expert given experimental treatments for incurable brain tumour
I applaud these researchers, but I have to admit this quote made my blood boil:>> "I can only do this because I'm a cancer researcher and clinician and so inherently understand the risks," he said.As a cancer survivor, and someone who lost a loved one to glioblastoma, I despise this mindset. The idea that us "common folk" aren't intelligent or educated enough to make the decision to join risky trials is maddening.I fully understand and support this mindset when it's regarding minor diseases. But if someone has 6-9 months to live, and zero chance of survival, I think they have every right to choose to be used as guinea pigs.I know my relative would have LEAPED at this sort of opportunity. She was given 6-10 months, and was dead by 4.At the time, there was an on-going trial she was rejected for, because she had a minor preexisting condition, and thus is it was "too risky." I remember her saying that she would rather die in 2 weeks and help push science forward, then helplessly linger for a couple more months.I am hopeful that the rapid development of the COVID vaccine may have flipped a switch in biotech, and may lead to more risky and experimental trials for truly deadly diseases, such as glioblastoma.If not, I will continue to look to China for hopeful developments. They seem to have more relaxed barriers for trials, and I firmly believe this is one of the reasons their biotech industry is exploding at such a rapid pace.