They don't see it as Big Alterna though. That's the thing I don't get. I mean companies and individuals are raking in big bucks because the treatments cost hundreds or thousands of dollars per treatment/dose. In some cases it costs more than conventional medicine, and yet it's not considered money grabbing or greedy where anything with "Big Pharma" is.

Wowwww. They really are trying to kill my sinus infection with fire. I just had a mild freakout over the dosage + length of time I'm on this course of meds, because I (of course) had to google standard dosage. Someone tell me my dr. knows what he's doing?

Sox, what are you taking (drug & dosage)? You can e-mail me if you don't fill like spilling your pharmaceutical guts for the world.

Steph, insent. And thanks.

Ginger, how long were you on anti-bs once they figured it out? If that's not too personal.

I took fairly large doses of clindamycin and Bactrim for about a month. I also put an antibiotic cream in my nose. I got a sheet of instructions for killing staph around the house. My intestines rebelled a little, but it wasn't bad. I don't know what they do if you're allergic to sulfa drugs.

Yeah, a few weeks back someone I otherwise think is credible got into a twitter "discussion" with me over the cancer thing. It's kind of rude to people like me and my friends who work at Genentech (and other companies) and are doing everything they can to conquer that fucking nightmare disease.

I am not disinterested, obviously, because I work at a biotech, but I'd be all for universal healthcare too. It's not just about being greedy. It's about wanting to cure diseases and have everyone have access to the cures.

It's kind of rude to people like me and my friends who work at Genentech (and other companies) and are doing everything they can to conquer that fucking nightmare disease.

What javachik said. Plus I highly doubt that if they'd actually done some testing that would show this magic cancer-killing drug worked, that anyone would be able to keep it a secret. I mean, I'm working on a Phase 1 cancer study now--it's the first time the drug has ever been in humans. And I think I'd notice if magically everyone was cured. And be very excited.

Have the people who hate Big Pharma and think they just want to make money and keep everyone sick and buying their drugs heard of compassionate use programs? We give away so much drugs for free!

I mean, I'm working on a Phase 1 cancer study now--it's the first time the drug has ever been in humans.

Phase I high-five

I'm drug safety lead on a couple Phase I studies right now. It's pretty neat to be there at the beginning. The last Phase I I worked on didn't go so well, but this one is doing better so far.

I have, however, been in a meeting where they explained that the tablet form of the drug was reformulated into a New!Exciting!Capsule. Which, granted, meant the drug was better absorbed...a little. But also meant they were going to stop selling the tablet and start only selling the capsule, at higher prices! Er...

And there are certainly issues with the way drugs are marketed and sold. But that's why I'm in research, not sales.

I'm all for universal healthcare.

But that's why I'm in research, not sales.

Also because you're not a cheerleader.

I just read that somewhere, that they recruit cheerleaders for pharma sales. How...I didn't think they were recruiting cheerleaders for anything much outside of dance-related professions.

They don't see it as Big Alterna though. That's the thing I don't get.

It's a strange blind spot. "But this is snakeoil" doesn't help.

I've been watching this happen on message boards regarding Beastie Boy Adam Yauch and his eastern medicine/vegan diet. They all hail that as a cure. With no mention of the fact that he had the cancer cut out of neck and went through several rounds of radiation treatments. It wasn't a monk or shaman who diagnosed his cancer, either. It was an actual medical doctor with those fancy degrees.

It's not that I'm against drinking herbal tea or switching to a vegan diet. These things are not hurting him, or anyone else, really, and can give someone a sense of control over a body that seems to be actively out of control. You can go to Dana Farber and the doctors will work with you on whatever spiritual/alterna thing you want to do in addition to proven scientific treatments. They want you to feel better emotionally and psychologically as well. If you do, you're likely to continue your treatment and do the things you need to do to get well.

So that irks me. The idea that some conspiracy establishment "doesn't want you to know" about these things. They do know, and often will say, "hey, you want to meditate and eat organic beets? That's ok. Just let us know what you're doing."

Some of these "all-natural" remedies do have serious side-effects or severe interactions with other things.

Also, hydrofluoric acid is also natural. Have a sip. I'll call the hearse. PEOPLE.