Cancer Can Be Prevented Thru Widespread Use of CT Scans

In October of 2006, a group of researchers from the Weill Cornell Medical College made this announcement with an estimate that up to 80% of lung cancer deaths could be prevented by aggressive use of CT Scans. This incredible statistic seems to have been lost on many who suffer from this disease as well as health care professionals as the reaction to this has been quite muted. The study was done under the funding of a foundation called the Foundation for Lung Cancer: Early Detection, Prevention, & Treatment. Suspicions about the credibility of this study were rampant and many wanted to see confirmation of this research before starting to install CT Scanners in all the bars and bowling alleys. Much of this information and more can be found in the March 26, 2008, New York Times in an article by Gardiner Harris.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise! . As Gomer used to say! It seems that the Foundation for Lung Cancer: Early Detection, Prevention, and Treatment were almost entirely underwritten by grants from tobacco company Liggett Group. Well actually, why would we be surprised by a study about lung cancer that indicates that it is a lack of people getting scans as opposed to people who are smoking 3 packs a day or living with someone who does that is the cause of their cancer? In a country where the needs of the health care system and the diagnostic research funding is scarce to begin with, the idea of spending more than $3 million for a disingenuous conclusion that places blame on patients who do not get help instead of the product they are consuming galls even the most committed chain smoker.

For the life of me, why would anyone want to own stock in the tobacco companies? Why would you want to be an owner or partial owner in a company that produces cancer sticks and markets them to promote a macho image? If the company is successful in getting people to buy enough of its product, it also is likely to also bring addiction to those same users. Does your mutual fund or money manager hold companies like Altria (about to split their tobacco interests from the rest of the company) Liggett, Lorillard, US Tobacco, or other tobacco companies? This might be a good time to start screening if you have never done anything about it before! I Corinthians 3:16-17  “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?  If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him.  For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are.”

Monday Morning Message Sent 3/31/08

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