# Would big business not want a cure for cancer because the treatment brings in so much money? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348 "2013-08-04T20:10:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/41 "2013-08-04T23:33:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Why would they shoot their cash cow? If they can keep the well-oiled Cancer Machine running, they will continue to make massive profits on chemotherapy drugs, radiotherapy, diagnostic procedures and surgeries. Who is “they” in that passage? Big Pharma doesn’t profit from radiotherapy or diagnostic procedures and only indirectly from surgeries- antibiotics and pain killers are dirt cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/42 "2013-08-04T23:33:52Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Cures are profit motivated. There is no profit when the cure is change of lifestyle. Again, people sell food and nutritional supplements for profit. Joseph Mercola does that, in fact, but you can totally trust what he says about this. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/43 "2013-08-04T23:38:28Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > harmonica’s welcome what? To ask our opinions. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/44 "2013-08-04T23:39:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Drug companies have no interest in natural agents that they cannot patent, Drug companies have been patenting and profiting from natural entities since Day One. that’s how Bayer Pharmaceutical got started, making synthetic willow bark extract. Morphine, heroin, cocaine, penicillin, streptomycin, all the -mycins for that matter, on and on and on and on. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/45 "2013-08-04T23:40:09Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Apparently all cancer has the same metabolism. Cut off its groceries and it starves. Logical, no? No. Because that’s not how cancer works. Cancer doesn’t “have a metabolism.” It’s insanely unregulated growth of our own cells. If you change the “metabolism” of cancer with diet and exercise and supplements, you’re fucking up your own metabolism too. Get a biology degree or at least read up on how the body actually works instead of believing this total quack. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/46 "2013-08-04T23:44:18Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > If you had read the article, you would realize that they are actually less complex. Actually quite simple to understand. Oh, well, then, that’s a relief. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/47 "2013-08-04T23:44:22Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > It is written by a medical doctor, He’s an osteopath. edit- who wrote a book about “The Great Bird Flu Hoax”. Hm. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/48 "2013-08-04T23:45:55Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > It is written by a medical doctor, and he says if we take away cancers groceries it will starve. It provides many links to research that supports this position. Lots of other doctors say different. Why do you believe the one? ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/49 "2013-08-04T23:49:40Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Apparently all cancer has the same metabolism. Cut off its groceries and it starves. Logical, no? No. This is fiction. You’re being lied to. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/50 "2013-08-04T23:51:24Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > No. Because that’s not how cancer works. Cancer doesn’t “have a metabolism.” It’s insanely unregulated growth of our own cells. If you change the “metabolism” of cancer with diet and exercise and supplements, you’re fucking up your own metabolism too. > > Get a biology degree or at least read up on how the body actually works instead of believing this total quack. Wrong. Cancer loves glucose. We can live without a lot of it, cancer cannot. I have the biology degree, and you? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/51 "2013-08-04T23:52:45Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Then I guess they must be _really_ against smallpox vaccines, since they aren’t selling _any_ drugs to combat that. If they could start a smallpox epidemic, think of all the money they could make! They couldn’t get away with that and they know it. But if they could get away with it, I doubt they’d hesitate - after the CEOs vaccinate themselves, of course. The corporate world is run by psychopaths who’d happily murder half the planet for pocket change. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/52 "2013-08-04T23:54:49Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > No. This is fiction. You’re being lied to. Cite? Who is lying to you? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/53 "2013-08-04T23:58:59Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Wrong. Cancer loves glucose. We can live without a lot of it, cancer cannot. What does this have to do with metabolism? ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/54 "2013-08-05T00:01:05Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Wrong. Cancer loves glucose. We can live without a lot of it, cancer cannot. > I have the biology degree, and you? Wrong, all sugars are broken down to glucose in the body. I call BS on your BS. (My degree is in Comp Sci though, I only have street cred in this argument.) ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/55 "2013-08-05T00:02:19Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Wrong. Cancer loves glucose. We can live without a lot of it, cancer cannot. > I have the biology degree, and you? Actually, I do, specializing in human biology. And… you do know the Krebs cycle, right? That every freaking cell in our body runs on glucose? Every bit of energy-containing food gets broken down into glucose before it can be used? No matter what you eat, glucose is involved. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/56 "2013-08-05T00:07:26Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Actually, I do, specializing in human biology. And… you do know the Krebs cycle, right? That every freaking cell in our body runs on glucose? Every bit of energy-containing food gets broken down into glucose before it can be used? No matter what you eat, glucose is involved. Exactly! Very good. And when there is an abundance of glucose? There is diabetes, insulin resistance, and cancer. We are on board here. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/57 "2013-08-05T00:08:54Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Wrong. Cancer loves glucose. We can live without a lot of it, cancer cannot. > I have the biology degree, and you? The brain must have glucose. Some degree. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/58 "2013-08-05T00:13:35Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > The corporate world is run by psychopaths who’d happily murder half the planet for pocket change. Citation … sigh. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/59 "2013-08-05T00:20:39Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Exactly! Very good. And when there is an abundance of glucose? There is diabetes, insulin resistance, and cancer. We are on board here. And the problem is there’s [no way to block glucose uptake](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22913968) by the cancer cells. > [@](#): > > We have, however, not yet been able to target glucose entry in a tumor cell-specific manner for therapy. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348/60 "2013-08-05T00:22:18Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > The brain must have glucose. Some degree. You are correct. But when we consume too much (genetics plays a part here) sugar/fructosa/carbohydrates it provides the mechanism to develop diabetes, insulin resistance and cancers. Excuse me folks, read and return. I am going to do some more cerebral activities like watch MLB. But, I will be back. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-big-business-not-want-a-cure-for-cancer-because-the-treatment-brings-in-so-much-money/665348.md?page=4)