The Public Policy
Pink Ribbon Reality
Candidates can’t fight breast cancer while blocking life-saving treatments.
(Page 2 of 2)
That’s not the only way lawmakers want to cut costs to the detriment of care. We must also ask which candidate understands what makes the best climate for research and development of life-saving drugs.
Some think we can lower costs for biologics the same way we have for conventional drugs, through generics. They want to pass laws making it easier for companies to manufacture what are called “follow-on biologics.”
This might sound like a good idea, but comparing biologics to conventional drugs is like comparing apples and oranges. Biologics aren’t made using chemicals — they’re made using living tissue. There’s no way to make an exact replica of gene therapies.
So if these drugs are legalized, lawmakers must make sure they’re safe. And lawmakers must protect the financial incentives needed to create these drugs. Otherwise, we’ll never know what life-saving treatments we’ve lost.
So don’t just look at each candidate’s lapel this month to see if they’re participating in the fight against breast cancer — look at their broader healthcare plans. The fight against breast cancer will take place on many different fronts.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (7) | Leave a comment
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Barry Schumann| 10.30.08 @ 10:08AM
Quite frankly (masculine gender), we are real sick of feminists masquerading themselves using the "pink ribbon". This has become so commercial that it is nothing more than a feminist flag. Rush calls them Feminatzis, he is right.
Magda| 10.30.08 @ 12:14PM
Quite frankly (female here) I was left with several questions unaswered after reading the article.
I get the "generics" comparison. I don't get where a candidate comes in except to distinguish that everyone knows what Universal health care will bring: less care. Now tell me something I don't already know.
Amy| 10.30.08 @ 3:48PM
Quite frankly, as one who is suffering from a rare, non-feminist approved cancer, I am sick of "breast cancer awareness". The movement to fight breast cancer had become politicized to the max. I support the American Cancer Society, which gives money and support to people who suffer from all kinds of cancer. There are a lot of foundations and groups that give only to breast cancer patients, and those of us who have rare cancers, yet suffer the same challenges - and more - are ignored.
Believe me, I'd rather have breast cancer! I would have a much great chance of being completely cured. I laugh when I see articles about "brave" breast cancer survivors who fought their disease for a grand total of two months, and then are cured.
I've been fighting my cancer for over a year, over 20 rounds of chemo, major unsuccessful resection attempt, and life expectancy of less than four years now.
confused| 10.30.08 @ 5:28PM
Barry's remark is obtuse, what are feminist masquerading themselves as?
Quite frankly (masculine gender), we are real sick of feminists masquerading themselves using the "pink ribbon"
Jimmy| 10.30.09 @ 9:06PM
One payer Universal Health Care for ALL Americans will save millions more unnecessary deaths than a bunch of pink junk.