A few days ago while conversing with a friend, an intriguing conversation transpired ending with, "I don't have metastatic cancer so I don't know exactly what you are going through." Thank you for saying that. Unless you are sitting in my shoes (fortunately not for most everyone) smack dab in the midst of it all, it can be a lonely place. According to MBCN ( Metastatic Breast Cancer Network) research, "The number of people living with metastatic breast cancer in the US is estimated to be over 155,000, but no statistics are currently collected."
And part of the reason no statistics are currently collected is because:
"METASTATIC RESEARCH FUNDING: Estimated to be around 5% in Europe and less than that in US for metastatic research for ALL cancers."
Less than 5%. Where does the money from walks, telethons, runs, swims, etc. etc. etc. go? Standing again on my soap box perch with my biased bifocals, I clearly see the problem. With over three hundred million people in this country, a metastatic cancer diagnosis seems an insignificant number unless you are one of the chosen 155,000. Research funds are woefully lacking and the small but mighty "mets clan" are acutely aware of the scarcity of time and money granted us.
“Today we fight. Tomorrow we fight. The day after, we fight. And if this disease plans on whipping us, it better bring a lunch, 'cause it's gonna have a long day doing it.”
― Jim Beaver, Life's That Way: A Memoir
I don't have the answer and researching NIH and cancer sites on the internet has not led to findings that would clarify or offer encouragement on why the funding allocated to our band of warriors is so direly insufficient. Jim Beaver's title, "Life's That Way...", will have to be the explanation for now as we forge onward tolerating the disease whipping; "it better bring it's lunch, 'cause it's gonna have a long day doing it" and, unfortunately, we will be doing it on our own.
Continuing rants will be a staple in this blog because this topic makes me almost--but not quite--*^(&% madder than living with this disease.
Thanks for reading # 36 of 7777.
And part of the reason no statistics are currently collected is because:
"METASTATIC RESEARCH FUNDING: Estimated to be around 5% in Europe and less than that in US for metastatic research for ALL cancers."
Less than 5%. Where does the money from walks, telethons, runs, swims, etc. etc. etc. go? Standing again on my soap box perch with my biased bifocals, I clearly see the problem. With over three hundred million people in this country, a metastatic cancer diagnosis seems an insignificant number unless you are one of the chosen 155,000. Research funds are woefully lacking and the small but mighty "mets clan" are acutely aware of the scarcity of time and money granted us.
“Today we fight. Tomorrow we fight. The day after, we fight. And if this disease plans on whipping us, it better bring a lunch, 'cause it's gonna have a long day doing it.”
― Jim Beaver, Life's That Way: A Memoir
I don't have the answer and researching NIH and cancer sites on the internet has not led to findings that would clarify or offer encouragement on why the funding allocated to our band of warriors is so direly insufficient. Jim Beaver's title, "Life's That Way...", will have to be the explanation for now as we forge onward tolerating the disease whipping; "it better bring it's lunch, 'cause it's gonna have a long day doing it" and, unfortunately, we will be doing it on our own.
Continuing rants will be a staple in this blog because this topic makes me almost--but not quite--*^(&% madder than living with this disease.
Thanks for reading # 36 of 7777.
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