Why so many cancer ads on television? - Page 4

Snowpuppy · ‎03-09-2010

@Puzzle Piece wrote:
Cancer is a cash cow, so many are vying for your dollars.

No kidding !

My neighbor is a nurse at the local hospital. Their cancer treatment unit lost $1M in a sigle fiscal quarter. $1M and nobody knows where it went and nobody was held accountable.

Even not for profits are turning a profit.

kivah · ‎03-11-2010

Years ago, we were able to watch most tv shows and commercials. Now -- we have to put the commercials on mute OR change the channel. So much negativity between the commercials; news programs (most of it is for shock value); talk shows (who needs to cry when waching some talk shows).

Don't u just love when the break into an enjoyable program - to tell u BAD news????

I'm a cancer survivor --- and we don't need endless commercials trying to convince us where to go for treatment or what drugs we need to take!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES --- most of it is PHONY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MaggieMack · ‎10-01-2014

Ads for any product are meant to generate sales. Whether for-profit firms like Cancer Centers of America or nonprofits like MD Anderson.

@Moonchilde posted a Reuters link about Cancer Centers. It is spot on. At 48, my DH was forced onto Medicare due to acute leukemia. We called Cancer Centers one evening, spoke to a very reassuring oncology specialist, and then things went immediately south when she heard the word "Medicare." They want only the Cadillac insurers. She was done talking with us that fast!

Then, after being promised an experimental treatment protocol on our visit to MD Anderson, we arranged to have him admitted the following week. Only to find out that after he was admitted, gee, he didn't qualify for the experimental protocol after all because he had previously received a chemotherapy series. They knew this from the interview. They just wanted a warm body in a bed. He stayed and hated it, the care was so much different that he had received locally, truly just a number, saw a different doc for 40 of the 42 days he was in isolation. Lost 50 lbs, had major rectal problems, etc, etc. When his counts were up enough that I could fly him home, I had to fly him by private jet. Yes, they made cancer history for me, I will never return.

My advice, especially for those on Medicare, is to find treatment as close to home as possible and pay no attention to the ads on TV. They are just like the hosts on QVC, they are pushing a product to increase sales. No more.

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. - Aesop

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

Why do I no longer see tv ads for DVT? A large majority of people have no idea what this is, or how deadly it can be. Deaths from DVT/PE I have seen figures from 60,000 to 90,000 Americans die annually, I have also seen statistics that 1 American dies every 5 minutes from this, and that exceeds the number that die from breast cancer.

What happened to these ads? I'm not even sure who, or what company ran these TV ads, but I view them as a PSA, that could save many lives. Unlike Cancer, DVT can quickly lead to PE, and from there for many it can be measured in minutes.

If you are not familiar with DVT, my suggestion would be find out what it is/it's symptoms and prognosis. I felt this thread was a good place to add this information about DVT/PE.

hckynut( john)

hckynut(john)

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@hckynutjohn wrote:

Why do I no longer see tv ads for DVT? A large majority of people have no idea what this is, or how deadly it can be. Deaths from DVT/PE I have seen figures from 60,000 to 90,000 Americans die annually, I have also seen statistics that 1 American dies every 5 minutes from this, and that exceeds the number that die from breast cancer.

What happened to these ads? I'm not even sure who, or what company ran these TV ads, but I view them as a PSA, that could save many lives. Unlike Cancer, DVT can quickly lead to PE, and from there for many it can be measured in minutes.

If you are not familiar with DVT, my suggestion would be find out what it is/it's symptoms and prognosis. I felt this thread was a good place to add this information about DVT/PE.

hckynut( john)

They've been replaced by the barrage of afib ads with Arnold Palmer & Kevin Nealon and the "I'm a professional model" psoriasis ads.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

LexPex · ‎03-29-2010

@ValuSkr wrote:
Probably because so many people have cancer and our medical industry is largely for-profit. There's a lot of money to be made!!!

Exactly.

Frosted Cake · ‎02-01-2016

I was talking to a friend in another state and she was upset with an ad for a local hospital. They say something to the effect "You weren't prepared for your cancer diagnosis, but we were prepared for you getting cancer."

She's a breast cancer survivor, and we both thought it was in very poor taste. They can be prepared all they want, but to state it so flippant like that makes it sound more like a company wanting your money than a healthcare agency.

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

There is always an increase of organizations asking for money during the season when people need "write offs".

I would email that company and tell them their phrasing was callused.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@LilacTree wrote:
@NanaLinda wrote:
I've noticed for a while now that I can't watch any show, on any channel, without seeing numerous ads advertising cancer treatment or treatment centers. I know a lot of people are going through treatments and I feel for them, but I think they should scale back on the ads. What are your feelings on this?
I hate them with a passion. I turn them and all pharmaceutical commercials off immediately.

Not being a smart aleck here ..... but if there's a new drug that has been in testing for 8 years and has just received FDA approval to go to market ....... where would you suggest they put the information out there so the public knows it exists?

Seriously ..... where ??

Television seems to be a common denominator ... just about everyone watches something on TV ...

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@LilacTree wrote:
@NanaLinda wrote:
I've noticed for a while now that I can't watch any show, on any channel, without seeing numerous ads advertising cancer treatment or treatment centers. I know a lot of people are going through treatments and I feel for them, but I think they should scale back on the ads. What are your feelings on this?
I hate them with a passion. I turn them and all pharmaceutical commercials off immediately.
Not being a smart aleck here ..... but if there's a new drug that has been in testing for 8 years and has just received FDA approval to go to market ....... where would you suggest they put the information out there so the public knows it exists?

Seriously ..... where ??

Television seems to be a common denominator ... just about everyone watches something on TV ...

I listen to every new medical ad I haven't seen before. Even if it doesn't affect me, you never know when it might be valuable to know. I *especially* listen to the adverse reactions. And if I want to know more I read up online.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all