Community Chat

[HappyDaze]

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@Wen Woman wrote:

I agree that there are way too many of these ads, as well as prescription medication ads, followed by class action lawsuit ads

Its enough. Doctors don't need their patients going in demanding the latest advertised drug. Often times these drugs are exhorbitantly priced! Often times a class action lawsuit is to follow about same drug.

My dear aunt has cancer and I cringe every time these cancer ads start. Why should she have to be bombarded with this stuff when she is looking for a day or evening of mindless entertainment? If one has cancer, one can certainly research treatment options without having to be shoved in that direction by the television. 

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First, I am sorry to hear about your Aunt!

And a huge YES to your post! Imagine being in the hopsital for alot of these issues and seeing all this- you can't even watch mindless tv to even briefly get away from your medical issues, there is no respite from thinking about it!

[HappyDaze]

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@Shelbelle wrote:

And also the ads from lawyers for class action lawsuits against these drugs. First you see an ad for the drug, next is an ad for a lawsuit against it.

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lol yes and then all the class action lawsuits about these procedures and medications! It never ends!

[Wen_Woman]

Thank you HappyDaze for your reply. This whole issue irritates me to no end.

And to those of you who think that the television is educating you about your options! When and if you or a loved one has a terrible disease, please do not rely on television ads to educate you about anything! They are not there to educate you, they are there to make money!

Do you own research. Always. I assure you, if you recieve a diagnosis of cancer, you will NOT be sitting around your home waiting for a TV ad to tell you what to do. 

[milkbone]

I saw this movie a few years ago. It made me really think, does our goverment or health care REALLY want a cure :-(

Repo Men (2010)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1053424/

Set in the near future when artificial organs can be bought on credit, it revolves around a man who struggles to make the payments on a heart he has purchased. He must therefore go on the run before said ticker is repossessed.

Jude Law

[GCR18]

The centers that advertise want you to remember their name.  People are diagnosed with cancer everyday.  When they are, the centers want you to get your treatment from them.  Chemo, radiation, scans, etc bring in big bucks.  I racked up $400k in bills.  I had a friend that was into the millions before she passed.

[Moonchilde]

Any organization or company that advertises heavily on TV does so because they have the $$ to do so and because they want to increase that $$.  Think drug companies.

In the case of CTCA - they target the "incurables" - those with types of cancer, or in stages of cancer, where there is little to no hope. The ads emphasize the wholistic, we care about YOU aspect, which will appeal to those who have little hope. From what I know of them, they are not much more than US-legal versions of the Mexican clinics that suggest miracle cures.

I know that if I had a very bad cancer I would want to go to City of Hope, MD Anderson, Sloan-Kettering, Stanford, etc. who have all the up-to-the-minute clinical trials available.

[CalMom]

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@SeaMaiden wrote:

Because cancer equals MONEY$$$$$$$. Period.  

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For me cancer meant biopsies, a lumpectomy and radiation followed by bi yearly diagnostic mammograms with ultra sounds and MRIs with an eventual NSPBM* due to my BRCA1*** mutation and an oopherectomy..

Many people don't get examined when they should leading to an advanced form of cancer. When you see those ads, just thank your lucky stars that you haven't gone through cancer....  but at least you will be more knowledgeable when and if you or someone you know does. BTW, cancer is much more annoying that ads regarding cancer or cancer treatments.

*Nipple Sparing Prophylactic** Mastectomy

**Preventative

***Just like Angelina Jolie except, I had cancer, found out 6 years later about my BRCA1 mutation and took action afterward cancer rather than before. I had no family history though. My father had the mutation. His mother died at 26 due to another disease (not cancer). My paternal father died at 53 due to lung cancer aska Chesterfields. My father died at 79 due to lung cancer in 2012. I was tested 6 months before he died. My father agreed to be tested and he died a few months later. Medicare would not cover testing. An issue that the Presidental Candidates should discuss. Although discussion of the cost of prescription drugs has been touched upon lightly but nowhere near enough!

Yes, I know that the ads are there to make money. However, for me, those ads remind me of what I have gone through. Who knows? Maybe my post will remind you to go get examined.

[hckynutjohn]

You say "Why so many"? I say "Why not"?

hckynut(john)

[wagirl]

Cancer is the soup du jour these days---and it is all about the money, but HOPEFULLY, more money equals better treatments and better odds for surviving. I was dx in 2012 with breast cancer and my bills were astronomical but I had awesome insurance and a world class cancer center very near me. I still cringed at the very word CANCER so all the ads are hard for me to watch. And I'm not sure if the

 people who don't have good insurance or a good center to go to would even be able to seek the kind of treatment that is advertised. I think I heard the the one advertised on TV charges $20,000 a month and that most insurances won't cover it. I don't have that kind of money. My treatment plan started in April and ended the middle of the next January. Thats almost 9 months at $20K a pop= alot of money!!! I do believe those cancer centers are for the more advanced and difficult to treat too.

[Suziepeach]

I would much rather see the cancer ads instead of all the commercials for cialis and drugs of that particular nature.

My husband is a cancer survivor, he works for a prominent radiation therapy company, he had 6 weeks of radiation therapy.  I'm glad to know that all these ads let people know there are other options when they feel they have no options left.  Cancer is very expensive, treatments are humongous in cost but it's out there and what are we going to do?  One day we can only pray a cure is found!! 

People need to stop smoking, my husband's company charges their employees that still smoke more for their health insurance. It's no guarantee but if you're diagnosed why keep smoking?  People can change things but some don't.