A Cure for Cancer

I am currently taking part in the trials of the new stage of treatment by Nivolumab, which has a damn good chance of curing or at least controlling the renal cancer I was diagnosed with three months ago. In the inevitable long periods of waiting around I started to wonder:

1) Suppose an absolute cure for all forms of cancer were to be discovered now, would the manufacturers be able to maintain a monopoly, or would their high cost lead to international-scale piracy and political tension, or worse?

2) Suppose it had been discovered in around 1945. What effects would this have on history? George VI alive for many more decades? Sickle-cell anemia cured. Effect on the black community?
 
I am currently taking part in the trials of the new stage of treatment by Nivolumab, which has a damn good chance of curing or at least controlling the renal cancer I was diagnosed with three months ago. In the inevitable long periods of waiting around I started to wonder:

1) Suppose an absolute cure for all forms of cancer were to be discovered now, would the manufacturers be able to maintain a monopoly, or would their high cost lead to international-scale piracy and political tension, or worse?

2) Suppose it had been discovered in around 1945. What effects would this have on history? George VI alive for many more decades? Sickle-cell anemia cured. Effect on the black community?

The Lord Bless you. I hope you do OK. I lost my kitten (sister Roberta) to damned cancer a decade ago.

1) A 100% absolute cure for cancer could no more be "kept a secret", or have a "monopoly", than Pasteur's rabies vaccine. The need would be too overwhelming.

If the discovery were made by a corporation, expect for them 0% taxes FOREVER. Though their company would probably turn into a super-conglomerate with all the investments hoping for the next "super-cure", or for fighting future feared diseases. Probably see the CEO or head of research rushed into the Presidency/Prime Ministership ala Eisenhower/Wellington.:cool:

2) Sickle cell anemia is not cancer. Its hereditary, like hemophilia.:(
 
I am currently taking part in the trials of the new stage of treatment by Nivolumab, which has a damn good chance of curing or at least controlling the renal cancer I was diagnosed with three months ago. In the inevitable long periods of waiting around I started to wonder:

1) Suppose an absolute cure for all forms of cancer were to be discovered now, would the manufacturers be able to maintain a monopoly, or would their high cost lead to international-scale piracy and political tension, or worse?

2) Suppose it had been discovered in around 1945. What effects would this have on history? George VI alive for many more decades? Sickle-cell anemia cured. Effect on the black community?

Nivolumab is one of the theoretically most promising of a new kind of treatments and renal cancers are among those with a previous history of effective tumor infiltrative lymphocytes so you might have a chance. Good luck.

1) This is tricky isn't it. There are about 6-7 million cancers in the developed world and a new curative therapy might from the prices we see today bring in hundred of thousands of dollar. So we are talking trillions.
The manufacturers would have to enter some kind of reduced pricing deals with health authorities, else there may be too little money to go around.

2) The only way we could imagine this from today's perspective would be some kind of infectious agent replicating in cancers. Maybe a persisting cancer tropic retrovirus.
Longevity and later retirement age for starters. More experience to go around. Cancer is a major killer of the sentinels in our populations.
An interesting effect is that if you avoid heart diseases and accidents you'll see quite a fraction of people dying from infectious diseases of the elderly. Maybe more of a hygienic scare in that case?
A lot more research invested into the mechanisms leading to organ dysfunction with ageing.
A lot more research into viruses and probably as a butterfly a faster discovery of RNA/DNA as carriers of genetic information. Put today's knowledge 10 years forward.
 
Hello,

Best of luck, cancer's a bitch, hope you'll be well.

I think if there ever was such a cure (given the numerous types of cancer might be ASB but eh, let's roll with it), the firm developping would get it out as fast as possible.

But before that, they would build a mountain of patents so big as to eclipse the sun and hire evry damn lawyer who draws a breath to defend them.
After that, they're basically printing money forever and will be hailed as heroes and savior of mankind so I think they'd knock themselves out and swim in money
 
Best of luck to you. I am currently treating for esophageal cancer, so believe me when I say I empathize with your situation.

As for there being a monopoly on a cancer cure, I highly doubt that would be the case. Once word got out that a cure existed, then there is absolutely no way a single corporation or entity could keep that information to themselves. If nothing else, wouldn't the tobacco companies love for there to be a cure for cancer? A cancer-free cigarette would immediately increase demand for their product.

As someone else pointed out though, a single cure for cancer is ASB. Cancer is a broad name for many different types of diseases. Even cancers of the same body part are classified in several different ways and are likewise treated in several different ways.
 
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