Something that always disturbed me in raising money for cancer research is the use of the term “cure”. Every time I see “Race for the Cure” or “Komen for the Cure” I get a sense people think there will be a magic potion to eliminate cancer forever. The Komen foundation has raised 1 billion dollars in almost 30 years (1) but breast cancer has only decreased slightly. Between 1999 and 2005 breast cancer in the United States only decreased 2% per year for women 50 or older and that is believed to be the result of the reduction of HRT (2). I know “race for the cure” is simple and direct instead of “Race to Increase Awareness for the Early Detection and Treatment of (…) Cancer”.
I’d like to know if you think it is ethical to give a false sense of hope in eradicating certain cancers forever? Is it a noble and just goal? Is it propaganda or a con job? Is the money raised used to support legitimate cancer research or just to create jobs with little return? Have these charitable organizations become so engrained that people give money as an obligation or out of guilt with little regard to the original goals of cancer research?
This may be cynical on my part but I am unsure if people involved with these charities really know or care what they are raising money for or where that money ends up. I know some people that have volunteered for these charities seemed to be burdened by their involvement. It was more because they had to do it instead of wanting to do it.
