What is a cure?

I apparently opened a can of worms this morning on Twitter when I said a cure was a laughable matter.  In my opinion I do not think a cure for anything, including CF, will ever be found.  I have two reasons for thinking this.  One being financial gain and the other being what a true "cure" really is.

****** Before I go on, please remember.  THIS IS MY BLOG therefore MY OPINIONS.  No one is right, no one is wrong.  We all have different views on everything.  Please respect this.  Any negative name calling comments to me, or to anyone who responds will be deleted. If you want to be rude, at least show your face and don't post as anon, or if you do, leave your name.  *******

Let's start with the latter - what a true "cure" really is.  This will vary for everyone.  Some people feel that just being able to treat the disease effectively with meds, and allowing the person to live to the normal lifespan is a cure. I don't see it that way.  To ME a cure is eradicating the disease.  Wiping it out so it no longer exists.  This is not possible for many many diseases, maybe even all of them.  CF for example can never be wiped out unless every single person who procreates is tested and allows their unborn fetus to be scientifically "created" so no CF genes are carried on.  The money required for this is outstanding.  Not every single CF carrier or CF patient can afford this.  Once that person is born with CF, they are going to have CF in every single gene of their body until death.  CF is genetic, it is written into our DNA.  Unless we can totally change every single gene in the body and "fix" that one malfunction, we can't sure it.  And even if that gene is fixed after the child is born, there is some damage done.  That damage starts from the beginning...maybe that child would have been heavier at birth.  Maybe that child had MI when it was born which lead to the diagnosis, and now the damage from that is there.  Even if they were to be "cured" of the gene, the damage is done; yes insignificantly perhaps, but it is still done.

We can carry this through to other diseases.  Let's use Cancer as our next example.  In a way yes it is partially cured as is.  We can remove the breasts of a woman with breast cancer and she is essentially cured as long as it hadn't spread to any other organs.  We can remove the tumor filled colon and that person no longer has colon cancer.  But they can still get cancer, in other organs.  Cancer has not been cured, that person has just been ridden of the disease for now.  It may come back and kill them, or something else might, no one knows. But as long as cancer exists, it is not cured.

My other line of reasoning for why disease will never be cured, is that there is too much money to be gained from the meds used to treat diseases.  CF alone has a HUGE financial gain factor.  A months supply of Cayston is $5000.00.  Where that money goes I have no idea, but I highly doubt the owner of the drug company drives a used Saturn and lives in a two thousand square foot home.  Why would he/she want to give up their lifestyle when a cure is found and those meds that support that lifestyle are no longer needed.  Yes the medical field, research etc is supposed to be about helping others, but if you think that no one is in it for the money you are naive.  This country was founded by the rich for the rich (whole other topic) and anyone who can take advantage of the opportunities that the country offers.  Supplying medicines and technology for those who medically need it is just another business, like cars or clothing.  Only thing different is lives are at stake.

I am well aware I may lose some friends for posting this.  Some of my followers may decide I am a ruthless, cold hearted bitch.  That's fine.  Like I said in the beginning, this is my opinion.  Maybe I would feel different if it was my child with CF and not me.  I don't know.  But this is how I feel as of right now, just me and my unscientific opinion.  A cure may be found, and I hope I am proved wrong.  Believe me, its not that I don't want them to find a cure, its just that I don't think they will.