Terry Mosher 3

TERRY MOSHER

 

I’m angry today. Angry at cancer. Angry that we have not beaten it. Angry that we are the most modern and most powerful country in the world and yet cancer continues to eat away at our soul despite the billions of dollars we spend on defeating it and despite all the best efforts of the best scientists in the world to rid earth of this scourge.

The tipping point for me is the death of Ron Corcoran from this ugly disease. Ron was a beautiful soul whose presence in a room made the room brighter, whose generosity knew no limits, whose smile knew no stranger. Yet the most powerful country in the land could not stop cancer from taking him from us, and so I mourn, as do countless others, and I cry with shame that this enemy within us continues to eat away at us with immunity, laughing as one of us after the other goes down in pain to death.

What is wrong with us? Why can’t be stop this insidious darkness that overwhelms us?  From what I have read, billions are being spent on the attempt to defeat it. According to figures I have seen, the government spends on average $5 billion a year on cancer research and I know from other reports that biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies spent nearly $50 billion on oncology research in 2011. Then there are donations from various foundations that reach at least $1 billion a year.

So where are the results? Where and when does the death march from cancer finally end? Why can’t the most brilliant among us find the answer that finally kills off cancer and not us?

This war on cancer officially began in the United States late 1971 with the enactment of the National Cancer Act signed by President Richard Nixon. Yet, cancer is now the leading cause of death in the world.

So what gives with this? Why can’t we stop it like the Seahawks did to the 49ers Thursday night in Santa Clara?

I guess I’m whistling into the wind. Nothing I will say or write will change what happened to Corcoran, what will happen to some of us, maybe even me. If cancer knocks on the door and you don’t answer it will just knock the door down and come in anyway. Some people survive cancer – the rate of survival for some types has increased over recent years – but most of the time Big C wins, and I’m still angry that it does.

That’s enough for today. I’m sad for the loss of Ron and to all the others that hear the news from their doctors that Big C has entered their lives. Cancer does not discriminate and it is heartless as it attacks and I can only hope you will not be afflicted by it.

I’m going to the YMCA and see if I can work off some of my anger.

Be well pal.

Be careful out there.

Have a great day.

You are loved.