Canadian television host Wendy Mesley's breast cancer diagnosis a few years back prompted her to investigate why more people seem to be fighting cancer (of all varieties) at this point in time. Mesley discovered that the increase is not just tied to seniors who are living longer and are therefore more likely to develop certain kinds of cancers, but that cancer in children is also on the rise, with survivors standing a very good chance of the disease returning before age 45. Mesley confesses to being frustrated, especially since she sees herself as a fit person who did everything right in terms of prevention. Mesley asks a number of experts what's causing all this cancer, before concluding that carcinogens in the environment, commercial products, and other medicines are a major factor (in one sobering moment, Mesley reads aloud an analysis of 44 carcinogens in her blood, including pesticides and PCBs). Mesley is particularly bothered by the fact that drug companies profit from cancer treatment, but are doing very little to address the issue of prevention through environmental protection (although, as Mesley is told here, it's not in the interest of drug companies to worry about prevention at all). Unfortunately, Mesley seems unwilling to entertain the idea of exploring incentives for drug companies to pursue prevention, but simply takes the position that they should, and the film doesn't much address other ways in which people might limit their overall exposure to carcinogens. Optional. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)
Chasing the Cancer Answer
(2006) 44 min. DVD or VHS: $199. Fanlight Productions. PPR. Closed captioned. ISBN: 1-57295-933-9 (dvd), 1-57295-479-5 (vhs). Volume 23, Issue 5
Chasing the Cancer Answer
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