The Politics of Cancer

Has cancer become epidemic in America? Are we doing enough to combat this dread disease? These are two questions posed by filmmaker Andrzej Krakowski, whose wife suffered from breast cancer and eventually died of the disease despite "taking charge" of her illness by trying alternative therapies. The director interviews senators Edward Kennedy and Arlen Specter, spokesmen from the health care and insurance industry, and patients coping with cancer. Cancer survivors speak of misdiagnosed cases, inflated drug costs, uncaring doctors, what it's like to lose your hair during chemotherapy, and the ultimate agony of alternating between daily hope and despair. The second half of the film focuses on an experimental shark cartilage therapy championed by author William Lane. The film is fair minded throughout--no cheap shots or easy villains--but it would have benefited from a tighter focus and more judicious editing. The Politics of Cancer should be of interest to both lay people and health care professionals. Recommended for larger health collections. (S. Rees)