The Highlander

Issue date: 2/12/08 Section: News

Discovering the cause of cancer "is not limited, and never should be limited to human evidence." By allowing humans to be the only test subjects we are "treating ourselves like rats in an uncontrolled experiment," said Davis. Scientists do not need to see human suffering to understand possible carcinogens.

Many carcinogens, substances thought to cause cancer, have been banned in Europe, based on current evidence. However, the United States refuses to follow suite without additional evidence that these chemicals cause cancer. This discrepancy concerns Davis. It is the duty of the government "to warn and inform us of hazards," said Davis, and currently American citizens are not receiving the protection they deserve.

The task of addressing carcinogens in products today may seem overwhelming. Davis suggests the call for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This powerful idea, started with Nelson Mandela, relies on the Christian concept of forgiveness. All companies with information about carcinogens in their products should take responsibility for their products, explain what they know about carcinogens, and take them off the market. In exchange, they will not be subject to litigation, and paying monetary damages for their products.

After Davis read from and discussed her book, five people asked questions. One woman asked if Davis was supporting any particular presidential candidate. Davis responded that she wants a President who will reform the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Currently, the FDA does not have the authority to monitor contaminants in cosmetic products, such as shampoo. This means that ingredients in these products do not require FDA approval before they are sold in stores. Additionally, the National Institute of Health (NIH) needs to reallocate money so that more is spent on prevention instead of treatment. In fact, "nine out of every 10 dollars NIH receives are used to treat disease and find it, less than one of every 10 dollars is spent on prevention," Davis said.
Davis stresses that we must begin to eliminate the causes for cancer so that one out of every two men and one out of every three women that will develop cancer in their lifetime do not have to hear the dreaded words: "You have cancer."
Since publication of The Secret History of the War on Cancer, Davis has spoken to the press and groups across the country. Readers can find out more about the topic by visiting the following links.

< prev Page 2 of 2

Article Tools