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Health & Fitness

Double Or Nothing

Sometimes it's not about the odds but about defying them.

I was a bit surprised to find out a whole lot of people wanted to know what I thought of the big controversy over the breast cancer drug Avastin. CNN.com covered the story the other day, and yes, it’s a huge deal—the FDA’s having withdrawn approved usage of the drug to treat advanced, or metastatic, breast cancer. I didn’t have advanced breast cancer but I still, shockingly enough, have an opinion on the whole thing: 

If it were me, I’d do whatever it took to stay alive long enough to get cured. 

I’d hope to heck that I was one of those "super responders," like the woman in the CNN.com story, but if not, I’d sign up for a trial for something else. I’d keep at it. 

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I would not give up. 

So, that’s what I think. If it were me, I’d do whatever it took, and I believe if the FDA committee members making the decision had loved ones battling advanced breast cancer, they would do whatever it took as well. There is nothing like the specter of cancer to put a whole new spin on something. 

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What I believe is also this: The battle against cancer is intensely personal and, thus, patients should be allowed to make their own treatment decisions. Avastin is still being used to treat other types of cancer, so saying no to breast cancer simply invites a lot of potential medical fraud or for patients to simply seek the drug abroad.    

There is something to be said for the notion of informed risk. That’s what I went through recently when my OB ordered a huge number of tests. I went over each with my oncologist, and we agreed that perhaps two-thirds of them were valid. The rest I did not do. It’s nice to be in accord with one’s oncologist, but honestly? I would have gone with my decision no matter what. 

When you get cancer, you lose so much control. I’ve said it before and I’ll said it again: You never feel safe or entirely in control of your life again. 

The very least the FDA can do is allow informed consent for those who are in the most dire need of a miracle. We already roll the dice every day we walk out our front doors, don’t we? 

I know, when I look at my family and loved ones, that I would do whatever it took to stick around. 

I’d roll those dice if it were me.

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