The pace of advances in cancer treatments has advocates and researchers in the United States at odds over the future of the battle against the disease.

National leaders point to great progress in the fight against cancer, but many patient advocacy groups say slow progress points to a bleak future, The Boston Globe reported Sunday.

Many critics said lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or healthier lifestyle choices, contribute more to declining rates than medicinal advancements.

"I would have expected us to be doing a heck of a lot better based on the investment that we've made and based on the prevalence of the disease," said Kathy Giusti, founder of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

Despite the row between science and advocacy, many cancer leaders point to a generally brighter future ahead.

"You can say progress is not as good as it should be, but the public needs to know there has been progress," said one pathologist in the Globe.  // Copyright 2007 by United Press International



Publication date: 03 December 2007   

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