Shame On The Drug Companies

It has been raining now for the last two days and seems very dreary.  The house was dark this morning as Laney and I ventured downstairs.  No sun again means no walks outside.  We woke up Saturday morning to a light dusting of snow on the ground and my husband and I kept staring at it from the upstairs window as if it was something foreign.  Unfortunately,  what we were looking at was snow.  It melted quickly, but it is not a good sign to have snow early October.   The weather drastically changed from last week.  All I can say is yuck,  and when is the first airplane flight south.

We managed to get a walk in Sunday evening before dark, as the gale force winds earlier in the day had died down.  I left the television on, as it had been on most of the day for Sunday football.   When we arrived back at the house, I went inside just in time to hear the words MD Anderson.  I called to my husband to come quick and listen.  The television show 60 Minutes was on.  They were interviewing a doctor from MD Anderson about the astronomical  cost of chemotherapy drugs.

It seems these days that our research for drugs to extend cancer patients lives is happening, but the cost of the drug is not affordable to the average American.  I was angry and saddened to hear that patients are dying,  because they can not afford the drugs.  The drug companies have raised the price on some drugs yearly to the point they are extremely beyond affordable.  I felt sick to my stomach and wondered how we have become a country of greed.  Everything is driven by who can make the greatest profit even at the expense of some one's life.  The expense of testing and seeing doctors is enough financial heartache let alone someone telling you your medication may cost one hundred thousand a year if you want a chance at living.

I was happy to hear that the doctors are trying to petition the drug companies to lower the cost.  I guess we will all have to start writing our congressmen to see what we can do.  The Moon Shots program to reduce mortality in  cancer patients at MD Anderson may sound great, but the cost of treatment will only be for the select wealthy.  Who can sleep at night knowing some one's loved one died  because money is of more importance than life.  Shame on the drug companies.  It is discouraging to know that we donate to research to fund new drugs only to find out we can't afford them.

I sat and listened and then God caught my tear drops and there was silence in the room, as my husband exited the room.  The 60 Minutes interview was over, but I hope the battle has begun to stop the drug companies from deciding who gets to live.

Thank you doctors at MD Anderson for fighting for cancer patients.  

Life is beautiful !!

Elizabeth:)