[refurb]

I'd have to disagree with the "modest gains" in life expectancy for cancer patients. We have made some incredible progress in the last few years.

The best example is chronic myelogenous leukemia. Before Gleevec was launched, the 5 year survival rate was 30%. Now? It's into the mid-90s and basically the same as the general population.

And Gleevec isn't the only drug that has changed the natural progression of cancer. There are drugs in the pipeline that will basically "cure" other types of cancer as well.

[Udo]

Chronic myelogenous leukemia might be the best example because the improvement has been so drastic. I challenge you to look up historical average 5 year survival numbers for lung cancer, colo-rectal cancer, cervical cancer, or even breast cancer (where we maxed out in the mid nineties). Fact is, an actual cure is missing. Available treatment options tend to be palliative.