PBS-Truth About Cancer 4/16

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FloridaLady
FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
edited June 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
PBS-Truth About Cancer 4/16
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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited April 2008
    Visit Your Local PBS StationPBS HomePBS HomePrograms A-ZTV SchedulesSupport PBSShop PBSSearch PBS

    about the Program

    THE TRUTH ABOUT CANCER PREMIERES ON PBS APRIL 16, 2008

    Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker Linda Garmon Takes on the Question "How Far Have We Come in the War on Cancer?"

    News Journalist and Cancer Survivor Linda Ellerbee
    Hosts Post-Broadcast Panel Discussion

    What is the truth about cancer? Is it the same deadly killer it was 30 years ago - or are we making progress? Find out through the poignant stories of patients battling the disease. Written, produced, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Linda Garmon, The Truth About Cancer premieres nationally on PBS Wednesday, April 16, at 9:00pm ET (check local listings). Comprised of a 90-minute documentary followed by a 30-minute panel discussion, the two-hour broadcast event takes a deep look inside the cancer field gauging how far we have come in this decades-old war and asking, "Why does anyone still die of cancer?"

    Part science, part personal catharsis, part character-driven storytelling, The Truth About Cancer is narrated by Garmon, who tells the moving story of her husband's battle with cancer. Over the course of the film, Garmon returns to the same Boston-area hospitals at which her husband was treated, and exposes startling truths about survival rates of metastisized cancers, and the limited success of drugs and clinical trials. Interwoven throughout are the stories of three additional cancer patients, and their families and doctors, as they navigate the deeply personal decisions surrounding the disease. The documentary also follows several medical professionals working to promote screening, research the latest developments in cancer treatment, and help patients and their families live with a cancer diagnosis.

    "This film makes it clear that it's very much a part of American culture to believe that if you fight hard enough, you can beat cancer. But when it comes to having metastatic cancer, your survival depends on the biology of your cancer cells, and whether they are susceptible to state-of-the-art treatment," says Garmon. "In sharing my husband's story and the stories of other patients, I hope to shed light on this important truth."

    The Truth About Cancer is the third installment of PBS's Take One Step-a campaign offering primetime programming and outreach tools to help people take the first step towards better health. Following the 90-minute documentary is a 30-minute panel discussion entitled Take One Step: A Conversation About Cancer with Linda Ellerbee. News journalist and breast cancer survivor Linda Ellerbee moderates the dialogue featuring a panel of doctors, all of whom are cancer survivors themselves. Having sat on both sides of a cancer diagnosis, the panel shares their unique perspectives, offering both personal and professional observations on how to handle a cancer diagnosis, what to say to loved ones, how to advocate for yourself, and how to best live your life, with cancer. Panelists include U.S. News and World Report health editor Dr. Bernadine Healy; breast cancer surgeon and Breast Cancer Research stamp mastermind Dr. Ernie Bodai; neurologist and leading palliative care expert Dr. Richard Payne; and counseling psychologist Dr. Paul Brenner.

    The Truth About Cancer is a Carousel Films LLC Production for WGBH Boston. Laurie Donnelly is Executive Producer for WGBH. Funding for The Truth About Cancer is provided by Susan G. Komen For The Cure and the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public television viewers.

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  • pod1257
    pod1257 Member Posts: 262
    edited April 2008

    Thanks for sharing. - Sounds interesting and I will definitely watch it.

    Julie

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  • snowyday
    snowyday Member Posts: 1,478
    edited April 2008

    I really want to watch this program it sounds really interesting.  So that would be this Wednesday night, right.  I hope I don't forget about it so if someone anyone would repost this on Wed I'd appreciate it. I'm also going to put a sticky note on my TV.  I hope it ends up making me feel better after watching it. Its kind of weird I just  had an email with a friend from the north, her husband passed away 26 years ago and I had just written to tell her how sorry I still was and wondered how much has changed since then. So I gave her a link on the Report Card on Cancer in Canada and she is going to get back to me to see how much change she's noticed since then. We discussed the genetics and how thats changed but chemo etc. thats what we were wondering about. I'm babbling again, sorry.

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  • sandilee
    sandilee Member Posts: 1,843
    edited April 2008

    Thanks for posting this!  I'll set my Tivo today to watch it on Thursday.

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  • rubytuesday
    rubytuesday Member Posts: 2,248
    edited April 2008

    It's on PBS right now...at least where I am.................

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2008

    I'm on the West Coast and it starts at 9pm. I'm going to watch it

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited April 2008

    It left me with mixed emotions, ranging from sad to somewhat hopeful and back to sad. Brought back more memories of my mom and her cancers than me and my own. She died, and of course I don't think I will ever die (help me pull my head out of the sand.)

    I appreciated the message about how we should stop being guilty for our cancers. We don't know what caused them; what started that chain reaction of a single mutated DNA. (the booze, the diet, the cigarette, the hormones, the DDT spray--may be triggers for some of us, but how do we know? And now, it's too late.)

    And I was interested in learning more about targeted therapies in relation to the p3kinase.

    And again, the take-home message is that it's all about the cell's biology and its ability to withstand treatment.

    I'm hoping my cancer cells were real wusses.

    Anne

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  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited April 2008







    I'm glad it was clearly emphasized that it's hurtful and harmful to suggest those who didn't survive didn't have the will, that "fighting" helps biology. Similarly "stress" doesn't affect biology of cancer as yet known, even in studies looking at one's immune reaction.



    We must stop blaming the cancer patient for their disease progression since so much depends on the individual biology. Telling such individuals how to live their journey ("fight harder" "get up and fight") robs them of self-respect and the acknowledgement it isn't them, it's the disease. I have real problems with a society, especially influential people who directly or indirectly influence cancer funding, who suggest otherwise.



    I hope to read more about p3kinase as I know little about it.



    The seasoned researchers were cautious, yet forwardly optomistic that by 2015, many cancers may be managed as chronic states. No new breakthrough clearly coming, although most seem to say cures will come person by person, group by group (through intense study, phase 1 break throughs) rather than in the entirety or at once in the cancer population.





    I'm going to keep up my cancer research donations, even if our economy tanks. And I'm going to go check out our presidential nominees on their funding statements for cancer research again. Financing cancer research remains critical.



    Tender







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  • wishiwere
    wishiwere Member Posts: 3,793
    edited April 2008

    It was neat to hear the things the older guy has seen in changes.  Of course, never quick enough.  But I especially thought it important that he said when he started, he was disappointed when all his patients died, but now these new students under him will be upset when One dies!  It's great to see the changing of the guards so to speak.....

    And yes, we have to believe that a cure will come one day.  Hopefully in this lifetime so our children can at least benefit from it!  I mean of course, unless it could happen sooner and WE could benefit from it ! :D

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited April 2008

    Ok  I finally got to watch this program.  And I did not see any thing positive for anyone who does have the most basic cancers that can be removed with surgery. With 9 out 10 drug trials don't work.  How long before we really know anything about p3kinase.  Is this the only thing coming down the channel?  How about the drugs we are now using, how are they really working.

    As for the conversation after the program, I found interesting...

    Did not really recommend a 2nd opinion - Please!

    Like knowing how we may die? Don't think so

    Depression does have 50/50 chance of hurting your recovery

    Don't look anything up on the internet let your doctor be your internet (I hope none of you fall for this.)

    I was hoping for a little more info on what we need to do to get this cutting edge treatment and I don't mean in 2015.

    Flalady

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  • rubytuesday
    rubytuesday Member Posts: 2,248
    edited April 2008

    Flalady, I didn't watch the whole thing, I DVD'd it to watch later but I did see that IDIOT, CONCEITED @#%#$@#$#$1 DR. who made the Internet statement.  He and I would have a VERY short-term relationship!!!!  EEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKK!!  Best wishes

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited April 2008

    Ruby,

    I notice bc doctor make the internet statement the most...do you think they are talking about this website.Surprised  I think so...

    Never under estimate the power of a group of women!

    Flalady

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  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited April 2008

    Ha, I missed the part after the main show, so I missed the "don't look anything up on the internet, we doctors are the internet" concept.

    Frankly, due to such short doctor visits, I'm thankful we look up and after each other on procedures and treatment plans. It's a great way of communicating needed information and it adds a layer of quality assurance, imo, if we know ahead of time more about our doctors proposals as well as after effects to look for. Plus, the metabolism of oncologic drugs, chemo's, hormonals, and drugs taken for co-morbid conditions is a biggy in importance. My oncologist never reviews this, but I do with him, pointing out this or that. It's great we can advocate on drug metabolism, as it's evolving and may influence our treatment response in a critical, 100% personal way.

    I believe a great doctor is open-minded, and never bristled by the inquiring mind of an educated woman or group of them. We are consumers in medicine and it's our bodies which are the subject matter. 

    Hey, doesn't this sound like the '60s montra? "it's my body and I'll know if I want to, know if I want to...."

    TenderCool

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  • AlaskaAngel
    AlaskaAngel Member Posts: 1,836
    edited April 2008

    Pro or con, I'm glad to see that a fair number watched the program. Although it wasn't a pretty picture, I liked the program a LOT for that reason alone. It was much more honest than so many of the programs presented by people who cheerlead all the time but have never actually "been there".  

    We all need encouragement, but presenting cancer as just a brief detour in our lives that we "heroically" conquer is pretty awful for those who are derailed over and over by it no matter how hard they try not to be.

    I especially thought the doctor who treated the pancreatic cancer patient was remarkably truthful with the audience.

    I do have to agree about the comment made against using the internet -- but aside from that, I really could feel that doctor's commitment to better care.

    The doctor who specifically mentioned the importance of love (the tall quiet guy) got my attention too...

    I almost missed seeing this program, and suspect it was not well advertised.

    Anyway - nice to know I was watching it with you all!

    AlaskaAngel

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  • joykeeperorg
    joykeeperorg Member Posts: 154
    edited April 2008

    Thank you for posting this. It was very interesting. I thank God for them coming forward an letting people see the not so great side of cancer. The biggest thing that hit me was when Jaime said that she didnt like the term survivor or something to that nature "chemo brain" it made me think well she is right just because cancer takes them away doesnt mean they didnt fight just as hard as I am or the next person.

    Joykeeper

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited April 2008

    If you missed it...they are rerunning it over the next few days.

    Flalady

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  • lisa39
    lisa39 Member Posts: 255
    edited April 2008

    My oncologist recommended that I read all I could about my kind of BC.  He gave me a list of websites with reliable information - this was one of them.  He said he tells all his patients to learn as much as they can.

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited April 2008

    My onc. started with not giving a lot of info.  When he realized that I wanted more... he gave a little more.  Now he knows (and has for sometime) I can talk his language and we have a very open discussion about my treatment options or there lack of...

    His nurse has told me what a blessing I have been to him that I'm always can talk rationally and even with humor about my treatment and always with hope.  This man has also been big blessing to me also.

    Flalady

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