Reply #79: There is a certain contigent that is deeply mistrustful of medical science

[Liberal Veteran]

...and sadly (my opinion), there are some on DU who feel the same way. I can't tell you the number of times I have defended antivirals for HIV. Some people say they are worthless, others say they are poison and actually cause AIDS, but if that were true, I'd have been dead 6 years ago. Are they perfect? Absolutely not. Do they have side effects? Sometimes. For myself, my side effects have been minor to the point of not even considering them side-effects.

The sad thing is this mistrust of science that some people have to the point they hear all the horror stories of cancer treatment and pounce on those to push an anti-science agenda. In my mind, I see that as really no different than people who say the unanswered questions about evolution means it's all wrong or the people who think global warming is a hoax.

Chemo is not pleasant. The drugs used are VERY strong and VERY toxic. The very idea behind chemo is cancer cells tend to fall victim to these drugs more rapidly than cancer cells, but we are not advanced enough to just target the rogue cells, thus, systemic therapy is required to reach those cells with toxic substances. But it's still good science and the best science has to help cure those cancers.

Alternative medicine is not without successes, but they really tend to shine in more minor ailments. And then there is the problem that alternative medicine is a catch all term. Could be nutritional, could be herbal, could be psychic surgery or aura cleansing or touch therapy.

I'll keep my faith in science and dabble in the alternative for minor things or to augment science.