This morning in The Philadelphia Inquirer online, I read an article about Michael Douglas.
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/...d-GlaxoSmithKline-and-well-you-know.htmlI was so incensed by it and the author's immature attitude that I wrote an email to him. I am including it here. I encourage ALL of you to respond to stories that offend and just plain get it wrong by email. We are the voices of oral cancer and we can have an impact by demanding that news organizations get their facts straight and report responsibly. While I have not gotten a response from the writer yet, I hope that I do. And I will share it with you here.
[quote]David,
As the wife of an oral cancer survivor, I am disappointed that you did not delve deep enough into this story. Your claim that big pharma "drug companies make money by selling drugs to as many people as possible at the highest price possible�" shows how short sighted you are. You have down a great disservice to the readership by not relaying all of the facts.
One of the leading causes of Head and Neck cancers is the
HPV virus. Most of the sexually active adult population has been infected with the
HPV virus sometime in their lives. Fortunately, the immune system will clear the virus, leaving no evidence that it was there. And one can be infected multiple times.
I am writing to you because I am passionate about spreading awareness about oral cancers. My husband is a 6 year survivor of this deadly disease. For years, oral cancer was the old man's disease, affecting heavy smokers, and drinkers. My husband was neither a smoker nor a heavy drinker. We do not know the origin of his specific cancer. However, there is evidence that more and more young people are being diagnosed with
HPV+ oral cancers.
I am a member of the non-profit, The Oral Cancer Foundation, who has done much to educate and inform others about oral cancer. There are over 44,000 people worldwide who rely on this website for information and support. I
suggest you go to their website and read the plethora of facts and studies done on behalf of this disease. Brian Hill, who is an oral cancer survivor himself, started this organization when he could not find the resources he needed when he was diagnosed many years ago. He works tirelessly to spread awareness about this disease. I am sure he would welcome your request for an interview.
oralcancerfoundation.org
My husband's life is forever changed. He speaks with great difficulty. Eating is a no longer enjoyable for him as he chokes and coughs during the hour long ordeal. The result from the 12 surgeries and radiation. And we are the lucky ones. There are many who have not survived, others who will never taste food again as they use a feeding tube for nutrition. My husband lost his jaw, some have lost their lives.
Michael Douglas is a supporter and advocate for The Oral Cancer Foundation. We are grateful that he has chosen to make his story public as this will help increase awareness.
Vaccinating boys will go a long way to prevention of oral cancers. Hopefully, the younger generation may not have to deal with this awful disease.
Do everyone a service and write a story that informs and educates. Take the high road. The headline, "..and, well, you know" is irritatingly pubescent. Grow up.
Sincerely,
Anita McGinn-Natali[/quote]
