“Yes, in the get-to-know-Shelly-White saga?”
“I told him to have her over for dinner,” said Sal. “But he wants to wait.”
“You know,” said Nick, “I’ve been thinking of how I can help her and the Foundation, and it always comes down to money. But I’m tired of just raising money for charities.”
“That’s what makes them happy, son. Money.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s always spent on research, yet we never know what happens. All these clinical trials that get us excited and fizzle out. I agree with what Mom used to say. Why do we even have to deal with cancer? It should be cured by now. Look at our society. If there were a bird flu killing half a million people a year, the media would be going nuts, demanding a vaccine. ”
Doing some research in preparation for his date with Shelly, Nick had discovered that more than five hundred fifty thousand people die of cancer each year—fifteen hundred a day. The public accepted it like cancer, with all its pain and suffering, had become normal.
“But with cancer, it’s different,” he continued with his mini-rant. Sal and Jerry sat sipping fresh-brewed coffee. In the old days, Sal would break out the cigars after such a fine meal, but since cancer struck Jane, smoking of any kind went out the window. “Nobody says anything. Cancer is just cancer. I find that attitude extraordinary.”
“That’s part of life.”
“Well, that’s just plain bullshit.”
“There’s too much money in treatment,” Jerry spoke up. “Look at GE, Siemens, and all the major companies that make the big equipment. Look at all the doctors in radiology. They make a fortune. You find the cure for cancer, you’ll put them all out of work. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if the cure were sitting in a vault somewhere.”
“It’s a damn game, isn’t it?” Nick asked aloud. “Probably why we’ll never see a cure.”
“I don’t want to see a cure,” Sal said. They looked at him with odd expressions. “I want to see a medication that prevents the disease before it starts. That way you won’t need a cure.”
“Good point, Dad,” Nick said. “I just want to do something that’s a game changer, and I don’t know what to do. When you