This past Monday, I joined Shiv and other Rose Scholars to discuss the exciting new developments that are taking place in immunology, specifically in the field of cancer research. I have taken a microbiology class before, so I was familiar with a lot of the science but the new discoveries that are being made amazed me.

Even though these innovations for disease control and cures for various types of cancer are amazing, I was still saddened by the fact that so few people have access to the expensive treatments. When these treatments are in the trial phases they tend to be cheaper since companies want evidence that the treatments work, however once they are in action they become ridiculously expensive, upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Shiv made a really good point in saying it comes own to a choice between money and life. People can either risk it all on a treatment that may or may not work, or have to suffer until their final days.

Even though the science and brilliant new innovations are an awesome thing in the medical field, I hope more can be done to make these innovations accessible to those who need them. Otherwise, what’s the point?