The Jerusalem Post is reporting that colon cancer patients have launched a hunger strike in front of the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem. A promise that their medications would be included in the 2006 health basket was made before the election, and until the promise is honored, they will stage the hunger strike. According to the news report, the colon cancer patients say they will keep up the hunger strike until the medication they need to help them fight and survive cancer is made available through the national government health program -- or they die where they sit in protest. Ron Harush, one of the hunger strikers in need of the currently denied medications stated, "We have nothing to lose. The shame must end and the drugs must be approved or we will be returning our souls to our creator." More and more, I am coming to the belief that the future global trend in cancer survival will be a luxury of the wealthy -- if surviving cancer depends on the newest cancer drugs and treatments.
