Too little, too late...

When we were given the diagnosis of Esther`s cancer I started my investigation.  Metastatic Ewings Sarcoma ment nothing to me at that time. I had to know what we were up against. This has surpriced and shocked me grately......!

When Ewings Sarcoma spread, in Esther`s case through her bone marrow, mortality increases. This type of cancer is agressive. Therefore it`s vital to treath Ewings Sarcoma before it has spread.. 

As I searched for answers It soon became clear that USA was leading the development of new treatment for patients with Ewings Sarcoma. I got in touch with researcher`s, doctor`s, professor`s, specialist`s and surgeon`s located in Salt Lake City, Dallas, New York, Boston  and Florida. Hard working people doing their best to help children like Esther. It was obvious that development depended upon financial support. Not many were working on solving Ewings Sarcoma and they were all being financially imited. 

I often wounder why USA are leading the cancer research. My impression is that this applies for most types of cancer research. Is cancer only treatening lives in the United States of America? I find this "strange and alarming", a real paradox! 

Cancer is a treath to mankind. Where ever you go people suffer and die. I live in a very small country. Norway holds a population of less then 6 million. Natural resources ( oil, gas, fish ) has made this country extremely wealthy. The United Nations has year after year choose Norway as the safest country to live in. With all this wealth for decades Norway could be a leading force in developing new treatment for cancer patients. I recently got an email from a minister in our government. I wrote an email to the prime minister`s office questioning Norways standing. The answer I got "expressed deep compassion with our family". Reciving a reply from the Minister was touching but what I read felt strange:  Research on cancer is a priorited research area. Cancer research has the highest priority ..

A long time I have sought for the correct answer to this and recently I reicive statistics from the Norwegian State Department. Acording to theese we spend less then 3/ 1000 of our annual State budget on cancer research as a whole ( all types of cancer research founded by the Norwegian Government ). Less then 0,3%................ 

I have spoken with many people about this. The reply I often get is: "We are just a small country. We can not do much". It makes me wounder, why must such a small country be "the most winning nation" during the winter olympics? Perhaps a foolish comparison but bear with me! What is important? Have you fought cancer? It treathens all. Cancer is no respector of person. It can hit on  parents, children,mom, dad, brother, sister, uncle, aunts, grand parents, grand children, friends, neigbours etc. In Norway ALONE more than 10 000 people die of cancer every single year. They suffer and so do we who love them! 

Another foolish comparison: what if a mad man went about killing 10 000 people every year. If the police got tips on were has was and replied: the budget for this year has gone. We will continue the hunt next year. Who would acept that...? We certainly use lots of money on treating patients with cancer. Esther got lots of chemoterapy, radiation etc. It cost a lot BUT her survival rate was 5%. I met others with a survival of 0,1%. Patients are being offered treatment with little or no result. And during treatment they suffer..

The status qou upset`s me. I somehow whanted to defend my beloved child but "felt like Don Quixote". Does people care? During the budget proposal for 2018 there were lots of complains conserning what to priority. No one questioning the minimal support for cancer research. I have not heard of any politician, political party or media that focus on this. Patients with Ewings Sarcoma and so many other types of cancer need new targeted treatment! We could use 1% of our budget on this. Our little country could establish research centers connected to Universities. We could have 100 scientist working on developing new targeted treatment. Our little country can not save the world but we can save some! Would it not be great if we could be a part of this?? If our money could result in some one getting free from this plague?  During the budget proposal debate we are being bombarded with "needs". All the political parties have their issues of consern. I wish they could "wake up" to THIS reality and be honest about their priorities!

Recently we met a couple that lost their beloved child aprox 15 years ago. Identical diagnosis as Esther and....identical threatment!?! They where schocked when we shared our story and busted out "nothing has happened for 15 years...they told us that there was a desparate need for new threatment that time and nothing happened...".