Last week, the pharmaceutical maker Genentech, Inc. warned doctors that the breast cancer drug Herceptin is linked to 15 deaths and dozens of other adverse reactions in patients. The company sent a letter out to doctors last week saying these adverse effects include allergic shock and extreme respiratory distress. An estimated 23,000 patients have received Herceptin.

Well, today on Democracy Now, we are going to take a look at the politics of cancer — from the pharmaceutical companies to the organizations that claim to be fighting the disease. We turn now to Dr. Samuel Epstein, Professor of Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Chair of the Cancer Prevention Coalition.

Dr. Epstein has exposed the American Cancer Society — one of the wealthiest non-profits — which gets much of its money from surgeons, top drug companies and corporations that he says profit from the cancer industry and have little interest in cancer prevention.

Guest:

• Dr. Samuel Epstein, Professor of Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Chair of the Cancer Prevention Coalition. He is author of ??The Politics of Cancer Revisited. Call: 800.269.2921.

Related link:

• Prevent Cancer