Lance Armstrong and Cancer Research ethics

[milimac]

I’ve been watching the Tour de France and have noticed a lot of people wearing the yellow Livestrong bands – I believe each band purchased contributes $1 to Lance Armstrong’s cancer research foundation.

I am always leery when contributing to medical research organizations for fear they utilize embryonic stem cell research or push for it.

Does anyone happen to know what the Lance Armstrong foundation’s stance is on embryonic stem cell research?

 

[kristalyn]

I am under the general impression that Lance is mostly focused on pharm research–new drugs and treatments like that.

I have NO research to back this up, and have no idea how closely his foundation is allied with his personal views anyway.

I’m curious to see if anyone does know the answer to this.

Good question!

 

[1ke]

milimac:

I’ve been watching the Tour de France and have noticed a lot of people wearing the yellow Livestrong bands – I believe each band purchased contributes $1 to Lance Armstrong’s cancer research foundation.

I am always leery when contributing to medical research organizations for fear they utilize embryonic stem cell research or push for it.

Does anyone happen to know what the Lance Armstrong foundation’s stance is on embryonic stem cell research?

While I have no idea the official answer to this, I can only extrapolate from what is already know about Lance Armstrong’s (lack of) character:

1. Had his sperm frozen when he underwent treatment for testicular cancer so that he could later impregnate his wife
2. Had twins via in vitro, who knows how many “extras” are frozen
3. Divorced his wife and is currently shacking up with Sheryl Crow. Now trying to get her pregnant…

So, given this example of ethics and the casual treatment of human life… concern about embryonic research doesn’t seem to follow. Whether his foundation actually does such research, who knows…

 

[The_Barrister]

Mr. Google tells me that the Lance Armstrong Foundation gave money to Children’s Hospital in LA, and the Foundation’s press release notes: “Today, physician-scientists at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles address the most vexing pediatric medical problems and discover important new therapies for children everywhere, including advances in gene, immune and stem cell therapy, developmental biology, neuroscience, cancer, cardiovascular research and imaging.” It does not reference embryonic stem cell research.

Mr. Google also told me that Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation, stem cell research**embryonic **, has “teamed with” Lance Armstrong for fundraising.

His foundation also publishes a “medical summary” fill-in-the-blank form which includes pages re: stem cell treatment, but does not say “embryonic”.

I’d say that at least some of the money given to this foundation will eventually be channeled to embryonic stem cell research.

 

[milimac]

Yes, as great as an athlete Lance is, I wasn’t exactly impressed with his character after reading his book either – the in vitro thing, embryo freezing, being completely unforgiving of his step father, and letting everyone know by writing about it.

It doesn’t seem like his ordeal with cancer did much to humble him.