Lavamisole, brand name Ergamisol costs approximately $10.00 for sheep. To fight reoccurance of colon cancer in humans, they have to spend $200.00 per month.

Prescription medications with exactly same ingredients, identical standards in Canada, Mexico, Europe are half what they are in US. Note. I only know about these areas. If anyone can tell me about other continents please do so.

The National Cancer Institute spent $30,000,000 in developing, proving Taxol works on various cancers. It than gave it to "Squibb to finish testing. In other words company saved much in research expenses. They still charge at least $6000.00 per year per patient.

Even more expensive is Ceredase for Gaucher's disease. It's close to half a million per year. There are probably many other examples, but I don't want to make this editorial too long.

I will end with this quote from medical journal "Biological Psychiatry" "The overall influence of healthcare industry is to emphasize drug treatment at expense of other modalities. ...It focuses attention on disorders that are treatable by drugs and may promote over-diagnosis. It reinforces practice of dealing with disease by treatment of symptoms and diverts interest from prevention." Authors J. Wortis, A. Stone"The addiction to drug companies" Biol. Psychiatry 32:847=9,1992. In other words emphasis on expensive drugs.

Bottom line. The US Government needs to step in and do something about cruel, unfair, unreasonable prescription drug prices.

The Johns Hopkins researchers say that you should experiment with different foods to ascertain which ones will help you and which ones will cause you pain. With over 100 different kinds of bone/joint problems classified under heading of "arthritis" it is easy to understand why experimenting with different foods must be left up to you. Also as explained by Johns Hopkins papers, "The more pressure and weight on your joints, more they will hurt. Even and extra 10 pounds stresses joints." A desirable reason to lose weight of plagued with joint/bone problems!

A Diet to Promote Joint Comfort From Johns Hopkins Health 2000

* BREAKFAST: One piece or serving of fresh fruit; one slice of bread or bowl of cereal; one protein, such as an egg or a cup of yogurt.

* LUNCH: A fresh salad with vegetable, such as mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes, radishes, celery and low-fat dressing; a four-ounce serving of protein, such as fish, chicken, turkey, tofu or beans; one bread serving; a piece of fruit.

* AFTERNOON SNACK: One fruit or raw vegetable; one serving of bread; a glass of low-fat milk or a cup of low-fat yogurt.

* DINNER: A four-ounce serving of protein, such as fish, tofu, chicken, beans, turkey or beef; one carbohydrate, such as a baked potato, rice, bread or pasta; one cup of steamed vegetables (avoid starches like peas or corn); a fresh salad with low-fat dressing.

* EVENING SNACK: A fruit with one graham cracker square, one low-fat cookie, or a half cup of sorbet or low-fat frozen yogurt.

Combining a healthful diet and stress reduction, pain can all but be eliminated in most instances...