[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Where did you get the absurd notion that cancer mainly strikes people over child-bearing years? What about leukemia?

The point is this: there are manifold types of cancer that can strike anyone at any time. The pain and suffering of HIV is essentially the same as that of dying from cancer: your body exhausts itself trying to fight something it cannot defeat.

The source of HIV is almost purely behavioral, and thus far more preventable and far less in need of a vaccine.

The cause of cancer is still undetermined. Some pathologists and oncologists believe it is rooted in a virus, others in genetic failure, others in environmental toxins.

But this much is known about cancer: that it is an uncontrolled increase in the number of malignant cells attacking the vital cells. Once they find a cure/vaccine for ONE type of cancer, it will set up a rapid domino effect for all other types.

If you've suffered the loss of a loved-one due to HIV, I'm sorry for your suffering. But I don't know how you can honestly claim that finding a vaccine for HIV is more important than finding a vaccine for cancer.

[ReignOfError]

Where did you get the absurd notion that cancer mainly strikes people over child-bearing years?

On average, each person who dies from cancer loses an estimated 15 years of life.

National Cancer Institute

The source of HIV is almost purely behavioral, and thus far more preventable and far less in need of a vaccine.

The source of HIV is a virus. In North America, the risk is pretty slim if you don't engage in a few high-risk behaviors, but the rest of the world isn't North America. And there are behavioral factors in cancer as well -- giving up tobacco use, for starters.

>The cause of cancer is still undetermined. Some pathologists and oncologists believe it is rooted in a virus, others in genetic failure, others in environmental toxins.

Or various combinations of the above. The evidence for some environmental hazards (tobacco smoke, radiation, sun exposure) is clear. The evidence of genetic and viral factors is emerging, but looks strong.

But this much is known about cancer: that it is an uncontrolled increase in the number of malignant cells attacking the vital cells. Once they find a cure/vaccine for ONE type of cancer, it will set up a rapid domino effect for all other types.

That's a supposition on your part. What seems clear to me is that different cancers form by different mechanisms, and it's looking increasingly unlikely that one "silver bullet" will emerge that will keep them all from forming or contain them all once they do.

I don't know how you can honestly claim that finding a vaccine for HIV is more important than finding a vaccine for cancer.

Show me an area with 25 million cancer patients, any of whom could spread cancer to others. That's the UN estimate for sub-Saharan Africa.