THE medical world - and investors in drugs firms - are galvanised by a research breakthrough in America that promises a cure for all kinds of cancer.
It is a development that will fill millions of ordinary people with hope.
For despite all the real advances over the years that have reduced its menace, cancer remains the second-biggest killer.
Thus, the discovery of a cure-all, cancer-killing magic-bullet drugs combination would be the fulfilment of a fantastic dream.
But it must be remembered that drugs which have been found to kill tumours in mice have yet to be shown to do the same in man.
Let us hope that this promising development - arguably the most encouraging in all the years of cancer research - can be successfully transferred to humans.
But let us not build our hopes up too high, only for the disappointment to be more bitter than it need be.
Previous news story
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article