A Simple Cure

By: Lawrence W. Gold MD

Narrated by: Leigh Townes

Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

When nature, in her ultimate act of irony, strikes Richard Powell, a cancer specialist, with malignant melanoma, a highly aggressive form of cancer, his wife, Terri devotes her life to curing the disease that ultimately kills her husband.

While research laboratories are characterized as noble in search of cures, and proprietary drug companies are caricatured as ruthless and materialistic, too often, the distinctions aren't so clear. The murder of a drug courier to obtain an experimental and promising treatment for malignant melanoma, unleashes a chain of devastating consequences.

People for Alternative Treatment, a company created to find cures for rare diseases, had fallen on hard times and become a subsidiary of Kendall Pharmaceuticals, a company with very different values. Experimentation with a vaccine against tuberculosis is showing surprising effects in controlling malignant melanoma at UC Medical Center. Kendall is enthralled with the economic potential of such a treatment, while researchers are leery and have many unanswered questions. Kendall's determination to push the vaccine into clinical trial at all costs is in conflict with Terri and her ethical associates. When clinical trials begin, the vaccine's effects are miraculous. Soon, however, we see the rule of unintended consequences.

©2013 Lawrence W. Gold, M.D. (P)2015 Lawrence W. Gold

Thrilling. Relative story

Thrilling story Grounded in what I fear is a deep truth about the collaboration – or lack there of - between those true healers on the front line of patient care and he often greedy behavior of big Pharma. A little hard at first to keep the characters straight Because the voices all sounded so similar but once I got into it it was easier to follow. Well worth the cost.

A cure for cancer at what cost?

What made the experience of listening to A Simple Cure the most enjoyable?

It was interesting because we all hope for a cure to Cancer.

What did you like best about this story?

It was in part interesting because we would all like to think that the researchers of drugs are looking out for the patients best interest. I'd like to think that one day that they will find a drug that will boast out immune system enough to kill cancer with out having to use dangerous methods.

What about Leigh Townes’s performance did you like?

She made Terri believable and lovable. I don't think I've listened to anything by Leigh before but I would be willing to again after listening to this book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Just that I really could see a Pharmaceutical company not caring about the patients at all and only the bottom line. So I'd have to say that really is a bad thing. When people are just wanting to be able to beat something like cancer. It really wouldn't surprise me to hear in the news one day a real life story something like this.

Any additional comments?

I recommend this book as something very interesting to listen to.

I was provided this audio book at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com

Poor narration

The subject matter was interesting for sure, however the story was a bit convoluted and didn't flow. More importantly, the narration was horrible, and I never feel that way. Mispronounced words, and overall unnatural diction.