182 THE CHINA STUDYdrugs and surgery (see Part IV). The widespread communities of nutri-
tion professionals, researchers and doctors are, as a whole, either unaware
of this evidence or reluctant to share it. Because of these failings, Ameri-
cans are being cheated out of information that could save their lives.
There is enough evidence now that doctors should be discussing
the option of pursuing dietary change as a potential path to cancer
prevention and treatment. There is enough evidence now that the U.S.
government should be discussing the idea that the toxicity of our diet
is the single biggest cause of cancer. There is enough evidence now
that local breast cancer alliances, and prostate and colon cancer institu-
tions, should be discussing the possibility of providing information to
Americans everywhere on how a whole foods, plant-based diet may be
an incredibly effective anti-cancer medicine.
If these discussions were to happen, it is possible that, next year,
fewer than 500,000 people would go to the doctor's office and be told
they have cancer of the breast, prostate or large bowel. The year after
that, even fewer friends, coworkers and family members would be given
the most dreaded of all diagnoses. And the following year, even fewer.
The possibility that this future could be our reality is real, and as long
as this future holds such promise for the health of people everywhere, it
is a future worth working for.