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Our Beliefs

Education

 

Cancer affects everyone, so we believe that information about cancer should be available to everyone! 

 

One of the main goals of PRO is to provide access to a collection of available information regarding the history, paleo-epidemiology and bio-cultural context of cancer in the past. This information has been made available both for research and for public education purposes, as we believe we have a responsibility to make paleo-oncological research accessible to everyone, including non-specialists. 

 

In our effort to provide educational material for people touched by cancer, and curious, public readers, we will provide introductory videos and texts about:  

 

  •   normal cell growth

  •   abnormal cell growth

  •   benign vs. malignant tumors

  •   the mechanics of cancer

  •   macroscopic and microscopic cancer identification methods in living patients and human remains

  •   detailed descriptions of different cancers

  •   new discoveries in the media

 

We hope that these educational resources will help to educate the public about cancer. As Helen Keller once said, "knowledge is love, light and vision." PRO believes that knowledge, while dealing with cancer, can also be so much more than that. It can be hope.

Open Source Accessibility

 

“Knowledge is like money: to be of value it must circulate, and in circulating it can increase in quantity and, hopefully, in value” – Louis L’Amour

 

PRO believes that open access to paleo-oncological information will help to ensure researcher accountability, facilitate methodological standardization, and encourage the meta-analysis of paleo-oncological data. We strive to provide a centralized space for the collection and dissemination of paleo-oncological research and data. We are also advocates of public education and academic inclusivity.

Inter-disciplinary Collaboration

 

"It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) that those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed."

 -attributed to Charles Darwin

 

PRO is a strong advocate of inter-disciplinary collaboration.  We believe in the incorporation of expertise from scholars in diverse fields such as bioarchaeology, anthropology, linguistics, statistics, science and medicine.  In doing this, our goal is to better understand the history, presentation, and impact of cancer in ancient and modern times.

PRO stands for:

 

"The first step in the evolution of ethics is a sense of solidarity with other human beings." - Albert Schweitzer

 

The Paleo-oncology Research Organization (PRO) believes in academically and ethically responsible research. We actively, and constantly, work to prioritize and maintain PRO’s academic integrity. We believe in the peer review process, as well as the use of scientific methods and anthropological paradigms to contribute to our collective knowledge of human history.
 

We support efforts to reduce the use of known cancer-causing factors (carcinogens) in industry and at home. We also recognize the need for further research and the independent and unbiased reproduction of scientific results to positively identify these carcinogens and their impact on the human body. Through the study of cancer and carcinogens throughout history, PRO strives to contribute to the knowledge of possible causative factors in the development of cancer.

 

We recognize and respect the impact that cancer has had on modern and ancient individuals and societies. We strive to maintain sensitivity to individuals’ experiences with cancer, and hope to provide information to those who suffer from cancer about the long history of this complex collection of diseases, which can be better understood through evolutionary medicine. We believe that post-industrial carcinogens are not solely responsible for the development of cancer in modern populations.
 

We believe in the power of philanthropy and the importance of all cancer research. We actively support modern cancer research organizations and share a goal of raising awareness about cancers.  PRO executives also contribute to modern cancer research organizations by sharing their resources, raising awareness of their specific causes, participating in their events, and personally donating to their causes.

 

We believe in social responsibility, strong business ethics and transparency. We respect our donors and are truly grateful for their faith and generosity. In turn, we endeavor to provide regular PRO business and financial updates and to protect donors’ rights.

 

We believe in the value of a dollar, and that every dollar truly counts. We strive to stretch every donation to its fullest potential, as we are committed and passionate about raising awareness about the growing field of evolutionary medicine and, more importantly, facilitating paleo-oncological research!

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