> imho, cancer is a fundamental disease/property of multicellular life I like analogizing between multicellular organisms and nation-states, in that both are c

> imho, cancer is a fundamental disease/property of multicellular life I like analogizing between multicellular organisms and nation-states, in that both are complex systems built upon the coordination of many individual systems (cells/people). In the case of cancer, what we have is essentially rebellion, a failure of control: individual cells decide to stop cooperating and instead begin competing with the body that houses them. So I agree with you... rebellion is always a threat to any system of control. Unlike actual rebellion, though, there's no way the cancer can "win" in the sense of taking over control of the body. If only cancer could realize the futility of its crusade...