It is far far worse than just a "bummer" when you have a loved one suffering horribly from disease X. You read in newspaper or magazine Y that Doctor Z has a promising new treatment. You find and call Dr.Z. He tells you the news reporter got it all wrong. Dr. Z is not even out of the in-vitro or animal trials phase let alone getting anywhere close to a human trials phase.

Thank goodness the newspaper journalists are at least accurate when it comes to Peak Oil.

HI Step Back,

 I'd like to offer empathy.  Also, a suggestion you may know about (though it may be no longer useful to you.)   There are a couple of research companies that will do a lot of looking up on treatments, given a diagnosis, and people have apparently made good use of these.  (I'm not finding the links easily; there was a write-up in the LATimes a couple of years ago and I could look for it, if you're interested.)

Thanks for the empathy. Something like this?