There will always be a reason why people die, and it will never feel like we're doing enough.
The other reason might be, we introduced lots of new cancer inducing compounds.
Also cancer is very complex and a broad term. "Solving" it likely requires solving the human body first, as in understanding every mechanism to the finest details.
That's the best of humanity: love for fellow human beings, and a desire to preserve life. And seeing that we live in an inconceivably vast and empty universe, I see nothing wrong with the idea.
The poor man was made into a local Australian celebrity by the media.
I wouldn't say that's quite what happened - I mean, he was explicitly trying to use his profile to raise awareness for brain cancer research so was very public with the progress of his experimental treatment!
People like Dr. Scoyler or my own doctor are always in my heart, we owe them so much.