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From: abc@brl-tgr.ARPA (Brint Cooper )
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Unconventional Cancer Therapy
Message-ID: <8013@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 4-Feb-85 23:22:41 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.8013
Posted: Mon Feb  4 23:22:41 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Feb-85 02:42:08 EST
References: <532@tesla.UUCP> <690@wucs.UUCP> <6104@rochester.UUCP>
Reply-To: abc@brl-tgr.ARPA (Brint Cooper (CTAB) <abc>)
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
Lines: 27

My dad was a victim of prostate cancer seven years ago.  He, too, tried
an "unconventional" cancer therapy--Laetrile plus a diet rich in
"special enzymes."  The claims were not unlike those I just read in 
this group for the Gerson methods.  I don't know what the Gerson method 
costs, but I've been chronically ill for 6 years with myasthenia gravis 
and, over that period of time, have not paid for all medicine what Dad 
paid for Laetrile for about a year (thousands of dollars).

The Laetrile didn't hurt him physically.  His case was rather advanced
when diagnosed and he lived for 3.5 years more--sometimes ill in the
hospital, sometimes well enough to work and travel.

My points are:

	Mom and Dad were desperate and would grab at any "promise."
While it didn't hurt Dad, it might have caused someone with a less
severe case to opt for it rather than a therapy with at least a
statistically good chance for success.

	While they could afford the money they paid for the Laetrile, 
many old and frightened people shell out their last funds for it.

	Laetrile is made from peach pits!

	It's time we blew away the "medical conspiracy" theory.  

Brint