Re: Tamoxifen, BigPharma, and my thoughts

I wonder how many out there have a similar story to tell. Here's mine:

My mother was diagnosed with localized, unresectable pancreatic cancer in October, 2003. I enrolled her in a clinical trial sponsered by The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group for a randomized Phase III study of gemcitabine manufactured by Eli Lily)in combination with radiation verses gemcitabine alone.

Her cancer was staged at 7.3 centimeters and had wrapped around her pulmonary and aortic arteries. Not good. But she met all the qualifying criterion - so the group allowed her in the study.
She was 79 years old.

Meanwhile - I emptied her cupboards of all processed food; bought pure water, took away all dairy products, animal fat,sugar, and gave her two ProSures (loaded with Omega-3) each day. I also juiced 5-7 fruits every night.

The radiation and gemcitabine combo nearly killed her, and she ended up in the hospital for ten days one month after beginning her treatment, where she lost 12 pounds. She miraculously rallied - and resumed treatments.
Her cancer was then staged before moving to Phase II of the study - and it showed no growth (or shrinkage) - and it had not metastasized.

I told the clnical trial nurse that I belived my mother's diet had at least as much to do with her cancer's containment as her drug therapies - but she looked at me as if I was nuts.

Phase II was also grueling, and my mother ended up being kicked out of the trial because her platelet count was too low - too often.

She was involved in this trial - beginning to end - for approximately 5 1/2 months. We now had to find another hospital and oncologist. In the meantime - I continued her diet, ProSure, etc., and she began to gain weight. She was now two months without treatments of any kind.

Her new oncologist and treatment center wanted her cancer staged once again - before she was put on lower doses of gemcitabine.

Lo and behold - her cancer had shrunk: It was now 5.5 centimeters. I eagerly called the clinical trial nurse (even though she was no longer involved in the clinical trial - I thought this information very important to published results).

She was not the least bit interested. In fact, she seemed almost upset.

Now - here's the big part. After only three treatments at the new treatment center - my mother again ended up in the hospital. She clearly could not tolerate gemcitabine. And again - she lost weight.

Now her only treatment was her 'diet' - which, though a little more relaxed than at first, still included fresh juice, ProSure, little or no processed food, and only small amounts of dairy.

We had her cancer staged the first of December, 2004. It was now 1.3 centimeters and had not metasticized. However, she had a duadenal ulcer due to radiation; two fused discs due to falling (from dizziness caused by medications), and the lining of her stomach was mush (again, radiation.)

I called the clinical trial nurse. Surely this information is of value. Especially since with only a handful of chemotherapy treatments in 8 months - her cancer shrunk to the size of a lima bean. No deal. This information was no longer of interest to her.

Long story short (too late, huh?) - It is March, 2005. My mother is back to her original weight and eats like a truck driver. However, she is now in the hospital for back surgery. Her ulcer has caused her to bloat up like Buddah. And her cancer? I doubt it's there.

Do you think the Eastern Oncology Group - or Eli Lily would value this information in light of the fact there is an extremely poor prognosis for pancreatic cancer patients? (median amount of time a patient being treated with gemcitabine has their cancer contained is 3.7 mos; avg. survival with treatment is 7.1 mos., during which time patients lose weight rapidly).

This is not the only case, I'm sure. There has to be many, many former clinical trial members who could not tolerate the treatments - yet who have since rallied because of alternative therapies.

I'm a nationally published writer. I would love to hear from anyone and everyone who can help me compile a series of similar stories.

There is always a way back to wellness. Don't let anyone tell you differently.

Cynthia Tweet