Phil Genova wrote:

> "When was the last time you heard someone say, "Hey, my doctors gave me
> these great drugs and they healed me?"
>
> You can hear it now, by golly. . . .Had it not been for 5 specific drugs
> in  a program called "Stanford Five" being utilized at Sloan-Kettering
> Memorial Hospital for Cancer Research, I would have died from Hodgkin's
> Disease. No, these drugs were not great, in that I would want to have
> them in my daily juice, but they did do the trick, and in fact seem to
> be holding an impressive record which is being carefully monitored .
> Out of  the 75 cases thus far at Sloan, remissions were 5; Could you
> tell me your track record, sir with Hodgkin's?  And would your "chip on
> your shoulder"  have clouded your recommendation that maybe you might be
> in over your head with me, and perhaps I'd better seek out allopathic
> treatment.   Do you think anyone who has ever stuck their arm out for
> some good ole chemotherapy , or been strapped to a radiation table
> didn't wish to G-d that there was some alternative that could give them
> better odds without the horrific side effects?    Or, an alternative
> which wasn't for the privileged few who could afford to travel to some
> remote parts and shell out over $100,000.00 cash for the "cure".   Tell
> me, sir, what would you have done with me if I showed up at your door
> with an inoperable  tumor  in my chest, measuring over 10 cm and
> pressing on my heart, going up the sides of my neck, and about to choke
> off my jugular ?  How about when I told you that my insurance would only
> cover 15% of your bill? Let's talk about the drugs for a moment.  One of
> the drugs used is  a derivitive of  a periwinkle which comes from  the
> Peruvian rainforest . .  very paleo, if you ask me. Another one is a
> derivitive of mustard gas - yeah, the same stuff they use to kill
> villages in one fell swoop.  See, there's a lesson in that too.
> Everything in moderation.    But, what I really want to say is that the
> greatest illness facing mankind is not cancer, heart disease or
> autoimmune disfunction.  I believe it is arrogance. I experienced more
> arrogance from the alternative health practitioners ( naturopaths,
> chiropracters, reiki masters, accupuncturists, herbalists) who I so
> desperately hoped could "cure" me.  Believe me, I tried 3 months of
> drinking centipede tea, which a world renowned Doctor of  Chinese
> Medicine prescribed, but to no avail. And if you think that herb was a
> stroll on the avenue, your really naive. Let's just describe that taste
> as equivalent to the toilet water in the bathroom of the New York City
> Public Library  (you know, the one on 5th Ave. with the two lions ) on a
> hot July afternoon right around closing time. You get my drift . . .
> Even the docs at  Sloan, who were considered the leading  experts on
> lymphomas knew about centipedes in great detail.  One of them, in fact
> the man who developed the Stanford 5 protocal, said to me:  "Look, you
> were on Chinese chemotherapy, but the cancer is stronger than this
> particular drug.  Let's try our combination.  Tell me if that doesn't
> show a level of compassion, and respect without judgment. He, at least,
> had a foot steeped in both worlds.  The "us against them mentality "so
> prevalent in alternative medical circles just leaves me cold.  Even
> Sloan now has an alternative practitioner on staff.  (Yes, there still
> is a long way to go, I agree).   I feel priviledged to have been part of
> the team of doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff at Sloan.  My doctor,
> who is up for the Nobel Prize for his work in cancer research calls me
> back when I leave a message, and always wants to know how the whole of
> me is doing, even my family members.  He knew I was doing Chinese herbs
> throughout my chemo.  He was cool, as long as my tumor was responding.
> You know, life is a terminal condition.  And, paleo or no paleo, there
> are no Prudential Umbrellas anymore.  .  If the current statistic is
> correct, then 1 out of 3 Americans can expect to develop some form of
> cancer in their lifetime. Is the treatment barbaric? Are the drugs
> horrific? Yup. But I've met many miracles in this cancer journey who
> wouldn't have been able to tell me their story, otherwise.  So,  don't
> bite the hand that may someday not only feed you, but keep you alive to
> kiss your kids goodnight one more time.  Remember, it wasn't supposed to
> happen to me, either.
>
> Judy Genova  <[log in to unmask]>
>
> P.S.:  If anyone on this list has family members or friends who have
> Hodgkin's and  would like more information on  my treatment, I would be
> glad to give back even 1/100th of the support that came my way.  But the
> bottom line is I hope you are all doing well and enjoying each day.