An earlier post was focussed on snake-oil economics --
She will be starting GCMAF shortly which is a product from Switzerland & comes with a price tag of $4,000 for 6 weeks supply. If this treatment shows an improvement, Fran will continue on these injections for up to 12-18 months to completely clear the cancer.-- So this earlier step in the patient's story ended up on the cutting-room floor:
We were introduced to Dr Anna Goodwin, a specialist from Braemar Hospital, by Dr Twentyman in May. Dr Goodwin and her team arranged for Fran to try a different strength of Chemotherapy - also known as Pine Bark treatment - to try get the tumour under control so other options could be explored. Fran was able to have 4 treatments of this but at the beginning of July, at her follow up with Dr Goodwin, the family was told that unfortunately the treatments have not worked and the cancer is advancing.
Dr Goodwin here is an anti-fluoride campaigner with strong views about diet, which she expressed to a recent anti-GMO meeting, taking the theme
"Overweight, undernourished, sterile, and dying of cancer. Our food is it sealing the fate of humanity?"Dr Goodwin is also is the Oklahoma-trained head of the chemotherapy unit at a private hospital. When the unit opened two years ago, local public-sector chiefs were not convinced by promises that it would deliver radical improvements in treatment.
As for "pine bark treatment", the American Cancer Society provide a roundup of the data within their "Complementary & Alternative" section.Although there is interest in pine bark extract among medical researchers, only limited data from clinical trials supports the claims made about its benefits for health. A few early studies in humans have shown possible benefits in reducing swelling from a circulation disorder called chronic venous insufficiency, but this needs further research. Laboratory studies have indicated pine bark extract may have some antioxidant properties.Given their diet, beavers should be VERY HEALTHY INDEED, but this one does not look happy about the circulation in its tail.
I note that I the referring Dr Twentyman has the same surname as the author of the hope-porn piece in the Waikato Times. Spouse, sibling or multi-roleing?
ReplyDeleteI 'spose that Un Zud has a relatively small number of citizens per crank.
...also, re: pissed-off-looking beavers - I, too, would be somewhat annoyed if someone threw an American "football" into my open mouth so hard it formed an anal diverticulum.
ReplyDeleteThe referring doctor is possibly Dr Glenn Twentyman, integrative physician, of Auckland's Holistic Medical Centre (elsewhere he has warned against wearing hoodies, as a major cause of Vitamin-D deficiency). Where he and the journalist fit within the commodious Twentyman family tree is anyone's guess.
ReplyDeletethe treatments have not worked and the cancer is advancing
ReplyDeleteShirley they have pine cone trebuchets to fend off the foes?
* Let is be known that speelchuck frowns upon both trebuchet and trebuchets.
~
Wann immer ich höre die Wörter „integrative physician“… I unsicher mein stethescope.
ReplyDeleteat her follow up with Dr Goodwin, the family was told that unfortunately the treatments have not worked and the cancer is advancing.
ReplyDeleteThey were probably using an inferior grade of dyed mulch, made from chipped treated pine. The use of an inert lawn edging product is also advised.
For the sake of clarity, and since someone on this blog felt the need to make Franny's misery a subject of public consumption (which is reprehensible at best), it should be known that in this context, soley due to Franny's concerns about mainstream treatment, she was told that "paclitaxel" was derived from pine bark (a natural product). Perhaps you would get a different result if you reference "paclitaxel" instead of taking cheap shots. Your comments are out of context and grossly inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteDr Anna Goodwin