This is discpicable!

We should be able to make our own decisions about the efficacy of these treatments.  We are not little children here who need to be shielded from "bad choices" for our own good!  It's not as though chemo works that great anyway, or no one would die from this disease anymore.

Legal pharmaceuticals that are abused are included in that 300k number.  You cant possibly compare laetrile to legal pharmaceuticals.  More than 12 million people reported using prescription painkillers nonmedically in 2010, that is, using them without a prescription or for the feeling they cause.  And thats just those who admitted it.  Can you imagine what the real number is?  So the number of overdoses and allergic reactions included in that 300k number is likely pretty high. 

Yes, you can make your own choices and decisions as long as they are LEGAL.

Without chemo I would be dead. So, it worked. Does it guarantee that it got it all? No. Am I alive and typing? Yes. What's the alternative to keep cancer away? If any of us had that answer we would be rich and famous....gazillionaires.



You can make whatever choices you like but I don't buy into the FDA "big pharma" conspiracy theories. Just think what it would take to pull that off...no way is it possible. Ask your MO what he/she would give his/her mother/sister/wife/daughter if they were dx with BC. I would bet you every dollar I have he/she would be running to the nearest chemo bag.

I have a friend who's grandfather was cured of lung cancer with laetrile.  He vividly recalls his grandma going to Mexico and bringing the stuff back.

I also know someone who took it and died anyway.  Same thing happens all the time with chemo.  I don't believe either are snakeoil, but also not 100%.

It's entirely possible it works really well for some people, but perhaps not all.  I don't expect we'll ever see any studies to find out one way or the other though.  In the meantime it's called CHOICE.  I would hate to have my options taken away from me "for my own good" or some other patronizing BS! 

testamonials...i dont call that proof.  you are free to choose whatever treatment you want but it must be legal.  if you think laetrile should be legal, call your congressman.  

i never said it was a cure...there is no cure.  I said it was an effective treatment.  i can provide the studies if you want but do you really believe that chemo is not an effective treatment?

go to pubmed....there are thousands of studies.  pick whichever one you like.  then, search on laetrile.

My Oncologist is briliant with a worldwide reputation.  I admire him and respect him and in my book,he saved my life.  I am always talking with him about alternative treatments because he respects me as well.  If I can show him proof, he will have his researchers check into it and let me know.    I told him about Turkey Tail Mushroom.  He checked into it and said, "go ahead and take it" won't hurt and might help.  He warns me that snake oil salesman will sell you anything if they can.    

The Laetrile thing - when my father was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer and there was absolutely no hope, I looked into Laetrile.  Of course there were some healings and there were many deaths.  But as a country I don't believe we can have everybody wanting to make a buck in the cancer business.  And we do have freedoms - like going to Mexico to get it.

The ISPY2 Clinical Trial is going on right now in the breast cancer world to try to get drugs that work to the market more quickly. 

Joelelee - I feel your passion - I've been there all during my father's dying.  I was livid just like you, I was mad at the FDA, the president, drug companies, big cancer industry and you name it.  We tried all kinds of alternative treatments on my dad from coffee enemas to wheat grass, and everything in between.  He was dead in 3 months.

With my own diagnosis of Stage 3 BC, I went to the best breast cancer center I could find within 100 miles and did the best I can.  I never discourage anyone for alternative treatments, but say you need a blend.  That's my personal experience.  BUT KEEP UP THE PASSION - it will keep you alive, girl!! 

Joelelee - I definitely see your point about the FDA confiscated his meds.  It is hit and miss what they care about sometimes.  Makes me mad too. 

As for passion keeping us alive, it helps! LOL!   I was always kind of outspoken before Breast Cancer, but now, it's hard to keep me under control!   They tore a local historical church down in my town.  I was on a rant...still am.  I guess I have a new zest for life now and the biggest thing is, I don't really care what people think of my opinions.  Facing death does that to a person, don't you think?  Before I would worry what everyone would think and people please.   Now, I just say it.  I am entitled to my opinions...  thanks for listening!

Double-blind clinical trials are the key. Anecdotal stories are not proof. People make loads of $$$$ from "alternatives" as well.....sometimes from the very companies that make prescription drugs. Tobacco is "natural"...and deadly....and yes, it would be nice to make it illegal but then yet another thing in the black market. I suppose one doesn't want to have regulated drugs, food, etc as to whether they are safe or not, and if not, no warning labels? I happen to think people who abuse themselves should have no insurance coverage...or less of it. Science has been fighting against the tobacco agencies for a very long time, but the big corporations running under free capitalism have blocked most of these studies for many years, as they (big corporations) have blocked scientific studies on climate change and pollution. If one proposes no regulatory body to protect consumers you will be inviting all kinds of snakeoil salesmen to sell their wares with no come back against harmful effects...hence one never hears about suits against alternative medicines, but lots against big pharma, nor do we often hear about people who have died using alternatives. Colliodal silver has caused people to turn permanently blue, caused kidney damage (it is a heavy metal after all) but it is STILL sold as a useless antibiotic and these side effects are not on the bottle.....unlike the 106 or more side effects that MUST be listed for every prescription med. No one ever promised chemotherapy as a cure. Ever. But I hear so many stories about cancer cures from various herbal rememdies it's a wonder anybody died in the old days when that was all they had. Let's just say I'd put my money on the doctors who have been trained in the immense complexities of cancers (just look into any journal on cancer and READ the research) than on some hack of an author trying to sell a book with poor science, anecdotal stories, NO clinical trials that were reproducible, and fancy language that can trick people into foregoing proven treatments, that if not cure the disease, prolong their lives. Misinformation is not the same as information.

yes. but some other countries have even less freedom:  in norway you're allowed to take only miniscule amounts of vitamines for instance