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CANCER OF THE ALIMENTARY TRACT AND MAJOR DIGESTIVE GLANDS
Case Histories Include: Stomach Colon Rectum, Anus, Liver, and Pancreas

The death rate of patients with cancer of the colon, rectum or anus who choose orthodox therapy and who do not use Laetrile is second only to cancer of the lung(1). More than 98 out of every 100 patients who have cancer of the pancreas and choose orthodox therapy will be dead in five years(2). More than 99 out of every 100 patients with cancer of the liver are dead five years following orthodox treatment(3). The following Laetrile case histories should be read with these facts in mind.

(1)ClinicaI Oncology for Medical Students and Physicians, op. cit., p. 129.

(2)Ibid, p. 145.

(3)Ibid. p. 148.

S11lE: Inoperable Cancer of the Rectum with Metastases to the Lung:

This woman was admitted to State University Hospital Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, New York, on May 29, 1975. The history and operative report reads in part as follows:

This patient is a sixty-four year old woman who was admitted to the hospital with an admission diagnosis of carcinoma (cancer) of the rectum (established on recto-sigmoidoscopy with biopsy). The patient’s current symptoms were those of a presence of local mass associated with symptoms of bleeding and tenesmus along with associated symptoms of early partial distal large bowel obstruction....

Examination showed the patient to be an intact young appearing sixty-four year old woman whose physical findings were confined to examination of a rectum where digital examination disclosed the presence of a mass beginning 7 cms. cephalad to the anal verge [about 2.75 inches past the anal opening]. The mass appeared fixed and was attached to the posterior and lateral parietes....

Barium enema demonstrated the presence of carcinoma of the rectum along with diverticulosis. Chest X-ray showed evidence of metastases to both lung fields.... Alkaline phosphatase was normal...

The patient was taken to the OR [operating room] where, despite the fixed appearance of the lesion with typical apple-core defect, she was explored in the hopes that a palliative resection [surgery to relieve the problem without curing it] could be performed.... At operation, it was discovered that, in addition to known pulmonary (lung) metastases, the patient possessed a large fixed, non-resectable [non-removable] carcinoma of the rectum.

Procedure was terminated by establishing a matured end-sigmoid colostomy through a stab wound and a mucocele through the distal operative wound....

She understands the significance of her diagnosis and the extent of her disease and will be followed in my office and undoubtedly be placed on a course of chemotherapy.

The doctor just quoted is saying that before surgery the patient had cancer in both lungs and in her rectum, and after rectal surgery she still had cancer of the rectum because they could not remove it. All they could do was by-pass the cancer and bring her colon out through a hole In her abdomen (a colostomy) so she could have bowel movements. No attempt was made to remove the cancer of the lungs.

Let us now look at the "significance of her diagnosis" from the point of view of one highly respected surgeon. John H. Morton, M.D., Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, Member of the Clinical Cancer Training Committee, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York:

Gastrointestinal neoplasms [cancers] are mainly of surgical interest since the radiosensitivity of normal gut is high and most adenocarcinomas are radioresistant, producing an unfavorable radiotherapeutic ratio....

Colostomy for incurable rectal lesions is rarely palliative; such lesions should be removed by abdominoperineal resection when feasible whether or not cure is anticipated....

Chemotherapy in the authors [John Morton, M.D.,] experience has rarely been beneficial in metastatic colon cancer. The following statements have, however, appeared in the literature:

"Progressive, symptomatic, disseminated Colon carcinoma can be palliated to some degree in about 20% of the patients with 5-fluorouracil. . . . "Objective responders show prolonged survival (20 months vs 10 months mean survival for non-responders) ." (1)

Now, what all this means is (1) radiation generally does more harm to the healthy gut than to the cancerous part of the gut, (2) surgery is the treatment of choice, and it cannot be expected to do much good if the surgeon can’t get all the cancer, (3) chemotherapy in his opinion, rarely does anyone any good. Some doctors, however, think it might help one patient in five—at least a little bit Some other doctors think you’ll be dead In less than two years if you do just great, and you’ll be dead in less than a year if you don’t do so great.

When those of us who have looked into Laetrile say that patients, in general, are turning to it as a last resort this is the kind of situation about which we are speaking. This woman submitted to surgery, the "treatment of choice." Then she decided to try Laetrile and metabolic therapy to see if it could help her body defend itself against impending death. Chemotherapy was refused.

Mrs. E’s decision meant she had to make a 4,800-mile round trip from New York. This patient began metabolic therapy, Including Laetrile, on August 14, 1975. Her alkaline phosphatase before starting metabolic therapy was 92 mu/mI (normal, 30-85 mu/nd). It had been normal before surgery.

The patient states that X-rays taken In March, 1976, seven months after starting metabolic therapy, showed improvement in the lungs and the X-rays taken in December. 1976, showed no cancer at all in the lungs. She said that her local doctor, who knows she is on Laetrile, says it is probably just a "general remission," and she describes him as "typical of AMA doctors who refuse to acknowledge or even to condescend to accept the existence of Vitamin B17."

The patient was telephoned in January, 1977, and said at that time, "For a patient who was only supposed to live a month [following the May, 1975, surgery] I’m not doing bad." Her voice was strong. She is leading an active life nearly two years following the initial diagnosis of inoperable cancer. She has had no radiation and no chemotherapy.

R159RX Cancer of the Colon with Metastases to Lymph Nodes and Liver

This fifty-year-old man had a history of audible bowel sounds and abdominal cramps for three months prior to a barium enema examination on April 14, 1975, which revealed a 6-cm. (about 2.5 inches) filling defect at the junction of the descending and sigmoid colon.

Surgery was performed on April 22, 1975. The surgery report read in part as follows:

The patient was found to have a tennis ball sized mass at the junction of the descending and sigmoid colon. The lesion penetrated entirely through the wall and there were several enlarged lymph nodes in the mesosigmoid colon at the site of multiple metastases. Although there were no other peritoneal metastases, the liver was filled with nodules of various size, measuring from I to 5cm. in diameter in both the right and particularly, the left lobe of the liver.... [The tumor and a portion of apparently healthy colon were removed. Total length was 18 cm., or about 7 inches.] An end-to-end colostomy was then carried out... Postoperative diagnosis: Carcinoma of the colon with regional lymph node metastases and multiple hepatic (liver] metastases. Partial colectomy with end-to-end colostomy.

The pathology report dated April 22. 1975, states in part:

Microscopic Description:

The tumor is made up of bizarre colonic-type glands which are penetrating through the wall of the colon. In some places, they are fairly well differentiated. They arise from the surface, they invade lymphatics. Three of the six regional lymph nodes contain metastases.

Diagnosis:

Moderately well differentiated adenocarcinoma (cancer) of the colon, extending entirely through the wall and metastatic to three of the six mesenteric lymph nodes.

This patient came to the Richardson Clinic within a week following surgery and began metabolic therapy for the liver metastases. This was in April, 1975. At the time of this writing, patient has been symptom-free for nearly two years, and the only post-operative treatment he has received is Laetrile and metabolic therapy.

Patients whose cancer of the liver cannot be removed usually die within six months after the diagnosis is made (1).

R168MS: Cancer of the Sigmoid Colon with Lymph Node Metastases and Extension into Mesenteric Fat

This sixty-six-year-old woman sought medical attention in June, 1975, because of a change in bowel habits. During the previous four months her stools had become reduced in circumference. She had also experienced lower abdominal cramping and some nausea but no vomiting.

There is a strong history of cancer in the family. One sister had cancer of the abdomen, one had leukemia, one had cancer of the brain, and one had lymphosarcoma. Prior to the patient’s admission for surgery, she had had multiple biopsies of the rectosigmoid (intestinal) lesion, barium enema, and sigmoidoscopy (visual examination of the inside of the bowel by instrument), all of which confirmed the diagnosis of cancer. A portion of the sigmoid colon measuring 12.5 cm. (about 5 inches) was removed, and the remaining colon was sewn back together. The patient does not have a colostomy. The pathology report from Mercy Hospital, Sacramemo, California, dated June 24, 1975, states in part:

Microscopic Description:

Sections of the colon reveal the abrupt disruption of the colonic mucosa by infiltrative malignant neoplasm [cancer] Variously composed of irregular glandular structures and solid sheets of cells which in the central position of the neoplasm totally replace the muscularis and extend into the pericolic fat... Extensive infiltration about the arteries is identified and neoplasm is found within vascular spaces which appear to be lymphatics, although special stains will be obtained to exclude venous invasion which may be present in at least one area. Eleven regional lymph nodes show metastatic malignant neoplasm involving one node. Perineural extension into the mesenteric fat is identified as well.

Special stains demonstrate elastic tissue in the walls of vascular spaces described above:

Diagnosis: Segment of sigmoid colon showing:

(A) Extensively infiltrating poorly to partly differentiated adenocarcinoma [cancer] with extention into pericolic fat [fat around the outside of the colon].

(B) Metastatic malignant neoplasm [cancer] involving one of eleven regional lymph nodes.

Discharge summary dated July 2, 1975. States in part:

Dr. C. (name omitted) saw her in consultation because of pericolic fat involvement and the metastasis to one node and he feels that chemotherapy was indicated which she has begun now.

She is discharged on Vistaril because she nausea following 5-FU.

5-FU literature states that it is effective in the palliation (not cure) of "carefully selected patients who are considered incurable by surgery or other means. . . . Fluorouracil [5-FU] is a highly toxic drug with a narrow margin of safety."(1)

This sixty-six-year-old Catholic nun described her situation to Blue Shield of California, which had refused to pay for her metabolic therapy. She felt it was "discriminatory" for them to pay for 5-FU, a palliative medication which made her sick, and not for metabolic therapy which made her feel well. The three-page typewritten letter reads in part:

After my surgery in June of 1975, chemotherapy was recommended. I tried it and was not able to tolerate the medicine, since it made me very ill, depleted my energy, and made it difficult and even impossible to accomplish my work. I had to discontinue the chemotherapy.

Fortunately, I heard of Metabolic Therapy which is a non-toxic, energy-building, disease-resistant treatment. I have been receiving this treatment for about three months with very beneficial results.

These results are as follows:

a. An increase of energy, enabling me to accomplish some work without tiring excessively.

b. An upward trend in feelings of physical, emotional, and psychological well-being, with confidence that further treatment will maintain this upward trend.

c. Confidence in the good effects of the therapy and in the professional competence of Dr. Richardson.

Therefore, my right to choose a therapy that is good for me rather than one that is harmful should be allowed without discrimination....

Treatment with vitamins and minerals as well as food substances such as glucose is frequently administered to patients in hospitals as a means of building up the body to attain health. Medicare pays for these medicines when ordered by a qualified physician... It is ironic that you have paid the maximum amount for the chemotherapy (5-FU) I received which caused me so much discomfort, yet you refuse to pay for treatment which has helped me.

This patient came to the Richardson Clink on July 21, 1975. This was about four weeks following surgery. She had had three injections of 5-FU and then abandoned chemotherapy. Blood chemistry at the beginning of metabolic therapy revealed alkaline phosphatase 109 mu/nil (lab normals, 30-85), transaminase SGO 42 mu/ml (lab normals, 7-40), white blood cells 4.0 TH/cu.mm. (normals, 5-10 TH/cu.mm), red blood cells 3.8 mil/cu.mm (normals, for females, 4.0 to 55 mu/cu.mm).

She had 20 consecutive 9 gm. Laetrile injections I.V. and then gradually reduced doses of injectable Laetrile supplemented with oral Laetrile. She also received pancreatic enzymes plus additional vitamins and minerals.

Her initial Bio-assay was 18.6 on July 24, 1975. Other Rio-assays were (1) 10-17-75, 14.8, (2) 3-20-76, 15.2 mg./1 (3) 5-15-76, 14.8 mg./1 (4) 9-10-76, 21.8 mg./1.

The patient stated in a letter received April 4, 1976, that for the first six months of treatment she was "almost 100% faithful to diet and vitamin supplements." Originally, it appears from her correspondence, she must have stayed with her family and later returned to her religious community.

She finds it difficult to maintain her diet within the confines of "institutional cooking," just as many business people who must travel away from home are challenged to maintain a vegetarian regimen while having only the restaurant or airline menus available to them. It takes real determination for the cancer victim, just as it does for the diabetic, and in both cases there cannot be too much emphasis on the value of the diet.

This patient’s last contact with the clinic was January 17, 1977. At that time, one and one-half years following the incomplete removal of her cancer, her disease appeared to be satisfactorily controlled. She was experiencing no pain or other symptom5 indicating cancer growth, and was able to lead an entirely normal and active life.

S163E: Cancer of the Sigmoid Colon

This patient was forty-nine years old at the time her symptoms began in the summer of 1963. She was troubled with persistent diarrhea. Sigmoidoscopy revealed a tumor, and the surgeon was insistent that the patient have surgery.

This woman decided to have a course of Laetrile prior to surgery in order to contain the cancer. This was administered by the late Byron Krebs, M.D., of San Francisco. (We do not have a record of the dosage. In general, however, the amount of Laetrile routinely administered was much less in the early 1960’s than in the 1970’s.)

The patient entered Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California, and had a section of her colon removed on December 18, 1963. The surgery report states:

Final Diagnosis:

Adenocarcinoma of the colon arising in a villous adenoma.

Summary:

This forty-nine year old white female has been evaluated in the outpatient department with findings of a mass biopsied with findings of villous papilloma....

At exploration on December 18, 1963, a bulky tumor mass was noted in the mid-sigmoid colon involving a major portion of the circumference of the bowel with considerable surrounding edema..... Standard anterior sigmoid colon resection was carried out and the pathologic diagnosis report revealed adenocarcinoma of the colon arising in a villous adenoma with three of six lymph nodes showing replacement of normal tissue with tumor . . . there was invasion of mucosal and muscularis layers....

The patient states that her husband was told by the surgeon that they had not been able to remove all the cancerous growth and she would need additional surgery in six months to a year.

She returned to Dr. Byron Krebs, and continued Laetrile injections twice a week for two years and what she describes as "a maintenance program at home."

The medical secretary of the Kaiser Hospital record room states in a letter dated June 5, 1975, "the patient was last seen at our facility in December, 1970, at which time sigmoidoscopy to the hilt was negative [no evidence of cancer]."

Following the death of Dr. Byron Krebs, this woman became a patient at the Richardson Clinic. Although she has not been adhering closely to the prescribed maintenance levels of Laetrile recently, it is worth noting, that she is still alive and well thirteen years following surgery which left cancer remaining in her body. She has not had any radiation or chemotherapy.

L142N: Cancer of the Rectum

This woman was seventy-two years old when she came to the Richardson Clinic in January, 1975.

Prior to December, 1974, she had had a long history of good health, with no surgery or serious illness. In December she felt a small lump at the anal opening when she was inserting a rectal suppository.

Mrs. L. was examined by her local doctor and subsequently had a biopsy of the lump. Physical exam showed "an upper canal posterior tumor infiltrating up into the mucosa . . . , plus palpable posterior metastasis. Metastatic nodes, one at about two to three centimeters above the tumor, and another at about three centimeters above the node." Pathology reports stated the cancer was "infiltrating anaplastic squamous cell carcinoma."

As the patient was recovering in her room, she states, she overheard the doctor tell another doctor that she was, "too old to bother salvaging." At this point the patient, who never in her life had been a drinker, decided she would simply go home and drink herself to death since she could not be "salvaged". Upon leaving the hospital she stopped by a liquor store, and having concluded that sherry would be the most lady-like alcohol with which to commit suicide, proceeded to purchase a case.

Mrs. L. was found two weeks later by her landlady, considerably the worse for having made a sincere, but fortunately unsuccessful, attempt to "sherry herself to death." It was at this point that a friend suggested Laetrile therapy as a substantially superior alternative.

She began metabolic therapy including Laetrile January 22, 1975. A notation on the chart one week later says the patient states she "never felt better in her life."

She has continued to stay on the diet and vitamin program. She has had no surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. She continues to be symptom-free and in excellent health nearly two years after her initial diagnosis.

Lest someone assume this lady imagined the doctor’s comment, it seems appropriate to include a portion of the letter her physician wrote to another doctor, a copy of which is in the patient’s file. After briefly describing the patient’s history and the biopsy results (pathology diagnosis), he stated:

She certainly needs local suppression, but did not yet get X-rays of the chest, liver scan, chemistries, etc.... After 5-6,000 rads, maybe I might consider abdominoperineal resectionl, although mortality in her age group barely make it pay in terms of salvage.[!]

She was "salvaged" and without radiation or a permanent colostomy.

H132I: Cancer of the Colon

On April 5, 1973, two polyps were removed from the sigmoid of this fifty-nine-year-old female patient. The pathology report from Suffer Community Hospital in Sacramento, California, dated April 6, 1973, concludes, "Diagnosis: Sigmoid polyps received as three pieces: one piece showing adenomatous polyp. Two pieces showing moderately well differentiated adenocarcinoma".

Mrs. H’s local doctor urged immediate surgery, explaining to the patient that she possibly would have a colostomy following surgery. She sought the opinion of two other M.D.’s in the Sacramento area, One of whom was a proctologist, and both doctors concurred that immediate surgery was essential to save the patient’s life.

The patient states that she was acquainted with people who had been successfully treated for various kinds of cancer with vitamin therapy. She investigated and decided this was what she wanted to do.

Mrs. H. began vitamin therapy April 26, 1973. She gained back the ten pounds she had lost and states she experienced a sense of well-being and increased energy soon after beginning her treatments. Subsequent sigmoidoscopy revealed the rectum and sigmoid to be completely free of any cancer.

The patient states she follows the diet "100%" and continues to take the vitamin supplements.

She has had no recurrence in the three years since she was told to have surgery or die. She has had no surgery, no radiation, and no chemotherapy.

L129G: Cancer of the Colon, Previous Cancer of the Uterus and Breast

This forty-nine-year-old woman had her uterus removed in 1965. She states she was told it was not cancer but that she was a very lucky person because they "got it all."(!)

In May of 1971 the patient discovered a lump on her left breast. She did not seek treatment until September, 1971. By this time, the nipple had retracted, and the tumor was affixed to the chest wall. Biopsy performed October 1, 1971, at San Leandro Hospital, San Leandro, California, was positive. The patient was advised she had six months to a year to live, assuming she had cobalt treatments, which she did. She describes herself as looking like a "basted turkey" and feeling very weak. The tumor still could be felt at the conclusion of cobalt therapy. She states the treated area is still numb to the touch—four and one-half years later.

In April, 1972, the patient began to have the same "tired all the time" feeling which preceded her other medical problems, so she went to Mexico for diet and vitamin treatments, which did not include Laetrile.

The patient states she began to have difficulty having bowel movements, her abdomen was

swollen, and then she developed severe pain associated with bowel movements during March and April, 1973. She returned to her local doctor who, after a diagnostic work-up, stated she must have surgery. Part of the colon surrounding the tumor was removed, and the remainder of the colon reconnected in May, 1973. The surgery report states:

There were numerous areas of studding throughout the mesentery of the entire small bowel, of large lymph nodes and succulent glands seen all along the colon mesentery as well as from this widespread metastatic involvement. [Eden Hospital, Castro Valley, California.]

Chemotherapy was recommended but refused by the patient. According to Mrs. G., her doctor advised her that without chemotherapy she had only two weeks to two months to live.

The patient, at this point, returned to her program of vegetarian diet and vitamins and also came to the Richardson Clinic for Laetrile injections. At the completion of her initial course of therapy, she had fully recovered from her surgery, had no more pain, had gained weight, and was returning rapidly to normal health.

Over three years have now passed since she was told she had only a few weeks to live. She continues on metabolic therapy at a maintenance level, and her cancer appears to be controlled. In a letter to the Richardson Clinic dated March 25, 1976, the patient states she feels good, can put in a full day’s work, and continues to have favorable check-ups from her local doctor, who is dumfounded by her continued good health.

P131B: Cancer of the Colon

June 4, 1915, this sixty-five-year-old female was found to have a cyst in her rectum. Pathology report was positive for cancer.

The patient was admitted to the local hospital for five days for further studies to establish the probable extent of the cancer. Then, without consultation with the patient, surgery was scheduled.

The patient and her husband were both startled by the arbitrary attitude of the local doctor. The doctor advised the patient that if it were his wife, he would not let her leave the hospital without the benefit of surgery. The patient was advised that forgoing surgery would be a drastic mistake and probably would cost her life. Mrs. P. said she was greatly disturbed by her physical condition and "to add to the confusion the doctor became very hostile."

The patient came to the Richardson clinic for metabolic therapy in July, 1975. She states in a letter dated April 6, 1976:

I was very weak when I started his [Dr. Richardson’s] treatment and also had some pain. Very soon I was able to attend meetings and do my housework and am now living a normal life. The growth has diminished in size and 1 now have normal bowel movements. I am following my diet closely and am feeling better.

It is one and one-half years since her diagnosis. She has had no surgery, no radiation, and no chemotherapy. The tumor has receded, and the patient is symptom-free.

C120C: Inoperable Cancer of the Rectum

This fifty-three-year-old male had a ten-year history of colitis. He felt the problem was getting worse in April of 1974 and went to his local doctor. He advised the doctor that he had lost thirty pounds in forty-five days, but was told it was only colitis.

In August of 1974, he was found unconscious in his home and rushed to the Veteran’s Hospital. Emergency surgery was performed and a colostomy was created. Cancer was found at that time, but it was felt that the patient was too weak to survive removal of the tumor from the rectum. Plans were made for him to go home and try to gain strength to withstand the surgery.

The tumor of the rectum was removed in November, 1974, but the doctors decided to delay closing the colostomy. The patient was readmitted for the third time in February, 1975, to have the colostomy closed. Examination revealed, however, that there had been extensive regrowth of cancer, that it was inoperable, and closure of the colostomy was out of the question because he would be unable to have a bowel

According to the patient, he was advised to "Go home, make out a will, put your affairs in order, and then come back to the hospital. We’ll try to make you as comfortable as possible during the little time you have left."

The story of what followed is related here in the patient’s own words on November 29, 1975.

When I took my leave of absence from the hospital. I was so weak I could hardly walk. I grabbed onto things as I went down the hall to the bathroom, which was very often. At night I was taking the sleeping pills and the pain pills the doctor suggested. That made getting down the hall every fifteen minutes even harder.

I talked with my sisters, and we all cried about my hopeless situation. Then I called friends in Los Angeles to say goodbye, and they said I should try Laetrile. That was about the third time someone had said Laetrile to me. I decided, since I had nothing to lose, why not try it?

At this point, I had been reduced to eating baby food and broth. I was so weak I had to be driven to the clink for that first visit [February 20, 19751.

I gained eight pounds during the first two weeks of treatment. I began to think there was

hope. I decided to go to the race track near the clinic and watch the horses. I’m a betting man, and I know horses. I was careful, and I finally made enough money to pay off my loans, pay for my treatment, and have enough money left to go to Hawaii in the summer.

While in Hawaii, I had the Veteran’s Hospital proctoscope me. They said the tumor was twenty percent smaller than the Palo Alto Veteran’s Hospital reported five months earlier. That made me feel so damn good I came back to California by way of Alaska. I tell you, I really have hope. I may be living on borrowed time, but I’m living free, not all tied down in some gray hospital room.

There is little that could be said from a medical point of view that would add much to the above information.

This patient’s hematology studies were all within normal limits. His bio-assay tests were as follows: (1) February 20, 1975, 25.6, (2) March 19, 1975, 22.8, (3) April 9, 1975,19.2(4) July24, 1975, 18.5. Mr. C’s chances for long-term survival are slim. By his own admission, however, the year following Laetrile therapy was quite different from the original, grim predictions.

LI67MX: Cancer in the Head of the Pancreas

This seventy-two-year-old woman had suffered from indigestion for a number of years. In March, 1975, her indigestion became worse. Examination in April, 1975, indicated possible obstruction of the common bile duct.

She was examined again in August, 1975. Hospital summary states she had a bilirubin of 7mg.%, alkaline phosphatase of 605 (lab normals, 40-85), SGOT 510, sedimentation rate of 30. Echogram did not show a tumor in the pancreas.

It was decided, however, to perform surgery for what was thought to be a gall bladder problem.

Surgery was performed on September 6, 1975. The diagnosis before operation was, "Obstructive jaundice secondary to extrahepatic biliary obstruction."

The diagnosis after surgery was, "Carcinoma [cancer] of the head of the pancreas." A procedure known as a Whipple operation was performed. Part of the patient’s stomach, duodenum, the head of the pancreas, the common bile duct, and the gallbladder were removed.

The surgery report states in part:

At this point [in the operation] it was noted that the mass palpable in the head of the pancreas was intimately adherent to the posterior wall of the portal vein. It appeared grossly that the lesion was a carcinoma of the head of the pancreas. By very tedious and slow dissection, the adherence of the tumor mass to the portal vein (vein to the liver) was dissected free, and this was completed without further trauma to the vessel.

It should be noted that the tumor was divided in the posterior aspects to accomplish this, and a small portion of tumor was left in site as the procedure was completed.

Following the incomplete removal of this woman’s cancer of the pancreas, the tissues removed were submitted for pathology diagnosis. The pathology report dated September 8, 1975, concludes:

Diagnosis:

Portion of stomach, duodenum, and attached pancreas showing:

(A) Well-differentiated infiltrating adenocarcinoma [cancer] large duct type, involving head of the pancreas with extention to the surgical margins.

(B) Single lymph node with metastic carcinoma.

Other body parts which were removed did not contain cancer, but were in some cases inflamed or contained cysts.

The patient states that following surgery she inquired how long she might have to live and was told, "You might live two weeks, two months, or two years. We do not know." The suggestion of two-year survival under the circumstances of the operation seems to be closer to psychotherapy than statistical reality, for, in truth, the average patient with advanced cancer of the pancreas lives only six months following surgery.

According to James T. Adams, M.D., of the University of Rochester:

"Essentially, the five year cure rate is less than two per cent. In one of the few irradiation studies reported, the average survival for the advanced patient not irradiated was 6.1 versus 6.6 months for the patient irradiated."

This patient was not offered radiation or chemotherapy.

The patient states:

I can well remember the hopelessness I experienced after being told by my surgeon, who had discovered the cancer of the pancreas, that I had, "two weeks, two months, or two years" to live, probably because he was unable to remove the entire cancerous growth. My internist said there was really nothing he could do....

A relative suggested Laetrile, which I had never heard of but as there was nothing to lose, I started treatment.

This woman came to the Richardson Clinic and began metabolic therapy including Laetrile on October 21, 1975. Blood studies were within normal limits. Minerals were balanced based on hair analysis. Her first most recent Bio-assay was 26.2. She received twenty 9 gm. I.V. injections of Laetrile supplemented later with oral Laetrile tablets. Her most recent Bio-assay on November 2, 1976, was 19.6 mg./1.

She was last seen at the Richardson Clinic on January 31, 1977. At that time it had been eighteen months since her surgery and fifteen months since beginning metabolic therapy, which she had continued at a maintenance level. Her diarrhea has gone, she had no pain, her appetite had returned, and she reported that she felt strong and healthy. Her disease appears to be under control

F115L: Inoperable Cancer of the liver, Previous Cancer of the Breast

This patient had a right radical mastectomy in September, 1969, which was followed by radiation therapy. Nearly five years later, in June, 1974, during a routine physical exam, the patient was found to have an enlarged liver. Subsequent liver biopsy was negative. Laparotomy was performed and the diagnosis of metastatic cancer (of the breast) to the liver was made.

The tumor could not be completely removed, and following surgery the patient was placed on Methosarb. This had to be discontinued because of adverse effects on her blood chemistry.

Later, she was started on 5-FU. This required her carrying around a pump so the 5-FU could be continuously pumped into her liver artery. The artery became blocked, and by mid-October of 1974 all chemotherapy was discontinued. The patient states that after the failure of an attempt to re-start the 5-FU she felt "deeply depressed."

In early December, 1974, a friend told her about a Symposium being held near her home. The subject of the talk would be Laetrile. This woman had been given up by orthodox medicine, so she went to hear what had to be said about Laetrile. Based on the information at the symposium she decided to try it.

She was sixty years old when she came to the clinic. She describes her first shot of Laetrile, received on December 26; 1974, as her "day after Christmas present." She said, "My spirits rose, and I again had hope that I might achieve a remission of sorts; but in light of previous failures, I was hesitant to let my hopes soar too high."

When this patient visited the clinic in January, 1977, she was a very young-looking sixty-two-year-old. It had been two years since she had received any treatment other than Laetrile and metabolic therapy.

She stated that she had been very faithful to the diet. During the first two years following the start of treatment she had eaten meat only twice, once on Thanksgiving and once on Christmas. She was continuing her maintenance level of Laetrile, other vitamins, and enzymes, and is leading a completely normal life.

Under orthodox therapy, cancer of the liver is almost certain death. James T. Adams, M.D., of the University of Rochester states "the course of the disease [liver cancer] is rapid if the tumor is nonresecable [cannot be removed]. Most patients die within six months after the diagnosis is made."(1)

[(1) Clinical Oncology for Medical Students and Physicians, op. cit., p. 148]

A139DJ: Metastatic Cancer of the Liver, Primary Cancer of the Colon

This sixty-three-year-old male noted bright red bleeding in his stools in October, 1974. This continued intermittently, so he consulted his local doctor in March, 1975. An 8-cm. (about 3 inches) tumor was discovered in the rectum, and the biopsy revealed it to be cancer (invasive adenocarcinoma of the colon, grade III).

The surgery report dated March 20, 1975, from Permien General Hospital in Andrews, Texas, reads in part as follows:

Postoperative Diagnosis: Carcinoma of the recturn metastatic to regional nodes and to the liver. Operation Performed: Abdominal perineal resection with formation of permanent colostomy.

Tissue Removed: Distal sigmoid colon and recturn

Pathology Found: To my great sorrow, Doug, a really fine, fine, guy, has at least eight or nine palpable nodules, unfortunately involving both lobes of the liver, very typical of cancer. There seems to be a node or two over on the right side of the colon just beyond the peritoneum, too. I did elect, in this gentleman’s case, however, to go ahead with the formal abdominal perineal resection, because Doug has never been sick in his life, and I just don’t see that he would tolerate mucous and blood from his rectum on a prolonged basis at all.

Mr. A. came to the Richardson Clinic to begin metabolic therapy on July 29, 1975. He has had no radiation or chemotherapy for the cancer not removed by surgery.

In a letter to the Richardson Clinic dated April, 1976, Mr. A. stated that he was maintaining his weight and that his color and appetite had returned. He was continuing on vitamin therapy and adhering to the recommended diet.

Since that time, he has continued to have routine check-ups from his local doctor, and as of March, 1976, there had been no indication that the nodules on the liver were enlarging. Our last contact was one year following colon surgery and identification of inoperable cancer of the liver. At that time the patient was well and leading a normal life.

As we were going to press a letter dated January 19, 1977, was received from the patient’s wife. It stated in part:

I want you to know how much we, Doug and I, appreciate all you have done and are doing to help people to get the necessary nutrition to help their bodies overcome the deficiencies that exist. Doug began his vitamin therapy in July of 1975. His color is good and he has maintained his weight. We have other friends who have not been on this therapy and have not done as well. We feel that Doug’s condition is due to the fact that he has been on vitamins, including Laetrile and B15.

Our prayers are with you in this battle. Thank you again for what you are doing.

This represents nearly a two-year survival patient with inoperable cancer of the liver.