Stanislaw Rajmund Burzynski, Stanislaw R. Burzynski, Stanislaw Burzynski, Stan R. Burzynski, Stan Burzynski, S. R. BURZYNSKI, S. Burzynski, Arthur Burzynski, Hippocrates Hypocrite Hypocrites Critic Critics Critical HipoCritical
—————————————————————— 2010 I was laying in on my couch; and I had been treated for cancer in the past, but evidentially reoccurrence, and I, I was so sick on my bed
Actually on the couch
I couldn’t get up
My neighbor called me, uh, and, uh, I couldn’t even, I had the phone next to me and I could answer it, but I think I was laying on the couch for about 2 days
Finally got a nurse over there to check my temperature, at 105.8
They rushed me to the hospital Didn’t even give me but a few days to live (laugh), and, uh, they wanted to treat me and do so forth, but my, uh, sister-in-law had been reading a little about the Burzynski Clinic
She gave me some information on it
There was a few other places that I was looking at, but I was felt lead to come here, and, uh, actually the doctors wouldn’t even allow me out of the hospital to come here They said I would never make it, and so, uh, my brother who insisted upon getting me out there
So I came out
Took a, a van
Took it
Came out here, and, uh, I couldn’t walk
Couldn’t hold a pencil in my hand
I could hardly sit up in a chair (laugh), much less anything else
And, uh, within, with just within a few weeks of, of some treatment I could actually get up and walk and so forth
Then as time went, I was able to walk a little more, and then I was able to drive, and now I’m being able to read and write and the whole thing, so, and as of today I just got my final report, and that final report, (?) the last report that I’ve actually, looked like there’s no active cancer at all
There’s some tumors left and some little shades here
Scar tissue
So, I’m continuing on, on the treatment, but so far, I thank God, and I’m still here, and, uh, gave me some extra time here
So I’m thankful
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Wow
So when were you first diagnosed with ?
—————————————————————— 2003 I was diagnosed with, uh, lymphoma
Uh, we were going in for heart repla, my 6th hernia operation (laugh) and the found it in my abdomen, and so they immediately took me to the, get a port and get me on the chemo and so forth, and, uh, the 1st chemo treatment I, I almost didn’t, I almost didn’t survive
I was rushed to the hospital
They, they didn’t expect me to make it the night
However, I did make it, and a couple times there were a couple problems there
Then I went through radiation and some, uh, some other treatment for about 2 or 3 years here
Some remission, uh
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And what was your health like during that time ?
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Uh, it was, my immune system was quite down
I was catching colds
I was getting pneumonia and things
Uh, not pneumonia but almost on the edge of it but always weak, and, uh, coming here, you know, it, it’s a lot different
It, its reach a little more compassionately
There’s a little bit more, uh, with not as much side effects and hardly as much side effects as, as, as the other treatments
Still been able to drive, fly, and everything else and, and, uh, so, uh, with the, I, I just find with the multi-approach that they have here, uh, you know, all the different ways they attack it, not just one or two different ways that should become standard, that doctors actually looked outside the box, and discovered things that, uh, uh, are, are just fantastic, and that’s one of the things
I like to do a lot of research, and I just found, what I found here just clicked, and thank God I’m here today
So (laughing)
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Wow
So the 1st time you had, when you were diagnosed
—————————————————————— 2000
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2000 you had chemotherapy
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Yes Radiation treatment, and I had some Zebulon radiation treatment and so forth
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And then, how long were you kinda, well you can’t (?)
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Well (?), 2007 and then, uh, they wanted to do a bone marrow transplant, and they had to give me more dose of chemo which would have been stronger than the 1st, and I almost didn’t make it the 1st time
So I just
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You said “No”
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I said I just, I just won’t
I can’t do that
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And what did your oncologist say ?
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Uh, well, he didn’t have much of a choice
I didn’t really wanna take that route
He says “Well, there’s no other choice,” basically
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There’s nothing more we can do for you
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Well, no
That’s, that’s, that’s
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(?) go home and die
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Well, no
That was their
That was their next line of treatment, that, and that was it Bone marrow transplants, so forth, uh, which, you know, that’s within their perimeter, but here he treats it a little but more outside, with the different, different methods that he has, with the DNA and the, and the, uh, uh, treating the vascular part of the cell, uh, and the tumor, to choke off the supply of the nutrients, and so forth
Uh, just the whole multi-faceted approach, which actually, uh, which, which I, when I read it I said “Wow, here’s one that’s really on top of this thing,” and, and I know there’s been some, uh, uh, uh, envy sometimes from the (laughing) medical field, and that’s just natural of anything
I mean, I’ve been in real estate for years, and worked, uh, different ways that, you know, when you come up with a different method, a lot of people don’t want to change so easy
So I’m pretty familiar with that
Uh, so I just, I just have found that, uh, uh, just the overall way I’ve been treated here
It’s just, it’s just really refreshing
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So you, you, you came down here when, which, in?
—————————————————————— November 2010
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You came down (?)
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From Miami
From actually Fort Lauderdale
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Right
And, um, how soon, you said it was in a couple of weeks you were
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Yeah, within, within a few weeks I was actually starting to feel a bit better
I was starting to walk a bit more
I couldn’t even walk 10 feet without, you know, being so exhausted
Then I’d walk up to 50 feet
Then I’d walk up to 100 feet
Then I’d, by the time Christmas came around I flew back to Orlando to visit my sister and, uh, I was actually able to walk about 5 or 6 blocks to go to the grocery store and back
Got, got lost somewhere
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What was that like ?
You know, the realization that you were alive and you were well again ?
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Well, you know, uh, uh, again, uh, I was at the point before, and I have my, I have peace with my maker so I don’t know, one way, way I’d have gone if have been happy (?) but I,
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You were prepared to go
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but I’m prepared to go, but I have a young daughter and, uh, and a lot of family still here
So I didn’t wanna, I didn’t wanna go just yet (laughing)
So I’m thankful, with the treatment and by the grace of God I’m still here, and so, I look at, uh, uh, uh, you know, where I was at
Uh, I just, uh, realized the direction I was given to come out here, uh, and, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, took advantage of it, and you see what, what took place
So I’m thankful
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And, and what, what treatment were you on when you 1st came here ?
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I wasn’t really on any treatment at the time
I, I, I, I wasn’t going to go back and do the bone marrow although it’s still an option and some people might wanna use it
I just wanted to do it different, way
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And what treatment did they put on, on, put you on when you came here ?
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Uh, well they gave me, I did take some infusions to get my health back into shape
I was, uh, uh, a little malnourished here and there, uh, they uh, uh, uh
I’m not really coherent really what was going on back then
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Yeah, right
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My brother, and sister-in-law, and my sister were all here with me
They were kinda keeping on top of things
I was kinda trying to just keep breathing
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Yeah
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(laughing)
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So, uh, and what about
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I vaguely remember some of the things I went through
I couldn’t even get out of bed in some instances, and my folks had to help me here and there
So
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What about now ?
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Uh, in, in regarding ?
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Your health now
What, what
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Well, uh, I, I, I feel, uh, I feel good
I mean, there, there’s still, uh
I mean I
I’m, uh
I used to play football years ago
I still have a lot of injuries from that and I’m still (laughing)
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Yeah
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I’m walking around with, but other than that I feel pretty good
I mean I, you know, I’m very thankful, I’m
I’ve been able to go out and do a number of things I hadn’t been able to do before
I spend time with my daughter as much as I can, and I’m very grateful for that
It makes a big difference
Uh
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Yeah, I bet
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Um, I just, uh, uh, I’m grateful for, for, you know, the way the doctors treat and the staff here
Uh, the I.V. nurses have just, I mean, uh, have just been phenomenal for me and I’m just, I’m very grateful for what they’ve done here
The staff
The welcoming committee
Everybody else
They keep on top of what’s going on
They know where you’re at
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So why do you think more people aren’t treated the way you’re treated as far as cancer’s concerned ?
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Well I, well I think there’s, uh, you know, uh
Anytime there’s anything new, there’s always a hesitation, uh, which in a way is reasonable, but when you begin to see it documented and coming forth to be true, then you pretty much know it’s more established, and so you, uh, are more willing to go in that direction and, uh, I, uh, what I went through before I didn’t really want to go through again, uh, with the chemo and the radiation and so forth
Uh, I just, uh, uh, you know, I almost didn’t last through it
So I, I was just looking for something different and this, this is where I came
So I’m, I’m thankful for it, uh, and I’ve mentioned it to a number of people, that have asked me, uh, over the course of the year, and I’ve, been able to talk to a number of people that have been here
I mean, I’ve met people from, uh, South Africa, Turkey, uh, Japan, ah, Australia
They’d all come over here for treatment
So, I mean, I’ve kept in contact with a number of them
So it’s really a joy to meet some of the other people treated successfully here
So, uh, yeah, uh, uh, I just,
Maybe, uh, you know, with the, with the set way that the medical field is, resistant in change, plus there’s a big, you know there’s, uh, big monetary issue about, you know, something comes in, it’s a little bit more efficient
You know, I don’t want to get into a lot of the motives, but I’m just grateful for what
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Mmm
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uh, they’ve done here for me, so, and it’s been successful so far, so I’m thankful
I know how the resistance is, when there’s something new that comes along, and what happens, uh, there may be a monetary motive to prevent, uh, you know, the, the, I hate to say that but we’re human, and so, you know, if, if, if, somebody comes up with something that’s a better way to treat, there’s all kinds of things that the person goes through their mind and their heart to what they’re thinking about, uh, you know, it’s kind of a threatening thing to the industry because they, they’re going to lose out on it
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Yeah
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if they’re not on top of that
So, it becomes a threat in a sense, and it shouldn’t be, but that’s human nature
A lot of times human nature comes out that way and you see it in anything
You see it in the medical field
You see it in, in the real estate field
You see it in the legal field
You see it in all kinds of things to where it can get into a self-fulfilling type of thing, when something comes along, that’s very profitable
It’s not necessarily always going to get in the forefront because it’s, there’s a lot of, uh, blocks and blockades in the way to prevent that from happening
Some, some of it good and some of it bad, and that’s just because of human motives, uh, of competition, so forth
So
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Burzynski Patient Interview #1
January 2011
11:57
11/9/2012
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Anyone may post this interview to their website, as long as it remains
unaltered and freely available. Please place a link back to this webpage.
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save it to your computer. Please help distribute it. Thank you. Gavin.
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not already have it on your computer.
This telephone interview with Dr. Burzynski was held in December 2002. The purpose of the interview is to inform people about Dr. Burzynski’s cancer treatment, Antineoplastons. It will be circulated for free on the Internet. I have no affiliations with Dr. Burzynski either personally or professionally.
Hello Dr. Burzynski. I would like to thank you for taking the time to inform people about your cancer treatment Antineoplastons, and your experiences in the area of cancer over the last 25 years.
Is it true that you were the youngest person in Poland in the 20th century to earn two advanced degrees, an M.D. (Medical Doctor) and Ph.D. in biochemistry at only 24?
I’m not sure if I was the youngest, I was among the youngest. In Poland, its 15 years average (Gavin. For a Ph.D.) after you receive an M.D.
What motivated you to come to the United States? When did you arrive here?
Well basically freedom. You see, I could easily stay in Poland. I was a prominent student, one of the best they ever had in medical school and certainly if I would become a member of the Communist Party I would accomplish a lot in Poland. But I didn’t want to be a Communist and after I declared, “forget it, I’m not going to be a Communist”, they persecuted me. So, practically, it would not be possible for me to do any research in Poland. I arrived in the United States on the 4th of September 1970.
You began working at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston?
I was not employed for 6 weeks, then I got the appointment at Baylor in the position of research assistant. A couple of years later I became Assistant Professor.
I have read that your cancer research was motivated by your observation of a cancer patient in Poland that was missing a particular peptide in their blood, is this correct?
Well Yes. First I discovered some peptide fractions in blood and then I was trying to determine their significance. This means that I was screening the blood samples from people who suffer from various illnesses, among them cancer patients. I found some remarkable changes in concentration of these Peptides in cancer patients. Basically there was a great deficiency of these Peptide fractions in the blood of cancer patients.
What are peptides and how did your research develop from there to developing Antineoplastons?
Peptides are chains of Amino Acids, so if you put together 2 Amino Acids, you have a Peptide.
You have said, “Cancer is really a disease of cells that are not programmed correctly. Antineoplastons simply reprogram them so that they behave normally again.”
They do, but we are not really interested in making normal cells out of cancer cells. What we are interested in is correcting one basic difference between cancer cells and normal cells, and this is the mortality of normal cells and the immortality of cancer cells. Cancer cells are immortal. And if you change them into mortal cells again they will die and the tumor will disappear.
I read a humorous part in Daniel Haley’s chapter about you in his book, “Politics in Medicine.” He says that initially you derived Antineoplastons from your friends blood, but had to change because your friends stopped coming around, is that correct?
Certainly it was difficult to obtain a lot of blood for the research. It was a necessity to look for a source that is widely available. I realized from the very beginning that once I use urine, my critics will use this against me; try to just smear me, “That’s the doctor who is using urine to treat cancer.” But there was no other way to do it.
There are plenty of ignorant remarks about your treatment because it used to be derived from human urine. The process you use now does not involve collecting human urine. Please describe the complete process you use.
Ever since 1980, we are using synthetic analogues of Antineoplastons, made in a state-of-the art biomedical manufacturing facility. These have nothing to do with urine or blood.
Would you describe Antineoplastons as natural?
They are natural of course, they exist in our body.
Your treatment does require a strong commitment from your patients as they must be infused with Antineoplastons for many weeks or months, is that correct?
But most of our patients are taking oral formulations. I would say that perhaps 15% of our patients are taking intravenous infusions of Antineoplastons; the rest take capsules or tablets.
The patients who have the most advanced type of cancer will require heavy dosages. There is a limitation of how much medicine you can take by mouth. Fifty or sixty tablets a day, that’s pretty much all you can take by mouth. But if you give intravenous infusion you can deliver the equivalent of 3,000 tablets a day.
You went into private practice in 1977. How was this funded?
Well, I started private practice in 1973. It was not necessary for me to have any funding, because I joined with other physicians.
Is it true that Dr. Mask at a hospital in Jacksboro, Texas ran your first human clinical trial? What types of cancers did you treat? What were the results of these trials?
I would not call it a clinical trial, because only two patients received initial treatment. They were very advanced, close to death and unfortunately, both of them died. But these cases were not lost because we found we can administer Antineoplastons without having bad side effects.
What is the general side effect experienced by your patients when using Antineoplastons? Does it damage the immune system as chemotherapy does?
We are not talking about one medicine; we tried 12 different pharmaceutical formulations. Basically it depends what formulation we use, but when we give them orally, we see practically no side effects at all. Patients may develop skin rash, which may last for a day or two.
But, when we give large dosages intravenously, we have to watch fluid balance…and electrolyte balance. We don’t see any delayed toxicity once the treatment stops. Everything practically goes back to normal within say a day or two. It does not even come close to the adverse reactions that you experience with chemotherapy.
What is the cost today for a patient using your treatment in a pill form and do insurance companies pay for it? *
Well basically, we do not charge patients for medicines, Antineoplastons are given free of charge. What we are charging for are supplies, and we are charging for standard services such as office visits, nursing services, Lab tests, consultation, evaluation etc. And these services are priced the same way as the average medical services, and they are covered by the insurance.
*(Gavin. Insurance companies will rarely pay for Antineoplastons, which is considered an experimental treatment. It also depends on the type of insurance plan someone may be on.)
So if a patient were using the pills, what would it normally cost per month.
About $2,000 a month.
Antineoplastons is most effective against brain cancer, is that correct?
Well, it’s not really correct. Because brain tumors are very difficult to treat, we concentrate our efforts on the toughest type of cancers. Out of our clinical trials, we have eight that came to the final point, which means they proved that there is some efficacy, and six of these are in various types of brain tumors. But there is another clinical trial, which deals with advanced colon cancer, which also proved efficacy and another one with liver cancer. But we still need to wait a little longer to have a larger number of patients treated and then statistically find out if this is going to work.
Basically the treatment works when we have involvement of the gene, which can be activated by Antineoplastons, and such genes, like gene p 53, are involved in 50% of all cancers. The treatment turns on gene p 53. So it has more to do with what kind of gene the patient has in his cancer cell, rather than the type of cancer.
Is there a special diet to follow when using your treatment?
Yes, since we are expecting there may be some changes in minerals, we usually emphasize a diet that is relatively low in sodium. We treat every patient individually. Every patient has a consultation with a dietary expert who tries to individualize his diet
Is your treatment being used in any other countries?
Yes, we have people coming to us from all over the world. I think we can probably count easily 70 to a 100 countries from which people are coming. But the main effort is now in Japan, outside the US. In Japan there are 2 clinical trials being conducted by Japanese doctors. Also, a group of doctors in Mexico obtained approval from the FDA and Mexican government to do clinical trials.
Now I have several related questions about brain cancer in children.
Dustin Kunnari and Dr. Burzynski. Dustin is one of Dr. Burzynski’s great success stories.
Dustin had brain surgery at 2 ½ years old. The surgery removed only 75% of the tumor.
Dustin’s parents, Mariann and Jack, were told that Dustin would only live for 6 months. Chemotherapy and radiation may extend Dustin’s life slightly, but at a very high cost in quality of life with very serious side effects.
Mariann and Jack decided to look into alternatives. They found out about Antineoplastons and after only 6 weeks of intravenous treatment, Dustin’s MRI showed he was cancer free.
One year later another tumor appeared on the MRI. By this time Dr. Burzynski had developed a more concentrated form of Antineoplastons. After 5 months the tumor was gone. Dustin has remained cancer free ever since and was taken off Antineoplastons when he was 7. Dustin is 12 today.
About how many children suffer from brain cancer in the US each year?
The statistics are available for 1999. The new cases of brain tumors in children were counted as 2,200. Now around 3,000, I would say.
Approximately what percentage of children is still alive after 5 years using orthodox treatments for brain cancer?
It depends on the type of tumor and it’s location, some of the toughest are those that are located in the brain stem. Up to 5 years, you have practically no survival when you use the best treatment available, which is radiation therapy. Chemotherapy usually doesn’t work for such patients. After 2 years, 7 % survival. After 5 years, practically none.
Dustin, after brain surgery.
To further complicate matters, Dustin’s oncologist kept threatening his parents with a court proceeding to take Dustin away and force him to take Chemotherapy/Radiation treatment.
This continued for a year, even after Dustin’s success with Antineoplastons.
You may also e-mail Mary Jo Siegel, the lady who runs the web site. Mary is also a cancer survivor using Antineoplastons.
maryjo@siegel.net
Is it correct to say you have had very good results when treating brain cancer in children?
Yes we have. I gave you the example of the toughest, which is located in the brain stem. We get about 40% survival rates after two years. After 5 years at the moment we have about 20% survival rate. The reason is that most of the patients who come to us, have received prior heavy radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. They usually die from complications from these treatments. Those who survive the longest are patients who previously did not receive radiation therapy or chemotherapy. The longest survivor in this category is now reaching 15 years from the time of diagnosis; and she’s in perfect health.
With the more common variety, which is aciotoma located outside the brain stem, we get much, much better. We have 75% of patients who are objectively responding to the treatment. This means that the tumor will disappear completely or will be reduced by more than 50%.
This is another strong point. It’s extremely important. Children are usually damaged for life after radiation therapy, when we can avoid it and bring them back to life.
What criteria must parents of children with brain cancer meet before being able to have their children treated by you?
Well, practically all of these brain tumors must be inoperable. This means that it’s not possible to remove them with surgery. Except for one category, they should have advanced disease. The tumor should have the size of more than 5 mm in diameter and be located in a place that cannot be operated upon.
There is one category of these tumors, medulloblastoma, where the FDA requires that the patients would receive prior standard treatment and fail before we can accept them. In the rest of these children we can accept them without failure of prior treatment.
You may also e-mail Mary Jo Siegel, the lady who runs the web site. Mary is also a cancer survivor using Antineoplastons.
maryjo@siegel.net
Let us talk a little about some of your most successful stories using Antineoplastons with children. Probably the most remarkable case is that of Tori Moreno . In August 1998 Tori was diagnosed with a stage 4 brainstem glioma that was inoperable. Her parents were told she would die in a few days or at the most, a few weeks. When did you start treating her?
Tori had Stage 4 brain stem glioma. The tumor was too risky for surgery. She was diagnosed shortly after her birth. The tumor was very large, about 3 inches in the largest diameter and located in the brain stem. Her parents consulted the best centers in the country and they were told there was nothing to be done. So finally she was brought to us, when she was about 3 ½ months old. This was in October 5 years ago. She was in such condition that we were afraid that she might die at any time. Fortunately she responded, and about 5 months later we determined that she obtained a complete response, which means complete disappearance of active tumor by
MRI criteria. She is a perfectly healthy child and tumor free. She still takes small dosages of capsules of Antineoplastons, but we will discontinue this shortly.
Tori Moreno 9.28.98. Temporarily enlarged due to taking Decadron.
Tori’s parents were told there was nothing that could be done for her and she would be dead in a few weeks.
Tori is alive and well today thanks to Antineoplastons. See photo below.
At the end of this interview, there is a short interview with Kim Moreno, Tori’s mother.
Kim Moreno has set-up a Yahoo e-mail account to answer peoples cancer related questions.
kimmoreno5@yahoo.com
And today she is over 5 years old?
Yes, she’s 5 years old and living a pretty much normal life.
Tori 22.10.02. A perfectly healthy child. Orthodox treatment consists of high does of radiation therapy and possibly toxic chemotherapy as well. Most of the children are dead in a few years. The ones that survive suffer from permanent retardation, along with other serious side effects from the radiation.
Please do not forget about the interview with Kim Moreno, Tori’s mother, at the end of this interview.
But mainstream medicine has been trying to kill the cancer cell using chemotherapy and radiation, is that correct?
That’s right, yes.
Chemotherapy and radiation cannot differentiate between healthy and cancerous cells?
They can differentiate to some point, but basically, this difference is very small, so ultimately, the normal cells will be killed.
Is that why they have such a terrible effect on the immune system?
That’s right, not only the immune system, but also many other systems in the body. Practically, the treatment is destroying healthy parts of the body.
Chemotherapy and radiation also cause cancer, don’t they?
Yes. For instance right now we see a lot of patients who in childhood were successfully treated for leukemia or for Hodgkin’s disease. Then they develop cancer that is practically incurable, like lung cancer, breast cancers; I even encountered a patient in my practice that developed three different types of cancers, and was only 28 years of age. First she was treated for Hodgkin’s Disease, then she developed bone cancer in the places which were radiated for Hodgkin’s Disease, and then she developed breast cancer after that; it’s really horrible. So there is increased incidence of secondary cancers in patients who were treated previously with chemotherapy and radiation.
Shontelle Huron. In remission for several years after using Antineoplastons.
You may also e-mail Mary Jo Siegel, the lady who runs the web site. Mary is also a cancer survivor using Antineoplastons. maryjo@siegel.net
Ric and Paula Schiff write about the torture their daughter Crystin had to endure during chemotherapy/radiation treatment.
Crystin was diagnosed with perhaps the most malignant tumor known, which is a rhabdoid tumor of the brain. Of course, historically, there was no case of such a tumor ever having a long response to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. She received extremely heavy does of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, because nobody expected that she would live longer than a year or so. So unfortunately she was terribly damaged with this. She responded very well to Antineoplastons. We put her in complete response. But unfortunately she died from pneumonia. Her immune system was wiped out, so when she aspirated some food, she died from it. The autopsy revealed that she didn’t have any sign of malignancy.
But there are also likely permanent severe health concerns related to taking chemotherapy and radiation.
In young children there is permanent damage to the brain. Unfortunately some oncologists who are dealing with such cases are really cruel to the parents, because they are saying, “well, your child will survive, but you are going to have a jolly idiot for the rest of your life.”
Is it true that if parents refuse chemotherapy/radiation treatment for their children the hospital, via the courts, could have the child removed from the parents care and forced to take chemotherapy/radiation treatment?
Yes, unfortunately in some States, the law may require taking children away from the custody of the parents to send them to such treatments.
Jared Wadman. In remission for several years after using Antineoplastons.
You may also e-mail Mary Jo Siegel, the lady who runs the web site. Mary is also a cancer survivor using Antineoplastons.
maryjo@siegel.net
Isn’t this what happened to Donna and Jim Navarro when they chose your treatment over orthodox treatments?
That is correct. Thomas Navarro was diagnosed with medulloblastoma. He was operated on and the tumor was removed. Then he was scheduled for radiation therapy. Since he was only 4 years old, the parents knew that he’d be damaged by radiation therapy. Nobody at his age survives this type of tumor anyway after radiation therapy. So that’s why they decided to come to our clinic. Unfortunately I could not treat him because FDA requires failure of radiation therapy for such patients.
And tragically he died in November 2001.
What happened was, the parents decided not to take any treatment. We asked the FDA several times to allow administration of Antineoplastons, because we have already had successful treatments for some other children without any prior radiation. Then ultimately he developed numerous tumors in May the following year. Then we suggested to the parents of Thomas, that if they are not going to take our treatment, they should go for at least chemotherapy. They went for chemotherapy to one of the best centers in the country, to Beth Israel Hospital in New York. The chemotherapy was successful, but he almost died from it. It severely affected his bone marrow. I remember a phone call from Thomas’s father telling me that the doctors are thinking that they won’t do anything else for him and that Thomas will die within a week because of severe suppression of bone marrow.
But I encouraged his father to do whatever is possible because such patients may turn around. Fortunately he turned around, but about a month or two later he developed 15 tumors in the brain and the spinal cord. Then, when he was close to death, when nothing was available for him, the FDA called us and told us now we can treat Thomas. When we treated Thomas he survived 6 months, and the tumors had substantially decreased, but ultimately he died from pneumonia.
Is it accurate to say that the initial orthodox treatment for brain cancer is surgery to remove the tumor?
If the tumor is located in the proper part of the brain. For some locations it is out of the question. But, you are right, that is the first step.
Does surgery alone ever cure a patient with brain cancer?
Well, some cases, with benign brain tumors, when the tumor can be completely dissected, yes, it’s possible. But in most cases it’s not possible.
How much of a risk does surgery present regarding spreading the cancer more quickly and other complications?
Well, not so much regarding spreading the cancer more quickly in the case of brain tumors. Such a spread may happen only with a small percentage of brain tumors that have the highest aggressiveness. But for most of the patients the tumor is not going to spread just because of surgery. Certainly surgery may damage the brain and patients may even die during the surgery. It’s not the ideal thing to do of course because you are removing the tumor and you are removing a healthy part of the brain at the same time. The patient may be permanently damaged by such procedures.
Would you warn against rushing into surgery in light of how effective your treatment is? Would you most times recommend trying your treatment first?
We really would like to know what we are dealing with. This means that we would like to have at least a biopsy; if by chance it’s not going to create sufficient risk for the patient. If the tumor was located in such a place in the brain where surgery is possible, then certainly we could try to remove the tumor. But I think it would be best if we can treat the patient with brain intact and get rid of the tumor completely, because then we risk the least damage possible.
Now I will turn my attention to your legal battles with the FDA. They began in 1983 when they sued you in civil court, is this correct?
In 1983, that was the first court battle with the FDA. The FDA sued us. It took about 6 weeks in court and again, we won.
Then there was an enormous raid by the FDA at your offices on July 17, 1985. What was the reason for this raid?
We were never given a reason. I think there was a concentrated action against a few alternative medicine centers because at the same time there were similar actions in the Bahamas and in some other places.
In the four court cases the FDA has brought against you, have any of your patients testified against you?
Well, on their own will, nobody testified against us. But the FDA encouraged some of our patients, and threatened them in various ways. They forced them to come to the witness stand. But really, once they were on the witness stand they behaved more like our witnesses, not FDA witnesses.
According to Daniel Haley, after the FDA lost its last court case against you in 1997, Congressman Richard Burr said it was “one of the worst abuses of the criminal justice system”. Did Burr ever speak to you about it?
Yes, we talk with Congressman Burr. I believe he is right, because certainly there was no reason for such massive action on the part of the FDA. They knew that the treatment works; that the treatment helps patients, that the patients will die if they win, so they should not do it. All of this was with the taxpayer’s money.
So the FDA has wasted many millions of taxpayer dollars trying to convict you on false charges of transporting Antineoplastons across State lines. What was the motivation for this vendetta?
Well, it’s hard to tell, because it was never properly investigated; why they did it. But, we have some leads. For instance, on one side you have a large pharmaceutical company, which was very interested in getting hold of our patents; this is Elan Pharmaceutical. It happened that I treated successfully a close relative to the CEO of Elan. Elan became very interested in what we have. They came close to signing a final license agreement. But after they learned what we have, they decided to withdraw and then suddenly the FDA and NCI gave their full support to Elan, to do clinical trials with one of the ingredients of Antineoplastons, phenylacetate.
This was a large pharmaceutical company that was trying to appropriate my invention. On the other hand, within the FDA and NCI you have had people who were working closely with this company. For instance Mary Pendergast, who was responsible for the legal action against us, became Vice President of Elan. Also Doctor Michael Friedman, who was initially in charge of NCI cancer research, and who knew that our treatment works, later became commissioner of FDA and he did whatever he could to put us out of business. Not only that, but to simply destroy me.
On the other hand, suddenly the government decided to file for the patents, which claimed the same thing that our patents did. Never in the history of the United States do you have the issuance of two patents for the same invention. It was really a breach of patent procedure. The patent office allowed them to patent something I invented, and which I patented. And dishonest scientist Dr. Dvorit Samid, who initially worked for us, was receiving funds from us and finally went for the higher bidder (Elan).
So you have a lot of leads, which indicate that there was something between the government, dishonest scientists like Dvorit Samid and the large pharmaceutical company, Elan. And it was in best interests for them to get rid of me, destroy me, so they could appropriate my discoveries and benefit from that.
When did you initially apply for your Investigational New Drug (IND)?
We applied in May 1983.
When did you receive it?
Well, it took an extremely long time. Ultimately most of our clinical trials began in 1996, a long time after that. FDA did not allow us to proceed with clinical trials for an extremely long time. Please click here to read the
conclusion of this interview
E-mail this sites address to someone and help spread the word
You may also e-mail Mary Jo Siegel, the lady who runs the web site. Mary is also a cancer survivor using Antineoplastons.
maryjo@siegel.net
It is important for everyone to understand the economics of the drug industry. I have heard that the cost today for bringing a drug to market is upwards of 500 million and takes about 12 years, is that true?
Yes, you’re right.
The drug company is then given a 17-year patent so that it can make a profit on the drug. It is little wonder the drug companies fight against natural treatments such as Laetrile, because they are unable to patent them and they pose a serious threat to their profit margins. But you are able to patent your treatment, so why was there no interest in it from the drug companies?
Basically you have 17 years from the time when you have approval of the patent and this is independent from FDA’s approval process. You file the patent, once you make a discovery, and then you go through FDA procedure. You spend say 12 years or 15 years for the approval process, then you have only 2 years license from the FDA, because license is going to expire in another 2 years. Certainly the pharmaceutical companies are spending a lot of money in this process.
In our case I decided to develop this on my own, to generate money from my private practice and use the money to support the research of Antineoplastons. Again we were approached by many different pharmaceutical companies, which were interested in working with us. Certainly after the bad experience (with Elan) we are very cautious with whom to deal. On the other hand pharmaceutical companies were afraid of action from the FDA.
The NCI put off testing Antineoplastons using the fact that it failed their standard P388 leukemia mouse test, is that correct?
Yes
What is the P388 leukemia mouse test and why did Antineoplastons fail it?
Well we had informed the NCI that this was a bad type of test for antineoplastons. Antineoplastons seems to be specific for species. Different animals have different antineoplastons; mice have a different composition of antineoplastons than humans. Practically, human antineoplastons may work well in humans, but they may not have much activity in mice. We knew this, even before the NCI began testing. On the other hand we didn’t have good results at all in the acute form of leukemia and we didn’t even accept such patients. It was known that if they only do this type of test, it was not going to work. They still tested and used this to say that Antineoplastons don’t work against cancer. Certainly the fact that something works or doesn’t work against mice leukemia is irrelevant.
I’d like the reader to bear with me in the next few questions, as the point will become clear. One of the chemicals you identified in the peptides was phenylacetate. But it was far inferior to the others and you chose not to patent it, is that correct?
This is not a peptide, this is a metabolite of our antineoplastons and it’s an organic acid. So this is a final metabolite of antineoplastons. It has some anti-cancer activity, but the weakest of all antineoplastons. We knew about it and that’s why after some preliminary experience in the treatment of phenylacetate back in 1980, we decided that it’s not worth pursuing this and then we used antineoplastons that have higher activity.
But didn’t you later find out that the NCI actually holds the patent for phenylacetate?
You’re right. NCI is the owner of the patent, Dr. Samid is the author but Elan has the license to use these patents. All of these three work together.
Why did the NCI patent something that was far inferior to your other Antineoplastons?
Because they knew that this was the only chance that they can get hold of something which has to do with antineoplastons.
The NCI ran clinical trials on phenylacetate in 1992 and found it to be worthless, is that correct?
Well, the clinical trials began in 1992 but it took a few years to have the results. It shows some effectiveness in brain tumors and in prostate cancer. But of course it was far away from the results that we can get with antineoplastons.
When did the NCI eventually start clinical trials of Antineoplastons?
In 1994.
I assume you gave the doctors running the trials all the information about correct dosages, is that true?
Yes, well, basically they used dosages that were 50 times lower than what we feel are effective dosages. We have some patient’s relatives who were present when the treatment was administered. Formulations of antineoplastons were badly diluted. This means that the patient was receiving very little antineoplastons and some of these patients were removed from the treatment after a short period of time because they were overloaded with fluid. Well normally we see fluid overload in perhaps less than 2% of our patients. So it makes sense that perhaps the formulations of antineoplastons were diluted and when the Mayo Clinic (1999) determined the concentration of antineoplastons in blood, we realize that it was something like 50 times lower than what it should be.
Do you think the NCI purposely sabotaged your trials?
I have no doubt about it. They sabotaged the trial; they accepted patients who were too advanced. Their main effort was to give a low dose of the medicine for a short period of time and to stop treatment just for some minor problem, like if a patient developed a skin rash. They were trying to give the treatment only for a very short period of time, like for instance a couple of weeks or a month. And then of course the patient was dying after that. It was completely unethical, it was horrible. As you probably heard recently, the pharmacist who was diluting an anti-cancer drug, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. I think the same should happen to these guys who really were trying to use this for their political manipulations.
Jessica Kerfoot. In remission for several years after using Antineoplastons.
You may also e-mail Mary Jo Siegel, the lady who runs the web site. Mary is also a cancer survivor using Antineoplastons.
maryjo@siegel.net
How much influence do the pharmaceutical companies wield in medicine in the US?
Extreme influence. Most of the oncologists, I’m talking about reputable oncologists, they work for pharmaceutical companies, they work in clinical trials, they receive various type of incentives from pharmaceutical companies. And basically these doctors are approving medicine, FDA may approve the medicine, but finally this advisory board may advise FDA to go ahead with this or do not approve that medicine. So really the doctors who are deciding if the medicine should be approved or not, practically all of them have some type of relation with large pharmaceutical companies.
Is there a conspiracy to suppress other treatments or is it just a case of avaricious businesses, the pharmaceutical and hospital industry’s, doing everything in their power to protect their bottom line?
Well certainly they have a lot of power. When I filed my application for IND, the standard FDA policy was such that they would never approve a new drug for an individual owner, only for the large pharmaceutical companies. And that’s why I believe we waited for such a long time to receive the go-ahead for our clinical trial. So certainly there were obstruction tactics. Whether this is a conspiracy or not is hard for me to tell. As you can see, the leads which I presented, like for instance a researcher who worked for me initially and then decided to go to the higher bidder, which was a pharmaceutical company; then the relationship between the pharmaceutical company and governmental agencies. All of this indicates that there is some type of conspiracy. I think a Congressional committee should study this.
Turning our attention to the doctor/oncology profession. When reading Thomas Elias’s excellent book, “The Burzynski Breakthrough”, I was struck by how many times patients said that their oncologists were aggressively opposed to them taking your treatment.
Even after a patient’s success with your treatment, very few doctors give you the credit. Is this due to jealousy, arrogance, plain old denial or something else?
Probably a lot of arrogance. We have some prominent specialists, the best specialists in the world who really acknowledge our results and would like to work with us. On the other hand you have some doctors who hate to see a patient with success on our treatment. The fact that the patient is coming to their office, years after the patient should be dead, is something like a slap in the face. They hate it.
They will do everything they can to lie, to obstruct the information about this patient. We have a lot of evidence that oncologists were lying about the patient’s condition. For instance the patient recovered completely from highly malignant cancer and the oncologist was telling us the patient died from cancer. So certainly, we have a lot of evidence about some of these doctors who are dishonest, who are liars, who cheat. But on the other hand you can’t really put the same label on the entire profession. There are many other doctors who are honest and who like to know about what we have. Of course our clinic has board certified oncologists who are taking care of our patients.
I found an interesting quote by David Stewart, a philanthropist who helped fund Gaston Naessens cancer research in the 70’s. He says,
“I can say categorically that most scientific researchers with whom I have had to deal are highly opinionated, arrogant, condescending, and have built-in, insurmountable prejudices.”
Would you agree with these sentiments? What have your experiences been?
Well certainly, I think he’s right; unfortunately that’s the truth.
We spoke about Crystin Schiff briefly before. This is a particularly despicable story, because when Ric Schiff asked Dr. Michael Prados, then head of neuro-oncology at University of California at San Francisco Medical Center (UCSF), if he knew of any other treatment besides chemotherapy/radiation for Crystin’s brain tumor, Prados replied in the negative. But a few years before, he had sent you 14 letters documenting the effectiveness of Antineoplastons on Jeff Keller, another patient with brain cancer. Is this story true?
Yes, it’s true; of course Jeff Keller had an extremely malignant brain tumor. He had a high-grade glioma of the brain; he failed radiation therapy and additional treatments. He responded extremely well to our treatment. He was one of the patients whose case was presented to the NCI. So there was no doubt about his response. Dr. Prados knew about it. If he was dealing with a hopeless tumor like Crystin Schiff, why didn’t he call us?
Ryan and mother Cindy. Ryan is in remission for several years after using Antineoplastons.
You may also e-mail Mary Jo Siegel, the lady who runs the web site. Mary is also a cancer survivor using Antineoplastons.
maryjo@siegel.net
Do you know why Prados did not tell them about Keller’s success with your treatment?
It’s hard for me to tell. It happens that Dr. Prados and Dr, Friedman, who became the boss of the FDA, came from the same medical school. So they work closely together, and perhaps there is something to do with the general action against us. It would be inconvenient for Dr. Prados to say that the treatment works if FDA was trying to get rid of us and when his friend was Commissioner of the FDA at that time. Perhaps that’s the connection….
One of your greatest critics is Saul Green (Ph.D. Biochemistry), a retired biochemist from Memorial Sloan Kettering. In 1992 the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), published Green’s article, “Antineoplastons: An Unproved Cancer Therapy.” What were his conclusions about Antineoplastons?
Well, Green is not a medical doctor, he’s a retired biochemist; he never reviewed our results. He got hold of some of our patents and that’s what he based his opinion on.
He was hired by another insurance company (Aetna) that was in litigation with us. He’s like a hired assassin. Not telling the truth. So really to argue with him is good for nothing. Even if something were completely clear he would negate it. He is simply a guy who was hired by our adversaries. He would do whatever they paid him to do.
Paul Leverett was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme grade 4 brain stem tumor in May 1999. The prognosis was that he would probably be dead before the end of 1999. Orthodox medicine gave him no hope of survival.
Paul was given the maximum amount of radiation he was capable of receiving. It slowed the tumors growth slightly, but this did not alter Paul’s prospects for survival at all.
After completing some research on the Internet Paul learned about Dr. Burzynski’s Antineoplastons. Paul began taking Antineoplastons intravenously, administered by his wife, in September 1999. After 6 weeks Paul’s tumor had grown by only 2 %, Glioblastoma’s normally double in size every 2 weeks.
A PET scan in December 2000 confirmed that Paul was in complete remission. He stayed on Antineoplastons until August 2001 to ensure the tumor would not reoccur. There is just under 20% tumor necrosis remaining in his brain stem, which is probably scar tissue.
Paul’s oncologist (at MD Anderson, Houston) initially wanted to show his scan’s to his hospitals (MD Anderson) tumor review board. But then, for whaever reason, he refused further contact with Paul and did not go ahead with it.
The photo was taken with his wife Jennie. Paul had a web site created in order to inform people about his cancer experiences. http://www.dontevergiveup.com
E-mail: pjleverett@ev1.net
Did Green ask to look at your patients’ files or even talk to any of your patients themselves?
No.
You responded with an article with 137 references, did JAMA publish even part of it?
JAMA refused to publish the article. They decided that they would publish a short letter to the editors. And obviously this is another dirty thing, because letters to the editors are not in the reference books. If you look in the computer and try to find letters to the editor from JAMA, you’ll never find it. So people who are interested will always find Green’s article, but they will never find our reply to Green’s article, unless they go to the library. Then they can look in the JAMA volume in which the letter was published, and then they will find it. So many doctors were asking me why I did not respond to Saul Green’s article because they never found my letter to the editors.
Are they obligated to publish your rebuttal?
Certainly they are, because they put Green’s article in JAMA in the first place, they accepted it without any peer review and then they did not allow me to honestly respond to it. I should be allowed to publish my response to the article in JAMA.
At the time of the publication Green was working as a consultant to Grace Powers Monaco, Esq., a Washington attorney who was assisting Aetna insurance agency in its lawsuit against you. What was the Aetna lawsuit about?
One of our patients sued Aetna because Aetna refused to pay for my treatment. Then Aetna got involved and Aetna sued us. Aetna really became involved in what you can call racketeering tactics because they contacted practically every insurance company in the US. They smeared us, they advised insurance companies to not pay for our services. So based on all of this, our lawyer decided to file a racketeering suit against Aetna. This was a 190 million dollar lawsuit against Aetna. So certainly Aetna was trying to discredit us by using people like Saul Green. And they hired him to work on their behalf.
So there was an obvious conflict of interest for Green because he worked for Monaco who was assisting Aetna. Was this information published in the JAMA article?
No.
Green also questions the fact that you have a Ph.D.. At the American Association for Clinical Chemistry Symposium, July 1997, Atlanta, GA., he says in part
“Burzynski’s claim to a Ph.D. is questionable. Letters from the Ministry of Health,
Warsaw, Poland, and from faculty at the Medical Academy at Lublin, Poland, say,
respectively:
1. At the time Burzynski was in school, medical schools did not give a Ph.D.
2. Burzynski received the D.Msc. in 1968 after completing a one-year laboratory
project and passing an exam. (3) Burzynski did no independent research while in medical school.”
He cites the people below as giving him some of this information.
1. Nizanskowski, R. ,Personal communication. Jan 15, 1992.
3. Bielinski, S., Personal communication, Nov. 22, 1987
First of all, do you have a Ph.D.?
Well, the program in Poland is somewhat different than the US. What I have is equivalent to a US Ph.D. When a medical doctor in the US graduates from medical school, he receives a medical doctor diploma. In Poland it’s a similar diploma, but it’s called a physician diploma, which is equal to medical doctor. And after that, if you would like to obtain a Ph.D., you have to do independent research, both in the US and in Poland. So you have to work on an independent project, you have to write a doctorate thesis and, in addition, to that in Poland, you have to take exams in medicine, in philosophy and also you have to take exams in the subjects on which you have written your thesis, in my case this was biochemistry.
As you can see from the letter from the President of the medical school from which I graduated, this is a Ph.D..
Saul Green got information from the guys who were key communist figures in my medical school. The second secretary of the communist party in my school, hated my guts, because I didn’t want to be a communist. So, somehow, Green got hold of “reputable” communist sources (laugh) to give him that information. It is exactly the President of the medical school who certified that I have a Ph.D..
So you are saying that theses people he received his personal communication from, Nizanskowski R, and Bielinski S, are both Communists, is that correct, or they were?
Not only communists, but Bielinski was one of the key players in the communist party in my medical school. So certainly he was extremely active as a communist. And, you know that communists, they usually don’t tell the truth.
So there is absolutely no question about it, you have a Ph.D. and Green’s doubts are totally without foundation. Has he ever acknowledged publicly the fact that you have a Ph.D.?
He’s never got in touch with me regarding this.
There are some mainstream oncologists who have stated publicly that your treatment works such as Dr. Robert Burdick, oncologist and professor at the University of Washington Medical School.
He is one of the top experts in this field.
Dr. Burzynski, there are undoubtedly many people alive today solely because of your treatments, but there could be many hundreds or thousands more alive if the public was given free access to your treatment. Do you see this ever happening?
I see this happening within a few years. We already have 8 clinical trials that prove efficacy of the treatment. However, we still need to treat more patients, because in each of our clinical trials it is required that we treat 40 patients. If we are talking about 78 clinical trials, then the number of patients that need to be treated is about 3,000. We are moving forward, probably in another 2 to 3 years we will have final approval.
A group shot of some of Dr. Burzynski’s patients. Please see the Burzynski Patients web site for more information,
http:// http://www.burzynskipatientgroup.org
You may also e-mail Mary Jo Siegel, the lady who runs the web site. Mary is also a cancer survivor using Antineoplastons.
maryjo@siegel.net
You have fought the government on behalf of your patients’ rights for over 25 years. There must have been a few times when you considered calling it quits. What has sustained you over the years and kept you fighting?
Well you see, basically the principle. Certainly I could practice just regular medicine and not
spend millions of dollars for the research, which I did. And I could go to some other country and practice. But I feel that this is my obligation because what I am doing is right. I’m saving peoples lives. So why should I give in to some mediocre characters, to liars, to people who really misrepresent what I do. And if I fail, then America will fail also. Because really America is the bastion of Democracy in the world. If America is rotten, then the whole world will go down to hell. So if something is rotten in the Patent office, in the NCI and FDA, it is the duty of the citizen to show that this is rotten and should be corrected.
There are a number of good people who can make it work, so why should bad people erode and destroy the entire system. I felt that this was my obligation; I felt that I was right and even if I had to go to prison, I would fight for it, because this is the right thing to do. Otherwise I could not look at myself in the mirror. I would despise myself.
Do you think we will we ever have medical freedom of choice in the US, where we can choose whatever treatment we want for cancer?
I am not sure if this will ever happen. But at least I am hoping that the movement, which we pioneered, like this alternative medicine movement, will bring a lot of good to the American people. After all, now you have official recognition of alternative treatment, more or less, and this is because of our fight. If we wouldn’t fight at that time, then perhaps it would not happen, but maybe it would happen another ten years from now.
Standard medical practices and the observations of physicians who are outside the medical establishment are extremely important, because anybody can make a discovery and improve the health of people. This I think is an important movement, but whether the people of America will ever have a chance to select whatever treatment they want, is another story.
Finally Dr. Burzynski, a hearty thanks to you for keeping your treatment available to cancer patients, for keeping your oath as a doctor and putting the patient ahead of financial gain, and of course, for saving lives. Please keep up the great work. Thank you for giving me the time to conduct this interview and inform people about your work and treatment.
Thank you.
End of interview.
Gavin.
Please be aware. Orthodox medicine often states that people who have recovered from cancer by unapproved methods did so due to a “spontaneous remission”. This means that the cancer just disappears for no apparent reason. First of all, I do not know of any documented cases of spontaneous remissions in brain cancer. In other serious cancers it is so rare as to be unworthy of discussion.
But here is the most crucial point. A true spontaneous remission is when the cancer goes away without any treatment, either approved or unapproved. It’s absurd to suggest that someone who received large amounts of Antineoplastons, and is then cancer free, had a spontaneous remission. If someone has surgery to remove a tumor and they are cancer free for years, we know it was because of the surgery.
Also remember that in many cases cancer patients turn to Antineoplastons (and other so-called alternatives) after chemotherapy and/or radiation have failed. If the patient goes into remission, oncologists often state that it was a delayed response to their treatment. This is a very convenient situation for oncologists. When their treatments fail, they still claim the credit for the patient’s recovery, even after the patient has been on Antineoplastons (or other treatments) for months/years.
Read about Dr. Burzynski’s treatment from the most important sources, the patients who had cancer and who are alive today because of Antineoplastons. The Burzynski Patients Web Site
http:// http://www.burzynskipatientgroup.org
Kim also has an e-mail account she specifically set-up for people to contact her about her experiences with Dr. Burzynski, oncologists, Antineoplastons and cancer treatments in general. Any e-mail unrelated to these subjects will be deleted.
kimmoreno5@yahoo.com
While searching the Internet for links related to Koch’s glyoxylide, I found a recent article on Dr. Mercola’s web site related to a drug called Methylglyoxal (the lead ingredient, which is a metabolite in our body) that has been tested in India for over ten years. Please see, http://www.mercola.com/2001/jun/13/methylglyoxal.htm
Thank you for taking the time to inform people about your family’s experiences while your daughter Tori was taking Antineoplastons.
Tori was first diagnosed with a Stage 4 brain stem glioma in August 1998, is that correct?
Yes
What was the prognosis?
The doctor’s basically told us to take her home and prepare for her to die.
Were there any records of anyone surviving with this type of cancer, using orthodox treatments?
None that they could provide us with.
How many cancer centers did you visit?
We originally were at Miller’s Children at Long Beach Memorial and then went to City of Hope. We also sent her MRI’s to Dr. Fred Epstein in New York to be looked at.
And they all said the same thing, Tori’s brain cancer was fatal and nothing could be done? How long was she expected to live?
Yes, they all said there was nothing we could do. She was given 2-6 weeks to live.
How did you find out about Dr. Burzynski and Antineoplastons?
On the Internet on a brain tumor support group. We read a letter from a father whose daughter was on the treatment.
Did you ask your doctors about Burzynski? Had they heard of him or researched his treatment?
Yes, we asked all of them about it. Most frowned at the idea, the oncologist refused to see her if we took her to see Dr. Burzynski. The only one who told us that he thought Dr. B might have a good chance with helping us was Dr. Fred Epstein.
When did you first visit him?
In October 1998
Did he tell you he could cure Tori?
No. He said he thought Antineoplastons would help her, but he wasn’t sure he had enough time. He was very upfront and honest with the statistics he had with her type of cancer but offered no promises.
How much Antineoplastons was Tori taking?
I can’t even remember what dose she ended up on when she was taking it intravenously.
What were the side effects? In the photos you sent me, Tori is greatly enlarged, I assume due to fluid retention. Is that what it was? How was that alleviated? Were there any other side effects due to the Antineoplastons?
We always had to monitor her potassium and sodium. So, she had to drink a lot of water and therefore we went through a lot of diapers. Those were the worst of the side effects. In the picture, she was so large due to being on Decadron, which we were able to wean her off of in January 1999.
Were you surprised when Tori started responding?
Yes, I have to say I was. It is hard to believe something great is going to come out of something so painful. I guess she taught me not to lose faith in life.
How soon was it before Tori’s brain tumor started reducing in size?
Immediately. It had shrunk in size by 20% after the very first MRI, which I believe was in 6-8 weeks…it’s been a long time and a lot of MRI’s later.
For how long did Tori continue to take Antineoplastons intravenously? Did you administer this yourself at home?
She took them through IV for 2 years and yes; we did this all at home.
Does your insurance company pay for the treatment? Did they try to avoid paying for it?
No, they do not pay for the treatment.
I understand Tori is 5 today. Is she still taking Antineoplastons? Has the tumor completely gone?
Yes, she just turned five in June. She still takes Antineoplastons orally…. she takes 40 capsules a day. Her tumor has decreased in size by 86% and they believe what is left may be scar tissue.
Has Tori suffered any permanent side-side effects from Antineoplastons?
Not one. In fact, it decreased her symptoms dramatically and never caused her any harm.
So Tori is cancer free and side effect free today?
Absolutely….
This is an incredible story Kim. Your child was diagnosed with a fatal brain cancer and the best oncologists and surgeons in America told you it was hopeless. Yet you found a cure for your child, without the billions, and so-called cancer specialists, that the NCI has at its disposal. Have any oncologists or doctors asked you about Dr. Burzynski’s treatment?
They tend to ask very quietly, but never really respond to what I have to tell them. There is curiosity there, just no one is really willing to step up to the plate and believe that the antineoplastons had something to do with her survival.
What do they say now that Tori is alive and well?
The neurologists told us that sometimes it happens and they called it “spontaneous remission”. Again, I asked them to provide some statistics and there were none to be seen.
That is of course the height of absurdity. To my knowledge, there has never been a documented case of any brain cancer going into spontaneous remission. Have you ever mentioned that to them?
Yes, again with no intelligent response.
So they are quite content to administer the same cancer causing, toxic treatments, when they know about your daughter’s success with Antineoplastons?
Absolutely. It amazes me that some of them can sleep at night.
Has your opinion about the medical profession, specifically cancer specialists, changed since Tori’s recovery? If it has, in what manner?
Yes, it has changed a lot. I guess the biggest change would be that I no longer sit back and believe anything a doctor tells m e and that we have to take our healthcare into our hands by searching for legitimate options. I believe we have the right to choose.
What do you think about the fact that some 3,000 children in the US (untold thousands worldwide) this year will be diagnosed with some form of brain cancer, and their families will have to face the same horror you did, the horror of losing a child. But virtually all of them will not be told about Antineoplastons, the treatment that cured Tori?
It really makes me sick to my stomach. That is why I want to talk to anyone who wants to listen about Tori’s Story
Finally, I commend you and your husband for finding a way to cure your daughter, when all the “experts” said it was hopeless. You gave her life when she was born, and then you saved her life by finding Antineoplastons.
I thank you once again Kim for answering my questions and sending me the photos of Tori. Give my best to your family.
Gavin Phillips opinion
Dr. Burzynski is a great rarity these days. He is a courageous man who risked everything battling the FDA for over 15 years so as to allow cancer patients access to his treatment. A doctor who puts his patients well being before financial gains. But how many people diagnosed with cancer this year will ever find out about Antineoplastons? A tiny percentage, because very few mainstream oncologists will inform their patients about a treatment that has yet to be approved. And why is that? The NCI and ACS have supposedly been searching for decades for any and all treatments that are effective against cancer. For over 15 years Dr. Burzynski’s treatment has shown that it is effective. Many cancer patients, including some very young children with supposedly hopeless brain cancers, are alive today because of Antineoplastons.
Here we come to the most crucial questions of all. Why did the FDA try their utmost to ruin Dr. Burzynski by involving him in 4 court cases? Why did the NCI make certain Burzynski’s clinical trials failed by diluting his treatment and enrolling patients who were the least likely to respond to Antineoplastons? If this was a one-time only event, we could dismiss it as an aberration; on overzealous government agencies. But the persecution of Dr. Burzynski is not an aberration, but the norm. There have been many well-documented cases in the last 70 some years of doctors/healers who discovered an effective cancer treatment, only to find the full force of the cancer agencies trying to destroy them and their discoveries. I have learned about several during my research. Dr. William Koch/Glyoxylide, Dr. Andrew Ivy/Krebiozen, Harry Hoxsey method/herbs, Royal Rife/radio waves, Ernst Krebs/ Laetrile/Amygdalin, Gaston Naessens/714 X, Dr. Lawrence Burton/Immuno-Augmentative Therapy, Dr. Max Gerson method/diet.
What, if anything, does Dr. Burzynski’s Antineoplastons have in common with these other treatments? Most of them are natural; all of them are inexpensive to produce, especially when compared to the enormous costs of conventional treatments. If cheap cancer treatments with virtually no side effects were allowed to freely compete with the cancer causing offerings of the pharmaceutical companies, the outcome is obvious. The pharmaceutical companies, and the hospitals that administer their drugs, will lose tens of billions in profits. And this I believe is the reason Dr. Burzynski, and the people who have gone before him, have been publicly vilified as “quacks” and their treatments discredited. The fact is that the pharmaceutical companies control American medicine, and they are only interested in treatments from which they can derive a profit.
Every cancer patient in America, and the world, should have free access to Antineoplastons. It is intolerable, not to mention totally un-American, to give a profit obsessed industry a monopoly over Americans healthcare. Nobody should have the right to force toxic chemicals down our family’s throat, especially when Dr. Burzynski’s treatment has proven effective (for some cancers) and does not have appalling side effects.
One point, in which I disagree with Burzynski about, is the possibility of medical freedom of choice happening in America. It would happen in a year or two if enough Americans demanded it. You can help make that a reality. Please forward this interview to as many people as you know, as well as media outlets. Around ten thousand Americans die every week from cancer; we simply must have medical freedom of choice. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Gavin Phillips. http://www.cancerinform.org
E-mail this sites address to someone and help spread the word
When I mentioned Ben and Laura Hymas to Bob Blaskiewicz during the Saturday Google+ Hangout, and suggested that I should compare it to the patient stories he “embellishes”, he suggested I review his patient stories instead
So what am I doing ?
I’m reviewing the patient story of Laura Hymas
However, my goal is to provide a perspective of her mood, health, treatment, and support network, so that readers can get an idea of what someone with cancer; who does not yet know that they have cancer, may be experiencing, so if they note similar experiences or symptoms in themselves or others, they will know that they most likely should seek professional medical assistance, and also be able to use it to compare to other “patient stories”
Laura Hymas: Kent, United Kingdom
Ben: fiancée
Jacob: son
—————————————————————— (I will be doing a little data clean-up)
Note how I do NOT “embellish” Laura’s story by adding extemporaneous commentary like Bob Blaskiewicz
—————————————————————— 2005 – Laura met Ben: knew instantly wanted to start family with him []
When first met Laura 3 years ago beautiful, bright and energetic girl [2]
loyal, kind hearted and has a smile so infectious that it can light up any room [2]
——————————————————————
started planning to marry and grow family [2]
======================================
====================================== MOOD
======================================
====================================== 1/2009 – Laura pregnant[]
a) delighted to be having a baby but pregnancy wasn’t easy []
b) suffered terrible morning sickness so severe had to be admitted to hospital []
—————————————————————— 4/2009 – morning sickness stopped at 16 weeks, from then on felt exhausted []
—————————————————————— 9/2009 – Jacob born[] [2] []
9/2009 – []
a) felt like happiest woman in the world
b) began planning to marry and grow family
c) adored being a mum []
d) knew wasn’t depression because felt so happy being a mum []
—————————————————————— 9/2009 – 12/2010 – []
a) felt never fully recovered after the birth and over 15 month period
b) certain wasn’t depressed
c) was so happy but exhausted all the time
d) convinced there was something wrong and so frustrating not knowing what
e) so tired even good nights sleep couldn’t get up in the morning to take care of Jacob when Ben went to work; stay in pajamas all day
f) at wits end
g) causing a lot of stress at home
—————————————————————— 5/27/2010 – []
a) felt like luckiest woman alive []
b)son Jacob just celebrated 1st birthday and she and fiance Ben were busy planning wedding[]
—————————————————————— 10/2010 – frustrating as kept wondering if was imagining it [[
—————————————————————— 12/24/2010 – []
a) no one expected anything serious so I just popped along with Jacob []
b) totally unprepared for what doctor said []
c) When doctors dropped their bombshell, just broke down []
d) happiness was shattered
e) thought of Jacob not having me here is heartbreaking []
f) will do anything to see him grow up and determined to beat this []
g) can’t accept going to die []
h) was in pieces []
i) immediately rang mum, Vanessa, who hurried to hospital to comfort her []
j) strange relief to know hadn’t imagined all symptoms, never expected something so terrible []
k) reassured when read stories saying people did live normal lives with this sort of tumour []
l) huge relief []
—————————————————————— 12/2010
a) felt couldn’t accept there were no other options []
b) felt confident []
c) so angry but had no choice []
—————————————————————— 2/2011 – []
a) Being unable to care for son made feel so depressed
b) felt like life was slipping away
c) No words can describe how much this news and period of time affected us as a family
—————————————————————— 4/2011 – []
a) had devastating effect on her as young mum, and affected every part of lives because at moment cannot enjoy time and plan future like any other normal young family []
b) everyone was in for further shock []
c) left reeling when doctors said tumour had grown rapidly []
d) couldn’t believe it []
—————————————————————— 5/27/2011 – confident will get there and beat this [9]
—————————————————————— 6/2011
a) felt very confident, almost empowered []
b) Given situation felt had nothing to lose []
c) astounded by generosity and kindness of general public []
—————————————————————— LAURAS TUMOUR [1]
—————————————————————— news hit very hard and also devastated her family and friends [1]
Until something like this happens, you dont realise how much of an effect it has [1]
fun loving girl who’s taken to motherhood like a duck to water, son is so lucky to have her because she always puts him first [1]
illness crept up slowly and was affecting long before diagnosis because it was eating away at health and energy which was so frustrating for when wanted to be energetic mum doing loads of things with Jacob [1]
awful diagnosis had positive and negative effect, fact now knows what was wrong is huge relief because knew deep down something was wrong, but its awful news at same time [1]
—————————————————————— 6/27/2011 – Anyone who has been or is going through a life threatening illness will understand power of positivity and support network of friends and family [15]
—————————————————————— faces race against time to travel to US for treatment she hopes will save her life []
—————————————————————— 7/8/2011 – [18]
helped stay positive and strong as a family even in difficult times [18]
worried how long it would take before could start treatment [18]
has been so strong and positive throughout journey, im so proud of her for being such an amazing fiancee and an amazing mum to Jacob – not a day goes by where she doesnt make us smile and keep our home life normal for Jacob at this important time in our little mans life…a really special person [18]
—————————————————————— 7/28/2011 – had agonising wait for results on Thursday
—————————————————————— 8/3/2011 – [21]
MIXTURE OF FEELINGS THIS MORNING [21]
never happy with just sitting around [21]
spent months researching all kinds of brain tumour treatment protocols looking for most successful, non harmful type of treatment currently available in the world and even speaking to past patients about their experiences, led us to front door of controversial Dr. Burzynski’s clinic in Houston this morning…somewhere that gives us all a bit of Hope [21]
Driving to clinic we were nervous about how today would be but as soon as we walked through the door we were met with friendly faces and felt instantly at ease [21]
left clinic feeling relaxed, like were in right place and the day had gone great, been prescribed treatment she wanted and with any luck will be having 1st dose this Friday [21]
—————————————————————— 8/8/2011 – [3]
a) tiredness
b) like having another baby!
c) it’s really worth it [3]
—————————————————————— 8/8/2011 – future was still very uncertain [55]
at times a whirlwind, extremely stressful [55]
—————————————————————— 10/2011 – [10]
a) times when feel like giving up [10]
b) only have to look at Ben and Jacob to know life’s worth fighting for [10]
c) determined to give treatment my best shot [10]
—————————————————————— 1/10/2012
bit of a difficult week this week, hadn’t been sleeping well due to MRI scan booked [40]
After such good result last time where tumour shrank so much were feeling so positive for few weeks after, as next scan gets closer start to worry about silly things, every time has bad day where feels exhausted, worry tumour suddenly started to grow again [40]
next day have really good day…. might have epileptic seizure, though has a LOT less of them now and aren’t as strong still worry means tumour growth [40]
get to few days before next scan even sillier things start to cross mind like “I’ve eaten lots of chocolate and had a few KFC’s since last scan was my diet really bad and hasthat made it grow!?!” [40]
all sorts of worries will go through mind at this point, like anyone else in this situation will understand [40]
trying to describe just other day what its like being told has malignant brain cancer [40]
(still hate those words) [40]
its impossible to describe but so awful makes you feel like you’re character in film “Saw” [40]
Like someone has put time bomb inside your head, it will grow fast and more it grows you will slowly become more disabled, doctors tell us that current available medicines can only slow it down..there are never any survivors 12-14 months (1 year – 1 year 2 months) from diagnosis is prognosis [40]
Eventually it will win, and you will lose the fight [40]
Sometimes in morning wake up and for few seconds forget have one, everything is normal, then reality hits again [40]
so anxious at this point, think they could tell [40]
WOW [40]
burst into tears [40]
so shocked, amazing start to 2012 [40]
—————————————————————— 1/13/2012
Every time has bad day where feels exhausted, worry tumour suddenly started to grow again [43]
fret before a scan [43] eat bad food [43] made stay up late some nights watching TV instead of resting [43]
all sorts of worries will go through mind at this point [43]
diagnosed with tumour just over year ago, describes what it’s like living with malignant brain tumour [43]
it’s so awful it makes you feel like a character in the film ‘Saw’ [43]
like someone has put time bomb inside head, it will grow fast and more it grows you will slowly become more disabled [43]
Eventually it will win and you will lose the fight [43]
feel fortunate given chance to at least try treatment [43]
About improvement, burst into tears [43]
so shocked, what an amazing start to 2012 [43]
—————————————————————— 2/8/2012 – [47]
big milestone of a day [47]
just wanted to wear something to cover the site where tumour is, area has biopsy scar and hair is much thinner from radiation [47]
—————————————————————— 2/21/2012 – had 6 weekly MRI scan tuesday – scary time as always [48]
—————————————————————— 3/25/2012 – taking small steps but feeling more like old self all the time [49]
—————————————————————— 4/5/2012 – “scan week” always stressful time [50]
—————————————————————— 5/19/2012 – diagnosed 17 months ago now and even on hardest days never given up hope [52]
—————————————————————— 6/22/2012 – [53]
Everything takes toll eventually [53]
feel fine now and have caught up on sleep, for 6 days while off treatment awaiting blood culture results was almost as if nothing was wrong, in perfect health so breath of fresh air to have no IV bag to carry around [53]
fleeting moment of “normality” for our family again [53]
—————————————————————— 7/4/2012 – [54]
been emotional rollercoaster, when look back over past year and a half [54]
has certainly been a life changing experience for us and all of our family [54]
extreme stress of situation is starting to wear off and starting to feel able to relax a little now and do “normal” things most families probably take for granted like planning ahead into future rather than living day to day [54]
don’t think its possible to describe personal experience like this, much like amazing feeling of becoming a parent you have to experience it first hand to really know what its like [54]
—————————————————————— 8/8/2012 – When look back feel like looking at someone else’s life [55]
—————————————————————— 8/29/2012 – [55]
its been well worth all the hard work and effort [55]
Mentally stayed so strong despite over past 12 months (1 year) having not slept full night due to infusions – calculated has had at least 2150 ninety minute infusions to date [55]
These days, life is much more hopeful and slightly less stressful [55]
—————————————————————— 11/27/2012 – [56]
fight this every day for almost 2 years without ever once faltering or giving up [56]
Jacob has been here to give a reason to be strong and his unconditional love has been a huge part of healing process [56]
couldn’t be happier [56]
—————————————————————— 1/2013 – Dr Burzynski has given me and my family the future back and I am eternally grateful [3]
appreciate every minute of every day [3]
I’ll finish treatment but have my life back [3]
Who knows what tomorrow holds ? [3]
======================================
====================================== HEALTH
======================================
======================================
6/2011 – [47]
whilst having radiotherapy lost all hair which fell out very quickly – in a matter of hours – too quickly to really have any time to get used to the idea [47]
(if thats possible) [47]
for woman it can be a really big part of their identity, especially if you’re just 25 years old [47]
——————————————————————
1/12/2012 – [40]
When has scan every 6 weeks to find out how treatment is going go through different emotional stages [40]
After such good result last time where tumour shrank so much were feeling so positive for few weeks after, as next scan gets closer start to worry about silly things, every time has bad day where feels exhausted [40]
next day have really good day…. might have epileptic seizure, though has a LOT less of them now and aren’t as strong still worry means tumour growth [40]
eat bad food, stay up late some nights watching TV instead of resting, dragged round country parks for walks [40]
(probably in hind sight exercise is very good right now) [40]
——————————————————————
1/13/2012
has good days and bad days [43]
Every time has bad day where feels exhausted, worry tumour suddenly started to grow again [43]
next day have really good day … then might have epileptic seizure, even though has a LOT less of them now [43]
4/5/2012 – feeling really good apart from sinus infection unrelated to tumour or medication [50]
—————————————————————— 6/15/2012 – suspected Hickman Line infection, really exhausted and had cold shivers [53]
——————————————————————
======================================
====================================== TREATMENT
======================================
====================================== 1/2009 – suffered terrible morning sickness so severe had to be admitted to hospital [10]
—————————————————————— 5/2009 – morning sickness stopped at 16 weeks [10]
—————————————————————— 9/2009 – Jacob born [2] + [10]
visited GP dozens of times [10]
At 1st doctor thought was baby blues but months after Jacob born, still felt tired, diagnosed postnatal depression [10]
came home with anti-depressants [10]
knew wasn’t depression because felt so happy being a mum [10]
didn’t even take the pills [10]
—————————————————————— 5/27/2010 – [10]
—————————————————————— 10/2010 – while family, from Rochester, Kent, were in Lanzarote, developed weakness in right arm [10]
At first thought might have slept awkwardly or pulled a muscle [10]
Some days it was there, some days it wasn’t [10]
Other times felt tingling in fingers [10]
—————————————————————— 11/2010 – [2]
started to lose feeling and co-ordination in right arm which prompted an MRI scan at hospital [2]
health slowly declined over past year, never fully recovered after having Jacob and mis-diagnosed with range of things including exhaustion [2]
breakthrough diagnosis came after another visit to GP’s [10]
had a cold couldn’t shake off and went to see if needed antibiotics [10]
saw different doctor and he could see from notes sometimes been at surgery every week [10]
kept list of symptoms on iPhone [10]
handed it to him and he looked concerned [10]
been visiting surgery with different symptom every time [10]
When he saw them together, warning bells rang [10]
Although he didn’t say he suspected a brain tumour, he sent for tests [10]
—————————————————————— 12/24/2010 – results arrived [2] + [10]
few days later called back for results [10]
had brain scan but also had blood tests and thought was going to get those results [10]
had found something on scan [10]
huge tumour [10]
doctors broke news has rare, inoperable brain tumour [10]
told there’s no cure and it’s growing [10]
bad news was tumour, known as an oligodendroglioma, was inoperable – deep in the brain and removing it would be too dangerous, so all doctors could do was monitor it [10]
diagnosed with rare Brain Cancer and biopsy revealed is most aggressive type of brain cancer, not only is it inoperable because of size and location but also deemed incurable using available cancer therapies in UK, which can only at best slow down growth [2]
Tests showed was low-grade, slow-growing tumour [10]
explained could have had it for 20 years [10]
reassured when read stories saying people did live normal lives with this sort of tumour [10]
average life expectancy poor, fewer than 1 in 100 people diagnosed live for 5 years, this cancer is common in people over 50 [2]
(approx 5,000 diagnosed annualy in UK) [2]
very rare in Laura’s age group, less than 50 cases reported every year in UK and no known cause [2]
told by doctors in UK that brain tumour was inoperable [43]
set out to find an alternative cure [43]
find clinic in Houston, Texas, run by Dr. Burzynski, that pioneers new treatment for malignant brain cancer Laura has [43]
clinic in America has pioneering treatment proven very effective against this type of cancer without harming the body [2]
clinic has been running for over 30 years and has been able to not only stabilise, but potentially cure this awful disease in some cases [2]
treatment not available via NHS [2]
most patients require anything from 2 to 4 years treatment [2]
diagnosed with type of brain cancer for which there is no cure in Britain and wasn’t expected to live more than 12 months (1 year) [37]
Since diagnosed has developed epilepsy and has multiple seizures a day [37]
right arm almost paralysed so has been unable to pick up Jacob or bathe him [37]
—————————————————————— 2/2011 – right arm virtually paralysed [10]
also developed epilepsy and having seizures every day [10]
—————————————————————— 4/2011
biopsy [50]
tumor turned agressive [53]
next batch of test results arrived [10]
results of scan and biopsy [10]
doctors said tumour had grown rapidly [10]
turned into worst form of brain cancer – fast-growing, high-grade glioblastoma multiforme [10]
while they could give chemo and radiotherapy to try to shrink it and prolong life, was nothing more they could do [10]
didn’t have time to lose [10]
No one knows how long has left to live – do know has most aggressive form of brain cancer [10]
If did nothing could be 6 months to a year [10]
after painstaking research found clinic in Houston, US, which offers treatment still under trial and NHS will not fund [10]
In States, critics believe it’s expensive, with no proven results [10]
read stories claiming it worked for some [10]
sent the clinic notes [10]
treatment based on clinic’s 25 years of research showing people with the cancer are lacking tumour suppressor [10]
In people without cancer substance kills growing cancers [10]
clinic doctor believes replacing it with drug will trigger body’s immune system to rid itself of tumour [10]
having therapy to help shrink tumour [10]
—————————————————————— 5/2011 – prescribed 6 weeks radiotherapy coupled with Temozolomide chemotherapy [10]
potential life saving treatment in America [2]
travel to US for treatment hopes will save her life [10]
—————————————————————— 6/2011
1) completed radiotherapy course
2) had to stop chemo after few days because allergic reaction
3) doctors very honest – couldn’t continue TMZ cycles because was allergic to it
4) original oncologist against decision to go to America for treatment because controversial and not yet approved by NICE, or any medical body
5) transferred to another oncologist willing to take me on in London
made fully aware early on that cancer treatment and long term prognosis has improved for most common types of cancers over the years [23]
has been no real improvement in outcomes for Brain Tumours – especially Glioma which although being one of most common cancers, especially in children, are most under funded types of cancer in research arena [23]
spoke to past patients in US and UK, some who were cured many years ago from ‘terminal’ brain cancers using “antineoplastons” at Burzynski Clinic in Houston, Texas [23]
clinic treats many types of cancer with other therapies but for antineoplastons primarily focus on brain cancer because it is one of hardest to treat [23]
Prior to visit to US sent sample of Laura’s brain tumour tissue from biopsy procedure to Pheonix, Arizona [23]
At lab number of tests carried out including gene expression tests, genetic tests used to identify which treatments would be most effective for Laura as an individual – backup plan if antineoplastons had no effect [23]
“FDA approved” Phase II clinical trial – specifically “Antineoplaston A10 & AS2-1” which are treatments pioneered by Dr Burzynski in mid 1970’s [23]
—————————————————————— 7/1/2011
friday finished 6 week radiotherapy course [18]
treatment supposed to be given alongside chemotherapy but 10 days into 33 day course of chemotherapy developed allergic reaction and had to stop particular drug [18]
chemotherapy isnt very effective for everyone with Brain cancer and missing out on this drug also means Laura is so much stronger physically than she would have been otherwise, that coupled with great advice from our nutritionalist Jo Gamble has meant Laura is in amazing shape and able to travel to America safely to start treatment [18]
—————————————————————— 7/2011 – travelled to Burzynski Clinic in Houston end of July to start Antineoplaston treatment and for Ben to be trained on administering medicine by doctors at Clinic
—————————————————————— 7/2011
since starting treatment in America in July, has begun to show signs of improvement [37]
started to get use of paralysed right arm and hand back [37]
has got a lot more energy and is able to go on short walks with Jacob [37]
receive gene therapy at clinic in Texas [37]
treatment involves having daily doses of drugs and scans every 6 weeks [37]
—————————————————————— 7/2011 – 8/2011 – 3 weeks there and came home and continuing treatment
(administered by Ben with very close direction from clinic)
—————————————————————— 7/25/2011 – MRI scan Monday
—————————————————————— 7/28/2011
had agonising wait for results on Thursday
got results “Increase in size of tumour left frontal lobe” and sent straight off to clinic, took few hours to get green light (because of time difference) and by 6:30pm got call we were waiting for from clinic FDA should give special exception without aproblem – Houston here we come [21]
—————————————————————— 7/29/2011 – [21]
Ben bought Friday.morning flights “just incase” [21]
arrived in Houston, Texas Friday.afternoon after trouble free flight [21]
—————————————————————— 7/29/2011 – 8/2011 – [21]
here for next 3 weeks [21]
Thanks to amazing fund raising and generosity from everyone raised enough money to start treatment now rather than 10/2011, this gives a huge head start [21]
would originally been having another cycle of chemo until 10/2011 but allergic to it so means NHS don’t have any more options available at this stage [21]
Chemo isn’t very effective for a lot of brain tumours so isn’t big loss, much better to get onto next step earlier than planned [21]
FDA law prevents clinic treating at this point unless tumour has grown since last scan [21]
(if it had shrunk from radiotherapy would’ve had to wait until end of August) [21]
in catch 22 situation, didn’t want tumour to have grown since April but also wanted to get America ASAP, UK doctors did say not to panic because even if there was growth it could just be post radiotherapy swelling, this put our minds slightly at rest [21]
decided to take additional option on top of standard treatment has come here for, option has only been available here a few months and – huge advancement in world of cancer treatment [21]
sample of tumour tissue sent over from Kings Hospital to Lab in Phoenix, Arizona [21]
Lab running number of different tests on tissue sample and also mapping DNA profile to get “molecular fingerprint” of individual tumour [21]
Everyone’s cancer is unique to them and therefore will respond best to “unique treatment plan” [21]
Lab results will be sent to clinic next week and will tell them exactly what drugs will be effective for unique cancer, and what specific genes are involved in causing cancer [21]
Gene target therapies will also be used to “switch off” genes causing cancer and “turn on” tumour suppressor genes to help stop cancer in its tracks [21]
rather than having “one size fits all” treatment be recommended treatments based on what clinic knows will be effective for individual case [21]
—————————————————————— 8/2/2011 – 1st appointment Tuesday where will finally meet Dr Burzynski in person [21]
—————————————————————— 8/2011
appointment booked at clinic in America for start of August so will be flying out at end of month to start treatment [18]
travel to clinic and began treatment [43]
—————————————————————— 8/3/2011 – [21]
11:30AM CONSULTATION AT CLINIC [21]
journey began 8 months ago (12/24/2010) when diagnosed, found out over following weeks how generally un-successful brain tumour treatment was in UK [21]
day consisted of consultation with Dr Acelar who will be primary consultant [21]
She interviewed in more detail about condition then went off and reviewed MRI scan images with Dr Burzynski as he would have final say over treatment plan to be prescribed [21]
After agonising wait for what seemed like 10 hours but was only 10 minutes Dr Acelar came back into room with Dr Burzynski [21]
this is a guy we’ve been researching about 6 months, has been completely curing what were previously considered to be 100% fatal brain tumours, and by curing I mean for a lot of patients tumours completely disappear [21]
wasted no time explaining exactly how treatment works, basically brain cancer is being caused by up to 600 defective genes, treatment will “switch off” cancer causing genes which will make cancer cells go into “apoptosis” [21]
Apoptosis is natural cycle where cell dies and is broken down by body, in other words tumour will start to break down and dissolve away [21]
know within 4-8 weeks if working and if not then they can add in other gene targeted therapies – based on results of some genetic testing having done at the moment [21]
had bloods and physical examination done [21]
(by another doctor) [21]
and done for the day [21]
due back at clinic once they get approval from FDA to treat – which will take 1-4 days [21]
—————————————————————— 8/4/2011 – [22]
just got call from clinic and now approved for treatment by FDA much quicker than thought [22]
didn’t think there would be any problems because fits criteria, having had previous Radiotherapy which is required before you can have any private treatment from Dr Burzynski [22]
waiting on appointment from doctor who’ll be fitting Hickman Line, which is IV line fitted in chest just below collar bone [22]
Having IV line fitted is more convenient that in arm long term, and allows delivery of higher doses of medicine from IV pump that will become friend for about next 12 months (year) [22]
should be getting fitted in morning (Friday), enabling 1st test dose of Antineoplastons in afternoon [22]
—————————————————————— 8/8/2011 – Burzynski Clinic Houston Texas [55]
11.am connected and switched on pump for 1st ever Antineoplaston infusion, from that moment on would have to have 90 minute infusion every 4 hours – EVERY DAY .24/7 [55]
grade four cancer diagnosis let alone NHS treatment options, alternative medical research and decisions, fundraising, flying to america for a month [55]
—————————————————————— 8/8/2011 – 9/2011 – doctors completely honest, said won’t know IF or how quickly will respond until on treatment for at least 8 weeks
—————————————————————— 8/8/2011 – on antineoplaston therapy since
medicine rich in sodium and have to infuse 2 litres daily
(dose lasts 90 minutes every 4 hours 24/7)
drink approx 5 litres of water daily
while pump running
carrying around infusion pump all day connected to Hickman line in chest
medicine pump
MRI scan at private hospital every 6 weeks
8/2011 – came home
—————————————————————— 08/12/2011
25-year-old Laura Hymas, of High Street, Rochester, has seen tumour shrink by more than a third in just 6 weeks after pioneering therapy in America [37]
already improving since treatment in USA [37]
—————————————————————— 9/2011 – came home and continued antineoplaston treatment, treatment literally takes over and consumes every day of your life [55]
Not specifically side effects because been lucky enough to have minimal short term side effects, but impact on daily life – the infusions, preparing medicine bags, blood tests, etc.. [55]
—————————————————————— 10/2011
hopes to have new treatment in US [4]
took until middle of October to slowly increase antineoplaston dose up to “maintenance dose” Dr Burzynski deems most effective for body weight
hard to see Laura suffer [4]
know in next few weeks going to lose hair [4]
Some people say should accept condition is terminal [4]
—————————————————————— 11/29/2011 -_6 weeks later scan tumour started shrinking by 36% [59]
—————————————————————— 11/2011 – 36% (Nov 2011) [48]
decreased in size EVERY 6 weekly scan [48]
bulk of tumour reduced in size by 77% since reaching maximum tolerated dose of Antineoplastons [52]
(growth stabilised before hitting this dose) [52]
—————————————————————— 1/2012 – 56% (Jan 2012) [48]
decreased in size EVERY 6 weekly scan [48]
—————————————————————— 1/10/2012 – [40]
scan every 6 weeks to find out how treatment is going [40]
such good result last time where tumour shrank so much [40]
there’s amazing doctor in Houston, Texas [40]
friendly, happy and kind man who is always polite and making jokes [40]
sees so many patients but makes real effort to know you as a person, who you are, where you come from, what your story is..how you got to his front door [40]
doesnt promise you anything, cannot help everyone [40]
(1st to admit that) [40]
costs are completely transparent from day one, you even get breakdown of why treatment costs what it does [40]
has many many patients who had inoperable malignant brain cancers that failed chemo and radiotherapy who are not only still alive 20 years later… are now cancer free [40]
Some patients have never had any other treatment for their brain cancer apart from Antineoplaston therapy [40]
(which is what on) [40]
family who live in Kent just 5 miles from us got in touch just before Christmas as they read about us in the local paper [40]
son had been diagnosed with brain tumour [40]
They knew radiotherapy and chemo would only be palliative and having these therapies alone at young age would shorten life let alone brain tumour problem [40]
searched and searched … Eventually like us found Dr Burzynski too [40]
sons tumour decreased in size 72.5% from 1 year just on antineoplaston treatment, then put on low dose of medicine for further 3 years [40]
tumour is still there but hasn’t grown or changed since [40]
NHS oncologist can’t understand how he’a still here [40]
was 8 years old when diagnosed, in 1998 [40]
now 21 [40]
happy healthy young man and just passed university degree, looking forward to future [40]
a lot of criticism about Dr Burzynski, people saying Antineoplastons “unproven” and Dr Burzynski is scam artist taking money from dying cancer patients, that terminally ill cancer patients should be discouraged from “False Hope” he gives people [40]
any celebrities that try to help fund raise or appeal for people to donate are bombarded on twitter and internet with messages saying they are helping someone see scam artist and quack [40]
We have been focus of some of these groups, they have been trying to discourage people from donating to us “With Laura’s best interests at heart” [40]
already tried and exhausted currently available “conventional” medicine [40]
countless websites discussing Laura, other current patients with fund raising campagins and Dr Burzynski that contain false information about us all [40]
isn’t new thing to Dr Burzynski, he’s used to it by now but for us it’s distressing [40]
They try to find holes in Laura’s scan results when she reports good news, one person even told Laura on twitter to “F*** off” then he called her a “Burzynski Troll” and justified actions by saying Laura fake patient designed to encourage more people to give money to “Burzynski scam” [40]
REAL Stories about REAL people like the one above from family who live near us are ones that give us strength to carry on [40]
one day critics might decide there’s enough evidence to show treatment works? [40]
Just because they haven’t seen scientific data doesn’t mean something doesn’t work [40]
It’s worked for many [40]
having great response [40]
Tuesday when had scan at private hospital were walking past office afterwards where radiologist would be examining new scan and comparing it to last one taken 11/29/2011 [40]
stood outside to catch attention of secretary so could arrange next scan, at that point I saw through crack in door someone had brain scans on computer screen [40]
radiologist rolled back in his chair and popped his head round the door, our hearts were pumping as we were told we could have the result straight away [40]
radiologist had huge smile on his face [40]
Its looking good, definitely smaller [40]
walked in office, and had new scans from that day on screen with Laura’s scans from 11/29/2011 below [40]
To naked eye obvious to see tumour MUCH smaller and enhancing much less [40]
(less cancerous) [40]
pointed out some things and said haven’t finished measuring but estimate AT LEAST 25% SMALLER than last scan 6 weeks ago 11/2011 [40]
said if hang around in hospital cafe for 15 minutes he’ll finish up report and can have copy [40]
had some lunch and nurse came in short while later with report [40]
better than even initially thought [40]
TUMOUR DECREASED 56% in size since beginning American treatment 8/2011 [40]
most recent scan revealed tumour decreased massive 56% in size since beginning of treatment [43]
scan – 56% tumour decrease! [59]
latest scan shows tumour at least 25% smaller than last scan 11/2011 [43]
decreased 56% in size since beginning American treatment 8/2011 [43]
sent scan CD off straight away by Fedex to America so doctors could do independent report too [40]
—————————————————————— 1/11/2012 – [40]
Yesterday night spoke to doctor at Burzynski Clinic, they’ve reviewed scans and concluded in their opinion tumour has decreased same amount [40]
need to keep on medicine into 2013 [40]
If one day lucky enough for cancer to completely disappear still need to keep on medicine up to 12 months (1 year) after, “maintenance program” designed to make sure kill every single cancerous cell because Glioblastoma Multiforme are very nasty and has “roots” that even an MRI wouldn’t necessarily pick up [40]
If stopped treatment too quickly cancer could return [40]
—————————————————————— 1/13/2012 – [43]
Dr. Burzynski and clinic have been under constant heavy criticism from people believing he’s a ‘quack’ that gives ‘false hope’ to terminally ill people [43]
a lot of criticism out there about Dr Burzynski, people saying Antineoplastons “unproven” and Dr Burzynski a scam artist taking money from dying cancer patients and terminally ill cancer patients should be discouraged from “False Hope” he gives people [43]
already tried and exhausted currently available “conventional” medicine.” [43]
diagnosed with tumour just over year ago [43]
Doctors tell us current available medicines can only slow it down – there are never any survivors 12 – 14 months (1 year – 1 year 2 months) from diagnosis is prognosis [43]
keep on medicine into 2013 [43]
—————————————————————— 2/2/2012 – [44]
treatment is working so well [44]
every 6 weeks for MRI scan [44]
—————————————————————— 2/9/2012 – [47]
really huge milestone [47]
Day to day been continuing with medicine [47]
attached to IV pump using hickman line in chest and has dose every 4 hours 24/7 [47]
Each dose lasts 90 minutes so really interrupts sleep patterns and makes tired – effectively infuses 2 litres of medicine directly into blood stream every day involves a lot of trips to toilet [47]
medicine high in sodium so on top of this drinks 5 litres of water a day [47]
aren’t any side effects other than toilet trips, extreme thirst while infusing and tiredness [47]
Next MRI scan in few weeks so nerves and worries setting in [47]
—————————————————————— 2/21/2012 – had 6 weekly MRI scan tuesday [48]
77% (Feb 2012) 77% in just 18 WEEKS [48]
decreased in size EVERY 6 weekly scan [48]
scan was even better news – 77% tumour decrease! [59]
just got results and tumour has continued shrinking [48]
now 77% smaller than when started treatment 8/2011 [48]
amazing news, was stable few months while increasing Antineoplaston dose, then hit maintenance dose 10/17/2011 [48]
decreased in size EVERY 6 weekly scan [48]
Glioblastoma Mutliforme is most agressive cancer out there so Laura will need to keep going on treatment for at least another year to kill every single cancer cell [48]
been fighting this cancer for over year now, almost approaching April [49]
This time last year told awful news that brain tumour had changed and was now much more aggressive, had turned very cancerous and future was very uncertain because it was one of worse cancers anyone could get, on top of that it was in worst location too [49]
—————————————————————— 4/5/2012 – [50]
6 weekly MRI scan went well again [50]
tumour now reduced to what doctors believe is small cavity there because biopsy 4/2011 [50]
small edge of cavity is still enhancing on scan [50]
(which means cancerous cells) [50]
enhancing less than last scan, so everything moving in right direction [50]
plan for now is to just keep going and continue daily doses of antineoplaston medication [50]
treatment working so well [50]
—————————————————————— 5/15/2012 – scan Tuesday shows what remains of tumour is now at stage where hardly enhancing at all on MRI scan, enhancement now barely visible without magnifying scan images heavily [52]
“active” (growing/spreading) malignant tumour shows up on MRI scan as bright white area [52]
bright area represents cancerous cells and tumour used to light up like light bulb which was bad news [52]
aim of any successful treatment is to get rid of everything that enhances so no longer have active tumour [52]
bulk of tumour reduced in size by 77% since reaching maximum tolerated dose of Antineoplastons (11/2011) [52]
(growth stabilised before hitting this dose) [52]
reduction in tumour size meant able to stop taking steroids [52]
(designed to reduce brain swelling but have nasty side effects) [52]
epilepsy has got much better, especially in last month [52]
seizures much less frequent [52]
What’s left of tumour – is cystic fluid filled cavity* [52]
*cavity there from surgery (Biopsy) 4/2011 [52]
cavity may never dissapear, might just stay there because brain tissue has been removed [52]
Alternatively cavity may break down very slowly and hopefully dissapear over time [52]
Either way isn’t major problem [52]
—————————————————————— 5/18/2012 – [52]
had chat with doctor over phone last night, as last scan showed very very little enhancement they have now decided to put on “finishing program” of antineoplastons [52]
If patient lucky enough to have tumour stop enhancing then they’re asked to carry on treatment for 8 months, then finish [52]
8 month schedule allows medicine to have time to kill last cancerous cells that aren’t showing up on MRI scan [52]
told once people finish schedule – in most cases – unlikely tumour will return, most people can go on to live normal tumour free life [52]
diganosed 17 months ago (1 year 5 months) [52]
“In the field of Brain Tumours there are no ‘proven’ treatments, only treatments ‘accepted’ by a group of clinicians who practise in that field” [52]
treatment isn’t guaranteed to work for everyone, but there are many long term (10, 20yr) survivors [52]
Using traditional chemo and radiation on inoperable GBM has no long term survivors [52]
—————————————————————— 6/15/2012 – [53]
suspected Hickman Line infection, really exhausted and had cold shivers [53]
Burzynski Clinic very on the ball and didn’t want to take any chances, said had to take off antineoplaston treatment and go straight to hospital so doctor could take blood cultures from hickman line and arm, local doctor arranged for us at very short notice [53]
told by clinic that if infection in line it would have to be taken out and would have to have probably 7-10 day course of antibiotics…then there would be headache of how to get another hickman line surgically fitted because only GP supporting in england [53]
havent seen or had any contact with NHS oncologist since ealier this year, despite good progress so they probably wouldn’t be able or willing to help in this situation [53]
Worst case looking at about 3 weeks without treatment – huge worry because hasn’t missed single day of treatment since 8/2011 [53]
—————————————————————— 6/21/2012 – blood cultures were taken and results were clear, no infection present [53]
started back on antineoplaston treatment again and could forget all problems and what if’s [53]
While off treatment had good chance to rest and relax, something long overdue [53]
hadn’t had full nights sleep for nearly 11 months [53]
medicine is very high in sodium so wake up during doses about 5 times a night for toilet trips and drinks [53]
totally burnt out last week so suspect cold shivers and exhaustion were just where needed a break and also past year catching up emotionally [53]
been rollercoaster, on autopilot so don’t think taken 5 minutes to stop and think about whats happened to family, extreme stress of situation, fundraising and worries about raising enough money, trip to america, treatment and all the controversy it attracts [53]
—————————————————————— 7/4/2012 – [54]
had MRI scan last week and despite being off treatment for 6 days prior to scan [54]
(due to suspected IV line infection) [54]
NO CHANGES [54]
back on antineoplaston treatment again and still scheduled to finish treatment at end of year [54]
really lucky to catch tumour early [54]
last year only initially had 3 options which were surgery, radiation and chemo [54]
did enormous amount of research and even got MP involved with discussions with head of PCT, they confirmed all standard approaches were palliative, designed to buy time – not something we were told by oncologists, who refer to these 3 modalities as “a radical treatment approach” and give little information apart from “we’ll see what happens” [54]
they are same options that’ve been used for decades – where is the progress? [54]
Being an inoperable tumour our only options left were radiation and chemo [54]
Knowing that best radiation can do is slow down growth [54]
(in some cases) [54]
If it worked that would only be small window of time [54]
was unable to take more than few days of chemo due to allergic reaction [54]
(which in fact, looking back was actually a normal body reaction to taking a highly toxic substance) [54]
Would American treatment work or would Dr Burzynski be a crook just like all the sceptics were saying? [54]
—————————————————————— 8/2012 – no trace of Tumor at all [59]
always get 2nd opinion from UK radiologist who confirms just cavity left which should resolve over time [59]
last update just after MRI scan, at which time both Dr Burzynski’s radiologist and private UK radiologist both confirmed there was no trace of residual or recurrent brain tumour on MRI scans [56]
—————————————————————— 8/29/2012 – [55]
Scan: one year on treatment! on Wednesday [55]
Burzynski Clinic advised all they can see on MRI scans is scar tissue, cavity present from where tumour used to be [55]
UK radiologist was more cautious initially [55]
(probably because he has never seen a Glioblastoma dissapear before!?) [55]
he reported on scan and came to same conclusion as Burzynski Clinic [55]
reported today he beleives all he can see is small cavity/scar tissue too [55]
fact that 2 parties don’t have any contact gives us great confidence in the 2 mirroring reports [55]
—————————————————————— 9/2012 – had scan [56]
—————————————————————— 11/1/2012 – Laura Hymas’s MRI assessment from Dr. Burzynski 11-01-2012
So this is uh a girl who came to see you uh this year, last year
Yes
I think this is after approximately uh 4 months of treatment
4, maybe 5 months
So she’s, been on treatment 4 months, and this is when she came to see you here
This was in Ju
I’m sorry, this was in July so this must be 6 months
6 months (both)
Yeah 6 months, yes
So this was July, and this was the next one that she had
That’s right
This is November, and uh, here is now, January
That’s a substantial difference, certainly
And this is with no chemotherapy
No chemotherapy
Just the uh
Just antineoplastons only
Yes
And, and what type of tumor did she have
Only, oh one, this is glioblastoma
This is the highest malignancy tumor
Yes
So you must be pretty happy with this
Well, she did very well
I’m very glad
Yeah
Sure
So maybe next one
Especially, since it was not necessary to use any other treatment
And actually, the response was somewhat slow and we thought that perhaps it would be necessary to add additional treatment, but since she got such a nice decrease we hope we can avoid any further treatment
Yeah
But this looks great because in addition to decrease in the tumor, we see also shrinkage of uh the cavity after, the operation
You mean the cavity around
That’s right
That’s right
The cavity here
Okay
So, this also, this is also the case which means that there is certain degree of repair, from the damage that was done by the procedure
Yes
That’s correct
She had a biopsy, didn’t she
That’s right
That’s tight
Yes
Yeah
So lets hope that perhaps another 2 months or 4 months it will disappear completely
—————————————————————— 11/27/2012 – scan this morning, confirm again nothing present, which is amazing news we all couldnt be happier [56]
—————————————————————— 12/25/2012 – scheduled to finish treatment just after Christmas [52]
—————————————————————— 1/2013 – It’s GONE
continuing antineoplaston treatment until end of treatment course in 1/2013 and will then have regular MRI scans to ensure tumour doesn’t re-occur
just taking time to relax and see out end of Antineoplaston treatment, which all being well will finish 1/2013 after next scheduled MRI scan [56]
finish treatment [59]
======================================
====================================== THOSE WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE:
======================================
======================================
5/12/2011 – Fundraising Launch! Thursday
such an amazing response and so many emails
Thank you so much to everyone, friends, family, friends of friends and even the people who have donated and dont even know us, we are really touched by your kindness
——————————————————————
7/8/2011 – family and freinds – parents, especially Laura’s mum and dad [18]
======================================
====================================== THE PEOPLE:
======================================
======================================
Alice – heard about us because her brother plays football with Laura’s nephew Joe [49]
——————————————————————
6/26/2011 – Bergin, James – London Bikeathon East London Thames Barrier through city 26 miles to South West London (Richmond Park) back to Thames Barrier 52 miles in 7 hours!
——————————————————————
Catlin (Alice friend Catlin) [49]
——————————————————————
8/3/2011 – Dan – Anglo-Texan friends [21]
——————————————————————
Danielle (Their friends) – run Cricketers Pub in Gillingham had disco for Laura last Friday; raising £425
——————————————————————
Elaine (Laura’s sister) [49]
——————————————————————
Figg, Keri – live locally and heard about Laura recently through a friend: Since then have been relentlessly selling wristbands, arranging fundraisers, and running all over Kent trying to get raffle prizes!
——————————————————————
Hills, Kirsten – Journalist from BBC
18:00! re-run at 22:30 [7]
——————————————————————
5/19/2011 – Hound, Rufus sent Twitter video to his 236,293 followers Thursday [8]
7/8/2011 – received almost £20,000 in 12 hours then more donations over following weeks as people continued to spread the word about the video [18]
7/8/2011 – Broken the £50,000 Barrier! – Update on Laura Friday: only started fund raising around 6 weeks ago! [18]
——————————————————————
6/26/2011 – Ben and 2 friends – London Bikeathon East London Thames Barrier through city 26 miles to South West London (Richmond Park) back to Thames Barrier 52 miles in 7 hours!
——————————————————————
5/31/2011 – Hymas, Eve (Evie) (Bens sister) – 12hr golf marathon Tuesday 7am [11]
5/31/2011 – friends at their schools who have donated to the fund [11]
5/31/2011 – Hymas, Theo (Brother) – [11]
——————————————————————
7/8/2011 – Les (Laura’s father in law) and his good friend [17]
——————————————————————
5/31/2011 – Jackson, Jemma – 12hr golf marathon Tuesday 7am [11]
——————————————————————
7/8/2011 – Jeffries, Terry …Local artist who gave a print of a beautiful painting of Venice, DeBeers diamond company donated a gold and diamond pen along with a box of 5 tickets to the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall! [17]
——————————————————————
Joe (Laura’s nephew) up north [49]
——————————————————————
Jones, Sandra – live locally and heard about Laura recently through a friend: Since then have been relentlessly selling wristbands, arranging fundraisers, and running all over Kent trying to get raffle prizes!
——————————————————————
7/10/2011 – Local Man Donates £5,000 ! Sunday [19]
Lee – local man donated £5,000 after reading her story on leaflet in shop near Jacobs nursery [19]
Ben and Laura’s dad Fred arranged to meet Lee in a coffee shop in Rochester yesterday [19]
——————————————————————
4/19/2012 – Les (Laura’s friend) [51]
——————————————————————
8/3/2011 – Louise – Anglo-Texan friends [21]
——————————————————————
6/26/2011 – Marks, Richard – London Bikeathon East London Thames Barrier through city 26 miles to South West London (Richmond Park) back to Thames Barrier 52 miles in 7 hours!
——————————————————————
7/8/2011 – Meaking, Len (Les’ good friend) [17]
7/8/2011 – Auction and raffle [17]
——————————————————————
6/17/2011 – Morden, Emily – Barclays staff members: branch in Rayleigh, Essex fund raising day for Laura on Friday [12]
——————————————————————
McKenzie, Leon (ex Crystal Palace) [7]
——————————————————————
time to meet Russ – English guy who lives in Texas who heard about us on twitter – he’s offered to let us have a car for free while we’re here saving about £1000 [21]
——————————————————————
Snowdon, Lisa [7]
——————————————————————
Stanley Family [7]
auction off their dad’s signed Manchester City football shirt
——————————————————————
STANLEY, KAYLIE (Kayley) [7]
one of Laura’s oldest school friends, sadly lost her father to Brain Cancer when they were growing up [7]
sell her wedding dress and donate proceeds to the fund
——————————————————————
Steve (Their friends) – run Cricketers Pub in Gillingham had disco for Laura last Friday; raising £425
——————————————————————
6/17/2011 – Stevenson, Robyn – Barclays staff members: branch in Rayleigh, Essex fund raising day for Laura on Friday [12]
——————————————————————
6/17/2011 – Stevenson, Sam – Barclays staff members: branch in Rayleigh, Essex fund raising day for Laura on Friday [12]
——————————————————————
6/27/2011 – Taylor, Jessica L E – founder of “Share a Star” charity, Kent [15] http://www.shareastar.org.uk
——————————————————————
6/19/2011 – Willis, Brett – on Sunday completed 60 mile London to Brighton bike ride aim to complete ride in under 5 hours and managed it in 4hrs 51 minutes! [13]
6/19/2011 – raising £619 [13]
6/19/2011 – everyone who sponsored Brett and played a part in helping us raise money for the treatment fund [13]
——————————————————————
5/31/2011 – generously hosted by Roy, Sarah and Woodage, Charlie [11]
5/31/2011 – Woodage, Charlie – 12hr golf marathon Tuesday 7am [11]
——————————————————————
08/12/2011 – funded by £75,000 raised by family, friends and strangers [37]
10/2011 – if does save her life, we can carry on raising money for others in a similar situation [4]
======================================
====================================== BUSINESSES:
======================================
======================================
4/19/2012 – Night Out event Friday that Laura’s friend Les has been busy arranging [51]
——————————————————————
4/27/2012 – Fundraising event is Sponsored Assult Course for kids Friday [49]
All children will be involved and Lofty The Lion, Bolton Wanderers mascot
children are being educated about Laura and her condition, as school feel is very important that children realise these events can occur in people’s lives
Elaine said there will be Barbeque, ice creams etc [49]
——————————————————————
6/27/2011 – London 52 Mile Bikeathon Completed! Monday
——————————————————————
5/31/2011 – public par 65 Bramford Golf Center [11]
5/31/2011 – Tuesday at 7am, 12hr golf marathon (golfathon)
5/31/2011 – 124 holes and almost £500 in sponsorship [11]
——————————————————————
6/12/2011 – Golf Marathon! Sunday
——————————————————————
6/17/2011 – Barclays staff members: branch in Rayleigh, Essex fund raising day for Laura on Friday girls are friends of Laura and all wore grey to represent their support of “Wear Grey For Laura Day” as grey represents the colour for Brain Cancer support [12]
6/17/2011 – Barclays staff members: branch in Rayleigh, Essex fund raising day for Laura on Friday They all baked and brought cakes in and sold them to customers in exchange for a small donation [12]
6/17/2011 – Barclays staff members: branch in Rayleigh, Essex fund raising day for Laura on Friday The branch was dressed up in silver balloons and banners to help raise awareness and set the scene! [12]
6/17/2011 – Barclays staff members: branch in Rayleigh, Essex fund raising day for Laura on Friday raising £573.08 !! [12]
——————————————————————
6/20/2011 – Barclays Branch Fund Raiser Monday [12]
——————————————————————
Cricketers Pub in Gillingham had disco for Laura last Friday; raising £425 – Steve and Danielle (their friends) run
——————————————————————
08/12/2011 – enjoyed family trip to Dickensian Christmas Festival in Rochester at the weekend [37]
——————————————————————
7/8/2011 – Golf Tournament Raises £4,040! Friday
Len had charity BBQ at his house last weekend and raised £500 bringing total raised to £4,040 ! [17]
7/8/2011 – arranged golf tournament wednesday Hintlesham Hallf Golf Club in Suffolk, followed by hog roast, raffle some generous auction items, some nice cake [17]
——————————————————————
7/8/2011 – anonymous golfer donated holiday to La Manga with flights, accomodation and 2 rounds of golf included! [17]
——————————————————————
7/4/2011 – Prima Montessori Family Fun Day! Monday [16]
7/3/2011 – Jacobs nursery held fun day on sunday to help raise money for Laura’s fund! [16]
7/3/2011 – nursery staff got together and produced amazing day BBQ, cakes, Tombola, Raffle prizes, Painting and messy play, a Magician/entertainer for the kids, bouncy castle and loads more …including throwing wet sponges
(and later full water buckets!)
at the staff for a few quid!
Mums and Dads even benefited – they got their car washed
(for a small fee) [16]
The family run nursery have been a great support to us and are arranging more events over the next month, we cant thank them enough for their support and the amazing job they’re doing looking after Jacob – he loves his days at the nursery! [16]
6/26/2011 – raise amazing £7,650 in total sponsorship for this event from colleagues at RWE Trading where Ben and James work and RBS where Richard works!
——————————————————————
6/27/2011 – “Share a Star” Supports Monday [15] http://www.shareastar.org.uk
——————————————————————
4/5/2012 – relaxing spa break courtesy of The Willow Foundation [50] http://www.willowfoundation.org.uk
======================================
====================================== NEWS MEDIA:
======================================
======================================
3/25/2012 – in local paper last week article celebrating recent scan showed 77% tumour reduction [49]
——————————————————————
5/15/2011 – BBC SOUTH EAST NEWS [7]
——————————————————————
2011 – BELLA magazine
——————————————————————
5/27/2011 – Daily Mirror Covers My Story Friday [9]
IPC magazines journalist [7]
——————————————————————
‘Pick Me Up’ magazine – has circulation of 400,000 copies sold every week [7]
£500 to Lauras Hope fund for her story! [7]
——————————————————————
5/27/2011 – NewsUK News,Real life: I’ll do anything I can to stay alive for my baby 12:01 AM By Mirror.co.uk [10]
——————————————————————
Sky channel 983 – family and friends not in Kent/Sussex & Surrey area [7]
======================================
====================================== REFERENCES:
======================================
====================================== [1] – 12/24/2009 – Laura’s Tumour
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/lauras-tumour
====================================== [2] – 5/8/2011 – Our Original Appeal – 8th May 2011: Welcome to the Hope for Laura Fund
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk
====================================== [3] – Hope for Laura Fund blog
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog
====================================== [4]
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/frontpage/4
====================================== [5] – 5/12/2011 – Fundraising Launch! on Thursday, 12 May 2011
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/our-second-blog-post
====================================== [6]
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/frontpage/3
====================================== [7] – 5/14/2011 – Press Coverage! on Saturday, 14 May 2011. BBC SOUTH EAST NEWS & PICK ME UP MAGAZINE
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/press-coverage
====================================== [8] – 5/19/2011 – Twitter Has Gone Mad!! on Thursday, 19 May 2011. RUFUS HOUND GOES THE EXTRA MILE FOR LAURA
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/twitter-has-gone-mad
====================================== [9] – 5/27/2011 – Daily Mirror Covers My Story on Friday, 27 May 2011. COVERAGE AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN TODAYS HARDCOPY PAPER
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/daily-mirror
====================================== [10] – 5/27/2011 – NewsUK News, Real life: I’ll do anything I can to stay alive for my baby 27 May 2011 12:01 AM By
Mirror.co.uk
—————————————————————— http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/real-life-ill-do-anything-i-can-130745
====================================== [11] – 5/31/2011 (6/12/2011) – Golf Marathon! on Sunday, 12 June 2011. On Tuesday 31st May at 7am, Charlie Woodage, Jemma Jackson and Bens sister Eve Hymas teed off for a 12hr golf marathon in aid of the ‘hope for laura fund’
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/golf-marathon
====================================== [12] – 6/20/2011 – Barclays Branch Fund Raiser on Monday, 20 June 2011. Barclays staff members Emily Morden, Robyn Stevenson & Sam Stevenson arranged for the branch in Rayleigh, Essex to have a fund raising day for Laura on Friday 17th June
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/barclays-branch-fund-raiser
====================================== [13] – 6/20/2011 – London to Brighton Ride on Monday, 20 June 2011. A huge thank you from us to Brett Willis who on Sunday completed the 60 mile London to Brighton bike ride in aid of Laura
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/london-to-brighton-ride
====================================== [14] – 6/27/2011 – London 52 Mile Bikeathon Completed! on Monday, 27 June 2011. Laura’s fiancee Ben and two friends (James Bergin and Richard Marks) completed the London Bikeathon yesterday to raise money for Laura’s fund!
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/london-52-mile-bikeathon-completed
====================================== [15] – 6/27/2011 – “Share a Star” Supports Laura on Monday, 27 June 2011. Jessica L E Taylor, the founder of the “Share a Star” charity gave Laura a personalised gift of a Star to hold with her when visiting the hospital having treatment and to take to America with us when we visit the clinic
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/share-a-star-supports-laura
====================================== [16] – 7/4/2011 – Prima Montessori Family Fun Day! on Monday, 04 July 2011. Jacobs nursery held a fun day on sunday to help raise money for Laura’s fund!
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/prima-montessori-family-fun-day
====================================== [17] – 7/8/2011 – Golf Tournament Raises £4,040! on Friday, 08 July 2011. Laura’s father in law Les and his good friend Len Meaking arranged a golf tournament on wednesday to raise money for Laura
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/golf-tournament-raises-4040
====================================== [18] – 7/8/2011 – Broken the £50,000 Barrier! – Update on Laura on Friday, 08 July 2011. Following on from the golf tournament we have now broken the £50,000 barrier!
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/broken-the-50000-barrier-update-on-laura
====================================== [19] – 7/10/2011 – Local Man Donates £5,000 ! on Sunday, 10 July 2011. Lee, a local man has donated £5,000 to Laura’s fund after reading about her story on a leaflet in a shop near Jacobs nursery
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/local-man-donates-5000
====================================== [20] – 7/30/2011 – Welcome to Houston! on Saturday, 30 July 2011. NOW THAT’S A SIGN WE DIDN’T THINK WE WOULD SEE UNTIL AT LEAST OCTOBER!
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/welcome-to-houston
====================================== [21] – 8/3/2011 – Consultation Day on Wednesday, 03 August 2011. WE HAD A MIXTURE OF FEELINGS THIS MORNING. TODAY AT 11:30AM WAS CONSULTATION DAY AT THE CLINIC…
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/consultation-day
====================================== [22] – 8/4/2011 – FDA Approval! on Thursday, 04 August 2011. We just got a call from the clinic and Laura has now been approved for treatment by the FDA much quicker than we thought!
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/fda-approval
====================================== [23] – LAURA’S TREATMENT IN AMERICA
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/us-treatment
====================================== [24]
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/frontpage/2
====================================== [25] – 8/6/2011 – IV fitted all set for Monday on Saturday, 06 August 2011
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/iv-fitted-all-set-for-monday
====================================== [26] – 8/8/2011 – Kent is near Wales?? on Monday, 08 August 2011. ….i’ll explain the title in a minute :o) Today was first day of antineoplaston medicine at the Burzynski Clinic!
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/kent-is-near-wales
====================================== [27] – 8/18/2011 – Treatment Progress Update on Thursday, 18 August 2011. Has it really been 10 days since i’ve written the last Blog update?!
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/treatment-progress-update
====================================== [28] – 8/24/2011 – Our american journey comes to an end.. on Wednesday, 24 August 2011. After what seems like months, but is only three weeks we have come to the end of this part of our journey.
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/our-american-journey-comes-to-an-end
====================================== [29] – 9/7/2011 – Update since we got back home on Wednesday, 07 September 2011. Sorry for the Radio silence over the past few weeks!
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/update-since-we-got-home
====================================== [30] – 9/9/2011 – Stable Tumour! on Friday, 09 September 2011. Laura had an MRI scan on monday and we got a call from the clinic last night to go over the results
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/stable-tumour
====================================== [31] – 9/15/2011 – Music Festival – Chatham, Kent! on Thursday, 15 September 2011
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/music-festival-chatham-kent
====================================== [32] – 10/3/2011 – Remembering brave friends on Monday, 03 October 2011
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/remembering-brave-friends
====================================== [33] – 10/21/2011 – MRI results day on Friday, 21 October 2011
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/mri-results-day
====================================== [34] – 11/21/2011 – Update for November 2011 on Monday, 21 November 2011
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/update-for-november-2011
====================================== [35] – 11/30/2011 – MRI Scan Day! on Wednesday, 30 November 2011
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/mri-scan-day
====================================== [36] – 12/6/2011 – MRI 2nd Opinion on Tuesday, 06 December 2011.
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/mri-2nd-opinion
====================================== [37] – 12/9/2011 – Cancer sufferer Laura Hymas has miracle ‘cure’
—————————————————————— http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/home/2011/december/9/cancer_sufferer_laura_hymas.aspx
====================================== [38] – 12/21/2011 – Visit to the NHS Oncologist on Wednesday, 21 December 2011
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/visit-to-the-nhs-oncologist
====================================== [39] – 12/31/2011 – Happy New Year! on Saturday, 31 December 2011
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/happy-new-year
====================================== [40] – 1/12/2012 – What a start to 2012! Amazing News! on Thursday, 12 January 2012
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/what-a-start-to-2012-amazing-news
====================================== [41] – 1/12/2012 – Video Interview with Dr Burzynski about Laura! on Thursday, 12 January 2012
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/interview-with-dr-burzynski-about-laura
====================================== [42] – 1/12/2012 – Video Interview with Dr Burzynski about Laura! on Thursday, 12 January 2012. Click Here if the video doesn’t load –
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This is an interview with Dr Burzynski discussing Laura’s case and latest scan results!
Please take a look at the video – you’ll be probably as shocked as we were at what Dr Burzynski says at the end of the interview!
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====================================== [43] – 1/13/2012 – Cancer patient’s husband hits back at critics… Jan 13th, 2012 @ 12:54 am › Jonathan Smith-Squire
—————————————————————— http://sellyourstoryuk.com/2012/01/13/burzynski-critics/
====================================== [44] – 2/2/2012 – JustGiving Page & Text Donation on Thursday, 02 February 2012
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/justgiving-page-text-donation
====================================== [45] – 2/4/2012 – Laura & Hannah Video on Saturday, 04 February 2012
—————————————————————— http://www.hopeforlaurafund.co.uk/blog/item/laura-hannah
====================================== [46] – If youre not able to view the video of Laura and Hannah click here
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