Killing Cancer - And Yourself
Click here for a short comic about how we tend to misinterpret scientific studies
”Please, Doctor! I don’t know what the problem is, he just started cramping. Please save my little darling!”
The veterinarian looked down on the small dog who was shaken by violent convulsions.
”It looks like this poor animal has been poisoned. We can try to do something against it, but I’m not sure if we’ll be successful without knowing what he ate. Did you see him ingesting anything he shouldn’t have?”
With tears in her eyes, the woman shook her head.
”I’m tracking everything! He’s only getting the best food available. And his supplements.”
The vet raised an eyebrow.
”Supplements?”, he asked. ”What kind of supplements?”
”Vitamin B17! It’s impossible to find dog food that contains it for some reason. I buy it from this great internet shop. It's a bit more expensive but they say it’s perfectly safe for you and your animals and it kills cancer!”
”Vitamin B17? You mean amygdalin? Are you mad?! You’ve been basically feeding your dog cyanide!”
”What?” The woman seemed even more in shock than before. ”No, they say it is healthy. You just need to build your resistance slowly.”
”You can’t build resistance to cyanide. And when you ingest amygdalin, your digestion system turns it into hydrocyanic acid. Yes, it’s used in cancer treatment, but the tendency goes towards intravenous injection, not eating supplements!”
”You’re a vet, what do you know about cancer?” The woman hissed.
”As it seems, a great deal more than you do. Amygdalin has been in use as a cancer treatment since the 1800’s, but there is still no research that shows rapid tumor regression. And in no case it has been used to prevent cancer, that is incredibly dangerous and stupid!”
”Stop lecturing me and save my baby instead!”
”It’s far too late to save your precious dog baby. You’ve successfully poisoned him.”
”Isn’t there a different way?”
”Different from what?” Dr. Miller asked. ”You don’t want chemotherapy, Mr. Brown?”
Mr. Brown shook his head.
”Chemotherapy makes me sick and it can kill me. I want different, natural ways to fight off this cancer.”
”I’m sorry Mr. Brown, but most natural remedies aren’t enough to get rid of cancer. If you want, we can add mistletoe extract to your treatment. There have been studies that it improves the quality of life significantly. But as a second-line treatment, not as only treatment.”
”What about vitamin C injections? I’ve heard that they help especially with my type of bowel cancer.”
”Sometimes, yes. But the research for this is still ongoing. I wouldn’t suggest it in your case because the increased vitamin C increases the risk for thrombosis and you’re already at risk, as you’re an older patient. I’m sorry, I’d love to offer you something more pleasant than chemotherapy. Even if it was something absurd like turkey tail mushrooms.”
Mr. Brown slightly lifted his head.
”Turkey tail mushrooms? What are those?”
”There’s a paper where a doctor describes a patient who took turkey tail mushroom supplements alongside her chemotherapy. He didn’t know she was doing this and he states that he’s not sure about the actual effects of this. But people like to take it as proof that those mushrooms can cure cancer. Sadly, most plants with cancer-fighting properties aren’t enough by themselves. But as I said, I’m willing to go through the available options with you if you want to add something.”
”Thank you, Doctor.” Mr. Brown sighed. *”I just wish we could prevent cancer in the first place.
”Dude, how cool is that? Your health insurance pays so you can smoke weed. This is so epic. Can you give me some?”
”Jerry, are you fucking serious? I’m taking this to manage the nausea and pain that come with my chemo, and you want me to give you some so you can get high?”
”Don’t be like this. See it as a way to make sure I don’t get cancer.”
”That is not how it works. I’m not smoking marijuana to get rid of my cancer. That’s what the chemo and radiation therapy is for.”
”Bullshit. We all know that cannabis can cure cancer. Now give me some of your weed, Carl!”
Jerry reached for Carl’s joint, but Carl slapped away his hand.
”Most of those claims are based on one study with 9 patients. That is not even statistically significant. You can’t just take results from a small study that shows something might work and then claim that it’s proven to work in every case.”
”You’re believing the government’s lies! They just don’t want us to use marijuana, they want us sick and spending thousands of dollars.”
Carl raised up his hand, which was still holding the joint. He gave Jerry a long stare.
”Ah, yes, I forgot, the USA are the only country with any medical research and they completely prohibit any kind of marijuana in medicine. I’m sure there isn’t one single other country that might be interested in researching the effects of cannabis on cancer. I mean, we’re obviously the center of the world.”
”No need to be sarcastic, dude. No need to be sarcastic…”
Disclaimer: This post is a reaction to the comments on my previous The Cure for Cancer story. I’m not mentioning every proposed cure, as that would make a long, really boring article and also take too much time. Cancer research is not perfect, but it is not as bad as people seem to believe. And most “natural medicines” that have a proven effect on cancer cells are usually unable to eradicate said cancer completely.
Sources:
Advanced research on anti-tumor effects of amygdalin
Vitamin C selectively kills KRAS and BRAF mutant colorectal cancer cells by targeting GAPDH
Metabolomic alterations in human cancer cells by vitamin C-induced oxidative stress
Quality of life of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer during treatment with mistletoe
The case for mistletoe in the treatment of laryngeal cancer
Marijuana use and risk of lung cancer: a 40-year cohort study
Medical marijuana use in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy
A user’s guide to cannabinoid therapies in oncology
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Talking about cancer is really scary.
You mention the leaves of cannabis as a cure for cancer, I am very familiar with cannabis. In our area many communities are cultivating marijuana, but illegally, because the government prohibits cultivating any more ingredients.
Marijuana is very influential for health if wrong in use and at very high risk, one of the very harmful effects for people who smoke cannabis heart attack in a very fast time.
However, that puzzled me. Marijuana is also beneficial to health, even though the scientists / doctors Keep it a secret health benefits for cannabis.
One of the benefits of marijuana that I know is cannabis can slow the disease (Alzheimer's), this disease attacks on the brain.
Thank you for sharing, interesting and useful postings for our knowledge of dangerous diseases.
The only possible cure for cancer is vitamin M --> vitamin Money!!
With enough money, you can enrol yourself in preclinical trial drugs by funding the research
With enough money, you can purify the hardest synthesized chemicals in significant amounts
With enough money, you can get the best medical care, best surgery
With enough money, you might be able to clone yourself.......
I am just messing around.....no drugs are 100% guarantee to cure.....you only get a choice of taking or not taking it at the risk of your own life~
For a moment, I was disappointed in you :P
Yes, people like to think that it's all a question of money. But even the biggest amount of money won't always be enough.
I'd say Steve Jobs is a shining example.
You can definitely get grant more easilyfor doing cancer research!
The cancer is a human enemy and cancer has killed many human lives.
Cancer attacks humans from the intestine, breast, red blood cells and brain.
Cancer should be prevented, even though the doctors to this day have not found a real cancer drug.
There is also to prevent cancer, in addition to the marijuana you mentioned above, our society utilize the noni fruit for cancer treatment.
Noni fruit is very familiar with our society, because there is anti-mengkudu anti-cancer substances.
Your post is very useful and interesting.
thanks for sharing
I had g in to the vitamin C article previously. If you look closely, it is totally nonsense to me. In their high dose experiment, they are using a vitamin c at a dose of 4g/kg two times everyday.
So if someone is like 50 kg then he have to take 40 gram vitamin c..... Seriously, i have no idea how they got published on Science
I read several other articles about it that had some kind of vague results, so I included it. But yeah, it doesn't seem that realistic. Then again, that's exactly the issue with most of those "cures". The dosage is way too high for realistic results in a big part of the population.
I got some probably inappropriate laughs out of this. Resteeming....edit to add..I work in the medical field had a patient think rubbing wd40 on her leg would cure her arthritis
Good post, satire is always good to make light of how stupid people can be sometimes. On the other hand big Pharma companies putting their checkbooks in front of patients lives is also a big issue. Hope is a powerful thing and when people are faced with life or death situations, anything that provides a little hope,- however stupid it sound,- many people will jump at that chance. Good work Suesa
Thanks!
Yes, many things are unnecessarily overpriced. The funny and sad thing is that most "natural" cures are also really expensive. But as they're not supplied by big pharma, it's ok.
Unless you find them in the wild!
Feel free to eat apricot kernels found in the wild. I mean, they're cheaper than on the website I found. 😂
God forbid people took control of/grew their own food, medicine and fasted as hippocrates suggested! Resteemed and shared in @chelsea88 's group Steemit Dreamit. Cheers @ecoknowme
Hey, growing your own food is great. I just don't think it's possible to cure every disease without outside help.
I don't recall making such claims either. I think the whole point of me mentioning them was to encourage others to look into traditional and plant based medicines, in addition to conventional treatments. I'm sorry if I came across otherwise.
As always, internet and especially the comment section, isn't the greatest place to discuss things. Too many misunderstandings..
:)
You ever crack one of those badboys open? Looks exactly like an almond :). The taste is bitter though :P. I'm not sure, does cyanide bioaccumulate or does its activity enhance oxidative metabolism by temporarily stunting it? Supposedly one would need to eat upwards of 40-60 apricot kernals to get a dangerous dosage of cyanide. I'll admit it was many years ago when I first looked into laetrile, the arguments for it were rather well constructed (natural amygdalin vs extra toxic synthetic laetrile) is what they used to posit it as. Desperate people could certainly be hook in by such a thing as this: http://www.naturallifeenergy.com/conspiracy-behind-vitamin-b17-amygdalin-laetrile-cyanide-and-cancer-treatment/
If I remember right the clearance rate is about 0.1mg per kg bodyweight per hour. So theoretically, a person doesn't have to die of this. But you know how people are...
Have you read through the instructions on the homepage of the shop I linked? Accidental death waiting to happen.
Havn't read the instructions. Though check out some of the products which seem decently formulated. I'd be willing to eat a few bitter appricot seeds a day though yeah, what's to stop someone from trying to make apricot nut butter in their fancy blender or find a way to juice them. I'd hope there is a huge disclaimer somewhere involved. Warning: overconsumption may result in death of both you and your cancer, you first though, enjoy
I have had a few family members diagnosed with cancer over the years, so I've done a bit of reading and research into not only cancer, but medicine, natureopathy and alternative medicine. I am really fascinated by a guy named Wim Hof (spelling?) he is known as the iceman and has done some cool stuff with his body, all through mental practice. If you haven't already, you should check him out
😂😂😂 This reminds me of the time I wanted to learn what the big deal was with this Himalayan pink salt everyone was going on about. I googled it to read vague accounts of "loaded with nutrients" (which surely doesn't matter even if it's true, you're not going to eat a pound of the stuff a day to get an appreciable amount, are you?) Then I found out one of those "nutrients" was polonium. Om nom nom. Polonium. It's what the doctor ordered. I believe there's a little radium and uranium in there too.
I mean, radiation therapy does work, so this salt has to be thr natural alternative, right? right?! :D
This is a very funny way of putting it. I was grinning the whole time. 😁😁😁 It's just like when people ask @steemitph and I if the fertilizer we put in our vegetables are 100% "organic". We tell them "the fertilizers we use are the same ones the farmers put on the ricefields so if you eat rice, that shouldn't bother you right?" Most, if not all Filipinos eat rice in all our meals.
I'm sure there's a lot of reason to want organic food and we use organic fertilizers as much as we can but I think it's funny that those same people who want organic vegetables are not bothered eating non-organic rice in all 3 of their meals (if not more).
People tend to make paradoxical decisions
Oh how much I love your post. I could imagine these are all conversations.
Commoners (or nurses at best) who read through some studies, or articles based on studies (or articles based on articles, which are based on studies) and think they have found out some kind of miracle drug.. it's somewhat silly. But then they refuse to believe any real experts - that's the point in which it gets crazy. In worst case, they find a doctor who agrees with them (and sells his own book about the benefits/dangers of *** to get rich) and we have hell broken on loose.
It's great how some really believe US government is controlling all the studies all over the world.
This is a very informative post and I know it can help a lot of people because cancer is one of the most major diseases. I hope they will help other poeple treat cancer and not hide it from the public.
While I'll admit 95% of the articles based on studies are only marginally effective, their have been numerous studies on compounds in appreciable quantities in herbs and foods shown to reverse cancers and heart disease. The NIH focuses on marginally effective drug development on behalf of the pharmacuetical industry... Ever heard of bh4? I suspect you are but one of those commoners who doesn't have enough information on the subject to weigh in accurately on the matters at hand. :P
Most studies have shown the effect of different foods in preventing cancer, but with some foods they are helping only in certain types of cancer and in high amounts. Quite few foods have any effect on an excisting cancer and they are not curing the cancer alone.
Helping to cure cancer (along with some real treatments) is one thing, but showing off something as a savior against cancer is completely wrong.
I'm a commoner but I have more common sense and knowledge in scientific processes to understand how science works :D Some take a single study as a 100% sure proof, even though there'd be a load of studies that have had completely different results. I'm trying to keep my eyes open for facts instead of holding onto my beliefs.
You def made some good points but I still have to say that Carl didn't have to be like that, he could have let Jerry try it out, you see we learn by examples lol. Just kidding great post, good luck convincing some of us that our home remedies don't work.
True, Carl is a bit of an ass