Chain letters
Oct. 18th, 2005 10:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lyoreAggrrhh! People who forward chain letters without checking the facts should have their Internet privileges revoked for a month.
I got this email yesterday, the upshot of which was that some bloke reckoned he had a Cure For Cancer, and the medical industry was blocking it
Hello All - this will take a moment to read and digest - please take the time to do so, it is a most important subject concerning a major health issue.
Some months ago, A Current Affair aired a story on Perth-based surgeon, Dr John Holt, who many believe has the cure for cancer. The NHMRC is supposedly conducting a review of Dr Holt's method of cancer treatment Microwave Cancer Therapy. The original date for this review to be submitted to the Minister for Health was December 21, 2004. It was not submitted. A further date was set. Again, the review was not submitted. It has still not been submitted. Strange when considering Dr. Holt's claim that he could train any doctor to apply his therapy in a day. Dr Holt, who is 80 years of age, has cured thousands of people of many forms of cancer closed his practice on June 30, 2005 because his method of treatment is considered by our government to be unorthodox.
Chemo (a known killer), is the accepted, orthodox method in cancer treatment. Dr, Holt's retirement will be a great loss to his patients and to the many thousands who could possibly be cured by his clearly successful method; people who will be told by oncologists that there is nothing more that can be done for them. This is your chance to help fellow Australians, who finally have a chance to beat cancer, keep Dr. Holt's work from being buried by our bureaucrats.
Have you ever noticed how many appeals there are for cancer research, and yet! after more than three decades, there is no cure? Ever noticed how every cancer cure ultimately gets swept under the carpet? Cancer is a multi-billion dollar global industry that will not recognize any cure that cannot be manufactured as a patentable drug. It's about money. Check it out on the web. It makes very interesting reading. Medical history is peppered with similar examples of important discoveries which were ignored &, decades later, were acclaimed as a wonderful new treatment or preventive measure, with somebody other than the original pioneer getting the credit. This occurred after thousands, maybe millions had suffered or died needlessly. I pray that we will not see this happen again with Dr. John Holt's work.
We, the undersigned! , demand that the Australian Government and the Department of Health and Ageing act swiftly and responsibly to ensure that Dr. Holt's treatment method for cancer be fairly evaluated and implemented if approved in mainstream medicine in Australia if it is proven to be beneficial in the treatment of cancer, and that Dr.Holt be recognized for his ground breaking work.
INSTRUCTIONS - PRESS THE FORWARD BUTTON THEN Please number and place your name at the end of this list, then forward this email to anyone you know who believes in common decency the right to life. If the email gets untidy with repeated forwarding, please tidy it up before forwarding. If you are the 50th person on this list, please forward this email to:
Mr. Tony Abbott, Minister of Health & Ageing at
*email addresses cut - much as I'm not particularly keen on pollies, he probably got all the spam he deserved on this issue*
We will hit Abbott with thousands of lists which we believe cannot be ignored. We have the opportunity to bust the insidious cancer industry (essentially American drug companies) wide open in Australia. We're small enough as a nation to be able to do it. Americans have no chance. Thank you for your assistance in attempting to save the work Doctor Holt and with it, possibly, the lives of thousands of cancer sufferers in Australia and the world.
*names of the signatures removed to protect their reputations and (questionable) claims to intelligence*
Being the naturally curious (and skeptical) person that I am, I did what the email suggested, and checked it out on the web. 5 minutes later, and guess what? There IS a report published by the NHMRC. You can find it here. Alternatively, there is a plain english translation (for us non-medical geeks), in the form of a press release, here
So, I decided that I should actually reply to this (well, to everyone who got the same email as me)
Thought I'd send this to everyone, since if they care about the original message they might like to know.
This email is outdated (and also illogical, but that’s another issue) - The NHMRC has completed a report, a copy of which is on their website, here http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/nh67syn.htm
There is also a media release available here, for a more reader friendly and non-downloading-type summary http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/news/media/rel05/holt.htm
I have included the main body of the press release, if anyone is interested -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Review Committee on Microwave Cancer Therapy undertook a comprehensive assessment of the methods used by Dr Holt, including examination of Dr Holt's past and present patient records. The committee also examined all published scientific evidence on microwave cancer therapy.
The review committee found no scientific evidence to support the use of microwaves in treating cancer, either alone or when combined with other therapies.
The final report on the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of microwave cancer therapy concluded that:
There is no high-quality published scientific evidence which shows superior benefit in terms of therapeutic effectiveness for the treatment of cancer with:
- microwave (or UHF) cancer therapy when combined with radiotherapy (used by Dr Holt before 1991); or
- microwave cancer therapy when used in combination with glucose blocking agents (used by Dr Holt since 1991)
Microwave cancer therapy in combination with radiotherapy was inferior compared to standard conventional radiotherapy with respect to disease control and survival for patients with breast cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma or prostate cancer.
There was no significant difference in survival between conventional radiotherapy and microwave therapy used in combination with radiotherapy for patients with head and neck, colorectal or bladder cancer.
Microwave therapy in combination with glucose blocking agents was inferior to radiotherapy in terms of symptom control and disease control in patients with bladder or any invasive cancer.
There is insufficient information to make a reliable assessment of the safety of UHF in combination with radiotherapy, or in combination with glucose blocking agents for the treatment of patients with cancer.
Conventional radiotherapy had better symptom control rates in bladder cancer patients, than UHF in combination with radiotherapy or in combination with glucose blocking agents.
UHF in combination with glucose blocking agents appeared to have a lower rate of toxicity than UHF in combination with radiotherapy, or conventional radiotherapy.
-------------------------------------------------------
So, there you go. Hope that was mildly interesting (or, if not, that you hit delete before you got to this point).
Cheers,
ME
I didn't even include the harsh stuff - where they analysed his patient data and totally shredded his '100% cure' delusion. Mostly because I thought they wouldn't understand it - what is this 'research' you speak of? Clinical study? Bah. We don't need no stinking study.
I also left alone all the logical and factual flaws in the letter itself, as well as the numerous unsupported claims - mostly cause I couldn't be bothered.
Before anyone says anything - I realise that the fact the study HAS been completed will not bother anyone who believes in the 'conspiracy to stop cancer cures', but at least it invalidated this particular piece of spam. You know, I can see the next one now.... NHMRC study on CURE FOR CANCER coverup by global american corporations!!!1!! Sign petition for new, unbiased survey conducted by TRUE BELIEVERS ONLY!!!!!1!!1
Just don't send it to me. Or do, so I can laugh (or possibly bang my head against a brick wall)
So please, if you are going to send me spam, even well-intentioned spam, then at least make sure it is WELL RESEARCHED spam. Up-to-date well-researched spam would be even nicer. And I would also like a pony and a toy rocket.
OK, now I feel better. Still worried about the stupidity of the human race, but better.
Random Observation for the Day - how the hell can supposedly intelligent people sign these things? I mean, really, com'mon people. *sigh*
I got this email yesterday, the upshot of which was that some bloke reckoned he had a Cure For Cancer, and the medical industry was blocking it
Hello All - this will take a moment to read and digest - please take the time to do so, it is a most important subject concerning a major health issue.
Some months ago, A Current Affair aired a story on Perth-based surgeon, Dr John Holt, who many believe has the cure for cancer. The NHMRC is supposedly conducting a review of Dr Holt's method of cancer treatment Microwave Cancer Therapy. The original date for this review to be submitted to the Minister for Health was December 21, 2004. It was not submitted. A further date was set. Again, the review was not submitted. It has still not been submitted. Strange when considering Dr. Holt's claim that he could train any doctor to apply his therapy in a day. Dr Holt, who is 80 years of age, has cured thousands of people of many forms of cancer closed his practice on June 30, 2005 because his method of treatment is considered by our government to be unorthodox.
Chemo (a known killer), is the accepted, orthodox method in cancer treatment. Dr, Holt's retirement will be a great loss to his patients and to the many thousands who could possibly be cured by his clearly successful method; people who will be told by oncologists that there is nothing more that can be done for them. This is your chance to help fellow Australians, who finally have a chance to beat cancer, keep Dr. Holt's work from being buried by our bureaucrats.
Have you ever noticed how many appeals there are for cancer research, and yet! after more than three decades, there is no cure? Ever noticed how every cancer cure ultimately gets swept under the carpet? Cancer is a multi-billion dollar global industry that will not recognize any cure that cannot be manufactured as a patentable drug. It's about money. Check it out on the web. It makes very interesting reading. Medical history is peppered with similar examples of important discoveries which were ignored &, decades later, were acclaimed as a wonderful new treatment or preventive measure, with somebody other than the original pioneer getting the credit. This occurred after thousands, maybe millions had suffered or died needlessly. I pray that we will not see this happen again with Dr. John Holt's work.
We, the undersigned! , demand that the Australian Government and the Department of Health and Ageing act swiftly and responsibly to ensure that Dr. Holt's treatment method for cancer be fairly evaluated and implemented if approved in mainstream medicine in Australia if it is proven to be beneficial in the treatment of cancer, and that Dr.Holt be recognized for his ground breaking work.
INSTRUCTIONS - PRESS THE FORWARD BUTTON THEN Please number and place your name at the end of this list, then forward this email to anyone you know who believes in common decency the right to life. If the email gets untidy with repeated forwarding, please tidy it up before forwarding. If you are the 50th person on this list, please forward this email to:
Mr. Tony Abbott, Minister of Health & Ageing at
*email addresses cut - much as I'm not particularly keen on pollies, he probably got all the spam he deserved on this issue*
We will hit Abbott with thousands of lists which we believe cannot be ignored. We have the opportunity to bust the insidious cancer industry (essentially American drug companies) wide open in Australia. We're small enough as a nation to be able to do it. Americans have no chance. Thank you for your assistance in attempting to save the work Doctor Holt and with it, possibly, the lives of thousands of cancer sufferers in Australia and the world.
*names of the signatures removed to protect their reputations and (questionable) claims to intelligence*
Being the naturally curious (and skeptical) person that I am, I did what the email suggested, and checked it out on the web. 5 minutes later, and guess what? There IS a report published by the NHMRC. You can find it here. Alternatively, there is a plain english translation (for us non-medical geeks), in the form of a press release, here
So, I decided that I should actually reply to this (well, to everyone who got the same email as me)
Thought I'd send this to everyone, since if they care about the original message they might like to know.
This email is outdated (and also illogical, but that’s another issue) - The NHMRC has completed a report, a copy of which is on their website, here http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/nh67syn.htm
There is also a media release available here, for a more reader friendly and non-downloading-type summary http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/news/media/rel05/holt.htm
I have included the main body of the press release, if anyone is interested -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Review Committee on Microwave Cancer Therapy undertook a comprehensive assessment of the methods used by Dr Holt, including examination of Dr Holt's past and present patient records. The committee also examined all published scientific evidence on microwave cancer therapy.
The review committee found no scientific evidence to support the use of microwaves in treating cancer, either alone or when combined with other therapies.
The final report on the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of microwave cancer therapy concluded that:
There is no high-quality published scientific evidence which shows superior benefit in terms of therapeutic effectiveness for the treatment of cancer with:
- microwave (or UHF) cancer therapy when combined with radiotherapy (used by Dr Holt before 1991); or
- microwave cancer therapy when used in combination with glucose blocking agents (used by Dr Holt since 1991)
Microwave cancer therapy in combination with radiotherapy was inferior compared to standard conventional radiotherapy with respect to disease control and survival for patients with breast cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma or prostate cancer.
There was no significant difference in survival between conventional radiotherapy and microwave therapy used in combination with radiotherapy for patients with head and neck, colorectal or bladder cancer.
Microwave therapy in combination with glucose blocking agents was inferior to radiotherapy in terms of symptom control and disease control in patients with bladder or any invasive cancer.
There is insufficient information to make a reliable assessment of the safety of UHF in combination with radiotherapy, or in combination with glucose blocking agents for the treatment of patients with cancer.
Conventional radiotherapy had better symptom control rates in bladder cancer patients, than UHF in combination with radiotherapy or in combination with glucose blocking agents.
UHF in combination with glucose blocking agents appeared to have a lower rate of toxicity than UHF in combination with radiotherapy, or conventional radiotherapy.
-------------------------------------------------------
So, there you go. Hope that was mildly interesting (or, if not, that you hit delete before you got to this point).
Cheers,
ME
I didn't even include the harsh stuff - where they analysed his patient data and totally shredded his '100% cure' delusion. Mostly because I thought they wouldn't understand it - what is this 'research' you speak of? Clinical study? Bah. We don't need no stinking study.
I also left alone all the logical and factual flaws in the letter itself, as well as the numerous unsupported claims - mostly cause I couldn't be bothered.
Before anyone says anything - I realise that the fact the study HAS been completed will not bother anyone who believes in the 'conspiracy to stop cancer cures', but at least it invalidated this particular piece of spam. You know, I can see the next one now.... NHMRC study on CURE FOR CANCER coverup by global american corporations!!!1!! Sign petition for new, unbiased survey conducted by TRUE BELIEVERS ONLY!!!!!1!!1
Just don't send it to me. Or do, so I can laugh (or possibly bang my head against a brick wall)
So please, if you are going to send me spam, even well-intentioned spam, then at least make sure it is WELL RESEARCHED spam. Up-to-date well-researched spam would be even nicer. And I would also like a pony and a toy rocket.
OK, now I feel better. Still worried about the stupidity of the human race, but better.
Random Observation for the Day - how the hell can supposedly intelligent people sign these things? I mean, really, com'mon people. *sigh*
no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 12:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-19 04:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-24 01:31 am (UTC)(by the way they won an aria last night. YAY!!!!!!!!! see they must be talented)
no subject
Date: 2005-10-24 03:30 am (UTC)