LAETRILE THERAPY is probably the best known and most widely publicized of alternative cancer therapies. Laetrile, more than any other substance, epitomizes the scientific and philosophical controversy that has raged between supporters of alternative cancer therapies and the medical establishment.
Background ( It is not a case of eating Apricot kernels as a treatment for cancer as the following paragraph shows.) This last sentence is my insertion
Amygdalin is a member of a group of cyanide-containing substances called nitrilosides, which occur naturally in plants. The terms laetrile and amygdalin are often used interchangeably. Laetrile is a concentrated extract of amygdalin prepared from apricot kernels specifically for cancer therapy. The extraction process was developed by Dr. Ernst Krebs, Jr., who pioneered the use of laetrile in cancer therapy. (17)
The Sloan-Kettering) Cover-up
Ralph W. Moss gives an excellent overview of the political and scientific controversy that has surrounded laetrile in his book The Cancer Industry. He states, "Although spokespersons for orthodox medicine continue to deny that there have been any animal study data in favor of laetrile, this is contradicted by a number of studies, including—but not limited to—those at Sloan-Kettering." (15)
Moss should know, because he was discharged by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center when he revealed an apparent cover-up by authorities at Sloan-Kettering of positive findings about laetrile
.
Dr. Richard Passwater also reported that some of the positive findings in Sloan-Kettering's laetrile studies were selectively not reported. Also, it appears that some of the laetrile research was deliberately designed to fail. (18)
Controversy and Confusion
According to Ralph Moss, who worked at Sloan-Kettering for several years before being discharged, five years of testing laetrile at Sloan-Kettering ended in controversy and confusion—not a pleasing outcome for the leaders of the world's most prestigious private cancer center. In summary, about twenty experiments with laetrile produced positive results, while only a few experiments produced negative findings.
Sloan-Kettering's Laetrile Report
Finally, at a press conference in June 1977, Sloan-Kettering officials announced to the world the results of over five years of laetrile research. The verdict on laetrile from the respected laboratories of the world's most prestigious cancer research center turned out to be completely one-sided and negative.
Some of the comments by Sloan-Kettering's top administrators at the laetrile press conference (13) were:
We have no evidence that laetrile possesses any biological activity with respect to cancer, one way or the other. —Lewis Thomas, president of Sloan-Kettering
We have no reproducible evidence that amygdalin, or laetrile, is active. —Robert Good, director of Sloan-Kettering
Laetrile has been found absolutely devoid of activity, period. —Daniel Martin, prominent cancer researcher
Essentially, laetrile was pronounced completely ineffective in treating cancer, despite considerable evidence to the contrary.
Laetrile is one of the naturally occurring substances that cannot be patented, making it a true orphan drug. No drug company is interested in committing money to research laetrile's potential. The only answer is good, unbiased government-sponsored research without the type of controversy that accompanied the Sloan-Kettering studies.
These excerpts taken from the report at the link above.
For me personally, I will never rely on just one product to help me beat the cancer I have. Cancer is a very nasty and devious thing, so use everything you can SAFELY use.
Eliza.
