If you are considering chemotherapy to treat mesothelioma, you owe it to yourself to understand how effective it is. Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals injected into a cancer patient's body to kill rapidly dividing cells such as cancer cells. It was first discovered in World War I, when mustard gas was observed to kill fast growing cells. This discovery led to the development of carcinogenic cancer chemicals similar to mustard gas. Unfortunately, there are also normally healthy cells that divide rapidly in the stomach, hair and bone marrow. It is a very crude tool that not only kills cancer cells but also healthy cells. Consequently, some of the side effects of chemotherapy are quite nasty. For example, there is a decreased level of blood cells including your own cancer fighting white blood cells, inflammation of the digestive track and hair loss. Side effects also include damage to the heart, kidneys, bladder, lungs and nervous system. It is basically poisoning the entire body to kill cancer cells.
Dr. Ulrich Abel is a German biostatistician that published a book entitled, "Cytostatic Therapy of Advanced. Epithelial Tumors: A Critique". It was the result of an exhaustive research study of the effectiveness of chemotherapy. He evaluated the majority of chemotherapy research studies and papers that had been published and came to the conclusion that the statistical effectiveness of chemotherapy was appalling and that there was no scientific evidence that could prove its effectiveness. To learn more about Dr. Abel's work visit: Asbestos Mesothelioma - Dr. Ulrich Abel
So why is chemotherapy the most common treatment for cancers such as mesothelioma? In one word - profits. The cost of chemotherapy is rising about 15% per year. Depending on the type of cancer, some of the older drugs like fluorouracil, have been around since the 1950's, and can cost as little as $300 for an eight week treatment. The downside is that it has been known to cause severe central nervous system damage. However, if you choose newer drug combination regimens, it is not unheard of for the cost to skyrocket to $1.3 million! That all adds up to a $305 billion global industry that exceeds the entire exports of Russia.
The effectiveness of chemotherapy in treating cancers such as mesothelioma, has been a game of optimizing statistics in favour of selling the drugs. A key statistic used to determine the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs is the response rate. The response rate of the drug is defined as the percentage of people that show a shrinkage in the size of the tumor after being given the drug. The problem with this statistical measurement is that the chemicals are so toxic that they are bound to kill cancer cells as well as healthy cells. So if there is any sign of even a small shrinkage in the tumor, the response rate is subjectively determined a success. There is no determination of how long the patient survives as cancer free. Consequently, most chemotherapy drugs are deemed as having acceptable response rates.
"We have a multi-billion dollar industry that is killing people, right and left, just for financial gain. Their idea of research is to see whether two doses of this poison is better than three doses of that poison". Glen Warner, M.D., Oncologist
Dr. Ulrich Abel is a German biostatistician that published a book entitled, "Cytostatic Therapy of Advanced. Epithelial Tumors: A Critique". It was the result of an exhaustive research study of the effectiveness of chemotherapy. He evaluated the majority of chemotherapy research studies and papers that had been published and came to the conclusion that the statistical effectiveness of chemotherapy was appalling and that there was no scientific evidence that could prove its effectiveness. To learn more about Dr. Abel's work visit: Asbestos Mesothelioma - Dr. Ulrich Abel
So why is chemotherapy the most common treatment for cancers such as mesothelioma? In one word - profits. The cost of chemotherapy is rising about 15% per year. Depending on the type of cancer, some of the older drugs like fluorouracil, have been around since the 1950's, and can cost as little as $300 for an eight week treatment. The downside is that it has been known to cause severe central nervous system damage. However, if you choose newer drug combination regimens, it is not unheard of for the cost to skyrocket to $1.3 million! That all adds up to a $305 billion global industry that exceeds the entire exports of Russia.
The effectiveness of chemotherapy in treating cancers such as mesothelioma, has been a game of optimizing statistics in favour of selling the drugs. A key statistic used to determine the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs is the response rate. The response rate of the drug is defined as the percentage of people that show a shrinkage in the size of the tumor after being given the drug. The problem with this statistical measurement is that the chemicals are so toxic that they are bound to kill cancer cells as well as healthy cells. So if there is any sign of even a small shrinkage in the tumor, the response rate is subjectively determined a success. There is no determination of how long the patient survives as cancer free. Consequently, most chemotherapy drugs are deemed as having acceptable response rates.
"We have a multi-billion dollar industry that is killing people, right and left, just for financial gain. Their idea of research is to see whether two doses of this poison is better than three doses of that poison". Glen Warner, M.D., Oncologist
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