Cancer: the ugly truth about chemotherapy
I received a fax of a news report: “” Superman “actor’s widow dies of lung cancer at 44.” On the fax is written: “So much about scientific evidence-based medicine!” The report said that the singer and actress died of lung cancer a year and a half after the death of her husband “Superman”. He died at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Medical Cancer in New York, the most famous cancer hospital in the world. It was a sudden death. Officials did not want to discuss the treatment he had undergone!
In fact, it is sad to hear such tragic news. But this news is nothing unusual. According to the World Health Organization, 7.1 million people die from cancer each year. That works out to 591,666 deaths per month or 19,722 deaths per day due to cancer. Every minute of the day, about 14 people die of cancer in this world. I always tell patients this: “We all have to die, regardless of whether we have cancer or not. Me too, even without cancer, I can die at any moment.” The important thing is: HOW TO DIE. Let us pray that, while we are alive, we will live a happy and pain-free life. When it’s time to go, let’s pray that we go in peace. That’s all that matters.
Going back to the news report: Can we learn anything from him? Can we pause and wonder how and why did he die so suddenly? Did you die because you had undergone the so-called “unproven and unscientific” treatment for lung cancer? No. I think he got the best – the best doctor, the best chemotherapy drug (if he ever had chemotherapy), and the best of everything. There was enough of all that matters in trying to save her from lu’s cancer. However, he died of sudden death.
It was said that she was tired the days before she died. Why tired? Did the cancer tire her out? Did you use up all your energy? Since no one says anything about his treatment, we never know exactly what he had undergone. Faced with setbacks or failures, lawyers teach us: “Don’t admit anything!” Stay vague and ambiguous to get out of trouble. Imagine what an “economic” disaster it would be if a drug or procedure were named or associated with your death! So not disclosing anything is a safe strategy. So, let the world keep guessing.
Earlier this year, the middle-aged brother of a friend was diagnosed with lung cancer. He went to a cancer hospital. They gave him only ONE injection of chemotherapy and he died shortly after.
On October 12, 2006, The Star reported the death of a 44-year-old Malaysian singer. She had lung cancer and “underwent three chemotherapy sessions … and was very tired and slept a lot.” She looked frail and exhausted and the singer was said to have said her chemotherapy treatment was not working well: “I always feel powerless.” In Hong Kong, a superstar also died of cancer during or after chemotherapy. There are many more such cases reported in the media.
The comment on the fax was enlightening: “So much about scientific evidence-based medicine!” There was a similar case in the Netherlands: a “star” who died of cancer. She deliberately (note: her own choice) refused to undergo medical treatment and sought alternatives. After her death (but not before like this “Superman wife”), the Dutch authorities started a proceeding to go after the blood of “alternative medicine” So much about fairness or a level playing field!
I have only given a few examples of prominent personalities who died of cancer. Did you ever ask why they died? Is it because they don’t have the best hospital to go to? Is it because they don’t have access to the best medicines? Is it because there are no good oncologists to treat them? Is it because they don’t have the money to make the best of everything? I think the answer is obvious and simple: so-called next-generation cancer treatments don’t work, at least for them. Isn’t this proof of failure? Or are we going to change the goal and say that these people are simply too unlucky?
