In the face of an evolving model of the nature of cancer, orthodox medicine remains firmly espoused to treatments developed on outdated models, around which a massive multibillion pound cancer industry has formed with a ferocious will to survive that parallels the cancer it purports to treat. There are only a few types of cancer that orthodox medicine can claim to be able to treat with a high degree of certainty. For the rest they have only well-manipulated statistics that aim to throw a positive light on the actuality of a scenario in which the treatment can often be more dangerous than the disease.
It is a desperate situation and one which is crying out for a genuine maximising of our resources if we are to turn the tide. The public is now too well informed to be blindly trusting of a health industry that profits so handsomely from their demise. They are fast realising that the much-vaunted concept of ‘Patient-centred Care’ – a fashionable tagline that attracts massive lip service from the health system and governments alike – is only going to become a reality when it is demanded.
The history of cancer research is littered with shocking examples of suppression of and outright attack on innovative discoveries and their proponents. Lateral thinking and open mindedness are absolute necessities if we are to make any real progress in the near future. Innovative and far-sighted pioneers must receive the support they deserve and governments must move to back the health of their populations as opposed to the wealth of their corporations.
Alternative treatments largely fall into two groups – those that have been in use for many years and those that are experimental. What they have in common is the lack of full clinical trials. This does not necessarily mean however that they are ineffective. ‘Terminal’ patients are potentially a massive resource for pushing the boundaries of cancer treatment forward. In the old health paradigm, all alternatives were (and still are by many) branded inherently dangerous. This is a plainly ridiculous and blinkered stance, notably in cases where a patient’s life expectancy is only a few months. Given the opportunity to try one of the more promising alternatives without losing the full support of the NHS, many would conclude that they had nothing to lose. Results from this process could quickly point directions in which best to focus formal trials.
In the UK today despite a dwindling faith in the cancer industry’s ability to deliver, the public is largely unaware of the wide and innovative range of alternative cancer treatments that are possible. And even for those that are, there is extremely limited availability in Britain, largely due to the enormous challenges faced by doctors working in this field and the hostile environment created by ‘Big Pharma’, the medical community and often the media. For the cancer patient there are immense obstacles to finding and obtaining potentially life-saving treatment.
Yes to Life has been formed to address these issues by informing the public, working to change attitudes, providing advice and support, and by assisting patients in obtaining alternative treatments.
Robin Daly
Yes to Life Registered Charity No 1112812
opening up alternatives for cancer sufferers
www.yestolife.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7317 3459
Latest news: http://www.yestolife.org.uk/NewFiles/news.html
What some of our supporters say about us:
“Wonderful to know you are out there doing such great and inspiring work”
Dr Rosy Daniel, Health Creation
“… very impressed by your originality of thought and determination”
Dr Michael Dixon, Chairman NHS Alliance, Trustee Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Health
“Yes to Life are putting people in charge, so they can deal with their cancer holistically and positively”
Patricia Peat RGN, Cancer Options