From: des@helix.nih.gov (David E. Scheim)
Subject: Re: HELP! CANCER - C2
Organization: NIH
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 19:01:36 GMT

In article <1992Sep12.031007.10944@nuscc.nus.sg> elpysh@nuscc.nus.sg (Yeoh Saw Heng (Ms)) writes:

>Dear Readers,

>My neighbour's mother, an old lady in her 70s, has been diagnosed as
>having cancer after having had a lump removed from her gall bladder. The
>doctor says the cancer is at Duke's stage (I don't know what that means)
>and recommends chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

>The old lady is reluctant to be treated: she has heard that the side
>effects are quite unpleasant. There is also the matter of cost - she
>feels that she has lived a long life and she does not want to consume
>her daughter's savings just so she can live a few years longer. If it is
>time to leave, she is ready.

>My neighbour is devastated. She is extremely devoted to her mother and
>wants her to agree to treatment because there is a chance (30%) of total
>recovery. Along comes another doctor who tells her that there is a new
>drug for chemotherapy, which can be taken orally. It has minimum side
>effects and costs a great deal less than conventional chemotherapy.

>The mother is more willing to try this drug than to go for conventional
>treatment. The trouble is we have no information about this drug which
>is supposed to be made in Japan, and which has not gained acceptance (at
>least that's what I understand) elsewhere because it is so new. The
>doctor who recommended this drug doesn't seem ready to reveal the name
>of the drug.

>My question is: Is there such a drug? Or am I just being unfairly
>suspicious?

>If anyone knows something or has an opinion what to do or a suggestion,
>please post a reply. Apart from just being there when my neighbour needs
>someone to talk to, I don't know what I can do to help. It's terrible to
>see someone who is normally cheerful and confident go to pieces while
>you stand helplessly by.

>Saw-Heng

Clearly, you must get the name of the drug before the prospect of benefit 
can be credibly evaluated.  Although one should be cautious about any new 
therapy, bear in mind that the Japanese have been repeatedly on the 
leading edge in anticancer drugs, and that often effective therapies take 
years to be accepted into general clinical practice (e.g., see JAMA, July 8, 
pp. 240-48 or note the history of Fleming's discovery of penicillin, ignored 
10 years). If you can get the name of this drug, I'd advise you to get onto 
GO CANCER on COMPUSERVE.  There's an active member there who just went to 
Japan to assist treatment for his wife for colon cancer using a promising 
new regime.

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