We've Got Mail

Better Nutrition, April, 2000

Dear Better Nutrition,

I suppose I'm not the first to bring to your attention that the article, "Hope Comes To Town" (Longevity, p. 34) in the February 2000 issue appears to be mixed up. There seems to be confusion in that Gonzalez is pursuing the use of pancreatic enzymes on all forms of cancer, according to [...] the body of the article, but the lead talks about pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and about a clinical trial supported by the NCI using Gonzalez' regimen in a trial involving pancreatic cancer. [...] So, is this an article about pancreatic adenocarcinoma, or is it about using pancreatic enzymes therapeutically to treat cancer?

Max Braverman, Ph.D. Cascade Medical Informatics Arlington, WA

Editor's Reply

Actually, Dr. Braverman, you are the first; and, in fact, there is no mix-up. The linch-pin of the article is the NCI phase III clinical trial using (at Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center) Dr. Gonzalez' regimen (which includes animal-source pancreatic enzymes) vs. gemcitabine for inoperable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

The originator of the therapy, William Donald Kelley, began using it on pancreatic cancer patients after he almost died from that cancer. Gonzalez' best-case series, which he presented to the NCI in 1993, focused on patients with adenocarcinoma, as did his later 1998 pilot study (published in 1999). Based on Gonzalez' success in these patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, the NCI agreed to sponsor the full-scale study.

Dr. Gonzalez does use this therapy for other forms of cancer (based on observations of the Scottish embryologist, John Beard), and he has achieved promising results. Nevertheless, this study is focused on patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. A critical part of his therapy involves the use of supplemental pancreatic enzymes. Therefore, the article's about both.

I hope this clears up any confusion. Thanks for your letter.

Dear Better Nutrition,

I was looking through your whole magazine trying to find out how to receive it, or subscribe to it. Please be so kind as to let me know how I can get this wonderful magazine.

Edward Decowski Whittier, CA

Editor's Reply

The best way for you to get Better Nutrition on a regular basis is to go to your local health-food store, and (if they don't already carry it), ask your retailer to call: 1-800-443-4974 so that store can find out how to get our magazine for you and all of your fellow shoppers. Thanks so much for your letter.

Dear Better Nutrition,

Thanks for your great magazine! It's always refreshing to see ways to take better care of our health.

In my case, I used to drink lots of tap water in order to help eliminate toxins from my body, but, then, I read about how fluoridated water actually adds toxins.

There's a lot of information at www.nofluoride.com. From now on, I'm only drinking reverse osmosis or distilled water.

David Lamar Mtn. View, CA

Editor's Reply

Thank you, David -- for your letter and for the web site info.

Flouride is clearly a problematic addition to our water, and one which hasn't "survived" any cost-benefit analysis I've ever seen. Although I think we should be careful to not overpurify our water (at home) so that we're left with mineral-deficient, "sterile" water, there's no question that reducing/eliminating lead, chlorine, parasites and other toxins is extremely important.

Better Nutrition Letters Sabot Publishing, Inc. 4 High Ridge Park Stamford, CT 06905

You can now also e-mail your letters to us, here, at Better Nutrition! Please send e-mail to: jamesg@cowles.com