Burzynski & The Observer
(Originally posted on 25th Nov 2011, here)
Dear Observer,
If xanthan gum is chosen instead of guar gum, the solids content may be between 40 and 70 g/tablet (a). Regarding: The worst year of my life: cancer has my family in its grip – http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2011/nov/20/a-family-gripped-by-cancer
As the daughter of a man with cancer I’m always interested to read about new therapies and scientific breakthroughs into cancer treatment. However, I felt I must write to you about the article by Luke Bainbridge, the uncle of Billie of Billie’s Butterfly fund.
I feel that the publishing of this article without any context is irresponsible and dangerous and that you’re actually missing a bigger story. Whilst I’m thrilled that so many celebrities have got behind Billie’s cause, I am saddened at what and who the money is going to. If only it was going to a better cause than this clinic.
San Mauro Torinese Irresponsible and dangerous
Dr Burzynski has not, so far, published any results for his trials; trials conducted over thirty years. His studies have not been published or peer reviewed. Here’s what Cancer Research UK has to say about his research:
Some people promote antineoplaston therapy as a cancer treatment. But available scientific evidence does not support claims that antineoplaston therapy is effective in treating or preventing cancer.
Although Dr Burzynski’s own clinic have reported positive results for these trials, no other researchers have been able to show that this type of treatment helps to treat cancer. Other researchers have criticised the way the Burzynski Clinic trials have been carried out. Despite researching this type of treatment for over 35 years, no phase 3 trials have been carried out or reported. (My emphasis) (Retrieved 25 Nov from http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-questions/what-is-antineoplaston-therapy )
Without any context to this article, others whose children are stricken with similar afflictions are likely to want to get the treatment that is talked about in the article. This is false hope. Often, these alternative therapies are undertaken by desperate families who eschew conventional treatment in favour of something with little to no evidence of efficacy.
Quackwatch goes into the science behind why it’s bunkum (and Burzynski’s credentials, or lack thereof) in great detail, here:
The bigger story
- The FDA in the US have not approved the use of antineoplaston therapy for use in humans as a drug treatment. Burzynski is using them in his own trials, for which he is charging phenomenal amounts of money, without having proven anything. These are bogus trials: set up purely due to the fact the treatments are unlicensed, and so cannot be legally administered other than in a clinical trial.
- (From Wikipedia) Burzynski’s use and advertising of antineoplastons as an unapproved cancer therapy were deemed to be unlawful by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Texas Attorney General, and limits on the sale and advertising of the treatment were imposed as a result. In 1994, Burzynski was found guilty of tax insurance fraud for filing a claim for reimbursement by a health insurer for an illegally administered cancer treatment.
- There’s a film and a book that are convincing people around the world that conventional cancer treatments don’t work. This is highly dangerous and characteristic of alternative medicine purveyors who are doing their best to undermine the efforts of real scientists and doctors who are fighting against the horrendous illnesses we call cancer. Stating that there’s only one real cause of cancer is another claim that’s characteristic of quacks, yet it is known that cancer isn’t actually just one disease.
- Burzynski’s staff has a history of shutting down criticism: actions not of a scientist but those of someone with something to hide. He’s currently pursuing Andy Lewis, known as @LeCanardNoir. You can read the kind of threats their PR man, Marc Stephens, has been making towards Andy and his new baby and partner, here: http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2011/11/the-burzynski-clinic-threatens-my-family.html because of this article, critical of your piece: http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2011/11/the-false-hope-of-the-burzynski-clinic.html
I urge you to write another article, with the facts about Burzynski laid down for all to see. It’s a difficult subject, especially given that many of his patients are children. However, I believe that it’s extremely important that people aren’t mislead by heart-wrenching articles about the victims of the cruelty we call cancer. There’s a wider, more important issue at hand: this man is making money from people’s grief, vulnerability and ignorance.
If you need more context on this, there are blogs on the subject all over the place – something the mainstream press is missing out on. This one gives a very good rundown of extra links, for context.
Yours faithfully,
Tannice
