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Soy, A Cautionary Tale
John R. Lee, M.D.

Cancer Forum Magazine

A true alternative to conventional cancer therapy focuses first and foremost on the whole body in order to repair the biological breakdown responsible for producing abnormal cells.

A sound repair system takes all body functions into consideration including: nutrition plus the organs of metabolism, lymphatic drainage, glandular function, waste elimination, circulation, stress management, structural balance, etc.

HOW DID F.A.C.T. COME ABOUT?

FACT was organized by a group of people who had been intimately involved with cancer -- either as caretakers of cancer patients or as recovered patients themselves who had opted to forego conventional chemotherapy and radiation. The group had learned through their painful experiences that the conventional protocols had no curative possibilities. The use of highly toxic agents for killing cancer cells was capable of buying time only. In no way did these agents correct cell production. In spite of all the talk of progress, it was obvious from the massive fund-raising and the continuing research that scientists are still furiously seeking the "cure." The grim statistics of an ever increasing epidemic made it clear that the cure is not yet in view.

The group conducted a careful worldwide investigation of doctors, clinics and literature (including medical papers dating back over a century ago). These sources postulated a very different concept of cancer. Cells (the tumor) are not a phenomenon unrelated to the whole body or host. Indeed, they are only a symptom of a malfunction of body chemistry resulting in abnormal cell production. It became clear that cancer treatment, therefore, should be focused on restoring health to the host by doing everything possible to strengthen the body's innate healing capability. The primary consideration is that no harm be done in attempting to restore health. This means radiation and chemotherapy should only be considered as crisis medicine -- not the standard protocols they have become today.

After interviewing many recovered cancer patients who had followed this total body approach to cancer, the FACT group was convinced that this concept is logical, biologically-sound, and capable of producing long term recovery. The group felt obligated to disseminate the information it had uncovered. It began to serve patients as a clearing house while striving to educate both professional and lay people to examine treatment options.

WHY HAS THE WORD "ALTERNATIVE" LOST ITS MEANING?

The Foundation for Alternative Cancer Therapies, Ltd. (FACT), was established in 1971 to encourage the medical community to reexamine the conventional concept of cancer and cancer treatment. About 15 years later the name was changed to the current Foundation for Advancement in Cancer Therapy, Ltd. (FACT) because it had become evident that the term "alternative" had lost it's original meaning. "Alternative" -- awash in hype, incompetence and commercialism -- has basically become a place to dump any therapy that was not officially accepted by the orthodox medical community. Many of these "alternatives" are similar in concept to conventional treatments and similarly ineffective or toxic.

Suppose you have just received a cancer diagnosis. From previous experience or, possibly, the loss of a friend or relative to cancer who used radiation, chemotherapy or hormone-inhibitors. you have decided to seek an alternative. Chances are you are aware of a plethora of therapies, and no doubt there are many more with which you are unfamiliar. How does an inexperienced person choose the right direction?

Many people are likely to be bewildered by the multitude of choices! Should you opt for Hoxsey, Laetrile, A-Mulsin, Essiac, 714 X, Carnivora, Chondriana, Vitamin C, antineoplastins, autogenous vaccine, Immunoaugmentative Therapy, shark cartilage, Kanzyme, ozone therapy, Hydrazine Sulfate, Ayurveda, Cancel, Pau d'arco, selenium, etc.?

Some of the above choices may produce a measure of benefit, but, it should be emphasized, they do not produce optimum results. By focusing on tumor reduction, all neglect the basic problem that is causing the production of abnormal cells - the breakdown in body chemistry. The cancer cell is not the problem; the problem is cancer cell production. Unless the body regains control of the quality of cell production, there will be, more often than not, a recurrence or metastasis.

This is complicated to explain as the causes are numerous. An example: any impairment in the endocrine system would limit the body's ability to metabolize (extract) all the vital microcomponents from the food that are needed to build healthy cells. Even stress can block competent metabolism. Any one of the body's many systems that is out-of-order could affect healthy cell production, i.e., digestive system, circulatory, lymphatic, nerve network, immune system which is part of the waste elimination system, etc.

Restoring normal function is a big job. It cannot be accomplished simply with a pill, an injectable or psychological counselling as some people assume, or just a dietary regime. A program that addresses all body functions, restoring normal physiology, is essential in regaining health.

It starts with a comprehensive healing program, specifically the proper supply of nutrients, primarily from the food supply. That doesn't mean vegetarianism, high protein, macrobiotic diets or high doses of vitamins, minerals, selenium, vitamin C, zinc, beta carotene or any other concentrated substances. Normal amounts of the right foods applicable to the human system, as with all species in nature, stimulate the healing process. Exaggerated amounts of single substances overload and exhaust the system and use up enzymes required to metabolize the rest of the food intake.

You may ask, "What about the tumor or the cancer cells? How do I 'kill' them?" The healthy immune system recognizes cancer cells as foreign substances. When the body is restored to health, which includes restoration of immune function, the system will seek out cancer cells as foreign substances and process them for elimination. That is why immunotherapy shows benefit as a cancer treatment, but, unfortunately, cannot correct cell production.

Board of Trustees
Ruth Sackman, President; Pat Judson, Vice President; Consuelo Reyes, Treasurer; Corrine Loreto, Secretary; Rhoda Koeppel, Counselor; Nicholas Daflos, Ch. of FACT Safe Water Committee; In Memoriam: Leon Sackman, Co-founder, Martin M. Fall, Co-founder