What to make of this study Bob is that the medical guild is so restrictive it is lethal to their patients. The only way to handle things is to leave adults to make their own decisions on their own treatment with our without the approval of the medical guilds.
Most people would opt for recommendation and treatment by some person who is accredited by some standards system. But if somebody is near dead, why should they stand on ceremony and go quietly to their grave because there hasn't been a double blind [doctors and patients - the blind leading the blind] study duplicated and FDA approved.
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This pilot study revealed an overall response rate of 97 percent in patients with previously untreated intermediate- or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The full results of this Phase II pilot study, conducted in 33 patients, were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Los Angeles today.
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Whether the extra bucks for Rituxan as well as CHOP should be up to the person concerned who is paying. It is more than a slightly higher chance of response. It is a LOT more response!
I believe the tuberculosis threat or other opportunistic infection is much much less than the advantage from the Rituxan.
Now we have the ridiculous situation in New Zealand of the government making all vitamins, minerals, herbs and stuff like that part of the Medicines Act or some such. Despite the fact that nobody in the world has been harmed by fennel, Vitamin E, C, A, comfrey, hemlock, etc. Well, I admit to a little exaggeration there and that's why I include A and comfrey. If people don't know that a plant's primary purpose in life is to live and kill off various herbivores with deadly chemicals, then they should be told so by their parents.
But we don't need a big bureaucracy to prevent maybe 20 worldwide deaths or less problematic adverse reactions from vitamins and other things people choose to eat. Such as cigarettes and rotten juniper berries.
Same for Rituxan. If somebody wants to buy it and stick it in their blood. Offer them the best advice available then leave them to it! If they are over 21, sober, mentally responsive etc and maybe the seller should get them to sign something to the effect that all adverse effects such as the following and other unknown effects are likely to occur...good luck!!!
Maurice
[It seemed blindingly obvious to me that Rituxan plus CHOP in highly CD20 positive NHL people would benefit more than CHOP alone - and don't forget the cod liver oil, even though it isn't patentable]. |
