Cancer research diseased

Regarding Kristian Gravenor's "Microscopic murderers" column [Kristian Perspective, Jan. 22], a few things come to mind.

First and foremost, finding a cure for cancer is not a matter of millions of dollars; it is a matter of too many millions of dollars. Organizations like the Cancer Society have millions for research in the bank and are still asking for more. If you add all the money raised for cancer research each year, you will have an astronomical amount. All those employees on the payroll do not want their cause to go away. Finding a universal cure would put them out of a job.

Furthermore, those organizations that claim to help the general public are speaking from both sides of the mouth. In order to get money, they promise to help sick people in exchange for donations while all they supply is the same information available for free in public libraries and on Internet. Same thing for the government of Quebec. All the new programs are limited to a flyer, a poster, a slogan and a press conference. Volunteers must take it from there to do the job.

Second, the researchers are not interested in finding a universal cure, for they too will be out of a job. Many important findings took place because a few scientists put their resources together while attending a seminar or such and found a new way to reorient their research. Small heads working in university labs do not amount to much. They repeat the same experiments on animals year after year because it brings them a good salary. They're laughing all the way to the bank. Even if it has been demonstrated that research on animals is futile, governments are still putting money into research to calm the voters.

Remember a few years ago when a fad started called Budwig Cream? We didn't have access to the information behind the miracle and the fad passed away. It is now coming back as Omega 3, which was the base for Budwig Cream. Dr. Budwig, a biochemist, found that Omega 3 oils had the propriety of regenerating the human cells. She experimented on humans and saved a few from an early death. Doctors admitted to her discovery but it was never publicized because pharmaceutical companies did not want people to stay healthy. They would lose too much money, so they put a lid on it.

Third, no spotlight is on prevention. When I was an activist against tobacco (which actions led to our present law in Quebec), I once went to the offices of the Cancer Society on Ste-Catherine. Everybody was smoking in there and I found it simply appalling. Yes, I was aggressive then, but I'm proud to know I made a difference because tobacco is a big killer.

Nutrition is everything when it comes to preventing diseases, and unfortunately, doctors are clueless. With the Internet we now have the option to be informed and make the necessary decisions. Never, and I say never, let any outside professional make a decision for you. One does not become vegetarian in one day. It took me 10 years. But I certainly feel better now than I did at 20 when I was smoking and eating chicken.

My mother died of cancer at 88 after having 13 children. She had crooked spine due to an accident. She never complained. The only thing she was mad about was that she could not do anything about our tooth decay. The professionals told her to give us milk. With regards to calcium intake, milk is the worst possible source. Bovine hormones in the milk acidify the body, which, to maintain a neutral degree, sips the calcium from the bones, thus creating osteoporosis. Her spine broke three times and she suffered extreme pains to the end. Professionals do not want to antagonize the milk industry and they still recommend cheese and yoghurt to seniors.

Fourth, the pharmaceuticals companies are in business to make money, not to cure diseases. I read somewhere they even have a vaccine for which they did not find a disease yet. Vaccines are their biggest fraud and they peddle them through corruption and gifts to doctors. They don't care if a product's efficiency is only 10 per cent; they sell it at a huge price because it is new. Pharmaceutical companies are a big fraud - like a lot of multinationals of this world.

Johanne Verdon, with her immense knowledge, does more with her paid programs on CKVL on the weekend (5:30-7 a.m.) to put Québécois people back on a health path than all our crowded ERs. Hospitals should take care of broken bones and leave the rest to prevention nutritionists.

But even there, the Canadian Alimentary Code should be reviewed and the milk industry silenced. In view of these questions, what else do you expect? Of course cancer kills.

» Janine Larose

I just wanted to say that I totally agree with what Kristian Gravenor wrote. I have lost three family members to cancer, but none to war.

» G. Thivierge

Chilly column reception

We all know that last week was cold. Real cold. Thanks Kristian [Kristian Perspective, Jan. 29].

Could somebody please tell him that we don't need a whole newspaper column to tell us about it? We especially don't need a whole column after the fact, to open up our collective trauma file.

I expect more from an alternative news weekly than the kind of chatter you find around the Tim Horton's coffee counter. Inform me. Entertain me. Tell me something new.

Warmer now.

» Kirsten Weisenburger

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