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Definitive Guide to Cancer

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James Metz, MD
Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Last Modified: November 1, 2001

The title of the publication "Definitive Guide to Cancer" is very misleading. It is actually a book about alternative medicine for the treatment of cancer. It must be remembered that no "alternative" medical technique has ever been shown to definitively treat cancer in controlled scientific studies. That is precisely why it is considered "alternative."

W. John Diamond, MD was trained as a pathologist in South Africa. W. Lee Cowden, MD completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiology in the United States. Both authors claim to have been trained in various unconventional medical techniques. Burton Goldberg is a businessman and publisher of the bimonthly magazine Alternative Medicine Digest. None of the authors have been trained in the field of oncology. It is very difficult to accept a book called the "Definitive Guide to Cancer" from authors who have never been formally trained to treat cancer patients.

The book states "the success of alternative cancer treatment is clinically proven." This is absolutely false. The authors use 55 case histories that "represent clinical proof that alternative cancer therapies can reverse cancer, prevent deaths, and extend the lives far better than conventional treatments." It must be remembered, these treatments are labeled ?alternative' because they are not proven effective in the treatment of cancer.

The book is loaded with false and misleading information. Scientific studies which have shown that some techniques advocated in this book are ineffective or even dangerous have been ignored. The book fits almost all of the criteria listed in the OncoTip document "Watch out for a hoax when considering unconventional medical treatments." Overall the book is downright dangerous and should be avoided.

If you are interested in unconventional and complementary medical techniques for cancer, please visit OncoLink's Complementary Treatments menu.