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when I undertook my formal medical studies, diet and nutrition were considered alternative heresy. The study of anatomy was done in a particularly inefficient manner. We were given cadavers to dissect for two years. A group of eight students would spend hours, scalpels in hand, dig- ging at a corpse, hoping to find and trace nerves and arteries to their origins and distributions. Dead bodies do not handle the same as living tissue, and rarely look the same as in book illustra- tions. I studied my anatomy from a book. Much more could have been learned had each group been assigned one person who was well-trained and who could have guided and educated us. My memories of these sessions are ones of the stench of formalin, of a student eating someone's biceps on a dare, and of others skipping rope using a corpse's small intestine or playing football with a hardened lung. This abhorrent lack of respect for men and women who had donated their bodies to science and medicine sickened me. when I undertook my formal medical studies, diet and nutrition obvious that it was not working, and spreading cancer had broken were considered alternative heresy. several bones in her spine. (This was not an unusual occurrence The study of anatomy was done in a particularly inefficient in breast cancer. The standard therapy of the time, which remains manner. We were given cadavers to dissect for two years. A to this day, is the use of radiation to allow for fracture-healing and group of eight students would spend hours, scalpels in hand, dig- to resolve the associated pain. This was denied her; actually, ging at a corpse, hoping to find and trace nerves and arteries to _ never offered, for the 'sake' of the trial.) The insanity of this situa- their origins and distributions. Dead bodies do not handle the tion must be restated: this trial was confirming many others same as living tissue, and rarely look the same as in book illustra- which had already outlined the relative merits of therapy. Why tions. I studied my anatomy from a book. Much more could have this theme of repetitive rediscovery of the known, regardless of been learned had each group been assigned one person who was human consequence? Because it gives the illusion of work, well-trained and who could have guided and educated us. My progress and motion in a stagnant cesspit of medical impotence. memories of these sessions are ones of the stench of formalin, of a In Australia, the natural health revolution had only just begun student eating someone's biceps on a dare, and of others skipping and was struggling for acceptance. The adamant claims of this rope using a corpse's small intestine or playing football with a new field of medicine were both inspiring and confusing. The hardened lung. This abhorrent lack of respect for men and response from conventional medicine was cutting. Alternative women who had donated their bodies to science and medicine medicine was deemed fraudulent and rejected outright, its practi- sickened me. tioners shunned and persecuted. Disgrace and deregistration awaited doctors who preached or practised its beliefs. MEDICAL RESEARCH: STAGNANT, DIRECTIONLESS Supporters of this emerging field dealt in an inexact science, yet In this era of genetic engineering and daily promises of medical the detractors refused to carry out investigations to marvels, it is hard to imagine a period where innovative thought claims of alternative medicine. What resulted wa seemed to be at a standstill; yet back then, as now, in the playing match with a confused public as the victim. Patients were often fields of clinical trials, one finds variations of intricate protocols punished if they saw a naturopath or asked a doctor advice on and slight modifications of rules and tools to search for slightly supplements; they would be treated curtly, and it was not unusual improved responses from the same for the doctor to refuse their ongoing tired players: surgery, radiation and care. New options had been thrust chemotherapy. This points to the M . f th . onto patients, yet proof of efficacy stagnant nature of real options avail- y memories 0 ese sessions are was as lacking as proof of inefficacy. able to the public. ones of the stench of formalin, My mother and I had been search- As a medical student, I was now of a student eating someone's biceps ing constantly for anything in becoming exposed to rigid, inhu- research, folklore or overseas pro- mane insanity often associated with on a dare, and of others skipping grams. The sudden influx of claims clinical trials and questionable mea- rope using a corpse's small intestine from natural medicine brought a range sures of success. Only in cancer, for of new modalities to try: mind power, example, would a chemotherapeutic or playing football with a herbs, vitamins, vegetarianism, mac- agent being evaluated be considered hardened lung. robiotics. My father tried them all, to a success if it shrank a cancer mass, no avail. even if it shortened patient survival. Decades ago, hospitals had carried Fasting, juices, meditation, simple do-it-yourself techniques with a uni- out unethical and repulsive procedures in the name of science. versal appeal could restore a person's capacity to help themselves Pregnant women were injected with high doses of radioactive iso- against a condition so foreign, so overwhelming that grown adults topes to gauge the effect on embryos; prisoners' testicles were would revert to child-like dependency on their doctors. Even if irradiated to study changes; relatives were inoculated with only of marginal efficacy in the physical long-run, the psychologi- patients' cancers to study their response (at least one case of can- cal advantage of regaining some measure of control of one's life cer transfer and death of a patient's mother occurred). was a feature conventional medicine could not compete with. Modern-day inhumanity was present, but not quite as overt. It | There was also a link that had only been hinted at previously. lay in protocol objectives and structures. Alternative medicine heavily promoted the concept that proper I remember the case of a patient, a 22-year-old mother, who activation of immune function could eliminate cancer—again, an entered a monitored trial situation where she was slotted into the empowering concept. hormone-blocker evaluation group. This breast cancer study was Perhaps in an effort to compete with the new challenger, or per- designed to evaluate survival with various treatment options: haps finally disgusted with the toxic failures called "standard ther- surgery alone (localised), surgery alone (extensive), with radia- apy", the powers-that-be launched a major thrust into tion, with chemotherapy, with hormonal blocker therapy, with immunotherapy. I was part of the "IF" generation. Conventional combinations of the preceding. medicine brought out a new warrior, an immunostimulant called This data had already been gathered to reasonable precision "interferon"—the "IF" drug. I cannot claim to know or under- from studies too numerous to mention worldwide, and certain stand what changes the emphasis of investigative pathways in guidelines for combinations had been enforced for many years. modern medicine, only to say that the industry is particularly well This particular design protocol did not allow for such flexibility. tuned to public views and needs. In the 1970s it was immune How could we achieve accurate readings if we contaminated one function, so interferon and interleukin occupied the forefront of group with the therapy of another group? research for a decade or so. In the 1980s the public cried out for The cruelty of the last statement could be seen in the plight of natural medicine, so Taxol, a natural extract, was released. the patient referred to above. Having been assigned to the hor- Continued on page 82 mone group, other therapy was withheld—even when it became 34 - NEXUS My memories of these sessions are Continued on page 82 DECEMBER 1997 - JANUARY 1998