First published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Jan 2000

THE EXPERIENCE OF THE NUTRITIONAL CANCER THERAPY TRUST IN APPLYING THE PLASKETT THERAPY 1997-1999

By Christopher Ashton, Director of the Trust

The Nutritional Cancer Therapy Trust decided to replace the previous therapies it had used since 1994 with the Plaskett Therapy for cancer and other degenerative diseases at the end of 1997. The encouraging results over the following 2 years have confirmed the correctness of this decision.

Recruitment.

Patients using the therapy are assessed in depth including a detailed clinical history, to ensure that they are suitable and that they fully understand all that is entailed in following the therapy and what they should expect to achieve in their own case. Particular attention is paid to not raising false hopes. In order to follow the therapy patients must be able to ingest the normal quantities of food for their age, be able to swallow the daily quantities of supplements and have a reasonable level of initial physical fitness. They will probably have a life expectation above 3 months combined with strength of character and the determination to fight on to remission. Family relationships are of paramount importance and severe tensions and disruptions have a catastrophic effect. The mental stability and capability to deal with personal traumas are important for the success of the patient. The patients come from a wide range of social backgrounds, ranging in age from 2 years to those in their 70s. Their cancers span most of the common sites, as will be detailed below.

Patients follow the therapy in their own homes, where they and their carers are fully trained in all aspects of the therapy, and are then supervised and advised as they proceed.

All patients have variations in their relative constitutions and individual cancers require different responses, in particular the use of homoeopathic remedies to control possible symptoms arising from their illness and its resolution. This makes it mandatory that the practitioners overseeing progress are both professionally competent in naturopathic and holistic medicine and are properly trained and supervised in the application of the therapy.

The Support Team.

The Patient Support Team numbers some 70 professional practitioners covering the major centers in England, Scotland and Wales. The majority have been at The Plaskett Nutritional Medicine College, who offer a nutritional programme of training recognized by The University of Exeter for post-graduate credits. These practitioners possess the necessary technical background and are competent in applying the therapy. They have the natural aptitudes and skills in patient care to run a successful practice. Some of the practitioners have a nursing background, whilst others are able to include some homoeopathy and a range of complementary naturopathic disciplines. The Team liaises as appropriate with the authorized allopathic physicians and consultants who retain the final medical responsibility for the patient.

The Patients’ Previous Treatments.

The majority have undergone the one or more orthodox treatment approaches only to be told that “no further positive treatment” is available for them. They are deemed “impossible cases”. They are the leaders in the battle simply to give nutritional medicine a fair trial.

Individual Treatment Cases.

Brian, aged 68 with brain cancer, had very invasive surgery before he was told that he would definitely not live beyond April 1999, the month he commenced the therapy. The first 3 months necessitated around the clock care and continuous supervision by his wife. Brian made rapid progress and shows outward signs of remission. The results are best summarized in a letter from his wife: “the villagers witnessed the changes in Brian, from a miserable, hunched-up zombie walking round the village and not recognizing the people he knows well to the happy and healthy person he is today”. The surgeon had presumed him dead.

Kate, aged 10 developed phaeochromocytoma at the beginning of 1998. This is a relatively rare tumour which, the hospital said, “is almost unknown in children and is extremely unlikely to recur in the other adrenal gland”. The affected gland was removed. A tumour then recurred in the other gland 12 months later, with similar symptoms of steadily rising blood pressure, headaches and disturbed hormone levels and general debility. The parents deferred the proposed surgery and commenced the therapy in March 1999. Kate has continued her full-time education and normal activities. Hospital X-rays showed that the tumour stopped growing within 6 months, her blood pressure has returned to normal, and the biochemical assays (adrenal hormones) are being held – the hospital team is non-committal with the “impossible” results.

Grehta, aged 67, had both terminal non-Hodgkins lymphoma and terminal heart disease at the beginning of 1998 – the consultants arguing as to which out of the immediately life threatening diseases should be treated first. Grehta commenced the therapy in February 1998 and made steady progress with both the cancer and the heart/circulation problems. She was told she would no longer need the threatened chemotherapy after 15 months, and that “now is the time for the heart surgery”. She declined the surgery and has continued on a reduced therapy for her heart condition, feeling extraordinarily good.

Rosa, aged 42 had a full mastectomy and was then told she had secondary tumours in the bone affecting 4 main centres in September 1998. At this point she was informed that she was terminal. She commenced the therapy in October 1998, showing a remarkably quick response to the therapy. So good, in fact, that observers commented on her condition as one of radiant health with “sparkle”. Two of the main bone areas appeared clear after 5 months and the steady improvement in general health has continued. Rosa has continued to work full-time whilst applying the therapy besides looking after her family, doing much general social work for those in need and setting up computer systems for The Trust.

Statistics.

To gain recognition by the establishment results will have to be verified by the conventional medical authorities. Obviously, clinical double blind trials are impossible because of the nature of the therapy. We would also need to engage in large sampling to overcome the many variables involved. Neither of these quantitative research techniques are feasible so far as we are concerned.

Even in the present work assessments by the specialists concerned are often not available and are likely to be affected by prejudiced against this form of treatment. Eventually a protocol suitable to naturopathic medicine will be needed, those designed for drug assessments being inappropriate. This could easily be done given a will on the part of all the concerned parties.

The statistics provided below are therefore constrained by the circumstances and may well be termed “anecdotal”. However they must be seen in the light of the following facts:

  • The patients had been assessed in conventional terms as “terminal” with very limited life expectancies.
  • Therefore, without the application of the therapy they were expected to have steadily progressed to the final stages of their illness.
  • The first patients to take up the full therapy are now moving into full remission from symptoms.
  • Some patients are now well past their designated “terminal” dates, and in obvious improved health.
  • All patients are displaying the essential measure of increased physical and mental energy.

Types of cancer treated and number of each type:

Adrenal / 1 / Leukaemia / 1
Bone / 1 / Lung / 2
Brain / 3 / Lung & Brain / 1
Breast / 6 / Lymphoma / 3
Breast & Bone / 3 / Malignant Melanoma / 2
Cervix / 2 / Malignant Melanoma & Brain / 1
Colon / 4 / Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma / 1
Colon & Bone / 1 / Pancreatic / 2
Colon & Liver / 1 / Thyroid / 2
Hodgkins Lymphoma / 1

Total patients following the therapy, all degenerative diseases59

Patients with “terminal” cancer 38

Patients with cancer in initial remission7

The rate of enquiries from prospective patients is currently 300 per year. The objective of the therapy is to remove the active disease and its symptoms, thus moving towards normal life expectancy through thoroughly changing the biochemistry of the body. Only time will show how well this is achieved.

The range of cancers treated and the effectiveness of the therapy with a significant number of patients is deemed to justify some confidence that a breakthrough may be in the offing.

Patients who failed to reach or maintain the full therapy as prescribed are not included in the above statistics. These patients have a complex mixture of reasons for withdrawing, physical problems associated with acute nausea or swallowing difficulties, lack of family support and associated mental factors, addiction to morphine, reluctance of family to let go of conventional treatment even when it is known to offer them no hope, and financial pressures. Such patients are made fully aware of the problems before they insist on attempting the therapy.

Trust Objectives.

As the prime objective of The Trust is to reduce suffering, our aims include not only the treatment of cancer and its remission, but also its prevention. We therefore lobby for extension of organic agriculture and the reduction in sources of pollution. We would also like to see wider awareness of these issues and their interactions with health and recognition of the need for naturopathic medicine within the NHS.

At an intermediate level The Trust will focus on a programme to raise the necessary funds for the concentration and use of known natural anti-tumour substances, which have been shown to induce rapid tumour regression and on-going research and development studies to extend the effectiveness of the Plaskett Therapy.