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August 25, 2009 - Goanet's 15th Anniversary
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From: "Santosh Helekar" <[email protected]>
--- On Fri, 8/28/09, isouza <[email protected]> wrote:
I am not interested in "all the medical literature in question" nor in
>"substantial amount of published evidence".
This astonishing admission tells us all there is to know about this
author. It is indeed bizarre to see someone make bogus categorical claims
about absence of evidence, and then turn around and say that he is not
interested in the published evidence. Given this brazen lack of interest
in genuine medical literature and willful ignorance of scientific
evidence, it is clear that the author is not motivated by reality, let
alone scientific knowledge. I hope Goanetters make note of this admission,
and choose not to be misled by him on science and medicine.
***This is another blatant example of how the scientist Dr.Santosh can take
the statement out of context and misunderstand the authors. This was the
classical procedure with the text of the Cardinal Cormack Murphy-O'Connor,
who was turned into an atheist... I have not made any "bogus categorical
claims"... From our experience in India (including Goa), people are dying of
cancer in spite of all modern Western treatment. I said that I am not
"interested in the published evidence", because it contradicts totally what
we are witnessing here. What is the use of reading the "scientific evidence"
given by the scientists in the American corner, if we are losing people
everyday to cancer. I am meeting everyday people who have no hope of being
cured of cancer... What is the value and authority of the "genuine medical
literature" if these people find no medical cure? It is not "wilful
ignorance of scientific evidence", but the fact is that I find no evidence
with the patients that I know... and, therefore, I am skeptical of the
barrage of selected articles (from an unknown University), presented by a
physician without any experience in oncology. Let me free to think for
myself and share my thoughts with others... Let science not become "dogma of
faith"... Science does not have the guarantee of Faith. Therefore, this
"admission" is not ignorance, but wisdom. May the Goanetters choose to be
guided by prudence, not by "scientific quackery", and not dance to the tune
of the scientists and politicians...
Let us bear in mind:
1.Cancers are to be detected early. This is difficult because of the
asymptomatic phase. When they are detected, they are already spread. It
depends, therefore, on site and size.
2.Surgery may not be complete disappearance of cancer. There can be
recurrence of the tumour and/or metastasis after surgical intervention,
radiation and chemotherapy.
3.Radiation and chemotherapy have side-effects which may not improve the
quality of life. It is survival, not cure. It has to be tested. It is
'five-year survival', it can recur.
4.If it is metastasized, it is only palliated. There can be remission. We
witness only deaths.
I have seen how people with cancer of lungs, tongue, breast, prostate,
uterus, oesophagus, liver, spleen, stomach, colon, skin, Hodgins' lymphoma
died in spite of medical treatment...
In short, when we speak about cancer, we cannot say that cancer in
general is curable at the present stage of medical science. Research is
going on to find a cure for cancer. If there is already a cure, why to spend
millions for the research? Let us feed the hungry in India and elsewhere...
Regards.
Fr.Ivo
