In the same news blast from "Medscape" there was a simple relationship that should be understood by everyone. The method for determining the benefit of a treatment for any problem, especially cancer, has to be structured in a way that will ultimately support the ongoing use and increased use of profitable drugs. The two articles said:
- There's not enough evidence to support the theory that tomatoes (and the lycopene found in them) are really helpful against cancer.
- Even though there's not been any good evidence that chemotherapy helps the patient with very early breast cancer, it's a good idea to start as early as possible.
That is the most ridiciulous argument I can imagine. Though there's not enough evidence to support the use of a harmless food, a very toxic drug should be considered because it might work. It's no wonder that people are driven into the arms of untrained and possibly unscrupulous alternative medicine treatments. When every possibility of using natural foods, herbs and extracts is given a painfully difficult path to acceptance, people will probably take their chances with what makes common sense to them. We should be helping people make better decisions about their health care, not protecting vested interests in the medical bnusiness world. Disgraceful!
These articles are pulled from two prominent news sources for doctors to "Know what your patients are reading...........................
Lycopene Fails FDA's Scrutiny
The Food and Drug Administration continues to question studies linking tomatoes' antioxidant ingredient with a reduced risk of cancer. The FDA reviewed 64 studies of tomatoes and cancer, and 81 studies of lycopene and cancer. The agency says the majority of the studies didn't make a convincing argument either way, and none of them were judged to support cancer-prevention claims.
As Reported by Los Angeles Times
Early Chemo Option for Breast Cancer Patients
More breast cancer patients are being offered chemotherapy before surgery instead of afterward -- amid much debate about how to do it right, and when it's a good option. If shrinking a tumor might save a woman's breast, or offer a markedly smaller lumpectomy, then pre-surgery chemo is a good option. Still, using pre-surgery chemo may not be the best idea, especially in women with earlier-stage cancer. Although in use at some large university hospitals, the National Cancer Institute is urging more studies.
As Reported by CBS News/Healthwatch
