GERSON THERAPY: EXCITING DATA
ON TREATMENT OF MELANOMA

From The Cancer Chronicles #17
© Sept. 1993 by Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D.

[Editor's Note: Probably the first article written on these findings.]

All but the most terminally ill patients with the deadly skin disease melanoma appear to do well on the Gerson method, a "salt and water management" program devised by Dr. Max Gerson (1881-1959). The program includes the detoxification of wastes and toxins that interfere with healing and normal metabolism; and an intensive nutritional program to flood the body with healing nutrients. It has been practiced at a Mexican clinic since 1977.

The Gerson method has long been included on the ACS "questionable methods" list and is a favorite item of attack for the AMA. It is often reviled for its use of coffee enemas.

For several years, Gar Hildenbrand, executive director of the Gerson Institute, has been conducting an on-going study of results at the Gerson-affiliated clinic with melanoma patients. He has now made preliminary figures available to the Cancer Chronicles. "We believe our review may have information interpretable by epidemiologists," he says.

By mail and telephone, Hildenbrand was able to locate 181 out of 246 probable cases of melanoma treated at the clinic between 1977 and mid-1991. Of these, 126 are now deceased, leaving 55 survivors. On admission to the program, 32 of these survivors were admitted in stages I and II; 9 were in stage III; while an extraordinary 14 of these survivors began the program while in stage IV.

Of the deceased patients, the majority were already in extremis (advanced Stage IV) at the time of admission to the Gerson clinic. Some were actually at the point of death. Hildenbrand, an advisor to the OAM, notes some significant facts about these outcomes:

  1. None of the deceased patients were admitted at Stages I or II. Conversely, none of these patients admitted to the Gerson program at Stages I or II progressed to stage III, in spite of the fact that several had quite negative prognoses. All of these remain disease-free.
  2. Of the 18 patients who entered the program while in stage III, 9 did progress to stage IV while under the treatment. Four of these died and one is alive with disease, but, most remarkably, four are now disease-free.
  3. In an innovation, Hildenbrand has divided stage IV into IV-A (i.e., patients whose metastases are limited to skin and lymph nodes) and IV-B (patients with visceral metastases). Of the 26 who entered at Stage IV-A, 9 are still alive (35%). Counting the 9 stage-III patients who progressed to stage IV-A (see above), 42 percent are still alive.
  4. Of the Stage IV-B patients who entered the program, however, all are deceased.

For reasons unknown, women survived 2-to-1 over men, despite an equal ratio on admission.

See also our review article on "Dr. Max," a biographical novel about Max Gerson.

Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D. is the author of eight books and three documentaries on cancer-related topics. He is an advisor on alternative cancer treatments to the National Institutes of Health, Columbia University, and the University of Texas. He researches and writes individualized Healing Choices reports for people with cancer. For information on Healing Choices, you can contact coordinator Anne Beattie in the following ways:

Address: 144 St. John's Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217 Phone 718-636-4433 Fax 718-636-0186 E-mail mail@ralphmoss.com Web site http://www.ralphmoss.com

Disclaimer: The Cancer Chronicles does not advocate any particular treatment for cancer. We urge you to seek competent medical advice for any malignancy. Please read our full Disclaimer statement.

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