[Some readers have asked why I dedicated "Questioning Chemotherapy" to the
memory of Kanematsu Sugiura. This will help explain it. --RWM.]
October 22 [1989] marked the tenth anniversary of the death of Dr. Kanematsu
Sugiura. Born in Japan in 1892, Sugiura came to the United States as a
boy. He lived with the Harriman family's physician and in 1912 became
one of the first U.S. cancer researchers. From November 1, 1917 until
his death over sixty years later Sugiura was associated with Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Although he retired in 1962 he continued
to do research every day at Sloan-Kettering's Walker Laboratory in Rye,
New York.
Sugiura was not just a fine scientist but an outstanding human being.
When he was given the unconventional drug laetrile for testing he did
so with skill and honesty. When laetrile, contrary to all expectations,
turned out to stop the spread of metastases in mice, Sugiura refused to
alter his conclusions, despite pressure to do so.
"I write what I see," he said repeatedly. "Laetrile is not a cure for
cancer, but a good palliative drug."
With great courage, he publicly supported the underground newspaper
Second Opinion, when it went public with these results in 1977. "Your
critical review of my positive results and negative results of three investigators
at Sloan-Kettering Institute is very well done and accurate," he wrote.
"Please accept my sincere congratulations."
In an age when some scientists turn first to the business page to see
how their stocks are doing, Sugiura¼s simple honesty and unwavering dedication
shine like a beacon.
