The doctor many believe can cure cancer (Australia)

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http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/stories/1744.asp

 

The doctor many believe can cure cancer

 

9 August 2004

Reporter: Ray Martin

 

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Over a period of 30 years, highly qualified

Perth-based surgeon Dr John Holt has had some

startling successes with a radio-wave therapy

treatment for cancer patients.

 

However, this radical treatment has polarised the

medical community in Australia. His supporters say

he's been vilified, while his detractors point out

there is no scientific basis for his claims.

 

Elvina Johnson had a lot of living to do when she was

told she had an aggressive form of bone cancer. At 18,

doctors discovered she had a " galaxy of tumours " . She

lost her leg and underwent intensive chemo treatment

to try and stop it spreading. Her cancer was so severe

that she relapsed soon after.

 

" It was through both of my lungs and by that stage it

was pretty terminal, " she told Ray Martin.

 

Elvina was desperate. Quite by chance she heard about

a cancer specialist with a highly controversial

procedure.

 

" By taking the chance and finding this man, I am here

six years later and probably feeling better than ever,

so I have had a rebirth, " she said.

 

Dr Holt's controversial treatment works, in

layperson's terms, by giving the patient an injection

of a glucose-blocking agent. He then shines " radio

waves " into the body at a specific frequency. Dr Holt

doesn't guarantee it will cure every cancer, but it's

not expensive and there's no quackery about it.

 

Born in Bristol 80 years ago and a member of the Royal

Colleges, Dr Holt has 26 medical letters after his

name. For more than a decade he was in charge of

Western Australia's main cancer institute, until the

late '70s, when he was blacklisted by his medical

colleagues and politicians.

 

" The doctors took up such an action initially, they

said the treatment was fake and useless, " said former

WA Premier John Tonkin. But Tonkin added, " There is no

doubt whatsoever in my mind that this is the most

advanced form of cancer treatment in the world today. "

 

The polarisation of the medical and scientific

community in Perth over Dr Holt's treatment has been

evident since the mid-'70s.

 

" It is an unproven form of cancer treatment and it's

not part of the armoury of orthodox ways of treating

cancer in Australia, " said Clive Deverill, the former

boss of WA's Cancer Council. " Equally, there are

legions of patients who have been down that track who

can't say anything about their position because

they're dead. "

 

While the medical community continues to argue the

merits of Dr Holt's unorthodox measures, the families

of his successes feel they owe everything to this

gentle man.

 

After two brain tumours and a tumour on her spine,

Sophia Rosa was sent by pre-eminent brain surgeon Dr

Charlie Teo for the radical treatment. Two years

later, the only sign Sophia had cancer are the

side-effects from the massive doses of chemotherapy

given in Sydney.

 

" Sometimes I think maybe Sophia's reason for getting

sick was so people would know about Doctor Holt, " said

Louisa Raso, Sophia's mum.

 

Contacts

 

 

* Dr John Holt (08) 9322 3544

* Dr John Holt support group