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Re: Gonzalez therapy / protocol for myeloma - experiences
He has mentioned a couple cases, and there is more to the story with those two. Where is the link to the "many" actions against him. When you make serious accusations, you need to back them up with the facts.
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dean
Re: Gonzalez therapy / protocol for myeloma - experiences
Hi Dean, I don't have any vested interest in this discussion, other than to say that I am a staunch believer in going to the appropriate specialist for a medical problem. In the case of myeloma, it would be a haematological oncologist, who treats many myeloma patients, at a recognized cancer institute.
If you refer to 'Dr. Google', you can find an article in Wikipedia -- quite disparaging really. That would give me cause for concern if I were a patient. Are you also a myeloma patient?
Hope you are well and getting good medical treatment too. In New York you certainly do have a lot of excellent centres to choose from!
If you refer to 'Dr. Google', you can find an article in Wikipedia -- quite disparaging really. That would give me cause for concern if I were a patient. Are you also a myeloma patient?
Hope you are well and getting good medical treatment too. In New York you certainly do have a lot of excellent centres to choose from!
Last edited by Nancy Shamanna on Thu Apr 24, 2014 12:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Gonzalez therapy / protocol for myeloma - experiences
Like Nancy, I don't have a horse in the race. I am also not against homeopathic practices in general (but I think one really needs to do their homework if they are going down this route, especially with a serious disease like multiple myeloma).
But in searching for legal suits against Gonzalez, I found this amazing tidbit. See page 44 on the subpoena regarding how the hair analysis is done (on a word processor):
http://www.victorherbert.com/cv814.pdf
But in searching for legal suits against Gonzalez, I found this amazing tidbit. See page 44 on the subpoena regarding how the hair analysis is done (on a word processor):
http://www.victorherbert.com/cv814.pdf
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Gonzalez therapy / protocol for myeloma - experiences
Dean wrote: "He has mentioned a couple cases, and there is more to the story with those two. Where is the link to the "many" actions against him. When you make serious accusations, you need to back them up with the facts."
To add to what Multibilly posted, here is some information I found during a quick search I did during lunch. It did not take long, there could be more. I did not say "many", and many is a relative term.
Medical board action:
http://w3.health.state.ny.us/opmc/factions.nsf/58220a7f9eeaafab85256b180058c032/f566901672739a1a85256a4a0047d2e6?OpenDocument
Apparently if you sue him for malpractice, he is not afraid to sue right back:
http://www.leagle.com/decision/199963069FSupp2d561_1580.xml/GONZALEZ%20v.%20GRAY
http://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/other-courts/2004/2004-51518.html
The point of my response is that, just because Dr. Gonzalez’s license to practice medicine has not been revoked by the authorities, that is no indication that his therapy is effective. It takes quite a lot to get a medical license revoked.
If his therapy was killing people, he would be shut down as you have said, but you do not get shut down for prescribing ineffective therapy and I feel it is questionable if what he does helps much if at all.
Myeloma patients die every day when the therapy they are being administrated stops working, and their doctors do not get their medical license revoked. It would be mistake to evaluate the effectiveness of the Gonzalez therapy based on him still having a license to practice medicine. The effectiveness of therapies is measured through clinical trials conducted using sound scientific methods, not by the prescriber still holding a medical license.
To add to what Multibilly posted, here is some information I found during a quick search I did during lunch. It did not take long, there could be more. I did not say "many", and many is a relative term.
Medical board action:
http://w3.health.state.ny.us/opmc/factions.nsf/58220a7f9eeaafab85256b180058c032/f566901672739a1a85256a4a0047d2e6?OpenDocument
Apparently if you sue him for malpractice, he is not afraid to sue right back:
http://www.leagle.com/decision/199963069FSupp2d561_1580.xml/GONZALEZ%20v.%20GRAY
http://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/other-courts/2004/2004-51518.html
The point of my response is that, just because Dr. Gonzalez’s license to practice medicine has not been revoked by the authorities, that is no indication that his therapy is effective. It takes quite a lot to get a medical license revoked.
If his therapy was killing people, he would be shut down as you have said, but you do not get shut down for prescribing ineffective therapy and I feel it is questionable if what he does helps much if at all.
Myeloma patients die every day when the therapy they are being administrated stops working, and their doctors do not get their medical license revoked. It would be mistake to evaluate the effectiveness of the Gonzalez therapy based on him still having a license to practice medicine. The effectiveness of therapies is measured through clinical trials conducted using sound scientific methods, not by the prescriber still holding a medical license.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Gonzalez therapy / protocol for myeloma - experiences
Those links are related to the above two mentioned cases. There is more to the story and I will have to find links for those when I have time. That is still not "many" law suits, and oncologists and specialists are sued too, don't forget.
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Dean
Re: Gonzalez therapy / protocol for myeloma - experiences
It is clear that Dr Gonzalez's patients die of myeloma, the only question remains what disease Dr. Gonzalez is actually 'treating'. If he states that he provides supportive (=palliative) care by administering vitamins, minerals, and other homeopathic medicine for myeloma patients, it is difficult for the medical board to go after him.
Personally I would stay away from such outfits to 'treat' any disease, let alone multiple myeloma.
Personally I would stay away from such outfits to 'treat' any disease, let alone multiple myeloma.
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Smah - Name: Smah
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself ; smm; multiple myeloma
- When were you/they diagnosed?: January 2010; September 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Gonzalez therapy / protocol for myeloma - experiences
I'll just going to post this link without commentary...
http://edzardernst.com/2013/07/the-alternative-cancer-cure-of-nicholas-gonzalez/
http://edzardernst.com/2013/07/the-alternative-cancer-cure-of-nicholas-gonzalez/
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Gonzalez therapy / protocol for myeloma - experiences
Dean as you know they put you in different diets and supplements depending on your metabolism. I was a moderate carnivore and I had a reaction to calcium. I could not get calcium down without itching, headaches etc. that was the reason for the bone broth. Dr. Gonzalez said people with myeloma need a lot of calcium but I could get any calcium supplements down.
When I first saw him I was told 80% of patients in my situation improve and that he had people more advance than me with worse odds. I have to say, even if I have no faith on his treatment now, that the way he designed his supplements to work in synergy is really smart. But even so I do not think they are individualized enough. He is also very good at getting back when you call him; he calls you very quickly to discuss tests results. At 7:00 pm he still doing rounds calling his patients and I know he works weekends. But he has too much faith in the hair analysis which proved very wrong with me and he only has the enzymes to attack cancer. Other alternative doctors use many more things. I read interviews of people he has helped. This is true. He has helped many. But others were not so lucky. Like this:
http://jeanninewalston.com/about/my-cancer-story/
And yes he had his share of troubles. He has been sued and the OPMC sentenced him to two years of probation in 1994. He had to undergo retraining and do 200 hours of community service for two years. The document is on line for all to read with the six cases that got him there. I finally read the pdf and it is quite frightening what happened to those people. Eric's link has the pdf at the bottom.
Even if he has this unshakeable faith in his enzymes, to my knowledge he has never trained another doctor to follow on his footsteps. In their office is only Dr Isaacs and him. If something happen to them I wonder what provisions are in place for their patients. Other alternative doctors have more comprehensive operations and some even like to work in tandem with oncologists. He told me very few people ever need chemo in his practice. “I guess I am lucky that way”.
I gambled and I lost. But as I say before this does not mean it will not work for others. I can only speak of my experience. I do not resent Dr. Gonzalez. Nobody put a gun to my head to see him. I did this on my own free will. At the end I would have liked a little more humility on his part. He never admitted his program did not work for me. He forgot I was stable and only had a small marrow lesion when he first saw me and that now my spine is riddle with them and plasma infiltrations, plus I am in pain.
The reason I wanted to share my experience with Dr. Gonzalez is not to bash him, but to help others to make a more informed decision if they gravitate towards enzyme therapy. I hope that those like me, who like alternative medicine and decide to go that route, never give up the benefits of allopathic medicine altogether. In particular its diagnostic tools. I do not know what would have happened if I continued to believe in the accuracy of the hair analysis versus blood and I did not have the caring oncologist that stuck by me even when I did not want to listen to her and I did not answer her calls and her letters. She went above and beyond the call of duty trying to help me.
I just finished my first Velcade and Dexa cycle. I hope they work. Last time we talked, Dr Gonzalez did say not to put so much faith on Velcade. That is not a sure thing. True, but he should not have said that … the last thing we need is to lose hope.
When I first saw him I was told 80% of patients in my situation improve and that he had people more advance than me with worse odds. I have to say, even if I have no faith on his treatment now, that the way he designed his supplements to work in synergy is really smart. But even so I do not think they are individualized enough. He is also very good at getting back when you call him; he calls you very quickly to discuss tests results. At 7:00 pm he still doing rounds calling his patients and I know he works weekends. But he has too much faith in the hair analysis which proved very wrong with me and he only has the enzymes to attack cancer. Other alternative doctors use many more things. I read interviews of people he has helped. This is true. He has helped many. But others were not so lucky. Like this:
http://jeanninewalston.com/about/my-cancer-story/
And yes he had his share of troubles. He has been sued and the OPMC sentenced him to two years of probation in 1994. He had to undergo retraining and do 200 hours of community service for two years. The document is on line for all to read with the six cases that got him there. I finally read the pdf and it is quite frightening what happened to those people. Eric's link has the pdf at the bottom.
Even if he has this unshakeable faith in his enzymes, to my knowledge he has never trained another doctor to follow on his footsteps. In their office is only Dr Isaacs and him. If something happen to them I wonder what provisions are in place for their patients. Other alternative doctors have more comprehensive operations and some even like to work in tandem with oncologists. He told me very few people ever need chemo in his practice. “I guess I am lucky that way”.
I gambled and I lost. But as I say before this does not mean it will not work for others. I can only speak of my experience. I do not resent Dr. Gonzalez. Nobody put a gun to my head to see him. I did this on my own free will. At the end I would have liked a little more humility on his part. He never admitted his program did not work for me. He forgot I was stable and only had a small marrow lesion when he first saw me and that now my spine is riddle with them and plasma infiltrations, plus I am in pain.
The reason I wanted to share my experience with Dr. Gonzalez is not to bash him, but to help others to make a more informed decision if they gravitate towards enzyme therapy. I hope that those like me, who like alternative medicine and decide to go that route, never give up the benefits of allopathic medicine altogether. In particular its diagnostic tools. I do not know what would have happened if I continued to believe in the accuracy of the hair analysis versus blood and I did not have the caring oncologist that stuck by me even when I did not want to listen to her and I did not answer her calls and her letters. She went above and beyond the call of duty trying to help me.
I just finished my first Velcade and Dexa cycle. I hope they work. Last time we talked, Dr Gonzalez did say not to put so much faith on Velcade. That is not a sure thing. True, but he should not have said that … the last thing we need is to lose hope.
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Cassy66 - Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Gonzalez therapy / protocol for myeloma - experiences
Nicely said Cassie. I truly hope that the Vd works out well for you.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Gonzalez therapy / protocol for myeloma - experiences
The more Cassie shares about her experience with Dr. Gonzalez, the more red flags I see.
He never acknowledged to Cassie that his therapy did not work. Why is this? Is it because he still believes his therapy is working for Cassie, based on his hair analysis results, and he disregards the labs and imaging the Cassie had done which indicates disease progression as meaningless? Is it because he believes his therapy works but Cassie must have failed to follow it and it is her fault she has disease progression? Who knows?
When the therapies my doctors prescribe stop being effective against my myeloma, and they have made it clear that will happen in time, I am sure they will be the first acknowledge this to me and not blame me. They have not staked their career and reputation on any particular therapy. They and I just want to use what works and if it does not, as indicated by widely accepted labs and imaging practices to monitor myeloma progression, then we move on to something else for as long as we can till a cure is hopefully found.
What did Dr. Gonzalez mean when he told Cassie that he did not have much faith in Velcade? That it would not cure myeloma? Is he saying that, since it is not a cure for myeloma, you should not bother trying Velcade therapy? What should you do then? Stick to his therapy to the end for better or worse? What kind of medical advice is this?
My oncologist had no faith that Velcade would cure myeloma either. My oncologist knows that because that is what the Velcade clinical trials showed and he was very open and up front about this. The trials did show that for many people Velcade was effective at reversing disease progression, in many cases significantly, for significant periods of time. My oncologist made no promises that Velcade would work on my myeloma. He could only provide the statistical results from the clinical trials. We would not know my outcome until after I started it. Thankfully, I got really good results. This is science, faith has nothing to do with it.
I wish you the best results Cassie. If Velcade does not prove effective, I am sure your new medical team will not give up and try something else.
He never acknowledged to Cassie that his therapy did not work. Why is this? Is it because he still believes his therapy is working for Cassie, based on his hair analysis results, and he disregards the labs and imaging the Cassie had done which indicates disease progression as meaningless? Is it because he believes his therapy works but Cassie must have failed to follow it and it is her fault she has disease progression? Who knows?
When the therapies my doctors prescribe stop being effective against my myeloma, and they have made it clear that will happen in time, I am sure they will be the first acknowledge this to me and not blame me. They have not staked their career and reputation on any particular therapy. They and I just want to use what works and if it does not, as indicated by widely accepted labs and imaging practices to monitor myeloma progression, then we move on to something else for as long as we can till a cure is hopefully found.
What did Dr. Gonzalez mean when he told Cassie that he did not have much faith in Velcade? That it would not cure myeloma? Is he saying that, since it is not a cure for myeloma, you should not bother trying Velcade therapy? What should you do then? Stick to his therapy to the end for better or worse? What kind of medical advice is this?
My oncologist had no faith that Velcade would cure myeloma either. My oncologist knows that because that is what the Velcade clinical trials showed and he was very open and up front about this. The trials did show that for many people Velcade was effective at reversing disease progression, in many cases significantly, for significant periods of time. My oncologist made no promises that Velcade would work on my myeloma. He could only provide the statistical results from the clinical trials. We would not know my outcome until after I started it. Thankfully, I got really good results. This is science, faith has nothing to do with it.
I wish you the best results Cassie. If Velcade does not prove effective, I am sure your new medical team will not give up and try something else.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
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