Preface

Introduction
Senate Testimony
Guidelines for Choosing a Therapy

Treatment Centers
North America
Overseas

Educational Centers
North America
Overseas

Support Program
North America
Overseas

Information Services
North America
Overseas

Appendices
Region-by-Region Listings
Glossary
Bibliography
Questionnaire
Index

Introduction

Third Opinion is a resource book for alternative therapies used in the treatment of chronic or degenerative diseases including cancer, AIDS, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Most of the programs detailed here are nutritional, metabolic, immune-enhancing, biological, or psychological/spiritual. Alternative therapies are often called complementary or integrative when used with conventional treatment. Other names for these alternative programs include nontoxic, unconventional, and “unorthodox.” They have been referred to by the American Cancer Society as “unproven”--although it has been pointed out that this is not the same as “disproven.” Many are considered wholistic because they treat the whole body. Alternatives differ from conventional therapies most markedly in that they are nontoxic, noninvasive, and nondestructive to healthy cells.

Alternatives heal the body on many levels--mental, emotional, and spiritual, as well as the physical. They often rely on a variety of substances, as opposed to a single substance, to stimulate the immune system and promote healing. (These multiple variables are one reason that current scientific standards are so hard to apply to these methods.) The entire field of alternatives is vast and encompasses territory ranging from herbal medicine and nutrition to electromagnetic treatment to meditation and prayer. This book covers the majority of the best-known alternative therapies.

Because doctors vary in their approaches to cancer, patients often get second opinions, even several “second” opinions. However, rarely, especially in the United States, will a conventional doctor give you an enlightened opinion about nontoxic alternatives. For this reason, as well as the fact that there has been so little progress in healing the major cancers and other degenerative diseases, interest in exploring options has increased dramatically.

I have written Third Opinion for those of you who haven’t found help in conventional treatments and are still looking and hoping, and, for those who aren’t ready to accept an “expert’s” word (“you only have six months to live”) as the final judgment. It is for patients who are willing to assume responsibility for their own treatments, for those who are concerned about the quality of their lives, and for those who are looking for a gentler approach to healing. I have also kept in mind those patients who want to complement their conventional treatments and reduce or eliminate the toxic side effects of those treatments.

Of course, this guide will also serve those who are looking for ways to prevent the occurrence of cancer and other chronic diseases. As far back as 1982, the National Academy of Sciences reported a link between what we eat and our health in Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) followed suit with their dietary recommendations, which included reducing fat and increasing fiber, as well as fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain breads. Most therapies go further to suggest the elimination of addictive and harmful substances such as alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and sodium. The programs here emphasize regular exercise, smoking cessation, and the limitation of exposure to environmental carcinogens in our food, air, and water. Among the material here is much that can be useful in the field of disease prevention, for ourselves and future generations.

This book begins with Guidelines For Choosing A Therapy, which will help you as you consider each alternative protocol. The bulk of this book is divided into four sections: Treatment Centers, which are clinics, hospitals, or offices where patients can go to receive therapy; Educational Centers (including some research institutes) where patients can learn about alternatives; Support Programs, which cover the behavioral/psychological and supportive aspects of healing; and Information Services, which can direct patients to appropriate therapies by providing literature, lists of centers, and shared experiences. Entries in each section are alphabetized by name, and grouped according to country. When approached for inclusion in this directory, some places provided more detailed information than others; this should not be interpreted as an indication of validity.

To make it easier for the reader to find resources geographically, I have a Location Finder section, which identifies listings by state and nation for quick reference. Please note that I have included international telephone codes, to facilitate direct dialing from the United States, for the overseas listings. Callers from outside the U.S. may need to adjust such codes accordingly. Also included are a Glossary of terms that may be unfamiliar, and a bibliography of informative readings for further research.

For some people, some of these therapy methods may prove very difficult, both emotionally and physically. The support of family, friends, and other helpers is very important. It has been suggested that stress can slow down or even stop the healing process, so if the necessary support isn’t there, or, if something is contrary to your belief system, it might be better to find a therapy you can participate in willingly and positively.

It has been my dream over these past years to help bridge the gap between the worlds of conventional and alternative medicine. I believe that a patient is entitled to make an informed choice based on all the available information, and it is with this belief that I write this book. I urge you to keep an open mind about all therapies, whether they are conventional or unconventional, and to pursue those that seem the most appropriate.

Because pharmaceutical medicine is so dominant in the United States, Americans have overlooked many aspects of the art of healing. Economic and political pressures on institutional medicine have helped impede the exploration of research into traditional methods. This has made it difficult for health professionals, outside of orthodox medicine, to practice in some states. It has also made it difficult for medical doctors to incorporate lesser-known healing methods into their practices. Because over the years so many of them have been legislated against, harassed, prosecuted, and discredited, it is a wonder that so many champions of these therapies have managed to keep their programs available.

I must say a word here about quackery, as this, unfortunately, still comes up so often. According to the late Congressman Claude Pepper’s 1984 hearings on quackery, a quack is “anyone who promotes medical schemes or remedies known to be false, or which are unproven, for a profit.” Now, of course, there are quacks out there who will try to take advantage of a cancer patient’s situation for profit--both outside and within mainstream medicine. And deceit, pretense, and fraud in serious medical matters are inexcusable and criminal. But it seems unfair to categorize unorthodox healing methods as quackery simply because they are “unproven.” A United States government report states, “it has been estimated that only 10 percent to 20 percent of all procedures currently used in medical practice have been shown to be efficacious by controlled trial.” By this definition, wouldn’t that make the remaining 80 percent to 90 percent of accepted medical procedures in the United States quackery?

Although there was a time when ethical practitioners using these therapies couldn’t get funding to have their programs even considered, the door has opened and some programs are being evaluated. In the 1980s, members of the U.S. Congress authorized the Office of Technology Assessment to do a comprehensive report on Unconventional Cancer Treatments. This was a big step in the right direction. The first government-sponsored investigation of alternatives, published in September 1990, cited many of the existing positive studies supporting these therapies, while acknowledging the failure of orthodox treatments to make much more than minimal progress in bringing most cancers under control. In part, this led to the government’s National Institute of Health (NIH) opening its Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM), which has now evolved into the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Also, studies are being done through many of the major medical schools and hospitals, and their new departments of alternative and complementary medicine.

I continue to look forward to the day when most, if not all, of these therapies can be fairly assessed. In the meantime, before you undertake a program, the best means of precaution is to talk to people who have used it. The many patients who attribute their recoveries to alternative therapies will serve as a valuable source of help, inspiration, and information. Strong recommendations are a good defense against quackery.

We are all biologically unique and not all therapies will work for all people. It is also a fact that good, as well as bad, experiences can occur with any therapy. To a large degree, your success will depend on what you bring to that experience. Your attitude may be the factor that tips the scale toward success wherever you go.

For almost twenty-five years, I have served as President of a local chapter of Cancer Victors and Friends, the first and largest of the alternative therapy information organizations aimed at cancer. During that time, I have spoken to hundreds of patients seeking information. One thing they have taught me is that you are the master of your own fate and if something doesn’t work, try something else. I encourage you to participate actively in your own recovery and perform your own research. Use this book as a springboard to seeking all the information that is out there. Consider which approaches appeal to you, explore the resources offered through many of the centers listed here, and continue your investigation.

We have contacted everyone listed here with questions. We apologize if a clinic or program you were looking for is not included in the directory, but some people have asked not to be included--perhaps to avoid the kind of harassment often faced by professionals in the field. In some special cases, we may have decided that the reputation of a place was rather questionable to justify its inclusion. However, it could be that we simply haven’t heard of certain programs or practitioners. Readers are encouraged to send such missing names and addresses to: Third Opinion, c/o Square One Publishers, 115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040, and we will get in touch with them before the next update.

This book is an ongoing project. Since information becomes outdated as time passes, both the publisher and I are updating, revising, and reprinting Third Opinion to make it even more comprehensive.

I have not visited all the places listed in this directory, nor have I met all the practitioners. Although I’ve been involved with Cancer Victors and Friends for many years and have spoken before on this subject, it should not be construed that I am promoting or advocating any therapies or making recommendations of any kind. I am a layman simply passing on information for the reader to evaluate. You should always consult a knowledgeable physician regarding the medical aspects of any illness or therapy.

It is my greatest hope you will enjoy your search, that you will find what you need, and that your health will improve as a result of your efforts.

Reviews

"Whether you are looking for an alternative choice, want to learn about what is available or just like to be well informed, Third Opinion is an excellent addition to your library."
--New Visions Magazine

"A helpful resource guide to the alternative treatment centers around the world ... a must for anyone who wants to make informed decisions."
--Taste for Life

“For the cancer patient, Third Opinion is an alternative treatments yellow pages as well as travel guide and budget keeper. For the practitioner, it’s a who’s who with phone numbers to ask questions and get answers quickly.”
--Townsend Letter for Doctors

“An invaluable resource guide for people who have cancer (or AIDS, arthritis, or heart disease, etc.).”
--The Book Reader

“One cannot argue with the guide’s value to those who have exhausted orthodox medical treatments and wish to pursue other options. Highly recommended.”
--American Reference Book Annual

“This directory is superior...it gives more information for establishments selected for inclusion.”
--Library Journal

“John Fink has compiled an excellent international directory to the alternative centers.”
--Whole Earth Review

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