Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Voltaire2

(13,008 posts)

8. in fairness, at that time there was very little choice

Reply to Retired Engineer Bob (Original post)

Tue Sep 7, 2021, 12:28 PM

Sep 2021

many now-treatable cancers were just death sentences. Chemo was an abomination, surgery was hopeless in most cases, and radiation was worse than chemo. So yeah, people flocked to mexico for laetrile.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

20 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Who here remembers the leatrile controversy? [View all] Retired Engineer Bob Sep 2021 OP

I remember when some people thought it would cure AIDS. Mariana Sep 2021 #1

and new Spray-On Laetril musette_sf Sep 2021 #2

That's one of the things Steve McQueen was using, when he died Siwsan Sep 2021 #3

Laetrile was the first quack medicine I remember SCantiGOP Sep 2021 #6

From what I read, the surgery to remove the tumors is what triggered the heart attack Siwsan Sep 2021 #9

Yes, I think it was made from peach and apricot pits. Ocelot II Sep 2021 #4

Paul Krugman makes a good point n/t Retired Engineer Bob Sep 2021 #5

Wow this is good FakeNoose Sep 2021 #15

Yes. treestar Sep 2021 #7

in fairness, at that time there was very little choice Voltaire2 Sep 2021 #8

You have a good point Retired Engineer Bob Sep 2021 #11

His diagnosis was hopeless SCantiGOP Sep 2021 #12

Supporters tried everything, including trying to classify it as a vitamin (B17). Eugene Sep 2021 #10

At least the laetrile thing was understandable; desperate, dying people can be susceptible to such sop Sep 2021 #13

I remember it DFW Sep 2021 #14

Yes and a friend of mine decided to eat apple seeds because of it LeftInTX Sep 2021 #16

Yikes. Eat enough apple seeds and you will get cyanide poisoning. roamer65 Sep 2021 #17

Steve McQueen actually went to Mexico to access it. tblue37 Sep 2021 #18

Less than 10 years ago I had a patient demand, then beg for Leatrile Maru Kitteh Sep 2021 #19

Oh, Delphinus Sep 2021 #20