HCRC FAQ Sheet

Gonzalez
Metabolic
Cancer
Treatment

By Saul Green, PhD

Should we believe that Nicholas Gonzalez, MD, can cure cancer_

The Gonzalez Method

The Gonzalez treatment is a copy of a treatment invented by William D. Kelly, a dentist from Grapevine, TX. (1, 2). Gonzalez learned Kellys treatment when he visited Kelly in l981 (3). Since Kelly did not publish his methods Gonzalez learned it in conversations they had and by reading notes Kelly kept. Gonzolez never published his observations or conclusions (3).

In l987, Gonzalez noted that Kelly's treatment results were not proven, but a number of patients had remissions. Accordingly he concluded that cancer can be eliminated "by the patients own body" if all the organs aare detoxified and metabolism is balanced. He thus adopted Kelly's treatment (4). Originally it consisted of: I) nutritional therapy, i.e. ingestions of pills containing co-enzymes, vitamins, minerals, bioflavonoids, rutin, raw almonds, amino-acid lipoids and beef pancreatic enzymes; 2) detoxification, i.e., purging with laxatives, fasts and coffee enemas; 3) diet, i.e. created for the patient and forbidding processed foods, milk, peanuts, soy products, white rice and white sugar; 4) neurological therapy i.e., osteopathic, chiropractic and mandibular manipulation; 5) spiritualism, ie. prayer. Gonzalez's treatment currently includes the nutritional, detoxification, and diets but not the neurological or spiritual therapies. He uses Hair Analysis to follow the progress of his patients.

Dubious Credentials

Few if any cancer patients, who are desperately seeking an alternative to standard therapy, have the luxury of time in which to learn about the scientific and medical credentials of those who offer miracle cures.

In the case of Nicholas Gonzalez, establishing his credentials was done by reviewing his written (but unpublished) report on the subject (l987), and by establishing personal correspondence with Robert A Good, his mentor at Cornell Univ. Med. School from l984-l986; with the Deputy Director in the Division of Cancer Treatment of NIH; with the Editor-in-Chief of the Townsend Letter for Doctors (l988); with Victor Herbert M.D., J.D., M.A.C.P., Director of the VA Nutrition Research Center; and with associates of Julianne Charell, uterine cancer victim and patient of Gonzales in l997.(N.Y. Daily News 3/31/97.)

The inquiry revealed that Gonzalez has never gone beyond the M.D. He is not a fully trained, Board-eligible or Board-certified immunologist, oncologist or hematologist. Dr. Good did not in any way vouch for the authenticity of Gonzalez's records or for his claims of patient long term survival. Further, Gonzalez has never met any of the criteria for authorship of a scientific paper. These criteria are involvement in the conception of and participation in the research testing the hypothesis; willingness to defend, with experimental data, all htmlects of the project before an appropriate, critical body of scientists; peer review; acceptance of full responsibility for the validity of the reported research results.

Technical Evaluation of Gonzalez Method

There is no true scientific proof that the Gonzalez regimen is of benefit in treatment of cancer. Comparing scientific facts with the claims of Gonzalez shows that they are unsupportable. He has never identified toxins in processed foods. He has never shown that toxins are excreted in the bile; that necrosing tumors produce toxins; that these toxins can poison oxidative processes; that cancer thrives in the absence of oxygen; that coffee enemas, megavitamins or special diets inhibit tumor growth; that a deficiency of pancreatic enzymes causes cancer; that ingested animal enzymes can replace those in human tissues; that pancreatic enzymes can seek out and kill cancer cells.

Overwhelming evidence shows that mutagenesis and damaged DNA are the cause of cancer (5,6,7) not a pancreatic enzyme deficiency . One must conclude that Gonzalez's claims are not credible.

Legal Actions Against Gonzalez

From the Quackwatch web site: "In 1994, after investigating six of Gonzales's cases, New York State licensing authorities had concluded: (1) his "alternative protocol" did not entitle him to an alternative standard of care; (2) he had failed to correctly interpret signs and symptoms of disease progression, (3) he had treated the patients incompetently, and (4) his record-keeping was inadequate. He placed on probation for three years with a stipulations that he undergo retraining and his work be supervised by the Office of Professional Conduct.

"In 1997, a jury in New York City awarded $2.5 million in actual damages and $150,000 in punitive damages to a former Gonzales patient. The woman testified that she had been diagnosed with an early stage of uterine cancer in 1991 and underwent a hysterectomy. Instead of following through with medically recommended radiation and chemotherapy, she consulted Gonzales who discouraged her from following her cancer specialist's advice. Based on his interpretation of a hair test, Gonzales prescribed up to 150 dietary supplement pills a day plus frequent coffee enemas. Later he claimed that the cancer was cured even though it was progressing. It eventually damaged her spine and left her blind. According to an article in the New York Daily News, this is the first time punitive damages were awarded in a malpractice case in New York State."

For More Detailed Information:

• Saul Green, PhD. Nicholas Gonzalez Treatment for Cancer: Gland Extracts, Coffee Enemas, Vitamin Megadoses, and Diets Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, Vol 2 No 2, Fall/Winter 1998, Amherst NY, Prometheus Press.

• Victor Herbert, MD, JD. The Continuing Case of Nicholas Gonzalez Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, Vol 2 No 2, Fall/Winter 1998, Amherst NY, Prometheus Press.

• Saul Green, PhD. The Reality of Alternative Medicine for Serious Illness: A Guide for Laymen, Health Care Reality Check Website, February 1998.

Cited References:

1. Wm. D. Kelly , DDS, New Hope for Cancer Victims: One answer to cancer. The Kelly Research Foundation. l969
2. Foundation for Alternative Cancer Therapies. Ltd. Meeting, August l988, Nicholas Gonzalez, MD. Audiotape Transcript
3. Gonzalez, N. MD. One Man Alone: An investigation of nutrition, cancer and Wm. D. Kelly. A personal communication. l987
4. The International Health Institute Letter. Dallas, TX. (1) 1-2 l980.
5. Baserga, R. The genetic basis of cell proliferation. In:The Biology of Cell Reproduction. Chapt. l3. l985.
6. Klassen CD, Amdkur MOl, Doulle Jl, Eds. Cassarett and Doulle"s Toxicology The basic science of poisons. 3rd. ED. NY., NY. Macmillan Co. l986
7. Bryson PD, eds . Stimulants. In: Comprehensive Review in Toxicology. 2nd Ed., Aspen Publishers Inc. Rockville MD, pps. 374-376 , l989.

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