Mission Statement

Survive Cancer was founded by Dr Carmen Wheatley (D Phil. Oxon) in 1999 as a result of knowledge gained in the process of helping a number of cancer patients, including her old Oxford tutor and friend, Michael Gearin-Tosh, who, in 1994 was given a terminal diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma, (a blood cancer). Conventional medicine offered Michael no hope, but Carmen, a keen advocate of nutritional medicine, determined to investigate other treatments that might help him. Living Proof, Michael’s book about his treatment, has inspired many cancer sufferers. (Simon and Schuster 2002.) Sadly Michael died in the summer of 2005, but he had survived his cancer for 11 years. Dr Wheatley is currently fully committed to research and the setting up of our two proposed patient trials.

The Trials

The first trial aims to test Dr Wheatley’s published hypothesis, (Medical Hypotheses, volume 67, issue 1, on pages 124 - 142, 2006, or online at www.sciencedirect.com) that high doses of Vitamin B12 may be used as a safe treatment to dramatically reduce the up to 75% mortality from septic shock in the intensive care unit. This treatment may also apply to traumatic shock, such as results from car accidents, severe burns or radiation exposure, which causes a similar mortality. Septic shock is a dangerous, life-threatening condition that can affect anyone, not just cancer patients. It is caused by bacterial infections that cannot be controlled by antibiotics alone, or even the best supportive medical care. AIDS-related infections, Meningitis, Pneumonia, and hospital super-bug MRSA, for instance, can all induce septic shock. Post-operative and transplant patients, cancer sufferers, the old and the very young are particularly vulnerable.

The evidence for the efficacy of intravenous B12 as a potential treatment for shock, both traumatic and septic, already exists in animal studies dating back almost 50 years, the most recent and positive study dating to 1994 by the University of Louisiana. It is quite extraordinary that the treatment has not been tested in patients. This is almost certainly because Vitamin B12 is not a drug, and thus offers little scope for profit by the major drug companies.

Since publication, Dr Wheatley’s hypothesis has attracted international interest from scientists in the field of inflammation. Professors from Harvard, London and Milan have offered to collaborate. Results of preliminary lab studies at the William Harvey Institute, London, being conducted by Professor Mauro Perretti and his colleague Dr Fulvio D`Acquisto, are very positive, and more studies are planned. Dr Wheatley has recently completed 2 further hypotheses progressing her theory of B12 in the treatment of septic shock, which were published in 2007.

1. The return of the Scarlet Pimpernel: cobalamin in inflammation II - cobalamins can both selectively promote all three nitric oxide synthases (NOS), particularly iNOS and eNOS, and, as needed, selectively inhibit iNOS and nNOS. Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, Volume 16, Issue 3 & 4 August 2007 , pages 181 – 211.
2. Cobalamin in inflammation III - glutathionylcobalamin and methylcobalamin/adenosylcobalamin coenzymes: the sword in the stone? How cobalamin may directly regulate the nitric oxide synthases.
   Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, Volume 16, Issue 3 & 4 August 2007 , pages 212 – 226.
   both available at: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713433534

Rigorous patient trials are essential if we are to test new approaches to disease. Now we have a chance to do just this, with a vitamin that has been proved to have an excellent safety record in high doses, to treat a life-threatening condition which conventional medicine has so far failed to cure. We have the attention of serious, internationally renowned scientists and doctors, eager to test, yes, a vitamin! If it works, it will be a life-saver for millions.

Our second research project focuses on Multiple Myeloma, a blood/bone/immune system cancer. A small pilot study with patients, followed by more extensive trials, will aim to test the hypothesis that a chronic deficiency of Vitamin B12, (very common in ageing,) is the, as yet undiscovered, fundamental cause of this cancer, and its forerunner, MGUS. (C. Wheatley. A Unified Theory of the Causes of Monoclonal Gammopathy of Unknown Significance (MGUS) and Multiple Myeloma, with a Consequent Treatment Proposal for Long-Term Control and Possible Cure, Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, 2002, Vol 17, No.1. 7.) For this study we also have the backing of a consultant at the John Radcliffe Hospital. Haematologist Dr Timothy Littlewood has agreed to run this patient study if we can raise the money. If this hypothesis is proved by our study, we will have a way of preventing a cancer for which there is as yet no cure and very poor survival rates. The approach to be tested may also benefit certain leukaemias.

Our aims for the future include:

• Educational video/DVD
• Patient helpline
• Conferences, lectures and seminars
• Chair of Orthomolecular Medicine at a leading university

The charity has only one part-time employee at present: Hilary Boyd, director and administrator, an established health writer and broadcaster. Dr Carmen Wheatley is involved in ongoing cancer research, and gives her services free.