Participant 1 had bone cancer. Prior treatment in 2002 involved radiation to the spine. She had not undergone any other conventional treatments. The levels of alkaline phosphatase were mea sured in the blood as a monitor of the progression of the disease. The normal range is from 0 to 136, and those with bone cancer have elevated levels. In September 2002, her test results showed 327. She started taking one paw paw capsule QID in Novem- ber 2002. In December 2002, her alkaline phosphatase had decreased to 242, and by Feb- ruary 2003, it had decreased to 144. Her physician stated that as long as the levels remained stable, the cancer was being contained and not doing further damage. Over the next two years, her alkaline phosphatase levels varied between 144 and 150 as long as she took the
paw paw, but if she stopped taking it the levels would increase. She reported that she had more energy and stamina when taking the paw paw. In September 2005, she was suffering severe emotional stress due to family problems, and she stopped taking paw paw. Her con- dition deteriorated and she passed away in March 2006, having survived a terminal condi- tion for over three and one- half years by taking paw paw intermittently.
Participant 2 has a bone tumor on one of his neck bones. On July 30, 2002, the tumor, which was detected by X-ray, was mea sured as a 7 mm cavity with a 5 mm mass. He did not undergo any conventional treatments and elected only to take the paw paw capsules, which he began in September 2002. Another X-ray image, taken on March 13, 2003, showed a signifi cant decrease in the tumor with a 4.5 mm cavity and a 3 mm mass. In the fi ve- year follow up, he was reportedly doing well. He had continued with the paw paw capsules for a period of time and then stopped. The tumor grew in size, but it again regressed when he resumed taking paw paw. He remains in good health today taking the paw paw supplement.
Participant 3 has breast cancer. She has not undergone any conventional treatments since being diagnosed. She started taking the paw paw capsules in October 2002. She reported that the pain in her affected breast decreased, and her noncancerous fi brocystic lumps have reduced in size. Her physician reported that she has done “remarkedly well” considering that she has not had surgery. She reported that she feels good and has had some weight gain. In the fi ve- year follow- up, she said that she had stopped taking the paw paw in lieu of some alternative treatments. Subsequently, cancer has formed in her other breast.
Participant 4 had breast cancer. She opted not to have any surgery, radiation, or chemo- therapy. She started taking one paw paw capsule QID in November 2002. Her blood tests for the tumor antigen, CA2729, were consistent at 24 on September 12, 2002, and Decem- ber 3, 2002. (In breast cancer patients, the CA2729 antigen is usually elevated above 15.) In March 2003, all of her blood tests were within the normal ranges. The tumor size had also reduced. She continued to take paw paw up to a week or two prior to her death on July 23, 2007. Although she passed away, her survival time for fi ve years while taking paw paw is equivalent to the expected survival times of most breast cancer patients who opt for the expense and challenges to one’s health of conventional treatments.
Participant 5 had breast cancer. She decided to undergo chemotherapy and take the paw paw capsules concurrently. The chemotherapy treatments lasted seven months. X-ray showed that the tumor had almost completely disappeared. She decided to undergo surgery as well to remove any traces of the tumor. Removal and examination of 14 subaxillary lymph nodes detected no metastatic cancer. This was followed by radiation treatments. Her subsequent screens have shown no detectable tumors in the breasts. She has retired from working and in the fi ve- year follow- up is believed to be “cancer free.”
Participant 6 has stage 4 breast cancer. After six weeks of taking paw paw, she saw a 50% reduction in her CA2729 tumor antigen levels, which went from 160 to 80 (< 15 is considered normal). The size of the tumor was also reduced. Since she had not changed any other treatment protocol, her physician was convinced that the paw paw supplement was responsible for her improvement. We were unable to locate this participant in the fi ve- year follow- up.
Participant 7 has stage 4 lung cancer. He had previously undergone two years of chemo- therapy, but the cancer had become resistant to the drugs. Within two months of taking the paw paw capsules (one capsule QID), his tumor marker (carcinoembryonic antigen, or CEA)
had improved from 275 to 222. He also had a weight gain of fi ve pounds and reported no side effects from the paw paw supplement. Prior to taking paw paw, he was bedridden or restricted to a wheelchair. His health improved to the point that he was able to walk and even play golf. We were unable to contact him in the fi ve- year follow- up.
Participant 8 has stage 4 melanoma. The primary tumor had been surgically removed from his arm in 2001. By October 2002, the melanoma had metastasized to the lymph nodes and to the lungs. His physicians were not able to perform additional surgery and did not suggest chemotherapy or radiation as viable options. His breathing had become la- bored, and he could walk only with diffi culty. In November 2002, he started taking one paw paw capsule QID and continued the paw paw supplement for one year. His breathing, mobility, and energy levels improved almost immediately, and he was able to return to work on his farm. In the spring of 2004, he had a follow- up X-ray of his lungs. His chest was completely clear, and there was no sign of the cancer. Interestingly, two fatty tumors on his arm have also decreased in size considerably, and the toenail fungus that had per- sisted for ten years has cleared up. At the time of the fi ve- year follow- up, he was still doing well.
Participant 9 has prostate cancer, which was confi rmed by a biopsy in July 2002. The tumor marker is prostate- specifi c antigen (PSA) with which normal values are < 4. His PSA level was at 35 with two pea- sized tumors. In July 2002, he began a nutritional diet that consisted of lots of raw vegetables and fruits, no red meat, and low amounts of refi ned grains and sugars. He started taking four paw paw capsules per day in October 2002. His PSA level dropped to 2.08 by December 23, 2002, down from 3.85 when mea sured two months earlier. He continued to take the paw paw supplement, and his PSA levels through August 2004 remained stable. In the fi ve- year follow- up, we learned that he has retired from work and continues to do well.
Participant 10 has stage 4 prostate cancer that has metastasized to several other parts of his body. Within six weeks of his starting QID consumption of paw paw, CT scans showed 25% reductions in the sizes of the tumors, while his PSA levels remained constant and did not increase. We were unable to contact him for the fi ve- year follow- up.