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| I am Max Ralphs. Following is my statement on my treatment for bladder cancer by Dr. John Holt, of Perth. |
| In January of 1989 I was diagnosed as having cancer in the lining of my bladder. I was then 50 years old, and an official at a Wollongong Colliery. My oncologist did not recommend surgery, recommended against radiotherapy, and attempted to kill the cancer by injection of a chemical into the bladder. This treatment was partially successful, slowing the cancer, but did not cure it. He then recommended removal of the bladder as the only treatment, which could save my life. I was reluctant to accept this recommendation because of the dangers involved and because of the drastic effect it would have upon my lifestyle, if successful. |
| However, through the press and through my daughter, a University of Wollongong employee, I heard of the case of John Steinke, then the Dean of Commerce at the university, who had been successfully treated for bladder cancer by John Holt. After discussing the details of his treatment with Mr. Steinke, and after discussion with my Urologist and Dr. Holt, I decided to go to Perth for treatment. I should say that I did so against the strenuous objections of my Oncologist, who was scathing in his denunciation of Dr. Holt. |
| I was under treatment by Dr. Holt for approximately 6 weeks. Treatment consisted of a total of 6000 rads of radiotherapy administered on a daily basis and alternated every second day with treatment by microwave preceded by injections of a glucose analogue (a substance very similar to blood sugar but having no nutritive value). Although somewhat fatigued by the treatment I was nevertheless well enough to walk between Dr. Holt's clinic and my accommodation each day. I had no other noticeable side effects and in fact, about three quarters of the way through treatment felt well enough to race my son up to a tower in Kings Park. |
| Following my course of treatment my Urologist examined me, taking bladder tissue samples, at gradually lengthening intervals – initially 6 weeks, then 3 months, then 6 months. In 1991, two years after my initial treatment, pathology tests revealed some a-typical cells in my urine. After discussion with my Urologist, and Dr. Holt, I then returned to Perth for a further course of 18 microwave treatments. Three days after returning to Wollongong I was back at work. |
| I was fortunate enough, given the unwillingness of the government to meet the cost of microwave treatment through Medicare, that I had private medical insurance, which covered most of my costs. In the subsequent 11 years, I have had no further bladder difficulties, although I continue to have periodic examinations. My recovery from cancer, and my treatment by Dr. Holt, I now see something good in life that started from dismal beginnings. |
| I am now 63 and, despite having had some non-cancer related physical problems, still in generally good health. In a few days I shall be off to do some digging at my Opal mine near Glengarrie in the Northwestern New South Wales. |
