Dr Roy Swank---my phone call

[Guest guest]

" 60 Minutes " did an exciting segment on the research

into the uses of Thalidomnide for cancer and MS in the

late 1900s and I phoned Dr. Swank in Portland, OR. Dr

Swank said he never watched " 60 Minutes " , knew nothing

about Thalidomide, and growled " take Avonex! " So much

for " the famous (or infamous) Dr Swank. My

opthalmologist urged me to contact the Thalidomide

researchers at UCLA directly for info. I tracked down

the phone number and phoned the UCLA researchers. The

young lady answering that number assured me

Thalidomide would " never, never be allowed in this

country by the FDA " . I told her Thalidomide was

allowed into this country the previous Thursday. One

doctor researching joined our conversation in the next

heartbeat and asked for names and numbers to get this

info himself. He told me the lack of progress on

Thalidomide while peripheral neuropathy remained a

major side effect. With Avonex, the patient loses

his/her liver. Of course, the prescribing doctor gets

a paid vacation from the drug company. Shirley

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