Fw: Suzanne Somers Enquirer Story

[Guest guest]

From: " ilena rose " <ilena@...>

Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2001 4:55 PM

Subject: Suzanne Somers Enquirer Story

> ~~~ thanks myrl ~~~>

>

> THREE'S COMPANY " star Suzanne Somers is caught in a terrible dilemma after

> revealing she's fighting breast cancer: Her business empire depends on the

> fitness of her body but she recently admitted she's resorted to

liposuction.

> And to further complicate the situation, she's chosen a course of cancer

> treatment that while it has less effect on her body -puts her life at

risk.

>

> She claimed she had the lipo as a result of the disease, but the truth is

> the fat-suctioning procedure had nothing to do with her breasts, and

experts

> point out that cancer and its treatment usually, cause a patient to lose

> weight, not put it on.

>

> The sales of Somers' products depend on her 54-year-old body and how well

it

> reflects the success of her Suzanne and fitness plan.

>

> Apparently, Suzanne thought she needed the fat removal surgery to improve

> her figure before going on a promotional tour to sell her latest diet book

> -but her decision to have it done has ignited a fire storm of controversy

> and raised questions about her weight-loss plan.

>

> The ENQUIRER has learned there is good news: The gifted performer is

> cancer-free -thanks to early detection last April, followed by surgery to

> remove the marble-sized lump and radiation treatment.

>

> But we also discovered bad news: Suzanne is risking her life by ignoring

> doctors' advice. She is refusing to take chemotherapy designed to keep the

> disease from returning and she is taking hormone therapy that experts warn

> can actually stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells!

>

> She is also injecting an unproven herbal treatment called Iscador -derived

> from mistletoe and promoted by a wealthy restaurant and real estate mogul.

>

> Joann Schellenbach, director of the National Media Office for the American

> Cancer Society, told ENQUIRER: " We're once that Suzanne Somers perhaps

does not

> have all the information she needs to make decisions a treating her breast

> cancer. "

>

> Suzanne has been raking in millions from her fitness books and videos. But

> on March 20, ENQUIRER broke a story headlined, " Surgery Secret BeD

Fitness

> Queen's Body. ..Suzanne Somers Liposuction Scandel. . .Thigh Master Beauty

> Caught Leaving Lipo Clinic. "

>

> We revealed that in late February Somers had liposuction on her inner and

> outer thighs, abdomen, hips and upper back behind her armpits.

>

> She had the work done at the Lasky Clinic in Beverly Hills. What's more, a

> source close to the actress told us Suzanne also discussed having more

> plastic surgery in the neck area -but decided against it after we revealed

> her liposuction. Somers is pushing a new product, Face Master, a device to

> reduce lines and wrinkles.

>

> On March 28, Suzanne gave an emotional interview to talk show host Larry

> King. She announced her battle with cancer -but was formally forced to

admit

> she had liposuction. She claimed it was " to even things out " as a result

of

> the cancer surgery.

>

> But King pressed the issue and asked, " Was it done on your thighs? On your

> hips? " Somers refused to answer, saying, " I have a nice body. "

>

> But experts say liposuction is definitely not part of routine breast

cancer

> treatment.

>

> During the TV interview, Suzanne confessed that when The ENQUIRER inquired

> about the liposuction, she deliberately had her publicist lie about what

was

> done by the plastic surgeon.

>

> " Your publicist said it was a mole, " noted King.

>

> Replied Somers: " When The ENQUIRER first called I said just tell them it's

a

> cancerous mole that I had removed. . . "

>

> Suzanne also revealed she has been ignoring doctors' advice to have

> chemotherapy. " I decided to find alternative things to do, " she disclosed.

> " I really feel I'm licking this. I have found other medicine from Europe.

> When I started taking it, it was illegal here, but now it's just been

> legalized. . .The treatment is called Iscador. "

>

> Suzanne revealed she injects her self in the stomach every day and will be

> doing so for five years. She said she found the treatment in an

alternative

> medicine handbook by Burton Goldberg.

>

> Health guru Goldberg is a wealthy real estate and restaurant magnate who

has

> made a long study of alternative therapies. Suzanne claimed during the

> interview that the Iscador is as effective as chemotherapy. But

Schellenbach

> told The ENQUIRER, " There's no evidence that the results are the same with

> Iscador and chemotherapy.

>

> " Chemotherapy has proven benefits and Iscador does not. "

>

> Terri Ades, director of Health Content for the American Cancer Society,

told

> The ENQUIRER that while Iscador has been shown in animal studies to have

> some effect on cancer cells, in major studies on humans " we have seen no

> effects. " The five-year survival rate for localized breast cancer -the

type

> Somers had -is about 96 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.

>

> During the King interview, Suzanne also admitted she is taking hormone

> therapy in direct violation of doctors' orders. Her explanation: the

> radiation treatment " blew out all my hormones!'

>

> She added that it's her belief that " a balanced environment of hormones

> prevents disease. "

>

> But Schellenbach told The ENQUIRER: " Almost any cancer doctor today would

> recommend that a woman with breast cancer not continue

estrogen-replacement

> therapy during her treatment -and not use it again in the future.

>

> " Estrogen is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. "

>

> Suzanne is continuing to merchandize her fitness products, Darris

Gringeri,

> Home Shopping Network spokesman, told The ENQUIRER:

>

> " On her latest shows, three days in March, she pitched Face Master, her

diet

> books, exercise equipment, sleepwear and her own line of jewelry.

>

> " She's a great draw and will continue to do her shows. "

>

> -ALAN SMITH, JIM NELSON and ROBERT BLACKMON

>

>