Integrating Medicine Is My Mission

Dr Sandra GOODMAN responds to ThinkWellness360 questionnaire: 

Why and how did you think of becoming a doctor? 

As a child growing up, in Canada, in the 1950s and 1960s, I was horrified at scenes of starving children in Biafra, as also of the bloody consequences of wars. Added to these was the active encouragement from my father to become a doctor. Thus was born my idealistic aims to somehow stop wars — I actually thought I should join the WHO to reduce hunger and famine, as well as practise medicine.

What made you think of, study and specialise in the system of medicine you now practice? 

Mine has been quite a convoluted journey. During my pre-med degree at McGill University, I became aware that the medical profession was tied up with the pharmaceutical industry, so I switched to Sociology, following which I completed my BSc in Biological Sciences at Concordia University, ten years later.

I applied to study for my PhD in Agricultural Biotechnology at McGill University, first in DNA sequencing, then searching for plant genes involved in nitrogen fixation, which I reasoned could make a contribution towards reducing the use of fertilisers.

After completing my PhD at McGill University — dissertation — identification, quantification, characterisation, purification and isolation of soybean nodule-specific gene sequences — I worked for a multi-national corporation in the US trying to isolate and patent genes for nitrogen fixation.

I subsequently realised that any patents I might discover would benefit the corporate world rather than hungry people, or poor farmers.

Travelling back and forth between the US, Canada and Europe, I returned to the UK where I was presented with a research project — organic germanium.

After publishing a research paper, a book and attempting to conduct a clinical trial to test organic germanium’s potential clinical efficacy in HIV/AIDS, organic germanium was banned in the UK, following a scandal about its potential toxicity. In 1988, I accepted a post at Bastyr College, in the US, to teach and research clinical techniques in detecting allergic reactions; while there I was given the assignment to write a book about vitamin C/Ester C with research from the Linus Pauling Institute, which I completed after I returned to the UK.

While living in Bristol, UK, dramatic events and negative publicity about the flawed Chilvers BCHC research study, in 1990, purported to show that women with cancer who attended Bristol Cancer Help Centre, now Penny Brohn UK, were more likely to die than women who received conventional care. The repercussions of the media storm almost closed down Bristol.

Pat Pilkington, MBE, convened a meeting of professionals, in 1992, to discuss Nutrition and Lifestyle Guidelines for People with Cancer. I was appointed the lead author of the Consensus Statement Document, Nutrition and Life-Style Guidelines for People with Cancer, which was published in the Journal of Nutritional Medicine [later re-published in Positive Health PH Online]. Pilkington, who wished to put the Bristol Cancer Help Centre on a more scientifically-sound footing, commissioned me in 1993 to set up a database of research publications about nutrition and cancer.

Some of these findings were serialised in issues of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine [JACM] — now defunct. Leon Chaitow, ND, DO, was its editor. This indirectly led to the publication of my book, Nutrition and Cancer — Health State-of-the-Art. What’s sad is Pilkington died in 2013; and Chaitow, five years later.

I was surprised at the huge body of published evidence, particularly regarding nutritional treatment approaches to cancer — way back in 1993.

However, little, if any, of this important, potentially life-saving information was being communicated either to researchers, or the wider public, interested in less dangerous/toxic and potentially more life enhancing treatments for cancer.

My partner, Mike Howell, with decades of experience in typesetting and magazine publications, suggested we publish a magazine. We launched Positive Health in 1994 — this became PH Online, in 2008, with the objective to bridging the gap between alternative and conventional medicine.

What unique and special skills you think you have that has made the big difference for your authors and readers? 

My ability to combine scientific knowledge, research and computer skills with empathy and compassion for the individual. My excellent writing skills and ability to translate scientific terms and published information into highly readable text.

Being a powerful and effective communicator on the telephone, in person, and to audiences. Seeking long-range solutions which may bring together the best techniques of polarised factions, i.e., in medicine, and between allopathic and complementary/alternative treatment approaches.

What is your best definition of optimal wellness and why? 

Optimal wellness is a complete and harmonious balance between mental, emotional and physical abilities, juxtaposed by happiness and equanimity.

Your best case? 

I have been publishing Positive Health PH Online, for over 27+ years now, which has created an enormous, interconnected worldwide network of people and businesses committed to natural health approaches — including authors, practitioners, colleges, and suppliers.

I have been surprised at the number of people who have contacted me, asking for advice about a great range of symptoms and conditions through literally hundreds of records/notes over this period. Two cases come to mind:

1. A woman diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which can cause your thyroid to not make enough thyroid hormone. It is an autoimmune disease which occurs when your body makes antibodies that attack the cells in your thyroid. Symptoms may include an enlarged thyroid gland [goitre], tiredness, weight gain, and muscle weakness. I referred the woman to a former medical practitioner, now specialising in metabolic disorders, who provided specialised tests which showed that it was the patient’s cortisol that was the issue, not her thyroid. She avoided sugar, white bread, alcohol etc., for about four months, after which when she went to the endocrinologist her thyroid was normal.

2. A fit and active man suffered bilateral diaphragm paralysis in fall 2015. He and his wife had been badly flooded and were living in a holiday cottage. He suffered bi-lateral paralysis of the diaphragm with severe difficulty in breathing and couldn’t lie down. He had undergone extensive medical tests, including MRI scans, had undergone cranial osteopathic treatment, was doing yoga, while his wife also helped him with hypnosis. I contacted and referred the patient to a number of highly experienced practitioners. His subsequent treatment involved a range of therapies, including nutritional, detox and energy treatments, from which he gradually recovered and made a full recovery.

Your ‘not-so-good’ case? 

I have been personally devastated when my solicited advice and work in locating and arranging for an expert in a particular condition to meet with the patient hasn’t been followed, and the patient subsequently dies, particularly when this has been a member of my extended family.

What appeals to you the most? 

The idea of global peace and happiness. Making the acquaintance and being inspired by a highly motivated and intelligent person, who is kind, humble and patient. Also, dancing and singing makes me happy.

What annoys you the most? 

Grammatical errors, including misuse of the apostrophe and comma, and misspelling. And, authors who continue to submit numerous drafts of articles throughout the editorial and production processes of publication, necessitating creating several files, or even re-writing/editing articles.

Your favourite books? 

The Shadow of the Wind; The Labyrinth of the Spirits, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

His Dark Materials; The Book of Dust, by Philip Pullman

Your favourite groups?  

Nina Simone, Fleetwood Mac, Madonna, Bob Dylan, Joni Michel, Freddy Mercury, Dolly Parton, Cat Stevens, Judy Collins, Leonard Cohen, The Pogues, Coldplay

Your favourite movies? 

2001: A Space Odyssey; Lawrence of Arabia; Terminator; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; and, Bohemian Rhapsody.

Your other interests, or hobbies? 

Exercise, yoga, walking, history, singing.

Your goal in life? 

To make a tangible difference in integrating allopathic and natural medicine disciplines.

Dr SANDRA GOODMAN, PhD, is the co-founder and editor of Positive Health. She first trained as a molecular biology scientist in Agricultural Biotechnology, in Canada, and the US, and has focused upon key health issues, in the UK, since the 1980s. Apart from being the author of a handful of books, including Nutrition and Cancer: State-of-the-Art, Vitamin C: The Master Nutrient, and Germanium: The Health and Life Enhancer, aside from numerous articles, Dr Goodman was the lead author of the consensus document, Nutritional and Lifestyle Guidelines for People with Cancer. She has also compiled the Cancer and Nutrition Database for the Bristol Cancer Help Centre, and is passionate about making available to all people, particularly those with cancer, clinical expertise in nutrition and complementary therapies. She lives in the UK.