Rethinking Cancer the film is an educational documentary featuring cancer survivor stories that provides a rare look into the psychological and therapeutic journeys of five men and women who used alternative therapies to overcome serious illness.
Their survivor stories represent successes that mainstream medicine and the public ought to know about.
Four of the featured subjects had been diagnosed with cancer; two of these patients were considered terminal cases. The fifth patient had a severe case of Lyme disease. All five have outlived their diseases, between 15 and nearly 40 years, thus far.
These survivor stories represent a large pool of well-documented, long-term survivors who sought guidance from the Foundation for Advancement in Cancer Therapy (FACT) and then president, Ruth Sackman.
In addition to their stories, the High Definition, 56-minute long documentary includes excerpts from an interview with Ms. Sackman, as well as a thoughtful discussion of the cases by two physicians, Philip Incao, M.D. a practitioner of Anthroposophical Medicine, and Sheryl Leventhal, M.D. a former oncologist presently practicing Functional Medicine.
The Patients:
Rita Znamirowsky – Renal Cell Carcinoma
Rita is a Holocaust survivor who faced a “death sentence” when her diagnosis was made in November 1993. Her New York doctor refused to operate to remove her kidney, saying she was “Stage Four” and should simply go home and die, an event he estimated would transpire within 2 months.
The film highlights Ritas journey to recovery via Bio Repair.
Rita has continued to follow the FACT plan of nutrition and detoxification and has been cancer-free for over 15 years.
Lou Dina – Bone and Lymph Cancer
Mechanical engineer and classical guitarist Lou Dina was diagnosed in his wrist which had also spread to his lymphatic system. Following conventional doctor’;s orders, Dina received traditional radiation and one treatment of chemo before his “methodical engineer’;s mind” led him to seek out possible alternatives. His detailed search eventually led him to a FACT convention, where he was more impressed by the stories of recovered patients than the opinions put forth by his doctor.
The documentary reveals Lou’s insights and road to recovery.
Now living in Birmingham, Alabama, Dina has been cancer-free for over 30 years.
Michal G. – Breast Cancer
Israel-born Michal received her diagnosis in December 1982, during a period when she was seeing doctors often while undergoing fertility treatments. At the urging of her doctor, Michal underwent a mastectomy which was to be followed by radiation and chemotherapy. When Michal baulked at the prospect, her Sloan-Kettering oncologist said she would have a less than 15% chance of recovery without treatment. Not wanting to have a poor quality of life from the side effects of treatment, if this was indeed to be the end of her life, Michal opted at a survivor friend’;s suggestion to contact Ruth Sackman and FACT Already regretting the mastectomy and dreading the prospect of the side effects of radiation and chemo, Michal decided to take control of her treatment and follow the bio-repair plan.
Watch the movie to find out how Michal used a bio repair recovery programme to heal.
Now a practicing psychotherapist residing in Riverdale, NY, this mother of two has been cancer-free for over 25 years.
David Walant – Lyme Disease
The experience of Ridgefield, CT resident Walant demonstrates how bio-repair is a system applicable, essentially, to any kind of chronic disease. When Walant was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 1989, a time when the disease wasn’;t widely known, he followed the recommendation of his family physician by taking a course of standard antibiotics. After finishing the course, Walant’;s symptoms returned, which led his family doctor to send him to a specialist at Yale Medical Center. The specialist put him on a powerful new antibiotic called Rosefin, which he assured him “would completely kill off the disease.” Once again, after the treatment was concluded, the symptoms returned. The specialist’;s new recommendation? To double the dose. By this time, Walant had been alerted to FACT by a friend in New York and decided to give Ruth Sackman a call. Sackman listened to and advised Walant of a potential system to follow, including detoxification, diet and selected herbal supplements.
Walant has been free of Lyme Disease for 20 years. Watch the movie to find out how and why.
Doris Sokosh – Breast Cancer
Doris Sokosh is one of the oldest FACT success stories. First diagnosed in 1971, she underwent radical surgery to remove her breast and uterus. When her weight dropped to under 90 lbs, her doctor told her husband she was terminal, there was nothing more that could be done and effectively sent her home to die. Her husband then found out about the just-formed FACT and began a last chance hope to nourish his wife, who at this point could barely move or speak, with apple, carrot and celery juice and even a rectal implant of yogurt, along with detoxification. Over the course of weeks, Sokosh began to show signs of recovery; with eyes so clear a friend commented “they are white like a baby’;s.” When she regained her strength, Sokosh began to create her own food recipes based on the FACT program which are contained in a self-published tome which is swiftly making its way around the bio-repair grapevine, Triumph Over Cancer Cookbook.
Today, still vital in her late 70s, Sokosh has been cancer-free for 37 years.
The Physicians
Philip Incao M.D.
A long-time advocate of the bio-repair approach championed by F.A.C.T, Dr. Philip Incao serves to introduce the film and conduct a revealing Q&A on alternative treatments in the new documentary.
Sheryl Leventhal M.D.
A former New York Oncologist who is now practicing the “food as medicine” centric field of Functional Medicine, Dr. Sheryl Leventhal provides a thought provoking conclusion to the new documentary.
The Filmmakers
Richard Wormser -Writer, Director & Editor
Richard Wormser has written, produced and/or directed over one hundred documentary films and programs for television, foundations, educational institutions and government.
Consuelo Reyes – Executive Producer
Consuelo Reyes, is President of FACT and Executive Producer of the new documentary. She earned a B.A. graduating Cum Laude in Russian Literature and Language from Barnard College in 1969, including a semester at Leningrad University in 1968.
James Oakar – Producer/Soundtrack Composer
James Oakar serves on the Board of Trustees. With extensive experience as a creative producer and music composer, James also served as Producer and Soundtrack Composer for the new documentary.
Rethinking Cancer – The Film – Watch it now.
