Seeking Cure

Seeking Cure
By Heiða Helgadóttir

Seeking Cure
By Heiða Helgadóttir
© 2013

Nothing is set in stone in this life, so we never know what comes next. We might be driving down the road
on a sunny day enjoying the moment of just being and then the next moment suddenly its all over. One thing
sure in this life is death. Most of us are not expecting it to come anytime soon and don´t give it much thought.
Others are forced to face the thought that it might come sooner than expected. But we don´t expect it to be us.
It always happens to other people.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the developed world. The number of people getting diagnosed
continues to rise. Now it is expected that 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their
life. According to World Cancer Research Fund International 12.7 million people in the world got diagnosed
with cancer in 2008. In the same year 7.6 million people died from it.
Conventional treatment consists of three things, that is operation, chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy
is a dangerous drug as it attacks your whole body. It kills not only your cancer cells, but healthy cells
aswell. Chemo and radiation therapy are both known to be carcinogenic so they can cause other cancers
than the one you started with. American cancer society´s website, have a special section on their webpage
about second cancers caused by cancer treatment.
Scientists at the McGill Cancer Center did a research poll amongst 118 doctors who all are experts on cancer.
The research showed that 3 of every 4 doctors would refuse chemotherapy for themselves due to its
devastating effects on the entire body and the immune system, and because of its extremely low success rate.

Dr. Ralph w. Moss has deidcated his life to researching cancer treatments and he has written or edited twelve
books and three films about the subject.
He has found out that chemotherapy can only be effective in treating 2-4% of cancers, he claims that it does
not have any effect on the most common types of cancer. Its effect in killing cancer cells are only temporary
until it strikes back.
„The first drug used for cancer chemotherapy did not start out as a medicine. Mustard gas was used as a
chemical warfare agent during World War I and was studied further during World War II.
Doctors reasoned that something that damaged the rapidly growing white blood cells
might have a similar effect on cancer. So, in the 1940s, several patients with advanced
lymphomas (cancers of certain white blood cells) were given the drug by vein, rather than
by breathing the irritating gas. Their improvement, although temporary, was remarkable.“
(American cancer society: history of chemotherapy)
Still most people go through with chemotherapy and radiation when needed in hope of curing their disease.
But for cancer there is no cure. Or is there? All our lives we have heard that scientists are working on finding
a cure, the cure always seems to be just around the corner. Every now and then we hear on the news
about some breakthrough in cancer research and our hope goes up. Still the cure never comes. After many
decades we are still using the same method of treating cancer. Think about all the things in the world that
have changed in that time. We have come a long way. Why not with cancer?

More and more people are now stepping up and saying that they have cured themself from cancer with alternative
medicine. One of the things that is getting more popular today is medical cannabis. Not by smoking
it as so many do. But by extracting the active ingridients out of the plant and make it into a thick oil. Called
cannabis oil or „Rick Simpson oil“, from the guy that made a documentary about the oil as a medicine and
how he helped many people heal .
That documentary called „Run from the cure“ is a part of how popular the oil is becoming now. More
people are starting to use it now in hope of healing themselves from all kinds of diseases. The word about it
is spreading fast with documentaries, websites, testomonies and discussions about it. The talk in Denmark is
getting louder about the oil, with some of the media talking about it and interviewing people that are using
it and that Christiania has gotten a new group of clients, the sick people.
For many its a hard dive to take into the world of so called „alternative“ medicine and let go of the hospital
system. And for every person it is different. We meet two ladies in Denmark who have given up on the hospital
system and are seeking cure in the cannabis oil.

Britta

Surrounded by trees and just by the sea, the quiet town of Mårslet shows it´s best side with on this quiet
morning. The sun is shining and the last of the autumn leaves gently floating to the ground. Britta Wollmer
is getting ready for her daily walk in the woods with her small dog Stella.
For Britta life has had it´s surprises and difficulities, but she comes across as a whole and happy person.
While taking her walks she often stops to admire small things around her, she enjoys taking macro photos
as that is something that most people dont stop to look at. That is something that usually you just walk by
without looking closer or ever knowing it was there.
Britta is 49 years old and she has lived in Mårslet since 2007 and says its a dream place to live in. It is close
to nature and the atmosphere is calm. Britta is living here with her boyfriend of 4 years, Lars and her 10 year
old daughter Rikke. Lars also has a 6 year old daughter living in Odense that stays with them at least every
other weekend.
It was in 2010 that she found a big lump in her left breast which she thought was a breast infection like she
experienced when she breastfed. She had already talked to her doctor about it and he said that it was too big
to be cancer. One day during easter holidays she decided to pop by the hospital for a quick check-up, thinking
she would be home in time for dinner. But that day everything changed.
„When the doctors told me they had discovered a tumor that was 6,9 cm in diameter and that it was cancer, I
just could not understand. I kept telling myself that this could not be happening, I had told my daughter, Rikke,
that I would never get breast cancer since no-one in our family had gotten cancer. Two of her classmate´s mothers
have cancer and one in the opposite class. So they see us walking around with no hair on our heads, wearing
compressions sleeves. The children, who are only 10 years old, now think of cancer as the flue, because it is all
around them. When I got home from the hospital I was in complete shock. I called one of the mothers from my
daughter´s class who also had breast cancer. She was not available but I had a little chat with her husband. He
gave me good advice that I have tried to follow throughout this experience. He told me to try not to speculate
too much about the „what ifs“. To keep my mind on the actual facts.“
Britta went through four rounds of chemotherapy after which her whole breast was removed. Another four
chemotherapies followed with the addition of 25 series af radiation. The radiation left her with a big hole in
her body for 6 months. Something that just would not heal, and was extremely painful for her. When her
body was ready she had breast recunstruction.
„Then last summer I felt there was something wrong. I had a cough and sometimes I had difficulties breathing.
I had a cat scan and while we waited for the results we kept our hope. But we knew, in a way you always know.
When the lung specialist came in she told us she was the bearer of bad news. She said they found cancer. A lot
of cancer. In fact, the doctors told me there was nothing they could do to cure it but they could offer me chemotherapy
as a life extending treatment.“

Britta is certain that a tough experience she went through couple of years earlier made it easier for bad
things to harvest and grow in her body. That when you live in a negative enviroment you produce negative
hormones that affect your system.
After receiving the news about the new cancer attack on her body she decided to share the news with her
whole family and friends. Something she had not done the first time. She felt that the more people that sent
her positive thoughts, the better, and maybe that way, she would live a little bit longer.
„Getting these devestating news was shocking to me. I thought about Rikke and how unfair this was. I felt there
must have been a mistake. This whole thing was just wrong. One night I was at home and I got so overwhelmed
with sadness. I felt like a child that had no saying in its life. I felt completely defeated, there was nothing I could
do. The truth was, we were all sad, but we had to carry on. We needed to make lunch for Rikke and take her
to horseback riding lessons. Then I stumbled upon a website that said „cancer cure here“. That pissed me off. I
could not believe someone could actually use the words „cancer cure“. I was disgusted and felt provoked. But
something kept me reading on.“
The essence of the website was to raise awareness about vitamin B-17 which is a popular alternative cancer
treatment. B-17 is an herbal constituent derived from the kernel of various fruits, mostly apricots.
„I read everything I could find about B-17 and the good effects it had had on cancer patients.
I was sitting there and crying like a child thinking oh I wish it was me. It was really strange, then I thought, Why
shouldnt it be you! Yeah why not!
I found a video on YouTube where this woman claimed that B-17 cured her cancer. I asked my boyfriend, Lars,
to watch it with me and then asked him to please help me do what that woman did. He said he would help me
so we just went for it.
Through my research I found and contacted the Kanmed clinique. I spoke to Henry Vincenty who told me about
Rick Simpson and his cannabis oil but I was not very keen to begin with and was a little bit surprised how much
he talked about it. He told me all about it and convinced me that it was a good idea.“
This all happened the day before Britta was supposed to start her chemotherapy. Filled with hope, she talked
to her doctor and asked to postpone the chemo for six weeks. She started taking the B-17 vitamin, C-vitamin
as well as the cannabis oil. She went for a cat scan six weeks later and could not believe the results. „When
the doctor came into the room he said „I am a happy man because I have good news. They are almost too
good to be true, but they are true“. One of the metastisis had decreased from 10 mm to 4 mm and another
one that was 30 mm had decreased to 25 mm. Even though you could not measure the third one it was obvious
to the eye that it had shrunk. The fourth one was not even visible anymore. The doctor said that what
happened should not be possible. We are talking about a 1 mm shrinkage a week. He was almost jumping
with excitement.“

As it is now cannabis is illegal in Denmark, but the talk about legalazing it is getting louder. You can already
access cannabis easaly in Christiania where it is openely sold.
„My big hope would be that cannabis oil was a legal cure, that you could buy it or have it offered, so you would
not have to criminalize yourself. It is so strange that I might be considered as a criminal. I do not feel like a
criminal. Who wouldn´t do to anything to survive? I am not harming anyone, all I am doing is experimenting
with myself.
I mean, if you think about it, the cancer treatment that we offer is in many ways so grotesque. I can hardly believe
we are treating our own people like this. But worst of all is to think about all the children that are left without
their mother. How I wish it was as soon as tomorrow that we all stood up and realised that chemotherapy
and radiation were unnecessary. But the cancer industry is so big and there is a lot of money in it. I am certain
that the cannabis oil and the B-17 is working. This is the cancer cure.“
When Britta and Lars decided to make the oil, they started asking around, friends and family to ask if they
could find some material for them, cause the cost of this can be quite expensive as big quantaties are needed
in order to make the oil. Some had some plants at home that they gave to them and others had some friends
that had plants that also were given.
Britta says that some people are now talking about growing medical marijuna to give to the sick, this is what
she wants to do. They have started on experementing with a couple of plants, that should be ready when she
has finished with her treatment. They plan on giving it away to people that need it.
„Just like it was given to me when I needed, I want to give back.“
Britta´s cancer treatment today consists of B-17, C-vitamin, medical marijuana, staying away from sugar
and eating mostly organic food. She also takes long walks every day, tries to sleep a lot and to relax a few
times throughout the day.
„I could have been dead by now but I am still here, with hair on my head. I had my hair permed the other day
just because I could. I do not feel sick, in fact I feel that I am getting better. I can not remember the last time I
had so much energy.
In 1 month I am going to stop taking the oil as then I have been taking the recomended 1ml a day for little over
3 months. My next scan is coming up soon, but I think the cancer is gone because I feel so clean inside. This is
the first time I dare say it out loud and it is scary.
But I really believe it will be gone.“

Britta and Rikke play around.

Britta´s friend Mette, who is also her next door neighbour, often goes on
walks with her.

Britta just got some leaves and is going to try juice the cannabis leaves for
the first time.

Britta and Stella having a quiet time at the beach

Britta uses a scale to measure her intake of the oil and writes down how
much she takes, just to make sure she gets the recomended 1ml a day.

Pia

Today is a good day to stay inside. With the rain it has become a bit chilly, but not everybody thinks
staying at home is the best idea. You can see the people passing by from the window of the fifth floor in an
apartment building downtown Copenhagen. On the table a big buqet of fresh flowers,
In the kitchen Pia is cutting down vegatablets for dinner while Peter is siting near on his computer, watching
a youtube video about medical marijuana. Pia and Peter have been together for 2 years now. It was 7 years
ago that she discovered that something was wrong.
„I had this little thing on my neck something that was not supposed to be there. So I went to the doctor he did
some tests and it took a long time to get the results, it was 3 and half month. „
She was diagnosed with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MTC) which is cancer of the thyroid gland
that starts in cells that release a hormone called calcitonin. It is a rare form of cancer and not many options
to do about it. The only thing they could offer her at the time was surgery, so they cut it away. Then about
two years ago the cancer had spread to her bones and liver. They had to cut out 6 cm of the bones in her ribs.
After that Pia´s doctor decided to give her experimental tablets for advanced medullary thyroid cancer
called Caprelsa. Caprelsa can cause a serious skin reaction called Stevens-Johnson syndrome or other serious
skin reactions that may affect any part of a patient´s body. Unfortunately Pia´s skin started peeling off
so she could not be out in the sun.
„If I am going to keep taking the pills the doctor gave me, I am going to need some medication for my skin and
my blood pressure. My body is actually reacting in a very clever way because it reacts when it gets poison into
the body. Maybe the pills will make me live longer, but what kind of life would that be? And I can tell you this
feels more like being dead than alive. I tried to protect myself with suncream, hats and sunglasses but nothing
worked. These pills are so poisonous they were killing me slowly.“
„My father was a doctor so I was raised in the hospital enviroment. He told me to not go into a hospital because
they will kill you. And he was right, he himself died in a hospital because of a medical error after surgery.
My mother and my grandmother died of cancer, not the cancer itself, but the cancer treatment. My mother´s
little sister died when she was treated for an immune disease, not the disease itself. A hospital is supposed to be
a place where you go in and you go out and you feel better. Surely that must be the idea of a hospital but it has
changed to something else. It has changed to a place where you go in and you do not get out in a better condition,
you will for sure know you go out and feel bad. That is my experience.
I feel like the doctors only try to follow the disease, not me. It is like they are trying to seperate the two.”

„Peter had heard about this oil earlier and because the medication I got from the doctor was so bad I had to do
something else, so that was one of the things that we hadnt tried so why not try it.
I guess I never thought of cannabis oil as a treatment before because I really did not know about it. I had tried
smoking cannabis when I was younger but I did not like being stoned. A friend of mine who had cancer ate
hashcakes and it took the top of the pain away. He was really sick and it helped him and that is pretty much all
I knew about it.”
Pia stopped taking the prescribed medication a couple of months ago and has been taking the cannabis oil
instead. She also takes vitamin B-17 and C-vitamin.
„Now I feel much stronger, I have more energy, get better sleep, lot of relaxation but ofcourse still sometimes
dizzy and stoned. But now I can be outside and my skin is not falling off.
I think I have tried every alternative treatment there is, D-vitamin, C-vitamin, zink and being very careful with
my diet. I have been to different kinds of strange treatments like cell food injections and sound treatments. Then
we went to Cuba for a month to try a cancer treatment there, it was a mediaction made from scorpion venom,
called vidatox. I kept trying new things“
She has a new scan coming up next month and thinks it is a good possibilty that the cancer might be gone.
„I have had many discussions with people who ask me how I have been. I can honestly tell them that I have been
through a tsunami of discovery. A discovery of my life, my opinions and my thouhghts and the whole idea of
what it is to be sick and what it is to be healthy. “

Pia Bovin 49 year old , she has 2 daughters that have already moved
away from home, and a granddaughter

Pia and Peter have been together for 2 years now . Peter moved in with
Pia in her apartment in Copenhagen shortly after they met.

On the train home after a long day Pia is feeling exhausted.

In class. Pia is a film director and a teacher at Köbenhagen film & fotoskel.
A film school in Copenhagen

Pia had some friends over as she celibrated her 50th birthday.

Pia and Peter had an argument so he left and hasnt been back for 2 days.

Pia´s friend Sarah Boberg comes to support her through the breakup with
Peter.

Pia has a meeting with Henry Vincenty at the Kanmed clinique, where he
advices her to take higher doses of the oil.

With one of her dearest aunt, Mette Bovin. Pia says she is the one that feels
most like a mother to her.

Final Project
danish school of media and journalism
© Heiða Helgadóttir // heidah.com
Lots of thanks to Britta, Lars, Rikke, Stella, Pia, Peter,
teachers at dmjx, Henry Vincenty ,
Frímann, Anna, Arnar and everybody that helped me.
Special thanks to Ingó, I did this because of you.