The Placebo Effect,
Krebiozen

 
 
 

Vocabulary

 

groin shipping association
claim test (2) begin/began/begun
cancer research discover (3)
cure in reality appear (2)
drain standard lymph nodes
expect treatment proponent
fill beg (2) administration
quart oxygen walk around
tumor involve out of time
at first last (2) give/gave/given
assert armpit life expectancy
decide injection suspect (2)
refuse symptom find/found/found
melt effective accomplish
rapid sign (3) leave/left/left
fluid breathe deteriorate
liver rigid (2) abdomen
suffer try/tried remain (2)
effect relapse think/thought/thought
logical admit (2) nationwide
X-ray version experiment
supply feet (2) tell/told/told
sterile explain concentrated
initial condition patient (2)
intend plain (2) out of time
belief free (3) announce
faith this time shatter (2)
anew literally wonderful
tap (2) force (3) article (3)
prove demise blossom (2)
tragic discomfort

 
 
 
 
 
 

Krebiozen

In 1950, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began testing a new drug called Krebiozen. Its developers claimed it may be able to cure cancer.

One of the researchers involved in administering the test was a doctor named Bruno Klopfer.
 

The Patient

One of Dr. Klopfer’s patients, Mr. Wright, had been suffering from cancer of the lymph nodes. None of the standard treatments were working: his neck, armpits, chest, abdomen, and groin were filled with tumors the size of oranges. His spleen and liver were so enlarged that two quarts of milky fluid had to be drained out of his body each day.

Dr. Klopfer believed that Mr. Wright didn’t have much longer to live, perhaps a week.
 

Volunteering

When Mr. Wright discovered that Dr. Klopfer was involved in research on Krebiozen, he asked to be given this treatment. At first his doctor refused because the drug was untested and only being given to people with a life expectancy of at least three months.

But Mr. Wright pleaded, saying that at this point, he had nothing to lose. And so, Dr. Klopfer decided to give him one injection on Friday (though the doctor secretly felt Wright wouldn’t last the weekend).
 

The Outcome

On the following Monday, Dr. Klopfer found Mr. Wright out of bed and walking around. His tumors had “melted like snowballs on a hot stove” and were half their original size. This was a far more rapid decrease in size than even the strongest radiation treatments could have accomplished.

Ten days after Mr. Wright’s first Krebiozen treatment, he left the hospital, and as far as his doctors could tell, with no signs of any tumors.

When he had entered the hospital, he had needed an oxygen mask to breathe, but after he had left, he was well enough to fly his own plane at 12,000 feet (3,657.6 meters) with no discomfort whatsoever.

Mr. Wright remained in good health.
 

Newspaper Articles

Then about two months later, articles began to appear asserting that Krebiozen actually had no effect on cancer of the lymph nodes.

Mr. Wright read these in the newspaper, and feel into a depression. He suffered a relapse, and was readmitted to the hospital. This time Dr. Klopfer decided to try another experiment.
 

A Second Treatment

He told Mr. Wright that Krebiozen was every bit as effective as it had seemed, but that some of the initial supplies of the drug had deteriorated during shipping.

However, Dr. Klopfer said that he had a new, highly-concentrated version of the drug and could treat Mr. Wright’s condition (In reality, the doctor did not have a new version of the drug and intended to inject Wright with nothing more than plain sterile water).

He did . . . and Mr. Wright made another full recovery, and remained symptom-free.
 

The Announcement

Two months later, the American Medical Association announced on national television that the nationwide study of Krebiozen had found the drug to be ineffective in the treatment of cancer.

Upon hearing this, Mr. Wright’s suddenly cancer blossomed anew; he passed away two days later.
 

*     *     *     *     *     *     *


 

Questions

 
Cancer, Malignant Tumor. Cancer is a recent health disorder. It has become prevalent since about 2000. True or false?

Cardiac Arrest, Heart Attack. The text described how scientists developed a new form of laser treatment for cancer about 70 years ago. Is this correct or incorrect?

Arteriosclerosis. Did Mr. Wright have benign or malignant tumors?

Stroke, Brain Hemorrhage. Was Dr. Bruno Klopfer eager to apply Kreboizen to anyone?

Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia. After six months of treatment, did Mr. Wright’s tumors slowly and gradually go into remission?

Diabetes. When Mr. Wright was released from the hospital did he leave on a wheelchair?

Hypertension, High Blood Pressure.
Mr. Wright went on to live a long, healthy life. Yes or no? What happened later?
 
 
 

Depression.
Was the main idea or theme of the article the ineffectiveness of Krebiozen?

Arthritis.
Our minds can make us healthy, or make us sick. What do you think?

Asthma.
Can you give examples of the placebo effect?

Obesity.
How can this be used in our lives?

Liver Disease, Kidney Disease. What might happen in the future?
 
 
 
 
 

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