An American discovery that paw paw leaves may cure cancer is old news for a Gold Coast bookie who was extolling the plant's virtues 14 years ago.

Stan Sheldon, then 70, told the bulletin in May 1978 how he beat cancer by following an old Aboriginal recipe and drinking the extract of boiled pawpaw leaves.

In 1962 he was given five months to live when leading specialists found he had rapidly spreading cancer in both lungs,

But after two months of drinking his pawpaw “tea” the specialists were astonished to find all signs of his malignancy had disappeared.

Cancer researchers in the United States were reported yesterday to have isolated a chemical compound in the pawpaw tree which was claimed to be a million times stronger than the most widely used anti cancer drug, Adriamycin.

The anti cancer substance, soon to be tested by the US National Cancer Institute, was found throughout the pawpaw tree, but primarily in twigs and small branches.

The Sheldon treatment involved cramming as many paw-paw leaves and stems as possible into a saucepan before adding water. After boiling, the mixture was allowed to simmer for two hours before being drained off.

Mr Sheldon drank about 200 ml of the unpleasant tasting brew three times a day. In addition, he took three teaspoons of raw molasses a day - another tip from the Aboriginal pharmacopoeia.

Back in 1978, Mr Sheldon was able to produce medical documentation and letters from his amazed specialists to back up his story.

But he refused to label the pawpaw treatment as a “miracle cure for cancer”.

Several articles in the Bulletin recently have extolled the virtues of a paw-paw “cure for cancer” based on testimonial evidence from a local man several years ago.

I have been quoted commencing favourably, thus implying my support for this type of therapy.

This implication is inaccurate. I do not support such treatment at all.

In my capacity as local AMA branch president, your paper requested my comment about a report from US National Cancer Institute scientists claiming a potentially very potent new anti cancer drug had been derived from papaya (Pawpaw) skins (not from leaves or branches of the tree.)

This report clearly stated the drug was the subject of pre clinical studies. That is, it was yet to be tested on humans. I replied that many anti cancer drugs we now use were derived from plants, so such a report did not surprise me.

I further warned there were many obstacles between discovering agents apparently effective in the test tube or in laboratory animals and finding drugs safe and effective for human cancer.

I was not informed about, nor asked to comment on, your paper's archival material about the man who claimed to have "cured" his cancer by drinking a vile sounding brew made from paw-paw branches and leaves sweetened with molasses.

There is nothing in your reports to convince me the man described ever had cancer in the first place. Cancer is a diagnosis only confirmed by biopsy and microscopic examination, not by xray appearances.

If he never had cancer his "cure" is hardly surprising. I can quote many similar anecdotes about apparent cancer "cure" in patients where no pathologic confirmation was obtained.

I further believe it was inappropriate to describe me in your articles as a local oncologist (cancer specialist) rather than as AMA president.

In my many statements as local AMA president reported in your paper over the last 12 months. I have never been described as a cancer specialist until now. It is ironic and misleading to your readers that it should happen on an issue relevant to cancer.

Patients with cancer are often desperate people who do not deserve to be misled.

I found your article about Paw Paw Leaves interesting. Especially the doctor's claim about Stan Sheldon maybe never having cancer at all.

He did. And he cured it.

While living in Canberra, my Boss, Brian Wolff, who was 48 was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma - lung cancer in april 1993. He was a long-time heavy smoker, smoking about sixty Camel no-filter cigarettes a day. He was given 6-8 months to live and told to put his affairs in order. The tumour was the size of a grapefruit, sitting to the left of his breastbone. A biopsy and all relevant tests were done and chemotherapy offered if he wanted it, though they didn't believe it would change the prognosis.

Sadly, I told my Dad who lives in Perth. He told his bookie (god knows why) who lives in Darwin. The bookie's name was Eric Sheldon, Stan's son. Eric told dad about the paw paw brew and sent Stan's newspaper article and doctors reports to Perth. Dad then sent it to me, I gave it to Brian. Brian was a massive skeptic and didn't believe in any alternative therapies. He didn't believe in doctors either, having hardly ever been ill in his life. As he was reading the newspaper article about Stan's cure something amazing happened. The 'then provider' of pawpaw leaves to residents in states other than Qld, was a Mr Vern Forrest. Vern was a father figure and great friend to Brian in Albury many years before, both owning a racehorse together. I will never forget that moment when Brian read his name aloud exclaiming, "I don't believe it, there can only be one Vern Forrest!"

Brian phoned Vern at Burleigh Heads who recognised his voice immediately and said, "Don't you worry Wolfie, you'll be right in no time," and the circle around Australia was connected. Vern sent us paw paw leaves for some time and we had back up supplies with other friends living there. Brian drank the pawpaw leaf tea for months. 1 glass of 200-250ml three times a day. It tastes disgusting and smells vile. The remedy also called for one spoonful of raw molasses three times a day, but Brian was diabetic so he skipped this bit.

After about 8 weeks during a check up, the doctors were stunned to find the tumour had disappeared. They did more tests to confirm this finding and said "No one recovers from a Small..." (small cell carcinoma) His doctor thought it may have been the chemotherapy which had just started and was skeptical of attributing the miracle to the Pawpaw brew but we expected that. Many months later, Brian chose to have Radiotherapy as well and the radiologists could not find a shadow of the cancer to eradicate. They had to use his original diagnostic tests to pinpoint the target area. He still went ahead with radiation.

Brian lived cancer free and very healthy for another 3½ years after which the cancer returned fast and furious. The fight had gone from Brian this time and he surrendered to the cancer which acted swiftly. He passed away over 4 years after original diagnosis of 6-8 months to live. He cherished his last few years as one who is given a new chance at life. He told us about the intense sublime beauty and perfection of the sunset as only one who has glimpsed their own death can. He was a remarkable man and this was a remarkable time in my life. We supplied many people with information and contacts during '93 - '95 who also tried this remedy. Cancer is called the disease of resignation - sometimes this remedy helped, sometimes it didn't.

I just wanted to share my story. I'm on the hunt for more pawpaw leaves now as I found out today a friend has just been diagnosed with lung cancer.