British woman, 23, who died of cancer after refusing chemotherapy had ‘five coffee enemas a day'
Paloma Shemirani's brother made the claim this week during an inquest into her death, which came seven months after doctors told the Cambridge graduate she had an 80 per cent chance of surviving non-Hodgkin lymphoma with chemotherapy, according to the BBC.
Instead, she pursued an unproven alternative cancer regimen promoted by her mother, Kate Shemirani, who claimed to have used it successfully in the past.
Paloma died of a heart attack on July 24 last year, caused by an untreated tumor.
In written statements before her death, she denied having cancer at all, calling the diagnosis an 'absurd fantasy, with no proof,' per the BBC. She also expressed fears that chemotherapy might leave her infertile.
'I do not want to undergo such a harsh treatment that could even kill me when there is a possibility this is not cancer,' she wrote.
Her parents, Kate and Faramarz Shemirani, told the BBC they believe Paloma 'died as a result of medical interventions given without confirmed diagnosis or lawful consent.' The outlet has not been able to substantiate their claims.
Paloma's brothers, Sebastian and Gabriel, have publicly blamed their mother for fostering her distrust in modern medicine.
'My sister has passed away as a direct consequence of my mum's actions and beliefs and I don't want anyone else to go through the same pain or loss that I have,' Gabriel told the BBC.
Growing up in the small Sussex town of Uckfield, Gabriel said the 'soundtrack' to their household included conspiracy theorist Alex Jones — with claims that the Sandy Hook school shooting was staged and that 9/11 'was an inside job.'
Kate Shemirani's distrust of conventional medicine intensified after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, according to her sons.
Though she underwent surgery to remove the tumor, she has publicly credited her recovery to Gerson therapy — an alternative approach that aims to 'detoxify' the body through a strict vegan diet, natural juices, supplements and frequent coffee enemas.
The FDA has not approved Gerson therapy for treating cancer or any other condition. Major cancer organizations warn against its use, citing a lack of scientific evidence and the risk of serious side effects.
Kate Shemirani, a prominent figure in alternative health circles, is a former nurse who lost her license after the UK's Nursing and Midwifery Council found she used her professional status to spread 'distorted propaganda' during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Mirror.
In a 2021 interview with Sky News, she claimed that 'no vaccine has ever been proven safe and no vaccine has ever been proven effective,' and said she had seen 'no evidence' to suggest 'a pandemic exists.'
Later that year, during an anti-lockdown rally in London's Trafalgar Square, Kate compared healthcare workers administering COVID vaccines to Nazi war criminals and falsely claimed the virus was being spread by the 'downright deadly' shots.
Following the rally, her son Sebastian called for her to be 'prosecuted under existing laws' for her comments.
'It's only a matter of time before … somebody acts on the bad advice that she's giving the country,' he told BBC Radio 4's 'Today,' adding that he is worried his mother is 'beyond help.'
In written statements before her death, Paloma described her mother as 'an extremely forceful advocate for natural health' who was often 'misquoted,' according to the BBC.
The ongoing inquest into Paloma's death is focused on whether the care she received was appropriate. Before she died, she expressed confidence in Gerson therapy, saying she was 'delighted' with the alternative treatment and 'sure' she would 'make a full recovery' if allowed to continue.
The investigation also comes a few months after the premiere of the Netflix series 'Apple Cider Vinegar,' which was based on real-life Australian health blogger Belle Gibson.
Gibson amassed a huge online following based on claims that she had terminal brain cancer — and cured it with her wellness-driven lifestyle and diet. She monetized that through her app, Whole Pantry, which offered lifestyle advice and recipes.
But she later admitted that 'none of it's true' — not the cancer, not the cure.
Originally published as British woman, 23, who died of cancer after refusing chemotherapy had 'five coffee enemas a day'
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News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Dr Boreham's Crucible: Telix has homework but remains dux of radioimaging class
With multiple clinical trials and approval applications in train, nuclear medicine superstar Telix Pharmaceuticals (ASX:TLX) is like one of those irritatingly brilliant all-round students. We're thinking of the straight-A school captain who stars in the school play, whilst padding up for the First XI in between clarinet lessons. But when Goody Two Shoe's Latin grade slips to B+, panic ensues – mainly on the part of overbearing 'parents' (investors). Last month, Telix experienced the corporate version of such angst when it revealed the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had varied subpoenaed 'various documents and information'. These relate mainly to Telix's disclosures about its prostate cancer therapeutic program. While the company dubbed the entreaty a 'fact finding request', investors birched the stock by 15%. Telix has a nearer-term focus on winning US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval for two imaging products and says the longer-term therapy programs will continue unchanged. But the mysterious episode is not the first time that Telix has slipped up. In April, the FDA knocked back Telix's marketing application for its brain cancer (glioma) diagnostic, telling the company to do more homework. Management said the setback (by way of a Complete Response Letter) was merely temporary and the company would do what Headmaster requested. A year ago, the FDA also rejected the company's filing for its kidney cancer diagnostic Zircaix, on account of an 'unacceptable' manufacturing defect. Telix founder, CEO and head prefect Chris Behrenbruch dubbed the glitches 'relatively minor and fixable'. Indeed, the company re-filed the application and the market awaits an FDA decision by the end of the month. Telix machine is clicking along To date, Telix has derived most of its revenue in the US, from its approved prostate cancer imaging agent Illuccix. Illuccix is a kit for preparing gallium-68 gozetotide – more commonly known as a PSMA-11 injection – for positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Illuccix is used for prostate cancer patients suspected of having either metastasised growths, or a recurrence based on elevated PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels. Elevated levels in the blood of PSA, a protein, can be a marker of prostate cancer. PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen) is a protein found on the surface of prostate cancer cells. Illucix is approved in 17 countries, including the US, the UK, Brazil, Germany, France, Canada and here. In March, the FDA approved second diagnostic, Gozellix (for metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer). Telix hopes to launch Gozellix in the US in the current quarter. A bit of history Dr Behrenbruch founded Telix in 2015 out of a 'deep frustration' that there was a burgeoning interest in nuclear medicine technologies, but few commercial players. In early 2017 Telix acquired the Dresden-based radio-pharmaceutical outfit Therapeia, founded by Dr Andreas Kluge. Dr Kluge retired from the board in September last year. Telix listed in November 2017, after raising $50 million at 65 cents apiece. In November 2024 the company listed on Nasdaq, having abandoned a $300 million IPO in favour of a $650 million non-US corporate bond issue. Dr Behrenbruch was the executive director of the now defunct Factor Therapeutics and was also on the board of the very un-defunct pancreatic cancer tearaway, Amplia Therapeutics. In 2020, Telix inked a 10-year deal with China Grand Pharmaceutical, worth 'up to' US$225 million from market authorisation. The Hong Kong-based entity became the exclusive partner in greater China for any approved Telix therapy. Telix remains Melbourne based, but most of its commercial activity is in the US. Good golly, it's Gozellix In March this year the FDA approved the company's gallium isotope-based Gozellix, for PET scanning of lesions showing PSMA. While not an expansion to a completely new indication, Gozellix extends the company's US prostate cancer imaging market reach by an estimated 5-10%. Gozellix is for prostate cancer patients with suspected metastasis, who are candidates for initial definitive therapy (prostate removal or broader radiation treatment). It's also for those with suspected recurrence, based on elevated PSA levels. 'The ability to reliably deliver the product much further from its point of production means Gozellix can reach PET cameras that are currently not served by any PSMA imaging providers,' the company says. Gozellix has a longer shelf life of up to six hours, about three times more than Illucix. It can also be used on older scanning machines. On the acquisition trail To expand its repertoire and bolster its manufacturing oomph, Telix has continued an acquisitive splurge. In January Telix acquired a 'proprietary novel biologics technology' from antibody engineering company Imaginab Inc. The platform avails of small, engineered antibody formats that enable specific radiation targeting of cancer. The deal delivers a 'state-of-the-art' research facility in Los Angeles, adding to existing capacity at Sacramento, Angleton (Texas) and across the border in Vancouver. In September 2024 Telix spent $388 million to acquire RLS Radiopharmacies, to expand its North American manufacturing and distribution footprint. RLS derives revenue from providing radiopharmacy products to third party clients. In April, the company bought the Austin-based Isotherapeutics (radio-chemistry services) and the Canadian radio-isotope producer Artms Inc. Let's get clinical It's hard to do justice to Telix's extensive clinical program in a few paragraphs, but here goes … By the end of the year, the company should unveil an initial safety and dosing readout pertaining to its phase III prostate cancer therapy candidate, the lutetium-based TLX-591. The study, Prostact Global, has enrolled 30 men for the part one phase. These patients have PSMA-positive metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer. These men are also treated with the standard-of-care chemotherapy drugs, or the standard-of-care alone. To date, TLX-591 has been evaluated in 242 patients across eight phase I/II studies, with 'evidence of anti-tumour effect and a clear dose response profile for key measures of efficacy.' Telix also has mid-stage brain and kidney cancer therapy programs and another one for bone marrow conditioning. Telix also runs earlier stage programs for musculo-skeletal conditions including soft tissue sarcoma, bone metastases and 'pain palliation'. Readers should peruse the company 127-page investor presentation from June 11, but only if they are feeling strong. Finances and performance Telix reported revenue of US$204 million for the June 2025 quarter, up 63% year on year and a 10% increment on the March 2025 quarter. (As of January this year, the company reports in US dollars.) Sales of Illuccix accounted for US$154 million, up 25% year on year. RLS contributed US$46 million of sales, 39% higher than the March quarter. Dr Behrenbruch notes Illuccix dose volumes rose 7%, quarter on quarter. He says despite 'emerging competitive pricing pressure', Telix has 'effective strategies' to maintain average selling prices. Not irrelevantly, Gozellix in July was granted a permanent Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System code. Telix expects to obtain Transitional Pass-Through (TPT) payment status, which provides additional Medicare reimbursement to hospitals using innovative medical devices or drugs. TPT should apply from October 1 with reimbursement of around US$1000 per dose, almost twice that applying to Illuccix. In calendar 2024, Telix expended US$195 million on research and development, up 50%. This year the number should be 20-25% higher again. Telix has maintained calendar 2025 guidance of US$770-800 million, having chalked up first half revenue of US$390 million. We'll know about the innards of Telix's financials at its full-year results on August 21. Over the last 12 months Telix shares have irradiated between $17.44 (early September last year) and a record $31.14 in late January this year. In November 2017 the shares were worth 13 cents. Telix trumps tariffs with US manufacturing Telix says it won't be affected by Trump's drug pricing and tariff proposals. Given Telix's just-in-time products are made in the US out of necessity, they are as American as apple pie and a Colt AR-15 rifle under the bed. 'This will continue to be the case for new products the company expects to launch in 2025,' the company says. As for drug pricing, The Trump administration plans to benchmark certain local therapeutics against those charged in the cheapest of the industrialised nations. Telix reckons it's in the clear because 'localised production makes international pricing comparisons challenging to benchmark'. In any event, the company promises 'pharmaco-economically defensible' pricing. What the brokers say Broking analysts maintain their faith in Telix, despite the distraction of the SEC probe (if we can call it that) and stiffening prostate imaging competition. Broker Jefferies says such SEC entreaties are common, but the issues might take two years or so to resolve. UBS suggests any disclosure shortcomings may relate to Telix's dual ASX/Nasdaq listing, with the company needing to satisfy different requirements across the Pacific. On competition, UBS notes the 7% uptick in Illuccix sales shows Telix is winning market share in a hotter market. The firm believes the launch of Gozellix (and its TPT status) has relieved some of the pricing pressure. UBS values Telix at $36 a share, while Jefferies and Bell Potter plump for a $34 price target. The latter does so on the expectation of FDA approval of Zircaix. UBS says the current valuation assumes 'total scientific and clinical failure' of the therapeutic programs. Valuing the stock at $35, Wilsons says Gozellix provides 'exciting upside' and Telix has 'so many options available to it both competitively and operationally'. The only Grumpy Bob is Morningstar, which in April described Telix as overvalued by about 40%. The research house opined Telix's product pipeline remained 'commercially unproven in an increasingly competitive market'. 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The Australian
a day ago
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