FDA Allows NH Girl To Try Controversial Brain Tumor Drug

MANCHESTER, N.H. (CBS) — McKenzie Lowe is looking great and feeling well. “Sometimes I have little headaches but they’re really little. They don’t bother me that much,” she says. And now comes news that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted her wish to allow her to try a controversial drug her family believes could help cure her inoperable brain tumor. “Oh I started crying,” says the girl’s grandfather Frank LaFountain. But the good news was quickly tempered because there’s a new fight for the family. They have to find a doctor willing to administer the unapproved drug and so far, no luck. “We need a doctor is what we basically need right now,” said LaFountain. “Anywhere in the country doesn’t matter where. We’re going to go.” The family says doctors are reluctant because the drug therapy McKenzie would like to undergo has been spearheaded by Texas physician Stanislaw Burzynski who’s been criticized by many in the medical community. “They simply know nothing about the treatment,” said Dr. Burzynski in a phone interview with WBZ-TV in response to his critics. McKenzie’s family and friends believe the drug is a risk worth taking. “You know it’s a chance,” said family friend Kim Frenette. “And any chance is better than zero.” In a statement to WBZ-TV, the FDA said: “The FDA has a statutory responsibility to ensure that the rights, safety and welfare of patients who ...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Brain cancer drug CBS Boston FDA McKenzie Lowe Michael Rosenfield Source Type: news