Pheochromocytoma Survivor: Steve Kubby

Good morning to y'all -

I'm curious as to if any of you have looked into the story of Steve Kubby?  He was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma in 1968, at 23-years-old.  He began experiencing symptoms of hypertension and palpitations, and was then diagnosed with  malignant pheochromocytoma, the rare, fate form of adrenal cancer. Kubby underwent surgery to remove a tumor in 1968, 1975 and 1976.  This last time, his medical records show that the cancer had metastasised to his liver and beyond.  All other patients with this diagnosis have had a 100% mortality rate within five years.  His physician, Dr. Vincent DeQuattro, a specialst from the USC School of Medicine, monitored his condition and treated him with conventional therapies, including chemo, until referring him to the Mayo Clinic in 1981 for more surgery and radiation.

For the next 25 years, Kubby claimed to control the symptoms of his disease solely by smoking medical marijuana and by maintaining a healthy diet.  His original doctor, an expert on this condition shocked to learn he was still alive, said, "In some amazing fashion, this medication has not only controlled the symptoms of the disease, but in my view, has arrested its growth."

As of 02/2016:

Case Review; Steve W. Kubby
By David B. Allen M.D.
2/11/16
Diagnosis; Metastatic (Malignant) Pheochromocytoma

Charts Review Source; 1) Mayo Clinic Surgical Report with Pathology signed by Dr. DC McIlrath
2) University of Southern California, Los Angeles Consultation by
Professor of Medicine and Hypertension; Dr. Vincent DeQuattro
3) Consultation by Dr. Joseph Connors Oncologist; Vancouver, Canada.
4) Patient Interview with Steve Kubby 2/1/16

I have been asked to do a chart review of three institutions regarding Steve W. Kubby’s claim of curing malignant cancer with cannabis.

Pheochromocytoma is a rare and mostly benign tumor that secretes the Catecholamines Nor Epinephrine and Epinephrine. The release of these hormones causes deadly hypertension with blood pressures over 250 mm/hg and a fight or flight reaction with symptoms including; skin flush, pallor, sweating, anxiety, palpitations and elevated heart rate, headaches, constipation, weight loss and elevated blood glucose. These symptoms are sometimes subtle but are noticeable to astute patients. Mr. Kubby reports that cannabis use caused a noticeable but delayed improvement in his symptomatology. Cannabis use had the effect of symptomatic improvement the next day after use. Kubby attributes this effect to cannabis actions on Dopamine a precursor to the Cathenolamines; Epinepherine and Norepinepherine. Mr Kubby checked his Blood pressure daily. This improvement in blood pressure response, night sweats and other symptoms, led to daily medication with cannabis. The patient could sense the response and improvement with cannabis that was not seen with conventional medications.

Mr. Kubby initially diagnosed with pheochromocytoma in 1968 and underwent Right adrenalectomy for in 1969 at Cedar Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles. All laboratory and pathology reports in this review show clear evidence of grossly elevated Catecholamines and evidence of tumor on repeat radiologic evaluations.

Mr. Kubby underwent three additional surgeries for recurrence of the primary tumor. (1975, 1976, 1981) and during his last surgery at the Mayo Clinic, Mr. Kubby was noted to have multiple metastases to peritoneal surface, mesentery of small and large intestine and right diaphragm and several sites of the right lobe of the liver. A 6 cm portion of the small bowel was resected for a metastatic pheochromocytoma tumor obstruction the lumen of the bowel. After this last surgery in 1981, Mr. Kubby was no longer a surgical candidate and considered “inoperable” because of wide spread peritoneal metastasis.

Surgical pathology revealed Metastatic Pheochromocytoma
Mr. Kubby was treated between 1969-1981 with conventional pharmaceuticals with no improvement of symptoms and multiple side effects. The pharmaceuticals used to treat him caused intolerable symptoms. After being declared inoperable during the last surgical intervention, Mr. Kubby underwent both diagnostic and therapeutic radioactive MIBG treatments by oncologist. His last therapy was in 2002 by this review.

MIBG treatment uses Radioactive Iodine that is attached to a precursor molecule for catecholamine production. These endocrine tumor cells specifically take up this radioactive tagged molecule. MIBG treatment delivers high dose radiation to these tumors but has had poor to moderate success at best.

Unfortunately cannabis being a CSA schedule 1 substance prevents physicians and scientist from studying cannabis without special approval that is rarely given. This prevents double blind studies to prove or disprove medical efficacy of cannabis.
Mr. Kubby attributes his medical success to daily ingestion of raw cannabinoids from fresh plant. Although, this is not a scientific study of this disease process, important patient reports of symptomatic improvement should not be ignored. Frequently the patient is the only one that can determine what treatment works or doesn’t work for them. Double blind studies are important scientific information but when the government makes this information difficult to obtain, anecdotal information is all that is available.

Mr. Kubby’s reports of oral cannabis consumption to control symptoms that frequently woke him with drenching night sweats are indications of medical effect. It has been 14 years since his last conventional medical treatment with no recurrence of symptoms. According to literature search, 4% of patients treated with MIBG have complete remission. Mr. Kubby’s tumor was not a single location but was disseminated with multiple tumor sites indicating advanced disease. Mr. Kubby’s observation of symptomatic improvement with oral cannabis consumption is the most likely cause of remission of his metastatic tumors. Only double blind clinical trials can prove the extent and exact benefit oral cannabis consumption has and what dose and dosing interval will be of greatest benefit

David B. Allen M.D.

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My question is: have any of you considered using cannabis oil for shrinking your tumor(s), and stopping metastasis? 

Thank you for your time,
Amy