Ian gawler biography

Australian author (born )

Ian James GawlerOAM (born 25 February ) is an Australian author and a prominent advocate for the therapeutic application of mind-body medicine and meditation.

Early life and career

Gawler was born in to Alan Gawler, an engineer, and Billie Gawler (née Gray) in Melbourne, Australia.

After graduation from the University of Melbourne, he worked as a vet in a mixed practice at Bacchus Marsh and Melton, Victoria in with a special interest in horses and surgery.

Ian gawler biography Learn how and when to remove these messages. MP3 downloads for computers are available from the secure Webstore online, and these can be then transferred onto other devices. Late in , it was diagnosed that the bone cancer had metastasised and spread to lymph nodes inside his pelvis and mediastinum before spreading more widely on the surface of his sternum and through his left lung. Medically directed injections of Plenisol, a mistletoe extract, relieved pain and increased mobility.

Illness, treatment and criticism

In Gawler was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Resultant surgery involved amputation through the hip. Late in , it was diagnosed that the bone cancer had metastasised and spread to lymph nodes inside his pelvis and mediastinum before spreading more widely on the surface of his sternum and through his left lung.^{[citation needed]}

In December , with the assistance of Australian psychiatristAinslie Meares, who believed that meditation could alter the course of, or even cure cancer, Gawler adopted a regime of intensive meditation.

He also followed a Gerson diet and pursued a program of research, introspection and personal development. In February his doctors gave him only a few weeks to live.^[1]

In February , Gawler had some palliativeradiotherapy; in October he underwent three cycles of experimental chemotherapy.

Ian gawler foundation We emphasise the importance of Lifestyle Medicine as the basis of any other treatments you are having. We love eating out from time to time, and we know where our boundaries are when it comes to what to eat, and what not to eat. Clearly a market has been created which can leave people having to make very difficult decisions regarding a beloved pet. Again, we are not involved in providing these types of treatments.

In he also had an audience with Sai Baba.^[2] He was declared clear of cancer in At the same time he was diagnosed with TB, which responded rapidly to conventional treatment and supported by lifestyle-based self-help techniques. Gawler's recovery from cancer was documented by Meares^[3] and, 30 years later, the fact that he was still alive was also documented.^[4]

In the December , Internal Medicine Journal, the online journal of the Royal Australian College of Physicians, two oncologists, Ian Haines from Cabrini Hospital and Ray Lowenthal from Hobart, published a report that no biopsy of Gawler for secondary cancer had been made and suggested that all of his symptoms were consistent with tuberculosis.^[5] In response to this report, Gawler maintained that the diagnosis was confirmed by his eminent team of physicians of the day, and said that they still stand by that diagnosis.^[6] He said that Haines and Lowenthal did not consult with any of these people in preparing their speculative hypothesis and, therefore, did not take account of his clinical history or the many diagnostic tests performed and deemed to be adequate by those physicians to confirm the diagnosis.^[6] Gawler's original physicians maintain that the TB developed as a complication of Gawler's primary cancer, osteogenic sarcoma, probably after chemotherapy weakened his immune system.^[6]

Steve Novella has written that it cannot be certain whether Gawler ever had metastatic cancer, and that his promotion of the supposed ability of the mind to "cure" cancer exemplifies the fallacy of using anecdotes in medicine.

Such notions are, Novella writes, "pure wish-fulfilment fantasy".^[7]

Lifestyle-based cancer treatment work

After recovering, Gawler resumed work as a vet for short periods in Geelong and the Gold Coast before moving to Morphett Vale near Adelaide, South Australia, in In he then moved to a new practice at Yarra Junction, Victoria.^[2]

In , Gawler co-founded the Melbourne Cancer Support Group.^{[citation needed]} Oncologist Ray Lowenthal, who has long been a critic of Gawler's work^[2] engaged in an hour-long debate on ABC-TV show Couchman.^[when?] Lowenthal challenged Gawler to produce 50 of his best cancer recovery cases for review.

Gawler agreed on air and welcomed "the opportunity for some serious research".^[2] The review has not happened, despite the fact that the 50 cases were made available by the Gawler Foundation at the time.^{[citation needed]} Lowenthal was reportedly unable to receive funding for the study.^[2]

Honours

Gawler was awarded an OAM for his contributions to the community in the Australia Day Honours.^[8]

Personal life

In , Gawler separated from his first wife, Grace Gawler.

Ian gawler biography children

Ian gawler biography death

Ian gawler biography images

They divorced in In , in response to an article in the Medical Journal of Australia about Gawler's cancer recovery, Grace Gawler disputed some of the facts and timeline regarding his recovery.^[9][5]

Gawler married Ruth Gawler (née Berlin), a medical doctor, in They have worked together since ^[10]

Biography

The story of Gawler's life, Ian Gawler: The Dragon's Blessing, by Guy Allenby, was first published in The second edition was published in

References

External links