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EMAIL INTERVIEW with DR. DONATO PEREZ GARCIA 
by DONNA McDERMOTT on APRIL 3, 2000

[ Donna McDermott was a breast cancer patient of Dr. Perez Garcia, who was found cancer free in 1998 after 23 IPT treatments.  She enjoyed greatly improved health until 2003, when she began a battle with ovarian cancer.  Despite help from IPT, she died on March 9, 2004.  Her breast cancer, cured with help from IPT, never came back.   Donna told her own story in an interview  with IPTQ webhost Chris Duffield.  Here is an inspiring email interview that Donna had with Dr. Perez Garcia during her time of remarkable recovery.]

Q:  Dr. Donato, I would like to express my gratitude to you for allowing me to interview you for my book. I know that you are a very busy man, and I thank you for taking the time to respond to my questions. Since IPT began with your grandfather, let's begin there.

Did you have the opportunity to know your grandfather? What can you tell us about him?

A:  My father brought me into this world in 1958. My grandfather died when I was in the 7th grade, on Sunday, December 12th, 1971. Since he was my first close family member to die, I cannot forget all of the events on that Sunday or the next day, Monday the 13th. I was as sad as the rest of my family. On Monday morning my mother drove me to school and dropped me off. As I closed the door of the car, it caught the finger on my left hand. The pain remained for days, with a purple nail for a couple of weeks.

        During my childhood years we spent most of our family time together on vacations. We visited Acapulco almost every weekend and stayed at my mother's father's weekend home across from the beach.  About one or two times per year my father drove us to Brownsville, Texas. Driving from Mexico City to the US border took a couple of days, and the overnight stay was always at a motel close to a river and vegetation. I believe it was in the city of El Naranjo, located somewhere in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. During these trips, playing with my Grandfather Donato was fun. We played games like soccer or hitting the ball. 

        What I remember about him seems funny to me. He liked to drink hot coffee with milk. It was so hot that you could see the fog evaporating from his cup as he sipped. He was the kind of person that had no limits. Whatever you wanted, he would provide it, especially toys at a Toys-R-Us store in Texas. 

         He enjoyed the pleasure of giving. He had no limits, at least from the point of view of a child. Another place he liked was Cuernavaca, where he practiced horseback riding. That is where I learned to ride. I tried to remember what conversations he may have had with my father, but I think I was too small to pay attention.

Q:  What is your relationship with your father like? What can you tell us about him?

A:  My father and I have a good relationship. I learned the IPT technique from him. During my childhood he was a good dad at home. I grew up in a family of two children -- my younger sister, who died in an accident in 1989, and myself. As a child I visited my father at his office on several occasions. It was fun to see all the glassware he had for research. I can remember the voices of some patients expressing to me their gratitude for what he had done for them. And I felt strange: why were these people I didn't know saying thank you to me? At home when the conversation was about his therapy, I remember his enthusiasm about some cases of patients that did remarkably well, or special people that he had treated. I think hearing these comments almost on a daily basis influenced me to go and study medicine. 

        So I signed up for medical school, graduated 10th in my class, got my diploma and license to practice, and then went to work at my father's clinic. Initially I just sat listening and writing. I was able to see the expressions of joy in the patients' faces knowing that their doctor had someone to help take care of them in the future. Most patients only wanted to see my father. Coping with that fact, I kept learning from him...  Learning to listen to the patient in front of me...  Learning to read patients' eyes and facial movements...  Learning how to administer the clinic...  Learning how to deal with workers -- nurses, janitors, suppliers, etc...  Learning to make my best effort towards helping the person in front of me.

Q:  When did you first hear about IPT? What were your feelings about IPT at that time?

A:  Probably when I was in the factory during my last two or three months in my mother's womb. Then I grew up hearing about IPT and seeing people at my home-- guests from foreign countries...Politicians, movie stars, and singers going to visit my father. I had no feelings toward IPT; it was just a part of my daily life.

Q:  You must be very proud of your father and grandfather. When did you first know that you would be a doctor like them, practicing the same protocols?

A:  I considered becoming a doctor when I was in the 11th grade. During the 12th grade I studied the chemical and biological sciences department where you commit to learning how they work, so that before entering the university, you can make a decision on which field to enter.

Q:  Could you please talk to us about your educational background?  Where did you go to school? Where did you receive your medical training? How many years did you study to be a doctor?

A:  From 1st to 12th grade I went to Catholic school in Mexico City. My five years of medical school were at a private Catholic university, Universidad Anahuac in Mexico City. I did one year of residency at ABC Hospital in Mexico City. And I received my diploma on October 18, 1982.

Q:  The last time I was in your office, I noticed that you have many awards on your wall. Could you please tell us about the awards you have received and how you earned them?

A:  Some were given to me because I participated in a continuing medical education program. Others were for giving a lecture on IPT, and others because I was nominated by their board to be part of their academy.  These awards give me some personal satisfaction. But the most important fact for a patient, from my perspective, is experience. With experience I am able to read my patient's eyes and face, react to a situation when treating my patient, and administer what I consider the best drug to help the disease, among other things. Experience needs time to grow.  When you have time, you get knowledge, and you learn how to apply it to benefit your patients.

Q:  I have never doubted your ability as a doctor from the moment I met you, but I wanted my readers to have the opportunity to also become aware of your educational background and your successes. I have personally researched universities in Mexico and I have come to discover that they operate under very high standards and that your training and education is equivalent to that of any medical doctor in the United States. Do you have any comment on this?

A:  Living in a country close to the US means that there is access for professionals to go and get more specialized training. The basic training should be equal in the country of origin so these professionals can go to the US. So education in Mexican medical schools is as good as in the US. Students and their personal abilities, like knowledge of English, make a difference. My diploma from Anahuac University is equal to an MD degree in the US.

Q:  Dr. Donato, could you please identify all the different types of diseases that have been successfully treated by IPT?

A:  IPT is a medical procedure that can be administered to treat any disease if there is a drug that was designed and tested to be effective, by ethical pharmaceutical companies to cure or relieve a disease.

Q:  What is your definition of successful treatment?

A:  It depends on the patient's condition. But the goal is to bring back health. There are several conditions that allow full recovery, and some patients suffering from cancer can benefit from IPT.

Q:  I understand that the protocol for IPT has been practiced in many countries through your efforts of training doctors in the method. Can you tell me in which countries IPT has been practiced and for how long?

A:  In Mexico since 1930. Canada from 1976 until 1995, when Dr. Paquette died. Haiti from 1978 till 1981, in the USA since 1997, and Argentina since November 1999.

Q:  I also understand that people, upon hearing of your treatment, have come to you from many countries. Can you tell us all of the countries your patients have come from?

A:  Canada, United States, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Puerto Rico, England, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, Bulgaria.

Q:   In my book, I am focusing particularly on breast cancer because that was my personal experience. I know that IPT has been used to successfully treat many types of cancer. By "successful" I mean full and complete remission, with no traces of cancer left in the body.   Could you please identify all the different types of cancer that havebeen treated successfully by IPT?

A:  If IPT is given as the first treatment choice: breast, cervix, ovarian, uterine, lung (small cell), gastric, colon, prostate.

Q:  When it comes to cancer, many women are afraid to do anything but the conventional surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. I understand that in your treatment you use the same FDA approved chemotherapy agents, but at 1/10th the potency. Why is this approach safer than conventional chemotherapy? Is it more effective?

A:  IPT is a dynamic treatment. Each treatment is tailored to the patient's individual disease. There are three drug plans that I use to treat breast cancer. The drugs are regular chemotherapeutic agents and the dosage, since IPT is a coadjuvant regimen, are prescribed in the range of 1/10 or 1/6 of normal. Insulin, used as a biological response modifier, acts as the key to trigger several chemical reactions in the cell membranes of the affected cells. It has been demonstrated that cancer cells have more insulin receptors on their surface. And in our experience of more than 70 years we have seen that the damage to normal cells is minimal. During the 1960s my father performed several tests to determine the chemical changes that occur during hypoglycemia. 

        One important fact is that none of our patients treated with insulin has ever died. It is a 100 percent safe and secure treatment. The only side effects are related to vein puncture and mild inflammation of the vein through which the drugs are administered. And yes, the end result would be a preserved breast with only a scar from the needle biopsy.

Q:  I understand that in relation to cancer, you prefer to treat a patient before they have had surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Can you please explain this?

A:  The tumor is a symptom. It took some time to grow, and it grew because it was able to feed from the body using the arterio-venous and lymphatic systems. By preserving the routes that promoted tumor growth to deliver the drugs, IPT will gradually reduce the size of the tumor until there is no palpable and visible tumor on X-rays (CAT or MRI scans or a mammogram). At the same time the immune system is strengthened and helped to do its work cleaning the body of abnormal cells, bacteria, viruses, and fungi. 

        If the tumor is removed, then there are no arteries etc., and cells will enter the blood flow and then grow in other organs (metastasis). And in the mean time, the body after surgery, chemo, or radiation is suffering, and the immune system is debilitated. 

        Remember that the tumor is just a symptom, and cancer is a chemical alteration of the organism. It is just like skin manifestations being related to some internal organ disease. If you treat the spots in the skin but do not do something to treat colonic alteration, then you are not giving adequate treatment. The history of cancer treatments has proven that surgery, chemo, and radiation can be irreversibly damaging.

Q:  Does that mean that you will not treat someone who has previously chosen surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy as their treatment if they have a recurrence? What can you offer to someone who has already gone through conventional treatment without success? 

A:  For recurrences, IPT can help to improve the quality of life. In some patients a partial improvement response can be achieved.

Q:  Dr. Donato, would you please describe what happens in an IPT cancer treatment in simple terms so that my readers can understand what you do and what happens to the body during a treatment?

A:  The affected cells are hungry for food - drugs. So I give them an appetite to stimulate their hunger - insulin. Then I kill them with the cancer drugs, of course doing it with care and being gentle to the body.  Your body is left intact. No hair loss, no nausea. I hope I was simple with my answer.

Q:  Can you explain why IPT works as a cancer treatment? 

A:  IPT is a dynamic medical procedure that involves three phases: First, stop tumor growth. Second, kill affected cells. And third, help the immune system to gain strength so after the IPT is finished your immune system will keep its vigilante action to control your health.

Q:  How do you know how many treatments are required? Do you ask your patients to undergo conventional testing using blood tests, ultrasounds, and CAT scans during their treatment time with you?

A:  Patients are treated according to their response. I wish I could have a crystal ball to give the exact number of treatments. Yes, blood and urine tests, sonograms, and specific scans are done to monitor progress.

Q:  Diet is such a big thing in America. Everyone suggests a different diet to be healthy. Most people are confused by which is the best approach. When I was undergoing your treatment, you never put me on a special diet. You made it so easy for me. Could you tell us what you request in relation to the food that your patients eat?

A:  Unfortunately all of us start to follow a diet when we have a problem.  But do you remember how many times you skipped one of your meals during your childhood, teenage, adolescent, and young adult life? That is like charging to your health credit card. And years later your bills will arrive and you will be saying I didn't used to have this pain, I once could eat or not eat, etc. I encourage you to eat fish, chicken, green vegetables, fruit and cereals. If a patient is accustomed to drinking alcohol  suggest only red wine. Occasionally, if the patient wants, they can eat some beef, pork, and other ethnic foods, but I ask them to avoid fried foods and fat.

Q:  I told you during my time with you that I did not have positive experiences with MD's in the United States and that you were the first medical doctor from whom I felt genuine respect. It seems to me that in healing from illness, the relationship between the patient and the doctor is very important.  Could you please tell us your views about this?

A:  You as a patient must trust me and feel confident that I have experience with the medical procedure...That I see each patient as a very special person...That each treatment is specially planned for your current situation at the time you will be receiving the drugs...That I respect you and am grateful for being allowed to treat you...and that I will make my best effort to help you recover your health. If you are not convinced of these things, then it is best to choose another doctor and/or treatment.

Q:  Dr. Donato, even with such a wonderful treatment as IPT, I know that there are no guarantees with cancer. I understand from my own experience as a patient and a professional that the patient plays a very important role in healing from cancer. I believe that you and I have concluded the same about "Trust in the Treatment" being the most important factor. Can you talk about your experience with this?

A:  It is known that if you are optimistic then you are helping your body, your immune system, and your digestive system. If you go to a restaurant you must be hungry and happy so you can enjoy the food. If you are negative you know what happens.

Q:  Whenever I talk to anyone about the IPT treatment, they always want to know the little details. Where should I stay if I am going for treatment? Is it safe to stay in Tijuana? Is the food safe for me to eat? Where can I stay if I don't want to stay in Tijuana? How can I live there for many months if I need treatment for a long time? How much are the treatments? Can you offer any answers in regards to these questions?

A:  Here is the information that I give my patients:

        Thank you for choosing my treatment to help your body recover from cancer. Although it is not an easy task, I will do my best to help you.  With my treatment the side effects from drugs are minimal. The aim is to target the cancerous cells and kill them, giving time for your immune system to do the cleaning and rebuild itself. During this process,
involving many chemical changes inside your body, it is my recommendation that you keep good healthy habits: Sleep at least 8 hours daily. Do some exercise. Do not expose your skin to sunlight without adequate protection. Drink water during the day (8 6 oz glasses). Do not smoke or be around smokers. Only one glass of red wine 2 or 3 timer per week (if you must drink). Eat fresh fruits, green vegetables (especially broccoli), and fish. Avoid red meats. And maintain regular bowel movements and a normal sex life.

        Regarding the use of supplements, I advise you to let me know before taking them. Some may interfere with the actions of the drugs used in the treatment and also with the reaction of your body to the therapy.

        The mortality and morbidity rate of my treatment is, since 1930, zero percent. It is very safe, with minimal side effects. It is a very effective approach to treat most types of malignant tumors, with results starting to be seen within the first 7 days. Most patients will achieve a reduction of 5 to 12% of the tumor size by the end of the second week
of treatment. The response varies individually. To monitor progress, blood tests need to be performed. They are not included in the price of the treatment but are not expensive (e.g. CBC $3.50, SMAC21 $7.00).  Also x-rays will be needed occasionally (e.g. bone scan $200.00; CAT scan $180.00; MRI $210.00).

        I encourage you to visit an Internet website (http://www.IPTQ.com) where you can get answers to most of your questions. And if after reviewing it you need more details, I will be happy to help you.

 Where to stay in Tijuana:
(Yes it is safe, eating is safe, and drinking bottled water is safe.)
1-Hotel El Conquistador (****)(3 min. walk from my office) Room $55.00 dbl per night. Phone: 011-52(6)681-7955. Fax: 011-52(6)686-1340.
2-Grand Hotel Tijuana (*****) (1 min. walk from my office) Room $86.00 dbl per night. Phone: 011-52(6)681-7000
3-Country Club Hotel (****) (20 min. walk from my office or $5.00 by taxi) Room $64.00 dbl per night. Phone: 011-52(6)681-7733. Fax: 011-52(6)681-7692. (Close to the American Consulate.)

Costs: First-time office visit $60.00. Depending on the severity of your disease, the treatments can be administered daily for the first two weeks, and thereafter 3 times per week for 3 weeks. Then once a month up to achieving total remission. First treatment $495.00. Second and thereafter treatments each $455.00. Form of payment: cash and Visa or MasterCard. Sorry no checks accepted. A detailed statement will be mailed to you after each treatment. [Updated information is available on http://www.IPTQ.com.]

Q:  Dr. Donato, you know how grateful I am to you, your father, and your grandfather for my life. I wouldn't be here on this earth without the help of IPT and your continued efforts to make this available to many people. Because of your treatment, I never felt any suffering in relation to cancer. And now, almost two and a half years later, I do not carry emotional or physical wounds from having survived cancer. Is there anything you would like to say to my readers about this wonderful gift?

A:  Thank you for your comments. I just did my best effort to help you. You did your part by following my medical indications, asking questions when you had doubts, and trusting me.

Q:  Through this book, it is my hope that many women will be able to receive your treatment. Where is this treatment presently available? Is there any possibility that you will come to the United States to administer this treatment?

A:  You can receive IPT at these places (as of 11/3/2000): Mexico City where the medical doctor has 44 years of experience. Tijuana (my office) with a medical doctor who has 17 years of experience. Yes that is me! Burr Ridge, Illinois, where the medical doctor has 3 years of experience.  Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the doctor has 5 months of experience.  Oak Park, Illinois, where the medical doctor has one month of experience. The latest information can be obtained from http://www.IPTQ.com.

Q:  I know that since I came to you, I have made contact with a number of doctors who would like to learn this treatment from you. Is that possible? Do many doctors ask to learn from you? How would a doctor go about contacting you for this purpose? [Two doctors in the Phoenix, Arizona area, referred by Donna, have learned IPT since this interview.]

A:  An interested medical doctor should make an appointment with me for a one week course on basic medical and clinical aspects of IPT. There is a fee, and photocopies of the doctor's medical diploma and license are required to register.

Q: I know that your office in Tijuana is small. If many women come to you from the United States, will you open a larger office? I will encourage many to come to you. Will you be able to receive so many new patients?

A:  Yes I will consider opening a larger facility where I will keep offering the same quality of my service and personal attention. Thank you for your interest in my medical treatment.