Man searching for cancer cure dies
WBBH-TV
updated 10:12 a.m. CT, Thurs., Feb. 19, 2009
SANIBEL ISLAND: Southwest Florida lost a true pioneer of cancer research. John Kanzius lived part time on Sanibel, but he worked full time on an invention that he hoped would one day cure cancer.
Kanzius, 64, passed away Wednesday, but his project is being passed on and FDA is taking notice.
When Kanzius first showed us his invention last year, he called it the holy grail of killing cancer cells.
At his Sanibel home without any medical training, Kanzius built a machine that emits radio waves and destroys cancer cells without any significant side effects.
It worked during animal trials and it got the attention of the nation's top cancer researches.
"I can only go by what the researchers say and at this point everything they've done has been positive," Kanzius said in a past interview.
But sadly, Kanzius will never see if his invention works on people.
His own cancer killed him before he could kill the disease. He died at Lee Memorial Hospital, fighting right up to his very last days - dedicated to finding a cure.
He had been diagnosed in 2002 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a rare cancer.
Now though, the fight continues.
Kanzius' wife, Marianne, says the FDA will meet with her in the near future to talk about her husband's invention - a major step toward getting human trials.
"I will do everything in my power with the help of a lot of people - to fight this thing," she said.Kanzius will be buried in Pennsylvania, but the family plans to hold a memorial service on Sanibel.
URL:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29266818/
MSN Privacy .
Legal
© 2009 MSNBC.com