This week we begin a series of articles in which Bracebridge's René Caisse tells her own story about her struggle to have Essiac recognised as a cancer treatment. What follows are René's own views on the merits of Essiac and the consistent opposition she faced from various segments of society.

The words are all René's and are derived largely from her own writing and private interviews which I conducted with her during the fall of 1977.

As editor of the local newspaper, René Caisse asked me to print her story posthumously, so that she would at least have her say on the whole Essiac controversy.

Much of what follows relates to the 1930's, which must be regarded as the major period in nurse Caisse's long career.

In many ways recent events have been no more than a repeat of the events of 40 years ago. The only significant differences are the extent to which René's story has become worldwide over the last 18 months and, of course, the final transfer of the formula for Essiac to the Resperin Corporation.

Otherwise, the events of the 1930's are surprisingly similar to those of the 1970's.

René always felt very strongly that certain vested interests were opposed to her work and this comes across repeatedly in the articles which follow. Whether or not a conspiracy of sorts has worked against Essiac and other possible cancer cures remain to be proven in fact, but René Caisse certainly felt the cards were always stacked against her.

Indeed, she believed that life could be made very difficult for anyone who suggested that there might be a simple, safe cure for cancer. Certainly, if one reads René's account of what she went through in trying to have Essiac recognised, it is at least understandable that she felt there were very powerful and influential forces working against her.

In the weeks which follow, René's story in her own words will be printed without editorial comment or changes. Although René is no longer with us, this series will serve to keep her memory alive and provide a written record of her perceptions of the whole Essiac controversy. In this way, at least the people of René Caisse's home town will know what she thought of the single issue which dominated most of her adult life.

Ted Britton,

Editor.