Alternative treatments: success stories?

[wiggs]

My father is undergoing the routine chemotherapy treatments for lung cancer. We are hopeful that treatments will result in at least temporary remission of 6 months to 2 years (normal).

An interesting thing that happened when I started telling people about my father is how many of my friends start telling their own stories of their relatives or friends who have been dealing with cancer. Some of the stories that come up involve alternative treatments...especially teas prepared by holistic, eastern practitioners. The father of one acquaintance had been given up for dead (less than one month to live) but began taking this particular tea, and here he is two years later in full remission.

Any particular success stories out there that lead you to believe that alternative treatments are worthy of consideration?

[OzarkDem]

1. Talk to your dad's doctor

Most med oncologists will tell you which herbal, etc. treatments are backed w/ scientific evidence.

Those miracle stories about magic cures from herbal rememdies are usually just that - stories. For most, there's no scientific evidence they work, and a lot of evidence to show they don't. Some can also do real harm.

Journal of National Cancer Insititute just published the results of a meta-analysis of over 50 different studies on dietary and supplement interventions in cancer treatment and prevention and found no evidence of benefit.

OTOH, there are some hopeful new drugs being used for lung cancer patients, suggest your dad also look into clinical trials.

[ulysses]

2. right.

Please don't rely on anecdotal stories about alternative cancer cures.

[iamjoy]

3. They're Not Just Stories

I mean, I believe sometimes they really do happen, but they are miracles - rare.

[Quakerfriend]

4. I had wonderful success with alternative treatment, thank god

At the age of 38, I found out that I had advanced metastatic breast cancer. It had gone undiagnosed for more than one year. I found a lump while breast feeding my youngest son. I immediately went for a mammogram. They said they could not see anything and attributed the lump to breast feeding and told me to come back when I was finished breast feeding.

The lump was the size of a golf ball (no exaggeration) when the diagnosis was finally made.

Having worked for the NIH doing clinical research, at two of the largest teaching hospitals in the country,for more than 12 years I thought I knew all that I needed to know to confront this monster. I had sat on many a prestigious committee and reviewed hundreds of research protocols conducted by MDs who were tops in their fields. I have an excellent knowledge of research methods and the ability to analyze data and results with a critical eye for statistical significance. I have conducted my own research and published in the best medical journals. UPenn was 2nd in the country (only to Johns Hopkins) in $$$ received from the NIH when I was there. I thought I was on the cutting edge of medicine- until I, myself, got sick- then I began to re-think all that my experiences had shown me.

To make a long story short, I decided to go to Mexico and have myself admitted to a hospital in Tijuana where they do Gerson Therapy. I had read about Dr. Gerson's methods and they made perfect sense, logically. And, they had a remarkable success record with cases of pancreatic cancer and melanoma- which, as you know, are usually fatal.

Within 5 weeks my cancer was gone. I cont'd on the therapy for the recommended 2 years, at home. I have been cancer free now for eight years. I believe that the key to my success was that I did this EARLY on and not at the end.

My whole mind set has changed. I rely a great deal on anacdotal reports- provided I know the source. I no longer think that a large, randomized, placebo-controlled study necessarily means much. Far too many times, I have seen data manipulated by investigators, and I have seen drug companies present data in a less than truthful way for the sake of their research.

$$$ is a powerful and corupting force in medicine- just as it is in many other areas. Dr. Lorraine Day's story influenced me greatly in my decision to break with conventional treatments.

And, with respect to teas- Essiac tea is wonderful stuff! And, the history behind it is facinating. It was part of my therapy for some time.

Healing can occur on many levels! I hope that by sharing my story, it can help someone. We must each make our own choices and this is the hardest part of all.

[OzarkDem]

5. Another story

I know of a woman in our area who was recently diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer several months ago. She has a 6 month old baby. She is refusing conventional treatment and is practicing a macrobiotic diet and taking miracle cure cancer supplements.

She is slowly wasting away and will probably be dead before the end of the year. How sad. She would probably survive if she had a mastectomy and chemotherapy since her cancer was found fairly early. Her child will grow up without a mother because she chose alternative medicine instead.



Randomized clinical trials have found the cure for most diseases and illnesses today. While most alternative therapies won't pass that process, other treatments will and they will go on to save many lives.

There have been a number of studies that have shown that people who use alternative medicine have problems with depression.

[LeighAnn]

6. Alternative therapies in conjunction with conventional therapy

That's what Richard Bloch recommends. Never forego conventional therapy. I feel very sorry for your friend and her family. It's a terrible waste to do that at Stage II.

Visit this website

http://www.blochcancer.org/

[OzarkDem]

7. Agree, people should talk to their doctor

and see about using "integrative therapy". Combining evidence based treatment with special diets, etc. Docs don't mind as long as the diets, supplements, etc. are safe.

As for the Stage 2 patient, she is sadly a member of a small support group of women who had chemo, survived, but now think alternative medicine is better. They should be disbanded. I don't refer any patients to them.