I was wondering if anyone has investigated any of the alternative treatments for cancer. I have been reading a book called "Cure your Cancer" by Bill Henderson. The book is full of different kinds of treatments other than chemotherapy. My niece who is a doctor (32 yrs) old says that 9 out of 10 of her doctorr friends would never take chemo or want their love ones on it.
If anybody knows anything about this subject, please let us know.
Hope we're not grasping at straws but mom'sr dr. doesn't seem real hopeful that the chemo will help that much.
God bless you all & thanks for any info you might have.

my5-

After my wife's diagnosis, I did a ton of reading on the subject. Having said that, I can't possibly give any affirmative answers, but I only share my perspective. There is alot material on the subject, however I consider foremost the quality and reliablity of the sources. I primarily read oncoligists who took a holistic approach to fighting cancer. That is, the conventional treatments, natural suppliments,dietand pychological/ spiritual wellness. To be sure, they all play apart.

You should also consider what stage and type of cancer it is. If there is little or no hope for recovery, then you really need to consider qualitiative and quatitative benefits of your options. As for me, my wife has stage 4 NSCLC. We by no means have given up the fight, but I am no longer looking for a "magical cure". Keep in mind that we all likely experience feelings of desparity and there are people who will indeed capitalize on that. There are many fronts in fighting cancer and often times finances is one of them. So keep reading, asking questions and try to make wise decisions you and your family can live with.

I wish you the best. I hope this has been of some assistance.

conan

by the way... we are using a suppliment called MAx 3 (a powerful immune/killer cell booster) and I believe it is helping. If you have any questions,please let me know.

hi- conan gave you great advice. also you can find a knowledgeable nutrionist in your area that can help you sort out diet and supplements . also they can do a hair analysis and figure the things that may to high in her system and ones she is lacking. i think combining traditional treatments and complimentary treatments is becoming more widely accepted by a lot of oncologists. the only treatment i'am taking right now is my diet and supplements. although i did take radiation. the key is to be comfortable and very informed about the path that you choose. every one needs a plan tailor made for them. everyone is so different and they react differently. good luck i hopw you find the answers you are looking for. god bless!

My5-

I believe ther are some alternative therapies out there that work as well as chemo does for some people. I have met people that have used some and done well for a number of months. I am a very strong believer that nutrition plays a huge part in cancer treatment and if you have not done so read the book Beating Cancer With Nutrition by Patrick Quillin he served as the director of nutrition for Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

There is a man on Lance Armstrong's website that battled stage IV NSCLC and used lots of supplements and he has been NED for months now. I actually met him on another message board along time ago. If I recall his story is under the name Harold on Lance's web site I will look again and try to get back to you on that.

Sadly for me mom mom's oncologist does not believe in supplements, alternative medicine or even the nutrition being that important and my mom is of the old school where she does exactly what the doctor tells her too most of the time. We did change her diet some and there were periods I got her to try some supplements and I think she did do better while on them but then the doctor would tell her no supplements and she would no longer take them and then she took the down ward turn and it has been that way ever since. I believe you have to be building the immune system up during treatment as it is not the treatment but rather your own body that will heal itself.

I support alot of my beliefs by the fact I had some issues that I used an alternative method to treat that fixed the problem unlike the medicines the doctor gave me which did nothing. I have also used nutrition and alternative things on my dogs and have seen excellent results.One of my parents dogs has lupus and along with the many expensive pills he takes is a very expensive ointment that he gets rubbed on his nose which was always scabbed over from the lupus. I started using an alternative treatment on his nose, works wonders on skin flair ups like hot spots, infections too and I changed his diet and his lupus has been under better control then when he just took all the pills so yea I believe there are alternatives.

Some one posted a week or so ago and it got some people upset but I too agree that if money was not such a big part of illness we would have alot more cures instead of just being able to manage most dieases like chronic conditions.

If you had a pill that cures lets say cancer verses a pill that controls it doesn't it make sense that the control pill would make drug compainies richer as you would have to keep buying it? If you only had to buy it once or a few times the drug companies would loose Billions. If you look into things Drug companies own alot of other companies and have a huge influence in even our governament. It is sad and some might not want to believe or it might make them angry but Money controls all. If you found a cheap cure ( lets say red and green M&M's eaten at the same time just for an silly example)for cancer tomorrow and had given it to several people and cured them. Rather then have the governament bless you and drug compainies thank you they would run you out of the country and label you a quack, you would probably even make the Quack busters or what ever website...Why because you are now a threat to the drug companies.

I am not asking everyone to share my beliefs but rather to open your eyes to possibilities and not judge those who view it this way so harshly as the one poster was. I recommended something to a friend for her dog and she asked her vet and said he laughed and said that will do nothing.Like doctors alot of his views and training were supported by the drug companies and to risk what is unknown to them is too much of a risk as we are too sue happy these days..( she decided to try what I said and low and behold it worked).

I am not saying don't do chemo but rather open your eyes to other possibilities as there are some out there. There are things that might inhance the effects of chemo, do some research as there is alot of "snake oil " out there too as everyone loves a fast buck. Keep in mind the placebo effect as often if we believe something will work it works as our mind is a powerful thing. JanMarie

I agree with Janmarie2, you need to explore any and every treatment option available. My mother was dx with esophageal cancer back in 1988. We took her to MD Anderson where she had surgery and follow-up radiation. She passed away in January 1989. All that my aunt's could talk about were the wonderful "things" that were being done for the patients at MD Anderson. What I saw were a WHOLE LOT of folks making a WHOLE LOT of money...As bad as it sounds, cancer will continue to be the terror that it is as long as there is money being made...Just my $.02 on this subject...

James

OK< OK< OK.................so much controversy!

My moms oncologist at her cancer center has been there 30 years. I cried to him last month on the floor, and asked him to help my mother. I asked him if he has ever seen a survivor with stage IV lung cancer........he said "yes, 20 plus years....."........Thats all I needed to hear!

He loves my mother, and is sincere. His own mother is over 90, and he understands. he hugs us when we leave, he is sympothetic, and he doesn't need our money.

He told us to "be patient"............He also told us "NO SUPPLIMENTS!"!!!!!!!!

He said some of the vitamin suppliments could interfere with chemo...HOWEVER, (important here)..........He did say all the NATURAL jusices and vegetables were encouraged. So we have been giving mom pomogranite/blueberry juice all natural no additives, no sugars, no fillers. She drinks 2 glasses per day. She had 30% shrinkage after 2 chemos. She also drinks V8 juice antioxident formula daily. I give her fresh berrys like blue and rasp, and straw, and she is not huge on veggies right now. she can't eat much of anything unless it is sweet. He did say to give her a Centrum Silver per day.

I have heard of people who were totally reversed after seeking holistic treatments. Alot here in the detroit area.........I may consider something along the way, however, here is the most important advice I will give you.....

My moms center told us this week that a huge study was done at Harvard.: 300 patients in one group, 300 in another. People were asked to pray 1 hr per day every day for one of the groups, and the other group had nothing done for them. The group that was prayed for had 80% reversals, cures, and healing factors take place. The other group had little change. So.............I would say, ask the Lord what you should do. Ask him to lead you, and He WILL! And Pray! If chemo is the answer then so be it, if not, then you will know. It is that simple! Trust in him to decide for you. Lift it up to him!

Now, I know chemo is bad, worse than the disease itself. however, if it wasn't for the chemo, my moms tumor would not have shrunk 30%, and she may have not been well enough to see the unveiling of the "TOMOTHERAPY RADIATION Machine", so I am going to trust in her Dr. at this point!

I hope you find peaceful answers.............you know where to look and who to ask!

Angel:angel:

Hi-
We too have looked into alternative treatment for my husband, but so far nothing seems to have worked. We even went to Texas, (not MD Anderson, but another clinic in Houtson that only uses alternative methods) Sad to say my husband's cancer is so extensive that they said he would have to do chemo and their treatment plan. I believe in alternative treatment, but within reason. My husband and I never agreed with chemo, but then given his choices and the urgency he opted to do chemo, but even to this day we read books, comb the internet and spend hours researching. We won't give up, but know what might work for one might not work for another. We continue to search because as one's body is so ill some of the alternatives are not even touchable by my husband. We try to follow nutrition, but when you are so ill, it is hard to follow.
I wish you luck and hope you find something that works! We will keep searching....
Kim