Suzanne Somers' new book, "Breakthrough" - breast cancer?

anondenet

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Has anyone read the new Suzanne Somers' book, "Breakthrough," which contains a lot of interviews with doctors?

They refer to a lot of studies and supplements as well as bioidentical hormones.

Anom

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elisabeth

Hi Anom.  I haven't seen this yet, but I do know about her use of mistletoe.  I went to an MD who is also anthroposophic and she prescribed mistletoe to boost my immune system.  I haven't decided what I am going to do.  My GP says no, but I do know it is used a lot in Europe.  I started a thread about mistletoe, but very, very few people responded.  I know Somers' is big into mistletoe along with other supplements.

e 

vivre

I just got a book about herbs, and it says that mistletoe can be dangerous. When I get a chance I will type it out.

 I loved Breakthrough. Although she is a bit way over the top with all she is doing, not practicle for us regular folk, the doctors she interviews give a lot of great information on how the body works, and what we can do to keep it healthy as we age. It is one of those books, I go back to for information and reread parts often.

anondenet

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I believe mistletoe is covered by socialized medicine in some countries as a cancer treatment.

What is interesting in her book is the use of bioidentical hormones. Odd how those who use hormones are less likely to have their breast cancer spread.

One side says hormones are evil, the other side shows hormones are good at preventing mets.

Anom 

epete

I sed mistletoe (Iscador) injections. No scientific measure but I  would do it again in conjunction with other things.

epete

I believe you will find that most alternative medecines will be labeled 'dangerous' by someone. Everybody finds their own comfort level with path to recovery. There will be experts and research on both sides; the beauty of the internet is the level of research/choices now available to us.  I'm beginning to believe there is no black and white -right or wrong treatment. What makes the most sense to each individual's quality of life will be the right choice for her/him.

epete

Yes,  HCG the pregnancy hormone now used in popular diet plan is thought by some to help prevent breast cancer.

elisabeth

Hi epete.  I'm not sure I understood your one post correctly.  Have you used mistletoe injections and did they help?  They are supposed to boost the immune system.  And, yes, I agree with you that many say mistletoe (Iscador is the type that Weleda puts out) is a toxin.  But, so are the drugs we put in our bodies.  All my radiation onc said after I said that Arimidex was also a toxin was, "good point."

Thanks!!! e 

havehope

I am also interested in Iscador. Please let me know if somebody knows a doctor that is familiar with the medication in NY-NJ area.

Maire67

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Jellydonut

According to published reports, Somers had a lumpectomy w/SNB (all clear) and radiation.

Depending on the tumor size she was either stage I or II.

elisabeth

Hi All.  There is a great little book called Iscador.  I got it out of my library, but it is only about $10 on Amazon (or it was last time I looked).  It explains mistletoe and cancer and other aspects of disease.  It is edited by MD's who are anthroposophic.  simvog - if you google anthroposophic it includes a web site of an anthroposophic group that shows where these MDs are throughout the country.  If you can't find one in your area you can call them or email.  That is how I found the one I went to.

Hope this helps.  e 

anondenet

Jellyd,

Suzanne Somer's tumor was at least 2.5 cm. I remember because it was not detected on routine yearly screening mammogram. Because she had good insurance, her doc said why not get a sonogram too and there it was.

She is a big iodine taker. Four of the doctors interviewed in her book recommend it. Dr. Wright said IODINE is THE BEST THING SHE COULD TAKE to prevent recurrence.

Anom

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Liz08

Yes, Suzanne Somer's tumor was 2.4cm according to publised reports.  Back in January, Suzanne Somers had alot of her personal info about her breast cancer on her website but now I can't find the info on the website.  She also had alot of info on Iscador with links to get more info on it but it's no longer there either.   

I have her book but have only skimmed it.  I too found the iodine info and asked my naturalpath about taking it and she agreed for me to add iodine to my list of supplements.  Suzanne is a little over the top but she must be doing something right since she has been doing well for over 8 years with a relatively large tumor and only a lumpectomy and rads.

For those of you who have the book, I recall some comments in the book that led me to believe that Suzanne Somers was a triple negative???  

Also, Iscador is commonly used in Europe and has been used for a long long time.  If you google Iscador you will learn about its history and its use.  I have a friend who lives in Switzerland and told me that when her friend got breast cancer her doctors gave her Iscador.  

FloridaLady

Toxins...

Chemo can be made of - metals (what cause neuropathy & very toxic to the body), mustard gas ( used as bio warfare), ecoil, & coumidin (rat poison), Rads---can cause cancer & damage heart/lungs,  chemo can cause cancer of the blood and other cancers.

This is just a few I could think of off the top of my head.  You may have to use something toxic to fight this disease... the medical industry feels the need too.

Flalady

vivre

FlaLady, you are so right! It is okay if we are poisoned with substances produced by some drug company, but if you use anything that grows in nature, it is not accepted. It all goes back to the fact that no one will do studies on plant derivatives, because they cannot make a buck off of it. People like us will continue to seek other answers, and as we do, and succeed, the AMA will have to start looking at our results and stop ignoring us for not following their protocols. It is so frustating! I wish they would stop just researching with tunnel vision! How many of us are they causing to suffer, and killing, because they refuse to look outside the box! I guess we are just like pioneer women of the old days. We are not quitters and we are looking for a better life!

vivre

Anom. I seem to remember there is a simple test for iodine. Do you remember. Are you taking iodine. It is about the only thing I am not taking I think. LOL Although I have switched to sea salt that has minerals in it.

anondenet

Vivre,

Yes I am taking iodine.

There is a skin test where you apply a 2 inch square of iodine tincture on your skin and if it is gone in less than 24 hours, they say you are deficient. But there is a MORE accurate "Iodine Loading Test," which collects iodine during a 24 hour period.

  I had ovarian cysts in my 30s and hypothyroidism in my 40s culminating in breast cancer.

So, go figure!

Anom

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jessee54

Flalady, I'm curious, have you been able to find any concrete documentation or statistics that chemo can cause blood and other cancers? I know it says something in the info the pharmacist hands out, that it may be a rare side effect. But I'd love to find more info on this.

On a different, or not so different subject, every year I attend Teresa Heinz Kerry's Women's Health Conference in Boston. It's amazing and wonderful. She has top scientists, and specialists in the building industry as well that give talks and roundtable discussions on toxins in our environment and how they affect not just women's health, but everyones. It is always an eye opener. Her biggest message is that woman have the power to boycott and if we can find our voices to ask more questions and DEMAND answers from big chemical and pharmaceutical companies we can actually work on finding the CAUSES of cancer, not just the cure.  This conference is free and is held every year in October. A link to the conference can be found at reginavilla.com. She always gives everyone free books from some of the speakers.

Jessee 

anondenet

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GENERIC CONSENT FORM FOR CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENT

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cp418

http://www.hollyscoop.com/suzanne-somers/suzanne-somers-on-patrick-swayze-hes-one-of-the-lucky-ones_18932.aspx

BoundaryGrl

 Interesting that the < hollyscoop > article describes Ms. Somers as "battling BC with alternative therapies".  Badly written - no mention of the lumpectomy and radiation at all - leaving the implication that the Iscador treatment was the reason for Ms. Somers' successful outcome. (It might be, but we just don't know.)  Another example of how important it is to research all the options really really carefully I guess.

Jellydonut

Liz and others,

Was able to access SS breast cancer info on her website here:

http://www.suzannesomers.com/LifeStyle/

Jelly

Liz08

Jelly-

Yes, that's the info I found I found on Suzanne Somers when I was 1st diagnosed a year ago.  Thank You for the link.

Liz

anondenet

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Mistletoe was well-documented as a much used European treatment at the Florida (Annieappleseed) Complementary Medicine conference this weekend by Dr. Ralph Moss. The long use of iodine for breast, prostate and ovarian issies was also stunning. Dr. Keith Block of the Block Center in Chicago talked about what they are doing and showed many slides of long term survivors, some of them who were alive many years after a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer.

It was great to talk to so many long-term survivors who have chosen to divert from the standard protocol path. Herbalist Dr George Wong was there giving free consultations to members of the Amazon Discussion Group. What an oportunity! A number of doctors attended along with patients wanting to learn more.

They also served delicious organic food I particularly liked the turkey and cranberries.

Anom

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vivre

Anom, that conference sounded great. Do you know if there is going to be another one anywhere else? I am going to check out the Block Center too. I have heard about them. I am re reading Suzanne's book after referring it to a friend who is thanking me for making her read it. She has had all kinds of problems and doctors keep putting her on more drugs. After she has soon the way  I have changed in the past year, she decided I was on to something and is now outside the box with me. I just hope I can help her find a way to get well. I wish there were more doctors out there like Suzanne has found who are willing to treat people and not disease.

Now I need to stop forgetting, and get busy on the iodine. My thyroid test was a bit low, so I need to find out what to do.

Thanks for all you help anom!

FloridaLady

anom,

I'm jealous you got to go. I so wanted to go with this being close to me.  But I could not find anyone to drive me over.  (I still can not drive very far due to neuropathy.) I'm on the other coast.

I glad you got to meet some of the best in this field.

Flalady

anondenet

Vivre,

Fershure, if your thyroid is hinky and you also have breast cancer, you may be so drained of iodine that the thyroid and breast cells are vulnerable to swelling and disease. As the speaker at the conference said: Iodine is NOT just "one more add-on" for breast cancer. It is essential of the essential physiology of the breast. If iodine is deficient or blocked breast disease occurs.There were amazing before and after sonogram pix of patients who had taken iodine. Iodine is being used like Tamoxifin and Arimidex by some although it is illegal for any doctor to recommend that as an alternative.

Fla Lady,

You should have written Ann Fonfa, the director of the conference. SHe would have found you a ride from the other coast. There were people there from Tampa. The Conference also gave out scholarships. There was great comraderie at the conference and I learned a lot from the speakers who were very accessible.

 The attendees had a great social time too since they had lunches and receptions to socialize. Everybody was very friendly and compared notes on what was good and who they liked and what docs were not good. There was yoga in the morning outside by the pool too.

I think there will be one next year but I'm not sure if it will be in FL or Las Vegas. I'll let you know if there are any more conferences.

 xx Anom

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vivre

Okay, anom, you have me convinced. I am really checking into this iodine thing. I am kicking myself I did not go to that conference! I could have used a few days in the sun, especially since we have blizzard warnings out! Thanks for the advice!

CharlotteV

I just started taking Iscador injections last week after a mastectomy two months ago.  I contacted Weleda North America, the manufacturer.  Michele Sanz, 1 Closter Road, Palisades, NY 10964.  Email:  michele@weleda.com  1-800-241-1030 x5550.  Michele emailed me a list of physicians in my area that could order Iscador from Germany and prescribe it.  One website is: http://www.iscador.com/articles/use-of-iscador-an-extract-of-mistletoe.aspx  So far so good! 

London-Virginia

Culpeper's Complete herbal - (dated 1653)

Nicholas Culpeper was one of great natural physicians and there is still a Culpeper shop in London dispensing herbs.   You might be able to get a copy of the reprint from Amazon.

Aside from an ancient body of knowledge with regard to herbs and plants, there is a gentility and nobility in the writing and much is to do with the philosophy of medicine as well as the science of that time.   This is before the Enlightenment in Europe divided science from the Arts (inclusing philosophy) .  I recommend this for the knowledge within (not all of which we would choose to use but fascinating anyway) and in the "General epistle to the reader" at the beginning of the book, he says "All other authors that have written  of the nature of herbs give not a bit of reason why such a herb was appropriate to such a part of the body nor why it cured such a disease".   So he is saying that usually you can't get the info you need in order to use the herbs and medicines, so the purpose of his book is fully to inform the patient so that they might heal themselves.

Across the centuries our goodfriend Mr Culpeper has reached out, much as perhaps those people sharing information on this website.  

For baldness, he recommends ground flax seed rubbed on the head!!!