Alternative Medicine All the Way!!

I also am sorry to hear this as you have brought up some very interesting threads.. I wonder why the moderators have not challenged the attacks and by not doing this instead seem to discourage alternative meds?  This is a paradox as many of the founders and doc's that work with the board have themselves used and depended on alternatives and this can be known by interaction with them or reading their books..  I want the moderators to know that I am disappointed that they have not approached the attacks here as they do on other boards.. I will be leaving too if the people here who are doing really good work at TRYING to discover ways to live (TO LIVE) with their own cancers become discouraged because there right to speak is not protected.. It is not appropriate for the moderators to protect other people in other parts of this site and not do the same on this site.. 

Best

MODERATORS PLEASE COMMENT!  Thanks

Deidre:

With all due respect, you seem to be saying that if some disagree with some of the theories being presented here, then they have no "right" to express their disagreement.  On the other hand, do you expect that you and others have every right to express your views unchallenged?

Just as on the conventional tx threads, everyone can express their views -- some agree, some don't agree.  I don't really understand why you think the alternative threads should be any different?

IMHO, there are some good theories expressed here, and there are also some that I, personally, think fall into the quack category.  I think it behooves us all to exercise caution, whether with conventional or alternative tx.  We should do lots of research, but we also have to be very, very cautious about what we find on the net.   Always best to check our research with someone who is well-qualified to determine its scientific value.

Linda

Deidre, sorry to disappoint you, but my decision to not be baited by the alternative aficionados was my own decision. Their behavior continues as before ....

However, since you consider my new polite attitude to be commendable, thanks ! I appreciate the compliment.

I think it makes sense (on both sides, conventional & alternative) for people to "follow the money". In other words, consider who stands to gain financially from a treatment recommendation. I haven't seen that aspect discussed on these postings.

As an example, let's leave the breast cancer arena, and stay within conventional medicine. There are basically three options for treatment of blockages in coronary arteries. medical treatment (clot busters used within a few hours, to as long as a day); stents; and coronary bypass surgery.

Sites such as The New York Times have recently reported that research shows very similar outcomes with each of the three options--yet there is a lot of difference in the cost of using each. And in each type of treatment, there is money to be made by someone--a drug manufacturer, a stent manufacturer, an open heart surgical unit at a hospital.

The same is true in alternative medicine. My uncle owned a health food store. He made a good living selling healthy whole foods--but he made a lot more money from supplements. (An equally profitable area was the cosmetics he carried.) The mark up on food is minimal; however, the mark up on supplements & cosmetics is nothing short of amazing.

I have a lot of respect for alternative approaches, but I think they work best as preventive strategies and with chronic conditions. Dean Ornish, Andrew Weil, and more recently David Servan-Schreiber (an MD & PhD who has had brain cancer, and who wrote "Anti-Cancer, a new way of life") have all made important contributions in the integrative medicine field. But it pays to be cautious. "Eating healthy" beats supplements any day. At the least, people who want to use supplements would do well to give each of their MDs and perhaps their pharmacist a written list of all the supplements they use. There are dangerous interactions possible, especially with some of the chemo drugs.

I wish all registered members good health, by whatever means they choose to pursue it. No one has found "the" answer to breast cancer treatment--if they had, it could never remain a secret. It's also right that each person should choose her own path in treatment, because she will have to deal with the health outcome. Let's wish one another well on our breast cancer journey.

Your so right about both industries.  As for everyone... we all should be under some kind of doctor's care who is monitoring are bodies.  But...most conventional doctor would not the good or the bad of most supplements.  It is so hard to fine one that does research both.  But they are out there.  Big part of any of this is what dose are you taking.  Most supplements are not at a high enough dose to hurt anyone.

I have proof.  I have been doing most of the things discussed on this site and have been having all the standard and more testing to monitor my body if not weekly than monthly.  All I get from my doctor's ( I've seen three top oncologist and three top research clinic's) is...must be doing something right or I would not be talking to you right now. The key is educating yourself and try what you feel in your heart might have use for you.  That is all any of us can do.

Flalady

Barry, I'm sorry that you're leaving. Yet I completely understand, why. 

With my January Birad 5 to Benign, biopsy, I'm wondering why I'm still here. Very soon, I will be gone, as well. 

All that anyone dwells on, here, are all of these "treatments," offered up by the Medical Industrial Complex. Mostly, adjuvant "treatments." Which I don't believe in, at all.

And the real "litmus test." What if YOU had to pay, for these treatments?

This latest, MRI-Guided biopsy, the docs wanted for me, after my benign, ultrasound biopsy, would have cost $5,000.  Yet, I would have paid nothing. 

Yet, if *I* had to pay, $5,000? No way. I am NEVER paying that. 

This is what is wrong, with this Medical Industrial Complex. The people don't bear, the costs. Everyone here, thinks, it's all ... FREE. All of these bullshit "treatments." Of course, medical costs are "out of control." With this perspective.

Because nothing, is free.  

And the solution is just stop eating junk/processed food. And eat healthy food. But no one, wants to do that. No one seems to want to take responsibility, for themselves. They just want to trust some doctor, to cure them, from themselves. Well, as long as someone else pays for their $$$$ tests and "treatments.

Well, I am. I'm taking responsibility, for myself.

And I won't be here much longer, either. Because I don't agree with what anyone says, here.  And in contrast, I don't believe in the Medical Industrial Complex, either. The latter is just people, wanting to make $$$ off of scared, sick people. Or rather, the insurance $$$, since the people don't pay anything. IF they have, insurance. 

That is all this entire "Breast Cancer Industry" is. Enticing people, that are  insured into these useless "treatments." Because, they make their $$$. 

How may women who do NOT have medical insurance are offered, radiation? Since this "radiation" costs $20,000, I would say, none.

If you actually had to pay for it, you wouldn't do it.  

Again, Barry, sorry to see you go. 

Barry:

Thanks for making several threads more interesting by your presence. I am glad you found what you were looking for. All the best.

You need to look at what insurance has paid out too really see that many are getting a very reduce rate for services rec'd.  Not that I'm not mad that insurance continually goes up and cover less all the time.  My treatment bills have top over $600,000 but I spent $25,000 out of pocket big difference even if I've never used my insurance before bc. If I have to... I will fight this disease many more years.  My medical expenses could easily reach million dollars. The problem for me is I also have spent a lot of money on alternative so I feel good and "can continue working to keep my insurance". So my out of pocket has been high for the last three years. If I did not take care of myself I would be on SSI and Medicaid.  Many of our bc sister do not have a choice but to use Medicaid for treatment after loosing insurance.  So yes we pay for insurance but many of us stage IV will certainly get our monies worth.

Hi Barry, I missed ya!  Good to see you back and I think you have done an amazing job of walking through fire!  You have gone out and found a doc who will do things in a more respectful way to your approach!  I think that takes guts!!!  Welcome back and I hope to see more great threads from you!!!