Suzanne somers

Please consider it a 'fiction' rather than a 'non-fiction' book!!! She doesn't have appropriate advice for new people who have just been diagnosed with cancer. A verteran would be able to pick out the boloney from the okay stuff.

I have it and read part of it...i get and understand some of it such of the FDA not approving some medince due to "money"...however, not  yet comfortable with not doing chemo, rad or hormones pills and doing "natural" pills instead...

I read the book and really liked it.  The beginning is her story but the rest of the book is interviews with doctors (and others) giving their opinions on bc and overall health.  It let me know that with early stages of bc, I have other options and I'm thankful for that.  She doesn't hide the fact (in the book) that she had a lumpectomy and radiation.  She does say that if she had it all to do over again, she would have skipped the rads but at the time she was fearful and uneducated about her bc and that's why she agreed to them.  After her bc is when she became very non-conventional.  I too learned a great deal after my diagnosis so I can appreciate that.  She wrote the book because several years after her bc, she had a fungal infection (known as valley fever). Her chest xray and further scans showed spots throughout her body that mimicked cancer so the attending physicians told her that her bc had spread.  Only after her step-daughter or DIL (cant remember) looked up her symptoms online did she and her family suspect valley fever and asked for a biopsy which revealed the fungus, not cancer.  IMO, It's an interesting story and contains some very good information from the docs, that are interviewed there, have to offer. 

So there's my book review for what it's worth, lol.

lrr4993 My onc also told me that we have no way of knowing if the chemo would work or if I even needed it. In women with similar stats 40 out of 100 who only had surgery were still alive and NED after 10 years. For all I know I could be one of those 40 but I didn't want to find out the hard way.

They do know though when the chemo doesn't work.

I agree with most of you - especially Pickle.  I have read her book and saw her on Oprah and found her misleading.  Many, many women with early stage grade 1-2 breast cancer do not need chemo.  I don't think she ever admits she had conventional treatment, which she did.  This is not revolutionary or because of the huge amount of supplements, mistletoe, or injections she gives herself.  From what I remember many of the doctors that she discusses are not reputable.  I believe Larry King had a few of them on a panel and they are not exactly leading oncologists.  I have a friend who recently had Valley Fever.  It is surprisingly difficult to diagnose, which seems odd.  He is a healthy 45 year old, yet was in the hospital 9 days (released once for a day then spiked a high fever and was readmitted).  While they were waiting for test results, he of course had a ton of scans etc. and it sure sounded like lymphoma.  The first few tests they did were negative for Valley Fever.  I can imagine if a patient has a past history of breast cancer, a recurrence does pop into the doctors head.  If they actually diagnosed it without a biopsy, then they should not be practicing medicine. 

I find anyone who has sweeping generalizations about breast cancer full of _______.  WE all know there are way too many variables that determine how aggressive the cancer is, and what should be the treatment.  Do not rely on supplements and juice to cure it, especially in lieu of herceptin if you are Her2+, or chemo if you are triple negative or positive nodes, or have a high oncotype....I could go on and on!

She is a great marketing machine, and I truly believe she believes her supplements and protocol keep her heathy, which may be true.  BUT they are not a blanket cure for cancer.  Scary stuff in my opinion.

Any know about Core Maca Gold as supplement for hot flashes?  I know that Black Cohash and plenty of other supplements are plant estrogens and not recommended for the flashes if I was estrogen positive breast ca...which I was, but I am having a hard time finding info on Core Maca Gold.  Did acupuncture for ahile and it stopped the flashes completely.  Unfortunately, couple months later started up again...not as bad, but getting worse.  Acupuncturist recommended Core Maca Gold, two droppers morning and evening.  Anyone have any info/experience with this?

I went to one of the doctor's she promotes in her book. He was smoking when I walked into his office--that should have been the first clue that the guy was a quack. He said he only smoked European cigarettes because they didn't have the harmful chemicals in them like the US brands--which doesn't make sense because Europeans die from smoking related diseases too. 

But I don't think we should discount the placebo effect. I think that if a person's belief system is stronger that they will gain a benefit.  

The placebo effect is real, even scientifically proven! I am all for it.

"That could be this 40 yr old, no family history, long time veg/vegan, exercising, yoga head, happy person's bitter attitude towards "prevention"

 Haha, Ltothek you just described me!

Has anyone heard of marine phytoplanktin? I read that it is a plant in the ocean that helps many diseases of the body from eczema to cancer but it is not FDA approved in the USA yet, it is in Canada and I believe in Europe.  Still be studied here in the states.  100% organic! any thoughts?

I am 80, and had lumpectomy, One node of three had pinpoint size positive...docs were surprised. Would it have spread there from surgery...since biopsy said no node involvement. I do not have energy to do Rad...am alone too, and Concord type is 9...oncologist prescribed Arimidex? Rad. Does not cure cancer anyway, just supposedly reduces chance of recurrence in same breast....but damage to heart and lungs later is very serious to me!! So hope decision to not do Rad is right. I was er and PR+, her2-, 2.5cm....staged it 2 because of tiny amt. In sentinel node. I read that iodine cures cancer ...also sodium bicarbonate.??

Arimidex is an antihormonal pill. It is a very effective systemic treatment, which means it could prevent the cancer from spreading to other organs.

You are correct, radiation is a local treatment that prevents a local recurrance.

I have read recently that a shortage of iodine can cause estrogen to build up. I am not wanting synthetic hormones and taking a product called Thyodine is one thing I am trying.

I think I got cancer partly for sleeping in a bra occasionally (lymph fluid cannot flow well) , keeping cell phone in breast pocket. (radiation), too much caffiene, too much meat and too much sugar. Not enough exercise. Not enough water. I am using baking soda to correct the ph of my body as well, to make it more alkaline but would like to get a Kaangen water filter and alkalinization machine when I can afford it.

I heard there is a home test for estrogen levels which would help me monitor how well I am doing managing estrogen on my own. Anybody remember what that is or where? Anyone else using this to monitor estrogen levels?

Oh, and most importantly, I am really changing how much I'm eating, cutting sugar and simple carbs and meat way back, and plan to trim down my weight also to control estrogen levels.

It is not as difficult as I thought. I just take smaller bites!!! And appreciate the food a lot more!

I can do this!!!