Is it possible to post negative Alt experience?

Actually, I would think that someone's bad response to an alt treatment would be very relevant.  Chillipadi had a very bad experience with the Budwig protocol and has posted a few times about it.  I don't think her posts have been deleted.  I've never been impressed with the Budwig protocol myself or with Gerson, for that matter.  

Digger, did you try an alt treatment that failed you? 

You should look up low-dose neltrexone.  Also, off label use of metformin is very effective.  Injections of iscador mistletoe are common in Germany and Dr. Block from the Block Institute recommends them as well, so you might look into that.  The studies on qi gong and cancer are extremely promising.  Of course, most alt practitioners recommend cutting out meat, dairy, and sugar, although there are some that recommend the blood type diet.  (The more I read about the Blood Type diet, the more I think there might be something to that.)  I'm also impressed by AveUltra, a fermented wheat germ extract.  

I don't have much use for the FOCC, Budwig, Gerson, or coffee enemas.  I'm more interested in therapies that can actually be incorporated into your daily life.  Anything that can't (like 4 coffee enemas a day) is something that people won't be able to do and the treatment will fail.  Some people love the FOCC, but I just can't make any sense of it.  However, I'm sure it's fine as a dietary addition. 

I missed the part where someone accused you of those things?  

Thanks for clearing that up digger. I want what you want and wonder the same thing. Here's to both of us getting more time with our husbands and sons.

So digger, which alt treatments are you using?  Heatherckc, what are you doing? Always interested in adding to the arsenal...

How are Chillipaddi's posts a cautionary tale about alternative treatment? 

She apparently has IBC, and has done a number of rounds of various chemo combinations.  That sounds a whole lot like conventional or maybe complimentary treatment to me.

Why does someone who received a second diagnosis before even finishing adjuvant Herceptin treatment try so hard to push others to do the same treatment she did, and dissuade them from choosing alternatives?

Digger, did you have a negative experience with alternative treatment?  If so, please share.  We learn from each other, and learning about pitfalls, and what to avoid are every bit as important as discovering possible new things that might work.

Sweetbean - it's me she's talking to 

Patmom - I referred to Chillipaddi because she went alternative first and ended up in a terrible situation as sweetbean says.

Yes, I had a second diagnosis a year after the first while I was still on herceptin BUT that cancer was there the year before and missed and it was not HER2+ve - totally different pathology. SO it was NOT a new cancer. Yes, I will push anyone with an HER2+ve dx to not do alternative - most of us know what happened to wornoutmom.

Yikes.  Yet another thread heading towards destruction.

If conventional treatments worked 100% of the time, then holding alternative treatments to that same standard would be appropriate.  If any treatment were that effective, then we would be talking cure, and we wouldn't have nearly so many angels.  Unfortunately that is not the case.

If someone has a difficult time on an alternative treatment, then she should be able to come here and vent, and get tips and pointers on ways to make the experience better the same way that women on the chemo threads can, without being criticized, being told horror stories, being forced to defend her choices, and being implored to switch treatments.

For  many people, alternative works.  Would those same people have had a good outcome no matter what treatment course they chose?  Maybe.  But if by going alternative (or complimentary) they have a better quality of life, isn't that a good thing?

As much as I believe in alternative therapies, and I do, I would never suggest that anyone do an alternative therapy as a substitute for surgical removal of a tumor if that is possible.  From what I've researched, it is always preferable to remove the area of suspicion and then concentrate on keeping the cancer from recurring or spreading.

Combining alternative with conventional for some is the way to go.  I was prepared to do both my alternative along with radiation, but was then told I could not do both, so I opted out of rads.  I am still taking tamoxifen until I can find a suitable substitute.  I also take low dose Naltroxene, vitamin infusions, and a host of other supplements.  I follow a fairly strict anti cancer diet.  In other words, I am trying to do the best of everything to stay healthy.  We all know there are no guarantees, regardless of which way you go.  We all have to find our own comfort zone.

I don't come on this site to see people bicker about what is the right way vs the wrong way, so it will be refreshing to share our ideas without a lot of controversy.  It's ok to agree to disagree...that's normal in life. 

heatherckc:  Yes, the treatments are expensive, and not covered by insurance, at least not my Medicare, so it is out of pocket each time I go, and will end up costing me around $5,000 plus the cost of my supplements.  It means one less vacation we'll take, or those kitchen counters I was going to redo, but hey, it's my health I'm talking about.  I'm not willing to compromise that with treatments I don't have faith in, just because they are covered by my medical plan.

 My naturopath says about twenty IV's is the norm for a low grade low stage bc like mine.  In addition to the vitamin infusions (Meyer's cocktail) I get a boost of glutathione and lipoic acid at the end, plus there are some cancer additives added into the cocktail, so it's pretty potent stuff.  I'll be on the anti cancer diet for the rest of my life..it's the new normal for me...eating like a rabbit.  I allow myself one forbidden food once a week so I don't feel deprived.

Orange,

If you google low dose neltrexone, a lot of stuff comes up.  I have a naturopath friend whom I trust very much who recommended it (She is BC survivor who did surgery and alt treatments and is cancer-free 8 years running.)  Anyway, between that, the studies I read, and the fact that it is cheap with no side effects, I decided to do it.  

For those wondering, my friend did vegan diet, juicing, mistletoe, acupuncture, LDN, supplements from Young Living, Avemar.  

Hi Digger,

I share your frustration. IMO, this is the only forum where anyone can make any kind of claims and state them as fact, and any evidence to the contrary (or even respectful questions) is blatantly unwelcome.

It's the only forum where "discussion" is completely one-sided.  Anyone offering input or questions from a different perspective is quickly branded a troll and a bully "attacking."  

It's the only forum where factually-incorrect information, unsubstantiated claims, and conspiracy theories abound.  It's an altered reality here where you can make up stuff and cherry-pick research and cite completely bogus sources, and when questioned, you can dodge the questions, cry "bully," change the subject, or any of the other common responses.  

It's the only forum where it's pretty transparent that some posters come here for motives other than sharing legitimate breast cancer treatment information.  These include political/advocacy motivations, business prospecting, website marketing, and who-knows-what other kind of issues bring people here.  

Of course I realize that I'm one of the "unwelcome ones" here on this forum, but I hold to the belief that misinformation is a terrible disservice to legitimate breast cancer patients, so I try to present a more evidence-based perspective.  I'm not out to tell anyone what they should or should not do as far as their own treatment choices, but when I see blatant misinformation, it bothers me.  I don't understand why some posters would feel so threatened by facts and discussion.  

"Discussion" of alternative treatment should, IMO, include pros and cons, personal experiences, facts and opinions, and respectful disagreement and debate, just like every other forum on this board.

In my opinion, this illustration of "red flags" pretty much sums up some of the things  we see on this forum and should be openly discussed.