"Knockout" by Suzanne Somers

Options
TraceywithanE88
TraceywithanE88 Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Alternative Medicine

Hello,  I was recently diagnosed with recurrent breast cancer in January 2012.  My original cancer(stage IIb er+ prog- her2neu- high grade 4.7 cm in size) was in 2009.  I hesitantly went through chemo, radiation, and a lumpectomy with breast conservation.  My prognosis was very good, however, the cancer returned less than 2 years later.  As usual, the doctors pushed starting chemo right away and this time, they are also recommending a mastectomy.  I have been told that even after going through all this chemo and surgery that my chances of long term survival are only 30-40%.  I have always been an advocate of natural and alternative medicines, however, like most people, the doctors scared me into chemo.  I have now been through 2 cycles of a combo of Ixempra and Xeloda and am having terrible side effects.  In the meantime, I started reading "knockout" by Suzanne Somers and finished it last week.  This has lead me to really study and research many alternative treatments available.  I'm wondering if anyone on here has read her book and if they have any experience with any of the doctors or alternative practioners that she talks about.  I also discovered information via the internet on something called the "Budwig Diet" which I'm very interested in.  I'm leaning towards going someone who is integrative with modern medicine and alternative but was wondering if there might be someone here with experience in any of the above.  I will be 42 years old tomorrow, am married, and have a 15 month old little boy that I so desparately want to raise.  I am also a firm believer in God and am just needing some guidance on where to go before this chemo kills me.  There is so much more I could say and rant about but time is of the essence and I wanted to make this short and hopefully, to the point as much as possible. Thank-you for listening.  Please reply if you have any info concerning alternative doctors and successful experiences with any of them.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited March 2012

    I think Suzanne's books and her illness have been discussed here before. You might do a site search to read the responses and get the input you are seeking.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2012

    Hi Tracey, really sorry to hear about your recurrence, hugs and blessings

    I've read a whole lot on BCO, excellent discussions on the huge Natural Girls thread.

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/79/topic/730113?page=1

    If you search for Budwig, I'm pretty sure there's a whole thread devoted to the subject on this forum or on the Complementary and Holistic forum

    I've not read the book you refer to, but there is a new one fresh hot the press that I have yet to pick up:

    "The Whole-Food Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Nutritional Approach to Preventing Recurrence" Edward Bauman MEd PhD (Author), Helayne Waldman MS EdD (Author), Donald I. Abrams MD

    http://www.amazon.com/Whole-Food-Guide-Breast-Cancer-Survivors/dp/1572249587/ref=sr_1_48?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329575549&sr=1-48 

    Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with an integrative doctor as I've not yet been able to locate one in my area Frown Hopefully, sisters who do will provide their input

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited March 2012

    Tracey, I am so sorry for what you are going through. You have every reason to hit this cancer with all you've got available to you, traditional and complimentary and alternative.

    I read "Knockout" more out of curiosity than a desire to follow SS's lead. But, I wasn't needing further treatment or alternatives. She's a bit of a controversial figure here, to say the least.

    I know some of the regulars here will jump in to help you. I just wanted to post a note of support for what you're dealing with.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • onvacation
    onvacation Member Posts: 1,344
    edited March 2012

    Maud - thanks for the book recommendation - just ordered!  I have so many books in the short month I have been diganosed, but I believe knowledge is power!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012

    Tracey, I don't know if Suzanne admits it in her book, but she "outed" herself last year by saying that she DID do chemo and rads!!! Her alternative approach was for her "healing" from it all.

    As for the Budwig diet, when you already have cancer it's like closing the barn doors after the horses have fled. Your body has already learned how to make cancer!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited March 2012

    barbe1958:  She did rads...not chemo.  I read her book cover to cover, and have listened to countless hours of interviews and never heard her mention that she did chemo.  Her doctors recommended chemo but she opted out and started her alternative approach.

    Traceywithane88:  I'm so sorry to hear that you've had a recurrence of your bc.  You are young and have a lot of years ahead of you.  You had a large high grade tumor and apparently chemo and rads didn't work so well for you the first time around, so why would they work this time any differently.  Personally, if it were me, I would have the MX with or without reconstruction (your choice) and be done with it.  At your age with a recurring cancer, you don't want to roll the dice with alternative treatments that might not work.  Your children need you.

     One thing I would suggest if you haven't already done it, is diet and lifestyle changes.  If you read SS's book you know that she is a huge believer in diet and supplementation as a part of bc prevention.  That is what I took away from her books, and I am following an anti cancer diet  and supplement program.

    Sending you prayers to help with your decision.  Whatever it is, it will be the right one for you.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2012

    Onvacation, you're welcome !  Join the club, I have so many books to read and so much research to do !

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012

    Oops, I sit corrected, Kaara! I knew she did have some conventional treatment.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2012

    Reading the actual book(s) for the full story is a great help for getting the facts about her diagnosis and decision-making. She writes, she would never do radiation again because she didn't realize it had no overall survival value.

    She is a ER+/PR+, ten year survivor who is a passionate bioidentical taker. We can learn a lot from her. Smile 

    Surf's up. Gotta run!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited March 2012

    lucy88:  I know she still takes the bioidenticals...personally I'm a little scared to do that, and I don't have the access to top notch doctors that she does.  I feel like I'm rolling the dice a bit right now by taking a more natural path to treatment..I don't want to complicate matters more until I'm down the road a bit...say five years.  I took birth control for 20 years and HRT for another 20 on the advice of my docs and all it got me in the end was bc!  I've had some withdrawals from going off the BHRT, but nothing I can't handle.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012

    Kaara, I have heard only GOOD things about the bioidenticals if you are really suffering from the lack of ER. I am doing okay, so don't feel the need. I had a hysterectomy about 8 years ago so I figure I'm away from any menopause symptoms.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 1,107
    edited March 2012
    Tracey  Check out the documentary "Forks Over Knives" if you have access to it.  It talks about the advantages of going on a whole foods diet (ie: not eating anything that was every alive, or any biproducts there of), and eating only whole grain (no processed white flour foods etc)  Dairy and meat cause the body to be acidic, which makes cancer easier to grow.  I know that the Budwig diet has lots of cottage cheese.  Just putting it out there...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • truebff
    truebff Member Posts: 642
    edited March 2012

    what exactly are "bioidenticals?"

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012
    true, from what I understand so far, they are man-made hormones to replace those we lose with bc or menopause. But, they don't react in our body exactly as the "real" hormones did, so they have been proven safe - so far - for those of us who are ER+ or PT+ to help us have quality of life!! We need ER and PR to lubricate our joints, keep our skin moist and elastic and other benefits. Once diagnosed with ER+ or PR+, we can't take any hormone replacement supplements. Please correct me if I'm wrong someone!!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 12345678
    12345678 Member Posts: 81
    edited April 2012

    Love her book. There are alternatives out there. Gotta go right now, but will check in again.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited March 2012

    Barbe1958...you are correct...I talked to my onc about BHRT and he said...you aren't taking estrogen or progesterone!!!!  Of course I knew that as the "BHRT" doc I saw was also in agreement with that...but my onc is okay with testosterone, DHEA and vaginal estrogen when used no more than 2 X week.....Still waiting for "BHRT" doc to call me back with lab results and decide what we are going to do.......

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited March 2012

    Tracey, you might want to look into The Block Center.  http://www.blockmd.com/.  They are world renown for integrative oncology.  Cancer Treatment Centers of America also offer integrative oncology.  http://www.cancercenter.com/.  

    Be very wary of anyone who promises to cure you with unproven treatments or treatments that cured someone else who had bc or another type of cancer.  From my experience, bc is a very complex and individual disease, and many who offer alternative treatments do not have significant experience with bc, nor do they have the medical sophistication to understand the complexity of bc.  I happen to be a huge believer in alternative and complementary medicine.  But when it comes to cancer, I think a lot of what's promised is very naive and overstated.  Unfortunately, while I get the merit in some of SS's message re. the benefit of less invasive and potentially harmful txs, I'm just not aware of any US docs who are successfully treating invasive bc with alternatives only, and I think her message taken as broad advice can be very dangerous.

    And, yes, I actually have gone to 2 doctors (my current ND and a hormone specialist) whom I later found out are mentioned in her books.  But I only see them for post-tx care -- not in lieu of conventional tx.     Deanna

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited March 2012

    I am sorry you are having such a tough time with the chemo. Which are the most difficult SEs? What does your oncologist think about your reaction to the chemo?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 12345678
    12345678 Member Posts: 81
    edited April 2012

    Hi, Tracey!  

    In answer to your question, I have read Suzanne's Somers' book "Knockout".  I thought it was great.  There is a reference in it to a company called Life Extension @ www.lef.org.   I contacted the company and was able to speak to a medical doctor on staff who specializes in and has written articles on the cutting edge of oncology.  If you click on the "Health" tab and then "All Health Topics" you will find articles relative to alternative treatments for cancer.  

    It helped me enormously before my mastectomy surgery, suggesting supplements approved by my doctor, that helped me to breeze through it.  I would recommend you call them at 1-800-544-4440.  A health advisor will answer the phone.  Tell them you would like to speak to a doctor on staff.  They will put in a request for him to call you back.  It may take as much as 5-7 days depending on how busy they are.

    They are professional.  It was founded by Bill Faloon interviewed in SS's Knockout book. I don't know where else you could get a free second opinion.  You are not obligated to buy anything from them.  

    Just be sure you have some good questions lined up to make the best use of your/their time.

    Good luck! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited March 2012

    Kathy:  I second that.  Life Extension is a great organization.  I've been a member for almost 20 plus years.  They are on the cutting edge of all the medical breakthrows and the go to place for information on the latest studies.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 12345678
    12345678 Member Posts: 81
    edited April 2012

    Ain't it great?  And it's right down there near you in FLL!!  Wish I had known about them when we lived there.  We lived in Coral Springs and other SFL areas for 40 years!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Member Posts: 522
    edited April 2012

    I'm really enjoying this book and the interviews.  I'm interested in the hormone balance...especially since I have been stripped of all estrogen, but at the same time, the thought of introducing bio-identical hormones is very frightening to me. 

    I did find it interesting though about the engineering of future breast cancer patients in various alluring ways... (4 periods a year for example) 

    And to that point somewhat, when I was at my Oncology appointment yesterday, there was a dish of candy at each station of the center.  One at the front desk, one in the lab and one in the pod waiting room.  Really? 10 board certified oncologists don't understand that sugar feeds cancer?  (I'll give a pass to the lab since they may deal with more acute onset blood sugar fluctuations but the waiting room certainly doesn't need them.) 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sweetbean
    sweetbean Member Posts: 1,931
    edited April 2012

    Kat,

    At my infusion center, there are always plates of brownies and cookies.  I used to watch women eat fast food from Wendy's and MacDonalds while they got their infusion.  And then finish it all off with doughnut and a soda.  Yikes! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited April 2012

    Sweetbean, at my chemo clinic, they come around with a cart, offering jello, pudding or yogurt. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories