Interesting information for Alternative treatment advocates

Sponsored by ?

UCSD is a top institution, but this seems like a pretty silly study.  If they're saying that those who NEEDED systemic tx (chemo) but took supplements (only) instead didn't do so well, I'm not surprised.  Maybe I'm not understanding them correctly, but I don't feel this "finding" negates the benefit of serious lifestyle (diet+exercise) modifications, plus the right supplements and CAM therapies as a way of improving overall health & survival, especially when used in an integrative way.  If they're just saying supplements alone won't cure bc (although we have no idea what stages or grades they're talking about), they're probably correct.  But I still think the way this is written doesn't really tell us much.   JMO...  Deanna  

"All patients who did not have a surgical intervention within 8 weeks of their
first visit received follow-up telephone calls. Alternative therapies were
defined as any nonstandard treatments (e.g., herbal/vitamin therapies, diet ...."

suzieq

 I cannot imagine you will find many people who will disagree that those who skip surgery in favor of a vitamin  are worse off.  That's plain common sense.  I am wondering if there are lots of these nonsensical studies and if I have contributed to any of them over the years with all I have donated to cancer research.   Not even sure what they are trying to prove . I'm sorry, but it seems ludicrous to even suggest there are  a large number of woman who would forego breast surgery when DX with cancer.   IF there are , I havent come across any of them in this site anyway.

 I see this as a study designed to scare intelligent, proactive women to stop seeking CAM, which I find disgusting.

susie, that's an interesting study, although it would have been more interesting to me if they had subtyped the patients by individual stats, especially presumed stage @ dx, Her2 status, and also type of bc -- especially if IBC.  But perhaps the women involved didn't even get that far in the conventional medicine system.

And while I'm not questioning that it could happen, and we've all heard of open, oozing tumors -- that photo -- especially that the lesion was 2 cm 11 mos. prior -- is hard to wrap my head around. 

But I think the study is something everyone considering alternative-only tx needs to read and heed.     Deanna

You can always check the Stage IV forums for women who did adjuvant therapies.

The Stage IV forums document how women are complaining of BOTH the disease AND the agony of treatments after "doing everything right."

So sad. My heart goes out to our sisters.

SusieQ, are you addressing me ? because I don't see any posts by Maud - looks like she has pulled the plug 

BTW, has anyone heard from Chili ? 

Well, like I said SusieQ, I do not see Maud posting on this thread, therefore no reason to address her, unless ?  

My parents taught me to be polite and address people by their proper name.  No one here knows my real name except for the one I choose to post under and that is Ruby.

I call you SusieQ and therefore will ask that you extend the courtesy, tks

Purple,

Got to jump in here with respect to screen names. There is nothing to uncover. Regardless of how many times or how often you change your screen name, your posts remain as do responses to your posts. This makes it very transparent and very easy to see that someone who may have been Lil yesterday is Pat today and could be another name next week. Sometimes people change their screen names to eliminate personal or identifying information for example, Lucy G in Tuscon. But to change from one non-identifying name to another is not a very good way to change your identity on these boards. Pretty easy to figure out who you were! Caryn

Purple, it does look like SusieQ is on a crusade, perhaps she is trying to divert the subject of her own thread because like you so aptly said, we are not too impressed with the drama Lol

It really befuddles me how some people pick and choose what serves them best and totally ignore the fact that you and I both, as well as most sisters posting on the alt threads, have gone through the A to Z process, while some of the most anti-alternatives have not even had chemo or rads or have turned down hormonals.

I'm scratching my head in disbelief at this nonsense 

Thanks Kb.... 

I love my like-minded sisters  NattyGroves, you took the words right out of my mouth, well, almost, the word that came up was missionary.  Evangelist is more appropriate though, as I would hate to think of myself as one of those poor little Africans whose pictures were distributed when we were kiddies in school

Was kinda hoping that the stalking would not go unnoticed by the mods. If they are reading, I would be most grateful if they reinstated my PM privileges after the system booted me out again for having my posts "community deleted".  Three posts in 24 hours, I can't even imagine all the reporting power this must represent, more than 30 button hits ?  Wow, what devotion !!

Yup, definitely something in the wind