Simple cancer fighting done at home
I am 26 and was just diagnosed with stage 4 breast metastatic breast cancer with bone mets. I am absolutely planning on doing the mainstream treatments that my oncologist has scheduled for me, but I also began to immediately look for complimentary ways to help myself. I have kept an enormous pot of cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger root, and turmeric boiling on the stove almost constantly since finding out. Cinnamon, ginger, and especially curcumin (found in turmeric, a close relative of ginger) all possess documented cancer fighting properties. Curcumin is acxtually in early testing stages in humans. I don't know how much I'm allowed to say about certain things on this sight, but if anyone has a chance, look up these potentially life-saving herbs. I have also been eating a minimum of 5-6 crushed raw garlic cloves every day, and juicing about 2 pounds of raw, organic carrots every afternoon(I throw in onions and shallots as well). Another phenomenal and well-researched cancer fighter is the under-appreciated flax seed. The lignans in flaxseed actually bind with circulating substances that promote unchecked cell growth, making it a wonderful addition to a "free and clear" regimen. I've spent hours looking at different articles on a lot of these herbs. I have tried to steer clear of those that have articles debunking them. The things that I have added to my diet thus far are those that I've actually found peer-reviewed articles on which show positive research results. I have also started taking 3000 mg of vitamin C each day, and am cycling echinacea in and out of my diet every 2-3 weeks. I am such a firm believer in the power of food and herbs to heal. Oncologists are great for the chemical side of things, but in order to beat cancer I plan on taking advantage of every available resource. I found a website called cancertutor.com that has a wealth of information on alternative and complementary cancer protocols. I avoided reading about anything that looked too gimmicky (and there are a couple of questionable protocols on the sight that are rather expensive.. whether or not they work isn't for me to say), but there are a lot of treatments that will cost you less than $20 per week at the local supermarket. I was feeling completely hopeless after I found out that my breast cancer had spread. I didn't know what to do to help myself, and let me tell you, just reading about the positive experiences that many, many stage 4 cancer patients have had with complimentary "food" or "tea" (basically cheap!)medicines really lifted my spirits. It gave me back a feeling of control and confidence. Learn about the herbs that you want to use so that everytime you fix something to eat or drink, you can experience the feeling of "knowing" that you are doing something that helps. It is getting me through. If you can find enough little things that have been proven to affect cancer in various ways, you are off to a good start. Start with one and keep adding. The best thing about stuff like cinnamon, ginger, garlic, or flax seeds is that they aren't going to hurt your body. The more that you know, and the more that you use, the better your chances of survival become. On that note, has anyone here tried or know anyone who has tried using organic sulfur in accordance with chemotherapy? The organic sulfur is supposed to make cancer cells more receptive to the drugs, resulting in greater death than with chemo alone. Any thought? Also if anyone has a food, tea, or herb that they would like to mention and have had experience with? I am curious about essiac tea and oliander tea as well.. I have read a lot of controversial articleson essiac tea. I have also read about some of the research that is beginning to be conducted on oliander. Some papers say that oliander looks promising while others are adamantly against it. Any thoughts, ideas, or information would be greatly appreciated.
Comments
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Hi cburke. I am a little curious about the Vitamin C you mention. It is my understanding it's only beneficial in high doses if done intravenously. I'd like to know what you know about taking it orally. As for the essiac tea, I did take it initially for about 4 years after my initial diagnosis in 1996. I stopped taking it because frankly, it was just such a pain in the ass to mix and sterilize everything (as per the instructions). On the other hand, I remained cancer-free for ten years with a rather grim prognosis, so who knows if those 4 years were actually beneficial.
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I drink the essiac tea, eat lots of tumeric, drink green tea with matcha, ginger and tumeric, eat about 22 apricot pits a day, have absolutely NO refined sugar, very little white flour or white rice, no soy products. I also drink dandilion and horsetail tea, and eat raw organic cashews. Stay away from all processed foods, cook as much as possible from scratch. I take vitamin K2 as well as Vit.D3, calcium, magnesium, chromium, melatonin, and a probiotic. I drink lots of homemade yogurt smoothies with cinnamon and berries.
Bone mets were diagnosed last June, stable in Dec. I too have looked at a lot of different protocols, and tried to make choices that make sense to me. The feeling that I'm doing something positive for myself helps me get through this.
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Hi,
I met with my naturopathic onc. 3 weeks ago, who confirmed that you can't take enough vit c by mouth to fully realize its cancer fighting properties. he recommended IV txs, 2 x a week for a few months, then backing off, for about 5 months total.
He did, however, highly recommend flax, but in order to get the benefit from it, you need to grind it yourself daily and add to food. A simple coffee grinder works great.
If you are considering chemotherapy, you might look into fasting for a day or two before chemo (research it). It seems to make cancer cells more receptive. I did fast--about 3-500 calories two days before till the day after chemo. I hope it helped.
Claire
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@cburke, Even though it's currently being studied as a cancer treatment, according to the wikipedia article about it, I personally wouldn't drink any tea that contains oleander. All parts of the plant are quite poisonous.
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thanks for all of the great responses so far guys. I think I'm going to try the essiac tea for sure. I did read about taking vitamin c intravenously in order to get the benefits of it. does anyone know if oncologists will assist with this, or is it something that has to be done by the patient? Two of my sisters are nurses and could get sterile equipment. Does anyone do this? I'm assuming that I would need to go through the pharmacist to get IV grade vitamin c..
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I'm not sure what allopathic regimens you are on, but it is best to work with a naturopath with specialty in cancer care. Naturopathic treatments can block or decrease the efficacy of allopathic treatments. There is lots of debate on both sides. I did naturopathic interventions during my chemo, and I'm a bit haunted by the notion there is possiblity they may have decreased the effect of the chemo.
Just research carefully and work with an expert.
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The naturopaths that I see in Washington, DC do IV Vitamin C. Maybe you can find a practice like this in your area. The speciality is called integrative medicine rather than naturopathy.
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Conventional toxic medicines can block alternative methods and permanently wreck your immune system.
So it's good to discuss with an experienced alternative doctor which conventional therapies cancel out the effectiveness of alternatives.
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Lipo vitamin c taken orally is considered by some to be more beneficial than IV.
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My MO said no to Essaic Tea, after I had purchased it so I stopped. She is the oncologist the doctors around here send their wives to, so I trust her. And I hate to add confusion to the Vitamin C talk, but I read somewhere that it has estrogen-like properties when taken orally. I would double-check on that but it's late and I have a headache, lol. More food for thought, anyway.
Great thread, I'm going to favorite it and read everybody's ideas.
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I checked the ingredients in the essiac tea with the pharmacists at my oncologists office, and they approved it.
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Love this thread, cburke! Thank you for starting it! Home and loopy
from lumpectomy today and feeling very blessed! Will be sharing my supplement choices in the future...but for now, lots of ginger, garlic, kale, broccoli, spinach, carrots, berries, and any antioxidant/anti inflammatory yummies I can get my hands on for juicing...
Turmeric too...
Looking into cannabis oil as a possibility.
What I do know, is that since I have been juicing with these yummies, I feel better. If it has the added benefit of preventing the cancer from coming back... yeah... It certainly can't hurt.
As for the Supplements, will be talking to my onc to make sure nothing stands in the way of radiation and hormone treatment.
My love and big big hugs to you all! Know that someone in California is sending you loving, healing thoughts.
Karyn
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BTW, I was thinking, if we are getting chemo and/or rads to kill cancer cells, and at the same time we pump our lovely bodies with supplements that fight oxidents, wouldn't that be 'pissing into the wind'? In other words, would we be fighting against the chemo and/or rads? I was thinking that it would be better to do supps after treatment is over, only taking supps that help with SEs...
Just a thought... will be consulting with a professional in Integrative Medicine...
More hugs to ya'll...
Karyn
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i see Dr Block at The Block Center in chicago. i follow or try to at least his diet on Life over cancer. its vegan with some fish.
i hadlearned how to make carrot juice, mentioned it to my nutritionist at Block Center. he doesnt recommend them for everyday use. too much sugar.
you maynot have heard of corporate angels. google that. you can fly on corporate jet to see cancer docs. -
I just saw this...my NO, who I just saw in March, said that you can't take enough Vit C orally to clean the cells, which is what you want to do. He strongly recommended about 5 months of Vit C IV, but I can't afford it. I might get one tx as a de-tox and cleanser, but 1) I don't think there is anyone here who does it in my small city and 2) he suggested I get it done 2x a week, meaning I'd have to drive 2.5 hours south one way to get tx'd. I just can't do that.
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I am a HUGE believer in Turkey Tail Mushroom...
go to this video at 7:52 ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXHDoROh2hA
Paul Stamets is the guru scientist of mushrooms - and his mom's journey with BC...
There has been clinical trials on this as well and some going on now. Been used
in Far East for years...
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What dosage of Turkey tail do you take?...I take 3000mg daily...it's expensive!
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I take 5 tablets of Turkey Tail by Host Defense per day - I honestly don't know how many mg's that is...
it is expensive!! I also take MyCommunity Mushroom Mix by Host Defense...even more expensive.
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I don't take essiac as I have learned it's not really the same formula as originally documented...I am about to order Paul Darco tea from a man on the Yahoo group cancercured...many people there have success with his tea...supposed to stop cancer dead in trax...
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I am taking essiac that has 4 additional herbs added to it. The sheep sorell is the one that kills cancer. I'm also taking an 11 herb tea that I alternate with the essiac but can't remember what's in it except dandelion root.
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@karynhelen--it is definitely possible for supplements to undermine conventional cancer treatments. My oncologist warned me not to take folic acid during my chemo treatment, because one of my chemo meds killed cancer cells by starving them of folic acid. Taking a supplement would have at least partially negated the effect of that medication. I think you are smart to consult with someone who is knowlegeable in integrative medicine before adding supplements to your regimen. I need to find someone like that myself!
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Hi CBurke, Your post is most informative. I wish you much luck with your treatments, how good of you to reach outside yourself and provide others with info they may not know. My MO will not allow me to take any vitamins or supplements that may interfere w/tx. Cant wait till I can take them again, meanwhile start using the teas and some herbs.
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I'm on Tamoxifen and I take many vitamins and herbs, I hope it all helps to keep Cancer from spreading.
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has anyone reviewed there supplements?
there is website called consumerlabs.com.
its yearly script -
Much on the same track, I decided to add also vitamine D and Calcium complex (my breast cancer mets are in the bones). Already a vegan, I am avoiding sugar and recently went a step further, avoiding carbohydrates as much as possible - starting a ketonic diet. By making the body burn fat instead of carbs the cancer is deprived of glucose, without which it doesn't do well, whereas the rest of the body does fine (maybe even better); our real ancient forefathers and mothers lived most of the time like that. You can eat more when you are not also vegan. You find quite a lot googling for ketogenic diet against cancer.
It sounds rather terrible but after only one difficult day for me it turned out not to be bad at all. Like the squirrels I enjoy eating nuts and seeds (also sesame paste), and raw (also cooked) vegetables and every day a few berries. And wouldn't it be wonderful to slowly starve the cancer while continuing to enjoy food?
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Beatez- did you do any research into bone density loss while on a ketogenic diet? My mets are in my spine as well, and I thought it might be too risky. I have cut out all refined sugars and high glycemic food, but didn't want to go ketonic. I like to picture the mets starving as well.
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Hi ladies,
What a great and empowering thread:-) I have eaten broccoli sprouts (there is a lot of research on this by Johns Hopkins) for years, but am now trying to eliminate added sugars and add more cabbage and other fruits and veggies.
Sending you all good thoughts & energy.
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Thanks urbanfarmer for warning me. Yes, I know that there may exist a risk of less bone-density. I also have mets in the spine, and the Aromisan which the onc. prescribes me is also a threat for same. I do use a calcium complex supplement and take extra vitamin-D. If the ketogenic diet would show improved blood markers I consider to stop for some time with the Aromisan which showed already signs of losing the battle. A way of navigating this is. But, happy to have found a place where to exchange such considerations.
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cburke, look up calcium d-glucarate. Here is a monograph that mentions a Sloan-Kettering trial (though fortunately you can take it yourself without being in the trial): http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/7/4/336.pdf
I think Source Naturals makes a good version with reasonable dosage amounts (500 mg each). So does Pure Encapsulations.
Also, you may want to consider finding a good naturopath to do a hair mineral analysis and make sure you eliminate any deficiencies. Get your tissue levels of vitamin D up to sufficiency, if they aren't already. Find the right diet for you. Eat lots of organic superfoods: watercress, red raspberries, scallions, (cooked) white-button and crimini mushrooms coupled with green tea, etc.
Review this study of the best cancer-fighting vegetables for various types of cancer (including breast cancer):
http://www.chrisbeatcancer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Anti-Cancer-Vegetables-Study.pdf
Enjoy your life, whatever decision you make!
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Hi All....I was diagnosed with stage 2b cancer last June. I skipped everything my oncologist wanted me to do..(mastectomy, chemo, and radiation). Instead I researched and found just the right natural treatment for me. I took 1500mg. of Tumeric (Curcumin), 1500mg. of Broccoli Sprouts (Sulfuraphane), and six capsules of raw Cannabis. I also took a good dose of RSO (Cannabis Oil) at bedtime and slept through the "high". Raw cannabis does not get you high. I had to work six days a week and could not be high. I did this for five months and was tested in December and they found no cancer cells.
Not doing the chemo will help the natural treatment do their job better. They don't have to fight the effects of the chemo....they just take on killing cancer cells. My husband researched and found just the right dose for me of each. My oncologist and surgeon were not happy with me. She sent her partner, who I never met, to tell me that I was cancer free. She did not even want to talk to me.
Sulfuraphane kills cancer stem cells that chemo doesn't touch. That is why in lots of cases the cancer comes back with a vengence most often. Cannabis also kills the stem cells.
You can read about cancer stem cells at the University of Michigan website. They did a major study on them and came up with the broccoli sprouts and tumeric. So glad I was listening to NPR one day and heard about the U of M research. I would never have heard about it. I asked my oncologist who is from the U of M (she even wears the logo on her white coat) if she heard about the research and she said no. If you google University Of Michigan and cancer stem cells you can read about the study.
Take care everyone! Wendy
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