Radical Remission Book Club by Kelly A. Turner, Ph.D.

Hi Carol,

Thank you for starting this thread and I agree with your philosophy, modify your diet but still enjoy some unhealthy from time to time. If I was as strict as some are, I don't view that as a good quality of life.

Amy

Hi DistrictGirl,

It's good to meet you.

If you do decide to try mistletoe, be sure to look me up. I've done quite well with it for 20 years!

Here's a mistletoe resource you may not have found yet:

http://www.believebig.org

best healing wishes, Stephanie

Thanks Longtermsurvivor and LovesMaltese!

Longtermsurvivor - I'll be sure to reach out!

LovesMaltese - I was really amazed by my naturopath doctor. I met with her again today to finalize the gameplan for when I start chemo in a few weeks. It is so complicated - I could never figure out this on my own without a degree! She had to check the components and potential interactions with each and every supplement against the cocktail of chemos and targeted therapies I'll be having. I was really surprised to hear her say that I need to stop curcumin and a few other things when I start chemo, I never would have known that. She's also good about working with the MO - helps that they work in the same hospital system I'm sure. Maybe they can help with the arthritis too?? Good luck!!

Thanks for starting this thread. I downloaded the book today on my Kindle and then coincidentally came across this thread. So far I've only read the first chapter on nutrition and am not sure I have the will-power to take it all on board. Though, if it gives me more time with my family I'll give it a damn good shot.

I also believe that stress and a weakened immune system have a lot to answer for. My primary and secondary diagnoses both came during periods when I was under considerable stress and recovering from a seasonal virus.

Very long post, sorry!

I admit to having mixed feelings about this book.

I love that author Kelly A. Turner researched folks who've experienced Radical Remission from cancer and brought her findings to readers in an approachable, readable book. It's not a difficult read - she manages to skim right over difficult statistics, vocabulary and content that might muddle our minds.

I am someone who's achieved radical remission by her standards (The American Cancer Society (ACS) states that the five-year survival rate after diagnosis for stage 4 breast cancer patients is 22 percent. This percentage is considerably lower than at earlier stages. At stage 3, the five-year relative survival rate is 72 percent. At stage 2, it's over 90 percent. Feb 19, 2014).

20 years ago chemotherapy failed me and I took up anthropsophic medicine and Iscador while continuing to incorporate conventional and unconventional medical treatment options. No one expected me to see my next birthday.

40th Birthday 1996

Because I have a rare and serious genetic condition, I've been blending alternative and medical treatments since my teens...stepping well off the well trodden tried and true path. For many years, I've been more focused on quality of life than quantity. Gradually, without intending to, I've outlived one prognosis after the next.

But, because of my experience, I'm reluctant to be called an inspiration and I don't often share my survival secrets. What I've found is that other patients must walk their own paths - some will adhere and some veer wildly from the medically tried and true. And while some profess to wanting to follow my lead, it soon becomes apparent that what's worked for me, is unlikely to work for others.

I prefer to listen deeply for what is being called forth from whoever I'm listening to and then responding based on their needs. Maybe I can offer one slim clue to lead them further along their maze-like path.

And I do believe that healing can be a transformative journey, a quest, that initiates us to new ways of being, living and dying. This is based on my own experience and what I've witnessed in many others.

MBC is Not a "Journey" https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/...

I chose to reread the Radical Remission chapter on intuition first, because intuition often informs us of the right next step in our "cancer journey". Gut feelings, guidance, higher wisdom, intuition, call it what you like, has been my constant companion whether I'm deciding on treatment options, life course steps, who to trust. When I tune in, I learn. When I tune out, I get further and further from my own truth.

The chapter was okay, a bit simplistic, until I got to the radical remitter Susan saying, "I believe very much that the diagnosis of cancer - or the energy that was stuck in my body that appeared to be a mass or a tumor and which my doctors called "cancer" - was caused by these patterns that I was describing to you that don't get released, that are continually overlaid, over and over and over, wherever they are. So, if it's kidney cancer, it's probably excessive fears; if it's lung cancer, it's grief of some sort that hasn't ben resolved. I think they can very much be tracked back to thought patterns that are not releasing and therefore they hold in the cell memory." (emphasis added)

I think she's on safe ground when speaking of her own experience with pancreatic cancer, but veers into dangerous territory when making generalizations about other people's cancer causes and experiences. She's building walls where I believe bridges are needed. Since she's teaching and has clients, she's set herself up as a guide to the territory. (It doesn't really bother me that she hasn't returned to her doctors so has not definitely confirmed the disappearance of the cancer with Western medicine's scans. That might be a deal breaker for other readers though.)

I think that telling someone else the cause of their cancer is very iffy - whether one is focusing on energy patterns, genetics or lifestyle choices. There is very little clear causation in cancer, though a whole lot of correlation!

This book is problematic for me when Dr. Turner goes from describing what others have done to suggesting action steps that read more like recipes for success than things to try...because they improve quality of life in the short and/or long term.

I've had to face the fact that most cancer patients aren't going to change their diets, lifestyles, coping mechanisms, belief in the medical-industrial system and medical materialism or the efficacy of CAM/Integrative/Holistic approaches to healing. Even members of support groups like bco will deny the value of support groups! I've also had to face the fact that dozens of my intimate friends have died, in spite of trying harder to live than I have. To claim a recipe for success, then one must explain the "failures" too and I just don't see my friends as failures! Or having lost their battles against cancer (UGH!).

Odd and interesting facts of life. I needn't agree or disagree with others to build a bridge and keep communication open between us. Now, connection and loving kindness are what I most value.

I'd rather be happy than right!

It's hard enough to intuit what's right for me, I don't dare tell others what action steps to take. I guess that's why I'm a bumbler and she's an author though. (Laughing at myself).

be well, my bco friends, Stephanie

Long again, no apology this time.

I woke up from a nap thinking about radical remitters, exceptional patients, inspirations, authorities and survivors.

It happens less often now, but I still get my knickers in a knot when someone with early stage cancer of any organ claims to be a survivor a very few months out of treatment (whether mainstream, holistic or alternative). No, what really knots me is when they become a cancer coach and go on to give survival lessons to all and sundry without even realizing what they don't know or can't do.

Many years ago, I could have gone that route. I had advanced breast cancer and was doing well on alternative treatments after mastectomies. Yes, the cancer continued to grow, but it was slow and my quality-of-life good. My name and home phone number circulated widely.

One cold, dark and rainy night, I received a call:

Her: Hi, is this Stephanie, the survivor who beat cancer?

Me: Er, this is Stephanie.

Her: Good, I need your help. I need to know what you did.

Me: Mmm, okay, what's your situation?

Her: My mom's cancer is out-of-control and she won't try any alternatives. The doctors are killing her with chemotherapy and now they say she's going to die.

Me: Well, has your mother ever been interested in alternatives?

Her: No! That's her problem. She doesn't take care of herself, then expects the doctors to give her some drugs to make everything okay.

Me: Em, if she hasn't shown any interest in self-care thus far, what makes you think she's interested in following a fairly rigorous regimen now?

Her: I don't want my mother to die! (hint in voice that I'm trying to kill her mom too).

Me: Oh, I see better now.

Basically, I fielded dozens of these types of calls and queries. Even when the caller was the patient, not the carer, very few really wanted or were able to DO everything to heal their basic life/health/medical situations. Or, it was too late. Or there wasn't any clear answer or approach. Or, most likely, my way wasn't their way.

There was so much emotion bundled in those innocent questions about what to do next/now.

What I did next was to become a volunteer hospital chaplain where I learned to listen to others as they spoke about disability, disease and dying (their own or a loved one's). I learned to listen to what happened in their hearts and psyches on recognizing limitation and mortality. I learned to listen to help them discover their very own unique next steps to peace and well-being. When others look to me to be an authority, I listen first and reflect back to them.

Yes, I still read dozens of medical journal articles, textbooks, popular press books on all types of healing and have followed the work of some mainstream and very offbeat practitioners. But I don't give authorities my power or grant them responsibility for my well-being. I've even learned to forgive my mainstream healers for being human and having very limited medical toolboxes. That way, I'm gratefully surprised when they do help me with medical problems. Medical care is often necessary, but not sufficient for my healing/wholeness.

I can't help but notice how many metastatic patients are part of this topic/thread. We are all playing a very high stakes game for keeps. Most of us are women, conditioned to be good and do the right thing - we want there to be a course or recipe to follow to get the results we want.

Mary is so right, we want the prescription for healing, but we're afraid to try it and get our hopes dashed again. This leads us to rebel - to thumb our noses at authorities, including Dr. Turner. What a conundrum!

Yet, the longer I'm at this, the more I think - there's not a right way or a wrong way. Not a "my way or the highway". Just an endless free fall into the unknowable. Being able to withstand that gravity-free, pathless existence calls forth new powers. And most of us don't have the time or inclination to do it. Instead, we must reach for an authority who seems to have the answers...until we don't get the results we so desperately want and are dis-appointed and find ourselves in don't know mind again.

It can become a vicious cycle.

Okay, off to read a wonderful book now!

Healing regards, Stephanie

I finally bought this book yesterday. Halfway through Chapter One, and can't wait to continue. I already know I need to change my diet even more than I already have....I have always been a sugar addict, so that has been the hardest change. After the few pages I have read, I know I will be cutting out dairy. The only thing that surpises me is that exercise isn't one of the 9 things, although I know she mentions it in the introduction. I truly believe that it should be...it's something that I try to do one way or another, every day. When I was going through chemo, I felt so bad I didn't even make myself walk to the mailbox, and it took me at least two years to recover from that complete lack of motivation.... now I totally push myself.

Anyway, so glad to have this thread and the encouragement to read the book, and love the input and additional suggestions from all of you!

XO

Andrea

I'm learning so much from everyone's comments and really appreciate your viewpoints and experiences. I agree about being surprised that exercise isn't one of the nine. Keith Block's Life over Cancer has a couple of excellent chapters on the topic, for those interested.

Thank you for participating!

This is an early resource on Spontaneous Remission that is available in full at no cost.

Spontaneous Remission: An Annotated Bibliography

By Caryle Hirschberg and Brendan O'Regan

http://library.noetic.org/library/publication-bibl...

I actually had the book in my hands and read much of the 700+ pages. It's a tome, but convincing.

Healing regards, Stephanie

DISTRICTGIRL - you and I have similar stats and are both on Taxotere. Would you mind sharing the supplements that your MO cleared? I am currently only taking Omega 3s, Vitmain D3, Biotin, and Keratin. Am staying away from any antioxidants until chemo is over, and have switched to almost entirely plant-based/organic diet (still have organic half & half in coffee and will enjoy organic/hormone free eggs).

I ordered the RR book today. I also read the Anti-Cancer book mentioned on other threads and LOVED IT. It gave me another avenue to pursue in addition to the MO/RO recommended therapies. Boosting my immune system and leaning down are my #1 priorities right now. Secondarily I want to reduce/avoid inflammation and build muscle/bones. I want to do this primarily through diet and exercise, but also realize that some supplements are necessary to combat things (Omega 3s and vitamin D3) that I cannot control through diet. I live in MI where we just don't get enough D3 over the course of the year. These "feel right" in addition to the chemo/radiation/hormone therapy that is recommended for me. I know I have to eliminate the estrogen, and boost my immune system to fight off the cancer on its own, all while feeding and caring for my body to give it the best chance to heal itself. I also understand that even with all of this, there is no guarantee that it won't return - but I will have no regrets.

-Keely

Carol, thank you for bringing up this board and everyone else on all your comments about health issues and Radical Remission. I was on Amazon and will go back today to order this book. I've always wanted to know about health and how to better my chances of never having a recurrence or anything like this again. I had to stop Tamoxifen and restart again because of the SE's I was getting, so eventually I want to stop it all together but I may just take it every other day or something like that. I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

I would like to ask does anyone recommend a easy cooking book that I can start looking at? Also, I was looking at Raw Food Diet as a possible way of maybe adding that to my new way of eating. Anyway, any recommendations that you all make will help me start looking at what's out there in the world of healthy eating.

Thanks,

Hi ARCatz,

Rebecca Katz has two great cookbooks for folks facing cancer - One Bite at a Time and The Cancer Fighting Kitchen.

http://www.rebeccakatz.com

For most folks the raw food diet is difficult to follow after a detox period of 1-4 months. The best time for it is in summer when our bodies are able to live with less fuel/food. Nuts, seeds and avocados are used for protein and fat, but can create gas. Over the long term, most folks focus on whole foods and combine raw with cooked foods in some ratio.

For folks on chemo, with weight loss, taste changes, disease progression or recovering from surgery, the raw food diet wouldn't be supportive enough to regain bodily strength and integrity.

The Anticancer book has more great diet ideas.

I've been addressing my health needs with diet and nutrition for all my life. My mother was a dietician and I entered the natural foods world as a teen. Believe me, I've seen and tried every possible Health Food Diet from raw to macrobiotic to Weston A. Price.

A diet focused on the rainbow foods, complex carbohydrates and adequate good fats and protein is what works best for me. Avoiding the toxic SAD (standard American diet) is a good way to go.

Healing regards as you expand your nutritional world, Stephanie

Eat food, not too much, mostly plants. ~ Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan's "Eat Food" Diet

Summary:

Eat food, "Food" defined as:

1. Don't eat anything your great grandmother wouldn't recognize as food

2. Avoid food products containing ingredients that are:

a. unfamiliar

b. unpronounceable

c. more than 5 in number

d. or that include high-fructose corn syrup

3. Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle

4. Get out of the supermarket whenever possible

What to eat, mostly plants

1. Eat mostly plants, especially leaves

2. You are what what you eat eats too

3. If you have space, buy a freezer

4. Eat like an omnivore

5. Eat well-grown food from healthy soil

6. Eat wild foods when you can

7. Be the kind of person who takes supplements

8. Eat more like the French, Italians, Japanese, Indians, or Greeks

9. Regard non-traditional foods with skepticism

10. Don't look for a magic bullet in traditional diets

11. Have a glass of wine with dinner

Best Avocado toast recipe - from Smitten Kitchen

nolita-style avocado toast

http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2016/03/nolita-styl...

One thing I think about often is food combining - very popular in the 1970s and 1980s, seems to have fallen to the wayside in more recent decades - but anyone with digestive and tummy troubles should consider this -

Here's just one of many online resources:

Best healing regards, Stephanie

This is great! I've printed everything, and I plan on using the information.

Thanks again,