Suzanne somers
Has anyone read susanne somers book "knockout? Got me thinking.
Comments
-
Please consider it a 'fiction' rather than a 'non-fiction' book!!! She doesn't have appropriate advice for new people who have just been diagnosed with cancer. A verteran would be able to pick out the boloney from the okay stuff.
-
Note of caution: this is a very incendiary topic, and I wouldn't post on this unless it's buried deep within a thread. You'll have the whole naysayer crowd on you in seconds when they see this title. It is like bringing out seed in an Italian plaza.... attracts the pigeons.
Sorry to be so negative, but you will not find a lot of support here for this.
That said, I did read her book and found it to be very interesting. It definitely made me think, and I researched a few of her doctors. Good information overall, but some of it is a bit dodgy to me.... like the HCG injections, etc.
-
I have it and read part of it...i get and understand some of it such of the FDA not approving some medince due to "money"...however, not yet comfortable with not doing chemo, rad or hormones pills and doing "natural" pills instead...
-
Suzanne had a lumpectomy and radiation. Often this is the treatment for very early stage. What I don't appreciate about her book is that she doesn't really address that she had conventional treatment. Instead she is a huge proponent of non conventional. Yet, she went the conventional route
Also, I saw her on Oprah a few years ago and she takes over 60 supplements + hormone patches + injections everyday and she likes to say that this is what cured her cancer and keeps her vibrant. I personally think she and her husband are very good marketing machines. They have a multimillion dollar business. Nothing wrong with that when it comes to her thigh master and jewellery but I think it's irresponsible to spout off about conventional medicine when she, herself was a recipient of it and it may have saved her life. Oh Suzanne...how quickly she forgets. I personally believe in conventional and complimentary. JMO
Beth -
I read the book and really liked it. The beginning is her story but the rest of the book is interviews with doctors (and others) giving their opinions on bc and overall health. It let me know that with early stages of bc, I have other options and I'm thankful for that. She doesn't hide the fact (in the book) that she had a lumpectomy and radiation. She does say that if she had it all to do over again, she would have skipped the rads but at the time she was fearful and uneducated about her bc and that's why she agreed to them. After her bc is when she became very non-conventional. I too learned a great deal after my diagnosis so I can appreciate that. She wrote the book because several years after her bc, she had a fungal infection (known as valley fever). Her chest xray and further scans showed spots throughout her body that mimicked cancer so the attending physicians told her that her bc had spread. Only after her step-daughter or DIL (cant remember) looked up her symptoms online did she and her family suspect valley fever and asked for a biopsy which revealed the fungus, not cancer. IMO, It's an interesting story and contains some very good information from the docs, that are interviewed there, have to offer.
So there's my book review for what it's worth, lol.
-
I read it. I found it very disorganized and really did not get a lot of out of it.
I don't think she was hypocritical about conventional treatment. I actually agree with her on it to some extent. With early stage patients, it is impossible to know if the chemo and rads actually did any good. Maybe those who did those treatments never needed them to begin with and their continued good health is because of lack of spread, rather than chemo/rads. I still struggle with that issue. My docs pretty much admitted that they did not know for sure if I needed these treatments and if I did whether they would work. I did them because I am young and had an aggressive cancer. The science with BC is a lot of BS in my opinion. That is not to say it does not save some lives. But I think a lot of overtreating of those who don't need it happens as well.
I also disagree that it is irresponsible of her to criticize conventional treatments. She is an actress who wrote a book about her personal experience and opinions on cancer. Anyone who makes life-altering medical decisions based on the opinions of Crissy from Three's Company is the irresponsible one. IMO, anyway.
-
lrr4993 My onc also told me that we have no way of knowing if the chemo would work or if I even needed it. In women with similar stats 40 out of 100 who only had surgery were still alive and NED after 10 years. For all I know I could be one of those 40 but I didn't want to find out the hard way.
They do know though when the chemo doesn't work.
-
Hi Lago,
I was wondering if you had chemo then after your surgery. It looks that way from your signature. I noticed you had a 5 cm tumour and that is considered large. I also had 7-8cm tumour and I was given chemo first. I was told I was inoperable with such a large tumour and it needed to be shrunk b/f I could have surgery. I find it interesting that we both had different approaches to treat our tumours....
I am also reading SS's book. I am about half way through. I am reading it just to see how other approaches to treating cancer works. I find it interesting but I am skepital that it is that simple to take supplements or use juicers to be cured.... I also wonder why SS did not insist on a biopsy when they said she had full blown cancer. My Dr says it can look like cancer on a scan but until it is under a microscope you don't know if it is cancer for sure....
Take Care,
Chalex
Diagnosis: Aug, 2009, IDC, 7-8cm, Grade 3, 0/15, ER+/PR+ HER+
-
I agree with most of you - especially Pickle. I have read her book and saw her on Oprah and found her misleading. Many, many women with early stage grade 1-2 breast cancer do not need chemo. I don't think she ever admits she had conventional treatment, which she did. This is not revolutionary or because of the huge amount of supplements, mistletoe, or injections she gives herself. From what I remember many of the doctors that she discusses are not reputable. I believe Larry King had a few of them on a panel and they are not exactly leading oncologists. I have a friend who recently had Valley Fever. It is surprisingly difficult to diagnose, which seems odd. He is a healthy 45 year old, yet was in the hospital 9 days (released once for a day then spiked a high fever and was readmitted). While they were waiting for test results, he of course had a ton of scans etc. and it sure sounded like lymphoma. The first few tests they did were negative for Valley Fever. I can imagine if a patient has a past history of breast cancer, a recurrence does pop into the doctors head. If they actually diagnosed it without a biopsy, then they should not be practicing medicine.
I find anyone who has sweeping generalizations about breast cancer full of _______. WE all know there are way too many variables that determine how aggressive the cancer is, and what should be the treatment. Do not rely on supplements and juice to cure it, especially in lieu of herceptin if you are Her2+, or chemo if you are triple negative or positive nodes, or have a high oncotype....I could go on and on!
She is a great marketing machine, and I truly believe she believes her supplements and protocol keep her heathy, which may be true. BUT they are not a blanket cure for cancer. Scary stuff in my opinion.
-
I haven't read the book, but I live in LA and meet these supplement obsessed, stay young, live forever people all the time and I find it is more about vanity and looks than it is about health. Annoying. They also usually present themselves as spiritually advanced, but being so fearful of natural aging and eventual death does not seem spiritually advanced to me at all. I'm going to stop now before this turns into a full-on rant, lol!
-
Any know about Core Maca Gold as supplement for hot flashes? I know that Black Cohash and plenty of other supplements are plant estrogens and not recommended for the flashes if I was estrogen positive breast ca...which I was, but I am having a hard time finding info on Core Maca Gold. Did acupuncture for ahile and it stopped the flashes completely. Unfortunately, couple months later started up again...not as bad, but getting worse. Acupuncturist recommended Core Maca Gold, two droppers morning and evening. Anyone have any info/experience with this?
-
I started reading this book before I was even diagnosed. I liked what I read, and that there were alternatives to traditional treatment. Then I was diagnosed and there is no way I would have skipped the surgery and radiation. I looked at the book again during that time and it scared the hell out of me in so many ways. She seemed to be saying that if I had the lumpectomy, the cancer cells would be set free to spread within my body. She uses a lot of scary language and insinuation in there. However, there are some things being done by some of these practitioners that seem to have merit, alongside traditional medical treatment. The treatment being given for breast cancer is a product of many many years of research, and through the experiences of women like us, who lived it and the medical community learned from it. I do think there is a tendency to overtreat, but that may be a result of a society that is quick to sue for malpractice if everything possible isn't done, and there is a bad result. I think I will look the book over again, now that I have calmed down a bit to see if I can glean anything that might help.
-
I went to one of the doctor's she promotes in her book. He was smoking when I walked into his office--that should have been the first clue that the guy was a quack. He said he only smoked European cigarettes because they didn't have the harmful chemicals in them like the US brands--which doesn't make sense because Europeans die from smoking related diseases too.
But I don't think we should discount the placebo effect. I think that if a person's belief system is stronger that they will gain a benefit.
-
This is a really good critique of the book from a scientific perspective.
-
The placebo effect is real, even scientifically proven! I am all for it.
-
This should be anyone's tipoff from her book description: "Since prevention is the best course, Somers' experts provide nutrition, lifestyle, and dietary supplementation options to help protect you from getting the disease in the first place."
They don't even understand how cancer works. Anyone who suggests how we can prevent it is, IMO, a quack. Doctors and researchers can't even figure out which foods are do's and don'ts yet. Now they are saying D over 60 is as bad as low D when our naturopaths have been pushing 60+.
It's ways to make people feel in control, which in all reality we simply aren't. That could be this 40 yr old, no family history, long time veg/vegan, exercising, yoga head, happy person's bitter attitude towards "prevention".
Any early stage patient who goes the diet and naturopathic route can count themselves lucky, but the studies are just NOT THERE to prove that these choices in fact kept them cancer free.
-
"That could be this 40 yr old, no family history, long time veg/vegan, exercising, yoga head, happy person's bitter attitude towards "prevention"
Haha, Ltothek you just described me!
-
Describes me too, except the yoga part
.
-
Has anyone heard of marine phytoplanktin? I read that it is a plant in the ocean that helps many diseases of the body from eczema to cancer but it is not FDA approved in the USA yet, it is in Canada and I believe in Europe. Still be studied here in the states. 100% organic! any thoughts?
-
Plankton is just organisms that grow in the water with the aid of sunshine. Fish and mammals live on them. Of course they're organic, they grow in the ocean!! Kelp is sometimes used by Asians as a health food as well. I'm using kelp right now to bump start my thyroid.
There is NO magic pill out there for cancer. If there was, we'd all be cured. Trust me!
-
I am 80, and had lumpectomy, One node of three had pinpoint size positive...docs were surprised. Would it have spread there from surgery...since biopsy said no node involvement. I do not have energy to do Rad...am alone too, and Concord type is 9...oncologist prescribed Arimidex? Rad. Does not cure cancer anyway, just supposedly reduces chance of recurrence in same breast....but damage to heart and lungs later is very serious to me!! So hope decision to not do Rad is right. I was er and PR+, her2-, 2.5cm....staged it 2 because of tiny amt. In sentinel node. I read that iodine cures cancer ...also sodium bicarbonate.??
-
cctoo, I'm sorry about your diagnosis.
No, iodine & baking soda do not cure cancer
-
Arimidex is an antihormonal pill. It is a very effective systemic treatment, which means it could prevent the cancer from spreading to other organs.
You are correct, radiation is a local treatment that prevents a local recurrance.
-
You were likely classified as Stage II because of the tumor size. Just in terms of tumor size, 1.9 cm is stage I and 2.0 cm is stage II, without regard to nodes or mets.
-
I have read recently that a shortage of iodine can cause estrogen to build up. I am not wanting synthetic hormones and taking a product called Thyodine is one thing I am trying.
I think I got cancer partly for sleeping in a bra occasionally (lymph fluid cannot flow well) , keeping cell phone in breast pocket. (radiation), too much caffiene, too much meat and too much sugar. Not enough exercise. Not enough water. I am using baking soda to correct the ph of my body as well, to make it more alkaline but would like to get a Kaangen water filter and alkalinization machine when I can afford it.
I heard there is a home test for estrogen levels which would help me monitor how well I am doing managing estrogen on my own. Anybody remember what that is or where? Anyone else using this to monitor estrogen levels?
Oh, and most importantly, I am really changing how much I'm eating, cutting sugar and simple carbs and meat way back, and plan to trim down my weight also to control estrogen levels.
It is not as difficult as I thought. I just take smaller bites!!! And appreciate the food a lot more!
I can do this!!!
-
Fearless, I hope you do well. I am just going to say that breast cancer is a very old disease that existed long before cell phones or even bras were invented and long before modern modes of transportation came into picture. Our ancestors who were quite active had it too. Also, please note that estrogen does not cause cancer, it sometimes helps cancer grow. And anti-hormonal drugs like aromatase inhibitors are not synthetic hormones.
That being said, being more active and eating a balanced diet is a good idea for everybody - whether one has cancer or not.
Best to all.
Editing to add the link to an interesting opinion about Suzanne Somers book and talks: http://www.livescience.com/40677-suzanne-somers-health-advice-wrong.html
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team