Am I crazy for trying an alternative treatment?

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  • Sara536
    Sara536 Member Posts: 7,032
    edited August 2018

    If you are not dehydrated, pee should be light yellow and almost translucent. Cloudy pee is a sign of a bladder infection.

  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited August 2018

    I don't know what the immunotherapy was but my friend didn't have breast cancer. She had colon cancer that progressed to her liver. She went to Germany had treatment and surgery and came back with injections on dry ice, I'm think it was her t cell extraction amped up. She did have some strange flu like reactions. Her cancer shrunk and she had her liver resected in Germany and came back with these injections. At that point all evidence of disease was gone. I haven't talk to her recently but I assume all is still well. Her doctor here in the US is happy for her but not impressed other people will have her result. I mean the guy gave her a year to live, 18 months with chemo. It was a bad situation. Of course she is happy.

  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited August 2018

    Wow Meow that’s incredible. Hope your friend is still okay. As for the doctor who predicted her demise thankfully he was wrong.

    Diane

  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited August 2018

    If you want to understand what immunotherapy is about, visit this new section on BCO: Immunotherapy

  • AliceKo
    AliceKo Member Posts: 151
    edited August 2018

    I am sure my post will draw some amount of criticism, but I can't help but notice that in this "alternative" section a lot of people are against it. Why be on this thread if you are not interested or against it? Are there alternative medicine hoaxes? - Sure, plenty. Are there conventional treatments that damage or even cause death? - Absolutely. Just about anybody can be allergic to any med and get an anaphylactic shock and die and it comes on quick.

    The very real and difficult chemo therapy that I had was based on herbal treatments. Called Taxol, made from some special pine tree. There is a whole field of integrative oncology that is emerging right now, that's someone who has an MD behind their name. My very conventional oncologist recommended accupuncture for dealing with the side effects of the treatment. I still wonder if I needed the chemo, since I also did targeted therapy and the new research says that most women don't need it.

    Lets share the information about alternative treatment before, during and post cancer. Thank you.

  • Artista964
    Artista964 Member Posts: 530
    edited August 2018

    the title of this post means she wants opinions, this isn't a rah rah alternative therapy thread....

  • JoE777
    JoE777 Member Posts: 628
    edited August 2018

    Hi shockedat 29, I don't think your crazy. A cancer diagnosis is mind shattering. First I don't know if you understand your diagnosis. You won't take hormone pills. Your pills will suppress the hormones produced throughout the body not just the ovaries. Do you have all the pathology to even make an informed decision on your path to health. With a cancer diagnosis you have a lot to lose if pure alternative doesn't work-not just fertility. It sounds to me that family and others bombarded you with tradition instead of allowing you space to use your own reason. The practitioners that will treat you have no skin in the game . You're the one laying it on the table. I haven't met a doctor or read a medical article from leading cancer research that doesn't embrace integrative medical that compliments medical treatment for the whole person. I wish you a calm spirit to listen to your heartand not the roar around you. Hugs.



  • Icietla
    Icietla Member Posts: 1,265
    edited August 2018

    AliceKo wrote:

    [...] I can't help but notice that in this "alternative" section a lot of people are against it. Why be on this thread if you are not interested or against it?

    ------------

    Rosabella wrote:

    the title of this post means she wants opinions, this isn't a rah rah alternative therapy thread....

    -----------

    Apr 28, 2017 07:37AM Moderators wrote:

    The alternative medicine forum is be a safe place to discuss alternative treatments for cancer. This, however, does not imply that members cannot bring up question the data, science, or the mention of potential abuses from industry and/or misinformation. Every comment and discussion point however must be made with the utmost respect for the other members, and understanding that if the topic is simply uncomfortable to you, or you flat out disagree with the topic and are only participating to cause debate and disruption, you are advised to block it, or risk a warning or ban with continued disruption.

    ----------

    Apr 29, 2017 01:48PM exbrnxgrl wrote:

    [...]

    Mods,

    Thank you for supporting respectful questioning and discourse. Whether choosing conventional or alternative tx, questioning and trying to gain knowledge of ones options is a good thing. If someone discovered info that proved my oncologist to be a fraud or scamming people, I'd want to know about it. I would not consider the revelation of those facts to be unsupportive or disrespectful at all, indeed, it would be just the opposite.

    ----------

    Icietla writes:

    Peace and Blessings, All.

  • Artista964
    Artista964 Member Posts: 530
    edited August 2018

    I didn't notice that your status changed this month. Good luck to you icietla.

  • Artista964
    Artista964 Member Posts: 530
    edited August 2018

    Aliceko, what's your profile? People decide on tx based on stage. Even if no nodes are affected, a decent size tumor or her2 or er status could up your chances to recur. It's useful for people on the fence to see other's profiles to help them decide whether you are posting in alt or conv forum.

  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited August 2018

    Hi AliceKo - taxol was originally isolated from the bark of the Pacific Yew tree. It is now manufactured in labs from cell cultures.

    Just because something is derived from nature doesn't mean it's alternative so I'm not sure why this matters anyway?

    If anything, to me the story of taxol shows that mainstream oncologists are very open to new treatments that are demonstrated to actually work. Taxol wasn't approved for medical use till the early 90s & now it's mainstream treatment because it was tested & shown to be effective.

    As for this thread - as was pointed out, the OP asked a question and opened the conversation. From my perspective, it has been varied and respectful.


  • Icietla
    Icietla Member Posts: 1,265
    edited August 2018

    Thank you very much, Rosabella. I hope you all are doing very well.

  • AliceKo
    AliceKo Member Posts: 151
    edited August 2018

    I do have the profile, must have not clicked it somewhere for it to show. I wouldn't advise anybody what I did. And there have been some changes in the treatment. If anybody curious, I would not have had the mastectomy and an implant reconstruction. Worst decision that I made. Worst advice that I took from doctors. I am sure that it will change in 10-20 years for those who had good response to the treatment.

  • AliceKo
    AliceKo Member Posts: 151
    edited August 2018

    Moth, I think we are saying something very similar about treatment.


    All I am saying is that the whole thread has a good amount of comments against alternative treatments, not just this post. Like the thread on surgery has generally stuff on surgery and not on skipping it or some other treatment. I respect whatever opinions, for and against. Was just sharing my observations. I think my profile is activated again, doubt anybody is interested in my experience - it's not mainstream. I was willing to take some risk and thanks God it has worked.

  • L-O-R-I
    L-O-R-I Member Posts: 114
    edited September 2018

    Hi Shockedat29 - It is a hard decision to make!  I also believe in some forms of Alternative Medicine.  There are many forms and the more that you add to your daily routine, the better!  The time that you have spent in China has definitely had benefits.  You can't see all of them but when you compare your initial blood work to your current blood work, you will probably see signs that your immune system has been greatly strengthened.  Perhaps it would take more time for your cancer to be killed.  You may want to consider having your tumor surgically removed and then not follow up with radiation/chemo/hormone therapy etc., but instead doing your alternative options.  It doesn't have to be an "All or Nothing" approach.  If you do decide to take radiation/chemo/hormone therapy, there are several things that you can do to lessen the discomfort of it.  I had surgery to have what was biopsied and thought to be a benign cyst removal and it came back cancerous and also at the margins, so they wanted to book another lumpectomy or possible mastectomy, to be followed with radiation, chemo, and hormone therapies!   I have decided not to do what was recommended.  I could see it as a down-hill slope which would lead to a lot of pain and agony for myself and all of my loved ones.  Perhaps this is how your mother is feeling?  My twin daughters are 32 and I would hate to think of them being treated by disfiguring surgeries and following up with therapies causing potential damage to their organs.  A mother always worries!  I appreciate the information on Moxibustion.  I will do some reading up on it.  Maybe it is something that I will add to the numerous things I am currently doing.  You are very young to have to make such a big decision but when you make the right one for you, you will find peace of mind, which is also a very important aspect of healing.    

  • PurpleHair
    PurpleHair Member Posts: 27
    edited September 2018

    Hi shockedat29, I love and support you on your journey. Your choice is honorable. Stay in your heart center and enjoy every moment of life. Cancer does not define us. We are so much more than a clump of mutated cells in our body. You can view my posts "Miracle 6 months after diagnosis".

    I was diagnosed stage 2b with very aggressive (fast growing) cancer and I never once considered chemo because I just knew I could self heal. I honor other's choices because we all have different perspectives and unique journeys. The secret to my healing is self love. A very powerful spiritual practice. I also use natural therapies and am a big fan of ChrisBeatCancer.com

    Anyway, 6 months after my diagnosis instead of metastasis and a doubling in size of my tumor like four different oncologists told me would happen. My tumor disappeared and my armpit lymph node shrunk by 30%. So I call it my miracle. Because I did a lot of energy work and visualization to release resistance to allowing healing to occur. There is so much resistance and negative emotions in the human body that is so deep. Very few people truly love themselves unconditionally. We all seem to feel we are not enough and have something to prove to the outside world. The reality is we are LOVE in action. We need do nothing but be who we are. Infinite and powerful. My love, encouragement and blessings to you on your healing journey.

  • L-O-R-I
    L-O-R-I Member Posts: 114
    edited October 2018

    Hi again!  It's been almost a month since chatting.  It's always good to catch up on that's going on here.  I'm now finished the 6th month of my wholistic approach to my breast cancer diagnosis.  After my surgery to remove a simple ductal papilloma which was biopsied to be benign, I was shocked that it came back on 4/21/2018 as DCIS/IDC/IDC: Cribriform, Right, <1cm, Stage IA, Grade 2, ER+/PR+, HER2- (IHC).  The Dr. didn't make me aware of this until 3 weeks after my diagnosis date!  He wanted to do another lumpectomy with removal of some lymph nodes immediately.  He wanted that followed up with radiation and said that I would most likely need chemo as well.  He let me know that he had already scheduled my surgery for 1 week from then. 2 days before my surgery I cancelled it and never met with him again.  I found another doctor.  For the last 6 months I have been juicing, taking numerous herbs, doing coffee enemas one a day for the first 3 months and now twice a day, exercising on my rebounder at least 20 minutes almost every day, drinking at least 8 cups of alkaline water a day, dry brushing my body twice a day to stimulate my lymph system, spending 20 minutes twice daily meditating to soft music, and eating 100% organic and mostly vegan.  

    I have lost 35 lbs in total now and I look and feel better than I have in years.   I had a thermogram of my breasts done 4 weeks ago and it showed no extreme inflammation (hot spots) in my breasts.  That was good news.

     My new Doctor from Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto is amazing. (I wanted a second opinion, which was the same as the first, but she seemed so much more knowledgeable and less pushy).  The week before last she sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound and said that a biopsy would take place if needed.  It seemed to be the right timing for me to see if my wholistic approaches were working.  Immediately after these tests were done, the Radiologist came into the room and let me know that there has been a lot of changes in my breast screening results when compared with the mammogram and ultrasound I had 7 months ago.  She said that it could be because of the initial surgery and because I had lost so much weight.  She said that I would need to take an MRI before she could inconclusively evaluate by breasts.  I had that done last Wednesday and then had to go back yesterday for the consultation.  The radiologist stated that my Dr. wanted a biopsy done on the most suspicious finding, but that all the finding appeared to be fibrous tissue and calcifications of a benign nature.  She let me know that she was not saying that there were no cancer cells there, but that none showed up on any of my tests that were visual with the naked eye.  They will test the sample biopsied and we will see a week from Wednesday, if there are any concerns.  

    Meanwhile, I will continue my routines until then . . . . . . . 

  • AliceKo
    AliceKo Member Posts: 151
    edited October 2018

    LORI, sounds like it is working for you. I am a big fan of integrative medicine.

    Can you explain what coffee enemas have to do with the breast? I just don't get it.

    What is alkaline water? what herbs are you taking? I want to take some herbs myself, but no clue...

    Thanks and good luck of your healing journey

  • Artista964
    Artista964 Member Posts: 530
    edited October 2018

    just fyi on alkaline water.. your body has a set place for how alkaline it can be. Drinking this is a money maker for the manufacturers. Your body will naturally set itself back to the reading it was. Too alkaline and tissues can start dying, or even organs. Save your money. Alkaline water is a big scam.

  • Painter137
    Painter137 Member Posts: 18
    edited October 2018

    L-O-R-I have you watched The truth about cancer it is absolutely amazing and full of life-saving information I highly recommend watching the series!

  • L-O-R-I
    L-O-R-I Member Posts: 114
    edited November 2018

    I am back to update.  Sorry it's been a month!  Where does the time go to?

    Painter137 - I have watched the series by Ty Bollinger, The Truth About Cancer.  It was amazing!  I am a full believer in his theories and really enjoyed the testimonies.  

    Rosabella - I believe that this cancer disease happens when your immune system is low and your body is in an acidic state, as opposed to an alkaline state.  I too don't agree with spending money on buying Alkaline Water if you don't need it.  

    This is the update from my above mentioned biopsy:

    The most suspicious "lump" was biopsied last month and the result was "DIAGNOSIS: Right breast core biopsy samples: FIBROADENOMA".  That is a copy and paste from my Pathology Result.  I am obviously relieved and excited about my results.  It is frustrating that my doctors are not wanting to believe that what I am doing is working!  They aren't happy with my agreeing to do all of their testing and now they want to keep doing more biopsies and surgeries.  They had biopsied the most suspicious lump and now want to do 2 more biopsies on different quadrants of my right breast while doing another MRI!  The biopsy that they just did was on the quadrant that the margins were not "clean" on.  I believe they are wanting to keep poking and prodding and doing tests on me until they come up with a Pathology Report that says "Malignant".  They also want to schedule a second lumpectomy, since the margins were not clean when I had my ductal papilloma removed in April and they also want to take lymph nodes as that time, even though my ultrasound and MRI showed no armpit lymph node enlargement.  Following this, they want me to have Radiation Treatments and also get on hormone lowering medication.  They believe it is a matter of them finding my cancer and treating it.  I believe that the total diet change and naturopathic means that I am following has started killing or killed my cancer cells.  I will continue with the pathway that I have chosen.  

    I'll check in more frequently now.  I was not wanting to influence people to do what I am doing if my results came back showing poorly.  

    AliceKo - The coffee enemas are to detoxify (get rid of toxins that naturally build up in the body).  The caffeine naturally stimulates the liver and bile ducts to cleanse.  With a better functioning liver, all of the organs can work better and also the blood and lymph systems are more efficient.  It is especially important when you are changing to an organic, sugarless diet.  You want to clean out all your system so that they can get a fresh start and focus on the disease in your body.  I have been doing coffee enemas daily for 7 months now and haven't felt so energetic and healthy in years!


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