Effectiveness of alternative medicines against cancer

[nonamer_miss]

I think natural medicines would be a better alternative than the ones you mentions. While they may not cure cancer, taking this approach can prolong your mother's life.

I hope she recovers soon.

[amandathebibliophile]

I am so sorry to hear of your mom's diagnosis. I recently lost a dear friend to a rare cancer of the uterus. Calling it "awful" doesn't nearly do justice. Near the end, after the chemo options had been exhausted and her body was beginning to give out, she then began to consider alternative methods of combatting her cancer. I know it was easy for me to champion such things, being that it wasn't me that was actually living through the ordeal, but I'll tell you that some of the holistic tips I offered her did, at the very least, provide her some relief. While I am far from expert, I can't help but wonder if she would still be with us had she started with the alternative options first. Again, being that it wasn't my cancer, I know this is easy for me to say. I also realize this is a very contested and hot topic. I'm certainly not passing any judgments on those who decide to go with more conventional methods to attack their cancer. My main thought process is simply that I've witnessed the power of eating well and what a holistic lifestyle can do for improving the quality of our lives. SO many of life's ailments can, at the very least, be helped by avoiding the many chemicals and processed foods that are sadly very entrenched in our western diets and lifestyles. I just started this book and am very excited to learn any and all new information it may be able to provide.

Also, I feel compelled to end my comment here by adding that I send my deepest regards to your family during this very difficult time and wish her a full and speedy recovery!!

[RaeReads]

I would first like to extend my sincerest well-wishes to your mother, and my hope for her and your family that her battle will be as brief and painless as possible.

Regarding herbal and alternative medicines, I have found them to be extremely helpful for all manner of things. I deal with roughly twenty different chronic illnesses that interact in abominable ways and have left me extremely disabled before I even managed to turn twenty-one years old. In the last few years, I have been exposed to a number of different types of treatments both western, non-western, and alternative. I have found that, often, the best approach has been to mix some forms of each of these classes of medicine together to build a tailored plan for myself. For example, rather than take a medication that induces seizures in my intestines to force digestion, I opted for restructuring my diet with an alternative specialist. I now consume meat on very rare occasions, I steer clear of dairy, and I don't consume corn in any form regularly.

I have found that alternative medicines often offer a far less intrusive, less intensive, and safer treatment for multiple symptoms of one or several illnesses. I once met a woman in her seventies, while working as a lifeguard, who had an extremely aggressive form of cancer. When I met her, she looked as healthy as any other average elder, and I asked for her story. She said after months of failed chemotherapy, her western doctor gave her six months to live. She walked away from chemotherapy, met a naturopathic doctor through Bastyr, and began treating her illness holistically. At the time I had met her, her cancer had been in complete remission for two years, and she was alive and kicking six years after her doctor had given her just six months to live.

If nothing else, I find that holistic and natural medicines do more to provide comfort for the body, mind, and spirit than almost any western medicine I have encountered. I have rarely been as impressed by the ability of a highly synthesized pharmaceutical to bring my body comfort and ease my suffering, than as when I have pursued natural methods instead.

So well said. A tailored approach is the best one in my opinion as well. Some people may not respond to holistic treatment and others may not be able to handle harsh and invasive treatments like chemo . I think it's important to be educated on all of the many ways you can not only treat diseases, but also prevent them.

[Anthony Martial Tata]

I believe good doses of exercise is essential to avoid contracting cancer. Exercise boost the bodies immunity and ensures all body parts stays healthy.

[Mindi]

There is definitely a need for more knowledge of natural remedies. I'm not shunning the modern medicines, as I believe they are sometimes needed. However, I don't think natural methods need to be overlooked.

[Amanda Deck]

Something Beljanski kept mentioning was that some of the natural medicines she recommended worked well alone but usually in conjunction with chemo and radiation. I know someone who is currently dying, not of cancer - the chemo and radiation apparently worked - but dying from the treatment. His body has been destroyed. If I had read this before, I most certainly would have suggested it to be used during the treatment since Beljanski's meds work to heal the body from the effects of it.

[Onyinye Excel]

I'm sorry about what your mum went through and I pray she comes out of it very soon (I will pray for her). Though I don't know anyone who has opted for it, I believe that the alternative options depicted in this book would be more preferable/effective than the traditional ones.They sounded convincing enough.

[lesler]

I do not know anyone who has tried, this but I plan to do some research on it if the situation arises. It looks credible, but you never know. Doesn't hurt to try more homeopathic less expensive remedies!

[briellejee]

As someone working in the medical profession I would like to start by saying that there is still so much research going on in the field of Cancer and there is still so much that remains unknown. Yes, we hear stories about people who have rejected chemotherapy and used alternative medicine and gotten better. But people who want to opt for alternative treatments should be very well informed. Not every cancer is the same, nor do they progress at the same rate- some may be fast growing and some relatively slow. The saddest thing would be for a person to waste precious time exploring other options for a disease which could have been easily cured in the early stages and allow it to progress to a stage where it is difficult to treat!

THANK YOU FOR SAYING THIS! Cancer is different for all people. It would be wise to seek medical profession about this before disregarding chemo.

[Bienn]

So sad for the story, but i do agree that alternative medicine helps according to someone's faith.

[Amanda Deck]

THANK YOU FOR SAYING THIS! Cancer is different for all people.

I was glad to see it too. The author did say these alternatives work best in conjunction with the usual cancer treatments. It will be wonderful to find a way to avoid these conventional treatments altogether but so far, that doesn't seem to be an option. The two people I've known with cancer both survived the chemo and radiation, did not die of cancer, but developed fatal complications from the treatment. Beljanski's treatments apparently avoided, or at least minimized, the complications.

[chelhack]

Though many people in my life have dealt with cancer I can't say that any of them either consider or much less knew of any alternatives. This book would be my first knowledge or acknowledgment of there being an alternative that is natural. But, now that I am aware I will defiantly share this with those people in my life who are dealing with cancer issues.

[Katherine Smith]

I would like to start off by saying that I know how you feel. Two people in my life have both bravely fought and ultimately have succumbed to cancer. I know that many of the alternative treatments for cancer have been successful in trials such as stem cell therapy, but because of controversy they never become available to the public. I think that something as simple as marijuana could be very helpful to treat the pain and lack of appetite for people suffering from cancer.

[TJanowski23]

I'm so sorry about your mom. Cancer is far too common. I do not know anyone personally who has recovered entirely from natural remedies but I know that if at all possible I would try a natural treatment in conjunction with modern medicine. I would also look at ways to improve my diet and exercise routines to combat the disease. Prayers to you and your family.

[teresao]

A lot of my Dad's family has at different points been diagnosed with cancer; none of them would probably be open to alternative treatments. I think it is because traditional treatments seem so "tried-and-true" that it might feel safer than something that is less used. I personally think that alternative medicine can work really well. Maybe for those who are unsure, trying to use both traditional and alternative treatments might work well.