Has Anyone Had Success With Alternative Treatments?

My name is Fran, I'm 36 years old and a 2-year, 2-time breast cancer survivor. In August 2004, I was diagnosed with metatstatic breast cancer in my lungs and bones.

My oncologist currently has me on weekly treatments of Decadron, Benadryl, Zantac. The chemo of choice is Taxol. Since my form of cancer feeds on estrogen, I get monthly doses of Zoladex to suppress my ovaries producing estrogen and Zometa to strengthen my bones which are weakened by the Decadron.

I am currently experiencing hip pain and I've been walking with a limp since May 2004. Most days the pain is enough to be a nuisance without requiring pain medicine. The degree to which I limp sometimes varies. Some days - like today - my limp isn't bad, I almost walk like normal. Other days - like yesterday - I looked really bad and those close to me were suggesting I start planning for hip replacement surgery. But the pain and limp continues to be inconsistent.

My concern is quality of life. My current oncologist is only concerned with treating the cancer, she seems totally unconcerned that one or possibly more of the drugs are impacting my ability to walk. I saw two orthopedic specialists who both say my condition could be caused by the Decadron. I receive Decadron to avoid having an allergic reaction to the Taxol.

I maintain a positive attitude and I know I've been blessed to be able to work 45 hours a week while going for chemotherapy every week. I just can't accept the idea of having to go through another surgery.

I have had more surgery and hospital stays in the last two years than in my whole life. I have more doctors, more scars and keloids, more medical vocabulary and more reminders of what I've already lived through than I can shake a stick at.

I've read comments from so many others that have asked their oncologist about nutrition or having some participation in their treatment or recovery process and the doctors have no answers about nutrition or any other questions.

Has anyone had a similar experience and gone to a specialist who deals in alternative treatments and (1) stopped chemotherapy and (2) is living cancer-free?

I'm convinced that there is an alternative treatment out there that is better for me than chemotherapy. I would just feel better knowing that someone else out there had a positive experience with alternative treatments before I embark on this journey of exploration.

Hi Fran,
I just happened to see your note after receiving a weekly email from cancer compass. Rather than type a huge amount of stuff here, I am using an alternative product that I've pinned my hopes on, and I am not selling anything, just willing to share with you what I have learned and researched.

Take care,

Cali

Hi Fran,
I don't have an alternative treatment. My left hip was, also, causing me a lot of pain, due to bone mets. I was sent to a radiation oncologist, received 10 treatments (daily for two weeks) and my hip is about 85% better. It surely is not easy to keep up a full work week,while trying to stabilize the cancer, but I really found the treatments beneficial, as now the pain doesn't overwhelm me at work!! I wish you much luck and my prayers are with you.

CaliD,
Bill Henderson has a book he wrote with many, many alternative methods of treatments for all kinds of cancers and they do work. It just takes perserverence, dedication and faith.

Good luck and God Bless.

My e-mail address is rjmurch@jps.net

I will just copy/paste another message from other member I read. Again, the mesage at the bottom is not from me, is from another member. I just read this online magazine to keep myself informed and help my mother who survived angiosarcoma now in remission, only god knows for how long. Before I copy/paste, I have to add on my own that my mother takes 2 oz of Flor essence mixed with 2 oz of water first thing in the morning and before going to bed at night. She also in the morning eats a shake of fresh aloe-vera and edible cacti. She takes 3 capsules of Modified Citrus Pectin from the brand Pectasol, one with each meal. I am also tring to get her a new product called BIRM which is widely sold in Ecuador and other Latin American countries but not in USA. Here are some links with info about BIRM:

http://www.med.miami.edu/MNBWS/Dandekar106.html

http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/annieappleseedproject/o

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http ://www.diariofrontera.com/index.php%3Faction%3Dshow%26type%3Dnews%26id%3D7536&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbirm%26start%3D270%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

Well now next I copy/paste the message from another member I read somewhere else in this website:

"I was diagnosed with colon cancer 6 years back this past September. In November of 2004, my cancer came back a second time, this time to my bones. I took chemo twice in 6 years and it keeps coming back. So this time I said “no more chemo”. The oncologist was not pleased and gave me months to live. I am still alive 15 months later. I am doing well.
I don’t know how much longer I have, but no one does. I attended a funeral this past Saturday for a friend 57 years old (my age) who was diagnosed in December of this year. She took chemo and after the first treatment, she developed blood clots and died this past week. One of the clots traveled to her heart. This would not have happened had she taken no chemo.

Another friend of mine passed away last year. He was diagnosed with the same type of colon cancer as I was. They wanted to give both him and myself Cisplatin (a type of very aggressive chemo). I refused. He took the chemo and passed away. I have done as lot of research on chemo on the Internet and nowhere did I find any good that chemo does. Chemo does not cure cancer. For every patient that takes chemo, the cancer clinic gets paid about $5,000. Chemo is all the cancer clinic knows. Why don’t they start teaching their sick patients how to boost their immune systems rather than take chemo that lowers the immune system? You should get busy first thing tomorrow morning and start doing research on ways to boost your immune system.

For starters, I am on a near vegetarian diet and take modified citrus pectin tablets. They can be found at your health food store. I take 4 a day. They kill newly formed cancer cells. I also do not smoke or drink and try to stay positive 24 hours a day. I have to keep telling myself that no one on the face of this earth (including the Pope) knows when their time is up. So start building your immune system and start living and enjoying your grandkids. Chemo will never give you a good quality of life and I think that’s all we want. Good luck to you and let me know how things work out."

Dear Fran, I am so sorry for all you are having to endure, not only with just the primary problem but the side effects as well. I am an RN who self studies cancer alternative treatments. I have read quite a bit about macrobiotics and healing of cancers. Also, there is a book out Recovery From Cancer by Elaine Nussbaum. She did not have breast cancer but endometrial cancer with mets. She was treated macrobiotically and is cancer free at this time. She went on to study nutrition and macrobiotics so she could help others. Last I read she is located in Orange or West Orange NJ. Also there is a MD in Syracuse NY. Her name is Sherry Rogers, she believes in healing through nutrition. I don't know if any of this will help you, I hope so. There is a center for macrobiotics located somewhere in Massachusetts - Brookline? I'm not sure, outside of Boston, I think. Best of luck to you. You are in my prayers.

Hi Cali, I saw your message. What have you had success with as far as alternative treatments go? Thanks, Lois

Hello Fran, Please go to your Library and find or order the Book "Flax Oil as a True Aid Against Arthritis, Heart Infarction, CANCER and other Diseases", by Dr. Johanna Budwig. or www.applepublishing.com I've been through Radiation and Chemo for Laryngeal cancer, left with out being able to swallow over a year. This Dr. says she can "CURE CANCER" with Flax Seed Oil and Cottage Cheese. Sounds too simple to work but the only thing you have to lose is the Monster in you, Cancer. I only wish I knew of this sooner. I refused Chemo after reading this book and will not allow this Monster to defeat me or even try ever again. You have to believe "YOU'RE GOING TO WIN THIS BATTLE ALONG WITH THE WAR." Some Dr.'s don't treat the individual just the ailment and we suffer the consequences. Take control of your Life, You're a winner so celebrate your Mental and Physical VICTORY, Live on PURPOSE, to be happy. Ray

Read the bood 'When Healing Becomes a Crime' and also 'Patient Heal Thyself" Also check out www.cancermed.org. My father used Dr. Buyzynski when he had skin cancer. Dad used supplements and he is cancer free.
There are many good alternative treatments. Finding them is the trick. Diet adjustments are essential. Avoid ALL sugar and refined foods.
Juicing is great for compact nutrition. Use organic fruit and vegetables.
Good Luck
NCS

Hi Fran,
I was diagnosed with stage three lung cancar in Dec, 01. I took chemo once and decided that wasn't my thing. I did a bunch of research and found several things that I decided to try. Since I was only given 6 mos or less to live, one would have to think it worked. The info I have is too extensive to try to put in here.
Wayne