Should I do treatment?

Hi Tonir24

Thanks. Fortunately, my husband loves eggplant, as well as healthy foods, broccoli, whole wheat products and the like. He also loves cooking, so I'll suggest we have eggplant this weekend, as well as having it more often.

How do you cook your eggplant? He makes it with cheese, as well as putting it into sauces.

Unfortunately, he also loves the not too good foods, bacon, ham, and anything with fat. Those must go, and he's trying to do that, in favor of what you're saying.

Do you take any vitamins as well? This weekend, he'll be starting on Vitamina B12. I'll let you know how that goes after he takes a blood test in a few weeks from now.

Last night I contacted the Cancer Treatment Center in Buffalo, New York. They have a chat line that operates 24/7, unfortunately they said they don't treat myelofibrosis until it becomes cancer... something I think this person was wrong in saying, so I'm calling again today.

There's something really wrong with that. Isn't there something that can be done? I know it's a rare disease, but goodness sakes, isn't there research going on somewhere?

Thanks for your input Tonir. Hope things are going well for you and yours.

Son (26) has just completed first week of daily interferon treatment. Also desmoplastic...though his had spread to his lymph nodes. Symptoms have been rough but bearable from his accounts. Severe chills and extreme tiredness the main culprits. Already started losing hair and was unable to have fridays treatment due to very low white cell count needing blood transfusion. It really depends on your support network. If you are fit and healthy I would seriously look at it.

I dip the eggplant in milk (so the crumbs will stick) and then Italian flavored crumbs (bought at the store) and lightly fry it. You can add any other seasonings you like - but the cheese sounds good, but make it low fat cheese. I also buy it for lunch at the Olive Garden restuarant and they serve it with a marina sauce - but any other sauce would also be good or just sprinkle cheese on it before putting it on the plate after frying it, as eggplant really does not have too much flavor by itself. If I can find the item where I read it I will let you know but I research ALL OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO MEDS. There is another lady in Georgia that I communicate with through this website that is also doing everything other than meds. I also eat lots of broccoli and all green vegs, very little meat other than chicken, pork chops (the other white meat) and fish - very litle beef - because of the fat and loads of harmful chemicals and hormones. I also try to have salmon once a week as it is also very high in antioxidants They say that you should have 5 - 8 servings of fruits and vegs a day -- (who has time to do that) instead I drink V-8 Fusion which an 8 oz. glass per day gives one their daily supply of fruits and vegs - so 2 glasses a day really gives me the 5 to 8 servings and it is loaded with antioxidants and also tastes good and (and I eat less as I am not as hungry) It comes in the "light" version so there is half the sugar - it is a little expensive in the regular grocery store, but I go to Wal Mart and load up as it is half the price there. Pomegranates are the number 1 and blueberries are the number 2 foods in antioxidants - but I do not like the taste of pomegranates so I buy pomegranate and blueberry mix capsules from my vitamin company and take those daily. ginger is also very high

A company called Allergan produces a product called Prevage MD which has been shown to be the most powerful antioxidant available in a skin care product today. Go on the internet and pull up "doctor yourself" or something like that and it has so many helpful suggestions (google it and you will probably find it) I am at work now so I do not have it handy here Anyway keep in touch and let me know if anything of this is of use to you If you want to e mailme direct you can at --Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html--good luck

Hi. I, too, had a melanoma that was 7 mm deep. It was all removed and everything was clean as is yours. No treatment was recommended for me at that time, just 3 month checkups with blood tests and x-rays. That was 14 years ago. My dermatoligist feels after 10 years and no sign of further cancer, it was caught in time. As one of your other replys, I too look for alternative "treatments" since kemo is so destructive to good cells and organs in your body as well as contaminated ones. I am currently using astralagus (a herb from Asia), cinnamon capsule,garlic capsule, ground flax seed, 1 baby aspirin, and 2 ounces of mangosteen juice daily.Most of these are for building up and maintaining your immune system. I understand that noni juice and goji juice are also good. My advice would be to keep having 3 month checkups and to use kemo as a last resort. There is a lot to be said about the "natural" approach that I am using, and you will NOT get much support for it from any doctor since their license can be revolked if they recommend it. Good luck to you,and you can't be harmed by trying some of the things I have mentioned.

Thanks Tonir,

You make eggplant the way we do. All your suggestions sound right, and pretty much the way my husband eats. I'll print this out and purchase the V8 fusion for him tomorrow.

Without meds, it seems we need to know the foods, vitamins and whatever else we should be having.

While email address aren't allowed on this message board, for reasons that I can understand. I sent you a private reply, please feel free to contact me anytime.

I'll let you know how things turn out. Can't thank you enough.

Yes.
My husband had melanoma on the back of his neck. It was removed and we had three different opinions and concurred not to do any treatment.

Four years and 9 months later he had enlarged lympth nodes and had a radical neck disection.
With good advice he began a 5 year immunotherapy w/ BCG injections in 15 sites on his back. He also would take 10 grams of Vitamin C per day. Side effects from the vitamins were some kidney stones (1) time. Otherwise he did very well and it has been 28 years.
Good Luck to you.

Here is a website with some really good information for anyone wishing to work alternatively to reverse and control their cancer. It covers diet and supplements etc http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=52

I think the 3-5% reduction may be incorrect. My surgeon and my oncologist both told me that interferon reduces the risk by 30%. They also both told me that the initial high dose interferon treatment, which lasts 4 weeks, is the most effective. 4 weeks is not a very long time, especially if it reduces your risk of recurrence. Also, everyone reacts differently and you may not have severe side effects. I completed the 4 weeks of high dose interferon and it was very difficult but I never missed a dose. After that, the low dose was easy (in comparison) and I stayed on that for an additional 11 months. I would tell you to try the interferon and see how you react. If you can get through the first 4 weeks, you will have done a lot to reduce your risk.

Hi and congrats!

I was treated for lymphoma and have been "clear" for 3 1/2 yrs. During a routine test for the lymphoma, breast cancer was found. I did the surgery but chose to do no more "preventive care".

My advice to you is to make sure you understand your situation and your options. I feel an oncologist knows more than a surgeon regarding cancer. It's their specialty! Then go with your gut. Remember, everyone is well-meaning but ultimately it is YOU who must suffer the consequences or celebrate the joy. And, no one has a crystal ball. When you are at peace with a decision, it is the right one for you.

All the best!

I felt compelled to respond to your message. I just finished up the 4 week Interferon treatment. I too had a deep melanoma which was located on my scalp. It was ulcerated and I ignored it too long. I was fortunaet that the PET scan came back negative and my lymph nodes were also clear. My Oncologists gave me the info. on Interferon and left it up to me. I prayed about it and decided to proceed with the treatment. I entered a clinical trial at Emory that only includes the 4 weeks of high dose Interferon. I will not be doing the 11 months of follow up shots.

Just to let you know, I was VERY tired. (I had to go to downtown Atlanta 5 days a week for 4 weeks and that in itself will wear you out.) I mostly experienced tiredness and achiness. I only had one evening where I experienced a fever and chills. I made sure I drank water all the time and this really seemed to help. You may also experience a metallic taste in your mouth. It isn't pleasant, but I dealt with it.

Everyone has to do what is best for them. I was fortunate to have a wonderful family support system. They took turns taking me to my treatments. I also have 2 boys, 12 & 16, they and my husband made sure that I was able to get the rest that I needed after treatment. Rest is also very important.

I hope that this helps you in some way. I felt like ANY percentage that it might not come back was worth it. I also felt like 4 weeks to feel bad in the total sum of my whole life was a small time to deal with in the big picture.