Ovarian Cancer

I have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It showed in the colon, ovary, uterus. After colorectal surgery and hysterectomy, it showed up in the pelvis and liver and is inoperable. My question is about treatment. I will undergo chemo therapy after I recover from colon resection, colostomy for a second time. First time was 2004 January. Is there chemotherapy with little or no side effects?

Brigitte, there are different kinds of chemotherapy and people react differently. I've been told that naturopathic doctors can help greatly in reducing side effects and even help the chemo work better. I recommend starting the chemo quickly--my doctor had me start only 5 days after a complete hysterectomy. It was defintely rough for me, but I probably wouldn't be alive today.

I would be very careful with 'natural' or other alternative substances taken with chemo. Please make sure your oncologist knows and agrees with what you are taking as you may negate the chemo and its cancer killing function.

Thanks for your response--I agree, some substances may affect the chemo's job but a naturopathic doctor should know if it would. And, by all means let the oncologist know (but sometimes the oncologist is not familiar with the ingredients).

I would like to suggest that the 'naturopathic' provider be well researched as far as credentials and training. Just as your comment that not all oncologists will know all 'natural' alternatives, many 'naturopathic' providers are not educated about chemotherapy agents, that is not their area of expertise. There are new chemotherapies and regimes established every day, with many varied cancers, if that is not one's area of expertise, they could not possibly know every chemo agent. The ideal would be to have credentialled practitioners working together if that is the dual avenue one might wish to pursue. If that is not possible, you could get printed material about the suggested 'natural' treatment and take it to the oncologist for them to review BEFORE you add that to your treatment.

Thanks for your response--excellent suggestions.

To join in this discussion, at the CTCA (one of the hospital chains that sponsors this site) they DO use Naturopathy who are more or less specialists in the field of Oncological-Naturopathy. The MD is the head of the team and the Naturopathist is as memeber as well. They are all on the same page in regard to your treatment(s). There are many, many supplements that the Naturopaths have given me, all with the MDs OK, which have made a big difference in my side affects. I am on Doxil, and the only one they can't seem to beat without the use of steroids is the rash/PPE. They use no treatments that have not been researched for use, including the Supplements/Vitamins. Yes, there are some incompatabilities with supplements and chemos. and any responsible oncologist should know this, but I wouldn't bet on it, as lots of them look down on this type of medicine. The CTCA uses integrative medicine so and recognizes the efficacy of these complementary agents. Your average run of the mill oncologist may laugh at the discussion of this, but the supplements have helped me tremendously!

There is a book written by a somewhat rabid anti-allopathic person, "Antioxidants against Cancer" by Ralph Moss. He talks about the use of specific vitamins/supplements and the various compatabilities/incompatibilities with specific chemos.

Sincerely,
Kathleen

Barbara, thanks for the info. Really appreciate it. I will definitely get the book you mention. I have just become aware that many cancers occur because of low levels of vitamin D3. Even though I was in the "normal" range, I was a very low normal. My oncologists and my internist were not concerned about it, but my naturopathic doctor has me on a D3 supplement.

I wondered if anyone here has heard of the book called..Natural Cures They Don't Want You To Know About.. And I have heard of another called A Cure For All Cancers. I am about to order the second one, but the first one I would reccommend to everyone. It is outstanding. And the information will astonish you.

 

I have just had a tumor removed that they say was cancerous and wanted me to go through chemo soon, but I wanted to do  it the way the book describes. Has anyone done it the natural way here? I have people who know people who have and they are well now.

 

Please let me know your thoughts.

 

DD