My father was diagnosed w/ a stage IV glioblastoma multiforme in June 2005. Since then, he's had 2 surgeries, and is about to have his 3rd. He seems to go 1-2 MRIs following each surgery before something else comes up. He was on Temodor, but it is showing to be ineffective. Following the surgery, he is either going to start a new type of chemo, or enroll in a clinical trial, b/c his options are running out. He is 55 years old.
One question I would like to ask the doctor, which I am sure he wouldn't give a straight answer on, is that if he was to get diagnosed w/ brain cancer, or any other cancer for that matter, would he subject himself to the same treatments he has or is prescribing to my dad. I've read a few claims from doctors that say that everyone has cancer cells present in their bodies at times throughout their life, and that if one's immune system is working properly, these cells are killed or reabsorbed by one's defense system before they begin to grow and threaten one's health. Once a person has developed cancer, even though some treatments get them into remission, it will recur again and again unless the body conditions that allowed it to develop in the first place are corrected. I don't see how chemo/radiation is supposed to independently correct the situation w/o any other modifications taking place.
In a nutshell, I think its pretty obvious that my dad's living environment, diet, and/or excercise played a role in his diagnosis, which have been proven in numerous studies. Thus, I find it is a bit odd that his doctor has not even suggested certain measures to take in diet, excercise, etc. that would at least strengthen his chances. Just because something isn't "FDA approved" and is not making a pharmaceutical company rich doesn't mean its ineffective. Ask the doc about omega-3 fatty acids which can be found in eggs and fish that may protect against colon cancer, or how the grape nourishes the brain through bypassing the blood brain barrier. You won't hear too much about things like that I am sure b/c an epidemic of good health would put a lot of doctors and pharmaceutical people out of business.
I am natually a skeptic and I just think there's more to it than poisoning one's body and killing off a lot of that which is good in the hopes of also destroying that which is bad, all while not changing a single thing in one's lifestyle. I dont know of any treatment which makes one nautious, tired and in an all around foul mood that can actually be good. Just on pure, simple logic, it doesn't make sense.
So, I've read a lot on the web about medicines based more on natural substances that are for obvious reasons, not FDA approved. I work in the pharmaceutical industry, and its primarily a business, where actually helping people is almost secondary and coincidental at best. My father is at the point where he really isn't sacrificing anything by giving something a try than may or may not be legitimate. For the past year almost, his bosy has been destroyed in the hopes of alleviating his cancer. The current regimen he is on hasn't cured anything, but only put off the inevitable a bit longer. Thus, I don't see how giving some natural "magic potion" from a tucked away store in Chinatown can hurt him any more than a treatment already doing nothing to help him, but more to contribute to his demise.
Any suggestions on rumored substances in foods that help brain tumors, or other stories on "medications" such as Cessiac or Yukolive would be appreciative.
Thanks