Gone Natural

inkblot said:

Hi sillyspirit:

Did you have any traditional treatment, following any surgery? Many studies state that surgery alone is curative in many cases. Those cases with no nodes, no distant mets, etc..

What are your resources/guides for deciding what to take, when and how much, etc.?

I had surgery, chemo and rads. During chemo, I took very little. Things I knew were ok. Reason being that some supplements, herbals, etc. can interact with chemo. Since I was putting myself through it, I wanted to get the full benefit, unhampered by anything else. Some supplements have been investigated to a point of presenting a question mark when taken while on chemo. My thought was why go through that and risk doing anything which could interfere?

More research is definitely needed so we could have better knowledge of what works well with chemo and what doesn't.

Some women decide on no medical intervention at all and use only "naturals" to address bc. It's a serious decision (as is chemo and rads for that matter) and requires a lot of research, a good Naturopathic Physician, Nutritionist and not a route to casually take alone. Certain supplements/herbals, etc. should never be used together and some are best taken with foods, etc.. Just as cabbage, for instance, should be
avoided when taking antibiotics (it interferes with and reduces the action of the drugs)so, some supplements can be rendered ineffective when taken with certain other supplements/foods/drugs. Acidophilus is a staple in our house, when anyone is on antibiotics or has had a tummy virus. It's also something I take every day...I just take more when needed for restoring the healthy bacteria in the gut. Yogurt (Dannon has the best cultures) is better than nothing at all, but a top quality acidophilus (Primadophilus for instance)beats everything out there. Not all preparations are the same and ideally, this product must be kept refrigerated. So, if you go to purchase it and it's just sitting on a shelf in a warm store, you've already lost part of it's action. A lot to know and understand and always more to learn. Thus, the need for a good ND, at the minimum, for guidance.

It IS possible to take too much of "naturals". My thoughts on that are not to exceed the RDA of retail products, unless an ND is supervising/advising you take more or less than that. If a little is good, more is not necessarily better. If you see a good herbalist, then he/she will supervise those unique elements, likely making them for you.

Quality of product is another concern. You want to purchase the best you can afford. Not all supplements are created equal.

There are some good books on the subject but again, I'd strongly advise an ND or an MD who's into supplements and has the knowledge to advise you. It is unfortunate but quackery runs rampant in this field and caution is always advisable.

Naturals for curing cancer? I don't know. Naturals for maintaining optimal health, DEFINITELY!

Just a few days after my last chemo, I began my supplements in earnest again. A daily regimen of quite a bit of stuff. A no iron multivitamin/mineral, CoQ10, Calcium/VitaminD (a.m.) Calcium/Magnesium at night, extra Copper and Zinc, extra Vitamin C/Quercitin,Garlic, an additional 400mg/day Vitamin E (dry), Glucosamine/Chrondroitin (also MSM) and a couple of other specially compounded formula's/herbals. (Every day still begins with a cup of green or black tea and Yoga) And since I'm a life long vegetarian, a sublingual B12/daily with extra folic acid. I stayed on this regimen for 6 months to give my body help in repairing itself. I remained physically active and had no problems with fatigue. I also spent time on stress reduction, dealing with where I'd been, and my feelings about it, while working on relaxation and inner peace. It worked well for me. I currently take maintenance doses of some of the above...some every other day, etc.. I feel great. I have had a stubborn problem with my right wrist (site of chemo infusion) which requred medical intervention in the form of surgery.

The key is that everyone's body is different and some of the elements which may be depleted or very low in our bodies, can only be detected through blood work, for certain. But then we need expert interpretation and guidance. Other things can be a matter of choice. Basically things which are water soluble are safer, as excess is excreted from the body. Not retained and no dangerous buildup. Fat soluble, however is another story and some of these can become toxic in amounts exceeding the RDA, unsupervised by a professional.

My supplement/health regimen followed traditional treatment and I'd imagine that a regimen designed to "treat" cancer would be a diverse and completely different undertaking. Having complete faith and confidence in what one is doing is very important and I believe it influences the effectiveness of the program as well. We each must give it our best go, with heart and soul, whatever route we take.

Wishing you the very best and hope you'll keep us posted on your progress.

Love, light and laughter,
Ink