contacting survivors who opted for alternatives (and NOT chemo/radio)

dannyshine
dannyshine Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
have a wonderful friend (who is my therapist too) who was recently diagnosed with cancer. She had it in the breast and decided to have the breast removed but she is pretty sure she does not want to have chemo as it goes agianst everything she believes. She believes that everything is created in the mind and wants to get to the root of what caused it so she can fully heal it.

However, she has 7 kids who of course know very little about these things and are influenced by the awful pressure from the outside world to listen to Orthodox Doctors.

She would very much like to meet people who have managed to resist that immense pressure and heal themselves holistically. Do you have any such people who would be willing to talk to her or meet her ? She knows that her mind is all important here and it will help her remembeer that she is not crazy taking this line in the face of the immense pressure to do otherwise.

Comments

  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #2
    I can't help here. I just wish she would look into more conventional healing. I respect her right and conviction, but with all those children... It just breaks my heart. There is no evidence at all that any of the mind techniques work.

    However, there are a number of things to consider. Does she need chemo? Does she have node involvement? How old is she? Is her tumor hormone positive and if so will she consider tamoxifen? These really are the issues that will determine her survival.

    All the best to her and her family.

    Hugs.

    Lesley
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #3
    I agree with Lesley. I know what she is saying, but depending on the stage she was, people STILL die from undertreated breast cancer. I took the combo route...I did my traditional chemo/rads, but also used alternative medicine....herbal, pronic healing, etc. And DEFINIATLY had the spiritual side working for me, too! There IS power in prayer!

    I am NED from Stage IIB invasive breast cancer AND Stage III colon cancer....something worked REAL WELL!!

    Kathi
  • krkath
    krkath Member Posts: 72
    #4
    KathiM said:

    I agree with Lesley. I know what she is saying, but depending on the stage she was, people STILL die from undertreated breast cancer. I took the combo route...I did my traditional chemo/rads, but also used alternative medicine....herbal, pronic healing, etc. And DEFINIATLY had the spiritual side working for me, too! There IS power in prayer!

    I am NED from Stage IIB invasive breast cancer AND Stage III colon cancer....something worked REAL WELL!!

    Kathi

    I was just thinking the other day (after a terrible dream about picking out a cemetery plot and lots of other wierd stuff) It truly was a nightmare and after a year of the aggressive chemo treatment: they gave me (TAC) combined: I am still in so much pain, that I told my best friend that if I had to go through chemo again, that I don't think I would do it.
    I am starting on a Pain Specialist Program, and have my final orientation today.
    But I would like to know what kind of herbs you are taking and what is pronic healing?
    My therapy will include bio-feedback and a type of Tai Chi (I think), mind-body connectivity I guess. I'll find out more.
    You have been such an inspiration and sometimes I just have a hard time struggling and fighting EVERY SINGLE DAY! If there are other ways to find a cure to this disease (any cancer) besides chemotherapy, I sure hope they find it quick. I also would like to know of any others out there who have tried alternative methods. Even though at this point after a year, I feel like I'm 72 years old instead of 52.
    Sorry guys, having a pitty party this week. I'm SO DARN TIRED and pissed that this aggressive chemo has possibly already killed me.
    Kathy
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #5
    krkath said:

    I was just thinking the other day (after a terrible dream about picking out a cemetery plot and lots of other wierd stuff) It truly was a nightmare and after a year of the aggressive chemo treatment: they gave me (TAC) combined: I am still in so much pain, that I told my best friend that if I had to go through chemo again, that I don't think I would do it.
    I am starting on a Pain Specialist Program, and have my final orientation today.
    But I would like to know what kind of herbs you are taking and what is pronic healing?
    My therapy will include bio-feedback and a type of Tai Chi (I think), mind-body connectivity I guess. I'll find out more.
    You have been such an inspiration and sometimes I just have a hard time struggling and fighting EVERY SINGLE DAY! If there are other ways to find a cure to this disease (any cancer) besides chemotherapy, I sure hope they find it quick. I also would like to know of any others out there who have tried alternative methods. Even though at this point after a year, I feel like I'm 72 years old instead of 52.
    Sorry guys, having a pitty party this week. I'm SO DARN TIRED and pissed that this aggressive chemo has possibly already killed me.
    Kathy

    Chemo is really tough.. but for me my tireness got much better after about 6 months. As for pain, I found that a Chiropractor helped alot with the pain that I had from my shoulder/neck down to my hand on my surgery side. He does massages every other week and it seems to have helped more than the orthopedic doctors that I tired first. And yes, I am 50 and I can remember feeling like I felt like I was 100. But it does get better.

    For me I took the agressive treatment route. Surgery, Chemo,& radiation. with extra Herceptin and Armimidex for 5 years. My oncologist tried to get me to think of it as a time in my life that I would have to take a pause to get ready for the rest of my full life.

    Take Care... God Bless...

    Susan
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #6
    krkath said:

    I was just thinking the other day (after a terrible dream about picking out a cemetery plot and lots of other wierd stuff) It truly was a nightmare and after a year of the aggressive chemo treatment: they gave me (TAC) combined: I am still in so much pain, that I told my best friend that if I had to go through chemo again, that I don't think I would do it.
    I am starting on a Pain Specialist Program, and have my final orientation today.
    But I would like to know what kind of herbs you are taking and what is pronic healing?
    My therapy will include bio-feedback and a type of Tai Chi (I think), mind-body connectivity I guess. I'll find out more.
    You have been such an inspiration and sometimes I just have a hard time struggling and fighting EVERY SINGLE DAY! If there are other ways to find a cure to this disease (any cancer) besides chemotherapy, I sure hope they find it quick. I also would like to know of any others out there who have tried alternative methods. Even though at this point after a year, I feel like I'm 72 years old instead of 52.
    Sorry guys, having a pitty party this week. I'm SO DARN TIRED and pissed that this aggressive chemo has possibly already killed me.
    Kathy

    Kathy,
    I agree...'shotgun' chemo is awful....the list of 'little annoyances' for me is long...nothing beyond managing. The good news is that research has almost finished new chemo that is designed to only attack the cancer cells themselves...each cancer has it's own signature cell, and reacts to certain enzymes, chemo can be attached to these, and so the only cells to uptake are...cancer cells. There are clinicals now for this type with some of the cancers....I hope I am the last generation that has to lose their hair to chemo!!!!

    pronic (could be pranic) is a passing of hands by a trained technician...no actual touching. This is an ancient asian healing art...

    I know the feeling of being sick and tired of it all....after the whole rectal cancer treatment, when I was diagnosed with the breast cancer, I went to 5 second opinions to try to find someone that said I didn't have to do the chemo...no takers!!!
    Do something special just for you. Something guaranteed to make you smile. I got thru many rough times by doing that...
    Know you are thought about, prayed for.

    Hugs, Kathi
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398
    #7
    I was 36 at diagnosis and tired of being sick and tired when finally got the bad news of stage 3 IDC breast cancer with 11 out of 21 nodes.
    There was no early detection for me since first lump was miss diagnosed and then few thought I could have cancer since wasn't sick at that time. I had to get sick before people would listen.
    I too thought no chemo can't go through that. I too thought there must be something else. There are other things but unfortunately conventional treatments give you the best odds at survival if that is what you truly want to do.
    I live in a province in Canada that has 23% at least better success rate than any other province in my country and that is because of the treatments that are available. Complimentary has its place I know because I have taken something since finishing all treatments.
    My mother made it quite clear to me that I had a son who needed me and really didn't have choice and soon agreed. I was the only one my son had as his constant in life and to have lost that who knows where he would of gone. As it was cancer just made him more angry than he already was.
    Now there is so much to be grateful for. But I too know we truly must do what it is in our hearts and our souls.
    Be good to yourself,
    You are a good friend,
    Tara
  • pansylover
    pansylover Member Posts: 80
    #8
    my 2 cents worth..has she tried guided imagery? Belleruth Napersak has some good ones for cancer. try www.healthyjourney.com or look up in the search engine:Belleruth napersak.

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