Dr Gerson - Good article.

Here's a different perspective on the Gearson Therapy from a medical doctor.

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2008/11/13/the-notsobeautiful-untruth/

Be for warned, he uses some pretty strong words in his blog.

tanstaafl said:

ever so gingerly...

Gerson threads here have been very controversial in the past, sometimes spiraling out of control, with ugly comments and emails, people banned, people quit loudly or just go silent, threads disappearing.  Let's be careful, analytically and empathetically.

Gerson's point of view starts as a battlefield surgeon with rectal insufflations (instead of IVs) almost a full hundred years ago, under horrific conditions, then with observations and a changing nutritional view through the hellish german 20s and the world depression, until his death over half a century ago.   Thing is that neither alternative nor conventional medicine seem to progress about Gerson much from there on. Most patients seem to start from ground zero on nutrition beyond some pretty poor institutional experiences.   Gerson's work is almost a Rorshach test.

So, we are basically left to our own capabilities to decode what might have happened with Gerson's cases and claims. Chemo of the 1950s was a short brutish affair; sometimes it hasn't been too nice recently either.  I've seen some pretty awful and biased medical commentary about Gerson.  I did find Gerson thought provoking about nutrition with chronic diseases.

Here at CSN, board members typically seek out surgery, even repeated surgery, if it is at all possible.  Most with advanced CRC cases seek chemotherapy, sooner or later often with some nutritional modifications and complementary treatments.  A few have had extraordinary alternative medical experiences, before or during long periods without chemo.  

After running out of surgical and chemo options, for many nutrition is often the only discussion remaining beyond pain meds.  

Personally, one might accuse me of maximizing chemo even through surgery.  I do think the complementary therapies are short changed early on, when they might do the most good, helping to completely change one's prognosis.  Abstracting a small fraction of Gerson, integrating many cancer protocols with personalization, best reflects our journey.

 

I believe good nutrition is always a positive thing. I truly wish I could convince my brother to eat healthy, but it's not going to happen.(He was over 320 lbs at the start of this journey and is down to 260lbs because of the chemo. His weight is caused by lack of movement and poor eating habits. He never, ever eats veggies) I told my brother from day one, here are your options, but the choices are yours. If he told me tomorrow that he couldn't do the chemo anymore, I'd respect his wishes. He came to a cross in the road and had to think about whether to go on with chemo. His choice was to continue. 

I don't think there's a right way or a wrong way to handle this disease. I think treatment is a personal thing. I know several people on here do "alternative" medicine, good for them. Whatever works for you or helps you through this monster of a disease. 

We are heading into NYC on Wednesday to see whether chemoembolization is an option for my brother. His onc is worried about his other health issues but doesn't want to leave any rocks unturned. We are going to sit and have a discussion with the liver surgeon, but my brother will make the ultimate decision. I can explain things to him to help guide him, but I can't make these decisions for him. My heart breaks for all of you.

Lin

Trubrit said:

Interesting read

I continued to read down the page. I confess, I would never ever consider doing a coffee enema. 

I liked this

'Whichever protocol you choose to follow, select a proven path and fully consider your ability to comply. If you're a person who "cannot follow a diet to save my life," conventional treatment may be a better fit for you.' 

I am a person who couldn't follow a strict diet, not even to save my life. We really do have to do follow our own path, but 'knowledge is power' and I am very grateful for everything that I read that helps me along my own personal path. 

Thank you for the link, Nana b.

Sue - Trubrit

 

maybe it's just me, but that quote seems pretty condescending.  Seems to imply that if you are too weak to make massive dietary changes, then go ahead and do yourself in with conventional treatment.  Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but it bugs me how often the argument for alt stuff (some of which I myself have used) seems to boil down to fault on the part of the patient.  Esp considering the fact that there is really no evidence for this approach saving the life of a patient who has not had surgery... everyone on this board who made extraordinary claims about success with this had surgery too, making it impossible to tell what really brought about the "cure".

Could be I'm just cranky this morning...need my 2nd cup of coffee before wading into the old alt vs traditonal tx battle!

Nana b said:

Uncle Buddy - Lin

Liver surgeon?  I had to see an oncologist who recommended chemoemolization, then a radiologist doctor who approved it. FYI only. 

we are bringing his files, Ct and MRI scans to a liver surgeon to discuss his options. I don't think they're going to just discuss chemoembolization, but I think they're going to take a look to see what else can be done. IDK, I assumed the liver surgeon is the one who would do the chemoembolization in the liver. I'm new to all of this, so I'm still learning. Your onc did your chemoembolization? Maybe I understood her wrong? I'm going to ask lots of questions anyway. I'm very protective since he is intellectually disabled. His onc seems very concerned about doing anything surgical because of his clotting issues and issues he had after his last 2 surgeries. She told me she wants to see if there is anything that can be done for him aside from chemo.

I don't know if he is the one actually doing the procedure, but she wants him to look at his file and scans to see if he has any options. Maybe she is getting a 2nd opinion because she is worried about his health issues?

Nana b said:

Radiology did

Radiology did chemoemobilization.  ONC only recommend it, radiology approved and did the procedure.  

 

Maybe be liver surgeon will also look at a resection and decide which procedure is best for him. 

 

that's what I'm thinking. I guess I just misunderstood. She did say she wants him to look at the liver to see what can be done (it's actually a husband and wife team, but we got a quicker appointment with the husband). Like I said, she is worried because of my brother's other health issues, so she is cautious. I am glad that she is looking for other options, though. 

Trubrit said:

Radiologist and Surgeon

I know that my Radation Oncologist works along-side the Liver Surgeon in the theater. 

I'll let you guys know what he says. I don't want to get our hopes up because his health issues may interfere with doing some of these procedures. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Lin

Nana b said:

I know stage 4 patients that

I know stage 4 patients that have gone past the 10 year survival with only nutrition, exercise and eliminating stress. (They did have surgery, no chemo)  They just weren't afraid. I think that's where I am at. I read about all the deaths and the pain and suffering, all the survivors on chemo also in so much pain, to me that's not living.  I personally need to give nutrition a chance. If it doesn't work, it doesn't. But chemo wasn't working this time around either, so this is my shot...

 

Eat to live, no live to eat, my next journey.  

 

FYI:  This post and similar posts are here for those that are interested in alternatives. I totally respect, each and every one's decisions, whatever they may be. 

 

Another good link. 

 

http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/

 

I agree with the concept of the Gerson Diet.   There are many groups dong a modern approach and not so heavy handed as the Gerson.  It actually reads if you do not use the recommended $2500 juicer you will not get good effects from their diet.   Really?  The $2500 Juicer and the other really expensive machines they recommend are the only method to process foods?   We use the upright Omega juicer and it gets great results.

When someone wants to sell me stuff then I worry about their validity.  Including Chemo, including The Truth about Cancer, Gerson, Pete's recomendations, etc....

There are many great resources for healthy diet while fighting a chronic disease.

Best Always,  mike