Advanced Esophageal Cancer

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Graviola Use in Cancer Treatment
Rose,

I start off this post with the disclaimer that I am not a doctor. I am not giving medical advice and this is my personal opinion. Also, please do not be offended by what I say but I was led to post this because I do believe that many try to profit from the fear of cancer patients. I think perhaps you misunderstood the previous posts about the danger of totally ignoring medical advise and following "quacks" who promise miracle cures for deadly cancers. We are fortunate to be living in this age when a cancer diagnosis for many is no longer a directive to go to the funeral home and buy a casket. That being said there are many deadly cancers that don't have the survival rates of others.

Espohageal Cancer is considered one of the dealiest cancers. This is made worse because of a lack of reseach dollars, the emphasis on this cancer research has been scant, public awareness campaigns non existent and generally a lack of urgency from the general community in trying to find new and better treatments for Esophageal Cancer patients. The 5 year survival rates are dismal and improvements in treatment may just be coming online as efforts to curb health care costs are having devistating effects on cancer research, especially the less popular and rare ones.

As for alternative therapies and nutritional support to help fight cancer I think that it is not altogether accurate to say the medical professionals are ignoring the potential healing properties of integrative medicine which combines herbs and natural therapies with traditional cancer therapies. For instance Sloan Kettering has an entire department dedicated to this effort and discusses the benefits of Graviola Use at http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69245.cfm. MD Anderson also has a web site about integrated medicine http://www.mdanderson.org/education-and-research/resources-for-professionals/clinical-tools-and-resources/cimer/index.html.

I think all of us here believe that what you put in your body can help you become stronger, fight disease and perhaps help fight cancer. But what I think concerns me and others is when someone says ignore "convential therapy" I can cure your "incurable cancer" with diet alone. We all know miracles happen and sometimes people have their cancer go away and noone knows why. And we all wish for that. But I am also a believer in God helps those who help themselves so when faced with an initial option for a treatment that may work thats when I become scared.

And I do agree with you completely that there may come a time to say that the chemo is harming the body so much that there isn't a quality of life anymore and that perhaps it is time to stop chemotherapy and agressive treatment and let nature take it course and enjoy what time they can. And I do know that there are people that make that choice at the begining of their journey. I would imagine most of the time those choices are made after careful consideration and consultation of the options, benefits and drawbacks to those decisions. Many on this site have posted from time to time the Mayo clinic article about "When is Enough Enough" in making a decision to stop treatment.

There are many resources available for the use of supplements on the web. I am posting some at the end of this message. I don't endorse these, nor have I visited them all but they are a resource for those interested in finding out more about the integration of alternative medicine into a traditional medical treatment plan. If someone goes down this path it is important to let the treating physician know all and any supplements they are taking. Sometimes the supplements can interfere with the Chemotherapy or have other side effects.

And I am going to check into the graviola use and speak to my dad's doctors about its use. The general article I read at Discovery Health "How Graviola Works" at http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/alternative/graviola1.htm was very interesting.

Thanks for letting us know about the supplement. And I know you are missing your mom and wondering what if . . . I do that all the time and my dad is still with us. What is the right thing to do and I can't answer that. I know you were there for her, you held her hand you supported and loved her through those very dark final days. She never doubted your love and devotion to her and that is a priceless gift that I am sure brought her much comfort.

By the way, how is your dad doing have they been able to get his situation stable?

Keep the faith,

Best,
Cindy
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National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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This site includes information about complementary and alternative medicine for consumers, practitioners and investigators. NCCAM is the federal government’s lead agency for scientific research on the diverse medical and health care systems, practices and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine.

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Ask Dr. Weil
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Dr. Andrew Weil is a renowned doctor in the field of integrative medicine. His Web site promotes health care that integrates the body, mind and spirit.

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Office of Dietary Supplements
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American Cancer Society (ACS)
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