Alternatives to chemo/radiation therapy

Dharma girl
Dharma girl Member Posts: 40
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My mother was diagnosed with stage 3/c colon/rectal cancer in December. She had surgery and now her oncologist wants her to start chemo and radiation therapy. She does not want to do either one. Can anyone recommend an alternative treatment? Has anyone done alternative treatment and if so, how did it work out for you ? Any help would be appreciated.

Comments

  • TMac52
    TMac52 Member Posts: 352
    #2
    John 23
    Go to the csn home page and do a member search for john23 read his profile. he is doing alternative therapy and knows alot about this disease, he is a very good resource and will be glad to help. send him a message, he will respond. Good luck.
    Tom
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #3
    YES! I did alternatives!
    Hi Dharma girl,

    I was dx'ed with Stage III lymph pos zero mets colon cancer in 2001; and after my surgery to remove the tumor, I opted to NOT do any of the adjuvant chemo that my oncologist wanted me to do.

    I started a rigorous juicing regimen, followed a vegan macrobiotic diet, had "treatments" with a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner that consisted of counseling, acupuncture, massage, reflexology, chinese herbs etc, consulted with a Naturopathic doctor for nutrition and supplements, and tried many other things. You can read about it on my webpage on here also.

    I have remained cancer free for over 9 1/2 years with no recurrences.

    I would be happy to correspond with your mother if she wishes to email me.

    You can also read scouty's story on her webpage.

    Hope this helps. There IS a choice on one's path to healing.

    peace, emily
  • Dharma girl
    Dharma girl Member Posts: 40
    #4
    TMac52 said:

    John 23
    Go to the csn home page and do a member search for john23 read his profile. he is doing alternative therapy and knows alot about this disease, he is a very good resource and will be glad to help. send him a message, he will respond. Good luck.
    Tom

    Thanks
    Thanks so much for the info. We are really flying blind here. We have been thrown into this nightmare and are trying to learn as much as we can, as fast as we can.
  • Dharma girl
    Dharma girl Member Posts: 40
    #5
    2bhealed said:

    YES! I did alternatives!
    Hi Dharma girl,

    I was dx'ed with Stage III lymph pos zero mets colon cancer in 2001; and after my surgery to remove the tumor, I opted to NOT do any of the adjuvant chemo that my oncologist wanted me to do.

    I started a rigorous juicing regimen, followed a vegan macrobiotic diet, had "treatments" with a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner that consisted of counseling, acupuncture, massage, reflexology, chinese herbs etc, consulted with a Naturopathic doctor for nutrition and supplements, and tried many other things. You can read about it on my webpage on here also.

    I have remained cancer free for over 9 1/2 years with no recurrences.

    I would be happy to correspond with your mother if she wishes to email me.

    You can also read scouty's story on her webpage.

    Hope this helps. There IS a choice on one's path to healing.

    peace, emily

    My mothers insurance will
    My mothers insurance will not cover alternative medicine/practitioners. So anything that we do will be at our own expense. We have one alternative Dr. where we live named Dr. Diamond and he is quite expensive. So we have a conundrum.

    I will read your page and see if there is anything we can use. Thanks for the response. Happy you are doing well .
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #6
    Dharma girl said:

    My mothers insurance will
    My mothers insurance will not cover alternative medicine/practitioners. So anything that we do will be at our own expense. We have one alternative Dr. where we live named Dr. Diamond and he is quite expensive. So we have a conundrum.

    I will read your page and see if there is anything we can use. Thanks for the response. Happy you are doing well .

    The price we pay
    I understand where you're coming from. Nothing I did was covered by insurance (except some chiropractic). It got spendy and we had to sell our farm, but I am alive so to me it was worth every penny. :-)

    peace, emily
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #7
    I recommend that she follow
    I recommend that she follow her oncologist's recommendation, since that gives her the best chance of recovery. Chemo + radiation is the standard recommendation for that very reason. It's probably possible for her to recover with some alternative therapy, but the odds go down. Individual cases really don't prove anything, but I did recover completely from stage 2a rectal cancer following the standard course of radiation and chemotherapy.

    --Greg
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #8
    PGLGreg said:

    I recommend that she follow
    I recommend that she follow her oncologist's recommendation, since that gives her the best chance of recovery. Chemo + radiation is the standard recommendation for that very reason. It's probably possible for her to recover with some alternative therapy, but the odds go down. Individual cases really don't prove anything, but I did recover completely from stage 2a rectal cancer following the standard course of radiation and chemotherapy.

    --Greg

    For what it's worth
    My vote is with Greg, I'm alive today because of the chemo. When I see thousand's of people being cured through the alternative method, I'll be checking into it seriously.
    I believe in following a bit of it that makes sense to myself and my onc, such as acupuncture and even supplements to go along with my chemo as long as my onc says they're safe to do with my chemos. But the odds are against just the alternative, and there is so MUCH QUACKERY out there, well, might as well hang up your spurs and hop in that hole pulling the dirt in after you.
    Just my opinion.
    Winter Marie
  • emrose
    emrose Member Posts: 136
    #9
    Tough decision
    No one on here will be able to tell you what's right, what's a scam, what will help and what won't. We can all share an opinion, like I'm doing, but it's really just that... An opinion. Unfortunately, because your mom is a unique individual there is no way to know what is right for HER. Chemo for one, juice for another, TCM for the next.

    What I do know is that there are OPTIONS. There is not only one treatment plan. My husband did chemo, and it didn't work. First scan, cancer was back. Since then, he has changed his diet, begun juicing, and started a ton of supplements. We are seeing a naturopath for more options next week. This time, somethings working and he has no evidence of cancer and feels wonderful. On the other hand, many credit chemo for saving their lives. My advice: continue doing what you are doing: ask questions, research, be an advocate for your mom, don't give up, explore all of your options.

    Good luck!! My thoughs are with you
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #10
    emrose said:

    Tough decision
    No one on here will be able to tell you what's right, what's a scam, what will help and what won't. We can all share an opinion, like I'm doing, but it's really just that... An opinion. Unfortunately, because your mom is a unique individual there is no way to know what is right for HER. Chemo for one, juice for another, TCM for the next.

    What I do know is that there are OPTIONS. There is not only one treatment plan. My husband did chemo, and it didn't work. First scan, cancer was back. Since then, he has changed his diet, begun juicing, and started a ton of supplements. We are seeing a naturopath for more options next week. This time, somethings working and he has no evidence of cancer and feels wonderful. On the other hand, many credit chemo for saving their lives. My advice: continue doing what you are doing: ask questions, research, be an advocate for your mom, don't give up, explore all of your options.

    Good luck!! My thoughs are with you

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Dharma girl
    Dharma girl Member Posts: 40
    #11
    emrose said:

    Tough decision
    No one on here will be able to tell you what's right, what's a scam, what will help and what won't. We can all share an opinion, like I'm doing, but it's really just that... An opinion. Unfortunately, because your mom is a unique individual there is no way to know what is right for HER. Chemo for one, juice for another, TCM for the next.

    What I do know is that there are OPTIONS. There is not only one treatment plan. My husband did chemo, and it didn't work. First scan, cancer was back. Since then, he has changed his diet, begun juicing, and started a ton of supplements. We are seeing a naturopath for more options next week. This time, somethings working and he has no evidence of cancer and feels wonderful. On the other hand, many credit chemo for saving their lives. My advice: continue doing what you are doing: ask questions, research, be an advocate for your mom, don't give up, explore all of your options.

    Good luck!! My thoughs are with you

    My mom is convinced the
    My mom is convinced the chemo/radiation is going to “kill her”. It almost seems like she is OK with dying from cancer, but not from the treatment. She is REALLY afraid of chemo and I think she feels like she is being forced into/has no control over what is happening to her. All of her Doctors and our family have told her that is HER decision where things go from here. I have told her about this (great) website and Cancer Compass and I feel the info has helped.

    That is why we have been trying to find something Alternative the she could try. As of this morning she said she will try XELODA, but she still is not sure about radiation. The treatment plan that her oncologist proposed is chemo for three months, then chemo/radiation for six weeks and then chemo again. The whole thing should take about six months.


    Thank you for the advice, it helps to have the perspective of someone that has been there, done that. Good luck to your family.
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #12
    Dharma girl said:

    My mom is convinced the
    My mom is convinced the chemo/radiation is going to “kill her”. It almost seems like she is OK with dying from cancer, but not from the treatment. She is REALLY afraid of chemo and I think she feels like she is being forced into/has no control over what is happening to her. All of her Doctors and our family have told her that is HER decision where things go from here. I have told her about this (great) website and Cancer Compass and I feel the info has helped.

    That is why we have been trying to find something Alternative the she could try. As of this morning she said she will try XELODA, but she still is not sure about radiation. The treatment plan that her oncologist proposed is chemo for three months, then chemo/radiation for six weeks and then chemo again. The whole thing should take about six months.


    Thank you for the advice, it helps to have the perspective of someone that has been there, done that. Good luck to your family.

    Chemotherapy preconceptions
    Each cancer has its own cocktail, or choice thereof. In a sense, we are lucky in that colorectal has a lot of alternatives.

    Personally, I found Folfox to be quite tolerable after a couple of adjustments, but I have a friend whose reaction put her in the hospital. I discovered she had cancer when she wound up sitting next to me in the chemotherapy room!

    At that time she was on Folfiri, which causes hair loss. Well, she lost all her hair EXCEPT on her head!

    Radiation for me started out easy, but in the last week or so became unbearably painful, that actually turned out to be the tumor, so I had surgery about 3 weeks ago they removed my rectum. Not pleasant, but it will make the next few years manageable.

    My favorite adherent to alternative therapy here was given a 1 in 3 chance if she took that route, not great odds, but as I sit here with a stage IV diagnoses, I would take them in a heartbeat! Her three sided die came up one, so I am happy for her, but hey, I once met a lottery winner who beat much greater odds. Needless to say I kept investing in my 401k ;)

    Your mom gets to make her own choices, my advice to you is to make the best of whatever time is granted. Don't fight, let her have her way, do the things she likes to do with her. That way, whether she lives a year, or survives to be a hundred, you will have lots to celebrate and nothing to regret.
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #13
    Dharma girl said:

    My mom is convinced the
    My mom is convinced the chemo/radiation is going to “kill her”. It almost seems like she is OK with dying from cancer, but not from the treatment. She is REALLY afraid of chemo and I think she feels like she is being forced into/has no control over what is happening to her. All of her Doctors and our family have told her that is HER decision where things go from here. I have told her about this (great) website and Cancer Compass and I feel the info has helped.

    That is why we have been trying to find something Alternative the she could try. As of this morning she said she will try XELODA, but she still is not sure about radiation. The treatment plan that her oncologist proposed is chemo for three months, then chemo/radiation for six weeks and then chemo again. The whole thing should take about six months.


    Thank you for the advice, it helps to have the perspective of someone that has been there, done that. Good luck to your family.

    Listen to your body
    Hi Dharma,

    I was really afraid of the chemo too. The chemo scared me more than the cancer. Using personal anecdotal evidence, the three people in my family who had cancer had followed their oncologists' treatment plans and ended up dying. That scared me to no end. So I opted to choose a different means to an end that hopefully meant living. A means that is not actually new, just one that hasn't been heavily promoted by the powers that be in the billion dollar cancer industry.

    When I was making that decision I picked the brains of other people I knew personally for their anecdotal evidence that their alternative methods had been successful in healing from cancer. Then I researched like mad, sought out the advice from professional practitioners (not quacks), and put together a protocol that has been successful for over 9 1/2 years. The beauty in this regime was that it was completely tailored for me personally.

    I hope your mother has success with whatever path she chooses.

    I think many folks opt to not do alternatives because they are scared--as scared as I was to do conventional chemo.

    And because I did not do any chemo I will never fear secondary cancers from the chemo, permanent heart and or kidney damage from chemo, peripheral neuropathy from chemo, chemo-induced leukemia....you get the picture. At least I don't have that to fear.

    And while I am not certain that the cancer will not come back someday, I am certain that I will not have to ever deal with the above mentioned health issues due to choosing chemo.

    And if your mother is scared, we can surely understand why. Even though I opted to not do any chemo, I was still scared of not being cured; I just didn't have to fear chemo and its insidious side effects.

    Feeling like she has control of her choices, IMO, is of utmost importance to her healing from cancer as well, regardless of what treatment plan/path she takes.


    peace, emily
  • tree hugger
    tree hugger Member Posts: 3
    #14
    Dharma girl said:

    My mom is convinced the
    My mom is convinced the chemo/radiation is going to “kill her”. It almost seems like she is OK with dying from cancer, but not from the treatment. She is REALLY afraid of chemo and I think she feels like she is being forced into/has no control over what is happening to her. All of her Doctors and our family have told her that is HER decision where things go from here. I have told her about this (great) website and Cancer Compass and I feel the info has helped.

    That is why we have been trying to find something Alternative the she could try. As of this morning she said she will try XELODA, but she still is not sure about radiation. The treatment plan that her oncologist proposed is chemo for three months, then chemo/radiation for six weeks and then chemo again. The whole thing should take about six months.


    Thank you for the advice, it helps to have the perspective of someone that has been there, done that. Good luck to your family.

    chemo
    I know that chemo would have killed me. Some people, like my husband, do okay with it and he is still cancer free 10 years later. I was cancer free for 23 years without chemo or radiation. I am refusing chemo again this time with rectal cancer. I am undecided about radiation. It is supposed to start in 4 days so I need to decide quickly. I have tons of allergies and sensitivities. If your Mom is like that chemo might not be the ticket. Also, if she believs it will kill her...well, the power of our thoughts is tremendous. Best of luck for her.
  • tree hugger
    tree hugger Member Posts: 3
    #15
    TMac52 said:

    John 23
    Go to the csn home page and do a member search for john23 read his profile. he is doing alternative therapy and knows alot about this disease, he is a very good resource and will be glad to help. send him a message, he will respond. Good luck.
    Tom

    john 23
    Hi Tom..did a search..he did not come up.

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