Cancer Survivors
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Re: Cancer Survivors
- dhomespot
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- M Zee
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Thank you for sharing your story. Your journey wasn't easy and I appreciate you talking about it with a group of internet strangers. I came to this thread hoping to hear from cancer survivors about their take on this book before I ventured to pick it up. I wish there were more of those voices among the ones shared here and yours is really important given the nature of this book.sarahmarlowe wrote: ↑21 Jan 2019, 11:01Thank you. Me, too.
I posted this question because I am a survivor. Reading this book elicited many emotions. At first, I felt like I was being shamed for having gone through traditional treatments. I got a little defensive about it, but I tried to put that aside and understand the point of the book. Yes, drug companies and even insurance companies are in business for the money. When I was going through chemotherapy, did the executives of the drug company actually care about me? No. But my oncologist did. And that's where I have to focus my thoughts and questions about this book.
I wondered if my doctor would have suggested alternative therapies if they were available to him. I believe he would have. Even though I went through the whole regimen (numerous surgeries, months of chemo, and months of radiation) my doctor never discouraged me from looking for other treatments. He didn't offer them, but if I asked about supplements or certain food choices, he always encouraged me to try them. He was interested in my well-being. Now, I know that I was blessed to have him as my doctor. Not all oncologists are so open. Nevertheless, I suffer from the after-effects of my treatments years later. I pray I don't have cancer again. If I do, I don't know what kind of treatment I would accept. I don't want to go through chemo again. However, it's a decision that cannot truly be made unless I am sitting across from a doctor knowing that I might die. That puts things in a new perspective.
I do admire the author and her tenacity in finding alternative treatments. I would love to see her be able to get them into mainstream medicine. I pray she keeps knocking down walls -- for all of us!
Again, thank you for talking about this and sharing your perspective.
- sarahmarlowe
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You can spend your time however you want, but you can spend it only once.
- mamilla93
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- Cristina Chifane
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- soccerts
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My uncle swears by alternative medicine because his leukemia is in remission and he's healthy after feeling like a walking corpse on chemo. My cousin barely survived, but attributes his recovery to modern western medicine. Nobody is wrong here, but I think the perspectives and conversations are good (difficult though they may be).
When I was ten years old, my mom showed me my family history and said, "It's not a matter of 'if' but 'when' you're gonna have to face this," and she told me how to spot early signs and be proactive. I think the gift of information and as many options as possible are vital when tackling cancer.
- Supergirl1
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- Bluebird03
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- Helen_Combe
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I’m a cancer survivor and would always go with mainstream medicine. When the alternative medicines have gone through the rigororous testing that makes it mainstream, then I will embrace it.sarahmarlowe wrote: ↑01 Jan 2019, 20:21 I am curious as to how cancer survivors react to this book. Do you feel like you are learning good information for health maintenance? Do you feel slighted because you would have liked to have known this information earlier? Do you feel attacked for sticking with mainstream treatments?
- Zora C Penter
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Well said! While we can always make our own choices, many people around us try to influence our decisions. Even if they have good intentions, the ones closest to us don't understand why we may decide to do something a certain way and try to force their own choices. I wish more people realized that understanding someone doesn't mean agreement.Bluebird03 wrote: ↑04 Feb 2019, 13:11 I have friends and family members now fighting the war on cancer. And while I cannot imagine being faced with that diagnosis or know for certain just how I would react, I do think someone's treatment choice is their individual decision. No one should be attacked for not taking advantage of certain treatments or for trying others. I think that it is up to that person, in that situation, at that point is their life to decide what is best for them.
- ShailaSheshadri
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- sarahmarlowe
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Thank you so much for your response! I, too, am a survivor, and that's why I posed this question. Stay strong!Helen_Combe wrote: ↑04 Feb 2019, 13:52I’m a cancer survivor and would always go with mainstream medicine. When the alternative medicines have gone through the rigororous testing that makes it mainstream, then I will embrace it.sarahmarlowe wrote: ↑01 Jan 2019, 20:21 I am curious as to how cancer survivors react to this book. Do you feel like you are learning good information for health maintenance? Do you feel slighted because you would have liked to have known this information earlier? Do you feel attacked for sticking with mainstream treatments?
You can spend your time however you want, but you can spend it only once.
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- angiejack456
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I agree. There just isn't enough data yet on the effectiveness of alternative medicine. It has potential, but it's got to have adequate testing to prove it's a viable option.Helen_Combe wrote: ↑04 Feb 2019, 13:52I’m a cancer survivor and would always go with mainstream medicine. When the alternative medicines have gone through the rigororous testing that makes it mainstream, then I will embrace it.sarahmarlowe wrote: ↑01 Jan 2019, 20:21 I am curious as to how cancer survivors react to this book. Do you feel like you are learning good information for health maintenance? Do you feel slighted because you would have liked to have known this information earlier? Do you feel attacked for sticking with mainstream treatments?