Alternative Cancer
Treatments
Twenty-five years ago I started exploring nutrition by reading Adelle Davis' book Let's
Eat Right to Keep Fit. (Out of print - available in libraries, at Amazon.com, thrift stores, and almost everywhere used books
are sold!) About a year later an aunt who had undergone extensive surgeries for cancer and was considered terminal
- her doctors wouldn't talk about next week - asked if there was anything she could do nutritionally to help her
situation.
I consulted Let's Eat Right to Keep Fit and gave her a list of nutrients recommended by Miss Davis. She took all
she could afford - 800 IU of synthetic vitamin E, 5 beef liver tablets (from Argentine
beef liver), a couple of grams of vitamin C, some B vitamins and a basic multiple vitamin every day.
Within a matter of weeks, there was a remarkable change in her stamina. Whereas before she would collapse into
the first chair she came to when she visited us, now she would stand and talk for half and hour with no sign of
tiring. Having always been underweight, she was pleased to have become a little plump!
Another dramatic change was her emotional state. She had been depressed as far back as she could remember (essentially
all her life). For the first time she was aware of, she was not depressed. Her therapists, a husband and wife team,
were so impressed by the change in her that they began investigating the effects of nutrition, and added nutritional
therapy to their counseling modalities.
My aunt lived for about twenty years after having been declared terminal. She always had the cancer, and periodically
went for radiation treatments. Her daily life was fairly normal, and she was able to continue her favorite pastime,
gardening. She was able to care for herself in her own home until the last few months of her life, when her condition
deteriorated rapidly and dramatically - the doctors' dire predictions finally came true.
Back then alternative therapies, including nutrition, were generally laughed at by traditional medical professionals.
Today many are embracing the therapies which have been shown useful through scientific studies. Some will even
go beyond the "accepted" alternatives, such as nutrition, homeopathy, massage, meditation, chiropractic,
etc. and treat patients with "unproven" therapies, such as colon cleansing, chelation, magnetic therapy,
and many others. Some of these treatments, though not scientifically demonstrated to be effective, have a long
history of usefulness throughout many cultures. Others are new discoveries - time will tell the effectiveness and
safety of these.
M.D.s who are experienced in the use of alternative therapies are increasing in numbers. Our local community, Hernando
County, Florida, has two: Maria Scunziano, M.D. (352-688-8116) and Calin
V. Pop, M.D. We also have many other fine alternative therapists.
In Citrus County there is Cynthia Valenca, PhD, ND, HMD, who "works with a wide range of Therapy Options for
your Individual needs" (352-628-0195).
Look in the yellow pages of your phone book; ask at a local health food store; look for information on the Internet.
Ask your neighbors and friends for information about alternative therapies and recommendations for therapists.
Thoroughly investigate any alternative you are considering before allowing someone to treat you with it (or treating
yourself.) There are inexpensive therapies, such as herbs, which have been used for thousands of years. Be sure
to consult an experienced herbalist or several herbal reference guides before using an herb. Some herbal references
are not up to date on warnings.
One of the safest therapies, homeopathy, can be used with confidence. An experienced homeopathic diagnostician
can be invaluable in determining the best homeopathic remedy and the proper dilution of that remedy for you. However,
there are now homeopathic remedies available in health food stores, and even in drug, grocery, and department stores,
which are "broad spectrum" and work in a wide variety of situations.
Of course, it is best to consult a knowledgeable professional before using an alternative treatment. If you have
any serious medical condition, consult your doctor first. Even treatments which are usually helpful can be harmful
in certain circumstances. Additionally, you may be able to help educate your doctor! If your doctor is unwilling
to consider any alternative or complementary* treatments consider finding a reputable doctor who is more open-minded.
(*Complementary treatments are therapies which are used in conjunction with traditional treatments.)
Your body belongs to you. Take responsibility for it. And when you find something that works, let others know.
What has worked for you may work for them, too. The current acceptance of alternatives, and interest in further
research, is primarily due to the substantial financial investment the general public has made in alternative therapies
in the last several years. Let's perpetuate and increase that momentum by using alternative therapies wisely.
Books available through The Healing Arts Bookstore:
(in association with Amazon.com)
Alternative Treatments for Cancer
One Answer to Cancer (out of print, available used)
by William D. Kelley
The Cure for All Cancers:
With 100 Case Histories
by Hulda R. Clark
Outsmart Your Cancer: Alternative Non-Toxic Treatments That Work
by Tanya Harter Pierce
How to Fight Cancer & Win
by William L Fischer
Beating Cancer with Nutrition
by Patrick Quillin
Cleansing and Detoxifying your Body
30-Day Body Purification:
How to Cleanse Your Inner Body & Experience the Joys of Toxin-Free Health
by Lewis Harrison, Laura Jones
Dr. Jensen's Guide
to Better Bowel Care: A Complete Program for Tissue Cleansing Through Bowel Management
by Bernard Jensen
Meditation and Cancer
Hidden Spring: A Buddhist Woman Confronts Cancer - excerpts and ordering information
Alternative Health and Cancer Prevention
Gary Null's Ultimate
Anti-Aging Program
by Gary Null
Eight Weeks to Optimum
Health
by Andrew Weil
The Antioxidants:
The Amazing Nutrients That Fight Dangerous Free Radicals, Guard Against Cancer and Other Diseases--And Even Slow
the the Aging Process
by Richard A. Passwater
Beta-Carotene and
Other Carotenoids: The Antioxidant Family That Protects Against Cancer and Heart Disease and Strengthens the
Immune System
by Richard A. Passwater
Cancer Prevention and
Nutritional Therapies
by Richard A. Passwater
Healing Centers &
Retreats
by Jenifer Miller
The American Holistic
Health Association's Complete Guide to Alternative Medicine
Treatment Centers
Gerson Institute
PO Box 430
Bonita, California 91908-0430
Phone: (619) 585-7600
Fax: (619) 585-7610
Toll-Free: 888 4 Gerson
Nicholas Gonzalez, M.D.
(A follower of Dr. W. Kelley, author of One Answer to Cancer)
36 East 36th Street, Suite 204
New York, New York 10016
U.S.A.
Phone: (212) 213-3337
Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Conventional treatments combined with complementary therapies.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Cancer Patients
Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego
Oasis of Hope
Tijuana, B.C. Mexico
Links
Complementary/Integrative Medicine Education Resources (CIMER)
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center’s website helps physicians and patients decide which alternative therapies may be useful for them.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) present infomation on a variety of alternative therapies.
