Already a member? Sign in
What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.
Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.
How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!
I would appreciate hearing from people who were diagnosed with Stage IV or IIIb NSCLC who did not go on chemo or radiation and only used alternative therapies such as diet, nutrition, supplements, vitamins, and whatever else is out there, and what their outcomes are. All replies would be helpful as to what used, for how long used, results.
Thank you, in advance to all who take the time to answer.
Nili
Diets and supplements can help build your immune system, but will do nothing for treating the cancer. Many after or during tx changed their diets and find this helps with side effects as well. Take care, JC
Hi Nili-
OK I will take a stab at this b/c I don't want you to think no one cares or there are no other options...b/c both are false. I would suggest you do a search of this site. Many on this site have done vast amounts of research into alternative options, and many have added them to their treatments. Also search "Becky Wright" on this site. She did a audio tape re nutrition and lung cancer. It is about 1 hour long but very worth a listen.
The problem with alternative treatments, and why I am leery to answer this question, is there are no concrete outcomes data on them. Chemo drugs have been studied and there is data informing patients and physicians of what they can expect from a specific percent of patients if they use that drug. Many of the side effects, risks and benefits of the drugs are identified during these studies. They are very controlled and the drugs themselves are FDA regulated. The studies are powered to answer specific questions.
On the other hand supplements, vitamins and other "miracle cures" do not have the necessary studies to prove efficacy and safety data. Vitamins and supplements are not indicated to treat or cure any disease and they are not regulated by the FDA. Many people on this site take many different supplements, vitamins, diets etc...unfortunately, the outcome is unclear b/c there are no means to measure efficacy.
So...do I believe diet, vitamins, antioxidents and the such are an important part of a cancer treatment model...absolutely! Do I believe these alone can cure or even prevent the spread of cancer...I don't know. I have seen some pretty amazing things but the variables were many.
Hopefully this makes some sense.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my post. I am fully aware of everything that you say about controlled studies and the FDA and all of that stuff. But that does mean that there aren't things out there that people have used without Big Pharma drugs and have had success with them. I realize that 2 people could have been successful with something and then the 5 others were not. I am not naive enough to think that just because something worked for one person it will work for everyone. I am well aware of how the drugs that are currently being offered have been studied. However that does not mean that there might not be other things out there that are equally successful but are not as widely recognized because Big Pharma is not there to pour millions of dollars into studying them. Are you aware of how many drugs are available in Europe that are not available in this country? Are you aware that there are things and procedures being done in Europe that are not being done in this country?
So, I am still asking if there are people who are following this site who have had success with alternative or complementary things other than the traditional chemo and radiation who are willing to share their experience as to what they did, for how long, and what was their success or failure with it.
Nili
Hello,
I had traditional treatment but that failed me in 2006 only to be told I had months to live as multiple metastases throughout my lungs.
I was told about Low dose naltrexone and started on it Feb 12th 2007 and have been on it ever since.
It is not a cure but it is a 3rd viable option vs cure or death.... it is long term stabilization or reduction in tumor growth.
You can read about it on the main LDN website:
http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/
A few others on this web site also are taking LDN with positive results and there are many LDN Yahoo health groups to join to discuss with others.
Luckily I found LDN,
Dee
http://www.ldn4cancer.com
Dee, thanks for your answer. I have read about low dose Naltrexone and have been following a couple of the groups. I don't think there is any such thing as a cure in Cancer but if one manages to handle it a chronic condition and live with it, then you are one of the lucky ones. So you are saying that LDN has managed to shrink your tumors and keep you in relatively decent health for almost three years. Is this correct? That's great. Does your doctor agree/cooperate with your treatment option?
Yes you are correct on all accounts in your message. My original oncologist would only treat with "traditional" treatments ( chemo and rad) so LDN wasn't accepted.
But I prevailed at last looking for an open minded oncologist who now knows I am on LDN. I get my prescription from a local GP but do my scans and conversations with my oncologist who has really nothing to offer me, except palliative chemo.
Yes I have been in relative good health since being on LDN for almost 3 years.
Most of my problems now stem from post radiation damage to my pelvis. I would re think conventional treatment if I knew what I know now about cancer.
Dee
Nili, Dr. Chang is expert in this field. He knows what he is doing when it comes to lung cancer and nutracueticals. This subject has been discussed from every angle on the board and everyone has their own opinion.
Best to consult with someone who does nothing but research this on a daily basis, like Dr.Chang. We cannot rewind and start again.
By the way, Dr. Chang administers LDN. He also works with stem cells (or works with someone who specializes).
Nutrition and healthy eating is important, especially in prevention and immune boosting, but only certain nutraceuticals and botanicals target the cancer once one has cancer and it needs to be done with the proper combination to work synergistically and the proper dosages. We can all list our own protocols, but in order to cover as many bases as possible, I think it's best to consult with Dr. Chang, or someone of his caliber, which in my search is hard to find ....
Take care,
Alisa
Look in the archives for my recent posting and replies to Cyberknife Cured My Cancer. I just had my six month follow up and am NED. Cyberknife was a three outpatient treatment at UNC Memorial Hospital Chapel Hill, NC.
For those who qualify as a candidate this is the way to go. Also check out the Accuray website (maker of Cyberknife) and go to their Forums. Lots of information there too.
Kayva
I've done some reading on alternative therapies. I don't know of any alternative therapies that have been completely effective in treating lung cancers -- I do know that our handyman's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, she turned down all of the traditional therapies and went with colloidal silver -- the tumor shrunk and most importantly, she's still here... but that's breast cancer.-- It's really hard to say, because it is deemed as such a risky decision. I completely believe in nutrition, but at the point in which you have cancer I'm not so sure nutrition and nutrition alone can cure it. I believe it can slow or stop growth for a period of time though... I totally believe that if you don't have cancer than nutrition is key in preventing it.
I did some reading up on alternative treatments for lung cancer -- the group that wrote this were very honest about alternative treatments and lung cancer -- they said lung cancer cells are very easy to kill... the problem is the lung bit, it's very tricky and very fragile... you can't just throw the kitchen sink at it, you'll kill yourself. Sooo... I prescribe a sensible mix of both western and alternative medicine if you so choose. Be smart... and proceed with caution.
Hi Nili
I was diagnosed with stage IV BAC in May 05. I have never taken chemo but I had TomoTherapy for a possible spinal met last year. I have used many supplements and nutritional programs and I was put on Tarceva for a short time, but it didn't work. I have just started taking LDN. The cancer continues to progress slowly, but I'm not presently at risk. I suppose that could change at the next scan. I'm hoping the LDN will stop the progression. Unfortunately I can't afford Dr. Chang. I was told by several oncologists when I was dx'd that chemo would not be effective. I'm still asymptomatic so I'm waiting for that elusive "magic bullet" like everyone else.
Charlene
Here is more information in video form about the Cyberknife treatments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gH2zjTfojo&NR=1
Kayva,
thank you for all the information about cyberknife. Do you have any idea what makes one "qualify" as a candidate for this kind of treatment?
Nili
The doctors would require your doctor to submit your scans so they can make an educated evaluation of your cancer. If you go to the Accuray website and look for Forums there are doctors on there who volunteer and will answer your questions.
Accuray.com
kayva
I should add that if you go to the Accuray website you can find the nearest Cyberknife center closest to you.
After Dr. Morris, head of the Cyberknife at UNC Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC set up an appointment for me to come in for an evaluation, he also had a thoracic surgeon at the meeting who described his specialty treatment for lung cancer. I was allowed to select my treatment with no suggestion to choose one or the other.
kayva
I don't know about your type of lung cancer, but Dr. Frank Truitt treats all cancers. You can call for a video and then he will talk to you for an hour or more about your case.
It is a two day visit and then you take the medication for about a month and a half. He has helped so many people, including my mom. She had breast cancer and has been cancer free for 10 years.
A friend also took the treatment for breast cancer and she is fine after 6 years. She didn't even have to have the surgery. I know a man who took the treatment and has been clear for about 5 years.
The medication doesn't kill good cells. There are no side affects from the medication.
It isn't covered by insurance.
Hope you find the treatment that is best for you.
Blessings,
Westtexaswoman
Hi, I am stage 1B NSCLC, tumor removed adjuvant chemo over, am now trying CMD known as concentrated mineral drops for immune system. Would like to hear from others reg their treatment, (also if anyone has tried CMD drops), for immune system fortification, especially those falling in my category, best wishes, friends and dear members, vinod
Hi
check out the book "Women Confront Cancer, making medical history by choosing complementary and alternative therapies". Wooddell & Hess, NYU Press 1998.
stories of several women, all of whom chose different alternative ways to deal with thier cancer dx.
broad spectrum of ideas and experiences.
best of luck
star
hi, I live in india, would appreciate if you give all details about the doctor and treatment.
Hi,
You might want to look into the Budwig protocol and a product called Cellect. You can find information about both at www.cancertutor.com
Good Luck
Nili
Hi Vinod,
If you go to http://www.meridianmedical.org/team_rc.html
you will find all the information about Dr. Raymond Chang who practices CAM=complimentary and alternative medicine. He does do telephone and email consultations.
He uses supplements such as mushroom extract, vitamin D3 and off label drungs that have been shown to have anti cancer properties.
Good Luck and good health
Nili
Add to the discussion