Alternative Treatments

I am not a big fan of most alternative treatments, including those espoused by naturopaths or by clinics in Mexico and South America. I will never suggest a cancer patient ignore modern medicine and focus solely on these alternatives. Pursuing them in addition to modern medicine is fine. I’m happy to find out what I can about the actual supporting (or contradictory) data, with an open mind. My experience though, and I do have substantial experience with alternatives, including injecting 714-X into my lower abdomen, is not good. Nor is it good among those readers I have kept in touch with who rejected modern medicine and instead relied solely on homeopathy, naturopathy, on clinics in foreign countries or other alternatives. All I’ve known have ultimately died of the disease they were diagnosed with. In my case, the alternatives I tried — macrobiotics, uncooked fruits and vegetables, 714-X mentioned above, and a number of others — had no discernible positive result. These alone, or in combination, may be helpful for some. I don’t know. But many of these alternatives are offered without verifiable data. If I was running an alternative cancer treatment clinic in Mexico, I’d certainly publish the data if it was favorable.

On the other hand, there are drugs that are not part of modern American medicine that have substantial data to back them up. I am a believer, for instance, in Beta-Glucan, a drug widely used in Europe but that is not patentable and therefore not marketed to US physicians by US drug companies. I interviewed a researcher at Biothera, a Beta-Glucan manufacturer, years ago who told me that he was giving it to his mother who had non-Hogkin’s Lymphoma with favorable results, and that the US government had stockpiled it to treat soldiers in the event they became exposed to radiation. This has some significance since the side effects of radiation can have a severe impact on one’s immune system and thus leave us exposed to other pathogens and cancers. And, as I mentioned, the drug that may have saved my life, WF-10 (information here and here), also has properties that counter the negative effects of radiation. Both Beta Glucan and WF10 dramatically boost the production of macrophages.

Helpful Habits and Behaviors: Fasting, Diet, Exercise

Lifestyle has a major effect on whether or not we get cancer. It probably has an impact on Alzheimer's (sleep habits, oral hygiene). After diagnosis however, while certainly helpful and worth doing, lifestyle modification has the problem faced by many cancer therapies. The cancer cells that are susceptible to the treatment die and those that are not replicate. I’ve known people who tried to deal with cancer solely through healthier choices. All died. I’ve read about survivors — for instance in books about macrobiotics — but not ever encountered an actual survivor. I note that the primary advocate of macrobiotics in the United States, Michio Kushi, his wife and his daughter all died of cancer. Michio was 88 at the time of his death, which undoubtedly was a primary factor, but nevertheless one should treat alternative treatments with skepticism unless backed by data.

Both my cancers occurred after long periods of overwork, fatigue and inadequate sleep. I’ve since learned that a lack of sleep can lead to many adverse health affects including cancer and Alzheimer’s. I’ve learned also that fasting for 14 hours out of every 24 can lead to major health improvements, including in those with cancer or dementia. Gut health — the promotion of life-sustaining bacteria — is another favorable element in good health and cancer recovery. Gut health is largely dependent upon a diet of fruits and vegetables and minimal sugar, red meat and processed foods. The role of exercise in good health, and in recovering from cancer, is well documented. When I was first diagnosed with lymphoma, knowing what was ahead and how severe the strain would ultimately be on my body, I began an extreme exercise program that included running five miles each morning, push ups, chin ups and sit ups. It allowed me to survive the chemo, I believe. I now walk an hour a day, rain or shine.

Many people are unwilling or unable to adopt major lifestyle changes. I ask clients if they are interested in the subject, and if they are not I don’t pursue it further. If they are interested, I send links to podcasts and other relevant research. I’m not exactly the poster boy role model myself. I’m overweight and have been for years. I stop drinking for months at a time, then start up again. Perfection is difficult to attain.

My focus, and my value to those on the cancer journey or dealing with other life-threatening diseases, is the search for difficult-to-get information that may have a major positive impact, and in fact may be curative, for those suffering from a life-threatening illness.

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