cancer cures?

[nycmom18]

my gma has some type of rare cancer and was given a 1-2 year time frame...if she does not do chemo etc, are there ways to prolong her life while feeling great? hees what ive heard:

-alkalize the body
-remove sugar and foods that turn into sugar(which foods would these be?)
-feed the spirit!

any other thoughts or first hand experiences?

[sbgrace]

Not maybe what you wanted to hear but all the best successes I've known (grandparent, close friend, acquaintance, acquaintance) with rare and/or "terminal/untreatable" cancers were through clinical trials. If she's eligible and willing that is what I would look into personally.

[nycmom18]

interesting you say this because she is eligible, but we are concerned about the quality of the rest of her life. and possibly the treatments getting the best of her. such a difficult decision for her to make, but thank you very much for your input.

[EFmom]

I agree with the pp. I'm a cancer survivor and looked into alternative treatments and found them to be without any scientific, reproducible evidence.

I wish your family well. It's a tough call.

[nycmom18]

sbgrace, if you know, what is it about the trials that seem to help a bit more? because we were told that it is the exact same drugs, she would just be watched at more closely.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by nycmom18

sbgrace, if you know, what is it about the trials that seem to help a bit more? because we were told that it is the exact same drugs, she would just be watched at more closely.

I would discuss that with her Dr, my sister did the trials for breastcancer but I really don't know if those would all be the same

[EFmom]

I've been in two clinical trials (and am just finishing my time on the last one).

The drugs depend on the trial, so you can't really generalize. There are vastly different types of trials.

In some cases, they are just using known drugs in a different way. For example, in the trial I'm in now, there's a drug known to be very effective for keeping certain kinds of breast cancer from returning in post-menopausal women. I was pre-menopausal when dx with cancer, but chemo threw me into menopause, which is not uncommon. The trial is to see if this drug is effective in this situation. Many oncologists had been prescribing it this way anyway, but the trial will gather solid data to see if it really works in this situation.

The first trial I was in involved adding an additional known drug to a standard chemo protocol to see if it is more effective than the standard treatment alone.

In other cases, the patients get completely new drugs or therapies.


I have been monitored more closely on both trials, which in my situation is something I like very much. Also, the patient is often given the treatment for free in a trial.

I agree, your mom should talk this over thoroughly with doctors.

[ACsMom]

I had a rare type of lymphoma and personally I did a clinical trial PLUS "alternative" stuff, which was really diet. My clinical trial was at the NCI in Bethesda, MD and the difference was in the combination of drugs used, the amount, and the method of delivery (slow infusion over 7 days in order to attack the cancer cells at each point in their life cycle).

As far as diet, any "white" carbs will be processed as sugar in the brain - white bread and pasta, alcohol, any type of sugar. There are a number of books and cookbooks out there for cancer help. I did a lot of raw, organic, vegan food. Have to say I felt fantastic even while going through chemo and never had any type of infection or anything during the entire six months. Many other patients I knew while going through treatment did this or did a macrobiotic diet. You mentioned spirituality - I think that faith and positive attitude are essential to the healing process. Laughter, too. I will keep your grandmother in my prayers!

[Arduinna]

Originally Posted by EFmom

I agree with the pp. I'm a cancer survivor and looked into alternative treatments and found them to be without any scientific, reproducible evidence.

I wish your family well. It's a tough call.

Me too.

I had a 30% chance of survival and now it's been over 10 years and I'm officially cured. Chemo is not the end of the world. Assuming your grandmother is in otherwise decent health I would give it serious consideration.

BTW, I was vegan and had been for a few years when I was dx with stage 3 cancer. Diet is not a cure all.

[nycmom18]

everyone, THANK YOU! your comments and healing stories are so wonderful to hear. i think this decision has been so difficult for my gma because she is told a generalized time left for her and then thats what she believes.