Any experiences with "alternative" therapies?

[GaryNR14]

Hi everyone,

I've been doing some research and wanted to know if anyone had been trying any "alternative" or non-prescribed medications/foods to help with their lung cancer treatment?

We've seen several articles about the use of Cannabidiol (CBD oil) or THC and wondered if people had experience with using these or other substances?

Thanks in advance.

Gary

[Bow-19]

I have found reiki gives me more energy. Jane McLelland has written a book How to starve cancer. It is definitely worth a read. She also has a Facebook page. Hope this is useful x

[Tapdancer]

Yes. My mum has just started on a combination of THC/CBD. She has stage 2 NSCLC and has been discharged from the hospital as they say there is nothing more they can do for her. She has no mets and no lymph node involvement. She has a large-ish tumour on her right lung. She's had stereotactic radiotherapy, two types of chemo and immunotherapy. So we find ourselves totally lost and have run out of options, other than THC/CBD, and maybe mebendazole at some point. It's early days for her, she is only two weeks in to the new "treatment". Go for it I'd say!

[JanetteR57]

The book 'anti-cancer - a new way of life' covers balancing all aspects of our lives - including diet, rest, touch (including massages), exercise - in other words a holistic to treating our cancer and whole person. 'Cancer is a word not a sentence' book covers the fact that there is no evidence behind any of the 'alternative' or 'complementary' treatments out there and some can detrimentally impact on conventional treatments but if they make you feel better, then that can be a good thing. The difficulty of the internet is that when you google anything, those who are selling (or sometimes misselling) the items use very persuasive language without scientific evidence in sufficient numbers in controlled conditions to verify. there are clinical trials around the world underway for some 'alternative' substances so maybe they will publish soon but I guess there will always be space for 'wonder treatments, superfoods, and the like'. Personally I prefer the term complementary therapies and have used acupuncture in the past for allergies (it worked for a while then stopped) and know others who have used chiropractice/osteopathy for muscular/skeletal disorders and also have had aromatherapy and deep tissue massages with good effect. Cancer research Uk has a statement on its website about cannabis oil as doctors are asked about it all the time.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hello GaryNR14,

JanetteR57 has put it very well, there can be a place for alternative/complementary therapies working alongside conventional medicine, although as always discuss with the medical team responsible for your care first. Below I have added links to pages on cancer research UK which has information which may interest you.

cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

If you wish to discuss anything you can call us on our nurse led helpline Freephone 0800 358 7200.

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[LCNN]

Hello Gary,

I was diagnosed with stage 3B nsclc last year and went to a naturopath right away. I did 10 rounds of high dose vitamin C IV's before starting chemo and radiation in August, those treatments were completed in October. I then started back on the vitamin C IV's, I did 6 this time around, along with some other supplements that my naturopath had prescribed, which I'm still taking. The supplements that you get from a naturopath are stronger than anything that you'll find at a drug store. In January this year I had a PET scan which showed that the tumours in my lung were gone, I just scar tissue. Follow up CT scan in March confirmed that my lung is clear from all tumours.

I did also use Phoenix tears CBD oil briefly.

I also made adjustments to my diet, no sugar at all, except natural sugars that are in things like fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds...etc. Basically my diet is veggies, fruits, nuts & seeds, whole grains, meat, poultry and eggs.

I hope this helps and good luck.

[GaryNR14 in reply to LCNN]

Hi LCNN,

We're interested in the vitamin C IVs, can you tell us how you had these done? Who did them etc?

Similarly, who is your naturopath please? Are they online or any recommendations?

Thanks!

Gary

[LCNN]

I had the vitamin C IV's administered at the Naturopath office, it's an integrated clinic. If your located in the lower mainland area of BC, I went to Integrated Health Clinic in Fort Langley. The Dr. that I saw was Dr. Lindsay but she left there and went to Port Moody Health. If you're in Vancouver, a very good clinic to go to is Yaletown Naturopathic, see Dr. Adam McCleod, from what I've read about him, he's awesome. All of these clinics are online. I paid $160.00 for each injection, well worth the money spent as far as I'm concerned.

The other supplements that I'm taking is Alpha Lipoic Acid, I think that you can buy this online, it's called Alamax, Grape Seed Extract, Astragalus and Omega 3 oil, in the oil form, I take 1 tablespoon of this daily. I was also taking DCA and Boswellia.

[GaryNR14 in reply to LCNN]

Unfortunately we're in England so we'll have to do some research for the same services over here, if they're even available.... We shall see.

Thanks

[Hidden]

Hi Gary

So far I've only used acupuncture but I may soon engage in some serious alternative treatment I will of course ensure my Oncologist is on board with this They include

Mistletoe therapy

Vit C infusions

Repurposed medicines e.g. Metformin and statins.

I would like to know if anyone has tried these

Addigoo

[LCNN]

Oh ya, I was doing mistletoe as well. I hope that you can find an integrated naturopath there in England.

If you get a chance, try to find the program on the internet called The Truth About Cancer, by Ty Bolinger, it's very informative.

[Denzie]

Be advised that the body will only absorb a certain amount of a vitamin then it just passes through into your urine. Don’t buy more than you need just to urinate it out.

[Gillo22]

Hi Gary

My oncologist suggested trying fermented wheat germ (avemar, you buy it from Hungary) and turmeric to help boost my immune system whilst having Chemo. The wheat germ is expensive so I only used it whilst having Chemo but I have carried on with the turmeric.