Wouldn't it be great.....: Wouldn't it... - SHARE Metastatic ...

SHARE Metastatic Breast Cancer

6,809 members8,426 posts

Wouldn't it be great.....

16 Replies

Wouldn't it be great if a huge grant was awarded to one of the breast cancer research facilities for independent clinical studies on the effectiveness of alternative therapies?

So many of us take or add alternative medicine to our pharmaceutical regiment of therapies or even without pharmaceuticals. How hard can it be to study and follow those for a few years. How hard can it be to develop statistics? I don't think I'm naive!!

Any thoughts?

16 Replies

I agree with you. I don't think you are being naive at all. In fact, when you consider cases of radical remission, many of the survivors used alternative therapy to treat, and ultimately beat, their cancer. But you don't hear much about them, as many of the cases have not been studied in detail. I am planning to do all I can to benefit myself, and hopefully get to that point too. Or if not, to at least add decades, rather than just a few short years, to my life. x

in reply to

Thanks for your reply SophSP! I have been thinking about this so much lately. Why can't they start when we have our blood tested every three weeks anyway! Great indication to see which alternative therapy effects our immune system the most!!

I wish I was a grant writer and could formulate this adequately!! It seems so simple to start the process of documenting the effects of alternative medicine on our immune system, with or without pharmaceuticals!

in reply to

You're welcome, SpiffyCJ! I would like to see more done too! I get the impression that some oncologists view alternative therapy and medicine as ineffective and so they discount it. My oncologist seems to feel that way. She has never told me not to have a massage or anything like that, but my complementary therapist is not her biggest fan. I get blood tests every 3 months, rather than every 3 weeks. I have printout of my latest blood test results and it all looked good, apart from my RBC, which was a little elevated. So I am wondering if that is all down to the treatment working, or if I may have done something to contribute to those results. But I have no way of knowing really. x

Barbteeth profile image
Barbteeth in reply to

Hi Sophie

I go through phases of taking different things..Berberis aspirin and Claritin glucosamine curcumin etc etc

I had a bit of a panic after my tumour markers went up last month so I’m just taking curcumin in golden paste as I’m panicking that I may be interfering with something..whole things confusing..we need guidance

I’ve just ordered a green powder from amazon..that should be ok

My husband bought me a pomegranate the other day..didn’t eat it though I adore them but I do know not to eat those☹️

Barb xx

in reply toBarbteeth

Hi Barb,

I know what you mean. You read one thing that says "eat this" and then something else contradicts it. I was eating flaxseeds before my diagnosis, then I read somewhere that they can fuel the growth of my tumour, so I stopped eating them. Then when I saw a naturopath last week she recommended eating them again!

I sometimes panic if I feel a pain anywhere in my body. I think to myself "is it spreading?" But it could be anything!

Enjoy your green powder. I have ordered a vegan alternative to cod liver oil and I plan to order some Juice+ tablets too, but I am waiting to hear back from my oncology nurses before I take any of these.

Take care,

Sophie x

Barbteeth profile image
Barbteeth in reply to

I took juice plus for a while..I checked they don’t contain grapefruit or pomegranate and they’re ok

Barb xx

in reply toBarbteeth

Thanks for checking, Barb. I got a call back from one of my oncology nurses this afternoon and she said that I don't need to take the vegan cod liver oil supplements. But she said the Juice+ will be OK. I wish I had called before ordering! But that's alright, as my husband can take them when they arrive.

Sophie x

blms profile image
blms in reply to

Asking your oncologist or the onvo nurses these questions is a losing battle. Basically they know nothing about nutrition and less about naturopathic alternative it complimentary assists.

in reply toblms

I felt confident with my oncology nurse's response because she said I eat a healthy diet, and my blood tests are good (she knows me). I am thinking of having a blood test to check my vitamin D though, as that isn't routinely checked. Then I can decide for sure about the supplements, as there is some vitamin D in tgem, which I already take as Adcal D3.

blms profile image
blms in reply to

I have my d levels checked quarterly. Normal ranges from 30s to 80’s. I like to keep mine between 50 and 60’s. Which I accomplish by taking a 4,000 tab daily

Lemur2015 profile image
Lemur2015 in reply toBarbteeth

Hi Barb, Why can't you have pomegranate?

Barbteeth profile image
Barbteeth in reply toLemur2015

Apparently it has the same effect as grapefruit if you take Ibrance..it can increase side effects

Barb xx

Lemur2015 profile image
Lemur2015 in reply toBarbteeth

Thanks Barb. I didn't know. The company that supplies my Ibrance told be grapefruit. No one said anything about pomegranate which has so many health benefits. I haven't noticed any side affects but I just starting having maybe one a week. I will question this on my next doc visit. Thanks again!!

Barbteeth profile image
Barbteeth in reply toLemur2015

Also Seville oranges!!.. however they’re the ones used to make marmalade rather than the ones we usually eat..I suspect those and the pomegranate must only have a slight effect otherwise they would be mentioned in the Ibrance leaflet

Tbh I’ve forgotten where I got this info from but I think it was on here

Barb xx

blms profile image
blms

Yep but thstvus not going to happen as the pharmaceutical companies can’t make as money on these things

in reply toblms

Absolutely! That's why a grant should be awarded for independent studies and peer reviews written. Not involving the pharmaceutical industry! Alternative medicine is not regulated by the FDA, so it has to be an independent study.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Interesting read.

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/complementary-alternative-

Article in The Times

Just read this article referring to cancer patients using alternative therapies Nothing startlingly...
Barbteeth profile image

Who is Care Oncology & How Does it Help?

I thought this information would be helpful (pulled it from another site) for all of you who have...

Alternative dosing for IBrance , 5 days on/ 2 days off

Hello ladies! I’ve been following data trials for alternative dosing for IBrance in the effort to...
Dragonfly2 profile image

Petscan results not great.

I received my petscan on patient portal. Have not seen oncologist about it but we do get used to...

Moderation team

See all
Jslanovich profile image
JslanovichAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.