Natural therapies for cancer treatment?

[Julianne]

My MIL was diagnosed with leukemia a few years ago, and now has reached a level where chemotherapy has been advised by her doctor. She is very reluctant however and has opted to seek homeopathic treatment instead before resorting to conventional treatment. Anyone have any thoughts? I don't really know what to think.

[Purly]

What sad news.

Sorry I don't know anything about alternative options but wanted to send my love

[lcorteen]

So sorry to hear about that.

It seems so strange to me that the treatment for a highly stressed body is to totally stress it with Chemo... but I ahve not been in the situation of having that decision to make

I eat mostly a raw vegan diet. There is LOADS of stuff on the internet about a raw vegan diet being used to cure cancer. I will post some when I find them.

xx

[carmo]

My MIL had cancer, and she had to have chemo straight away as it was quite advanced. She also saw a naturopath, not sure what they advised, but it might be worth her going to see one of these. My Mil has had cancer for about 3 years now, and although she was quite sick at first, she is doing a lot better now, she has a low dose of chemo every 3 weeks and other than that you wouldn't really know she is sick. The cancer isn't spreading anymore, it isn't gone, but it's not getting any worse.

I can understand your MIL not wanting chemo, it certainly isn't fun. Ultimately it's her decision, I hope she finds the solution she is looking for :-)

[Nyree]

If she does have chemo, a Naturopath will be able to prescribe stuff to lessen the side effects, so it might be a good compromise.

[tigersmum]

It is her call of course, but from experience I would be encouraging her to go with chemo (especially if it is only being prescribed now after she has been diagnosed for several years) and use alternative approaches as a complementary therapy. Wishing her and your family love.

[lcorteen]

Hi Julianne. I have just reread my post and realised how insensitive it was. Please accept my apologies (and to anyone I offended) xx

OK, have some links if you're interested:

For a brief overview of raw food and why it's good - Raw Food - Purely Raw, Cooking Changes Food
'Prior to 1930, It was believed that whenever we ate, there was an immune system response as if we were poisoned. An immediate rise in white blood cells, by about 300%. White blood cells are our body's soldiers, they are produced to fight off threats, like poison, trauma or disease. This reaction to eating was called Digestive Leukocytosis and thought to be normal.
In 1930, Dr Paul Kouchakoff conducted research to compare the effects of cooked food versus raw food. He discovered that Digestive Leukocytosis occurred only when cooked or processed food was eaten. He found that there is no immune system response when we eat our food in it's natural, unheated, unprocessed state'

Some links of alternative cancer treatments which include high raw food diet:
http://www.sproutman.com/pdf/WHY_RAW_FOOD.pdf
Healing Cancer Naturally With Food, Diet and Nutrition
The Gerson Institute - Alternative Cancer Treatment
The Gerson Institute is a non-profit organization located in San Diego, California, dedicated to the alternative, non-toxic treatment of disease, using the Gerson Therapy.

My sister-in-law's Mum has had cancer for many many years, including bone cancer for nearly 11! She has not had Chemo yet. She makes us laugh by saying 'I just don't think my body is strong enough for Chemo yet... maybe when I'm a bit better'. She had good success with a place here in Perth called 'Balya' run by a GP, Dr Ivy. She went into complete remission everytime she strictly followed Ivy's recommended diet (mostly raw and lots of vegie juice). unfortunately she has a lot of pain in her back now due to the cancer and is on pain meds, which alter her taste buds and appetite such that she just wants to each chocolate, and after so many years fighting, who can blame her. The link to Balya is here:
BALYA Cancer Self Help & Wellness Inc

Wishing you strengh and sending you love xx

[Julianne]

I didn't think your post was insensitive Louise, it's all good, and thanks for the info, it makes a lot of sense to me, and I will be sure to look into it and pass it on. My MIL is a nurse and has a bit of a clue and is really into alternative medicine and stuff, and her GP, who is also a homeopath I gather, is encouraging she see another particular homeopath who specialises in cancer treatment. I guess all we can do is support her, there would be no changing her mind if we wanted to anyway. Besides, choosing this path is consistent with her belief system and I respect that. At least we're going to be 1000kms closer to her soon. Thanks for the replies everyone.

[hanabi]

There is absolutely no evidence that homeopathic treatment has any impact on cancer. I would also be urging her to have conventional chemo treatment and using alternative therapies for immune support.

There is growing evidence that raw, untreated breastmilk from healthy mothers is a super-food for children suffering from leukemia. Are you lactating Julianne? I know this seems radical but I read yet another story about breastmilk causing a cancer sufferer to go into remission just the other day. Can't find that specific reference but here are some others:

Promising Anti-Cancer Powers of Breast Milk : Breastfeeding 1-2-3 - Breastfeeding Information, News and Support
Breast milk used to treat cancer patients | WFAA.com | Local News: TV
Breast Milk As Cancer Treatment? - cbs5.com

[Julianne]

Gee that's not very reassuring about homeopathy not being very helpful. Thing is, my MIL is very headstrong and I don't know if we would have any influence on her decision, even if I were well informed.

Regarding the breast milk, I can certainly appreciate the hypothesis, but I reckon there would be no way ever that my MIL would consider anything like that, or even listen for that matter. She bottle fed her own children and I remember her trying to tell me when I had my first child that breast milk was toxic (even though I was pretty careful about what I ate during pregnancy and BF) and that formula is better for babies..