Placing My Bets Early

[Tom]

I have had to listen to many friends pooh pooh any attempt I have made to help fight my Mom's HER2 B/C with anything that wasn't ordered by a doctor, or made in a lab. That position is simply naive in my opinion. I have tried to find confirmation of any information related to treatments, particularly those with foods or supplements, by at least three other sources before deciding to implement them here at home, or relate them to you here on this site.

I have in the past, posted several research articles with regards to things such as green tea, and continue to believe that the answer to many cancers (my family has had them all) will be found naturally existing right here on terra firma. I have always been amazed at how dismissive many doctors tend to be when the patient inquires about foods or suipplements, when most of today's drugs are made, at least initially, from plants and plant compounds.

Anyway, here is yet another article on the research regarding pomegranate extracts and their effects on cancers. It seems that many of these plants and plant compounds stimulate apoptosis, or programmed cell death, for the malignant cells. The body apparently needs a little help sometimes when deciding to do the right thing by destroying it's cellular mistakes. I intend to give it that help in any way that shows promise and has not been shown to be harmful, even if the medical community hasn't been convinced. The doctors are often the last ones to come on board, so I'll give them a chance to catch up.

Here is a link to yet another study showing the efficacy of pomegranate polyphenols in helping the body fight cancer. Breast cancer is not specifically looked at, but will be in the near future. I am placing my bet that what's good for the inhibition of prostate cancer will also be beneficial for breast and other cancers, as the mechanism of action described in the article is not solely related to the hormonal components of the mailgnancy, but induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. I hope all of you are doing well. Mom will have PET and other follow-up studies soon, and I will let you know if we have made any progress. God Bless you all for participating in this important website for those of us who continue to battle the beast every day.

Take Care,
Tom

http://www.oncolink.com/resources/article.cfm?c=3&s=8&ss=23&Year=2005&Month=09&id=12339

[Esther]

Thanks Tom! I always appreciate new information to look at.

[tammymarie1971]

Hi Tom,
I firmly believe in being your own advocate or your loved ones. I found this site a while back, and I really do think it is helpful. Ralph Moss has an interesting story for doing what he does too!!! http://www.cancerdecisions.com/index.html (http://www.cancerdecisions.com/index.html)

I think this site is well worth it for others to investigate alternative treatments for cancer.

Tom, you Mom is lucky to have you!!

Tammy

[mamacze]

Tom,

I agree, I believe that diet likely plays a much bigger role in killing the "beast" than today's science is collectively willing or able to admit. This web site is great; I am particularly happy to read it...I am drinking so much green tea that my pee is turning light green...pomegranite juice will be a nice change...seriously, the more food based articles you share the better; I am so grateful that you actually take the time to help not only your lucky mama but the rest of us ladies as well; you are a gem!
Love Kim from CT

[al from Canada]

Thanks Tom,

Please keep-up the research as the more we have, the more complete the treatment picture becomes. We have all the members of our group reading these articles and sooner-or-later, one of us is going to see a pattern and...BINGO. You see, our motivation to succeed is much higher than the researchers...for obvious reasons.

How about this for a real distorted thought: what if ALL the researchers had stage 4 cancer?? You can draw your own conclusions on that one.

Also, thank you Kim for sharing that bit of urinary trivia.

Al

[lu ann]

Have you or any one else ever heard of essiac tea? It was developed by Rene Caisse back in the 1920's as an herbal remedy for many ailments. The formula is made up of 4 herbs (burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm bark, and turkey rhubarb) that are blood purifying, liver cleansing, and soothing to irritations and inflamations. You can go on line at http://www.herbalhealer.com to get more info. I received a membership (20.00 value) along with a catalog and current newsletter.

I also get allot of pooh pooh from well meaning family and friends about alternative treatments. They just don't understand how hard it is to have your body under such exteme assault in order to stay alive. Take care and keep up the great work you are doing for your mom and all of us.

Blessings, Lu Ann.

[Rhonda4]

Tom,

Your mom is SO blessed to have you for a son. I follow the Diane Dyer Breast Cancer Diet. I couldn't help but believe that there is some truth to diet especially when she saw differences in her blood work between her 2nd and 3rd cancer and her 3rd to present. I am dedicated to my 9 phytochemical fruits and vegetables each day (as well as the rest of the diet), but I DO allow myself 1 day a week off (though I still drink my TBS Olive oil for her 2 and drink my shake on that day). I TOO read the ASCO website and do a breast cancer news search daily, but still look forward to any new information presented. Take care and thank you again.

Rhonda Hoffman

http://www.prevention.com/article/0,5778,s1-1-93-43-270-1,00.html?

[saleboat]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/27/health/27canc.html

Anyone see this today?