HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - What about non-orthodox "cures"? Have you tried?

Jackie07 · 03-06-2015, 12:05 AM

In response to the question: I would really appreciate any advice on this matter. You see, my sis is now in total denial that anything natural works, because her oncologist told her smth like "if anything natural really worked, all the people would have been cured and remained cancer free"。

I've experienced exactly the same thing after my brain (tumor) surgery in 1990. It was a huge Central Neurocytoma that had been growing with me for probably 30 years. It was too big, it had to come out! The surgery took 23 hours ... Oldest Brother was the representative from overseas where all my family/relatives live. It so happened that my neurosurgeon is of the same ethnicity as me. Consequently, when my (Gringo) husband brought to his attention that my Oldest Brother was using Chinese herbal ointment to massage my stiff neck and shoulder (due to 10-day semi-comatose), the neurosurgeon's response was simply: "They believe in that sort of stuff."

Fast forward to 2003, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. (Right, it's all my fault - as my family members (Father, Mother, 3 older Brothers and 2 older Sisters) would tell you: "She never eats right, never goes to bed in time, never listens to us ..." Then in 2007, right around the time when I was diagnosed with recurrence, they shielded the news of 2nd Brother's colon cancer from me. He was the healthiest person in my family, thus my most harsh critic. Since I'd had some training in medical librarianship, I did some digging via the Medline Database. 'Brain, breast, Non-Hodgekins Lymphoma (Mother was diagnosed/treated in 1998), and colon cancer' - and I found a cluster called 'Lynch Syndrome'. Ah Ha! It's in our genes. There're some problems there that cause the cells not able to repair itself properly during cell division.

I felt exonerated!

It's natural for family members to be concerned and want to help any way they can. Oldest Brother is also an amateur fortune-teller ...

Fortunately I'd had some training while a volunteer counselor, otherwise, it would have really been tough (if not impossible) to handle all the advice/quarrels while trying to face my own challenges.

Be supportive, and be available. Your sister definitely appreciate your standing by her side. I know I did and still do.

03-06-2015, 12:05 AM	#20
Jackie07 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: "Love never fails." Posts: 5,808	Re: What about non-orthodox "cures"? Have you tried? In response to the question: I would really appreciate any advice on this matter. You see, my sis is now in total denial that anything natural works, because her oncologist told her smth like "if anything natural really worked, all the people would have been cured and remained cancer free"。 I've experienced exactly the same thing after my brain (tumor) surgery in 1990. It was a huge Central Neurocytoma that had been growing with me for probably 30 years. It was too big, it had to come out! The surgery took 23 hours ... Oldest Brother was the representative from overseas where all my family/relatives live. It so happened that my neurosurgeon is of the same ethnicity as me. Consequently, when my (Gringo) husband brought to his attention that my Oldest Brother was using Chinese herbal ointment to massage my stiff neck and shoulder (due to 10-day semi-comatose), the neurosurgeon's response was simply: "They believe in that sort of stuff." Fast forward to 2003, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. (Right, it's all my fault - as my family members (Father, Mother, 3 older Brothers and 2 older Sisters) would tell you: "She never eats right, never goes to bed in time, never listens to us ..." Then in 2007, right around the time when I was diagnosed with recurrence, they shielded the news of 2nd Brother's colon cancer from me. He was the healthiest person in my family, thus my most harsh critic. Since I'd had some training in medical librarianship, I did some digging via the Medline Database. 'Brain, breast, Non-Hodgekins Lymphoma (Mother was diagnosed/treated in 1998), and colon cancer' - and I found a cluster called 'Lynch Syndrome'. Ah Ha! It's in our genes. There're some problems there that cause the cells not able to repair itself properly during cell division. I felt exonerated! It's natural for family members to be concerned and want to help any way they can. Oldest Brother is also an amateur fortune-teller ... Fortunately I'd had some training while a volunteer counselor, otherwise, it would have really been tough (if not impossible) to handle all the advice/quarrels while trying to face my own challenges. Be supportive, and be available. Your sister definitely appreciate your standing by her side. I know I did and still do. __________________ Jackie07 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2 NICU 4.4 LB Erythema Nodosum 85 Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d 3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills CN 3 GKRS 52301 IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET 6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M Diastasis recti Tamoxifen B. scan Irrtbl bowel 1'09 Colonoscopy 313 BRCA1 V1247I hptc hemangioma Vertigo GI - > yogurt hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410 Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk DEXA 1/13 1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer. 3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer. Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2) 10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016 7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence. 7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule. 1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule. "I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe Last edited by Jackie07; 03-06-2015 at 01:52 AM..