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Posted

Hello,

I'm new to this group and am learning how to post. I really appreciated reading Z_Pacific's postings and printed his last posting out for my dad. My dad was dx with adenocarcinoma lung cancer 12/1/03 and just learned 1/12/04 that it was Stage IV because he has a large tumor (tennis ball size) in his left upper lung and several small areas in his right lung. He is assymtomatic of this awful disease except for a minor cough with mucous that occurs more in the morning. He is eighty years old and in good health and very active for his age. Now he too has to decide whether to try chemo or not. We have a second opinion with another oncologist this week. So far our MD has recommended cisplantin and gemcitabine but also said "if it was him, he would not do the tx" We saw a surgical oncologist who said "if it were him, he'd go for it because then he could say that at least he tried it - and if he didn't like it he could stop" We were told that only 30-35% of the tumors respond to the chemo and we were not sure if the chemo would weaken his body and also decrease his quality of life. I know that statistics can be meaningless and I thank you for all your postings and the hope that they inspire. I know this will have to be his personal decision and that we as a family will support whatever decision he has made. Has anyone heard of Ralph Moss and the reports that he sends to patients for approx $300? Has any one taken Laetrile?How about Dr. Lorraine Day and her raw vegetarian diet? Thank you again for any ideas, suggestions, encouragements, and most of all for sharing your stories and your lives. shirley

Posted

Hi Shirley,

One of the sites I perused for treatment validity was www.quackwatch.com if you read the article at http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRel ... acs71.html

it mentions laetril. I have also read about Dr. Day, but do not have the bookmarks anymore. ( If you type Dr. Lorraine Day into the search at the top of quackwatch.com you will get some articles on her)

Second and third opions are handy. If your Dad is strong and willing to fight, go for it. Everyone responds differently. He may do really well with chemo, and the onc was right, he can always stop treatment , or change if it does not agree with him.

Him wish you and your Dad much luck and sucess in the journey. I will keep you in my prayers

Faylene

Posted

Shirley,

If you read Z_pacific's posts then you know pretty much what I have to say about making this decision.

Just let me add this. There are WAY too much scum out there who try, and too often succeed, in making money off of other people's fear and desperation. And then there are those who charge exorbitant prices for information that can be found free elsewhere.

A great place to start finding REAL information about cancer is the National Cancer Institute at http://www.cancer.gov

Don't just get information ... get GOOD information. It will make all the difference in the world no matter what you're Dad's decision is.

Dean

Posted

Hi Andrea,

Sorry to hear about your father and welcome aboard. Will only speak for myself. Well it really boils down to what your father wishes are. It’s an individual choice that should be respected regardless one makes. They have come a long way in terms of chemo and medications to offset it. I did not lose my hair or appetite, but was fatigued and tired for sure. No two people act alike in there treatments. What does one have to lose? Can always stop. No one knows until one tries. And yes there is no guarantees that chemo will (see my signature) work. Also for statistics, they’re just a ballpark figure like any other statistic. For me I would want to know where I stand. But do not let it effect my decisions. I would question any doctor saying not to try something, unless it would make matters worse for the patience. Research, research and more research everything you can. Stay positive and focused. Stay with us. Nicest people on the planet here for sure. Lots of information and knowledge and caring. Do hope this helps. My prayers are with your father. Peace, take care and God Bless. Rich

[The Power Of People Helping People / The Power Of Knowledge / The Power Of God / The Power Of Believing / The Power Of Positive Thinking / The Power Of Never Taking No For An Answer / The Power Of Laughter / United We Stand, Divided We Fall / That’s The Key]

https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/ncipubs (NCI Publications Locator)

http://www.rfalung.com (Radio Frequency Ablation Of Lung Cancer)

http://www.lungcancercoalition.org (Global Lung Cancer Coalition)

http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 008,00.asp (PLWC Feature: Financial Support Resources)

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/healt ... hqcanc.htm (Best Hospitals)

https://www.alcase.org/advocacy/sign_the_petition.html (Advocacy /Sign the Petition)

http://www.cancersymptoms.org (Oncology Nursing Society)

http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 08,00.html (Questions to Ask the Doctor)

http://www.alcase.org/education/publica ... reath.html (With Every Breath A Lung Cancer Guidebook / From ALCASE / A Wealth Of Information / Free)

http://www.cancersurvivaltoolbox.org (The Cancer Survival Toolbox / Free / From NCCS)

http://www.centerwatch.com (Clinical Trails Listing Service / Center Watch)

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&editi ... ung+cancer (Lung Cancer In The News)

http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/pro ... /guide.asp (The Wellness Community / National Cancer Support, Education And Support / Free)

http://www.drugs.com (Drug Information Online)

http://www.alcase.org (ALCASE / Alliance For Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, Education)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov (Unites States / National Library Of Medicine)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html (Health Information / Medical Encyclopedia)

http://www.google.com (Great Search Engine)

http://blochcancer.org (R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, Inc. / Please read: A Letter to all newly diagnosed cancer patients)

http://www.cancer.org (American Cancer Society)

http://www.cancer.gov (Cancer Information Service / NCI)

http://www.cancerresearchcenter.org (Cancer Research Center)

http://www.aicr.org (American Institute for Cancer Research; Nutrition Hotline / AICR)

http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org (Cancer Hope Network)

http://www.acor.org (Association of Cancer Online Resources / Free Online Lifeline For Everyone Affected By Cancer & Related Disorders)

http://www.meds.com/lung/lunginfo.html (Lung Cancer Information Library)

http://www.lungusa.org (American Lung Association)

http://www.ama-assn.org (American Medical Association)

http://www.docguide.com/news/content.ns ... g%20Cancer (Doctor’s Guide / Lung Cancer)

http://www.healthfinder.gov/Scripts/Sea ... ?topic=506 (Healthfinder)

http://www.medicinenet.com/Lung_Cancer/article.htm (Medicine Net)

http://www.cancerindex.org/clinks2l.htm (Cancer Index / Lung Cancer Resources Directory)

http://www.nfcr.org/site/PageServer?pag ... ncers_lung (National Foundation For Cancer Research)

http://www.patientadvocate.org (Patient Advocate Foundation)

http://www.lungcanceronline.org/effects ... fects.html (Lung Cancer Online / Hematologic (Blood) Effects)

http://www.cancerlinks.org/lung.html (Lung Cancer Links)

http://www.cancer-free.com (Cancer Free Connections)

http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/C ... ung_cancer (Health Insite)

http://www.lungcancerclaims.com (Lung Cancer / Lung Cancer Information Page)

http://www.cancerlifecenter.com/engine. ... =dictionar (Cancer Life Center/ Cancer Dictionary)

http://www.canceryellowpages.com/Resour ... G%20CANCER (Cancer yellow Pages)

http://icare.org (ICARE / The International Cancer Alliance)

http://www.vh.org/index.html (Virtual Hospital)

http://www.lungcanceronline.org/support/financial.html (Lung Cancer Online / Financial, Legal & Insurance Issues)

http://cancernews.healthology.com/focus ... cancernews (Cancer News)

Posted

Dear Shirley,

Welcome to this board. Boy oh Boy, I was right there were you are just this past Sept. and I can imagine what is in your head right now. You hear Stage IV lung cancer and you don't know where to start or what is best for treatment. My mother was only able to have chemo because her cancer was in such a large area. Believe me, as all of those toxic chemicals were pumped into her body it killed me because I live a mostly chemical-free organic life and I kept thinking that maybe a more holistic approach would be better. I had so many questions....my own homeopathic doctor recommended Dr. Ralph Moss's report. I never did order the report because my mother went downhill so fast. I think at my mother's stage I wanted treatments that I knew had some research backing them and were proven to work for people. I think definitely if a person is well that an ounce of prevention is worth...blah blah blah.. as the saying goes.. however, when you are really sick with cancer and time is definitely of the essence, then you need something that is quick to work. Many homeopathics take time which many people don't have.

I know the information can be overwhelming, but I did first read "fighting cancer" by Richard Bloch and went on Cancer.gov and got information and just kept searching and searching while writing EVERYTHING down and asking the Dr. EVERYTHING. With my mother, even though she was really sick, she was only 60 years old and wanted to fight with everything she had. Even though the chemos made her extremely weak she still wanted to go through it anyway to try to get better.

Please ignore stats and while your dad has a breath in his body you must believe there is hope, because there really is.

Best to you,

Kim

Posted

Peg,

I think they are referring to a personalized Moss report that is constructed for you based on your clinical data (path, stage, age, history...etc) I have heard they are about $200.

I have a very good friend who's Dad (age 70) has just been diagnosed with SCLC and has mets to the bone. He has decided to go with a natural approach combined with "Cantrol/ Cancell" (similar to the alternative supplement you are referring to) .. I respect his decision. Its a very personal thing, aand I belive there are no "wrong " decisions.... Its based on your own sitaution and beliefs.

I do believe that conventional treatments can sometimes do more harm than good! They are not for everyone, and the success rate versus a natural approach can be hotly debated. A "restrained" approach to chemo & radiation COMBINED with a great diet and other complimentary therapies is often the most effective way to go.

Joe

Posted

Hi

My mum has just completed her second cycle of chemo, and we are currently waiting on the results of a scan to determine whether there has been any effect on the tumours (don't you just hate waiting on results??!!).

My parents are both doctors and have spent alot of time, particularly since this diagnosis, researching alternative and complimentary medicine. They have been quite impressed by the information they have found on laetrile, and are planning to use some down the track if mum's condition is not responding to orthodox medical treatment.

Will keep you posted.

All the best.

Karen

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