Chemotherapy Kills

[liveonearth]

It's yet another example of how many people get railroaded into poor or inappropriate care... usually because that's what their insurance will pay for. "In a study of more than 600 cancer patients who died within 30 days of receiving treatment, chemotherapy probably caused or hastened death in 27 percent of cases". The study found that some 35% of the patients received decent care, 49% got care that "had room for improvement", and the rest were worse. This is yet another reason to seek more opinions should you ever be faced with a cancer diagnosis. The standard of care is dismal. And people don't seem to know that the drugs given in chemotherapy are very toxic, causing an assortment of metabolic issues and dramatically increasing the chance of future cancer. What a great idea, huh? Kill this cancer and start another one, to insure a steady income for the healthcare "providers".

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article5138033.ece
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/02/chemotherapy-can-do-more-harm-than-good.aspx

Comments

[sno-angel1488.livejournal.com]

I think I have to agree with you. I don't know anyone that's ever been "cured" by chemo and radiation. In fact, their quality of life generally plummets. I watched my Mom go through it for almost five years. Her cancer went into remission, but then came back with a vengeance. But she also never sought out additional opinions - she just went with what her doctor told her, and she couldn't be convinced otherwise. Another thing I don't agree with is operating on cancer patients. Maybe it works sometimes, but more often it seems like the cancer explodes once oxygen comes in contact with the tumors. That happened to my uncle.

I really want to read Suzanne Somers' book about how she treated her breast cancer with alternative methods. This new-fangled medical treatment is nothing but smoke and mirrors geared toward making money, not saving lives. I'm glad you're studying the alternatives. :)

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

Some of the alternatives are REALLY EXCITING. The bottom line is that cancer is a disease of unconscious passive suicide; the people who "miraculously" recover are the ones who are able to find meaning for and happiness in life.

[neptunia67.livejournal.com]

I lost two very dear loved ones to cancer treatment. I totally agree with your subject line!

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I thought of you when I found this research...

[marijkab.livejournal.com]

Hey, I think I learn more about health issues and treatments from your blog than I ever have in my EMT manual. Not surprising, I guess, since you are studying to be a doctor!!! Which brings me to mention a point: I can't believe how much you have learned!! It may be hard to track your progress yourself, but from reading your notes, I"ve seen a remarkable amount of learning going on. This post in particular is interesting, my good friend Emily, who married steve and i, has colon cancer, and is on her 6th chemo treatment. Poor girl!! I don't know if I feel like mentioning the fact that chemo is seemingly so detrimental... I think keeping her positive about as much of her recovery as possible is best.
Hope you and Suzanne are doing great.

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about Emily. Did they surgically remove some of her colon? All? Does she have known metastases or no? Chemo and radiation are useful only in the case of fast-growing cancers---because they kill all cells that are dividing, you don't want to use it on cancers that are growing slowly because you kill yourself faster than you kill the cancer....if that makes any sense. I hope she is getting good info on how to modify her diet and lifestyle, because those make a HUGE difference in the proliferation of cancer in a body. It totally sucks that Emily must go through this.... It's hard, and uncertain.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm working hard to integrate what I learn. There is no end in sight: this is clearly a lifework.

Suz and I are doing well as can be expected. She has not found a job, and with the job market as depressed as it is, I don't know if she will.... but she hasn't given up yet.