There are good things and bad things about almost everything related to cancer. This is true in the tools we use for 'early' detection too. It is estimated that by the time we find a tumor in the breast, it has been there for at least 6 years. (6-10 years is the usual). In the colon, which is easily viewed, various stages of carcinogenesis have been identified. There are pre-malignancies that gradually become more cancer-like over time. So 'early detection' is relative. With colon cancer, it is speculated that foods and dietary supplements can intercept the cells on their jouney toward the cancer state. From our perspective (as educated patients), this is probably true for breast and other cancers as well. We believe what we EAT matters. (see section on this page dealing w/food and dietary supplements). We are gathering various articles, studies, etc. that are about issues of importance to breast cancer patients and advocates. Some may translate to other cancers's issues. Aliss T. has this to say about the way statistics (re radiation after lumpectomy) are quoted to those of us interested in complementary/alternative, natural therapies: "I think it's a meaningless, blanket statistic. Lumping in women with large tumors, different kinds of cancer, multiple tumors, very aggressive tumors, women whose tumors have poor margins (much more likely to recur) and missed tumors. When you look at the statistics for small single tumors, lots of receptors, good margins, DCIS versus invasive or lobular vs. tubular etc., whole foods high-antioxidant diet vs. smoking, Twinkie eaters, the picture is dramatically different. Personally I think the docs throw those stats at us to SCARE us into complying with the only treatments they have to offer. (omigod, you mean I have an almost one in two chance of having cancer again??? Doc ya gotta save me!) If you carefully draw up your own profile and add up all the anticancer things you are doing to help yourself prevent a recurrence, you may find that your own risk of local recurrence is actually LOWER than the 1 in 8 risk of the average women getting cancer at all". On the other hand, you may just want to cultivate an optimistic outlook and LIVE despite the statistics that say you should have a local recurrence by now just because x number of women do". Cognitive Dysfunction (Chemo brain), and other unwanted effects from chemo, see Relevant Studies-Conventional Therapy See Breast Cancer Issues main page for sections on Hormones, Family/Hereditary Ca and more. |
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