Part of me feels dumb and slightly insane for publicly admitting that I think a doctor is wrong, someone who trained for an entire decade, has experience in the field, and says he has patients’ best interests at heart, and that somehow I magically know more than him – me, a random parent with an English degree and an Internet connection.
Am I a fool? Am I a crazy conspiracy theorist because I’ve developed an inherent mistrust of anyone in the mainstream medical community?
But then I hear that other doctors in the same field give their patients 100% opposite advice.
I read valid research studies and articles that completely conflict each other every few years.
I engage in other people’s stories, people who eschewed modern medicine and got better, when the mainstream was just making them sicker.
I am told of and also have experienced situations in which the mainstream doc misses a diagnosis, sometimes over and over again, when the mom with the Internet or the naturopath figures it out with perfect accuracy (and finds the right healing protocol).
But then…so then…you know?
I never expected myself to become a super medical skeptic, but at this point, I can’t help it.
When my dad was diagnosed with cancer this winter, I immediately heard from many sides, “Sugar feeds cancer,” and felt that my dad should cut all sweets and refined white flour immediately. I couldn’t go overboard (too far) or push too hard, however, or I’d just cause problems.
My parents weren’t about to go non-mainstream: Gerson therapy, eating cottage cheese and flax every day, or living in a grass hut in the backyard to have zero synthetics touching my dad were all way too off-center for them. They were 100% committed to going the traditional medical route and trusting the doctors, so I had to respect them and give ideas to work within that structure.
When I asked my mom if I could research and share ideas, she wanted to make sure that nothing we might attempt would interfere with the effects of the chemotherapy or potentially make things worse in any way for dad. Clearly, it was going to be tough enough without any complications. The list of potential side effects from chemo is lengthy and a bit terrifying.
Wondering if cancer could affect you or your family? I was pleasantly surprised with my results to this super quick quiz after my dad’s successful battle with bladder cancer!
I Chat with the Oncologist
I wanted to do anything we could for my dad to naturally fight the cancer straight on, weather the chemo side effects more easily, AND build his immune system in general to support both the other goals at the same time (I hoped).
I gathered plenty of ideas and called his oncologist, whom my dad really appreciated and quickly trusted, with my bulleted list of questions.
Before I said very much of anything specific, the doctor began with what I’m sure he tells all concerned relatives (read: slightly frantic and terrified children) of cancer patients. I’ll paraphrase from my notes:
“There’s plenty of information on the Internet about healing cancer, and it gives people a lot of hope, but there’s nothing proven that works. What is backed by data is a balanced diet, no extremes: Any fad diets, low sugar, low carb, high protein – they don’t work.”
We’re all Plenty Healthy Because of Our Western Diet
I didn’t write it down, but he basically said that food will have zero impact on cancer or chemo.
And he started losing my trust, just slightly.
I didn’t ask about vitamins in particular, but I’m sure he’s heard the question a lot lately after media attention to some recent studies on a daily multivitamin, so he said:
A multivitamin a day doesn’t hurt. Even in that recent study, which was massive, double blind, etc. (from the UK), a multivitamin was not found to have any positive impact on cancer survial. It doesn’t hurt, but it doesn’t help.
In western diets, we get enough of even Vitamin D (use the coupon KS10 for 10% off!) to be healthy.
In Michigan?? Really, doc? I’ve read a lot to the contrary, and my husband’s own test results for D, in spite of eating the food his loving (read: crazy, real foodie) wife prepares for him, were abysmal, and his medical doc recommended supplementation.
I know, I know…the Internet isn’t always right, and a data set of n=1 should be completely ignored by science. But I’m not science. Just because you have letters after your name and ten years of schooling, I’m not going to believe you that the deep, dark winters of the northern climate provide enough sunshine for adequate vitamin D, and there simply aren’t enough foods that provide it.
Doc’s credibility takes another hit in my mind.
After I found out my dad had cancer, I did a lot of research to help him fight cancer with food. I collated all the information I found, the research-based and the slightly off-the-wall, into a few lists of foods to eat often, sometimes, hardly ever and hopefully never.
I printed out a list for my parents, and I’ve created a PDF for you to print, too.
Caffeine and Sugar: Cancer Evils or Benign?
I thought caffeine wasn’t recommended for cancer patients, but I already knew that the oncologist had told my father that one cup of coffee a day would be fine.
Dad was finding it tough to keep to the “one cup” already, and I get the idea of not giving people such massive goals that they feel they can’t achieve them and them give up completely.
But. Baby steps are what I advocate when people are making healthy changes, moving toward real food from a Standard American diet, NOT when they’re already incredibly sick and should have immediate and intensive intervention. If someone was diagnosed as a celiac, no one in their right mind would say, “Well, eat a little less wheat this week than last, make little improvements, and eventually work your way to where you’re only eating wheat on special occasions.”
Just like every milligram of gluten seriously harms a Celiac’s body, I figured that anything that’s probably bad for cancer should be cut – this was the midst of a crisis situation, not a slow uphill climb to general improvement.
With the possibility of caffeine being negative for cancer and the reality that the chemo was going to be incredibly toxic to the liver and kidneys, my dad doesn’t need even one cup of a diuretic, in my non-medical common sense opinion. It’s hard enough to get him to drink the amount of water the doctor recommended, one of the very few “doctor’s orders” he bothered to issue.
I also already knew that the oncologist had told my father, “If you want a teaspoon of sugar in your coffee, have the sugar. It won’t hurt you.”
I’d read from so many sources that sugar contributes to cancer and also feeds existing cancers. One concerned reader, a former cancer patient herself, wrote me a personal email after I shared my dad’s diagnosis on Facebook. She advocated zero sugar of any kind and was emphatic in how much it had helped her achieve survivor status.
I asked the doc specifically about the sugar idea and how it does or does not “feed cancer.” His response was definitive:
“Cancer is like a blood-sucking parasite. It doesn’t care what it consumes and has no preferences one way or the other. Even if the patient is starving, the cancer will keep going.
If we could starve cancer by starving the patient, believe me, that would become the protocol – but it doesn’t work.”
It still seems to me that since cutting sugar definitely doesn’t hurt, and it should improve immune function…PLUS I just can’t quite buy the fact that it doesn’t feed cancer in any way…I still advocate for my dad to cut the sweets and refined carbs, as you read in this post about food recommendations for fighting cancer. “Sugar feeds cancer” is one of the points that another oncologist stated completely oppositely, so I’m going with my gut (and, yes, the Internet. All of the information out there can’t be wrong!).
Probiotics, Exercise, pH Malarkey and the Final Answer on Food and Cancer
Now that I’d heard the standard “freaked-out-relative-who-did-research-on-the-Internet” response, it was time to tick through my list of questions:
- Probiotics? Nothing wrong with a probiotic, but it probably won’t help the cancer. Antibiotics are not inevitable, only if there is an infection. (I had been erroneously under the impression that antibiotics were standard protocol either during the chemo, as part of the bladder removal surgery, or both. Dad had had antibiotics already with the exploratory/scraping out surgeries, so I may have made an assumption based on that.)So YES we are trying to get regular probiotics into my dad. His immune system needs all the help it can get, especially after just having some antibiotics, and surely the chemo drugs, although not antibiotic, can’t be good for the bacterial balance in the body and definitely are rough on the white blood cell count. If it wasn’t going to hurt, we were jumping on that train!
- Exercise? Doc’s recommendation for exercise is to “keep physically active, moderate activity, keep muscles and bones in good shape. Listen to your body…if you feel too tired to do something, listen and rest. But trying to walk and do gentle activity is a good thing.”
- pH balancing foods? Clearly doc had heard this one before and was ready. (Some wisdom says that cancer literally cannot grow in a body that is slightly alkaline and that most who eat an American diet, rich in acid-forming foods, have a slightly acidic pH.) Doc’s reply: “The stomach pH is 2, one of most acidic places in the body. The blood pH is 7.4, so slightly alkaline. Anytime I put an alkaline tablet or supposedly alkaline beverage in my mouth, it’s neutralized immediately in stomach.It’s impossible to adjust the pH of the blood; in sick people we try to keep a very normal pH. The proper pH makes enzymes work. It’s just not advisable to attempt to adjust the pH in blood.
- Certain healthy foods, fruits and vegetables? Since what I had read about pH was all based solely on the foods people eat, my real question was, “Are there any foods he can’t eat?” I also had a whole foods supplement in mind, one made entirely from actual food, and I asked him about that as well. The final answer made me happy: “There’s nothing wrong with new foods. Anything that is an actual food, he can consume in any normal amount.”
To me, that was carte blanche permission to do pretty much everything I wanted with nutrition, so I felt comfortable making these recommendations for a cancer diet to my parents, whether they were able to follow them or not.
Can Anything Help Detox from Cancer?
Something tells me the doctor didn’t even like my use of the word “detox,” probably connoting off-mainstream, woo woo (technical term) remedies that he doesn’t put an ounce of faith in.
- Essential oils: I had read a lot about Frankincense literally killing cancer cells, and the test was done on bladder cancer cells in particular. (More on those sources in the last cancer week post.) Doc said there’s “nothing wrong with essential oils aromatically or topically,” but he didn’t want my dad to ingest anything that wasn’t food. “The only time I get concerned is if he’s ingesting something. Anything on the skin is fine, very little is absorbed if at all through the skin.” Now truly folks – how many times have you read about how much is absorbed through our skin!?
- Detox baths with Redmond clay and/or Epsom salts: detox baths are fine. Doc said something like, “Of course a bath makes anyone feel good, but it’s not going to detoxify anything.” Thanks again, doc. As long as I have to go-ahead, I’m happy!
- Saunas are fine.
- Tea is fine if you read ingredients…he didn’t recommend any tea from China right now.
On detoxification in general and easing chemo symptoms, doc said that “nothing will draw out the chemo, because the drugs go directly into an IV.”
That’s good enough for me!
Again, with some of the inconsistent (wrong) information he told me, I wasn’t dissuaded by the fact that nothing was supposed to work.
And you know what? Dad has had hardly any side effects at all. He’s 75 years old and has continued working full-time, 6 days a week.
Other posts in the cancer series:
- Monday Mission: Fight Cancer with Food
- Cancer: You Are What You Eat
- Does Sugar Feed Cancer? (and other stuff we don’t understand)
- I was Compelled to Buy Organics for My Cancer-Fighting Arsenal
Katie Kimball, CSME is a trusted educator and author of 8 real food cookbooks. She is passionate about researching natural remedies and making healthy cooking easier for busy families. She’s been featured on media outlets like ABC, NBC and First for Women magazine as well as contributing regularly on the FOX Network.
A mom of 4 kids from Michigan, she is a Certified Stress Mastery Educator and member of the American Institute of Stress.
Janet says
I think a diet with high fiber is essential to increasing health. If people would choose to stick to basic foods: whole grains, dry beans and lentils, vegetables, fruits, nuts……we would be a healthier nation. And personally if cancer strikes, I’d go to natural methods. We always keep chaparral on hand and get our own in the desert from this plant, then dry it in a paper bag before storing. It is a huge cancer fighter in my opinion. I watched my Mom die of cancer and two of my sisters. Though nothing is a guarantee, our choice of diet, especially wheat has blessed us in amazing ways……yes I know some people can’t eat wheat, but there are several whole grains to choose from…..but we can and do eat wheat as well as other whole grains, a lot of lentils, a lot of dry beans, a lot of vegetables, also fresh fruit, and nuts. It is my goal to have a grain based meal every day and a bean/vegetable based meal everyday. Simply put, an example would be: cooked whole wheat with real maple syrup and fresh fruit for breakfast. Chili, whole-corn wedges, celery sticks for lunch or dinner. Red lentil tomato soup for other meal. Tastes can be changed if you are willing. Nothing smells so wonderful as wheat cooking in the crock pot!!!
Heather says
Have you heard of Dr. Burzynksi? He is located in Texas. He actually has a an all natural procedure for cancer patients where he takes peptides from healthy individuals and injects them in the cancer patients, allowing the body to help heal itself as the peptides attack the unhealthy cells. Very interesting!! There is a documentary on his work on Netflix. I highly recommend checking it out.
ohAmanda says
Katie: I’m sorry I’m just seeing this about your dad and cancer! My dad had a cancerous tumor explode his colon about 7 years ago. And that may be what led me to a more natural lifestyle. The doctors literally had NO IDEA what they were doing. I don’t trust a doctor now as far as I can throw him. I’m not saying I only trust the internet. But I do trust that God has designed our world to help us and designed our body to heal if we give it the right set-up.
Anyway, thanks for this article and I’m praying for your dad knowing true healing comes from the Lord!
a
Lelia via Facebook says
No you’re not a fool. There are many out there just for the money in it and pharmaceuticals and are not trained in nutrition or herbal use. Or should I say trained to reject any other notion than medicine and surgery.
Carrie says
Thank you so much Katie for sharing! I would have responded the same as you. I cannot believe some drs are so stubborn in refusing to believe that what goes into or on our bodies has no effect on our health. Good for you for fighting and standing up for what you believe. Praying for your family as you face this giant.
Marilyn via Facebook says
Check out the following books: How th conquer cancer by Christie Griniinger, Cancer Free 123 bay Julie Joyce, Beating Cancer with Nutrition by Patrick Quillin, Defeat Cancer 15 doctors of integrative & naurapathic medicine tell you how by Connie Strasheim and the Misner Plan by Beth and Ivan Mismer.
Jill via Facebook says
Oh my goodness, what restraint you have! I am also a huge skeptic of medical professionals because of answers like the ones he gave you. BTW, I’ve been ingesting frankincense oil for over 2 months and have nothing but positive things happening because of it!
Heather says
Interested to read more as you continue to share. My Mom is on her third chemo round today for breast cancer. She is a nurse and pro-mainstream medicine so being told to do chemo was a decision already made for her. I’ve suggested magnesium and probiotics (as she developed an oral yeast infection after first round) and her dr poo-poo’d both saying unless she has issues with constipation, she didn’t need probiotics. I ordered both and had them shipped to her regardless and heard that she and my Dad are both using the magnesium but I don’t know if she decided to take probiotics or not. It makes me sad to see her following this dr’s advice but, like you, I’m not pushy with her. I just suggest things and hope she considers them. We live across the country so I can’t be there in person. However, we are moving back to Michigan this summer so living 4 hours away vs days away will be good. Thanks for sharing your story and I will pray for your Dad.
Rebecca via Facebook says
Oh yes. I took my son to a hearing specialist. She tested him and discovered that he was having trouble hearing in one ear, most likely due to fluid. I got a referral to an ENT. In the intervening week, I used ear candles on his ears twice. The ENT performed the same test as the hearing specialist and found no problem whatsoever. I told the Dr. I had used ear candles. He proceeded to tell me that they do not work that they are just dangerous. He then prescribed a steroid to prevent inflammation – even though I had informed him that we were on an elimination diet due to food sensitivities. I never filled the prescription but eliminated peanut butter. No problems since. What a waste of my time and money. What a waste of his ‘education.’
[email protected] says
Katie, when I specifically asked my oncologist what I could do nutritionally to equip my body and reduce the effects of chemo, his exact words were: “You don’t worry about that. Eat whatever you want, and let me worry about your cancer.” I’ve always been a very traditional girl, medically speaking. I figure they’ve gone to school a lot longer than I have and they deal with sickness, disease, and cures on a daily basis. But his response started the wheels turning, which eventually led us to incorporating some alternative methods into my treatment plan. (We’ve done it by consulting a naturopath and the times I’ve mentioned it to my doctors, they dismiss it much like your dad’s did.)
I am enjoying this series so much as it has been confirming so much of my own journey. I am considering a series on my blog that would detail our journey as well. You have given me much “food for thought” so to speak. 😉 Thanks! ~Nancy
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
I would love to read it, Nancy! 🙂 Katie
Karen says
Great post! The only part I have doubts about is the pH controversy. I’d side with the doc on that one. The body compensates for acidic and alkaline foods, although in extreme cases ingesting an alkaline substance could alter the blood pH, such as with poisonings. Also, if the kidneys are not at full strength, blood pH could be altered, since the kidneys help regulate these compensatory mechanisms. Trying to alter the pH by ingesting large amounts of alkaline foods could be taxing to the kidneys.
Laure says
The body adjusts pH by doing things like pulling Calcium out of the bones and storing waste in fat cells or in joints. There comes a point when the body runs out of buffering substances, and that is why I think that the body will skew just acidic enough to create disease.
Raw produce and other “alkaline foods” that pass through the stomach acid are, I suspect, alkalizing the body via their ability to shore up our mineral reserves/buffering abilities among many other benefits.
Different green foods have the ability to mop up toxic chemicals that help skew us acidic. Raw foods People have had their well-being totally transformed – including having cancers disappear – by simple things like amping up the amount of raw greens and other produce in the diet.
Hope Williams says
http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/07/11/breast-milk-kills-cancer-cells-shrinks-tumors/
Christine via Facebook says
I have heard amazing things about high doses of Vitamin C. (Even intravenously) Check out Chris Beat Cancer’s website. He is a 10+ year survivor of stage 3 colon cancer. He had the surgery but refused chemo/radiation and healed via various natural methods.
Jessie via Facebook says
I want to thank you for sharing your experiences in this journey. You’re an inspiration to us all. Keep up the fight 🙂
BeccaM says
I always remember that God can use ANYTHING to heal someone! Even mainstream doctors (though I usually don’t agree with them 😉 ). Prayer is more important than anything we do or don’t do.
My MIL has done a lot of research on healing cancer through diet (my FIL is a cancer survivor). She found that keeping blood sugar stable, avoiding sugar and too many refined carbs, and eating a lot of proteins and veggies, was important. my FIL also drinks unsweetened pomegranate juice every day. She had spoken to a man who felt that the pomegranate juice helped him heal from cancer, and then she did research which seemed to corroborate what the man told her. Anyway, after over 10 years, my FIL is still cancer-free. Praise the Lord!
Heather via Facebook says
I is hard with parents when it comes to doctors and treatments because you can’t force them to see everything your way, with my mil she would not consider any kind treatment conventional or other wise.
K'Lynn via Facebook says
You are on the right track. If it were me I would at least try to get your dad to a doc that doesn’t have blinders on. I have a friend that had breast cancer & wanted to do “conventional” treatment with chemo. It nearly killed her. She finally decided to see a naturopath, quit the chemo & 4 months later she is cancer free. Diet was the major change she has made plus high dosage vitamins. She says she feels better than she has in years.
Joanne via Facebook says
Stick to your guns Katie! My youngest son is in remission from stage 4 NHL and I recently had extensive surgery for SCC in my ear canal. My son went through THREE years of chemo. He cut out sugar, drank a lot of green smoothies, and loaded up on veggies and fruit. Cancer feeds on sugar, I was told this by MY cancer doc. In fact, I had a PET scan late last year, and the prep for it was no sugar or carbs because the isotope they inject binds itself to the cancer (lights up in the scan) due to cancer eating and growing quickly and feeding on sugar.
All the best to your Dad and to your family. Cancer stinks for sure, but it can be beaten!
A really great book to read is “anti cancer a new way of life” by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD. He’s a doctor, researcher and has been living with brain cancer for 20 years. Excellent read!!
Heather via Facebook says
when my mil was passing away from cancer, I thought that is was very ironic that the hospice she in was fully stocked with Tim Horton’s donut and muffins at all times.
Melissa says
Oncology is such a weird field. My son was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago at age 7. I’ve learned so much along the way, one thing being adult oncology is a completely different animal than pediatric oncology. Different adult oncologists have different protocols for their patients – it all depends on the doctor. On the other hand, peds oncology is standard throughout the country of how they treat each type of cancer so you can go to any hospital in the country and have the exact same treatment. Just food for thought for your family.
Another thing I have learned is that oncologists definitely take no notice of what children eat and don’t think food matters at all. When my son was in his intense therapy, all they cared about was calories and keeping weight on him. He lost 20 lbs from the time he started chemo until he started the maintenance protocol – 20 lbs is a lot when you are only 70 lbs to begin with. Obviously he had no appetite all the time from the medicines and so they just wanted us to get him to eat whatever he would eat. They don’t encourage any healthy eating at all and will give their patients soda, processed junk food, etc when in clinic for appointments if they are hungry. They don’t have any fruits, veggies, cheese, etc. to offer the kids. And then throw prednisone pulses into the mix and we’ll all bets are off for a healthy diet since he craves all things salty and bad for him – ugg! 🙁
Anyway, all this to say that I can see most doctors put no faith in a healthy eating habits or supplements. They just care about their medicines and making sure you’re taking everything you’re supposed to be taking. Don’t get me wrong either as I’m super thankful for all the knowledge that is in the oncology field because my son is thriving on his treatment protocol and I’m so thankful for the medicines that are eradicating his cancer, but I think eating healthy is good for you too (regardless of if you have cancer or not). The “American” diet is full of nasty “foods” (can you call them that?) and our society has just fallen so far away from eating real food. Our diet is far from perfect, but I’m trying and do my best to feed my family healthy & tasty food.
Praying for your family!
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Wow, that just sounds terrifying, Melissa. Thank you so much for sharing your story, and thank you more for the prayers – coming right back at you for remission forever! 🙂 Katie
Gopika says
Has anyone mentioned Nicholas Gonazalez, MD, an alternative cancer doc in NYC? I listen to him when he’s on the Robert Scott Bell radio show (through iTunes). Doc Nick said a few times ago what your dad’s oncologist said: Cancer will eat anything even if you cut out sugar. Also, the whole ph talk depends on one’s metabolism. Diet is a huge factor with Dr. Nick. He tests all of his patients so that he can prescribe the right diet for them. You cannot force ph in a body.
Doc Nick also prescribes coffee enemas, which I doubt your father would be interested in.
Healing is as individual as people. I agree that eating a clean diet as free as possible from pesticides, GMO, heavy metals is beneficial to everyone. Keeping the colon clean is also important because where are all those killed cancer cells going to end up?
Also, cancer tumors are the body’s coping strategy so that the body encapsulates the sick cells until it can find a way to get rid of them. That’s why the detoxing seems to be important.
This all said, we’ve all heard of people who didn’t change their diets, didn’t make any lifestyle changes, kept smoking if they smoked, etc. and not only healed from cancer, but also went onto live long cancer-free lives.
Have you heard of Bulletproof coffee by Dave Asprey? Coffee doesn’t have to be bad either. His Bulletproof coffee is made using coconut oil/MCT oil/Bulletproof high octaine oil, grass-fed butter and, if tolerated/desired, an alcohol sugar such as xylitol. He has directions on how to make it – and a dairy-free ice cream loaded with raw eggs and the oils – at www.bulletproofexecutive.com. People either love it or hate it.
Hears to healing for all of your family.
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
All great stuff, thank you Gopika! 🙂 Katie
Gopika says
You’re welcome Katie.
Forgot to mention that Robert Scott Bell has been getting behind the use of medical cannabis in the form supplements and topical products. CBD is the powerful healing component of cannabis. It is legal in all 50 States. It helps heal cancer as well as a lot of other ailments. The company he is backing is http://hempmedspx.com/. Robert Scott Bell has been given a 20% off coupon code of shw44 , but it can change. I have no ties to this company other than as a listener to the Robert Scott Bell free podcast.
There is a free one-day seminar all about medical cannabis/hemp today at http://www.herbdayonline.com/.
Then there is carnavora, which Ronald Reagan imported to use to heal from his colon cancer.
I’ve not taken either product, nor do I know anyone who has, so I have no personal experience with these supplements.
Thank you for all you share.
Gopika says
I didn’t realize when I replied last that I had “History of Cannabis and the Truth Behind Its Prohibition” open to watch. It’s 1:17:33 long. Lots of mainstream docs and studies cited, including from Harvard, on the benefits of cannabis and why.
http://wakingtimes.com/gallery/2014/04/25/true-history-marijuana/
Julie says
“It’s impossible to adjust the pH of the blood; in sick people we try to keep a very normal pH. The proper pH makes enzymes work. It’s just not advisable to attempt to adjust the pH in blood.”
Obviously this doctor is not a cardiac surgeon. My daughter just had open heart surgery last Monday and has issues with acidosis (an increased acid level in the blood) and they gave her IV doses of sodium bicarb (I think…I had only 1.5 hours of sleep the night before they did this) but after giving her that and another dose of something I don’t remember, her acidosis was corrected and she was only showing some calcium deficiency…a couple of IV doses of calcium and all was within normal limits.
She was also treated, prophylactically, with strong antibiotics and when I picked up her rx’s I grabbed some probiotics as well ;>)
Julie says
I meant to add that I will pray for your dad and your whole family!
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Julie,
Thank you so much for your prayers! Open heart surgery is no small potatoes either – just said a prayer for you and your daughter!
And…that’s very interesting. Docs only know what they’ve been taught, and they can’t know everything…but I wish they knew more!!!
(Keep up on the probiotics for at least 3 mos. btw)
🙂 Katie
Tori says
Hi Katie,
I can’t imagine what you and your family are really going through with all of this, but I do think it’s wonderful that you are challenging the mainstream on your dad’s behalf . I see you’re already getting tons of recommendations through these posts, but I thought I’d drop another. 🙂 My naturopath who is also a very solid believer has a wonderful website with tons of info. She is a former NASA research engineer who turned to naturopathy to find a cure for herself, and has spent her life doing her own research and working with clients and has put so much of her findings on her site. The specific cancer post is here: http://health-parameters.com/posts/cancer-considerations/ if you’re interested.
Special grace and peace to you and all your family.
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Wow, what a history for her Tori! That’s fascinating and I’m very curious to see her info – thank you!! 🙂 Katie
Hope Williams says
In addition to what you are already doing. If myself or my family was diagnosed with cancer I would supplement with breastmilk .
Mariah says
I would encourage you to check out the podcast of a doctor out of California. These are from a call-in radio show she does every Saturday morning. The first discussion on April 5, 2014 talks about how a significant portion of cancer cells absolutely thrive on sugar.
http://www.askdrdawn.com/audioarchives.php#
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Thank you Mariah!!
Brittany says
Katie,
I’m so sorry to hear that your family is dealing with this. Cancer touches so many families and lives, and it makes me so sad. 🙁
I think it’s great that you’re honoring your dad’s choice to go the mainstream route, while helping him cope with it naturally the best you can.
My mom had a friend with breast cancer who took a lot of flak for choosing non-conventional treatments. My mom is 100% a mainstream medicine kind of girl, but completely supported and cared for her friend to the end. She would even stick up for her when people would gossip saying, “We don’t know what we’d do in her situation, so we need to support her anyway.” Your caring for your dad reminds me of her faithfulness toward her friend, even when she disagreed.
I said a prayer for your family!
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Thank you for the prayers, Brittany! Hard to hear about someone opting out of conventional treatment and losing the battle 🙁 but I know they can’t be 100% success stories or everyone would obviously do it – they aren’t all rosy with mainstream either. Next year this will all be a memory (and a random series of blog posts, now)! 😉 Katie
joyce says
Hi Katie, I have also read that about Frankincense– what about putting Frankincense oil on a castor oil pack placed over your dad’s bladder? I have seen castor oil packs recommended for detoxing the area where the cancer is and helping to heal tumors–this is per Dr. Schulze’s ebook ; http://herbdocblog.com/book-view/1/
Hope this link works–it his book THERE ARE NO INCURABLE DISEASES
God Bless! Joyce
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Joyce, I keep wondering about a more direct application! I have a ton of castor oil from my very brief dabble in oil pulling, so we can totally do that. Thank you!!! 🙂 Katie
PS – love the positive spirit!!
joyce says
Hi Katie,
My identical twin sister has been recently diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer, so I’m right there with you;surfing the NET for any/and all info about curing info naturally. I ran across the article where a doc in Europe put Frankincense directly on cancerous tumors and destroyed cancer cells. So, since we can’t do that, I thought castor oil packs with Frankincense might be the next best thing… God Bless, Joyce
Alaina says
I cannot believe the doctor told you that things on the skin are barely absorbed. That is really scary, that anyone would say that as if it were true. Woah. Thanks for the info!
Jessica says
I agree. It only takes 26 seconds from anything applied to the skin to reach the blood stream. Not sure where this doc got his info. :-/
And I totally believe in essential oils. They’ve totally helped me kick the Claritin habit for my allergies.
Amanda says
Please consider minerals. Good food is wonderful but sometimes not enough. I’m speaking from experience.
“The Magnesium Miracle” By Carolyn Dean
“The Iodine Crisis” By Lynne Farrow
“Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It” By Dr. Brownstein
https://www.facebook.com/groups/IodineWorkshop/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MagnesiumAdvocacy/
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Thank you, Amanda! My mom actually ordered some magnesium for herself recently, so they could jump right on that idea. Wonderful! 🙂 Katie