I’ve been in that chair. Sitting nervously as your doctor tells you that you have cancer and watching your entire world collapse around you. Wanting to throw a nuclear bomb on the tumor and get it out of your body as soon as humanly possible. We’re getting a little controversial today as I share some information about chemotherapy that you may not have heard before, or even believe. But if you’re considering chemo as part of your cancer treatment, I encourage you to read this and absorb the information with an open mind.
Any information on this website is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. Please consult your doctor for medical advice. Choosing to undergo chemotherapy is a very personal decision. I’m not here to tell you to consider it or not. Only to provide supplementary information to help in your decision making during an extremely difficult time in your life.
I completely acknowledge that we’re getting a little controversial today. I get it. All I’m asking is that you keep an open mind, gather information, and ask the right questions when you meet with your oncology team. I want to briefly share my story with you, so you can understand what I went through, and why I feel the way I do about sharing this important information with you.
My Journey
In 2010, I was diagnosed with breast cancer on my 39th birthday. After numerous tests, my doctors spent one month figuring out the best course of treatment for my type of cancer. I was ER/PR+/HER2-. My markers didn’t fit nice and neatly into a standard protocol, and I was completely confident in my oncology team’s approach to conducting further research, speaking with their peers across the globe, and including me in the conversation. I hated waiting. I wanted to throw a nuclear bomb on the tumor and get it out of my body as quickly as humanly possible. Gone. Destroyed. Bye Felicia.
My cancer abatement protocol consisted of a lumpectomy surgery, four rounds of chemo with Taxotere and Cytoxin, and 36 rounds of radiation. My oncology team was completely transparent and included me in these critical conversations about my treatment plan. I had one mindset only, and that was to be as aggressive as possible. I was 39 years old and I did not want the cancer to spread, or especially return.
One year after cancer treatment ended, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition of the thyroid. I turned my diet and lifestyle around, but I never fully healed or recovered. It wasn’t until eight years later that I learned how much damage the chemo had caused, including vital organs and systems not functioning properly. I was considered a lost cause by some of my doctors, a complicated case by others, and a chance to heal by a select two. Had I not spent hundreds of hours researching, thousands of dollars at doctors offices, and was completely determined to heal, I would have ended up in bed or the hospital and not able to function in society. I’m fortunate to currently be on an individualized protocol by two specialists who are committed to my healing journey.
I often get asked if God forbid the cancer would come back if I would go through chemo again. Armed with the knowledge and information I have now, the answer would be no. I would go back to chemo only as a last resort.
Statistics and Dollars About Cancer
Almost 50% of individuals today will face cancer (1). According to the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), cancer is the second leading cause of death in the US, not far behind heart disease (3). If we look at this epidemic globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2015, cancer was the second leading cause of death globally, and was responsible for 8.8 million deaths.
Americans are spending billions of dollars to treat and find a cure for this disease. In 2010, the estimated cost of cancer treatment was $125 billion. This number is expected to rise to $200 billion by 2020. These funds come from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and foundations such as the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Koman for the Cure, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and the National Children’s Cancer Society (1). Not to mention the pharmaceutical firms who profit extensively from treating cancer patients.
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History of Chemotherapy and Its Use Today
The first chemotherapy agents appeared in the first world wars and were used as mustard gases to kill soldiers (1). Since then, cancer patients from all over the world have opted to use chemotherapy as part of their cancer treatment plan.
A new study reveals that chemo could allow the cancer to actually spread, and trigger even more aggressive tumors (4). The reason is that after chemo, the body is filled with toxins. Many of these toxins will stay in our system until they are flushed out. These toxins will wreak havoc on your immune system, which is now already compromised after chemo treatment (5). This is another reason why if you do decide to pursue chemo to ensure that you are working with a licensed practitioner qualified and specializing in the removal of these toxins.
An additional study published in Breast Cancer Research found that chemotherapy “causes long-term immune system damage, reducing levels of key immune cells in breast cancer patients for at least nine months after treatment, leaving them vulnerable to potentially life-threatening viral and bacterial infections (6).”
Is Chemotherapy the Real Winner?
The media bombards us with hype that we are winning the war against cancer. Drug companies promote their promises to live longer. And to what end? Even well-insured patients pay substantial out-of-pocket costs for cancer treatment and are often left with treatments that don’t work or the aftermath of life-threatening side effects.
One documentary interviewed oncologists and found out that doctors were told they will lose their license if they do not prescribe chemotherapy or radiation over more alternative methods (1).
There are many doctors and oncologists who are trying to make a difference in their patient’s lives, but the industry is a double-edged sword. According to Dr. Glen Warner, Oncologist, “Chemotherapy is an incredibly lucrative business for doctors, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies. The medical establishment … [doesn’t] want to see the chemotherapy industry go under because it’s too lucrative. That’s the number one obstacle to any progress in oncology (2).”
Merck Senior Vice President Jill DeSimone said, “The physician is the ultimate decider on treatment (7).” What about the voice of the patient? Have we completely given up our hope and our rights? Can we look at these numbers objectively and honestly conclude that the cancer industry has our best interest at heart? What would happen to all of this money if we chose to live a healthy lifestyle and practice cancer prevention and natural therapies?
This is why you need to be informed before making treatment decisions. There is no doubt that chemotherapy saves lives. But it also leaves some massive damage in its path. Please refer to the sources for additional information, and make a commitment to thoroughly research before making your decision.
Dr. Otis Brawley, Chief Medical Officer at the American Cancer Society sums it up best, “I’m starting to hear more and more that we are better than I think we really are. We’re starting to believe our own BS (7).”
Are you Inspired?
Be sure to download your FREE eBook 5 Cancer Prevention Strategies for Cancer Survivors!
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Love, hugs, and making difficult decisions.
- Bollinger, Ty. The Truth About Cancer: A Global Quest. http://go.thetruthaboutcancer.link/?a_aid=56df6f7c755db
- Majors, Dr. Charles, Lerner, Dr. Ben, Ji, Sayer. The Cancer Killers The Cause is the Cure. 2013. Maximized Living
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Leading Causes of Death. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm
- Karagiannis, George S., et all. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy induces breast cancer metastasis through a TMEM-mediated mechanism. Science Translational Medicine 05 Jul 2017. Vol. 9, Issue 397, http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/9/397/eaan0026
- How to Detox After Chemotherapy. Healthy Holistic Living. http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/how-to-detox-after-chemotherapy.html?utm_source=newsletter_jan16&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletters&t=newsletter_jan16
- Chemo causes long-term immune system damage in breast cancer patients. Chris Beats Cancer. https://sn188.isrefer.com/go/own/pinkfortitude/
- Szabo, Liz. April 27, 2017. Widespread Hype Gives False Hope To Many Cancer Patients. Kaiser Health News. https://khn.org/news/widespread-hype-gives-false-hope-to-many-cancer-patients/
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