Thank you Brian for reminding us what goes on behind the scenes in cancer research. We sometimes get so wrapped up in our fears about cancer and all that it entails, that we overlook the fact that a lot has happened over the years with what we know about it. It sounds like you found the event that you attended very informative and thanks for sharing that, as well as reminding us to try to see the other side to this cancer business.

Lorraine 

Hello Brian,

One of the innovations in Cancer Research I am most looking forward to is the Francis Crick Institute in London.  Apparently it will be dedicated to research not only in Cancer but many diseases.  What I love the sound of is that it will have labs / areas dedicated to all sorts of research, with the aim of many studies that dont just involve one specialism, but a collaboration of a number of them.  This sounds like a great step forward to me.  I wanted to be part of raising money for this institute next year as one of the CRUK London Marathon runners (this is where the money they raise will be going towards), but did not get a place.  This is maybe a blessing in disguise as the thought of running a marathon in April is a bit scary !!  Anyway, my partner and I have not given up hope and provided we can get fit enough, plan to do the Inverness Marathon (the half if we wimp out) in September.  I have done a 10k for the past 2 years for Gastrocan (my Dads oncologists local research charity) and a couple more for Macmillan Cancer Care, so about time I did something for CRUK.  Kathryn

It's ever so hard living with cancer, at any age, I'm 14 and still fighting my way through what w first thought to be chronic myeloid leukaemia, but later turned out to be acute myeloid. My treatment at the start was very intense, lines and administrations of chemo, I thankfully didn't loose my hair though. And now it is indeed back into chronic myeloid leukaemia stage, which is a bummer, seeing as I wanted it to be cured, but sometimes we can't have what we want and I'm just grateful I am alive. But what does annoy me, is people opening up a lot of doors about the possible cures for cancer. Those who broadcast that cannabis as well as cannabis oil can be a cure for cancer, as well as some type of animal, is generally very heartbreaking for those who are going through cancer, lost someone because of cancer, or are seeing someone they love or care about suffer because of cancer. I just wish people wouldn't update anyone, on the possibilities of cancer cures and just get on with it. I am ever so sorry if people find this disrespectful. I just think those who update us on possible cures, mainly in newspapers, should stop wasting their time as well as stop giving thpeople hopes up. 

I was diagnosed in 2012 with breast cancer. Underwent 3 lumpectomies, radio, refused chemo and drugs. 

It is a well known fact now that tumours can shrink naturally by a change in diet and nutrition. Doctors themselves who have cancer have refused the very treatments offered by them because of the inhumane effect it has on the body. A healthy immune system is required to beat cancer. Chemo destroys that immune system. You are young and therefore rely on adult input. But try to take control by researching jane plant and charlotte gerson, among other practioners who were guven 3/6 months to live and 9 years later are living a healthy lifestyle. While i agree cannabis is overrated, good nutrition and diet is not.

Hi Aziz

Thank you for your comments. We have some information on the Gerson diet here.

You will see that our information explains there is no evidence that Gerson Therapy works as a cure for cancer. However, it can cause some very serious side effects and is potentially harmful.

We ask that members of Cancer Chat do not promote alternative therapies or post innaccurate information.

We hope you will respect our House Rules.

Best wishes

Jane

My own personal view of cancer is there there is a lot or ignorance around it, but having now been through throat cancer i can see that for myself this is based on a lack of education and knowledge of the subject.

When i was first diagnosed with cancer my immediate thought was "how long have I got" thinking that cancer was going to kill me. In the early days of diagnosis i knew very little about cancer, but having been diagnosed there was a need to understand. 

Having educated myself on the type of cancer i had and the many differng types there are gave me greater udnerstanding of the cancer and enabled me to educate all though around me .. who all naturally felt that when i told them, that i was going to die.

I do feel a fake some time when i tell people that i have had cancer treatment and when i look at what i went through to what a lot of poeple went through, I feel that I am undeserving of the true feeling of sympathy they are bestowing upon my, because they type of cancer i had is a treatable one, is just the process of treatment that is more horrific.

Knowledge and education are a powerful tool.

People still think whenever you mention cancer though that yuo are going to die, so I gues that although there is a lot of educational advertising out there in the media that, that its not totally working or people are just not listening to it

I will leave you all to make your minds up on that one

Aziz,

This thread is about research, let's try to stick to the subject. If you want to chat about alternative remedies, please set up a different discussion and I will happily discuss with you the many reasons why I believe your logic is based on a fallacy. e.g. Your statement that "Doctors themselves who have cancer have refused the very treatments offered by them because of the inhumane effect it has on the body" is at best misleading and sounds to me like a quote from the internet. Perhaps you've read something by that doyen of alternative medicine Philip Day? Day cherry-picked* the results of experimental drug research dating back to 1985. Conclusions about Cisplatin in one specific and unusual medical context were extended to the whole range of chemo drugs and ALL contexts! Anyone who takes his assertions at face value should read the following well researched article:
 
anaximperator.wordpress.com/.../ 

You have personally benefited from research carried out into cancer over the decades. The radio-therapy and lumpectomies which were so successful were done by clinicians standing on the shoulders of their predecessors and the solid evidence base produced by research.

You took a personal decision to "refuse chemo and drugs" and were lucky enough that the radio-therapy and lumpectomy on their own were sufficient to treat your cancer. That doesn't mean other people would be so lucky if they were to follow your example. Your tumour didn't shrink naturally for some unknown reason, it was blasted by intense radiation as part of your radiotherapy. By placing your unsupported statement about natural shrinkage next to the one about refusing chemo, you implied that you were a beneficiary of natural shrinkage - which seems highly unlikely. Had you gone onto chemo, that would have helped prevent secondary cancer developing. As it was you were lucky enough not to need the chemo for that purpose.

Common sense, backed up by a solid evidence base as a result of decades of research tells us that a balanced diet, combined with the avoidance of alcohol and tobacco, will help our immune systems fight cancer and other issues. However, there is a World of Difference between prevention and cure. If I could turn back the clock and never drink a drop of alcohol there is a pretty good chance that I would avoid developing Stage 4 Oesophageal Cancer. If I were to stop drinking alcohol now and further improve my already healthy diet my body would benefit as a result but my cancer would not magically go away, leaving me to live to a ripe old age.

I'm sorry if this post seems rather long and emotionally charged but I strongly believe that your post is misleading and risks influencing people who are hesitant in deciding whether to go onto chemo to make the wrong decision for them.  

I also firmly believe that, had I not decided to go onto chemo, I would have died 12 months ago. At that point my cancer was still growing. It was inoperable and radio therapy was not an option as it had grown around my aorta - the blood vessel the diameter of a hosepipe which comes out of my heart!

Best wishes
Dave

* see en.wikipedia.org/.../Cherry_picking_(fallacy)