Thanks Dave for your prompt reply,

However, I am well aware of 'Quackery' but I have been reading about the science behind some of the latest findings in trials that have not yet gone through the 'Hoops' of recomended treatment.

Most have been published in Academic Journals with a long list of references to studies by scientists.

Some have been shown to kill cancer cells that are Immune to standard chemotherapy,when people get to a stage of treatment and are told nothing more can be done, why not try?

Best regards,

Hi notsodim,

There’s no scientific or medical evidence to show that alternative therapies can help treat cancer, and some are unsafe and may cause serious harm. Today’s treatments, like surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, are backed up by years of thorough research and there is solid evidence that they help people survive their disease.

Anyone with cancer who is considering stopping treatment or switching to alternative therapies should always speak to their doctor first to make sure they have fully understood the options and we have complied a list of questions you could ask which may help you to understand the options available and point you in the right direction http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/treatment/complementary-alternative/what-to-ask-your-doctor-about-complementary-and-alternative-therapies

You can also read more about complementary and alternative therapies here: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/treatment/complementary-alternative/about/

All conventional cancer treatments have been rigorously tested in large clinical trials to prove they work. Alternative treatments haven’t been put through this kind of testing so we don’t have good evidence that they offer any benefit to cancer patients, and in some cases we know they can cause harm: http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2015/04/27/alternative-therapies-whats-the-harm/

We have more information on some of the ‘treatments’ you mention in your post and I have posted the links for you below.

Graviola is a substance that comes from a tree in the rain forests of Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. Overall, there is no evidence to show that graviola works as a treatment for cancer. Many sites on the internet advertise and promote graviola capsules as a cancer cure, but none of them are supported by any reputable scientific cancer organisations. We have more information on our website http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/cancer-questions/can-graviola-cure-cancer?&log=0

As far as we are aware, there have been no published clinical trials of sodium bicarbonate as a treatment for cancer, on the contrary, there’s good evidence that high doses of sodium bicarbonate can lead to serious – even fatal – consequences.
Read more at scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/.../

Best wishes,

Renata, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi again,

You ask "when people get to a stage of treatment and are told nothing more can be done, why not try?" - if only people waited until that stage. Your initial post seemed to say that you were treating yourself using an alternative approach because the NHS was being slow in responding to your needs. The delay is usually because some tests (particularly of biopsies) take several weeks to be completed and oncologists like to use the most appropriate treatment for a particular cancer. For example my own biopsies showed I would not respond at all to Herceptin due to my genetic make up so I was not offered this.

Many people hear the words "containment", "palliative treatment" or "non-curative treatment" and assume this means that they've been written off by the medical profession - which isn't the case. They then reject the best available treatment and waste time and money on quackery dressed up as science - pseudo-science. It is often hard to spot the difference, especially if you're vulnerable having recently been given a grim diagnosis and prognosis. I've been there myself and I know how utterly devasting this can be.

Many if not all of the "doctors" quoted are not medical doctors and have PhD's in a range of unrelated subjects, many if not all of the "trials" have no scientific basis and are very subjective with very low numbers of experimental subjects (sometimes as low as one person who is convinced that what worked for her/him will work for others) and no control group to eliminate random coincidences. For example, I could claim that the reason I have survived 18 months longer than I was told I would is due to my special diet which is rich in red wine and tomatoes - both of which have a high level of natural anti-oxidants. All those statements are true but the fact that I drink red wine and eat a lot of tomatoes is an example of coincidence and not cause and effect. 

Best wishes
Dave

Hi,

I have to agree that any thing and everything is worth a try. I would not suggest ignoring conventional medicine or medics but why not try all options. I am going to use Homeopath and healing along side, not instead. I intend to look after my mental wellbeing to be able to look after my phhysical wellbeing. Its mind over matter, If you belive in something it can only have a positive impact on your mental wellbeing and that is half the battle. We are all different but I need to take control, I wish to live and will fly to the moon and back if required to try and acheive this. No one knows everything and that includes the medics, they can only advise on other people in similar situations. If they had all the answers there would not be ongoing trials. My love and prayers to you.