Your alternatives to chemo include surgical reduction of the tumor, radiation therapy, and doing nothing. Doing nothing usually has the highest mortality in cancer patients.
Here is an article on alternative medicine from ACS http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/chinese-herbal-medicine Find Support & Treatment The most reliable cancer treatment information PRINT »SHARE »SAVE » Start of content Find Support & Treatment Treatments and Side Effects Complementary and Alternative Medicine Herbs, Vitamins, and Minerals +-Text Size Chinese Herbal Medicine Other common name(s): traditional Chinese medicine, TCM, Chinese herbs, Oriental medicine Scientific/medical name(s): none Description Chinese herbal medicine is a major aspect of traditional Chinese medicine, which focuses on restoring a balance of energy, body, and spirit to maintain health rather than treating a particular disease or medical condition. Herbs are used with the goal of restoring balance by nourishing the body. Overview Because of the large number of Chinese herbs used and the different uses recommended by practitioners, it is difficult to comment on Chinese herbal medicine as a whole. There may be some individual herbs or extracts that play a role in the prevention and treatment of cancer and other diseases when combined with conventional treatment. However, more research is needed to determine the effectiveness of these individual substances. How is it promoted for use? Chinese herbal medicine is not based on conventional Western concepts of medical diagnosis and treatment. It treats patients’ main complaints or the patterns of their symptoms rather than the underlying causes. Practitioners attempt to prevent and treat imbalances, such as those caused by cancer and other diseases, with complex combinations of herbs, minerals, and plant extracts. Chinese herbal medicine uses a variety of herbs in different combinations to restore balance to the body, such as astragalus, ginkgo, ginseng, green tea, and eleuthero (also known as "Siberian ginseng"). Herbal preparations are said to prevent and treat hormone disturbances, infections, breathing disorders, and a vast number of other ailments and diseases. Some practitioners claim herbs have the power to prevent and treat a variety of types of cancer. Most Chinese herbalists do not claim to cure cancer. They use herbal medicine with conventional treatments prescribed by oncologists, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy. They claim that herbal remedies can help ease the side effects of conventional cancer therapies, control pain, improve quality of life, strengthen the immune system, and in some cases, stop tumor growth and spread. One aspect of Chinese herbal medicine aims to restore or strengthen immunity and resistance to disease. Treatments undertaken with this goal are called Fu Zheng or Fu Zhen and are given as complementary therapy intended to reduce the side effects from conventional Western anticancer treatments. What does it involve? In China, more than 3,200 herbs and 300 mineral and animal extracts are used in more than 400 different formulas. Herbal formulations may consist of 4 to 12 different ingredients, to be taken in the form of teas, powders, pills, tinctures, or syrups. Chinese herbal remedies are usually made up of a number of herbs and mineral and animal extracts. Typically, 1 or 2 herbs are included that are said to have the greatest effect on the problem being treated. Other ingredients in the formula treat minor aspects of the problem, direct the formula to specific parts of the body, and help the other herbs work more efficiently. With the increase in popularity of herbal medicine, many Chinese herbs are now sold individually and in formulas. In the United States, Chinese herbs and herbal formulas may be purchased in health food stores, some pharmacies, and from herbal medicine practitioners. Before choosing a mixture of herbs for a patient, the traditional Chinese practitioner will typically ask about symptoms and examine the patient, often focusing on the skin, hair, tongue, eyes, pulse, and voice, in order to detect imbalances in the body. What is the history behind it? Native cultures all over the world have traditionally used herbs to maintain health and treat illnesses. Chinese herbal medicine developed as part of Chinese culture from tribal roots. By 200 BC, traditional Chinese medicine was firmly established, and by the first century AD, a listing of medicinal herbs and herbal formulations and their uses had been developed. The classic Chinese book on medicinal herbs was written during the Ming Dynasty (1152-1578) by Li Shi-Zhen. It listed nearly 2,000 herbs and extracts. By 1990, the latest edition of The Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China listed more than 500 single herbs or extracts and nearly 300 complex formulations. As Western conventional medicine spread to the East, some traditional Chinese medical practices began to be regarded as folklore. However, since 1949, the Chinese government has supported the use of both traditional and Western medicine. Chinese herbal medicine first came to widespread attention in the United States in the 1970s, when President Richard Nixon visited China. Today, at least 30 states license practitioners of Oriental medicine and more than 25 colleges of Oriental medicine exist in the United States. What is the evidence? Some herbs and herbal formulations have been evaluated in animal, laboratory, and human studies in both the East and the West with wide-ranging results. Research results vary widely depending on the specific herb, but several have shown activity against cancer cells in laboratory dishes and in some animals. There is some evidence from randomized clinical trials that some Chinese herbs may contribute to longer survival rates, reduction of side effects, and lower risk of recurrence for some types of cancer, especially when combined with conventional treatment. Many of these studies, however, are published in Chinese, and some of them do not list the specific herbs that were tested. Some of these journal articles do not describe how the studies were conducted completely enough to determine whether they use methods comparable to those used in Western clinical research. However, there are some notable exceptions, such as PC-SPES, a mixture including several Chinese herbs that has been studied in considerable detail in U.S. clinical trials (see the document PC-SPES). More controlled research is needed to determine the role of Chinese herbal medicine in cancer treatment and prevention. Are there any possible problems or complications? These substances may not have been thoroughly tested to find out how they interact with medicines, foods, herbs, or supplements. Even though some reports of interactions and harmful effects may be published, full studies of interactions and effects are not often available. Because of these limitations, any information on ill effects and interactions below should be considered incomplete. Because of the variety of herbs used in Chinese herbal medicine, there is a potential for negative interactions with prescribed drugs. Some herbal preparations contain other ingredients which are not always identified. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a statement warning diabetics to avoid several specific brands of Chinese herbal products because they illegally contain the prescription diabetes drugs glyburide and phenformin. FDA warnings have been issued for PC-SPES, and production of that product was stopped because it contained the prescription drugs indomethacin, diethylstilbestrol, and warfarin. Similar concerns have been raised about Chinese herbal products for other diseases, which have been found to contain toxic contaminants and prescription drugs such as diazepam (Valium). Tests of Chinese herbal remedies by the California Department of Health found that nearly one third contained prescription drugs or were contaminated with toxic metals such as mercury, arsenic, and lead. Concerns about Chinese herbal products have been raised in other countries as well. The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare reported that some Chinese herbal products contained contaminants that caused severe and sometimes fatal liver and thyroid problems. Of the more than 5,000 medicinal plant species in China, a small number are potentially toxic to the human body. Toxic herbs may mistakenly be harvested and shipped for herbal medicines and can cause harmful reactions in those who take the medicines. In addition, the herbal formulas used are often complex and difficult for manufacturers and practitioners to formulate correctly. For example, in the case of an herbal product intended to promote weight loss, manufacturers confused 2 Chinese herbs with similar names and mistakenly used the wrong one, which resulted in severe kidney damage that was fatal in some cases. Any herb can cause allergic reactions in a few people. Those who are allergic to certain plants, including some plant-based foods, may be more likely to react to herbs. Although the long history of traditional Chinese herbal medicine is sometimes interpreted as evidence of safety, it is important to note that many of these herbs are no longer produced and used as they were in the past. An herb may have been used safely under the supervision of a traditional practitioner. However, if the same herbs are used in higher doses or in doses of different concentrations, perhaps over a longer period and without medical guidance, the risks involved in taking those herbs change. In addition, toxic substances or prescription drugs can be introduced during the manufacturing process, either intentionally or inadvertently. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine licensed by a state board can provide advice on the safest sources for herbs. Because some herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine may cause dangerous interactions with conventional medications, patients should talk with their doctors and pharmacists before using any of the herbs. Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding or delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health consequences. Additional resources More information from your American Cancer Society The following information on complementary and alternative therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials may be found on our Web site (www.cancer.org) or ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345). Guidelines for Using Complementary and Alternative Therapies Dietary Supplements: How to Know What Is Safe The ACS Operational Statement on Complementary and Alternative Methods of Cancer Management Complementary and Alternative Methods for Cancer Management Placebo Effect Learning About New Ways to Treat Cancer Learning About New Ways to Prevent Cancer References Au AM, Ko R, Boo FO, Hsu R, Perez G, Yang Z. Screening methods for drugs and heavy metals in Chinese patent medicines. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2000;65:112-119. Boik J. Cancer and Natural Medicine: A Textbook of Basic Science and Clinical Research. Princeton, MN: Oregon Medical Press; 1995. Cole MR, Fetrow CW. Adulteration of dietary supplements. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2003;60:1576-1580. Ergil KV, Kramer EJ, Ng AT. Chinese herbal medicines. West J Med. 2002;176:275-279. Ko RJ. Adulterants in Asian patent medicines. N Engl J Med. 1998;339:847. Marcus DM, Grollman AP. Botanical medicines -- the need for new regulations. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:2073-2076. National Institutes of Health. Alternative Medicine: Expanding Medical Horizons: A Report to the National Institutes of Health on Alternative Medical Systems and Practices in the United States. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; 1994. NIH publication 94-066. Traditional Chinese Medicine. University of Maryland Medical Center Web site. www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/chinese-medicine-000363.htm. Updated December 1, 2002. Accessed June 4, 2008. Note: This information may not cover all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is familiar with your medical situation. Last Medical Review: 11/28/2008 Last Revised: 11/28/2008
i agree it is a joke thats my opinion, you have yours cure something dont just treat it millions of dollars, probably billions at this point and we still lose people once they have the cure then i'll have a different opinion fda = joke too
Every day I rub two rocks together. I have not been sick for twenty years. I have my son do the same. He has not been sick since he was born 10 years ago. I will sell you my rocks for $500. I can guarantee you they work as well as Gerson Therapy.
I would argue for the billions spent on cancer research I would say results have been very poor. Does anyone really knows what causes cancer? They say its a combination of genetics and environment, but this to me is not a good answer. It is just too vague. There is a statistical probability that some genes might increase your chances here and there, and being exposed to radiation will most likely cause your cells to mutate. I would like to think it should be modeled as a stochastic process. Rubbing two sticks might work as well as anything else because it is a random process. In the past those who would have cancer were more likely to die and not pass on the bad genes. The whole chemotherapy thing is also kind of crude. It is like there are a couple of terrorist who live in a neighborhood so lets drop a bomb on the entire city to clear them. Otherwise they might multiply and take over. I know there is research to take a more targeted approach, but the fact that we can build transistors approaching the size of single atoms, makes me believe that the billions spend on this effort should yield greater results. We should have small robots that can go in and specifically kill the cancer cells. The one thing that we should praise ACS and modern medicine is to encourage early detection. If you have cancerous cells getting rid of them asap would be a good idea.
food and environment. genes? the only logical reason to that is family live in teh same house, eat the same food, use the same stuff - toothpaste, shampoo, mouth freshner, exposed to he same pesticides, fertilzers etc.. thus, there's a chance they get the same illness. genes? i don't think so. Vitamin C.
And yet many generations of women that grow up in totally different environments end up getting breast cancer. There is a reason they take family history, and that is because genes do play a role. Thinking they don't would be as stupid as believing that the cure for cancer is a glass of orange juice. Oh.
Did you just mockingly say that genes have nothing to do with cancer, call that train of thought logical, then state that your answer to something that was just as ridiculous (tiny cancer assassin robots) was JUICE?!?!
I don't want to be rude, but if that's what your cousin believes about cancer and how he treats cancer patients, then I hope his "clinic"/scam goes out of business. You're right, people need jobs. But your cousin is dicking around with people who are sick and need real help.
The billions and billions that has been spent on cancer research has not been wasted. We now know a whole lot more than what we did several decades ago about cancer. For starters, cancer is not a single disease. It is a whole host of diseases that have similar behavior (your own cells growing out of control). The only thing common about cancer is that it is caused by gene mutations, what genes have become corrupted and how they are corrupted are quite random. Anyone that thinks there will be a single "cure" for cancer is dead wrong. There are a whole host of processes in our normal cells that keeps them from just multiplying on their own terms, some of them stop the cell from growing, some of them promote them to grow when needed, and some of them regulates these processes that regulates the cell growth. When you have cancer, it's like when you can't start up your computer, it could be that the hard drive is out, the OS is corrupted, the CPU is fried, or the power supply is broken, or something else. Only the cell is 100 times more complicated, and we are only starting to understand these individual problems. You can have cancer from not enough inhibition of growth, too much promotion of growth, the cells ignore the control signals completely, or something more upstream in the whole regulatory processes. Most of the times though you need a combination of these to make a cell grow uncontrollably. If your treatment targets the wrong problems, it will fail. When your cells in your body multiply, there is a tiny chance that something random will get corrupted. Since you have two copies of each gene from your parents, and several mutations are needed to start uncontrolled cell growth, a single mutation is usually not a big deal. But as time goes on the mutations will accumulate, and that's where cancer rears its head. Environmental factors greatly influences the speed of the mutation accumulation, so those have obvious effects. If you got a corrupted gene from your parents to start with, that also makes it a lot easier for the cells to become cancerous since they have one less hurdle to clear. The gene mutation is a random process, so the best information you can get is a probability. Any single individual may get lucky or unlucky on their mutations, but when you put a large enough population together, you can assign risks for certain genetic or environmental factors. The reason chemotherapy is not that great now is that unlike bacteria or virus infections, the cancer cells are your own cells, not some foreign objects inside your body. They share mostly the same genetics and biochemistry as your own cells, and they divide and multiply in almost exactly the same manner as your cells. There are many progresses being made in this area, how to design bombs specifically targeting only the terrorists, but since the terrorists look exactly the same as all the civilians around them, civilian casualties are almost unavoidable. Also, when you take a drug, you are putting a lot of Darwinian pressures on the cancer cells. Most of them will die, but some might survive with better resistance to the drug. So sometimes the best solution is to nuke the whole city and make sure no one survives. But we are seeing a lot of progresses in this area, and maybe in the near future, we can sequence the genes of the tumors for each individual and have personalized medicine that is tailor made for the specific types of tumor at hand. Cancer usually takes more than 20 years to develop, to accumulate all the mutations needed to become a full blown tumor. And even then they still have to mutate further to acquire the ability to metastasis, which is what really kills people. So no matter how far we can go on cancer research and treatment, early detection will always be key to treatment.
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