I posted in September telling you all about Smitty, whose initial diagnosis was in Dec., 2001, stage IV Base of tongue; treatment max rad; 2 rounds 5FU/Cisplatin and neck dissection ending April, 2002. After many checkups (the most recent in May,,2004) the cancer has returned. Evidently it is spreading through the blood and/or lymph system. He has 5-6 lesions in the brain, tumors in chest and lungs, and tumors now showing up under the skin in muscle tissue. Prognois was 3 - 6 months in Sept. We started researching alternative treatments when we got the news that there was no cure because he has so much disease. There is so much out there that it is very confusing. And of course they all say they cure cancer and that there is a vast conspiracy in the traditional medical community and drug companies to keep cancer a big business. I really find that hard to believe, but it is frustrating. Smitty is currently taking some of these alternative "meds?" Cantron and Noni juice. Has anyone heard of these things or know of anyone who has had success using any of these alternatives? There is also something call the Rife Light treatment. Smitty actually had 4 of those treatments. Anyway, I just thought I'd ask. He is not feeling well at all (as you can imagine) and I guess we are just waiting for the really bad stuff to start.
Thanks for any info you can give.
Love and peaace to you all, Donna
caregiver to Smitty
(I got messed up and have 2 log ins DJ & DJS)

Donna: Wow, what a tough situation! I can understand your desire to try anything that might possibly, remotely, save Smitty. Unfortunately, these 'alternative' treatments are almost all bogus, what my dad called 'snake oil.' Until he got prostrate cancer & he would go to Mexico to buy various products. Of course they did nothing for his cancer. But he loved life and his family and he was desperate and would try anything.

You are understandably desperate and these sellers of alternative medicines are taking advantage of that. If the cost is small and you can afford it, then it is probably not a big deal since you have nothing to lose but $$. But, usually these things are expensive.

If there were easy cures out there, plenty of doctors, if not all, would use them in a heart beat. Imagine, how quickly a treatment facility could attain an elite reputation for its ability to cure cancer. People would be flocking to it. They could make tons of $$ and they wouldn't even have to charge a lot (economy of scale - lots of people, quickly processed =$$). If the products worked & were out there, plenty of smaller, struggling hospitals would take up the challenge of proving (via random test) the effectiveness of these alternative treatments and then providing treatment. Moreover, pharmaceutical (sp?) companies would buy them up & market them. These alternative medicines provide hope but no results.

I know this isn't what you wanted to hear. I admire your optimism and your stength in dealing with such a tough situation. Take care - Candace

Yes we have heard of them - most are listed on Quackwatch. Do a search on any one of these and see what comes up: http://www.quackwatch.org/

The so called conspiracy theory is an urban myth. I believe that it is discussed at length in the cancer sction on Quackwatch See http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/altseek.html

It is so sad that criminal types are seeking to exploit cancer patients. My prayer is that there is a special place reserved in hell for them.

God bless Smitty: I pray for his soul. When you face death, you will grab on to anything that might prolong the inevitable. I heard a military officer put it quite elequently, "I would pee on a spark plug if I thought it would do any good". Gary is correct, there should be a special section in hell for these quacks.
Darrell

I know in my heart that none of these "alternative" things will cure him. Most of what we have be offered is tied to nutrition. Wouldn't it be great if the traditional medical community and these alternative people (some of who are very educated and truly believe in what they do)could work together a little? I truly do believe that most folks involved in this alternative stuff are kinda brain washed. They take the products themselves and believe it has cured all kinds of ills. They are a trip! We have not spent a great deal of money (less than $2,000)on these things and most of it is all nutritional. Smitty is a celebrity of sorts in our area (very successful h.s.basketball coach and highly thought of for his work with at risk kids) so there have been a couple of articles in the newspapers about his battle with cancer. Each time an article appears, the phone rings off the hook with calls from the "quacks" who have the cure! Isn't it amazing? He does see a doctor at a holistic center and that helps him prepare (if anything can) for what may lie ahead. I can understand why he wants to look at these alternatives...he is fighting for his life. He is 58 years old and we have 2 grandsons who he will miss growing up. I know I am just going on and on, but I need to get this out every once in a while. This site has been my source of information for almost 3 years and I love reading the encouragements and hope shared here. We will trust in God (we all know that ultimately life is in His hands) and keep the faith. Thank you all very much.
Love & peace,
Donna, caregiver to husband Smitty

Hello Donna,

I to received several suggestions for the so called miricle cures. Most of these people believe in them and want to do something to help. If they only knew that if half of what they claim is true every treatment center in America would be using them. Kind of insulting
to receive this useless advice.

Hoping Smitty can beat this diaease!! My thoughts are with you both.

Danny Boy

Donna,

I am sorry to hear about Smitty. For his acts in this world I know there is a special place for him in the Kingdom. I pray for comfort and peace, for His miracles to touch both of your lives and I pray you both keep growing stronger in your relationship with God.

God Bless,

Ed