Posted on 06/15/2025 1:30:25 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Alternative therapies for cancer care can have dire consequences, experts say.
Ananda Lewis, former MTV VJ and TV host, died last week from breast cancer at age 52.
After revealing in 2020 that she had been battling breast cancer for more than two years, Lewis announced she was foregoing conventional treatment in favor of holistic methods such as juicing, herbal remedies and detox regimens.
Lewis' cancer had already reached an advanced stage by the time it was detected -- delayed in part by her long-standing fear of mammograms and concerns about radiation exposure.
Like Lewis, some cancer patients are questioning traditional cancer care and turning to alternative therapies instead. Famously, Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc., delayed surgery after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in favor of vegan diet, cleanses and herbal remedies.
Fewer than one percent of cancer patients refuse all treatment, according to a May 2022 study. However, another study found that upwards of 19% decline at least some of the recommended treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation.
Foregoing traditional treatments can have dire consequences.
Patients with breast or colorectal cancer who chose alternative treatments were nearly five times more likely to die, and those with non-metastatic lung cancer had more than double the risk, according to a 2017 study from Yale School of Medicine.
"What's at stake here is life and death. We know that particularly early detection saves lives," Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a breast oncologist at NYU Langone Hospital, told ABC News.
Comen said doctors need to explore why some patients distrust the system even though modern medicine has greatly improved cancer outcomes.
Many patients who decline conventional treatments do so due to fear of side effects, distrust of the medic
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
As if “conventional treatment” isn’t just as “risky.”
I recently watched a long video explaining a change in thinking about cancer treatment. Hard for me to generalize but basically current treatments focus on the presence or absence of other diagnostic cells to gauge treatment effectiveness (White count, red count etc.) when the cell count most responsible for killing cancer is ignored (I forget, I think it was killer cells or T-cells). So I would likely be someone to seek the alternative treatment I watched which focused on getting T-cells support or levels up.
Concerns about mammograms are legitimate in that every radiation dose increases risk. That’s why you sign a waiver when you get any x-rays (dental, bones etc.). The assumption is that you are trading a slight increase in risk with the benefits of detection. So I don’t think concerns about current treatments are necessarily dangerous. I wouldn’t try vegan cleanses because I’m not vegan, but I would consider alternatives. I just read a study that said sonogram is better for breast cancer detection. In the ‘scales’ reasoning, sonagram would incur less risk.
Sounds like BigPharma wrote this.
They sound afraid that people are waking up to their sham scams.
Maybe she knew the risks and side effects of conventional treatments, evaluated the advanced stage of her cancer, and decided against aggressive treatment. Many choose to do that.
She lived her allotted time.
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)
I knew a woman who had cancer.
Opted out of conventional methods, radiation/chemo. She researched and knew about alternative methods.
Did the holistic approach. Treating herself with juicing, herbal remedies, detox regimens, diet and cleanses.
The cancer progressed past the point of being treatable and progressed to her death.
“””So I would likely be someone to seek the alternative treatment I watched which focused on getting T-cells support or levels up.”””
My son is considered terminal so he has chosen to be a lab experiment. He went out of state every month for two years for an experiment T-Cell infusion. The well known clinic was/is doing research on it. They were very happy with the results.
“the cancer progressed past the point of being treatable and progressed to her death”
As quite often happens when treated with conventional methods.
I think it’s good to do an all of the above approach and get second and third opinions whenever possible among conventional oncologists...But she’s not wrong to have been weary of mammograms — there is better technology available, ultrasound-based and such...that Big Med PURPOSELY decides to forgo making mainstream.
“Ananda Lewis chose ‘natural’ cancer care over conventional treatment.”
I thought the next line would’ve “and she’s dead.”
Turned out that was it.
There’s been no universal cure for cancer found after decades.
What has been found are the best ways to treat specific cancers with all the tools available and it’s increased the time people live after getting cancer immensely.
It’s actually kind of amazing.
It’s taken for granted it’s so common.
This comes from western Judeo-Christian civilization and understanding God’s creation is rational with physical laws God has set forth and the quest for understanding, wisdom, discipline, patience and diligence that comes with it in the context of knowing the value of human life such that trying to cure or treat such a disease is Godly and a goal for a nation and civilization under God.
Herbs, potions and incantations etc… is a return to paganism and the irrational beliefs associated.
Unfortunately that’s what happens.
Ultrasounds are completely mainstream to check for breast cancer. Having said that, deciding to forgo your remaining years of life is completely up to the individual. Death with dignity.
I posted above ^ all of the above approach is best, while trying to get several opinions among conventional oncologists...
It’s not so much that conventional methods fail, but what I notice as a layman observer remission followed by cancer *returns-with-a-vengeance* pattern that I see as too sadly common.
Yes I’m speaking of updated ultrasound machines that are more advanced...Will find link.
Conventional ultrasound right now is considered secondary or a follow-up to mammogram. (Only the more thoughtful OB/Gyns will pick ultrasound as first method for women with dense breast tissue that makes mammograms less effective.)
Eek I hope you’re not pro-euthanasia though...
I remember reading about the problems with mammograms in 2000. Based on what I read then, I would have never guessed they’d still be using them today, because they predicted there would be better options.
I would bet these other methods have a higher incidence of it happening.
and the ones who made fortunes selling books on it are not concerned.
It certainly is. My sister died from the horrific chemotherapy treatments and not the breast cancer. They tortured her to death and should be charged with murder. Many are in it for the money.
Its too bad she didn’t try Ivermectin and Fenbendazole.
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