Cervical cancer - alternative therapies?

Question

I have been diagnosed with cervical cancer and am trying to avoid the ultimate treatment of a hysterectomy and hope to preserve my fertility for as long as possible. I am looking for any advice about natural/alternative therapies which may control or slow down the growth of my tumour.

I do not propose to ignore the advice and treatment offered by my consultant and have in fact only this week undergone surgery to remove what is hopefully most of my tumour, my question regarding alternative therapies would be for use alongside conventional medicine, hopefully to compliment them.

Answer 1

I could find no evidence of any effective complementary therapies for cervical cancer in PubMed.

A Google search quickly found some suspect looking medical centres, that I would suggest you steer well clear of - this review examines the quality of information on the web for the treatment of cervical cancer: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6874/6/9.

Here are some extracts from a very good review on the topic of nutrition and supplements. The full article is available for free.
"Adequate dietary intake can improve the nutritional status of nearly all cancer survivors...

During active cancer treatment, maintaining caloric balance is the most important nutritional goal. If it is not possible to meet nutritional needs through regular diet alone, nutritious snacks or drinks may be advisable. Commercially prepared liquid nutritional products (e.g., Boost,® Ensure,® Resource,® or NuBasics®) can also be helpful to assist with intake of calories and nutrients. These products are best used as only temporary aids.

Even though cancer treatment can cause fatigue, light, regular physical activity during treatment should be encouraged to improve appetite, stimulate digestion, prevent constipation, maintain energy level and muscle mass, and provide relaxation or stress reduction. Advice from a nutritionally qualified health care provider can be helpful in assessing problems with eating and physical activity and in creating an individualized plan to meet the specific challenges faced during the cancer treatment phase...

It is counterproductive for patients to take vitamin supplements that contain high levels of folic acid, or to eat fortified food products that contain high levels of folic acid when using chemotherapy agents, such as methotrexate, that act by interfering with folic acid metabolism...

Taking antioxidant vitamins during chemotherapy or radiation therapy might ... reduce the effectiveness of those therapies, and some experts have therefore recommended against taking antioxidant supplements during such treatment...

Early results from uncontrolled trials suggesting that vitamin C and beta carotene were beneficial for cervical cancer were not supported in a properly controlled trial. And, there is no good evidence that taking supplements of vitamins A, C, or E at doses above the [recommended daily amount] is associated with any clinical benefit".

Answer 2

Stage 2 cervical cancer is treatable. Surgery, chemo, radiation, and appropriate follow-on medications should be undertaken as directed by her oncologist. Alternative medications have no FDA established efficacy, that's why they are called alternative. If a patient wishes to use herbal medicines, take extra vitamins, or soak in hot mineral water that's fine . . . . so long as it is done IN ADDITION to conventional therapy. A century of hard fought scientific advances constitute present-day cancer treatment options. Be thankful that various chemo drugs and radiation therapy exist. Cancer patients who ignore science do so at their own peril.

Answer 3

Not really likely to be a useful pathway to go down I am afraid. If you do decide to take it please take care.

Ever since the dawn of time both the sick and the worried well have rushed to pour their money into the hands of quacks and quack remedy producers. There is nothing new under the sun, the fad is just for some new quackery or other. Doctor's may not be right all the time, but at least their motives are generally not purely financial.

Even in unfortunate patients with cancer I have seen quite famous and well known alternative therapists, a few of whom live in much larger houses than any doctors I know, Take very large sums of money for alternative remedies.

Having said this reflexology, aromatherapy and acupuncture may be useful in cancer BUT only as an adjunct (add on) to conventional therapy. All these are usually available free on the NHS in most areas, if you ask for them.

Answer 4

If you're interested in curing your cancer without the nasty effects of "conventional" treatments (which, although advocated by doctors and effective in many cases, give no guarantee of a cure) you might like to look into the series of Internet pages entitled "Curing cancer with light". You would also be very interested to see what a certain John Nash Ott had to say on the subject. Just do a search on that name. It's fascinating to say the least, and certainly enormously encouraging.

In case you don't feel like wading through web sites, the meat of the message is that you can cure cancer by letting natural daylight into your eyes for as long as possible every day, as long as the light is not filtered by glass. So no sunglasses, and if you wear prescription glasses, take them off when you are out of doors.

Vitamin D is also brilliant, certainly for preventing cancer and possibly also for curing it. Preferably get it from the sun, as long as it's strong enough and you're not using any type of sunscreen.

If you look up Linus Pauling you can find documented cases of cancer being cured with mega-doses of vitamin C.

Get surfing. Your doctor will disagree with most of what you find, but don't forget that even doctors don't know everything.

I truly wish that you may be able to beat your cancer without resorting to the unpleasant and dangerous treatments the doctors can offer but if you can't, I wish you the strength you will need to persevere until you are declared free of this horrible disease.

Answer 5

Hi,
I am a certified Pranic Healer from MCKS Pranic Healing Foundation.
Along with the conventional medicine, go for pranic Healing.
If possible go and get a book called The Ancient Science and Art of Pranic Healing written by Master Choa Kok Sui (MCKS). He is the founder of Pranic Healing.
Just go through Chapters 1 & 2 that will give the exact idea how you or any family member of yours can heal yourself without a single touch. Then study how to sensitize your hands, scan the aura/ health body & then treating.

Focus on the chakras on Page 21-23 and you can see which chakra you need to treat.

Refer to page number 163 specifically for treating cancer after you have arrived at the list of affected chakras. In your case it will be Solar Plexus, Meng Mein, Basic, Sex & Ajna.

Trust me if this healing is taken seriously, anyone can cure any disease. The most important thing is the desire of the patient to get well ASAP and determination of the healer to cure the patient.

If u need any help from my end, you are most welcome. Reach me on my e-mail.
Don't give up.. You will get well very soon....
All The Best

Answer 6

You could try alternative therapies alongside your regular treatment for example Reiki healing. Also, diet seems to be a major factor. I knew of a lady who recovered from cancer after switching to a macrobiotic diet, which I think involves lots of raw, sprouted foods. You can buy the jars to sprout the packets of seeds from health shops, the make is called Bio Snacky. They are tasty added to salads, I eat them regularly as I like them so if there are health benefits that's a bonus. You can probably find books on this subject on www.amazon.co.uk also you might like to read some books by Louise Hay. She recovered from cancer through alternative therapies such as reflexology & emotional self help. She believes that emotions are at the root of physical dis-ease. Good luck & God bless.

Answer 7

OK: You are talking to a cancer survivor who has incurable cancer but is in remission...In my case this is unheard of. I used to be an oncology nurse specializing in Gynecological Oncology. Having said that this is just my opinion. I chose not to use chemotherapy as what is available for my type of cancer is very limited and not yet proven. I went the natural way BUT MY alternative therapy can be combined with chemo if needed. Also the #1 cure proved by MD Anderson, some time agon (Not sure if it has changed) was surgery and nothing else.Of course they do not go into alternatives.
You can try www.polymva.com and try polymva. also go to www.facr.org and read the success stories. There is also a support group on Yahoo call polymva support group.
I am just using a maintainence dose of polymva and CoQ10.
Also you must be careful with your diet No or very little sugar. Cancer cells love sugar. Fresh fruit and vegies and look on line for a ph balanancing agent. The ph of your body is vital to our survival. I am hoping these tips help and the best of luck. Maybe I will see you on the poly group.

Answer 8

My heart goes out to you, I had cervical cancer at 28 and ended up with a hyterectomy, fortunatly I had already had my 3 children. I am an holistic therapist and would NEVER claim a cure for cancer, take your doctors advice, go with conventional medicine, and use holistic therapies to help your body to recover. Bless you xxx

Answer 9

Consider supplementation. I introduced a supplement marketed thru MLM to a woman with ovarian cancer. Over 6 months chemo and 8 month supplements, her CA went to normal levels. You can try it first on retail with a 30 day money back guarantee to find out if it helps you feel better. Write me at [e-mail] about it.

Answer 10

in my experience....

the special homeopathic and alternative medicines are NOT the primary treatment. Cervical cancer is DEADLY! I would seriously consider the risks you take if you don't have it treated medically first. The alternitve medicines should be the secondary treatment to help you get through the emotional and physical side effects...not to cure it....dont risk your life please