Your healthcare professional has told you that you have breast cancer and need surgery. He has told you that you need the whole breast removed to be on the safe side. You haven’t really been offered any other options. What do you do?
The first thing you do is ‘get another opinion’, perhaps even a third or fourth where options are concerned. Why should you do that? Because there are other options as far as treatment is concerned and some may not even include surgery. You need to know about those options.
The first total removal of a breast (radical mastectomy) for breast cancer was performed in 1882. Performing radical mastectomies became the accepted method of treatment for breast cancer until the 1990′s. Research was indicating that there was no difference in outcome from having a radical mastectomy done versus a lumpectomy, where as little as the tumor and some surrounding tissue would be removed. So why have a total removal of the breast? The main reason likely lies in the fact it was the accepted treatment for this disease for over 100 years.
Now, however, with research showing that the number of people for either procedure still living at the end of 20 years being essentially the same, simpler procedures began being done, and good results seen with the death rate actually declining.
Benefits of knowing when your healthcare professional was trained
One thing you should know is ‘when your healthcare professional was trained’. If he received his training before 1980, he may still push you about the radical mastectomy treatment and not be as open to other options. If trained after 1980, he may be more open minded and tell you the other options you have. After all, this is your decision to make because it is your body.
If your healthcare professional tells you that you have to do a certain treatment or you will die or that you only have so long to live, you might consider finding someone else. Sometimes, such talk can cause an immune system to crash and be a self-fulfilling prophesy.
If, on the other hand, your healthcare professional says, “Many throughout the earth are beating this. Let’s see if we can do the same,” you have an individual you know will work with you and for you. That one is a keeper.
So, what are the two main conventional choices to choose from?
Radical mastectomy
Generally, the whole breast is removed along with the lymph nodes and muscle under the breast. There are variations where no lymph nodes are removed or less tissue is removed.
Lumpectomy
Because this is a form of breast-conserving or breast preservation, usually only the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue is removed. The amount of tissue can vary greatly depending on where the tumor is and how large in relation to the size of the breast. If a woman is concerned with her breasts basically matching in size and shape under clothing, she needs to ask her healthcare professional how much tissue will be removed and how that will affect her figure. Then she can determine if she wants reconstructive surgery or not. This can be done along with the lumpectomy or afterwards.
Most women who have lumpectomies done, also do radiation treatments afterwards as well. The New England Journal of Medicine, in their October 2002 issue, told of two studies that showed women with small breast cancers (under 4 cm) who opted for lumpectomies and radiation had the same expectations of being alive and disease-free 20 years later as women who had opted for radical mastectomies. Knowing that these two treatments can have similar outcomes is important for women in the decision making process.
What are double radical mastectomies?
Even though statistics show that the death rate is down in the United States, the number of women opting for double radical mastectomies (removal of both breasts) has increased 150%. This is a procedure where the diseased and the good breast are both removed. This option might be an important one for a woman who is at very high risk for developing cancer in the good breast.
However, a new study indicates that most women opting for double mastectomies receive no additional benefit. Only about 6% of those studied see any benefit, and this is a small group that fits a particular profile.
A new study involving 100,000 people was conducted by researchers at the “University of Texas – M.D. Anderson Cancer Center”. They found that a double mastectomy offered a slight benefit to patients 50 and under if their cancer was estrogen receptor negative (not estrogen driven) and in the early stages of the disease. There was no benefit to patients who were 60 or older who opted for the double mastectomies.
A five year follow-up showed just a 5% difference between 88.5% of those who opted for losing both breasts remaining alive and 83.7% of those who only lost one breast. It would seem that, for the majority of women, electing to have preventive surgery has no benefit.
The real shame of breast cancer is that the breast is NOT a life organ. In other words, we can live without a breast. So why do women get breast cancer and die?
Results of a Colorado study
Part of the answer may lie in the fact that women are nurturers. They are made that way, whether it is in relation to children or mates and need to be able to satisfy that nurturing instinct.
A study was done in Colorado several years ago involving women with breast cancer. 80% of the women they studied had an issue with a man, some with one in the past, others living now such as a husband or boyfriend. All of these issues were similar in that the women were not able to satisfy that nurturing instinct as women. As a result, it appeared that their own bodies began destroying what made them women starting with one of the breasts. The cancer would then move to the other breast, then the uterus/ovaries and continue on moving deeper into their bodies eventually reaching the brain.
When these women resolved these issues, they were able to deal successfully with their breast cancer. Resolving the issues sometimes involved individuals who were not available or had died, so the resolution came about by role playing.
Alternative Treatments: Dr. Kirstine Nolfi and her experience with breast cancer
In 1972, a small report was published called “My Adoption of a Raw Food Diet” concerning Kirstine Nolfi, M.D. After not taking good care of herself for several years by working too hard and not eating properly, she developed breast cancer. She moved to an island, went on a 100% raw food diet, sun bathed every day, dipped frequently into the ocean, and the tumor, which had grown into the skin, disappeared after a few months. This was a tumor the size of an egg. However, when she went back to a 50-75% raw food diet, the cancer became active again. This time, she went to a 100% raw food diet, made other changes in her lifestyle and nev er looked back.
She had previously consulted a well-known Danish physician, Dr. Hindhede, who agreed that she should not have a trial microscopy done because it would open up the blood vessels and cause the cancer to spread. So she opted not to have surgery and went the natural route instead. After the second time her cancer disappeared, it never became active again.
Are there natural options for treating and, perhaps, beating breast cancer?
The question that many women may have now is whether or not there are any natural options rather than surgery for treating breast cancer? Yes, there are and many people around the world are utilizing these options. At times, we even hear of those who are diagnosed with cancer who are free of any disease several months later after deciding that they would beat it.
Chinese medicine, herbal remedies, homeopathic remedies, various forms of energy work and massage to relieve stress are just a few of the options available to those who would rather consider all options other than just surgery. Even though Cancer Centers of America offer traditional treatments, they also work with the whole body physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. They utilize herbal preparations such as Ezzeac Tea with Cat’s Claw to boost the immune system and other things to accomplish dealing successfully with cancer.
Other healthcare professionals such as Naturopaths and Herbalists may have protocols that can help you successfully become healthy again as well.
The point is that there are many natural avenues that you can consider as well as conventional medicine. Natural avenues can sometimes work but keep in mind that conventional medicine is often the only way to go even if it appears unattractive. Just make sure that you are comfortable with whatever choice you make because that will make a positive contribution to your outcome.
