With Stage 4 Cancer, discussions about the realities of chemo are now being demanded. Doctors are expected to become better in their communication about cancer treatment options, death, and what else is possible.
I was honored recently to be invited to join a televised panel discussion to broaden the conversation about late-stage cancer, chemo, and quality of life. It’s a topic dear to my heart: I am called to such conversations frequently in my work with cancer patients, and I experienced the other side of this conversation when chemo was a possibility for my father after his diagnosis of late-stage pancreatic cancer.
Watch the video of this frank conversation, then leave a comment below. Let’s talk about:
–what should doctors consider when discussing cancer treatment options with late-stage cancer patients?
–what do late-stage patients and their loved ones experience in this situation that doctors don’t seem to understand?
–if you were diagnosed with late-stage cancer and could tell your doctor anything you want , what would you ask for?
Here’s your link to the show: click here
copyright 2012
Rebekah Yglesias says
I have questions. Recently I read an article claiming that 70% of doctors DO NOT do the therapies (chemo etc) when diagnosed themselves. No mention of alternative care that has proven to be FAR more effective than American medical procedures–other countries are following suit that treating a patient with POISON (chemo) is taxing a weak system to the max….and killing people. No one mentions Max Gerson who CURED stage 3 and 4 cancers. No one mentions diet and detox and aiding the body to heal itself. Modern cancer treatment is a Pharmaceutiacl Money Machine–half a million per patient–for the so called “healing” profession to perputuate an ineffective treatment that causes More damage in the body and kills people –this IS worse than the Holocaust ,, it is EVIL GREED called Medicine.
Dr. Shani Fox says
Hi Rebekah-
It’s understandable to question the profit motives behind the use of chemotherapy and other expensive pharmaceuticals. However, giving MDs the benefit of the doubt for a moment, their training generally only prepares them to offer pharmaceutical solutions. Even a very well-meaning MD has little else to offer, so a pharmaceutical prescription is the typical result of an MD visit, whether for a cold or for cancer.
I feel very fortunate to have a medical education that prepared me with a wide toolbox of non-pharmaceutical therapies, including nutrition and herbal medicine, which build the body up even as they address the underlying condition. I have great faith in these natural therapies, and yet there are times when pharmaceutical therapy is the best choice to prevent an emergency, or to knock back a cancer that’s imminently life-threatening. In the end, my patients are best served when they are receiving the best of conventional medicine as well as the best of natural medicine. There’s no reason they should have to choose between them.
BTW you mentioned you had questions, but I didn’t see any. Feel free to write back if you do!
Blessings,
Dr. Shani
Rebekah Yglesias says
Did a google search and saw this answer from years gone by….YOU are right , I did not ask the question, and after i read your answer Doctor I know what it is that I was asking….WHY?
And you answered that …that the doctors are not trained but I also read that the AMA will not support anything but radiation chemo surgery for cancer. It is evident that the medical profession in the USA has no training on nutrition and helping the body heal itself. I have seen the food they serve in hospitals , it is a disgrace and contributes to the patients illness. We have the most expensive medicine in the world and our oncologists are locked into the deadly 3 treatments listed above , Again WHY??
drshanifox says
I’m sure the system would provide any number of reasons why, Rebekah, but it wouldn’t be a good use of our time to explore that. What would have a stronger impact, I think, is to give feedback at every opportunity about what you want. Don’t like the hospital food? Write a letter to the head of their kitchen (even better, the high level administrator with responsibility for the kitchen). Insist on answers to all your questions about natural treatment options in addition to conventional ones, and if your don’t get answers look for a second opinion. It’s only when they hear from enough educated consumers that they’re likely to make changes. Sending you warm healing thoughts today!