Hello,

I am trying to help my friend who has been diagnosed with Lymph nodes in the neck cancer. I'm new to this whole ordeal. I have some questions.

1.Is this forum in anyway affiliated with commercial provider of supplements or alternative treatments? Doing so would be unethical and I don't want my friend to be given advice from forums whose ultimate goal is to exploit desperate peoples vulnerablities.

2.This said, how do I go about verifying this or any other forum objectives and affiliations are good?

3.Finally the crux of my being here. How can I validate claims of supplements? I list them here and if you can tell me how to VALIDATE and find RELIABLE SOURCES I'd be so happy!
* Spirulina
* Blue-green algae
* Allicin - Facts about Allicin Allicin powder extract - Allisure, Allimax, Alliforce, Allitru, Alli-C

Five potential natural cures for cancer | Mr Cabbage Head
this site says these are actual cures!
* Pau d’arco (Tabebuia impetiginosa)
* Gaviola (Annona muricata and Annona montana)
* Tayuya (Cayaponia tayuya)
* Barbed skullcap (Scutellaria barbata)
* Zeolite

I do not want to put anyone on the path that will lead to know where so it is important if I can validate before I pass on information! I just don't have any idea how and I unfortunately I can not find an Oncologist willing to councel with me.

Please help me!

Dear Supportingmyfriend:

I'm not selling anything. I'm just a guy with cancer that wants to help others.

This forum is pretty inactive; look at the dates of the posts and you'll see there isn't much activity here.

My suggestion to you:
1. Go to the bookstore or library and load up. I can give you suggestions if you'd like. I've read quite a few, some are real good, others not so much. Lots of info available on the supposed "cancer cure" herbal supplements. Be cautious there.

2. Check out "official" web sites:
National Cancer Institute: Comprehensive Cancer Information - National Cancer Institute
Here is their page on throat cancer: Throat (Laryngeal and Pharyngeal) Cancer - National Cancer Institute
If it is another type (hodgkins lymphoma) just go the appropriate link.
ACSO Cancer info - Cancer.Net - Making a world of difference in cancer care
American cancer society: American Cancer Society :: Information and Resources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms
Clinical Trials - Home - ClinicalTrials.gov
FDA consumer drug info: Comprehensive Cancer Information - National Cancer Institute

3. There are some good ".com" websites; just be aware that some of them have a commercial agenda. Use skepticism, do a google search and if it looks at all sketchy (i.e. many of the "alternative therapy" sites) move on.

4. Research both sides of the macrobiotic diet; there have been miracles and horror stories on both sides of the arguement. I remain unconvinced.

5. If possible, get down to the hospital and talk to one of their cancer advisors/advocates, or a rep from the oncology department about your concerns. This may take some persistence, but if you make your case and don't lose your cool you'll eventually get to talk to one of them. Just be sure to have your ducks in a row, with a list of questions and topics ready. Nothing is more valuable to the onc folks than time.

Unfortunately, with much of the process, we reach a point where a "leap of faith" must be made to either go with a treatment or not. It's the patients responsibility to be as informed as possible prior to that leap, and if you can help him or her with that information, all the better. Just don't go in with a prejudice towards one way or the other; there's plenty of info on each side of the arguement to convince yourself. It sucks, I know. I had to make a decision on entering a clinical trial based on very poor information, and that sucked.

I hope this helps. If you want to go offline, please e-mail me at rotorheadcancer@hotmail.com
Good Luck
Rotorhead
Rotorhead's Cancer Blog