Natural or Conventional Cancer Treatments? What Shall It Be?

For many, a cancer diagnosis immediately leads to a path lined with radiation and chemotherapy, guided by an oncologist and radiologist at the hospital. It feels like the default – the only route. But for others, the cookie-cutter approach doesn’t sit right, and a curiosity emerges: are there other options? Ones that are less invasive, perhaps with equally good, if not better, outcomes?

So, what should you do – stick with conventional treatments or consider natural alternatives? The short answer is YES. You get to choose. Not your spouse, your clergy, your sister who went through it, or your children. It’s YOUR choice. Your body = your decision.

The Dilemma: Where Do We Start?

That’s where things got tricky for us. Kevin didn’t know what the right answer was. All he knew was that the typical, cookie-cutter “radiation/chemotherapy” route wasn’t sitting well with him. He had questions, doubts, and a strong feeling that he needed to explore all options before committing to anything.

And so, that’s what we did.

We researched.

And we researched.

And we kept researching until we couldn't do it anymore.

The first 'mask', for which he had to shave off his mustache of 50-something years.

The first mustach-less photo. All good! Let's keep going.

While waiting for the hospital to schedule his appointments, we researched. While Kevin was being fitted for his radiation mask, we researched. While going to dental appointments, getting hearing tests, and waiting for all the medical departments to finally align, we researched.

Key Areas of Research

1. Integrative Cancer Treatments

We read about people travelling to places like the US, Mexico, India, Turkey, Costa Rica, Germany, and the UK, where integrative treatments combine traditional cancer care with alternative therapies. Why wasn’t this offered in Canada if the outcomes were so positive and less invasive?

2. Surgery and Medications

We looked into different surgical options and medications, including immunotherapies like ipilimumab and the possibility of using medications like Keytruda or Opdivo. Could T-cell therapy be an option?

3. Genomic Analysis

Would a full genomic analysis be conducted, looking into DNA sequencing, gene expression, structural variations, and other molecular markers?

4. HPV-Derived Throat Cancers

We were told that HPV-derived throat cancers had better outcomes, but we wanted to know why and whether treatment would differ. We were still waiting on biopsy results, which had taken over three weeks to come in.

5. HPV Vaccinations

If Kevin's cancer was HPV-related, would an HPV vaccination still be necessary? And what about me – should I get vaccinated since we’d be in close contact?

6. Lower Radiation Therapies & Activation Immunotherapies

There were claims that lower-dose radiation combined with immunotherapies had better long-term results. Why wasn’t this being discussed with us?

7. Proton or Boron Radiation

A more targeted and efficient form of radiation, available in other countries but not in Canada. Why not?

8. Minimally Invasive Surgeries

Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) and Transoral Laser Microsurgery (TLM) were suggested on the Canadian Cancer Society’s website as having fewer side effects. Why wasn’t this a more prominent option?

9. Selective Neck Dissection

Could removing only the lymph nodes closest to the tumour be a viable option?

10. Cytokine Treatments

We explored immune-stimulating treatments like alpha-interferon and interleukin-2.

11. Surgical Options

Why was Kevin not considered a candidate for surgery?

Insights from Our Research

It felt empowering to dig into the research. At this point, nothing was more important than Kevin’s treatment. What we had learned from books, families who had lost loved ones, retired oncologists, and alternative health practitioners was eye-opening:

• Radiation is incredibly damaging, and healing from it can be extremely challenging.

• Chemotherapy infuses the body with toxins that sometimes permanently damage the immune system.

• There are alternative treatments available, so why not at least explore them?

Seeking Additional Guidance

We met with our naturopath, who suggested connecting with a cancer-focused naturopath. This new contact was a wealth of knowledge, answering many of our questions and providing further resources. They never discouraged conventional treatment but simply helped us make an informed choice.

We also had a Zoom call with Dr. William Makis, an Alberta-based oncologist and radiologist known for promoting repurposed medications like Ivermectin, Fenbendazole, and Mebendazole (if you don't know who Dr. Makis is, I highly, HIGHLY suggest looking up his account on the social "X"). When we asked if he recommended radiation alongside these repurposed medications, he said yes. That was another piece of the puzzle – and we were not expecting that...

The Emotional Journey

Despite all our research, as Kevin's radiation start date approached, he still felt torn, undecided, and under pressure. Emotional support became crucial. Kevin needed me more than ever. My life revolved around supporting him, and I realized how much his mental and emotional well-being was part of the treatment process.

That’s when I reached out to Lisbeth, my dear friend and incredibly powerful energy healer. Honestly, everyone should have a Lisbeth, especially in times of emotional and mental turmoil...

Lisbeth reminded me that I wasn’t there to fix things. I was there to support Kevin. The decision was his alone.

I wanted to fix everything, to make him better. But I had to learn to just be there, to hold space, and to believe fiercely in a positive outcome.

She also worked with Kevin, guiding him through meditation sessions in our backyard. Seeing them deep in conversation filled me with hope. This was the support we both needed.

The Final Decision

Ultimately, Kevin made his decision. He would undergo radiation but also incorporate natural treatments, alternative therapies, and the repurposed medications suggested by Dr. Makis. The only thing he declined was chemotherapy. When we asked the doctors for research proving chemotherapy would help in addition to radiation, they admitted: they had none. That was a deciding factor for us.

We were ready to take on this challenge. Armed with everything we had learned, all the contacts we had made, and the unwavering support of our team of alternative health professionals, we were ready for the journey ahead.

It was one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever made, but it was worth it. Kevin needed time to mentally prepare, to be sure of his decision. We knew we had to leave no stone unturned, and when the day of treatment came, we would be 100% certain we had made the right choice for him.

What would you have done differently?