Share This Article On Twitter
Medically Reviewed by: Dr. BautistaUpdated on: September 1, 2021
Whether youre researching breast cancer treatment plans for yourself, a family member, or a friend you might initially feel like conventional therapy options are the only way to go when fighting ones diagnosis of cancer.
These traditional treatments for breast cancer include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, but alternative medicine offers the chance to do something different. There are strict regulations that the U.S. has against doctors providing less invasive and non-invasive holistic treatments, which is why leaders in alternative therapies and complementary treatments can predominantly be found in Tijuana, Mexico.
When putting up a fight against breast cancer, alternative medicine is the best medical treatment, as it focuses on building your system up rather than tearing it down. At ITC, we dont just want to kill cancerous cells we want to keep you healthy in body and spirit while we do it.
Read on to learn about alternative treatment for breast cancer.
What Is Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicines are made from plants. They use combinations of plant parts, for example leaves, flowers or roots. Each part of the plant can have a different medicinal use. Manufacturers use different ways of extracting the chemicals from the plant parts. They use fresh and dried plants to make the medicine.
Herbal medicine aims to restore your body, so that it can protect, regulate and heal itself. It is a whole body approach. It looks at your physical, mental and emotional well being. It is sometimes called phytomedicine, phytotherapy or botanical medicine.
Manufacturers make many drugs from plants. But herbalists dont extract plant substances in the way the drug industry does. Herbalists believe that the remedy works due to the delicate chemical balance of the whole plant, or mixtures of plants. And not from one active ingredient.
The two most common types of herbal medicine used in the UK are Western and Chinese herbal medicine. Less common types include Tibetan or Ayurvedic medicine .
Most Effective Natural Cancer Treatments
1. The Gerson Therapy and Juicing
I see in him one of the most eminent geniuses in the history of medicine. Many of his basic ideas have been adopted without having his name connected with them. Yet, he has achieved more than seemed possible under adverse conditions. He leaves a legacy which commands attention and which will assure him his due place. Those whom he has cured will now attest to the truth of his ideas.
~ Albert Schweitzer, MD
Who was Albert Schweitzer talking about?
He was referring to Dr. Max Gerson, the German-born American medical doctor who developed one of the most effective natural cancer treatments over 90 years ago. Coined the Gerson Therapy, Dr. Gerson helped hundreds of cancer patients activate their bodys extraordinary ability to heal itself by recommending:
- Organic, plant-based foods
- Natural supplements
In the words of the Gerson Institute:
With its whole-body approach to healing, the Gerson Therapy naturally reactivates your bodys magnificent ability to heal itself with no damaging side effects. This a powerful, natural treatment boosts the bodys own immune system to heal cancer, arthritis, heart disease, allergies, and many other degenerative diseases.
How the Gerson Therapy Works
- Supplements The Gerson Therapy recommends the following organic medicinal therapies:
- Lugols solution
- Vitamin B12
2. The Budwig Protocol
How the Budwig Protocol Works
My Beyond Budwig Recipe
3. Proteolytic Enzyme Therapy
4. Vitamin C Chelation
Recommended Reading: Symptoms Of Late Stage Breast Cancer
Learning That Less Is More
Two generations ago, when a woman was diagnosed with breast cancer, she had a radical mastectomy a grueling procedure to remove the breast, the underlying chest muscle and the lymph nodes. This caused incredible disfigurement. A major step forward came in the 1960s when a randomized clinical trial showed that a simple mastectomy that left the chest muscle intact resulted in similar survival.
It was the beginning of realizing that sometimes less is more.
Its hard to pull back on treatment. It takes a certain type of patient and a certain type of bravery to be willing to forgo treatment in order to help determine if thats an option for future generations, says Anne Schott, M.D., professor of internal medicine and associate director of clinical research at the U-M Rogel Cancer Center.
Over time, studies have allowed surgeons to scale back treatment even more. Lumpectomy followed by radiation is just as effective as mastectomy. Many women do not need all their axillary lymph nodes removed, a procedure that can cause severe swelling and serious infections.
Weve come to understand that radical surgical treatment is not universally beneficial, says Jacqueline Jeruss, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Breast Care Center at the U-M Rogel Cancer Center.
Why People With Cancer Use It
Herbal medicine is one of the most used complementary and alternative therapies by people with cancer. This is alongside conventional cancer treatments.
People have used herbal medicine for centuries to treat many different health conditions. They believe it is a natural way to help you relax and cope with anxiety and depression. Or, to help with other conditions such as:
- hay fever
- menstrual problems
- eczema
People might also use herbal medicine to help themselves to feel better or more in control of their situation.
A 2011 study in the UK surveyed people with cancer who use herbal medicines. It found that most of the people used herbal medicines to feel more in control. And that it helped them to feel that they have some responsibility for their treatment. They also felt the therapies wouldn’t cause side effects.
Read Also: Type 4 Breast Cancer
Herbs Essential Oils And Cancer
Other supplemental efforts come from plant life amazing gifts of healing that nature has for us to utilize! Whole herbs and plant-based therapy, as well as essential oils, are often employed to beat cancer naturally. While, again, none of this is administered on its own, herbalA product made from a plant that is thought to be useful in treating a disease or staying healthy. Herbal supplements are taken by mouth. and essential oil treatments make excellent and effective components of a cancer battle plan.
Talk With Your Doctor
Make sure you talk with your doctor before you begin any of these alternative treatments. Your doctor can tell you if complementary or alternative therapies will be effective for the stage of your breast cancer, and steer you away from fraudulent products.
They can also tell you what research is available on different CAM treatments, what is and isnt known about them, and whether theyre safe. Your doctor can also write you a referral or a recommendation for an appropriate CAM treatment. Once you have all the information, you can make a truly informed decision.
Also Check: Stage Iiia Breast Cancer Prognosis
Surgery For Breast Cancer
Most women with breast cancer have some type of surgery. Common types of breast surgery are lumpectomy, mastectomy, and taking out lymph nodes from the underarm. Women who have a mastectomy may also decide to have the breast shape rebuilt, either at the same time or later on.
Choosing between lumpectomy and mastectomy
Lumpectomy only takes out the lump and a little bit around it. It lets you keep most of your breast. The downside is that youll most likely need radiation treatment after surgery. But some women who have a mastectomy also need radiation afterward.
When choosing between a lumpectomy and mastectomy, be sure to get all the facts. At first you may think that a mastectomy is the best way to get it all out. Some women tend to choose mastectomy because of this. But in most cases, lumpectomy is just as good as mastectomy. Talk to your cancer care team. Learn as much as you can to make the right choice for you.
Reconstructive surgery
If you have a mastectomy, you may want to think about having your breast shape rebuilt. This is called breast reconstruction. Its not done to treat the cancer. Its done to build a breast shape that looks a lot like your natural breast.
If youre going to have a mastectomy and are thinking about having reconstruction, you should talk to a plastic surgeon before the mastectomy is done. Your breast can be rebuilt at the same time the mastectomy is done or later on.
Side effects of surgery
Natural Remedies For Breast Cancer
Doctors care is necessary to identify the stage of your cancer and to identify the most appropriate treatment approach. However, many natural options are effective for supporting traditional cancer treatments and for treating the condition on their own. Some of the best natural cures for breast cancer include turmeric, flaxseed, calcium, baking soda, and acupuncture.
Recommended Reading: Breast Cancer Characteristics
How To Beat Cancer Naturally
- Date
Weve helped thousands of people since introducing Cancer Tutor to the world more than a decade ago and hope to see countless more in the decades to come. The most recent data tells us that around 14.5 million people of all ages are living with a history of cancer, and in 10 years, the number is expected to grow by a third.
That means millions of people, more every day, are undergoing or have undergone some kind of treatment for cancer. They all put their lives on hold and made major sacrifices, and many spent tons of money and suffered traumatic side effects so that they could be named with the survivors. We hope to see more survivors with a story of beating cancer naturally, empowered by their experience, taking responsibility for their health into their own hands, and becoming stronger for it.
What Is Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a form of cancer that manifests in the cells of the breasts. According to Mayo Clinic, it is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the United States second only to skin cancer. While the condition is far more common in women, men can also develop breast cancer.Regular breast self-exams as well as doctor screenings are important for preventing breast cancer and catching the condition as early as possible. Many of the initial signs of cancer are relatively easy to detect. Common symptoms include a lump or thickening in your breast or tissue, bloody discharge from you nipple, change in the size or shape of a breast, dimpling or other changes in your skin over your breast, an inverted nipple, and redness or pitting of the skin covering your breast.
You May Like: Stage 3 Metastatic Breast Cancer
Ever Wonder If A Natural Cancer Cure Might Exist Such As In The Form Of Diet
Breast cancer survivor Ruth Heidrich believes so.
She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer 35+ years ago at the age of 47.
Heidrich had refused chemotherapy and radiation, despite bone scans showing that the breast cancer had spread to both femur bones and pelvis. An X-ray revealed the cancer was also in one of her lungs.
This interview is strictly meant to accurately present what Heidrich told me hence, this post falls under the category of interview, not medical advice.)
Ruth Heidrich discovered a lump in her breast during a breast self-exam. Cancer was confirmed after a physician performed an excisional biopsy .
Prognosis?It was so serious that I got second, third and fourth opinions. No doctor could tell me if I had three months, three years, or what. The oncologists all recommended chemo, radiation and tamoxifen.
Before diagnosis, what were your eating habits?
I thought that, since I had studied nutrition during college, I was eating the healthiest diet possible, although it was actually sad: the Standard American Diet.
I had virtually cut out red meat, increasing my fish and chicken intake to compensate for the animal protein which I mistakenly thought was needed, and drank a lot of powdered skim milk, again, mistakenly thinking this would make my bones strong.
Actually, as scientific studies show, animal products are not any healthier at all, and in fact were most probably the cause of my breast cancer!
Why did you shun chemotherapy?
This study involved what?
Cam Treatment : Biofeedback
Biofeedback training is used to treat the side effects of chemotherapy. During biofeedback, youre hooked up to electrical sensors that monitor subtle changes in your body.
This method may help you gain conscious power over your body so that you can control actions that are normally autonomic, or involuntary. These functions include:
- muscle tension
- blood pressure
Your doctor will determine which type of biofeedback technique is best to treat your symptoms.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Resperate is the only biofeedback device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. So be careful of machines marketed for at-home use. Some may be fraudulent and can cause damage.
- hormone therapy
- targeted therapy
Surgery and radiation therapy are considered local therapies because they treat cancer cells without affecting the rest of your body. Local therapies are most effective in the earlier stages of breast cancer.
Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy are known as systemic therapies. Systemic therapies use drugs to treat breast cancer. Those drugs enter your bloodstream by either oral use or injection and reach tumors that have spread throughout your body. Systemic therapies are more effective in advanced stages of breast cancer.
Some breast cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, may cause side effects that last months or even years after therapy has ended. Some treatment plans may require multiple remedies at once, or one after the other.
Recommended Reading: How Curable Is Breast Cancer
Testing For Proteins And Genes
The breast cancer cells will be tested for certain proteins called estrogen and progesterone receptors. If the cancer has these proteins, it’s called a hormone receptor positive breast cancer. The cells are also tested to see if the cancer makes too much of the HER2 protein. If it does, it’s called a HER2-positive cancer. These cancers are sometimes easier to treat. If the cancer doesn’t test positive for any of these proteins, it’s called a triple-negative breast cancer.
The cells might also be tested for certain genes, which can help decide if chemo might be helpful and how likely it is that the cancer will come back. Ask your doctor to explain the tests they plan to do, and what the results might mean.
Common Symptoms Of Breast Cancer:
- Lump under your armpit
- Thickening of part of the breast area.
- Nipple turns a red color.
- Pain in the nipple area.
- Changes in breast size or shape.
- Nipples discharge blood sometimes.
- Pain near the breast.
These are some symptoms to identify breast cancer in women. If you have any of these try to take treatment as soon as possible. It can be curable in the early stage of breast cancer.
Don’t Miss: Cancer Stage 3
Alternative Breast Cancer Treatments In Action
Her story so far is short and sweet. It is best if we let her say it in her own words:
I was originally diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in October 2012, at 45 years old. The doctors told me my options of chemotherapy, radiation and potential surgeries however, I needed to have a PET scan because there was something worrisome on my MRI.
It may seem odd to read that I am thankful that the PET scan indicated metastases to my bone, thus putting me at Stage IV cancer but I do feel thankful because it required me to look at alternative treatments more seriously.
I went to Hope4Cancer in February 2013 and had my CA 15-3 cancer marker of 194 . It is now April of 2013 -eight weeks later- and I have cancer markers at 39!
I cannot say enough about the physicians and nurses, at Hope4Cancerthe professionalism, the approach to treatments, the way you are treated as a whole person is a remarkable and healing experience. The support that you receive from all the stafffrom those who clean the facility and your room, to the ones who juice vegetables, to those who prepare your meals and ensure that you receive the nutritional balance you require I attribute my success to all of them.
Research Into Herbal Medicine For Cancer
There is no reliable evidence from human studies that herbal remedies can treat, prevent or cure any type of cancer.
Some clinical trials seem to show that certain Chinese herbs may help people to live longer, might reduce side effects, and help to prevent cancer from coming back. This is especially when combined with conventional treatment.
But many of the studies are published in Chinese, and some of them don’t list the specific herbs used. Some journal articles don’t give enough detail on how the researchers did the studies.
It is difficult to know how reliable the research is and which herbs may be helpful. But there are trials looking into this.
Some laboratory tests have found certain plants or plant extracts have anti-cancer qualities. Manufacturers made these into cancer drugs such as Taxol from the yew tree.
But, there is no scientific evidence from human trials that herbal medicine can treat or cure cancer. We need large trials to prove this.
Researchers did a laboratory study in 2019. They looked at the use of Chang-wei-qing as a treatment to prevent a certain type of bowel cancer. The researchers found that CWQ showed an anti-cancer effect. But this was a laboratory study, and we need more research.
They felt that CHM can help to control certain cancer genes. And that it can influence the way cancer cells work. But they recommended more research to understand exactly how CHM works.
Also Check: Symptoms Of Breast Cancer In Teenagers
Holistic Treatments For Breast Cancer
If you heard the four words, You have breast cancer, you likely equated the statement to a life sentence. But, with as much research as is being done currently, we have learned a number of different treatment supports and options to help you cope with cancer and have a better chance for full recovery. While breast cancer does require traditional medical supervision and care, there are also a number of natural cures, including turmeric, flaxseed, calcium, acupuncture, and others, which are effective for treating cancer and its symptoms.