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Alternative cancer therapies linked to reduced survival
Cancer patients who use alternative therapies may be more likely to shun conventional treatments and risk their chances of survival, research suggests.
A study of 1,290 patients in the US found people who received such therapies often refused life-saving care such as chemotherapy or surgery.
Fewer of them survived five years after starting treatment compared to those on standard care, researchers found.
Experts urged patients not to ditch proven cancer medicines.
Tell that to Steve Jobs.
Complementary Medicine, Refusal of Conventional Cancer Therapy, and Survival Among Patients With Curable Cancers (open, DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.2487) (DX)
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Alternative Therapies for Cancer Patients Reduce Survival Rates
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Life is to you a dashing and bold adventure.
(Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Monday July 23 2018, @05:39PM
First, recognize that it is that person's choice and you might be wrong yourself. Alternative therapies do work for many things, and can also be very complementary to an allopathic regimen as well. The real sin is in forcing treatment against somebody's will, of either type. You're not talking forcing here, just convincing, just showing that there are worse alternative that have in fact been done in medical history. And in that first recognition also realize that you most likely will not convince him of anything - be prepared that he will continue to disagree with you.
Aside from that, you can - in love - ask why the person doesn't believe that conventional treatment may help. Or if they, for your sake, would see an oncologist to get information - not necessarily treatment. (Finding the right oncologist or physician is a key here, as many will just want to treat with their knowledge and not address whether their treatment is "right" for the patient.) You can point out your feelings that you believe that seeking conventional treatment (or conventional treatment alongside the alternative) has a better chance at having your stepdad in your life for longer, and that you want him to have the best chance for recovery.
And then let him decide.
(And this isn't just academic. I have a relative whom I love dearly in exactly the same situation, except that she is now considering surgery after having tried natural methods. And yes, I find that it breaks my heart that she didn't agree to this a year ago because usually the prognosis only gets worse the longer you wait. But I had to do the same above.)
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