A patient recently submitted the following question:
One of the main things I am struggling with is my decision not to do chemo.
I am not against chemo and radiation and I feel like it has a time and place.
If I can heal my cancer without it I would like to.
However, if the majority of people with my type of cancer can’t heal without it
then maybe I should go forward with it.
Am I doing the right thing?
This is such a tough dilemma, I can understand the ever-present fears associated with a decision like this and I can understand that deep desire to erase any “what if’s” from one’s mind and heart.
Although I do not have the legal right to tell a patient to do or not to do chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, prescription medications or any other form of western medical intervention, what I can do is provide patients a breakdown for deductive reasoning, that they might reach a place where they feel better equipped to make such a tough decision.
The following is a list of steps I’ve encouraged patients to take as they decide whether adding _______ (insert chosen therapy) is right for them:
Step 1. Assess Your Current Symptoms and State-of-Health
- Are my symptoms consistently worsening, even with everything I am currently doing to support my immune system?
- If my symptoms are worsening, how rapid are the changes? Do I feel rushed for time or do I notice the progression is more gradual?
- If my symptoms are not worsening, do I still have fears/concerns with holding “stasis” in this state-of-health?
- Do my scans & labs confirm my current symptoms or is what I’m physically experiencing in-contradiction to the trending results?
- Do I have quality-of-life?
Step 2. Assess Your Current Protocol
- Have I reached a plateau with what I can currently do ‘naturally’ to support my immune system?
- Am I interested in or even capable of adding in more alternative therapies to my current protocol?
- Is there another alternative clinic/practitioner that I might benefit from consulting with?
- Do I have more time in my day/week to add more alternative therapies?
- Do I have the financial capacity to support a continued expansion of out-of-pocket expenses?
- Am I reaching a place of mental/spiritual burnout or overwhelm in my current regimen?
Step 3. Know the Facts
- How does my type/stage/grade of cancer typically respond to traditional therapies?
- What does the research say?
- What are the 5-year survival rates?
- What is a detailed breakdown of the recommended protocol {s}: drug names, # of infusions/treatments, time-span between each infusion/treatment
- Does the suggested protocol seem reasonable, taking into account my needs as an individual?
- What are the expected effects {including side-effects} of those treatments?
Step 4. Address “Side” Effects Head-On
- Am I willing to risk experiencing all of the potential side effects {even those listed as rare}?
- How does my body currently handle modern medical interventions?
- How do I currently tolerate chemical exposures: am I sensitive to them or do I not notice any difference?
- What does my genetic report say about my methylation pathways, specifically my detoxification genes?
- Am I willing to adjust/add to my current therapy regimen to accommodate additional support in light of potential side effects?
Step 5. Consider Your Support System
- Am I experiencing pressure or encouragement/support from others?
- If I am experiencing pressure, what is their motive {whether intentional or unintentional}? Is it fear? Love? The desire to have their way? Is their pressure founded in research-supported wisdom?
- Walk through all individuals who currently bear influence in your life: spouse, oncologist, primary care practitioner, immediate/extended family, friends, spiritual community, coworkers, etc.
- If at any point in the future I decide to change course, will I continue to be supported in my decisions?
Step 6. Finding Peace
- Where is my current state of mental health at?
- Do I have more peace if I DON’T or if I DO pursue Western Medical Treatments? There is a major difference!!
Not every question listed above needs to be answered before a person might reach a final decision and choose which way to go. Some people might only need to ask themselves the very first question: Are my symptoms consistently worsening, even with everything I am currently doing to support my immune system? For others, it might take many more questions and conversations to reach that place.
Take an appropriate amount of time, seek wisdom from a multitude of counselors, and make your decision based upon that wisdom and the peace you experience as a result.
For a more detailed explanation of these steps/questions, you can watch the video presentation here: https://youtu.be/B3G_iV3shiE
Michelle Hamburger is the Lead Practitioner, Clinical Kinesiologist and Methyl Genetic Nutritionist for Conners Clinic, trained by apprenticeship under Dr. Conners since 2010. Michelle developed and directs CC’s distance care program, traveling the U.S. to bring alternative services directly to patients. She is a graduate of Trinity International University with a degree in Social Sciences, emphasis on psychology, sociology and health. She is completing her Naturopathic degree and her AMA Fellowship in Integrative Cancer Therapy.
