Wednesday, 5 May 2010

Be cautious with recommendations

As a cancer patient myself, I have had my fair share of recommendations, by well-meaning people, on all kinds of stuff purportedly capable of curing cancer.

When faced with a recommendation, by all means ask questions. Afterall it's our life that is at stake.

On our part, ask questions like :
1. Is the person who is recommending a cancer patient?
2. What type of cancer?
3. What stage was it and how aggressive are the cells?
4. What type of conventional treatments has the person gone through?
5. What other type of medications, supplements, therapy, etc, is the person taking or going through at the same time?
6. Ask about length of time and effects or side-effects as well.

If the person cannot provide answers to these questions or if the recommendation is based on hearsay, I would not even consider it.

As for the recommenders, I understand and appreciate their concerns, but would expect them to be responsible and do a thorough check on the product. By all means share, but never insist or persuade, and have respect for others' decisions, unless they can be answerable to the patient and family.

Also, as far as possible, I would not allow myself to be a guinea pig for new products. If the product is new, there could be long-term effects that are yet to surface.

Once the cells turned cancerous, are aggressive and has metastasized to other parts of the body, bringing the cancer under control is not as easy as some people think.

For me, it is a combination of sorts. I believed in traditional herbal medicine (though it is slow-acting), but the practitioner must be specialised in cancer and comes with credentials. Our lifestyles, emotions, diet and faith are equally important. Of highest importance, learn to love our body and pay attention to the messages that our body is 'sending' to us.

And, if the combination has made me feel better, then I would stick to it. It would be safer then, than to try everything that is recommended.

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