Monday Night Cancer Club is a Daily Kos group focused on dealing with cancer, primarily for cancer survivors and caregivers, though clinicians, researchers, and others with a special interest are also welcome. Volunteer diarists post Monday evenings between 7-8 PM ET on topics related to living with cancer, which is very broadly defined to include physical, spiritual, emotional and cognitive aspects. Mindful of the controversies endemic to cancer prevention and treatment, we ask that both diarists and commenters keep an open mind regarding strategies for surviving cancer, whether based in traditional, Eastern, Western, allopathic or other medical practices. This is a club no one wants to join, in truth, and compassion will help us make it through the challenge together.
When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer I got advice from some unorthodox places. Of course I first started with my primary care physician, 2 surgeons, 2 pathologists, and 3 oncologists. In, like, a 4 week period.
During that time I also read everything I could on breast cancer from the American Cancer Society’s “Idiots guide to cancer” to Suzanne Somers book. Yes the one by the daffy blonde, it’s actually a pretty helpful book if you ignore her parts of it.
I also talked to people with breast cancer and people who knew people with breast cancer.
I had an appointment with a naturopath and a pharmacist who specializes in hormone treatment and then I met with a friend of mine who is a PhD in Sociology. She taught me how to read the numbers. For example improving my chances by 50% doesn’t really mean much if it means I live 2 months rather than one. (I may have the numbers wrong; I remembered the concept long enough to make a decision and promptly forgot it.)
Then I took that to the guy I trust the most with my health, my doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Before I gave him any of the numbers I asked him what he would do. Would he do chemo and radiation? He said that yes he would and then he would fix the damage those treatments did to his body using TCM. He added that he would fix mine also if I chose to go that route.
So I went to him with all of my notebooks, books, medical records and reports. He supported my decision that the numbers didn’t warrant chemo and radiation for my cancer and I did surgery only. That was my choice, maybe not what he would have done.
Since then I see him every other week for acupuncture, take the herbs he suggests and eat what he tells me too. Oddly, both he and my oncologist wanted me to eat meat. I had been a vegan or vegetarian for 40 years so that was one of the hardest parts but I do have to say I feel better for it. (Physically, not ethically.)
Now... I am treating my cancer using TCM in a much different way than most folks do. I’m not using it as an adjunct to my treatment I’m using it as my treatment. Again, at my insistence, I was fairly certain that chemo and radiation would do me more harm than good.
I once interviewed my doc about TCM and cancer and I wanted to share that interview here. I’d love to hear what others have tried. Did you get second opinions? What books did you read? Did you try any “alternative” treatments?
And as always please feel free to talk about whatever is on your mind tonight!
Steven Blumenthal is my go to guy for TCM . Steve is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University and The Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Seattle, WA, now part of Bastyr University. He earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology from JHU and a Masters degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from NIAOM, an ACAOM approved school.
He is a TN state licensed acupuncturist and is nationally board certified in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
I recently asked Steve to tell me about how Traditional Chinese Medicine is used to treat cancer.
Q. What is the Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy on cancer and treatment?
A. It varies somewhat by the type of cancer, but generally cancerous growths or tumors are a form of severe "stagnation." The classic texts say "if the qi (life energy) and blood flow freely there will be no pain or disease." So we think of cancer resulting from a chronic lack of energy or blood flow. Many things cause stagnation. Stress is the worst, as well as a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, environmental toxins, aging, etc.
TCM practitioners rarely treat cancer with just TCM and any that claim to cure cancer easily should be avoided. Even in China, they treat cancer with proven western medicine protocols along with TCM. TCM can help by strengthening the general constitution to withstand repeated rounds of chemo or radiation, calming the spirit and helping with the stress inherent in dealing with cancer, addressing the side effects of western medicine treatments, and gently addressing the underlying constitutional factors that may have caused the cancer. In terminal cases, aggressive TCM treatment can be used to try and address the cancer more directly.
Q. In Chinese Medicine they do surgery to remove cancerous tumors? I remember a guideline about if it's bigger than a marble they do and if it's smaller they shrink it with herbs? Is that right?
A. Yes they almost always do surgery to remove the tumors. The "bigger than the marble" size refers more to fibroids and cysts. If they are smaller than 2 cm or so, the thinking is that TCM can get rid of them but if they are much bigger, it’s a sign of long term stagnation and surgery is indicated. However with a malignant tumor, you would not want to risk waiting to see if the TCM helps.
Q. So in Chinese Medicine they do use chemotherapy and radiation?
A. Chemo and radiation are not considered part of "Traditional" Chinese Medicine, but as I said, in China they do not treat cancer with just Chinese Medicine. Chemo and radiation are part of the overall treatment but would not be considered part of TCM.
Q. What is the difference between Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine?
A. Acupuncture is one of the modalities within TCM. TCM is the broader model used to treat disease and includes acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, tui na ( a type of massage and spinal manipulation), and diet & lifestyle recommendations. In China, 95% of patients get herbs and only 5% get acupuncture. In America, it is reversed.
We practice what I like to call "Americanized acupuncture." We usually see patients once per week and relatively rarely give herbs, though in my practice I use them often. In China it is not uncommon to get acupuncture 3 or 4 times per week, so we have some limitations given the infrequency of treatments. We overcome this by using herbs or making diet and lifestyle recommendations to reinforce our treatment principals.
Q. Anything else you want to add? I'm not sure I know the right questions to ask.
A. My preference is to be systematic and try one thing at a time, get some feedback and make adjustments. The tendency with cancer is to scramble and try to do all the things you read about that can help all at once. The best thing to do after your diagnosis is to slow down, take a deep breath, read about things that might help and pick one to start with. Then add things one by one. Stick with the things that make you feel better in terms of mood, energy, sleep, bowels and pain. Let your body guide you.
I use acupuncture, herbs and diet and lifestyle recommendations as my tools to move the body towards a state of balance. Any good practitioner will know the strengths and weaknesses of his or her modality and should be able to help you navigate the process with them, also telling you when you might try something else. The world of possibilities is endless and your willingness to explore it and your openness to new ways of thinking about your body will directly affect your chances of healing.
Steve Blumenthal http://nashvilleacupuncture.com/