Chemo Problemo

Cancer is one of those diseases that affect each and every one of us. Whether it’s us, our relatives, our friends or acquaintances, each one of us knows of cancer survivors and those that weren’t so fortunate. Depending on the nature of the cancer, its progression and the treatment, these three things typically determine one’s ultimate fate.

Chemotherapy is probably the most well-known of treatments for cancer, and while there’s no denying chemotherapy treatments have spared the lives of millions – and the heartache of hundreds of millions more – for the most part, the effectiveness of chemotherapy is ultimately a role of the dice.

More and more research is indicating this to be the case, and in some cases, chemotherapy is exacerbating the problem, particularly among those with incurable forms of cancer.

Of course, any good doctor wants to make a terminally-stricken cancer patient as comfortable as possible for as long as possible, but according to a new study released by the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death, a startling high number of people have died as a result of chemotherapy treatments.

The probe indicates that of the 600 cancer deaths reviewed, chemotherapy likely hastened the deaths of almost 30 percent of them (27 percent), and in some instances, may have even caused them!

What’s particularly disturbing about the inquiry is that in many cases, chemotherapy shouldn’t have been used at all. For instance, the review found that in only 35 percent of cases was sufficient care provided.

Another striking finding: 20 percent of the people treated with chemotherapy had cancer that was too advanced for it to have any beneficial effect (again, chemotherapy often shouldn’t have been used).

As the researchers of the study point out, chemotherapy carries with it risks, death being the ultimate one, but infections of a life-threatening nature as well. Too many believe that the benefits outweigh the risks, and as these startling revelations indicate, that’s just not the case at all. Chemotherapy is a poison that tries to kill toxic invaders, but all too often, it winds up killing more than just the invaders.

A response by the National Chemotherapy Advisory Group is sure to be in the offing. I’ll be interested to see if their response to this damning report can in any way refute why natural alternatives aren’t the better option, especially considering the number of people that died because of the chemotherapy treatments.

I’m sure they’ll come up with some excuse.