Choosing The Path in Cancer Care

Choosing The Path in Cancer Care

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time not only to raise awareness but also to reflect on the deeply personal journeys many women face when diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Raising awareness extends beyond breast cancer and women. 

It is relevant for men and anyone facing a cancer diagnosis, or any serious health challenge.

In today’s world, making decisions about our health has become more complex than ever. 

We’ve witnessed a profound shift in how we approach healthcare, in general. 

Not long ago, people would settle with blood letting or travel great distances and invest tremendous effort to find the right doctor or miracle treatment. 

Now, with the rapid advancements in modern medicine and the abundance of alternative and complementary therapies, we find ourselves facing a new dilemma—the overwhelming paradox of choice. 

With so many options available, it can feel like navigating a maze, leaving many uncertain about which path to follow.

What is the paradox of choice in health care? 

Let’s start with a life example from my clients.

Emily – a cover name – finds a lump in her left breast. 

GP recommends mammography followed by biopsy.

Emily had a horrible experience during her first control mammography. Her body shrinks and shrivels only thinking about its repetition.

She also reads about mammograms: “There is uncertainty about the magnitude of the harms – particularly overdiagnosis and overtreatment.” 11

A simple search on medical alternatives is not reassuring:

  • Breast Ultrasound
  • MRI 
  • DBT
  • Medical Thermography 
  • Tumour markers diagnostics

Find below some details on the strengths and limitations of each of these methods. 

Emily loves her yoga and meditative practice. A holistic perspective on health feels more friendly and appropriate to her lifestyle. 

Unfortunately, the existing information on holistic, alternative, complementary and traditional medicine is overwhelmingly vast. 

  • Yoga Therapy
  • TCM
  • Ayurveda
  • Homeopathy
  • Biofeedback
  • Iridology

Find below details on the strengths and limitations of each of these methods – although they are far from covering all that is available out there. 

What will Emily choose? 

The paradox of choice refers to the experience of feeling empowered while having multiple choices turning to stress, anxiety, and indecision when too many options are presented. 

Instead of feeling free, Emily feels overwhelmed, fears making the wrong choice, or becomes dissatisfied with her decisions, even if they are good ones. 

In essence, more options don’t always lead to better outcomes, and sometimes less choice can lead to more peace and satisfaction.

After the diagnosis is clarified, the paradox of choice exerts even more drastically on the kind of treatment. 

Facing cancer, Emily is asked to choose between conventional treatments — surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immune therapy — and/or explore alternative options, including holistic approaches. 

The road ahead is far from straightforward, and every decision carries significant life hazards and emotional weight.

Satisfied only with the Simplest Solution. 

The right decision is always the product of internal cohesion through proper communication between the heart and the mind. 

It feels right and simple for the individual and might not be such for others.

What is heart-mind unity? 

Connect with those moments in life when you knew what had to be done and it worked flawlessly, against all odds

Remember also those situations when you did NOT follow your so-called gut feeling. The nagging voice inside, unable to jump on the call that seemed so logical. 

Years ago, in our little clinic in Thailand, we received a filming crew following the journey of a young lady who took the radical decision of bilateral mastectomy. 

She had a strong family history of breast cancer, was a carrier for the BRCA2 gene and was inspired by Angelina Jolie. 

She decided to come to our alternative community in search of a redefinition of her femininity, during a long process of making peace with her incomplete body.

While surgery is declared the instant cure for anxiety in such cases, post-surgery adaptations last a lifetime

The mechanics of your most feminine parts are always going to be mutilated by a hysterectomy post-myoma or fibroid surgical removal. 

How will you feel for the rest of your life? 

Even when life-threatening conditions of health are present, the right choice might not be as obvious for the patient as for those around. 

Corinne – again a cover name – was diagnosed with breast cancer following a severe personal traumatic event in the context of the larger pandemic drama. 

Although most advanced in meditation, an experienced yoga practitioner and a holistic mindset, she decided that was her way out. 

She refused all forms of treatment, got even deeper into her meditation practice, and exited in peace. 

Nobody around her understood or agreed with her decision. 

Nor her husband and surely not her son. Both experienced her choice as a form of abandonment or even betrayal of their family. 

Nevertheless, the decision came in full internal accord. 

I asked her about pain. A minimal amount of medication was necessary in the last stages. 

The confusion part of treatment choices 

In hindsight, Steve Jobs’ decision to go alternative in his pancreatic cancer early treatment is judged as ineffectual. 

The overall five-year survival rate for Pancreatic cancer is 7.2%-10%. 

Steve Jobs had a very rare form of pancreatic cancer, with not well defined treatment options, yet. 

He died 8 years after his diagnosis. 

I work with many individuals who feel overwhelmed by their choices and often adopt extreme stances—either completely rejecting the medical system or dismissing anything remotely complementary. 

Both perspectives deserve respect. 

Personally, I advocate for a balanced and personalized approach, but that’s my preference, as I believe it’s the most inclusive and thoughtful path. 

Yet, even within radical approaches, the paradox of choice still creates confusion and challenge for everyone involved.

Decided on the full alternative treatment? The solution is far from simple. Now what? 

Gerson’s plant-based or Atkins, high-fat, high proteins protocol?

Budwig diet or Dairy-free? 

Macrobiotics or Gonzales regimen? 

How about detox methods, parasites cleanses, curcumin extracts, medicinal mushrooms, CBD oil, enzymatic regimens, psycho-somatic protocols? 

All have demonstrated good effects and all have plenty of success stories and passionate supporters.

Is one going to choose according to the highest promoter, or the last SM post, or the opinion of a friend?

Combining all of them is impossible and dangerous. 

More is never better. 

There are interactions between medications, supplements, foods and applications. They can support or contradict each other. 

There is a time for detox and lifestyle changes and there is a time when nutritional support and perseverance through the changing symptoms is requried. 

As an MD, physiatrist, integrative, personalised medicine supporter and wholeness expert, I act as a health coach in cancer care. 

In my experience, it is most important to take decisions and make your moves from a place of inner coherence. This is achieved through the established inner dialogue between the heart/intuition and the logic mind. 

You need to support the self healing mechanisms of the body in all instances. Without them, no treatment method will succeed.  

If you want to know more about this subject, search this website: and set a call.

With love and blessings for your good health,

 

Mihaiela

Diagnostic methods complementary/ alternative to mammography.

  1. Breast Ultrasound

Strengths:

Differentiation of Masses: Effectively distinguishes between solid tumors and fluid-filled cysts.

Dense Breast Tissue: Provides clearer images for women with dense breasts, where mammography may be less effective.

No Radiation: Safe for repeated use as it does not involve ionizing radiation.

 

Limitations:

Supplementary Tool: Officially not endorsed as a standalone screening method; typically used in conjunction with mammography due to limitations in sensitivity and specificity.

Operator Dependence: Image quality and diagnostic accuracy can vary based on the technician’s expertise.

False Positives: May lead to unnecessary biopsies due to the detection of benign abnormalities.

  1. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Strengths:

High Sensitivity: More sensitive than mammography in detecting breast cancer, especially in high-risk women (with genetic mutations e.g., BRCA1 or BRCA2) or a strong family history of breast cancer.

Detailed Imaging: Provides highly detailed images, useful for evaluating the extent of cancer and planning treatment.

Dense Breast Detection: Superior in identifying tumors in dense breast tissue.

 

Limitations:

False Positives: Higher rate of false positives, can lead to unnecessary biopsies and anxiety.

Cost and Accessibility: Expensive and not widely accessible in all healthcare settings.

Time-Consuming: Longer procedure times compared to other imaging methods.

  1. Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) or 3D Mammography

Strengths:

Improved Detection: Enhances the detection of small cancers and reduces the masking effect of overlapping tissues.

Reduced False Positives: Lowers the rate of false-positive results compared to traditional 2D mammography.

Better Visualization: Provides a three-dimensional view, improving the accuracy of tumor localization.

 

Limitations:

Availability: Not universally available; access may be limited in resource-constrained settings.

Increased Radiation: Slightly higher radiation dose compared to standard mammography, though still within safe limits.

Cost: More expensive than traditional mammography, potentially impacting accessibility.

  1. Clinical Breast Examination (CBE)

Strengths:

Accessibility: Can be performed in various healthcare settings, including low-resource environments.

Immediate Feedback: Provides immediate results and can identify visible or palpable abnormalities – not a diagnostic result!

Cost-Effective: Relatively inexpensive compared to imaging-based methods.

 

Limitations:

Lower Sensitivity: Less effective in detecting early-stage cancers compared to imaging techniques.

Operator Dependence: Accuracy can vary based on the healthcare provider’s skill and experience.

Limited Detection: May miss tumors that are not palpable or visible during the examination.

  1. Thermography

Strengths:

No Contact: Completely non-invasive and does not involve radiation or compression of the breasts.

Painless: No discomfort procedure with no physical discomfort for the patient.

Safe: Imparts no energy to the person being tested. 

 

Limitations:

Lack of Evidence: Insufficient scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness in detecting breast cancer.

False Positives: Tendency to produce false-positive results. 

Not Standardized: Lack of standardized protocols and variability in results between different devices.

  1. Breast Self-Examination (BSE)

Strengths:

Empowerment: Encourages women to become familiar with their own breast tissue and recognize changes.

Cost-Free: No financial cost involved, making it accessible to everyone.

Early Awareness: Can lead to early detection of noticeable changes, prompting timely medical consultation.

 

Limitations:

Low Effectiveness: Not highly effective in detecting early-stage cancers compared to imaging methods.

False Positives: Can result in false alarms, leading to unnecessary medical visits and anxiety.

Inconsistent Practice: Effectiveness depends on regular and correct performance by the individual.

7. Tumour markers

  • Description: Non-invasive blood tests measure tumor markers associated with breast cancer.
  • Role: These markers can be elevated in breast cancer but are not diagnostic on their own. They may be used alongside conventional tests to monitor disease progression.
  • Strengths: AFP, CA153 and CA199 are recommended for clinical diagnosis of breast cancer. frontiers in oncology

WHO opinion in agreement with all alternative and complementary practices:

WHO encourages breast awareness—knowing the normal look and feel of one’s breasts—to help detect any unusual changes early. 

Breast awareness is considered a more effective and practical approach than formal self-exams.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Methods in Alternative, Complementary, and Traditional Medicine

 

  • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) 

  • Description: In TCM, diagnostic methods include tongue inspection, pulse diagnosis, and other physical signs, along with a comprehensive health history to determine imbalances in qi (energy) and yin-yang.
  • Role: Qi-stagnation constitution is correlated with hyperplasia and neoplasms of the breast, insomnia, depression and thyroid nodules.1.
  • Effectiveness: TCM diagnostics offer valuable insight into holistic patient conditions, and are typically used in complementary care to manage symptoms and improve overall well-being.
  •  Ayurveda

  • Description: Ayurveda uses tools such as pulse diagnosis (Nadi Pariksha), dosha assessment (balance of vata, pitta, kapha), and detailed personal history to detect early signs of imbalance, potentially indicating disease.
  • Role: It is used to determine imbalances in the body that could predispose a person to conditions like cancer.
  • Effectiveness: Ayurveda plays a complementary role in maintaining health and managing symptoms. It is often used alongside conventional treatments to support overall health.

 

  •  Yoga Therapy

  • Description: Yoga uses physical posture and energetic assessments of its own aside from the Ayurveda dosha assessment (balance of vata, pitta, kapha), and detailed personal history.
  • Role: It is an excellent tool for holistic assessments and healing, general balance, and metabolic efficiency.
  • Effectiveness: Personalized yoga therapy is beneficial for QOL and weight maintenance among women undergoing chemotherapy2. Medicinal hatha yoga with breathing, postures, meditation, and relaxation enhances the quality of life of cancer patients by providing both psychological and physiological health benefits, highlighting the interconnectedness of mind and body. Yoga therapy reduces stress levels improving heart rate variability, leading to changes in hormonal regulation (e.g., cortisol), reduced oxidative stress, and improved immune function with reduced inflammation. 3.

4. Homeopathy

  • Description: Based on a vast observational database, homeopaths conduct detailed investigations of a patient’s physical, emotional, and psychological state, prescribing highly diluted remedies based on the principle “like cures like.”
  • Role: It is used primarily as a complementary tool for symptom management and support of the self-healing mechanisms of the body.
  • Effectiveness: Homeopathy is one of most widely used non-conventional supportive care methods used by women with breast cancer. 4.

     

  1. Biofeedback
  • Description: It uses sensors to monitor physiological processes like heart rate, muscle tension, and brain activity. It helps patients learn to consciously control these functions, providing tools to manage symptoms like stress and pain.
  • Role: In cancer care, biofeedback is used as a complementary therapy to help patients manage the physical and emotional stress of diagnosis and treatment. It can assist with reducing anxiety, managing chronic pain, and improving sleep quality, making it especially beneficial during chemotherapy or post-surgery recovery.
  • Effectiveness: Major health organizations, including the American Cancer Society and WHO, support its role in holistic cancer care, particularly for managing side effects, pain, and stress. 

6. Iridology

  • Description: Iridology involves examining patterns, colors, and other characteristics of the iris to diagnose systemic health problems.
  • Role: Alternative practitioners claim that iridology can help detect underlying imbalances or health conditions, including cancer.

Effectiveness: There is no scientific basis for the use of iridology in diagnosing breast cancer, and it is not recognized by major health organizations like WHO or the American Cancer Society.

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