Thank you for this article. Between yours and Dr. Cifu’s recent article on how fear has been placed in front of science I feel much better about remembering to take a deep breath when dealing with my own fears when it comes to my loved ones’ health. My daughter has finished surgery, radiation, and is compliant with immunotherapy for her melanoma. We have had the Hail Mary conversations for the “what if this fails” regarding my own health issues (there are a few...LOL) and that we will not bankrupt ourselves looking for magic. Of course I’ll follow HER lead for what she wants, but it won’t be with an eye on some magic cure. I’ve become jaded over time regarding pharma’s tactics but am quite aware of the many good things they have done for us. It just requires proper weeding with those who know the garden better than I do!
You always have insightful comments, Jim. I am happy to hear about your daughter. There was no treatment for melanoma (other than surgery) when I finished my training almost 20 years ago.
Actually, the Px takes ultimate responsibility for health care and does have the right to refuse treatment/alternative treatment. HCW also reserve the right to not treat Px with unproven treatment. Remember, first do no harm? However, rarely does the Px has sufficient resource/knowledge to make this choice. Many are attracted to quakes, charlatans, snake oil sellers. I like your comment that fear is a powerful emotion and easily exploited.
As for herbs, I would like to see a caveat as the billion and trillion dollar CAM industries products is not reliable. A couple substack writers, beside myself, have written about this unregulated, uncertified and sometimes dangerous supplement industries.
Sad to see Ivermectin getting a bad rap as it is an excellent antiparasitic and welcomed treatment for NTD like River Blindness (Onchocerciasis).
You hit the nail on the head. It is ultimately the patient's choice of how they interact with healthcare. How do we balance regulation and patient choice is where I struggle.
I find it abhorrent that companies can lie to patients with impunity about what it in their products and what the proposed benefit will be. The public assumes that supplements are regulated when they absolutely are not. This multi-billion dollar industry should (?) be forced to either publicize the lack of regulation of their products or (my preference) require basic ingredients, testing for efficacy, and ensure safety. It's crazy that toasters have more regulation than supplements.
Just posted my substack on Probiotics and was mot too kind to the probiotic industrial complex. One interested thing I learned was that these can actually harm immunocompromised/cancer Px. Would you like a link?
I think as a patient, I need to feel seen and heard by the doctor. If I don’t have the kind of relationship with them where I can share my fears and know that no question is a bad one, then I will look to other treatments. As a patient, I want relief from my symptoms, and I’m likely to try a lot of different techniques. It’s in my best interest! But...having some honest guidance and feedback is essential so I need to trust the medical community while being honest with my fears.
Trust is the most important thing in any relationship. And that's built over time between 2 humans. Somehow, we have allowed the sacred space between doctor and patient to be invaded by other voices with competing agendas. If we all got back to that, I think we would be unstoppable.
I get fed up with people telling me that alternative approaches to cancer are the way to go. I had chemotherapy, which so far has worked. Follow the science, not the quacks!
I am pleased to have discovered your Substack. It is an excellent resource. I had a long correspondence with one of my aunts about laetrile way back when I was in medical school. When I looked into it at her urging I was appalled and asked her why she possibly thought this could be a useful treatment. Would she be OK with just taking cyanide directly? I MAY have had some influence since as a medical student I was very much a novelty in the family. Of interest, several of my aunts were active John Birchers.
Thank you for this article. Between yours and Dr. Cifu’s recent article on how fear has been placed in front of science I feel much better about remembering to take a deep breath when dealing with my own fears when it comes to my loved ones’ health. My daughter has finished surgery, radiation, and is compliant with immunotherapy for her melanoma. We have had the Hail Mary conversations for the “what if this fails” regarding my own health issues (there are a few...LOL) and that we will not bankrupt ourselves looking for magic. Of course I’ll follow HER lead for what she wants, but it won’t be with an eye on some magic cure. I’ve become jaded over time regarding pharma’s tactics but am quite aware of the many good things they have done for us. It just requires proper weeding with those who know the garden better than I do!
You always have insightful comments, Jim. I am happy to hear about your daughter. There was no treatment for melanoma (other than surgery) when I finished my training almost 20 years ago.
Actually, the Px takes ultimate responsibility for health care and does have the right to refuse treatment/alternative treatment. HCW also reserve the right to not treat Px with unproven treatment. Remember, first do no harm? However, rarely does the Px has sufficient resource/knowledge to make this choice. Many are attracted to quakes, charlatans, snake oil sellers. I like your comment that fear is a powerful emotion and easily exploited.
As for herbs, I would like to see a caveat as the billion and trillion dollar CAM industries products is not reliable. A couple substack writers, beside myself, have written about this unregulated, uncertified and sometimes dangerous supplement industries.
Sad to see Ivermectin getting a bad rap as it is an excellent antiparasitic and welcomed treatment for NTD like River Blindness (Onchocerciasis).
You hit the nail on the head. It is ultimately the patient's choice of how they interact with healthcare. How do we balance regulation and patient choice is where I struggle.
I find it abhorrent that companies can lie to patients with impunity about what it in their products and what the proposed benefit will be. The public assumes that supplements are regulated when they absolutely are not. This multi-billion dollar industry should (?) be forced to either publicize the lack of regulation of their products or (my preference) require basic ingredients, testing for efficacy, and ensure safety. It's crazy that toasters have more regulation than supplements.
I abhor the marketing term, Nutraceutical.
Just posted my substack on Probiotics and was mot too kind to the probiotic industrial complex. One interested thing I learned was that these can actually harm immunocompromised/cancer Px. Would you like a link?
Yes! Do you mind posting in the comments here and I'll follow you as well.
Sounds good, didn't want to post a link to my substack without checling it out. Momma taught me to be polite and occasionally I can still hear her calling my full complete name. https://jkd0811.substack.com/p/probiotics-prebiotics-and-antibiotics?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
"Wimpy, the perfect ivermectin patient (L) and a positive response to ivermectin treatment (R)" lol
I think as a patient, I need to feel seen and heard by the doctor. If I don’t have the kind of relationship with them where I can share my fears and know that no question is a bad one, then I will look to other treatments. As a patient, I want relief from my symptoms, and I’m likely to try a lot of different techniques. It’s in my best interest! But...having some honest guidance and feedback is essential so I need to trust the medical community while being honest with my fears.
Trust is the most important thing in any relationship. And that's built over time between 2 humans. Somehow, we have allowed the sacred space between doctor and patient to be invaded by other voices with competing agendas. If we all got back to that, I think we would be unstoppable.
I get fed up with people telling me that alternative approaches to cancer are the way to go. I had chemotherapy, which so far has worked. Follow the science, not the quacks!
I am pleased to have discovered your Substack. It is an excellent resource. I had a long correspondence with one of my aunts about laetrile way back when I was in medical school. When I looked into it at her urging I was appalled and asked her why she possibly thought this could be a useful treatment. Would she be OK with just taking cyanide directly? I MAY have had some influence since as a medical student I was very much a novelty in the family. Of interest, several of my aunts were active John Birchers.