Customer Reviews

Natural Strategies For Cancer Patients

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book because a friend of ours has prostate cancer and I wanted to be more informed. There are a lot of titles on the "shelf" in this area - nutrition and cancer, vitamins, supplements, megadoses, minerals, what to eat and what not to eat. Some of them have extraordinary claims for cures. There are a lot of philosophies on diet, which doesn't help a cancer patient when they need sound information rather than opinions and beliefs about food. Perhaps there would be less of this confusion if conventional medical treatment started to use nutrition as a part of mainstream cancer treatment.

I must say that I am really pleased with this book. As I get into it, the content gets better and better - a sign of a well informed and thorough piece of work. Dr Blaylock is very realistic about his purpose and doesn't make extraordinary claims. Instead he systematically reveals & explains the current research about vitamins and supplements, always in the context of cancer. He has a prevailing view that "fresh is best" and qualifies this. It seems to me he also has a hopeful tone, which is sometimes missing from practitioners.

I have always been interested in the findings and ideas of Dr Linus Pauling (eg see ISBN 094015921 and ISBN 0380702894) and also Dr Abram Hoffer (eg see ISBN 1550820788). Pauling has been decried by some (though the results of these two doctors' work speak for themselves). For me, this book represents in part a confirmation of their ideas, although the book is less prescriptive than the above and has a broader perspective on diet.

One of the central themes in this book is the immune system, and how to strengthen it. Blaylock is careful to indicate where certain foods or supplements actually encourage rather than inhibit cancer growth. He is also good at providing ammunition for the patient to be able to face some of the resistance that arises from physicians who are dubious about the role and value of nutrition in treatment.

I gave this book four stars not five, for a couple of reasons. If there had been a summary or tables or suggested outline programme to help the patient construct their own nutrition regime, this would have hit the bell! As it stands, I will dig through the chapters and index to glean a summary of points to put into an action plan. I was also hoping to find a website with some level of currency and discussion about the book - patients asking questions, an updated resource list, general advice, a blog perhaps, or supplemental material. In a word, 'support'. (See http://www.russellblaylockmd.com).

Overall, a very good book: readable, thorough, very comprehensive, practical and a good reference - recommended.

How fortuitous that I should pick up this book on the very day I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I knew it was possible to prevent cancer with nutrition but I had no idea it was possible to actually fight it and win the battle. Since implementing some of the suggestions offered by Dr. Blaylock I have reduced my pain levels tremendously. I learned that certain foods and supplements can act as chemotherapeutic agents. I learned that certain foods will mount a defense against cancer by stimulating the immune cells. I highly recommend this book for those who have cancer and those who do not but want to prevent it. The bibliography is extensive and the resource list is excellent. A diet plan is lacking but one can easily put together a diet plan using the information provided.

As a physician, I am often critical of authors who write about any form of health medical or alternative and want things proven rather than in theory. However, this is simply the best book I have read on the subject of cancer and nutritional therapies! I have all patients in my office with a cancer diagnosis read this book and start utilizing the ifnormation to help in their cancer treatment!