alternative medicine

I was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer in January of 2004. Since then I have had a total hysterectomy and will be taking my 4th chemo treatment this week. The chemo drugs being used to treat me are taxol and carbo. Surgery and chemo seem to be working since my CA 125 has drop from 3300 before surgery to now 250. I'm 41 and will do whatever it takes to live another 41 years. I've been thinking about using alterative medicine in conjunction with chemo. Ive been reading this book "The Cure for all Cancers" by Hulda Clark, and liked what she had to say. My question is, will this interfere with my chemo?

[Pharmacologist]

There are some alternative therapies that can be used to accompany your treatment and these range from some herbal products to psychological therapy.

The chemo treatment you are undertaking (Taxol/Carbo) is the most common first line chemo dosing regimen for ovarian cancer and in many cases it is very effective in reducing CA125 counts to minimal levels and initiating periods of remission.  The treatment is fairly aggressive and does obviously have side effects.

The fact you are also taking catabolic steroids to reduce your immune response doesn't help and this leaves your prone to feeling 'run-down' and picking up minor infections (coughs and colds) that could be detrimental to treatment because of your immuno-compromised position.
As a herbal remedy Echinacea & Rosehip tablets (available from Hofels) provide a natural boost for the immune system and can help keep coughs and colds at bay.  My mother has had ovarian cancer and been treated as you are.

Another aspect of treating cancer is to do with psychosomatics and mental attitude.  Being able to relax and focus you mind and visualise the chemotherapy 'killing' the cancer cells and ridding them from your body is something that in many cases will help.  I am a personal friend of a Professor who deals with this aspect and he has treated my mother and many others to great effect.  He is the Director of the Institute of Rehabilitation here in Hull (UK) and there is a website you may wish to take a look at.  He has created some superb audio tapes/cd's to guide you through the whole relaxation and psychological therapy thing, and it is well worth a try.  See: http://www.hull.ac.uk/instrehab/

or

http://www.lgwalker.com

I hope you treatment continues to be beneficial and keep that positive mental attitude, you CAN beat this.. !!