Guest guest Posted June 12, 2007 Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 Hello All, I'm seeking a bit of personal advice. I had a mole removed from my calf which has been identified as a malignant melanoma. It was 0.6mm and the Dr who performed the initial surgery (who i think suspected the diagnosis) went deep and removed quite alot of tissue leaving me with 6 stitches. Standard procedure now is to remove 1cm of tissue either side of the scar in case there are a few cancer cells remaining. I am resistant to further surgery (though still minor) and would rather support my body and immune system with diet, herbs etc. However, I do not feel I am very well informed and I am finding it difficult to persuade friends and family that this is okay with no real 'evidence' to argue my case with the dermatologist. I also don't want to put myself at unnecessary risk. If any one can point me in the direction of good sources about surgical vs nonsurgical intervention, or offer any further advice I would be most grateful, (have been looking at NICE guidelines but found only studies on 1cm vs 2cm excision). I am also consulting with another herbalist. Many thanks in advance. Ingrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 Dear Ingrid, I am sorry to hear about your health troubles. These events are scary enough when we see clients but in ourselves.... I always recommend http://www.cancerdecisions.com/index.html run by Ralph Moss, a great source of information about different options available to treat cancer. I did not find anything specifically dealing with surgical options for malignant melanoma but it is worth asking him directly. There is a useful summary of conventional treatment options and why they are done at http://www.cancernews.com/articles/melanomas.htm run by a conventional MD. As far as I am aware there is no research about effectiveness of conventional medicine versus non-conventional medicine in the treatment of cancer. It is considered unethical in conventional circles to conduct research into cancer treatments and NOT to give surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy etc. I am sure that you know that the key here is the immune system and holistic medicine is the way to maximise this. Whatever the conventional options, the emphasis must be on your immune system, how to strengthen it and, in my experience, a multiple approach is preferable. Contacts such as The Penny Brohn Cancer Care centre (formerly Bristol Cancer Help Centre) - http://www.pennybrohncancercare.org/ - is very helpful. Regards, Gascoigne www.drgascoigne.com > > Hello All, > > I'm seeking a bit of personal advice. I had a mole removed from my > calf which has been identified as a malignant melanoma. It was 0.6mm > and the Dr who performed the initial surgery (who i think suspected > the diagnosis) went deep and removed quite alot of tissue leaving me > with 6 stitches. > > Standard procedure now is to remove 1cm of tissue either side of the > scar in case there are a few cancer cells remaining. I am resistant > to further surgery (though still minor) and would rather support my > body and immune system with diet, herbs etc. > However, I do not feel I am very well informed and I am finding it > difficult to persuade friends and family that this is okay with no > real 'evidence' to argue my case with the dermatologist. I also don't > want to put myself at unnecessary risk. > > If any one can point me in the direction of good sources about > surgical vs nonsurgical intervention, or offer any further advice > I would be most grateful, (have been looking at NICE guidelines but > found only studies on 1cm vs 2cm excision). > > I am also consulting with another herbalist. > > Many thanks in advance. > > Ingrid > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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