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The
Power of Choice
 In May 1988, Polly
Strand discovered a lump in her left breast. It was less than an
inch in diameter. She had not noticed it before, and it was not on
her last mammogram.
Polly Strand knew about cancer. Her mother had had it, and the
experience was difficult, to say the least. Her mother had had a
radical mastectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy, followed by
prolonged use of tamoxifen. The treatments were debilitating. Unlike
some women who seem to do well after the anticancer therapies, she
was never herself again. At first, the cancer was thought to be in
remission, but soon it was found to have spread to her brain,
causing psychotic symptoms, including frightening hallucinations.
Seven years after her mastectomy, Polly's mother died.
Polly was not eager to follow the same regimen. She scheduled a
biopsy. It confirmed that she had cancer. She did a computer search
of the medical literature on chemotherapy and radiation, and
concluded that, while they may be helpful in some forms of cancer,
they offered her no significant benefit. She opted to have only
surgery to remove the cancer, and not to have chemotherapy or
radiation.
At the same time, she worked to build her natural defenses. She
restructured her diet. All sources of extra fat were eliminated: red
meats, poultry, fish, dairy products, and added oils. She read
vegetarian cookbooks and tried many new foods. This became an
enjoyable process of exploring ethnic foods, and she grew
particularly fond of the many varieties of pasta prepared with
vegetables. She also kept up a vigorous exercise schedule.
Now age 67, Polly has seen 12 years pass since her diagnosis. She
has experienced ipsilateral recurrences, but each time opted for
surgery rather than chemotherapy, radiation, or drugs. She continues
to use dietary factors to maintain her immune strength as much as
ever. And she power walks one to two miles every other day. Her
energy has remained high, and her weight has not changed.
She does not hold that her decision would necessarily be right for
everyone. But she says, "I feel very strongly that it should be made
clear to people who have had a cancer diagnosis that they truly have
the option of saying "no" to chemo and radiation. A well-documented
reference book which explores this option for early breast cancer
patients is Enough Already by George Goldberg, J.D., a former
Harvard Law School professor who carefully researched the literature
with his wife after her diagnosis."
Source: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine |
