Wall Street Journal
Living With a Lifesaving Drug’s Side Effects
A recent Wall Street Journal article touts the benefits of a new drug called Gleevec, which is effective against certain cancers, but carries with it significant side effects. The Journal mentions one person, Alice Sulkowski, taking the drug and states that she has had difficulty dealing with the side effects: Although her life has been prolonged because of the drug, [she has dealt with] debilitating side effects like fatigue, muscle cramps, digestive problems, nausea and edema (which makes her ankles swell up ‘like an elephant’s legs’).
To deal with these side effects, many organizations, like Life Raft, have sprung up to provide support and other patients experiences to help a person get through the side effects. At least 5 websites noted in the article also help people through these side effects. Conferences are being held which provide counseling, videos and pamphlets on managing side effects.
Dr. Gardner’s comments: A whole culture is emerging out of ‘side effect management’ from medications. Tremendous resources are being spent on this aspect of sick care. Although the intent and the efforts are laudable, where are the support groups for those who have elected to change their diet and lifestyle to prevent and even treat cancer?
It is so important that people understand that unless they change the activities that brought them to a certain point in the lives, they will continue to have the same results. Unless they improve the nutrients and get rid of the toxins that caused the disease state in the first place, there is little chance for long-term change in over all health. And there are alternatives to drugs and surgery for almost all health conditions—find them, do them. Improve your health.
My doctor says I can get all the vitamins and minerals I need from my food. What is your opinion on this?
I used to say the same thing to my patients, back in the days before I studied healthy alternatives. It is the party line of allopathic medicine, although that is starting to change. Here's the bottom line, and I'll follow up with some info on what allopaths are now doing:
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