You’ve been affected by cancer. In some way. Haven’t you?
Maybe it was your mother, or your best friend’s uncle, or you dealt with it personally, undergoing rounds of chemo and wondering when it would end.
None of us are exempt from the experience – whether indirectly or directly – any longer. It’s everywhere. But frighteningly enough, the regimens used to treat cancer can often be as scary as the cancer itself.
Chemotherapy and radiation both, in fact, are a cause of cancer. Your disease is being treated by a very thing that causes it. Add to it the myriad other side effects of mainstream treatment, and you’re not only facing the fear of death via your initial disease, but the potential of a very excruciating life for months (if not forever).
It’s a terrible position to be put in, and from every side of you doctors and medical institutions are screaming, “There is no other way to treat cancer! You MUST do it this way or face certain death!”
So you look to nature, and you wonder. You research, and talk to other people who’ve chosen the alternative. Your mind changes …
But deciding to take a different route, an alternative one, is met with derisive sneers or complete frustration by the doctors who really just want you to be healthy (and I believe most of them really do). Some of your friends and family will be baffled by the choice. Some of them won’t support it. You feel as if maybe you’re a little crazy, in the face of all the decision making.
Not to mention, choosing alternative, natural therapies is a crushingly expensive ordeal, as no insurance company will cover a treatment so outlandish. So you’re stuck with a choice. Listen to what your body tells you, or listen to the experts.
It takes a special kind of courage to seek out alternative, natural therapies to cancer. This is not to say that anyone who chooses mainstream medical treatments is making a bad decision. Your health is a deeply personal issue, and one that no one but you should have an ultimate say in. Ever. No matter what you decide.
But, this is Crunchy Betty after all, so I want to tell you about someone that we can all help take a brave new journey to wellness.
Terry Helton and His Fight For Health
This is Terry and his daughter Hethyr.
I met Hethyr several months ago at a community swap. She’s an effervescent, lovable young local chef who mesmerized me at hello.
Her father, Terry, was diagnosed in December with his second occurrence of lung cancer, after having undergone radiation and chemotherapy for the same issue in 2007. It has now metastasized to his spine.
In mainstream medical terms, Terry was destined for months upon months of dreadful and potentially unsuccessful chemotherapy and radiation. However, he has bravely chosen, instead, to seek out alternative treatment.
Terry and his wife left, today, for Tijuana, where he’ll be receiving at least two weeks of treatment at the Gerson Institute (which you may remember from the documentary Food Matters). This is not an uncostly endeavor, and Terry and his family, without the help of insurance, need all the love and monetary support they can get to complete this treatment.
From the Gerson Institute’s website (and if you want to read a bunch of inspiring stories, visit their Facebook page):
The Gerson Institute is a non-profit organization… dedicated to providing education and training in the Gerson Therapy, an alternative, non-toxic treatment for cancer and other chronic degenerative diseases. The Gerson Therapy is a safe, natural treatment developed by Dr. Max Gerson in the 1920s. The therapy activates the body’s extraordinary ability to heal itself through an organic, vegetarian diet, raw juices, coffee enemas and natural supplements. The Gerson Therapy treats the underlying causes of disease: toxicity and nutritional deficiency.
With the help already of a strong local support group, Terry has already raised nearly $11,000 of the $20,000 needed to complete his treatment and help with some of his ongoing costs, but he still has a way to go (and a potential extra $5500 week at the Gerson Institute, if he doesn’t make the gains they expect).
So I thought, in the spirit of Crunchy Betty, I could tell you his story, and you can pitch in a little, if you find the cause calls to you.
Here is his GiveForward page, where you can read more about his story (set up by Hethyr) and donate. And if you want to follow along with his progress, there’s also a very lively Facebook Group to keep an eye on!
What More Can We Do, Crunchy Angels?
On a personal note, for over a year I’ve been searching my heart for a cause to support on Crunchy Betty. Something that embraces the spirit of taking charge of your own health and life and being absolutely conscious about your choices.
Terry Helton inspired me. Gears started moving. Things started clicking.
I’m just so very, very, very tired of modern medicine looking down at or completely ignoring the possibility that there are alternative, natural treatments to diseases – especially cancer, one of the scariest diseases of all.
It’s the mocking nature, really, of so many people who say, “Well. If that works so well, why aren’t there studies to prove it?” When they know, full well, that there aren’t studies to prove that nutritional therapy and other alternative treatments work on chronic or deadly diseases, because there is no money put forth to study them.
Why? Because no one makes money when it’s proven that an apple treats colon cancer. Apples cannot be patented; therefore, they’re not studied. And no one (but the apple farmer) makes money when apples are prescribed as treatment.
SO. Where am I going with this?
I’d like to figure out a way to help other people who are in the same situation as Terry, but I want to know if that is something YOU guys would support. And, if so, would you like to help me brainstorm ways to do this? We could do this by adopting an organization committed to studying natural and alternative treatments, or we could do this by finding people – single people – who are similar to Terry and are seeking alternative treatments to cancer.
Or? Do you have another idea? If so, please let me hear it. I’m open to any and all suggestions.
Oh, yeah. And don’t forget to visit Terry’s Give Forward page and at least leave a hug (you can do that there, for real). Show ’em what you Crunchy Betties are made of!
How to Make Felted Wool Dryer Balls
I love the idea of supporting research into natural remedies! My boss was recently diagnosed with cancer…she, with a lot of people praying for her, switched to the “cancer diet” and she was recently declared in “spontaneous remission.” Her doctor has finally decided not to try to force her into chemo 😛 The alternatives deserve more attention than they get.
What a lovely man. I just donated $20 (my lunch money too). Thanks for spreading the word.
I strongly recommend reading this doctor’s book with 20 years of actual study on nutritional healing and prevention. I am all for taking charge of our health through nutrition! http://amzn.to/2aoRRyH
praying for terry and his family also!!
I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at the age of 32 last september. I did a ton of research and was so baffled by all the opposing views of main stream doctors. My head was spinning with options and fear and everything! I am undergoing surgery this week coming up and do not want to do any awful chemo after that! I am on the hunt for good info about cancer cures and would be interested in what you find. I checked out the place in mexico and it sounds awesome. thank you for writing about this!!
Jacquelyn
This post really hit home, and hard. And while this topic and comments have given me a lot to think about… what I really want to say is to Terry and his family (and everyone else here who is facing this challenge): You are all in my prayers. Prayers for comfort, for healing, and for hope.
Miss Betty, thank you for the interesting post on Terry’s journey to alternative cancer therapies. As a registered (and crunchy) nurse, I support any type healthy and natural solution, cure, or adjunctive therapy. However, I must say, that as that type of nurse, I am frequently frustrated by the general public’s adverse reaction to any suggestion that does not involve a prescription, a pill, a drug. This is the other side of the coin. I have watched patients become very upset when doctors suggest nutritional changes that would be very beneficial. One in particular became unhinged when her doctor said her episodes of diarrhea brought on by ingesting large amounts of fatty cream sauces could not be solved by a pill, and suggested instead not eating such large quantities of the offending foods. Full out angry at that suggestion. When patients complain of constipation, they are incensed to be told to give up all the soda and replace with water, to actually eat vegetables and whole grains, to give up all the fast foods they admit constitutes the majority of their diet. Recently one of the gastroenterologists that I work with approached me with a question regarding the cinnamon one of his patients listed on her medication record. Why would she be taking that? I told him it aided with blood sugar metabolism, perhaps his patient was a borderline diabetic (turns out she was) and was trying to stave off the use of oral hypoglycemics and insulins. He did not scoff or insult, he thought about it for a moment, then declared that interesting and thanked me for sharing that info with him. He then encouraged the patient to continue that therapy as long as it worked for her. So, not all doctors and medical personnel look down their noses at nutritional, herbal, and other alternative therapies. In my 21 years of nursing, the only time I have witnessed a doc telling a patient to stop their alternative therapy choice was when it was not having the desired affect. These types of alternative therapies need to gain acceptance not just with the “medical field”, but also with our pill popping, drug crazy public. The general public needs to eliminate the thinking that just because a cure or therapy doesn’t come in machine pressed pill, in an immaculate blister pack or an orange pill bottle it can’t possibly help. They do help, they do correct, they do cure. Is it a wonder these types of treatments are not suggested more often by medical persons when they are met with resistance and too often hostility from patients?
Yes, Betty, it is sad that what will really heal Terry is not covered by insurance. I have been traveling this road for the last 7 years, up to the point of $16,000 per month of non-covered expenses. BUT…there IS hope!!! And, like my husband says, what is the cost of LIFE worth? We have seen tremendous success using therapy similar to Max Gerson’s, as well as implementing homeopathy, herbs, and many custom supplements, saunas for detox, rebounding, mud packing, and more. It has taken many hours for many weeks, months, and even years. But we are seeing progress, and success. Stick with it, Terry! We’ll be praying for you!
I would like to personally thank you for posting this story. I am Terry’s 3rd out of 4 daughter’s and it still astonishes me how supportive everyone has been. I am so grateful to have such amazing friends and family. It speaks alot to know they’ve touched enough lives that are willing to help spread the word. So, thank you for giving Hethyr the opportunity to share my father’s story through you.
New to the community but am loving every single thing i’m reading! I’ve recently watched some documentaries about the Gerson Therapy: “A Beautiful Truth” and “The Gerson Miracle” (both on Netflix instant). These have convinced me to completely change my diet and not trust anything that the pharmaceutical industry says is “good” for us! Check out those docs if you have the time!
Sarah – thanks for sharing! I have put both of those documentaries in my Netflix queue and am currently in the middle of watching “Food Matters.” It’s cool to watch knowing that my dad is currently undergoing the Gerson Therapy – makes me so happy!!! =)
My prayers go out to Terry and his family. I’m sending many good thoughts of love and healing.
In response to your request for ideas for helping I would like to suggest a Crunchy Betty “store”.
I’m a mom and a Traditional Naturopath and agree with your assessment of conventional treatments, and feel a person in the position of having to deal with something as serious as cancer must follow the treatment course they feel is best for them. This can be very expensive, especially without medical insurance to help defer even some of the costs. Sadly, I recently lost my stepmother to lung cancer. She chose to receive conventional treatment and even with full medical insurance the costs were huge. With the emotional trauma a family feels while dealing with cancer, the last thing they need is to feel financial stress also. Unfortunatley, that is a reality for many. I would be honored to be a part of helping with this.
I’ve read so many Cruchy Betty posts and am AMAZED over and over again at the creativity of the Crunch Betty community. I know when I need something myself or need to give a gift I will either make it myself or buy handmade. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Crunchy Betty community could donate handmade items to sell on the site with the profits going to help those in need.(either to the organization or single person being supported) This community could come up with some wonderful things. As a crafter myself, I would glady contribute. Getting the word out and getting people to site would be the next step. Realistically budgets are tight for almost everyone. If there was a place where I could buy something for my family or a responsibly made gift with the proceeds going to help a family dealing with cancer it would not only be a win-win situation, it would be gratifying experience.
Thanks for the call-out for suggestions. It’s wonderful that you want to help. Thanks for listening to my suggestion. I’m looking forward to seeing what you ultimately come up with. I hope I can help in some way.
Jane~
Hi, Jane. Thank you so much for your good thoughts (I’m Terry’s daughter)! I just wanted to say I *LOVE* the idea of a CB store with donated handmade goods. I would be willing to donate my own crafty items knowing that the profits would go to help someone like my dad. What a great idea!!! =)
I think it is great that more people are becoming aware of how their diet effects their lives. Interestingly, traditional Chinese medicine has been around for so many more years than modern western medicine, and the practice of treating all aspects of the person in Ayurvedic healing has been done similarly for ages, as have many other traditional forms of healing. Good not to dismiss the knowledge they have built up, even if it conflicts with a western lifestyle.
I think supporting an institution such as the Gerson is a lovely idea…warm and wonderful. There are so many battles that need to be fought but they seem to have developed a good weapon!
Much love and energy to all that need it
From Kenya
http://cutpoisonburn.com/
This is a documentary about the cancer industry and the hell parents can go through when trying to pursue unconventional treatments for their children. I met Jim Navarro at the WAPF convention in Dallas a few months ago. He is an incredible man. The documentation tells the story of their son who was killed by chemo and their battle to have him treated with alternative therapies.
I have a close friend who is $600,000 in debt from conventional cancer treatments over the last 3 1/2 years. He has non-hodgkins lymphoma that has spread to other areas of his body including his stomach. He has been through chemo 6 times and his cancer just kept coming back. When they found tumors in his stomach and groin they gave him 3-6 months to live. They said another round of chemo would kill him – not to mention every other attempt at chemo ruined his quality of life. So this time, my friend decided to see an alternative practitioner by the name of Solomon Wickey. He is not widely known because he does not advertise or charge for his services, but you can find articles if you look him up online – he happens to be here in Indiana. Solomon put my friend on a special diet and supplements. Only 3 weeks later, my friend went to the doctor and was told his tumors were shrinking. This was maybe 6 months ago. Only a few weeks ago, after following a gluten free, vegetarian, sugar-free diet, my friend lapsed and ate some “normal” foods. He felt so miserable he went to the ER thinking his cancer must be spreading – he feared death. After a cat-scan and bloodwork… A MIRACLE, everything came back normal. He had NORMAL bloodwork (for the first time in 3 years) except for slightly raised white cells and they found NO TRACE of the cancer in his stomach. He had basically just had a reaction to the food and then scared himself sick. This is 100% true and yes unbelievable. In the past 6 mos, I have watched all the documentaries about Gerson therapy and bought 3 of the books. I have for a long time been an advocate of detoxification and supplementation and now nutritional therapy. I am convinced. I drink 20+ ozs of fresh veggie juice every day and follow a diet similar to my friend, in fact several of our friends have begun doing the same. We all feel amazing! This alternative approach to treating disease is undeniably helpful. It is maddening that traditional doctors are not advocates. I have another friend who is a 2-time cancer survivor and has never even HEARD that sugar “feeds” cancer and has never been told her diet can help. Another friend has a beautiful 5 yr old little girl just diagnosed with brain cancer and they are feeding her as many donuts as she wants while she is in the hospital undergoing radiation. SO frustrating to hear. I could go on and on. I was drawn to Crunchy Betty because I have been seeking natural alternatives to the garbage that is sold in stores full of chemicals. So glad to have found there are other ways to live. I will look forward to hearing how Terry progresses. Thank you for sharing his story.
I’m so there with you on this. What a great idea to blog about Terry and I know each of our tiny contributions will help him get the alternative therapy he needs. Need to study up on the Gerson Institute since so many of my friends and families have been stricken in the past year. Some are interested in alternatives – some not. But it helps to know options that you can share.
Giving feels so good! Gonna email you about this and more…soon!
How about a communal support of the Gerson Institute? Perhaps we can sponsor a patient or set up some sort of scholarship plan. I don’t have experience setting up something like this but I am sure it can be done easily enough. I would certainly help
http://www.herbcompanion.com/herb-to-know/guinea-hen-weed-the-new-way-to-fight-against-cancer.aspx
Guinea hen weed … an herb to consider for cancer treatment.
I put down a ten spot cause that about all I have for wiggle room in this moment, but let it be the beginning of a wave of support!
I think it is fantastic that you want to help a cause that is very much in need of more opinions and options. Since the American Cancer Society has been in force, lives are not being saved, they are being poisoned. At a very lucrative cost I must add. When President Nixon declared war against cancer, not many people have been “cured” from it, but rather put in remission. We (cancer patients and survivors) need more people to help us fight this cause. Anyone can type in googles search bar “the misuse of the American Cancer Society’s funds. They claim to want to help celebrate birthdays, and that may be true, but it is their Birthdays they are more concerned about celebrating. If they found a cure (or shared the cure), we would no longer need the American Cancer Society.
How do I know all this? I was diagnosed with Lung Cancer in 2009, went through the chemo treatments, radiation and also an upper right lobectomy all in the time span of six months. I am now what they would call in remission or NED (no evidence of disease). It is very hard to even get people who made it through all of those treatments to open their minds to alternative therapies. I am one of those people. I did as the doctors suggested (as they claim it was very aggressive). So you sit there with fear and urgency running your emotions, and are willing to do what they say is best for you. I agree that Dr.’s do feel they are doing the very best for you, only because they were taught to deal and heal with drugs, not nutrition.
Should my cancer come back, I will be seeking out alternative therapy. Since my surgery in 2009, I have completely changed my diet (which took almost two years), I was celebrating living, eating cake, steaks, seafoods all the while not realizing I was setting my body up for failure or cancer once again. Yes, my adult son now calls me a recycled hippy and tree hugger, all because he is not as open to the idea that possibly the right foods put into our bodies could be the cure.
If I can help you in any way, please email me @ mbosserman@comcast:disqus dot net.
God Bless Terry and his family. I am very proud of him for taking his health into his own hands. His body will thrive with the food that he will be eating. I will be keeping track of his blog, as another cancer survivor all my prayers are with him and his family.
Hugs and Health,
Mary
Just this week heard about the Gerson Therapy when telling someone about my sister-in-law’s cancer. It’s all through her body. Not good. I’m afraid of even telling her about the cost of Gerson Therapy, but the alternative… not good either. And now, here you post about it. Amazing timing.
I think it’s nice to support people vs. programs for the personal nature of it, for the fulfillment of knowing who you’re helping. The only draw back is that you would get innundated with requests for individual help. As long as you have the systems in place to determine who gets help and who doesn’t – because realistically you won’t be able to help everyone. A friend of mine, a musician, started his own non-profit to help individuals through the money they raise at concerts. He says that’s the most difficult part.
I like the idea of supporting natural & alternative research and marketing to make it a more viable option for the general public. I’m convinced that pharmaceutical companies are in it for the money, not the healing. But then, so is any for-profit company. Even not-for-profits can be in it for the money as long as they spend the money they make (which is questionable as to how they spend it. I live in the home of Mayo Clinic, a not-for-profit. I see how they spend it. They do a lot of good, of course, but.) Supporting a non-profit would ensure that it’s about the healing, not the profit which has the ability to turn well intentioned people greedy. Not always, but it’s something to consider as you look at different organizations to support.
Terry, his wife, Hethyr, and Mia’s mum have been added to my prayer list. I believe that it is important to support online people we learn of that are experiencing crisis in their lives. Words of encouragement to let the family know that a stranger is thinking of them means so much. I know first hand.
Thanks for the prayers! They make all the difference!
I agree with you! Not many people, certainly not MDs, believe that any credence should be given to “alternative” medicine. Kris Carr’s book (Crazy Sexy Diet) and her experience really brought this home for me. Personally, I saw a dermatologist for over a decade for acne treatment. In six months, a naturopathic doctor had tied it to two food allergies and it’s gone. It definitely seems ironic to me that insurance paid for 10+ years of dermatologist visits but won’t even touch the naturopathic doctor visits (unless I submit a form where the naturopathic doctor must verify that her treatment was only for a symptom and was not in any way related to general health and well-being – but, in my experience, fixing my general health and well-being was the very definition of how the naturopathic doctor approached the problem). Thank you for posting this!
Your evaluation of the medical world is right on. To up the insanity try pediatric cancer. Do it their way or prepare for the lawsuits to decide who gets your child. You certainly aren’t competent. Sigh. This is not fun. I read every now and then about how “future medicine will be more all encompassing, patient need centered, etc”. Fiddlesticks! There is too much money in medicine for that.
I would be far more likely to support PEOPLE, rather than studies. At least with people we can SEE who we are helping, and see the difference we are making in a LIFE and FAMILY. Not sure that a study would make any difference at all, if the truth were know. Too much money wasted, while people are dying NOW.
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/228583-Scientists-cure-cancer-but-no-one-takes-notice
Seriously, ask the docs if they can prescribe this as a supplemental treatment. It might help, it might not, but it’s worth a shot, yes?
*heaps encouragement* Here, have some of that, too. <3 I wish everyone the best on their paths to healing!
Love the cause
Subscribed, not sure I’ll be reading the Tampon Talk though HA HA. Great post, inspiring and on point with EVERY WORD! Sending love from Baghdad!
I love LOVE the idea of supporting studies on the effectiveness of natural treatments. It sounds like a great and lovely idea when you’re healthy, but when you or someone close to you is faced with a terrifying diagnosis and pressure to do something and do something fast, an alternative treatment can suddenly seem rather irresponsible, among other things, like you’re not doing everything you can. Some scientific support is exactly what we need.
Sadly, I’m sure this story will bring out dozens or hundreds of other stories of readers and those they love facing cancer, and our prayers go out to each of them.
Oh, Betty! Thank you so much for such a great post about my Dad. I’m going to share this on Facebook, Twitter and my blog and hopefully get some more folks over to your blog. I can’t tell you how much this means to my family and me – we are so honored!!! I only hope my Mom and Dad have internet access while they’re in Mexico so they can read it. I am so happy that even through all of our trials, we are able to help spread the word about the Gerson Institute and alternative treatments in general – maybe we can help someone else in a similar position. And I will definitely be keeping Mia and her mom in my thoughts! Thanks again, you amazing woman, you!!! ♥
Robert Tisserand has studied the effects of essential oils for a lifetime, published books and delivers lectures and papers on it. His work deserves a bit of extra recognition in my book.
http://roberttisserand.com/
Sniffling a bit here now… my mom is fighting advanced ovarian cancer with chemo (3rd combination/attempt now) and pranic healing. The chemo she’s doing because the doctors and say it’s her only, slim, chance. The pranic healing she’s doing because she believes wholeheartedly in it- studied it for years before the cancer and believes in it even more now. The chemo is SUPPOSEDLY covered by insurance, but my parents still owe $80k for one 3 month drug regime that the insurance company has decided they’d rather not pay for. The pranic healing costs $50-75 twice or thrice a week (paid to one of 3 individuals). Of course that cost is entirely out of pocket and after more than a year it’s added up in a big way. But it’s only money (we keep repeating, and we mean it). It does us no good to have money but not health.
Wouldn’t it be lovely to have both?
Sending best possible wishes and healing light to Terry.
Mia- sending your mum healing thoughts and your whole family well-wishes.
Thank you!