The Cancer Paradox

Modern medicine has decreed aggressive screening and treatment for cancer. In spite of shaky grounds for screening and the futility of many treatment plans most patients meekly agree to whatever a physician recommends about cancer. Most treatment programs including surgery, radiation and drugs are very expensive. With newer drugs cost is often astronomical, perhaps leading to poverty for patient and family. In spite of this most agree to whatever is ordered by their doctor not even pursuing a second expert opinion which I think is crucial for any major medical decision.

Contrast this to best treatment for more common, life threatening conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Physician recommendations of procedures and drugs are often followed. The by far best treatment of lifestyle change is either not offered or rejected even though results are better than standard cancer treatments and the cost is negligible, often negative. This I call "the Cancer Paradox."

Why this illogical, expensive disparity? Most of the fault is with our medical system, starting with miseducation of physicians which is then compounded by strong financial incentives to over diagnose and over treat. Advice to take expensive drugs which offer little chance of success and likelihood of serious side effects is presented to the patient as an absolute. Advice to change diet or other lifestyle is an option to be considered if it is mentioned at all. Furthermore, lifestyle change requires an excellent support system with education, cooking classes, social and psychological professionals for the patient and family, but these are mainly non-existent. There's no profit in such systems and money drives medical center and physician resource allocation.

What's the answer? Unfortunately, it's to find or create such a support system for yourself, family and friends. The internet has many possibilities as long as you're careful to avoid the charlatans promoting fad diets, supplements and foods. Good luck!