Tanya Harter Pierce

The premise of this book is that conventional cancer treatments don't work and alternative treatments do. The author discusses the political and economic reasons why "effective" treatments are unknown to most people, even to most doctors. The medical establishment is presented as profit-driven and corrupt.

These alternative treatments take many different approaches to cancer. Some kill tumors with X-ray frequencies or by starving them or inhibiting their respiration. Others supply enzymes or fatty acids or vitamins or amino acids. Some are herbal. One stimulates endorphin production. One uses nitrogen to "unmask" tumors. Some detoxify the body and open bile ducts. Some alkalinize the body or boost its immune response. Most involve very complex science, which the author tries to clarify. But before considering any of these approaches one should be clear on what a tumor is and isn't. Is it a mortal enemy to be destroyed by any means? Or is it a defense mechanism, a toxic waste depot created by the body to isolate toxins from the bloodstream? If the latter, attacking it would be dangerous and counterproductive.

The testimonials in this book prove nothing, of course, but there are also detailed explanations about how these therapies are thought to work. You will have to make up your own mind about the plausibility of the explanations. On pages 257-258 you will find a very interesting theory of how normal cells become cancer cells. Interesting, but only a theory.

This provocative book is well-written, mostly clear and understandable. It provides much food for thought about the nature of cancer, without necessarily resolving or proving anything. Are these alternative treatments effective? Who knows? Are they all as non-toxic as they claim to be? I doubt it. It is impossible to generalize about so many different approaches, but most of them circumvent nature to some extent, and have side effects. Still, they are far less toxic than conventional treatments. But there is no mention here of the only 100% non-toxic program I know of: Herbert M. Shelton's Natural Hygiene protocol, which I believe to be superior to any in this book.… (altro)