3 replies to this topic

[maineman]

Met a really nice new patient this week. In his 50s. He and his wife moved to the southwest years ago to live a "new age" lifestyle. Grew their own food, ate only stuff from health food stores. No doctors, no check ups. Did a lot of yoga, meditation, etc. Guy is a software developer, smart guy, worked from home. She developed some "lumps" and refused to see a doctor. Took advice from the woman at the counter at the health food store. Died a horrible death from metastatic breast cancer (after the disease had spread to her stomach and she couldn't eat, some other family members took her to a hospital. It was too late). During this time the "smart" guy developed a lump behind his ear. Took same advice.... says he would have liked to see doctor but felt that would be a betrayal to his wife's "Beliefs". Once she died he sought help, was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue, had surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Recently had his feeding tube removed. Seems okay. Moved here to be closer to "support". Amazing. I believe they were truly in love. She's dead from not seeing a doctor. In spite of all of this, he still would "prefer" to self medicate, but I did convince him to let me do a thorough check up... For someone like me who likes to talk a lot, I was speechless for the rest of the day. mm

[Rogerdodger]

This is the biggest problem I have with "health food stores". That is when a person avoids the best medical system in the world in favor of a totally unregulated "supplement" of questionable, if not detrimental, value. Of course, it is a right we have, to decide our own treatment or lack thereof. But in this instance you might say that taking the supplement instead of seeing a doctor killed her or at least hastened her death tremendiously. And shouldn't we hold these "practicioners" accountable for their recommendations? My sister-in-law has lived with ovarian cancer for over six years by taking expensive supplements of all kinds. She goes into the store and the "expert" gazes closely into her eyes and then tells her what her body needs. It is so simple and yet it has obviously worked so far. (Did I mention she also has had several surgeries and several rounds of chemo? I wonder if that might also have something to do with her longer than expected survival?) That said, I think the organic placebos are the best. Especially if they are expensive. And double especially if the sales lady looks into your eyes really, really close. Sheese!

[maineman]

there are several very sad issues with this case. First, somehow this woman believed she "knew" her body and could "fix it" with off the shelf "health food" related items. A bright, college-educated woman. How did this happen? Second, her equally deluded husband refused to seek care for his neck lump, even though he wanted to, because he did not want to let his deluded wife know that she might be wrong.... it was only after she died from what would have been treatable disease that he sought help and was cured. The woman was free to go to a charltan (health food store) but there is no liability and there never will be. the vitamin and health food store industry lobbied to have their products labeled as "food-related" in order to avoid FDA scrutiny, so there is no liability.... they can make pseudo claims, such as "could be used" for prostate cancer. They just never have to say "has been shown to work for prostate cancer".... and they get away with it... This exclusion was passed by the house and senate around 12 years ago....so it goes... mm

[OEXCHAOS]

No amount of regulation is going to save folks like that. It's religion. They WANT to believe and that's the problem. No amount of regulation or reason is going to change it. M