Just Curious
A friend of mine, his father had melanoma which had spread to his organs. By the time it was diagnosed / discovered he was told he would be lucky to survive 3 months. He was given pain killers and sent home. So effectively on a palliative care regime.
His son not happy to accept this did a lot of research on line and through books etc. As a lot of us do. He came across the theory of mixing baking soda (bicarb soda) and blackstrap molasses together. The theory being that the baking soda reduces pH levels in the body which supposedly cancer cannot thrive, if pH levels are alkaline. And the molasses because it is a sugar, cancer being attracted to it because it is acidic eats up the molasses / sugar that is infused with baking soda alkali and slows itself down. If you took the baking soda (bicarb) on its own the cancer avoids it. Put it with molasses and it is masked and the cancer eats it up ... That's the theory.
Long story short his father lived for 3 1/2 years longer then the doctor expected with no cancer drugs just his pain killers a healthy diet and the concoction of bicarb and molasses three times a day. My friend told me his father looked and felt better then he had for a long time up until his passing. He was skeptical but figured he had only to gain from trying it. He believes that the mixture, whilst not a cure, did prolong his fathers life, and added quality made him feel better. Now he swears by it and in fact takes it himself as a preventative everyday.
I was curious whether anyone else has tried this or knows anyone or stories of those who have.
Yours Vic
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vicstir - Name: Vic
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 39
Re: Baking soda (bicarb soda) & molasses for myeloma?
I have an aunt who had brain cancer and was treated with the full regimen of heavy chemotherapy treatment and participated in a clinical trial. It seemed to be helping for a while, but eventually she was told there was nothing more they could do and they put her on a palliative care regimen and she made plans to move in with her daughter.
One last MRI was done after treatment was stopped, I believe to support the clinical trial, and the doctors were stunned to find the tumor was completely gone and you can imagine how she must have felt to get that news. She is still alive years later today.
She never tried any holistic or alternative therapy. I am sure if she had, she would be convinced it saved her life, but that was not the case. Sometimes these things just happen with cancer and the doctor’s predictions for future life span are way off. I do not believe that you can read too much into one off incidental case like this -- it is why clinical trials with large patient groups are done.
I would be curious if your friend’s father ever went back to his medical team a year later, doing as well as he appeared to be doing, and said something to the effect, “I am still here -- let’s keep going with this and pick up where we left off.” That is what I would do. I would think they would want to see that he was doing much better than they had assessed before sending him to palliative care.
One last MRI was done after treatment was stopped, I believe to support the clinical trial, and the doctors were stunned to find the tumor was completely gone and you can imagine how she must have felt to get that news. She is still alive years later today.
She never tried any holistic or alternative therapy. I am sure if she had, she would be convinced it saved her life, but that was not the case. Sometimes these things just happen with cancer and the doctor’s predictions for future life span are way off. I do not believe that you can read too much into one off incidental case like this -- it is why clinical trials with large patient groups are done.
I would be curious if your friend’s father ever went back to his medical team a year later, doing as well as he appeared to be doing, and said something to the effect, “I am still here -- let’s keep going with this and pick up where we left off.” That is what I would do. I would think they would want to see that he was doing much better than they had assessed before sending him to palliative care.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Baking soda (bicarb soda) & molasses for myeloma?
Eric,
To answer your question he did not seek further "cancer" treatment. Some people are just not that way inclined. Not because he was alternate just because he was a tough old bugger who figured if there's nothing they can do then so be it.
Just for the record, I have not read too much into this one off case. That is what my question was curious if anyone else had tried or heard of this.
Who knows when the doctors tell us they can do no more what any of us may try for a little more time. I for one will keep an open mind and not mock what I haven't tried.
I'm guessing the fact there has been little response to my question that there are few to nil that have heard of it..
Yours Vic
To answer your question he did not seek further "cancer" treatment. Some people are just not that way inclined. Not because he was alternate just because he was a tough old bugger who figured if there's nothing they can do then so be it.
Just for the record, I have not read too much into this one off case. That is what my question was curious if anyone else had tried or heard of this.
Who knows when the doctors tell us they can do no more what any of us may try for a little more time. I for one will keep an open mind and not mock what I haven't tried.
I'm guessing the fact there has been little response to my question that there are few to nil that have heard of it..
Yours Vic
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vicstir - Name: Vic
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 39
Re: Baking soda (bicarb soda) & molasses for myeloma?
Vic,
pH levels in the body and cancer cell survival have been discussed before on the Beacon and it is not difficult to find postings on the Internet on that subject with a Google search. I do not remember if baking soda and molasses specifically were discussed, but there has been a number of diet-to-control-pH discussions that I can remember.
I believe that good diet is important but I am not a believer in the alkaline body pH cancer cell treatment approach based on the information on this subject I have seen. This type of cancer treatment approach is viewed by many as an “alternative medicine”.
I am quite comfortable expressing a view of a treatment I have not tried and I do not feel I am mocking a treatment just because I express a negative view of it. I do not like categorizing treatments as “conventional” or “alternative”. For me there are treatments that work or have some effectiveness, and there are those that do not. Lab research using the scientific method and clinical trials are the established process for testing the effectiveness of treatments, and it provides the information that can be used to responsibly make positive or critical comments on any treatment without having tried it.
pH levels in the body and cancer cell survival have been discussed before on the Beacon and it is not difficult to find postings on the Internet on that subject with a Google search. I do not remember if baking soda and molasses specifically were discussed, but there has been a number of diet-to-control-pH discussions that I can remember.
I believe that good diet is important but I am not a believer in the alkaline body pH cancer cell treatment approach based on the information on this subject I have seen. This type of cancer treatment approach is viewed by many as an “alternative medicine”.
I am quite comfortable expressing a view of a treatment I have not tried and I do not feel I am mocking a treatment just because I express a negative view of it. I do not like categorizing treatments as “conventional” or “alternative”. For me there are treatments that work or have some effectiveness, and there are those that do not. Lab research using the scientific method and clinical trials are the established process for testing the effectiveness of treatments, and it provides the information that can be used to responsibly make positive or critical comments on any treatment without having tried it.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Baking soda (bicarb soda) & molasses for myeloma?
For my part, I am and will be having the treatment recommended by the doctors. I am accepting of the fact that there is no cure. I haven't spent hours seeking a miracle cure. This site is as far as I have the time or inclination to go.
Having said that, everyone has to find there own way. I need to know that I am doing all I can to survive. At this point in time it's slowly gathering information.
We all have our own paths to follow. Some of us seek alternatives, some don't sway from convention, and some people pray.
Whatever works for you.
As for clinical trials etc. Pharmaceutical companies are not going to test any substance they cannot make squillions from. So they wouldn't waste their time on doing tests on a household product. After all, cancer means money to those treating it.
That's my two bobs worth.
vic
Having said that, everyone has to find there own way. I need to know that I am doing all I can to survive. At this point in time it's slowly gathering information.
We all have our own paths to follow. Some of us seek alternatives, some don't sway from convention, and some people pray.
Whatever works for you.
As for clinical trials etc. Pharmaceutical companies are not going to test any substance they cannot make squillions from. So they wouldn't waste their time on doing tests on a household product. After all, cancer means money to those treating it.
That's my two bobs worth.
vic
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vicstir - Name: Vic
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 39
Re: Baking soda (bicarb soda) & molasses for myeloma?
Vic,
Good points, but mega pharmaceutical companies will also not make gazillions unless their treatments get through FDA approval by being effective, or at least as good, as what is available -- something that means a lot to me. Most alternative and holistic approaches have not or cannot do that. If they did, they would not be alternative anymore. And not all clinical trials are done by pharmaceutical companies. There is also a fair amount of research done by government and university institutions.
My view is if there is a low cost treatment or drug that show promise as a treatment, there is some agency that would fund the research and trials and there are low margin pharmaceutical companies that would bring it to market. Aspirin is still sold.
Good points, but mega pharmaceutical companies will also not make gazillions unless their treatments get through FDA approval by being effective, or at least as good, as what is available -- something that means a lot to me. Most alternative and holistic approaches have not or cannot do that. If they did, they would not be alternative anymore. And not all clinical trials are done by pharmaceutical companies. There is also a fair amount of research done by government and university institutions.
My view is if there is a low cost treatment or drug that show promise as a treatment, there is some agency that would fund the research and trials and there are low margin pharmaceutical companies that would bring it to market. Aspirin is still sold.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Baking soda (bicarb soda) & molasses for myeloma?
I agree with Eric. The pharmacy shelves are full of pricey anti biological agents, and on the bottom shelf is hydrogen peroxide at a $1 a bottle which will do the same thing..
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Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
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