Patrick Swayze’s Death Yet Another Reminder
I have been away from my blog for a few days due to my schedule, for which I apologize. After learning of Patrick Swayze’s death, I knew I had to get back in the groove. The Dirty Dancing and Ghost icon certainly put up a fight with the disease, but as is the fate of practically all Stage IV cancer victims, he ultimately lost the battle. His pancreatic cancer that metastasized to his liver is one of the most serious of cancers with few symptoms and rapid spread. From initial diagnosis, he lived about 20 months with chemotherapy. He was treated at one point with an experimental drug, Vatalanib. Vatalanib inhibits enzymes needed for cell growth, thereby stunting the growth of the tumor. The drug is still in clinical trials and was obviously not effective in Swayze’s case.
He made public statements of his confidence in conventional treatment and his dismissal of anything other than mainstream medicine. It is interesting that he was a heavy smoker and continued smoking throughout his treatment. Among the complements to chemotherapy that Mr. Swayze might have explored are oleander, black cumin seed oil (Nigella Sativa) and pancreatic enzymes - all of which have had success against pancreatic cancer, especially when combined with a healthy and nutritional diet and lifestyle that replenishes the body instead of diminishes it. Prescription of such complements is the practice of integrative oncologists. No one can say that a more integrative approach would have led to Patrick Swayze’s survival of the disease or even extended his life. However, the proven benefits of integrative therapies and the death of another celebrity cancer victim who refused anything not mainstream at least reminds us again of the poor track record of exclusively conventional cancer therapy. What is wrong with having both? Conventional therapy enhanced by integrative therapies will, plain and simply, be the best choice. It is a choice.