Discussion Board

Excellent, thought provoking article on medical recommendations that may be dangerous. The real-life account of this woman with cancer takes us behind the scenes in her search for the best course of treatment. What we don't see is the fear and frustration she must be feeling as she gets her medical recommendations from those involved. She is probably scared for her life, as well as intimidated by the white coats she is depending on for the advice that may give her the best chance with this illness. It's pretty cut and dry from "Dr. Hopefull" that recommends what she sees as the standard treatment for this condition. The literature seems to question that recommendation. This happens for many conditions and most people don't have the benefit of a Dr. McDougall reviewing the literature. Our only options it seems is either a self guided tour of the literature, a qualified, objective second opinion, or just let the doctor do what he wants.
These are tough places to find yourself and it would be helpful to be aware of many of the practices that are done having little data to support them. We know of many just by staying plugged in to professionals that make a point to make us aware.
I would be a member of the coronary bypass club had I not learned of the work and research of several figures in the field of diet and nutrition. These are not people that eschew surgeries or other types of treatment just because of what they are, but simply because the data doesn't support a benefit for the condition. I am grateful to have at my disposal, a wealth of information I can look back on should one of these issues be something I am faced with in the future. I have learned to read this material and keep it in the back of my head, knowing that there is some controversy about the treatment for these conditions. It might well mean the difference in the quality of life for someone I care about.
f1jim

The link: http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2011nl/oct/111000.htm

I highly recommend studying this article. It is a caution about dealing with specialists in particular, but I think it applies to all healthcare professionals.

Dr. McDougall's approach and advice are reality based. Among other questions, he asks in effect, "What do scientific studies show are the consequences -- for good or ill -- of the recommended treatment? How does it compare to alternative treatments or simply letting the condition continue?"

I began thinking about these issues when I read and reviewed Dr. Gilbert Welch's book, Over-Diagnosed, here: http://anti-itisdiet.blogspot.com/2011/ ... lbert.html

The problem in the case Dr. McDougall discusses is, however, about over-treatment.

Burgess you are correct. Many times it is about overtreatment. We don't think much about the consequences of overtreatment till it happens to us but look at the problems we are now facing because of the overtreatment of antibiotics. Because we started giving anyone that had a cold an antibiotic shot now we have bugs that we can't stop. Just a small decision a doctor made when a patient came through the door, multiplied by thousands of cases. Now it's a serious issue. We have to get to a place in medicine where we better use the right tool for the right issue. We have been taught to believe the more medical help we get the better. That clearly isn't always right.
f1jim

It was a great article. It was amazing to me when I first realized that many of the expensive and mutilating procedures offered by the medical profession had absolutely no proven benefit. I recall routine tonsillectomies and routine mastectomies too. The same with stents and bypass operations. It is just amazing that these things can become the standard of care without any proof of effectiveness.

Dr. McDougall,

Thank you for your article, "How to Protect Yourself from Abusive Medical Doctors" -- it was interesting and thought provoking.

I appreciate it greatly!

- E

What I am becoming more aware of is that most people are content to accept the media's view of cancer, chronic disease, etc. Then, when they receive the diagnosis of Cancer or blocked heart vessels, they respond with fear and are completely unprepared to challenge the medical profession. They accept the narrative given to them and pass it on to their family and friends.

Unfortunately, after the diagnosis is a difficult time to take an objective look at it. Most people would not have any idea of what to ask or what to challenge.

Thanks to Dr McDougall who has challenged me and others on this site to do some research before I need the information. I hope that if I am ever put in the position of being given medical advice that I will be more prepared. Although I am a medical provider, I personally find that I avoid the medical establishment more and more. I know that I am more scared of the treatments that would be advised than to have cancer. The lack of control scares me.

The woman in this article has been remarkably strong to resist conventional medical recommendation, especially with pressures from family and friends. I can only imagine some of the conversations she has had in the past weeks.

The doctor was clearly unprofessional in her first interaction with Dr. McDougall. I would not want a doctor with such minimal self-control operating on me.

The other thing that came to mind was to wonder if the patient has been on a McDougall diet all along, or if she just recently switched. I think that if she has already been on a healthy diet, maybe diet is not an effective treatment for this particular cancer because the cancer is obviously becoming more advanced.