This Treatment Could Increase Your Risk of Dying From Cancer

We’re constantly looking for better, smarter, and safer ways to improve our health. In fact, in 2015 it was found that about 1/3 of Americans look for alternative medicine outside regular health care. Some alternative health care methods can be helpful --- the problem arises when people start replacing conventional health care with these methods, especially when facing a fatal disease like cancer.

Study on Alternative Treatment

While there have been those looking for alternate cancer treatments over the years, as opposed to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, taking this route can be even more dangerous than the toxic effects of traditional treatment. A recent study revealed that people who choose alternative treatments, instead of traditional medical care, almost double their risk of dying from cancer. Researchers analyzed the records of almost 300 patients who had prostate, lung, breast, and colorectal cancer. One thing that set these cancer patients apart from others - they chose alternative treatment as opposed to traditional care.

High Mortality Rates

When compared with a group of patients who opted to receive regular medical care, it was found that alternative treatment takers were more likely to die within 5 years, by about 2.5 times the rate of those being treated medically! Broken up into smaller groups, the numbers were even bigger. For instance, breast cancer patients alone had a 5.68 times greater likelihood of death, while colorectal cancer patients were 4.57 times as likely, and lung cancer patients 2.17 times.

The moral of the story is --- alternative medicine is sometimes great and can often be used in conjunction with medical treatment (preferably with a doctor’s approval). If you are a believer in alternative treatments do a lot of research and make a well informed decision about your care. Before you choose alternative medicine for cancer, however, keep in mind that it may not be doing anything to extend your life.