Monday, January 16, 2012

Deadly Advice From a Deluded Young Woman

A couple years ago I joined a members-only online forum with hundreds of other ovarian cancer patients (and a few caretakers or family members).

This past week I got really angry. Really, really angry. (I don't think it is grammatically correct to use two "really" words, but you get the picture.)

A young woman posted on our board as well as eight other forums (eight other diseases) that food is the "only" remedy for our health problems. She insisted that if we all ate raw fruits and raw vegetables only (organic, of course) that we could be "cured" of our ailments.

She insisted that to remove the cancerous tumors was to remove our body's defense against the cancer...that the body had deposited the cancer into our ovaries instead of into the heart for instance. The "logic" behind this was that the heart is more vital to the life of the body and hence, the body had taken toxins that might damage the heart, so to speak, and deposited them in the ovaries without which the body can still survive.

As I mentioned already, she advocated this "raw fruit, raw veggie" diet as a "cure-all".

Regardless of the numerous replies disputing her "unscientific" or even "unsensible" idea, she is still insistent today, some two weeks after her original posting.

Generally, I limit my responses to the topic at hand...ovarian cancer...and all the subtopics involved...side-effects, surgeries, personal experiences, new ovca drugs, new trial drugs, etc. Those are the things we ovarians discuss. We sometimes digress to humor or personal anecdotes of life itself. While we mention faith (of whatever kind), we do not use the forum as a "preaching platform".

But this particular discussion was so false and had such a false concept of how we can be "cured". This deluded young woman is .... well...she's deluded. What more can I say. Today she accused us of "fearing death". And I could not let that pass.

Today I responded thusly:

She wrote this:
"May not the 'FEAR' of death guide you into short-sighted decisions to remove your organs or take dangerous drugs under the 'myth' that you will be cured and live 'happily ever after '."

I responded with the following: (I changed the name to protect the "not-so-innocent".)

First of all, SallyAnn, there is NO MYTH that we ovarian cancer patients are believing. Those of us diagnosed at stage III and IV are under NO ILLUSION that we will live, as you say, "HAPPILY EVER AFTER" if we faithfully do our chemo or any other regimen other than YOUR "food only" policy.

And, personally, SallyAnn, I do not FEAR DEATH.

You see, as a Christian, a follower of Christ, a believer of the Bible, I believe that Jesus was telling the truth when he promised eternal life to those who hear and believe. John 5:24. Here are his words....“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."

The verb tense of "has" is present tense. Our eternal life begins "right now". And the verb tense of "has passed" is past tense. We have already passed out of death. Into eternal life. It begins right now, here and now, not at some "point of death" when our souls leave our bodies.

He also said such words as "I go to prepare a place for you" and "I will come again". And in the last two chapters of the Bible, in the book of Revelation, we hear his promise, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

And again in verse 6 Jesus told John, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost."

I do not live in fear. Yes, I love this life here on earth. Life here is (can be) very, very good. We love our families, we love the beauty of nature, we love the goodness of common blessings with which God blesses the earth. But we also hate death. Death is the common enemy of all mankind. Thanks be to God, He has provided life beyond our physical death.

I seldom discuss my faith here on this forum. But I figure it is fair to do so, considering how you have shared your "non-medical advice" to those of us ovarian cancer patients who will die soon if we follow your "food only" advice.

Bottom line? We are born. We live. We die. But in Christ we have eternal life. He promises that in John 5:24. No ifs, ands, or buts. No special diet necessary. Simply believe that God is who He says He is, and that He has done what He says He has done, and that He WILL do what He says He will do. And then live what you believe.

If you want to eat raw fruits/veggies only, go for it.
If I want to, or anyone else here wants to do the same, go for it.
But don't believe the LIE that we ovarians can discontinue all medical care and that raw foods will CURE you.
It won't happen.

But eternity? Yeah. It's there. And I am not afraid to die.

End of discussion.

Disclaimer: This is not a denial on my part that a healthy diet is a good diet.

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Applauding you! May your day be full of warm love & blessings, my friend.
Have a lovely day ~
TTFN ~
Marydon

Scott said...

Good word - thanks for resisting SallyAnne. We prayed these very words this morning "He also said such words as "I go to prepare a place for you" and "I will come again".

I have observed over the years that the faddish brand of holistic advice can play right to our fears and is based on anecdotal evidences not science or repeatable provable results. And besides hoping take the hearer captive by fear and lies there is often a money trail back to someones book/video/club.

For at least a view from the otherside check out the National Council Against Health Fraud. Here is one link page down to "Dead Doctors Don't Lie." http://www.ncahf.org/nl/1996/3-4.html

Caroline said...

These idiots who think they have the secret 'cure' for cancer. I have no problem with lots of veggies and fruits and eating raw things. I know many people who believe their diet, whatever it is, helps their bodies in resisting their cancer. We all have to do what we can that helps us. But those of us who feel they must force us to bend to their wishes are the stupid ones. And the ones who think they have the cure on their dinner plate, are the dumbest of all.

S. Etole said...

Good job! And thank you.

Sandy said...

Very well said...Bravo! I am sure many on the board were glad you stood up to her.

Sarah Gracen said...

Way to go I have to say
that was a wonderful speech.
May God bless you.
~Poem Girl

Kelly said...

Excellent response!!!

Servivorgirl said...

I had no idea of this discussion. Praise you for your strength and vigor to defend those who may follow this poor advice. Praise you most for showing the strength that God has given you. You are a mentor for me and for many women, Peace.

Now I will go to find that conversation....shocking.

Debby said...

Wow. I know that I was struck speechless the day that my cousin e-mailed me to tell me that the cure to cancer was baking soda and peroxide, that the government was keeping this secret because of all the money health care would lose. Lose? How about save? It makes no sense, but people believe the strangest things.

You spoke truly and well, madam!

Maryann said...

WIsh you could see me jumping up and down applauding from the sideline. Well said!

Unknown said...

Well stated! Lately, there seems to be a plethora of posts attacking traditional treatments and those who choose to follow those medical guidelines. I'm not sure where all the sturm und drang is coming from, but it is annoying and counter to any therapy, western or outside-the-box. I applaud your restrained directness in speaking your mind.

Dee said...

I have not read this discussion but you did provide a very thoughtful , excellent response. I agree with everything you said.
I am constantly reading through cancer journal abstracts etc and have not found any scientific basis for her assertion.

PS thanks for posting on my blog.
Dee
stage3B 2005

Laurie M. said...

I'm so sorry your group has been invaded in this way. I don't know what motivates a person like this, but she is actually preying on the very fears she accuses you of having. At any rate, I'm so, so glad you said what you said.

Debra said...

Wonderful-you spoke with calm security in the only One who can give it....

Glenda said...

Your confidence in Him is a blessing!

Lynn Dykstra said...

Wonderful post.
As a hospice nurse I at times come upon patients or family members who think the pain is punishment from God for their sins and it is wrong to diminish it.
I respond, "God gave us the poppy."