Here's a video clip from a class I taught. In it I talk about the three main reasons why I refused chemo for colon cancer back in January 2004. Enjoy!

(Reuters) At least two thirds of people with advanced cancer believed the chemotherapy they were receiving might cure them, even though the treatment was only being given to buy some time or make them comfortable, according to a U.S. survey. Researchers reported in the New England Journal of Medicine that 69 percent of patients who were terminally ill with lung cancer, and 81 percent with fatal colorectal cancer, did not understand that their chemotherapy was not at all likely to eliminate their tumors. "Their expectations are way out of line with reality," said lead researcher Deborah Schrag of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institution in Boston, speaking to Reuters Health...

I received an email yesterday that I decided to answer on the blog. Here it is: "My wife found your blog and I find it very inspirational and resourceful. I've been diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer just like yours, but unlike your tumor, mine is located in the lower part of the rectal area. I have visited the oncologists and surgeons, they said the best way is to go through Chemo and Radiation in order to shrink the tumor size small enough to remove it during surgery. I will begin my treatment next week, the Chemo I'll be taking is the pill that I'll have to consume twice a day for 6 weeks with radiation. The doctors said I will be required to go through another chemo therapy after surgery, which would be different chemo treatment (through IV). That's where my wife feel most uncomfortable and began researching different options such as alternative therapy. And she found your blog with some insightful information. I changed my diet to raw organic vegetables the day I was informed that I had cancer. It was a life changing moment and left me a little confused what's on the horizon for me. Instead I began to eat more raw organic food and exercise than I have done before (I have been eating organic food and exercising moderately for years). While I have read through some of your blogs and stories, I know you mentioned that you had surgery to remove part of the large intestine and forego chemo and radiation with alternative therapy. I am still confused about the part when you had surgery...Did you have any treatment before your surgery? I understand your blog and stories mostly mention after surgery treatment but maybe I overlooked somewhere that says anything about before surgery? I am curious to know because my age is slightly older than your age right now and I have two young daughters, too. I just do hope that everything posted on your website is true. I am not doubting anything but I do praise your recovery and living cancer free. That's my goal too." Regards, Tris. Continue reading for my answer and a surprising study about the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

Hi Chris, I stumbled across your website when I was looking for alternatives to Chemotherapy. I believe what you have done is very courageous and inspiring. I am 32 and have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, no family history, generally healthy - so totally shocking. I have had 2 lots of surgery and the tumour was removed and my lymph nodes were clear. I am due to start Chemotherapy on Tuesday and I am scared. Since my diagnoses, I have changed my diet completely, pretty much vegan now and feel the healthiest I have felt in a long time. I have researched into healing myself with food and alternative therapies and it just makes sense to me, but there is also something in me that is saying I need to do the mainstream treatment as well, but the closer I get to it the crazier it seems, why would I want to go and get pumped full of toxic chemicals that will destroy my immune system when I feel so healthy and in tune with my body? I have already been given Zoladex (meant to suppress ovaries - in the hope to remain fertile) and already I notice the changes in my body, not sleeping, spaced out and off my food. I just can't imagine putting my body through this for 5 months with ongoing treatment for another 5 years.. I wish I had the courage you had. What do you think of doing the mainstream treatment alongside a plant based diet and alternate therapies?? Or is it counteractive? I am confused!! The hospital system here (Hervey Bay, Australia) just seem to want to through every treatment at me, Chemotherapy, Radiation, Herceptin for a year and hormone treatment for a following 5 years - they're reasoning for this is because of my age and that the tumor was grade 3 & triple positive - but the cancer could potentially all be gone already?? And when I ask what is the cause of my cancer, they say "its just one of those things" Isn't that ridiculous. I would appreciated any comments you have, you can be as blunt as you like. Maybe that's what I need. Thanks for taking the time to read my mail, and thanks for sharing your story. Kellee

I am not a doctor or a scientist.  I am a self-educated chemo-free cancer survivor and I often have people contact me who want to know more. In this post I explain in the simplest terms what I have come to understand and believe to be true about chemotherapy and why I did not do it.