A New Series Next Week

Well, my column on soda and food stamps is still stirring things up, but I am happy to say that my e-mail feedback was mostly positive.  I even heard from folks in Canada! Thank you, wonderful readers, for all your comments.  I love writing the column, and it is my intention to tackle controversial subjects to stimulate debate and discussion.  

With this goal in mind, I am going to begin a series on complimentary treatments for cancer. Since this topic is complex, I will only be able to discuss one therapy per column and will have to condense it, so I hope those of you who are well versed in these therapies will understand the need for as much information in as little space as possible and not chastise me if I don't cover every little thing. You can email me if you have more questions. 

There are many who want to know about these treatments and don't know where to find them. While I would never tell anyone how to go about treating their cancers, I firmly believe that the more information you have, the better.  Then you can make your own informed decisions. Please discuss any concerns you have with your own healthcare professional. Information is your Constitutionally protected right.

A true story. Many years ago, I was approached on behalf of  a woman whose husband was dying of Melanoma. He had been sent home from Sloan-Kettering, chemo stopped, white blood cells depleted.  I gave her all the advice I could over the phone.  I never met her. I explained about a "healing crisis" and what to expect. One day, I called and spoke to the man's mother who was hostile and said he had gotten quite sick from the program, vomiting and having diarrhea.  She made it clear that she was really ticked off at me and blamed me for his discomfort.  

Knowing  I would not get through to her and that she was indeed describing a "healing crisis," I expressed my regrets, and never heard from them again.  It was not one of my best moments in healing. Fast forward ten years.  I was in church at Our Lady of the Snow on  Holy Thursday.  A  pretty young woman was sitting next to me.   She smiled at me and  I introduced myself.  She turned red, then pale, and revealed that she was the widow of the young man who had died all those years ago. I said "I am so sorry that I couldn't help your husband."  Her eyes filled with tears and she said "Oh no, Dr. Kleine, I can never thank you enough.  I made him continue on the  program and he lived another six months.  He ate well,  he was pain free, we laughed and had wonderful moments together. His doctors were baffled.  I am so grateful to you for giving us that time together."  She pointed to my folding chair and said, "You are sitting in his seat."At first she had been a bit annoyed that I was sitting there, as it seemed everyone but me knew the seat was always kept empty.  I felt this was a Divine intervention, and was totally overwhelmed at this seemingly chance meeting. It gave me a lot of joy that day, and a feeling that I had indeed chosen my profession well.

Alternative treatments do work. Sometimes the best you can do is more time on Earth, other times remission.  The treatments can and do fail, as does chemotherapy.   But to suppress them is wrong, especially when they can bring the precious gift of time to those battling this evil disease.

Hey readers!  Enter the contest!  "Why I believe in Natural Healing" in two hundred words or less and you may receive gift certificates in time for the holidays! Somebody has to win!