Cancer Thrivers Respond to Recent Dateline Program

BOULDER, Colo., March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Controversy continues following the Dateline segment discussing unproven alternative cancer treatments that are being touted as cancer cures that can give people false hope (http://www.clicker.com/tv/dateline-nbc/Preview:-Suzanne-Somers:-A-Dose-of-Controversy-1357038/).

"The Dateline segment only broadens the chasm between conventional and alternative treatments and gets us further away from truly effective cancer care, which is integrative medicine," said Dr. Lise Alschuler, co-author of The Definitive Guide to Cancer and co-creator of Cancer Thrivers (http://www.cancerthrivers.net), a multi-media educational initiative to help people effectively prevent and heal from cancer.  "We promote informed hope, not false hope," explains Dr. Alschuler.

Dr. Alschuler created Cancer Thrivers with her coauthor and fellow cancer survivor, Karolyn A. Gazella, to help educate people about an integrative approach to cancer prevention and treatment.  The two of them are on a mission to help positively transform cancer care.  But what does it mean to use an integrative approach?  "Integrative medicine is the responsible blending of the best of both worlds," explains Dr. Alschuler, who is also a breast cancer survivor.  "An emotionally-based outright dismissal of conventional or alternative therapies has no place in effective cancer care because the stakes are just too high."

"We recognize the need for scientifically-proven approaches to cancer care," explains Gazella who is a 16-year ovarian cancer survivor and publisher of a peer-reviewed medical journal (http://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com).  "But we also honor the extreme frustration and fear that cancer patients face and we want to end the polarizing battle that puts them in the middle."

Cancer Thrivers is the voice of reason when it comes to integrative cancer prevention and treatment.  Through their books, website, newsletter, and presentations, the "Thrivers," as they like to call themselves, hope to change the course of cancer and ease the suffering that can be caused by this illness.

Dr. Alschuler is a recognized leader in the area of integrative cancer care and lectures to both consumers and physicians.  She is available to do interviews and share her perspective on this vital topic.  It is predicted that one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes.  "We need to do something now to change this trend," concludes Dr. Alschuler.  "An integrative approach is the only way."  

About Cancer Thrivers

The mission of Cancer Thrivers is to educate people with cancer, their loved ones, and their healthcare providers about the value and effectiveness of integrative prevention and treatment strategies.  For more information visit (http://www.cancerthrivers.net).

SOURCE Cancer Thrivers