I am a 51-year-old woman diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) 10 months ago. I was told that some cells had become invasive and that - worst of all - there was no treatment option other than mastectomy, a drug regimen including tamoxifen and, possibly, radiation treatment as well.

After dealing with the initial shock and distress - and with the support of my husband - I decided to forego these drastic treatments. I could not contemplate losing my breast; my instincts told me it was the wrong method of treatment, and the survival statistics were less than encouraging.

Looking for alternative options, I conducted researches online. Lo and behold, I learned that, far from being a ‘feel-good factor’ to supplement the ‘real’ treatments via orthodox medicine, metabolic therapy has achieved significant success where it really matters: in actual patient case studies. I also discovered that, like me, many doctors had turned away from conventional medicine in the treatment of cancer.

Six weeks later, I consulted a private doctor with training in nutrition. She recommended a healthful diet based mainly on fresh fish, raw fruit and vegetables, soy products and herbal/green teas instead of beef, dairy produce, sugar, caffeinated beverages and alcohol. I supplemented this with concentrated vitamin and mineral supplements, flaxseed oil, garlic, fresh herbs, olive oil, apricot kernels and tablets of amygdalin.

Because of this diet, I now feel fit and well, with more vitality than I’ve had in years. Most importantly, my last two blood tests and a thermograph were normal.

As an added bonus, some long-standing ailments such as asthma, digestive problems and back pain (all of which I used to take medication for) have cleared up, too.

This gives me all the more reason to wonder why the medical profession continues to advocate radiation, chemotherapy and surgery for treating cancer when it has not made any real headway into improving statistics for the past 50 years.

I do hope that others will read of my experience and be heartened to know that there are successful alternative treatment options for this distressing disease. - Susan Insole, via e-mail

WDDTY replies: For more information on alternative cancer treatments, sign up for Mind Over Cancer, our conference on 15-16 October, featuring the latest evidence for mind-body cancer treatments.