Suzanne Somers, born Suzanne Marie Mahoney on October 16, 1946 in San Bruno, California, was an American actress, author and businesswoman. Somers has published several best-selling self-help books, such as I’m Too Young for This! and The Natural Hormone Solution to Enjoy Menopause. In 2001, it was reported that she had breast cancer and was opting for so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) to treat it, In particular, she used Iscador, a preparation of mistletoe that we have discissed many times before on this blog, e.g.:
- A systematic analysis of the mistletoe prescriptions used in clinical studies
- Prof Harald Walach reviews mistletoe and arrives at a positive conclusion
- Mistletoe treatment for cancer is useless and should be discouraged
- Mistletoe for cancer: Does it improve patients’ quality of life?
- Mistletoe for cancer: the saga continues
- Mistletoe, a cancer therapy? You must be joking!
In an interview with Larry King in 2001, Somers revealed that she had been receiving treatment for a year. She also explained that she refused to go through with chemotherapy and instead used SCAM. “I decided to find alternative things to do,” she continued. “Because I have done so much work in my books about hormones, and that hormonal balance is why people gain or lose weight, and, it was my belief that a balanced environment of hormones prevents disease. And the first thing they said to me, we are taking of off all hormones. I said no, I’m going to continue taking my hormones, which is the first thing against the common course…”
Recently, it was reported that Somers has died of cancer aged 76. Earlier this year, Somers said they had “used the best alternative and conventional treatments to combat it [her cancer].” But now, a source close to the star shares that many around her didn’t like it. Somers’ friends tried to convince her to ditch SCAM in favor of chemotherapy. “She was advised by several people to consider the more conventional approach, but she did not listen,” a source close to Somers told the Daily Mail. The source continued, “She has always rejected chemo, so it wasn’t even an option. Her friends and loved ones urged her to reconsider so many times during her cancer battles and at the end.” A statement read. “Her family was gathered to celebrate her 77th birthday on October 16th. Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly.”
Perhaps this sad case is an apt occasion for rephrasing the warning that I posted only a few days ago:
be very cautious about using SCAMs for cancer and seek professional advice, preferably NOT from a SCAM provider.
5 Responses to Suzanne Somers has died – another victim of so-called alternative medicine?
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22 years on from her initial diagnosis.
I wonder what treatment she did receive.
“In April 2000, Somers was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a lumpectomy and radiation but declined chemotherapy”
She only avoided chemotherapy. It is her choice.
Okay, a survival period of more than 23 years after the initial diagnosis is something exemplary.
https://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2407-9-451
“Pooled analysis of clinical studies suggests that adjuvant treatment of cancer patients with the mistletoe extract Iscador is associated with a better survival. ”
The alternative therapy cannot be blamed in this case.
So definitely, not a victim.
Sorry to say that the attempt to victimize Iscador therapy lost the ground.
my advice is to
1) rely on recent systematic reviews
2) make sure they are not by known enthusiasts of the intervention
e.g.:
https://edzardernst.com/2019/02/mistletoe-treatment-for-cancer-is-useless-and-should-be-discouraged/
It says “Suzanne Sommer” in the title and “Suzanne Somers” in the main text.
Her name was Suzanne Somers
sorry, mea culpa