Suzanne Somers was misdiagnosed with 'full body cancer' last year

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Suzanne Somers' latest book, Knockout: Interviews with Doctors who are Curing Cancer and how to Prevent Getting it in the First Place' has caused a wave of criticism in the healthcare community and the general public. She advocates alternative approaches to cancer treatment, and believes chemotherapy does more harm than good. In 2001 she treated her own breast cancer with a lumpectomy and radiation, along with alternative treatments. Since that worked out well for her, Somers seems to think she's become an expert in cancer treatment. In the book, she reveals that last November she was diagnosed with full body' cancer. Over the course of six days six different doctors misdiagnosed her over and over again.

Last November, Suzanne Somers faced an emotional roller coaster when six different doctors confirmed she had 'full-body cancer.' Somers was filled with fear thinking she only had days to live. 'For six days, six doctors confirmed I had inoperable cancer. I went into that valley of fear. I saw my death, it was horrible,' Somers said. Somers later learned she had been misdiagnosed.

During the time Somers thought she had cancer, she spoke with several doctors and patients about their various treatments and decided to write her latest book, ‘Knockout: Interviews with Doctors Who are Curing Cancer and How to Prevent Getting It.' She shares what she describes as 'groundbreaking and successful cancer prevention and care protocols incorporating chemo-free options that are available now.'

The book has been highly controversial, and Somers said she's been attacked by doctors for promoting treatments that avoid chemotherapy. Somers argues that alternative methods are just another solution for patients who don't respond well to chemotherapy.

In 2001, Somers decided to forgo chemotherapy when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Instead she had a lumpectomy to remove the cancer followed by radiation therapy and used alternative treatments.

In her book, Somers writes, 'Cancer death rates dropped only 5 percent from 1950 to 2005. What other technology has performed so miserably over this fifty-five year period? In contrast, the death rate from heart disease dropped 64 percent in that time, and for flu and pneumonia it fell 58 percent.'

She continues, 'It is a very brave choice to go against traditional medicine and embrace the alternative route. It's easier to try the traditional route and then, if it fails, go to the alternatives, but often it can be too late. My friend Farrah Fawcett - would she have made it if she had gone alternative first? There is no way of knowing.'

[From PopEater]

I understand that that must have been a miserable experience to go through. On the one hand you think, Well six days isn't that long.' But I'm sure it was an eternity to Suzanne, and I am genuinely sympathetic towards her for that experience. And if that five percent statistic she cited about cancer treatment is true - it's hard to find clear, solid numbers that backup her claim - then it is shocking. And I do believe Somers honestly wants to help people and get them to really think about their health. I don't believe it's about selling books. But her celebrity means that people give her ideas more credence than they should. The American Cancer Society essentially called her a danger, though they didn't put it that directly.

It seems to me that Suzanne was traumatized by her experience last November and the breast cancer in 2001. She's probably trying to channel the fear she lives with everyday into something productive, and it gives her a feeling that she's taking control. I totally understand that. But encouraging people not to use chemotherapy, and saying it's a very brave choice to go against traditional medicine' - implies that it is weak to go with traditional medicine. Living with, treating, or dying from cancer - they're all brave in their way. Treating it aggressively with chemo is still brave, if that's what someone chooses for themselves. It's a highly individual choice, and I don't think it's respectful to question Farrah Fawcett's treatment or Patrick Swayze's.

As an aside, Suzanne is also still touting her vigorous bioidentical hormone routine. At the start of the interview, The Early Show's Harry Smith says, You look good kid,' and right away she responds, I'm hanging in there. It's the hormones you know.' No, I didn't know hormones made it look like you've had a ton of plastic surgery. Good to know; I'll stay away from them.

Here's Suzanne in New York City on October 20th. Images thanks to INF Photo.