In October 2001, James O’Conner was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma. At that time, he was told he had only a few months to live. Seven years later, O’Conner is still alive, and has written a book about his battle with mesothelioma, entitled, “They Said Months. I Chose Years! A Mesothelioma Survivor’s Story.”

Mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure, is particularly devastating because it is difficult to diagnose early, spreads aggressively, and is resistant to mesothelioma treatments. An individual diagnosed with mesothelioma has, on average, less than two years to live.

When O’Conner was diagnosed with the deadly cancer, his oncologist told him he had less than a year to live. The doctor advised him to take one last vacation with his wife, and then prepare to live out his few remaining months at home, or in a hospice.

O’Conner wasn’t a candidate for surgery due to the position of the tumor. Chemotherapy, according his doctor, wasn’t an option since it would reduce his quality of life without providing any benefit.

However, O’Conner decided to ignore his doctor’s advice, and instead of letting the cancer win, he devised a plan of attack to combat it. In his book, he described how he changed his life in an effort to survive mesothelioma, and even provides insight into the science that backs up his decisions.

O’Conner began consulting with other professional clinicians and devised a new regimen, which he hoped would overcome the cancer. With more than one hundred supplements a day, an entirely new diet, and a holistic treatment plan, he has survived far beyond his oncologist’s original prognosis.

Seven years later, O’Conner continues to enjoy an active live, and continues to support his health with supplements, diet, and holistic methods.

The book includes details on more than 100 medical articles that support the idea of managing chronic diseases such as cancer through good nutrition.

O’Conner says the main message of his book is that there are other ways to combat cancer apart from conventional treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy.

Remember, however, that such treatment regimes do not always work for everyone—people respond differently to both conventional and non-conventional treatments. Despite the highly inspirational and positive message in O’Conner’s book, it’s important that people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and other types of cancer not discount their doctor’s advice on the basis of other people’s experiences.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 at 11:20 am and is filed under Mesothelioma Treatment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.