the trend that has cancer doctors worried

It seems inconceivable, but that's exactly what some cancer patients are having.

A small but growing number of patients are opting to shun treatment in favor of alternative therapies with sometimes tragic consequences.

Health professionals are so concerned that they have begun to make decisions on the subject of cancer.

Respected bad cancer surgeon Christobel Saunders said anecdotal evidence pointed to a more conventional treatment and a combination of alternative therapy.

"There is a curable case of becoming incurable," she said.

These women have not been treated by the effects of the treatment of cancer. They were often financially worse off after paying for expensive and useless "therapies".

Melissa Ledger, Cancer Council Cancer Prevention and Research Director, said that cancer specialists had shared stories of patients refusing their treatment plans. But there was no one here.

"Specialists are saying that we are noticing people who are not being treated, and they are coming back to a stage where they are not so advanced," she said.

"They are concerned about their patients who may otherwise have cancer survivors and they have turned to the issue."

Driving the trend, according to Professor Saunders, is an unhealthy belief in "miracle cures" that turn up in Google searches and unregulated alternative practitioners pushing unproven treatments.

In her experience, patients who have alternative treatments were often young, well educated, but with a skeptical attitude to the conventional medicine.

"I've had patients, husband or whatever and sometimes mental health issues, but very rarely," she said.

Professor Saunders said, "It's a problem that has been diagnosed by people who have been diagnosed with it."

The list of cancer cure-alls promoted on the internet is endless: from mistletoe injections to spider venom, to coffee enemas. The problem is that they have some scientific evidence to back their usefulness and some are harmful.

WA is not immune from dodgy.

In 2014, to train Perth doctor Alexandra Boyd was fined for deceptive conduct for false claims around an alternative method.

It was also badociated with a "manifestly unsafe" so-called cancer cure that hastened the deaths of four women.

Black salve, a corrosive solvent used as an alternative cancer treatment, has also come under scrutiny from WA health authorities.

It is illegal to sell the balm, which can cause horrific burns and is also known as red salve and cansema, but specialists suspect some patients are still being encouraged to use it.

Paula Watt, a clinical psychologist specializing in psycho-oncology, said fear was a major driver for patients to refuse treatment.

This is particularly the case for those emotionally scarred after their own experiences of cancer treatment, especially chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

"The other factor is necessary to achieve some control of their treatment. Uncertainty is huge in everyone's life when they are diagnosed with cancer so it is trying to get some sort of control back. "

"Sometimes people have gone through their lives and they can not avoid their approach, which means they can procrastinate or swap things under the carpet.

"And then there are other people who say 'OK Doc, I'll just do anything you tell me to do'."

Good communication between the medical team and the patient was crucial, according to Ms Watt.

"The patient might say" I do not want to do that now, "they can not leave the door open and try again."

Some patients thing to accept surgery only and nothing else. Magical thinking also had a part in play, where patients preferred to believe there was a better path to a cure.

Professor Saunders said patients often had the support of their partners to try alternative therapies in the early stages of their cancer but that could change when the consequences of that decision were realized.

"The sad thing is they can support each other" It is not until it gets really late and nasty that things start to get bad and awful, "she said.

"When you see your partner suffering from a horrible fungating tumour of their chest wall, that might be when you start to really think, 'Gosh what did we do?'

Professor Saunders said to be patient who wanted something other than normal treatment.

"I think we should be aware of these forms of wisdom and then, within the bounds of safety, try to work with patients. I think if we can get patients on board, "she said.

Some complementary therapies such as mbadage, yoga, and meditation helped patients cope with the side effects of treatment or psychological issues that can arise during cancer treatment.

"Professor Saunders said," I do not always want to see them again, but they are doing it, for me that is the wrong approach.

"I think you should continue to care for a person as long as they are of your mind.

Professor Saunders said, "Patients are more likely to be educated, along with patients, about what alternative therapies were out there and the evidence available.

The US-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has more information on which, vitamins and over-the-counter dietary supplements may be helpful or harmful for cancer patients.

"Any alternative practitioner who starts to tell you that they are going to do this," said Professor Saunders said.

Another red flag was anecdotal testimonials, which could be deceptive.

Along with better education, Professor Saunders wants to give you more teeth to pursue shonky operators.

At the moment, one of those complaining to prove the guilt of practitioners doing the wrong thing.

For accurate information call Cancer Council WA on 13 11 20 or go to their website.

CASE STUDIES:

Steve Jobs

The Apple co-founder, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2011, reportedly decided to reject alternative surgery, including acupuncture, dietary supplements and juices for nine months after his diagnosis.

But he eventually had the surgery and went on to seek cutting-edge experimental methods, they were not enough to save him.

His biographer Walter Isaacson said Jobs when he had hesitated, Jobs said "I did not want my body to be opened … I did not want to be violated in that way."

"I think it's something you do not know something about," said Isaacson, "If you do not want something to exist, you can have magical thinking."

Jess Ainscough

A wellness blogger, Jess Ainscough of the clbadic formula for rare cancer epithelioid sarcoma which would have seen her arm amputated at the shoulder blade.

Ainscough spent several years after the diagnosis of her slow-growing cancer as "The Wellness Warrior" capturing the public's imagination and selling books around the nation, including events in Perth.

She promoted Gerson Therapy, which helps you to eat more coffee every day.

And, when her mother was diagnosed with bad cancer, she too, decided to go to the clinic and opt for Gerson therapy.

She died in 2013, followed by her daughter in 2015.

Tamar Stitt

Perth girl Tamar was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2009, but her parents Arely and Trevor ignored the advice of doctors choosing instead of herbal remedies, including mud packs made of red clay.

Tamar to receive chemotherapy, but Mrs Stitt and her daughter fled Australia for El Salvador where Tamar died two months later.

A coronial inquest found Tamar could have been saved with chemotherapy and her parents did not act in her best interests.

Alastair Nuttall, a doctor who told Tamar's parents that their clay and herb treatments have been produced by the State Administrative Tribunal and have been suspended for one year.

Oshin Kisko

Oshin Kiszko died after a year-long battle in WA's courts.

After having been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2015, his parents have been diagnosed with Oshin radiation therapy.

Oshin's chances of survival diminished. Oshin had 50 to 60 per cent chance of being alive in five years.

His parents are fought for their right to die in peace and dignity, believing the quality of their lives should be prioritized over its length.

They have their unprecedented legal battle with doctors to end the six-year-old's treatment.

Penelope Dingle

Penelope Dingle opted for alternative treatments, including homeopathy, instead of traditional cancer therapy.

A 2010 coronial inquest into her death found her husband Peter Dingle and homeopath Francine Scrayen had played important roles in the decision to ignore conventional treatment.

Perth GP William Henry Barnes was suspended for three months for treating Ms Dingle with alternative costing therapies $ 20,000 which were sold by a company director.