One doctor claimed to know why I had cancer. I was horrified and embarrassed when he told me that.

As a cancer survivor, watching the Netflix show “Apple Cider Vinegar” was heartbreaking. The show depicts the fatigue and hopelessness that many cancer patients feel, and the seductive appeal of abandoning traditional medicine in the hope of a “natural” cure. It also exposes the dark underworld of the alternative medicine industry, where quacks and influencers prey on the vulnerable. They speak with unwavering confidence, and their claims are backed up by peer-reviewed evidence.

I know this well…because I almost fell into it myself.

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I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in December 2022. I immediately started scheduling appointments with my surgeon, but the holidays pushed most of my appointments to mid-to-late January. After weeks of waiting, I decided to use this time proactively and met with Dr. T, an integrative medicine physician, to see if supplements could support my health while I waited for treatment.

Dr. T was fully supportive of my decision to proceed with surgery, but he also mentioned Dr. D, another holistic practitioner who specializes in thermography. She explained that thermography, a thermal imaging technique that maps blood flow on the surface of the breast, may be able to identify areas of abnormal heat associated with inflammation or tumors.

But what caught my attention was her casual remark that Dr. D had supposedly “cured” breast cancer patients without surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. As a science writer interested in holistic medicine, I was intrigued. Can thermography detect my cancer? I decided to find out.

When I arrived at Dr. D’s office, I noticed that it felt more like a spa than a doctor’s office. It’s a welcome change from the fluorescent-lit, windowless rooms that previously housed chest screens.

The thermogram process involved nine thermal images taken with a special camera, followed by a “cold challenge” in which participants immersed their hands in ice water to test how their bodies reacted. I’ve heard that healthy tissue cools in sync with brain signals, but cancerous or inflamed areas resist change and appear as hot spots on the thermogram.

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I was fascinated, but I couldn’t ignore the red flags. The thermogram is not approved by the FDA as an independent test to detect breast cancer, and the technician operating the machine turned out to be the doctor’s wife.

After waiting 30 minutes for the results (an eternity of anxiety), Dr. D finally called me into his office. Then things took a strange turn.

First, he showed me the rainbow thermogram report and admitted that it did not detect my cancer. In fact, he seemed visibly dismayed by the image’s failure. Rather, it simply revealed the “extraordinary heat” in the area, which put me in the “high risk” category.

Then he made his theory clear. My cancer is caused by “too much COVID-19 vaccine” and I shouldn’t get another vaccine. I was too surprised to reply. Not only is there no evidence linking coronavirus vaccines to breast cancer or other “turbo cancers,” the claim ignored my personal background.

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“What about the fact that my mother was the same age, in the same breast, and had the same type of cancer?” I asked.

He flatly denied this. “No, it’s definitely a vaccine,” he insisted, pivoting to his next suggestion. It was Super Mineral Water, a product he was selling at his clinic, which he claimed could “detoxify” my body and possibly help me heal.

By then, I was equally horrified and perplexed not only by his quackery, but by my own naivety in walking into this mess. I grabbed my things and left as soon as possible.

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After this experience, I turned to the Internet and found several comment boards about thermograms. A post led me to the story of Morganne Delian, a believer in homeopathic medicine. When she felt a lump in her breast, she chose a thermogram rather than a mammogram to detect cancer. The thermogram doctor reportedly told Ms Derian that although she did not see a lump, she was at a “mild to moderate risk of developing a malignant tumor in her breast tissue.” A few months later, after finally undergoing a mammogram and biopsy, she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.

Stories like Derian’s are a chilling reminder of the potential dangers of unproven testing tools and alternative treatments. From coffee enemas and Gerson therapy (a real-life version of the Hirsch method in “apple cider vinegar”) to black ointments, intravenous vitamin C, alkaline diets, homeopathy, and energy healing, these therapies are aggressively promoted by doctors, chiropractors, and clinicians, despite the lack of scientific testing and evidence needed to prove they work.

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So why are so many people drawn to these alternatives? I think part of it is the allure of control in a moment when you’re paralyzed by fear. When you are diagnosed with cancer, you lose agency. Your body feels like a traitor, and your treatment plan is determined by the team of experts you just met. Alternative medicine offers the illusion of empowerment and personalized care. Quackery offers hope and simplicity without being bogged down by statistics, side effects, or limitations. In a world where cancer treatment can be scary or difficult to understand, that simplicity and hope can be irresistible.

One of the best things I did after receiving my diagnosis was learning to trust my cancer team and the science guiding them. I gave up on wishful thinking, the illusion of a “wonderful healing experience” like Mila’s tropical Hirsch retreat in “Apple Cider Vinegar.” Instead, I accepted the stark reality of the hospital’s white walls and windowless operating rooms. There, a surgeon skillfully removed my tumor and made me cancer-free.

Well, I annual mammography and breast MRIthe recommended screening protocol for women like me is: high risk and have dense breasts. I also take Tamoxifen daily. This is a preventive medication and will be taken for at least 5 years or as advised by your oncologist. why? Because she’s the expert, not me.

Science saved my life. It saves lives every day. But we are at a dangerous moment when people are distrusting the regulatory authorities and scientific communities tasked with protecting them, while blindly trusting politicians and influencers who profit from our vulnerabilities. ”Apple cider vinegar This charismatic character exposes the dark side of people who lie as easily as they breathe. This is a stark reminder of why we need to trust science now more than ever.

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The question is, “Will you listen?”

Note: Some names and identifying characteristics have been changed in this essay to protect individual privacy.

Jenny Durrant is a science writer, researcher, and breast cancer survivor who has published a book on honey bee decline. island press In 2026. Her work is san francisco chronicle, grist, conversation, salon and other outlets. connect with her link, jennydurant.com Or check out her research Google Scholar.

This article was previously published on HuffPost and is being reshared as part of HuffPost Personal’s “Best Of” series.

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