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Natural Strategies For Cancer Patients

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Cancer and current cancer treatments wage war on the body, but Russell L. Blaylock - a respected doctor and clinical assistant professor of neurosurgery - has developed an easy-to-follow program to fight back naturally. This book shows how easy it can be to fortify nutritional status during this critical time.

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

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About the author

Russell L. Blaylock

13 books34 followers
Dr. Blaylock is a board certified neurosurgeon, author and lecturer. He attended the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans and completed his general surgical internship and neurosurgical residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. During his residency he ran the neurology program for one year and did a fellowship in neurosurgery after his residency. For the past 25 years he has practiced neurosurgery in addition to having a nutritional practice. He recently retired from both practices to devote full time to nutritional studies and research.

During his residency training he worked with the eminent neurosurgeon, Dr. Ludwig Kempe. Together they developed the transcallosal removal of intraventricular tumors, which is still used today. Dr. Blaylock presented their cases utilizing this technique to the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. They also developed the ventriculolymphatic shunt in the treatment of hydrocephalus. In addition, they conducted neuroanatomical studies together with the aim of developing improved approaches in vascular intracranial surgery.

He has continued a close personal friendship with Dr. Kempe over the ensuing years, who at age 91 continues to study neuroanatomy, ornithology and is an editor of a major journal on medieval studies. Of special note, Dr. Kempe climbed the Himalayan mountains at age 87, a testament of his robust health and enduring love of adventure..

It was during his residency that Dr. Blaylock did much of the primary work on intraventricular monitoring of craniocerebral trauma patients, which was reported in the scientific literature. He also worked closely with Dr. Peter Jannetta during Dr. Jennetta’s early research on vascular compression of the cranial nerves as a cause of trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm. Dr. Blaylock was one of the first neurosurgeons to utilize high-intensity nutritional supplementation in craniocerebral trauma patients, which met with great success.


Dr. Blaylock has written and illustrated three books. The first book was on the subject of excitotoxins (Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills) and how they are related to diseases of the nervous system. His second book, Health and Nutrition Secrets That Can Save Your Life, covers the common basis of all diseases, nutritional protection against diseases of aging, protection against heavy metal toxicity, the fluoride debate, pesticide and herbicide toxicity, excitotoxin update, the vaccine controversy, protection against heart attacks and strokes and contains a new chapter on omega-3 fats. This book has been newly revised as an oversized paperback. His third book, Natural Strategies for Cancer Patients, was released in April, 2003 and discusses the ways to defeat cancer, enhance the effectiveness of conventional treatments and prevent complications associated with these treatments. In addition, he has written and illustrated three chapters in medical textbooks, written a booklet on nutritional protection against biological terrorism and written and illustrated a booklet on multiple sclerosis. He has written over 30 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals on a number of subjects.


Since the publication of his first book he has been a guest on numerous national and international syndicated radio programs and appeared on the 700 Club several times. He appeared on Nutritionally Living with Dr. Ward Bond. Presently, he is engaged in a monthly radio program discussing his book, Health and Nutrition Secrets on Raymond Francis’ program Beyond Health. The series will run for 12 months. He lectures widely to both lay and professional medical audiences on a variety of nutritional subjects.


Dr. Blaylock serves on the editorial staff of the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association and is on the editorial staff of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, official journal of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons. He serves on the ed

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Becca.
55 reviews
May 19, 2025
So much research and fantastic explanations. Empowering to know there are natural treatments that you can pair with conventional treatments.
Profile Image for Bridget.
86 reviews
July 17, 2009
I found this to be a very helpful reference. When you're waiting for treatment or a clean bill of health, this book gives you lots of harmless & likely helpful ideas to gain some control over your health. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Michael.
656 reviews1 follower
February 15, 2025
A must-read for every cancer patient—exactly the book I was looking for. Written by a neurosurgeon with a lifetime of clinical practice plus deep familiarity with the effects of nutrition on various types of cancer. As a glioma patient currently in treatment with radiotherapy and oral chemo, who had formerly studied nutrition for athletic performance, I've already purchased the eBook for my personal library.

Unfortunately, the author should definitely not be trusted in any domain besides the one he practiced: cancer treatment. Losing his judgment later in life casts doubt on all his work. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/con...

I'd recommend the following, in this order:

NCCN's guidelines for patients
Food Rules by Michael Pollan (extremely concise and easy to read!)
The Moss Report's free podcast
The Cancer Journey by Dr. Chadi Nabhan
Keto for Cancer by Miriam Kalamian
research of Thomas Seyfried, PhD (contact him for a free info packet)
2015 PBS documentary Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies from 2015 (runtime 6 hours)
Help Heal Yourself from Cancer by Dr. William Sears
Natural Strategies for Cancer Patients by Dr. Russell Blaylock (though I would proceed with caution . . . these days you're probably better off using Ai prompts instead of relying on a human author)

Definitely talk with your care team about any decisions you're considering. Your oncology care team is your best resource. And I hope you experience peace and good luck during this painful ordeal. Good luck.
Profile Image for Abby.
20 reviews
April 1, 2018
Unfortunately, I did not find this book helpful.
Profile Image for Tina.
899 reviews34 followers
November 29, 2019
The updated version gave me some ideas to ask my doctor about, but there was too much of a push to take supplements for me.
Profile Image for Alex Linschoten.
Author 13 books149 followers
April 24, 2013
The only reason I didn't give this book five stars was because some of the advice offered wasn't entirely practical. Anticancer contained more or less the same advice, albeit with less of the detailed science explanations. In particular, Blaylock's advice on various supplements to take following chemotherapy and radiation therapy weren't particularly useful, esp when they weren't accompanied by the relevant medical data to back his assertions up.

Otherwise, this was a useful fact-based writeup in support of a plant-based diet (along with various additions) that helps the body to fight cancer along with the more standard treatments being used against it.

Recommended.
Profile Image for Lacey.
370 reviews
March 25, 2014
This is a great book with a lot of information. I am unable to implement most of the strategies due to an uncooperative oncologist, which the book warns about. Supplements are vital to the cancer patient and ours has said a definite "NO" to all supplements. That leaves our only recourse as diet, and of course, it is hard to change a lifetime of habits. I can make suggestions, but I can't force it! Excellent resource though.
67 reviews3 followers
August 12, 2008
Natural Strategies for Cancer Patients helps patients use natural remedies such as vitamins and herbs to strengthen the immune system and offset the damaging affects and enhance the benfits of western medicine cancer treatments.
Profile Image for Grandma Judy.
138 reviews2 followers
January 28, 2011
Good book. The first chapter is for everyone - about good nutrition. The rest of the book you should read if you already have cancer.
Profile Image for Sharleen.
9 reviews
June 18, 2015
Natural Strategies For Cancer Patients by Russell Blaylock is a very important book. It explains why we must not fear cancer, and how we can and must fight cancer, with a healthy lifestyle.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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