Is it cancer? STOP! Don't talk about it.

Tigerman

I visited my JW son and daughter - who were raised in the faith - in May. My son is 37 years old, intelligent and is a hard worker and a good provider for his family.

We were having breakfast when my daughter-in-law mentioned the ' lump' on my sons back. My son removed his shirt and showed me a palm-sized fatty lump of tissue on the upper right side of his back. He told me he discovered it a couple of months ago ( March ). Long story short, I have since that time been unable to convince him to have a biopsy. He tells me he is taking herbs and vitamins for it ! My sister and I have pleaded with him to get it checked out by a specialist . . . as of this date no luck. My ex-wife ( their JW Mother ) of 30 years loves herbs and vitamins to treat sickness. Herbs and vitamins have their place in healing, but not in this case ! I am shocked to discover that my smart, hard working son is not taking the most basic of precautions concerning his health.

I have long known that JW's shy away from traditional medicine, but this is absolutely absurd. Please someone tell me if this is conventional behavior for JW's and if you have any insight into how I can approach this situation I would be forever thankful.

Paul

breeze

Herbs and anti-oxidants are good for maintanance but once cancer presents itself conventional medicine is the better route. Some think that if you attack with very heavy anti-oxidants it will cure some cancers, but I would do both. But a Doctors visit is a must!!

This is not conventional behavior for JW's, maybe a rare fring might stay away for the medical world but the teachings are not set up in that form. Only the blood issue is completly frowned upon, other appraoches and medicine is labeled OK.

I was associated with the WTBTS for 50+ years.

BREEZE

LDH

My son removed his shirt and showed me a palm-sized fatty lump of tissue on the upper right side of his back. He told me he discovered it a couple of months ago ( March ). Long story short, I have since that time been unable to convince him to have a biopsy. He tells me he is taking herbs and vitamins for it ! My sister and I have pleaded with him to get it checked out by a specialist . . . as of this date no luck. My ex-wife ( their JW Mother ) of 30 years loves herbs and vitamins to treat sickness. Herbs and vitamins have their place in healing, but not in this case ! I am shocked to discover that my smart, hard working son is not taking the most basic of precautions concerning his health.

Good luck. Said with a good bit of sarcasm. I have a close family relative who was diagnosed with spinal and brain tumors, and instead of working with the medical profession to find a cure, this person has chosen a similar path.

This is not conventional behavior for JW's, maybe a rare fring might stay away for the medical world but the teachings are not set up in that form. ; Only the blood issue is completly frowned upon, other appraoches and medicine is labeled OK.

I disagree completely. The paranoia of the medical profession that has been deeply ingrained in the JW mindset does manifest itself in resistance to treatment for many issues. Mental as well as physical.

Sorry about your son..

Lisa

Scully

I had a JW friend with a similar fatty lump. It turned out to be a lipoma which is basically a benign (non cancerous) lump of fat under the skin. A simple same-day surgery using a local anaesthetic removed it. No worries afterward either. For more information: http://www.bchealthguide.org/kbase/topic/special/tm6295spec/sec1.htm

parakeet

***The paranoia of the medical profession that has been deeply ingrained in the JW mindset does manifest itself in resistance to treatment for many issues. Mental as well as physical.***
I agree that JWs resist treatment for mental problems. I know a JW married to a certifiable lunatic who never goes out of the house, lives upstairs with the windows covered in aluminum foil, and believes everything she touches, eats or breathes is loaded with poisons. The husband has never taken her for psychiatric treatment, only to crackpot doctors with dubious degrees and even more dubious treatments. He's been "explaining" her symptoms for years as the result of, variously, hypoglycemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chemical sensitivity. After so many years of neglect, I think she's beyond even psychiatric help now.

breeze

Your right about the mental issue. I forgot about that?? They are openly against psychiatry.

But otherwise there publications don't discourage medical treatment do they....have I missed something this large?

BREEZE

restrangled

No this is not conventional behaivor. Herbs, and supplements are BS and I have known many witnesses in the Business trying to sell this concpet. We had an elder making a living off of selling herbs to the congregation.

Herbs are actually very dangerous.

My mother had breast cancer and survived,....a full time pioneer... and my father died of kidney/bone cancer. (all covered by my dad's extensive health insurance policy provided by the company he worked for, for over 40 years which he did against the societies wishes)

The problem is so many witness do not have health insurance,/AND OR were hoping for the end before this so ignore major health problems, INCLUDING MYSELF.

IF I GET SICK I AM UP SHIT CREEK.

r.

Lumps anywhere are dangerous. Please keep us informed.

garybuss

My attorney (never a Witness) was taking self prescribed vitamins and pills he bought at the neighborhood "health" store and he almost killed himself with them. He ended up in Mayo Clinic with liver failure. The first thing the Doctors did was tell him the throw ALL his vitamins away and not take any more.

He got so sick he had to retire to health care.

Most Witnesses I knew liked to self diagnose, self prescribe, and self medicate. Not all used vitamins. Some used alcohol and demerol.

lowden

Restrangled

Herbs, and supplements are BS

Herbs are actually very dangerous.

Your comments are outrageous! I have a diploma in Nutrition and Weight Management and can tell you that whilst supplements are over-sold, they can be beneficial to us all, if only in a small way.

Herbs are NOT DANGEROUS. They are extremely beneficial if prescribed properly. Some can be dangerous if imbibed in excess but your comments leave much to be desired by way of accuracy and truth.

Maybe a bit of the JW still lives in you in your uninformed dogmatism

Lowden

Balsam

Sadly I have an ex-sister-in-law and Aunt who had breast cancer. Refused to have it checked out and my Aunt died in 2 years. Now my ex-sister-in-law is dying because of refusing to have it checked out. They said they were too afraid to have it checked out early on and sure regretted that when was told to them it was too late the cancer was stage 4. By the way neither one of them were JW's.

Your son is taking a very foolish stance on this and it is not typical JW stance. Very sad hope you can find a way to get him to the doctor.

Is it cancer? STOP! Don't talk about it.

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