Anyone know what kind of treatment Suzanne Somers got over the years?

Suzanne Somers got very rich promoting "bioidentical hormones" instead of traditional estrogen therapy to keep aging women young. Many in the medical community decried her theories, books, and products as dangerous. She had different cancers starting in her 30s. Only her doctors MIGHT know what caused or fed her cancers; we all know many cancers are just bad luck, a rogue cell mutation gone wild. I never take medical advice from actresses, but millions do in a desperate effort to keep their looks and stay young. Her first breast cancer was 20 years ago and she refused chemo.

Just wondering ... if she got her first cancer 40 years ago, and then breast cancer 20 years ago ... but is just now dying from it, and in the meantime enjoyed a vivacious life - is that really such a bad outcome?

Suzanne Somers was often criticized for spreading misinformation about various health and wellness claims, including her approach to chemical-free treatment for breast cancer.

Healthline wrote a detailed article about her approach to treatment and provides more background to some of the treatment option pros and cons:
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/did-suzanne-somers-really-regrow-her-breast-with-stem-cells

It's always sad to lose someone to breast cancer, especially a bubbly personality who came into our living rooms via the television. I do worry however about the influence stars can have on spreading non-evidence based treatment approaches. It's scary when people listen to TV or movie fame for guidance in health.

As always, I feel obliged to remind everyone to discuss any alternative or completmentary therapy options with your cancer care team. Inquire about Integrative Cancer Care at your cancer center
- Integrative Oncology https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/integrative-oncology/overview/ovc-20542190

@kseanob, thanks for allowing me to vent a little. I realize that you are asking about Suzanne Somers for a different reason. Hearing about the passing of a celebrity brings the reality of cancer back home and I can understand your concern that this could trigger worry in your daughter. For Somers, she lived with cancer for over 20 years, moving from remission to recurrence several times from what I could find. I did not see any information (yet) about type of breast cancer or stage.

I think it is important to let your daughter know that there are many different types of breast cancer and that everyone's experience is different. How do you help reduce your daughter's worry? That must be hard.

I was thinking the exact same thing! As someone who treated an aggressive cancer with lumpectomy, radiation, AI but no chemo I am finding this heartening! No way I can live another twenty years in any case but this was a good outcome. I don't use anything "alternative" as not my lifestyle but I'm guessing maybe the conventional therapies she did do worked well for her. Sometimes I think human beings can swept away by the idea of "fighting" and "failure." Death is a natural and inevitable conclusion to biological life--whether to a tree, an ant, or a person. It is no kind of personal disgrace and no one is to blame.

It’s is import to look at quality vs quantity. Do you want to live 20 years “living “ with the aftermath of conventional treatment ? Or 19 years thriving with alternative treatment? This is all dependent on YOU.
Don’t look at any person and think I want what they have. You will have your own outcome based on your body and your support system
Suzanne’s insight opened my eyes to get second opinions and I’m glad I did. I read her book before I was diagnosed. I was strictly looking for menopause help. Years later I was diagnosed and pushed into the assembly line of treatment. I remember her story and how she knew the traditional route would kill her (or shorten her happiness). It took a lot of strength and money but I did get second opinions and was given partial radiation and I’m not on hormone blockers. All backed by western medicine not holistic herbs or remedies. I had stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma with clear margins and not her+. The “best”kind of cancer to get because of the high survival rate. But I was pushed into aggressive treatment. One dr even said mastectomy!! Definitely not a wise treatment in my case.

Do what is best for YOU and if it wasn’t a celebrity but YOU were the one telling others what worked for YOU. I would hope your story would empower others to seek out and listen to the best doctors they can find to help them with their journey

Thank you …just described my situation and exactly my treatment. Stopped the AI after 8 weeks of side effects deciding that I do not want to spend the next 5 years miserable or even slightly miserable. I’m thankful that at my age (74) I can make that decision without guilt, however not sure what track I would have decided on 20 years ago.
Again thank you for your post I find on this site so many different pathways, opinions and medical approaches. I wish there was more standard of care out there in the BC universe.

Thank you …just described my situation and exactly my treatment. Stopped the AI after 8 weeks of side effects deciding that I do not want to spend the next 5 years miserable or even slightly miserable. I’m thankful that at my age (74) I can make that decision without guilt, however not sure what track I would have decided on 20 years ago.
Again thank you for your post I find on this site so many different pathways, opinions and medical approaches. I wish there was more standard of care out there in the BC universe.

I was just wondering about both you and Stacey (above) what your ER+ PR+ percentages were and if they were low I could understand forgoing the AI treatments. I am also 74 but mine were both 100% fueled by hormones, so I am really torn. At my age I have rheumatoid arthritis already and there are days I can hardly walk. Yet I trudge on with the AI treatments. What would YOU do? I would love to leave them in the dust!