CBJ BALANCE Summer 2017

Uncharted Territory
Cedar Rapids man takes cancer care into own hands
STORY BY CINDY HADISH PHOTOS BY SHUVA RAHIM
When Paul Cross was diagnosed with cancer on his right vocal chord last year, he decided to forego chemotherapy and radiation and embark on his own treatment course.
Paul Cross will never forget
April 15, 2016 – the day he was
confronted with the devastating
diagnosis of squamous cell
carcinoma of the subglottic
larynx, or, in common terms,
cancer on his right vocal cord.
In the month before his diagnosis, Mr. Cross had become increasingly
bothered by the hoarseness of his voice, but was not
prepared for the treatment options he was given.
Doctors told him he could undergo 12 weeks of chemotherapy
and radiation, or have his voice box removed.
“That’s the options: poison, burn or cut,” said Mr. Cross, 48,
a systems support technician at the Cedar Rapids Public Library.
He felt rushed to make a decision, but told the doctor he wanted
time to do research and discuss alternatives with his family.
“(The doctor) looked confused and said, ‘Well, what else are
you going to do? We do the same treatments as the Mayo Clinic,’”
Mr. Cross said. “To me, it sounded like he didn’t want me to
take my insurance money somewhere else.”
That was one of several red flags he said he noticed, starting
Mr. Cross on a journey to take his care into his own hands.
Complementary approach
He has since chartered his own treatment course that includes
organic foods, supplements and other natural remedies. >
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