Smackdown in Blogland

I have been blogging for over a year and started blogging so I could be an equal opportunity commenter and let other bloggers weigh in on my little slice of Paradise. I enjoy the support and camaraderie of blogging and try to be encouraging and supportive in my comments. So that's what leads me to share a little tale of blogger wierdness this week.

I follow a couple blogs that make announcements for support, celebration, giveaways, and featured bloggers. A few days ago, I saw a request for support for a family with a toddler newly diagnosed with Acute Leukemia. Given my passion and expertise in pediatric cancer, I clicked over to leave a few words of encouragement and support for the family. Okay, no big deal, Blog life as usual.

And then into my Email Inbox a cryptic message appears from a person I have never heard of in blogland. Not a follower or commenter or known blogger, nada. But it wasn't spam, there was no request for money to be sent to Nigeria or trying to sell male enhancement herbs. And I like new bloggers so I didn't automatically hit delete.

In the email, Just these few lines-

I am in Anytown, USA and I have a preschooler. I am interested in talking health with you. What would be the best way to do this? I found you in the comments of the XYZ Blog. The entry about her darling child and his current battle with his health.

Suzy Q
Anytown USA
Sal's Drycleaners

Here is my reply-
Hi, Suzy, thank you for the email. I would appreciate if you could let me know what I can help you with. Thank you so much. Martha

Suzy Q's Response-
Thank you for the reply! You work in a very interesting field. I am available to talk just about anytime. My number is on the bottom of my email.

(Really trying to figure out why the heck this person is contacting moi. Wow, News Flash, I work in an interesting field. Who knew Nursing was interesting??)

My response-
You are welcome. Nursing is a very interesting field, also very specialized and vast. Please be more specific as to the topic in which you want to discuss so I can be best prepared and respectful of our time.

(Okay, now during this initial volley of emails I get suitably intrigued about this individual and do some internet research. I find the blog to their business which has a sideline of selling Guess What?!? The New Miracle Super Duper Antioxidant that Will Cure Cancer!! The Supplement, Tango-Mean (rhymes with the real supplement name which I refuse to type.) Here is my disclaimer btw, I am a Huge Fan of complementary medicine including the use of vitamins, supplements, and herbs for myself, my family, and my patients when Clinically appropriate. So take your cup of chamomille tea and Drink It! Okay, now back to my story.)

Suzy Q-
My focus in our talks is in prevention and wellness. If you get a chance, pick up the brand new Teeny Bopper magazine. If there is a can of Tango-Mean on the back cover, you have the right magazine. I am in the wellness industry now and would like to be more effective in my approach and presentation. I guess that’s where your expertise would come in. For example, how would I tell Toddler with Cancer's mother about our prevention plan for children? I want to make a difference for people who are at their wits end and I have no idea how to approach the subject, let alone them. I don’t want to come off as an opportunist and I realize that is a real possibility.
I sincerely believe we have an answer to these problems facing our young people. I want to be able to talk to parents in a way that won't alienate them or give them reason to discount me as a “salesman” or crackpot or something. Any suggestions you could offer would be invaluable to me! Thanks again for your time and consideration.

My Simmering Response-
Hi, Suzy, I see you are involved in the Multi Level Marketing of Tango-Mean vitamin supplements. I am not used to being solicited as a marketing consultant or RN professional in response to a comment on a blog offering psychological support for a Parent's Worst nightmare.

Toddler with cancer is diagnosed with Acute Leukemia and is under the care of a pediatric oncologist. His MD should decide if Any supplements are appropriate and necessary. Typically, oncologists approach supplementation with Extreme Caution due to a number of reasons,
1.Vitamins, herbs, etc. can interact with the Chemotherapy that will save this child's life.
2. Some vitamins, herbs can actually increase tumor growth and spread of the cancer.

So, Tango-Mean is not appropriate for persons with cancer and the information below from the FAQs of the Tango-Mean website states this also.

From Tango-Mean website-
Q:Who should drink Tango Mean?
A:Anyone interested in vitality and building a strong nutritional foundation for health and overall well-being.* We do not, however, recommend Tango-Mean if you are pregnant, have a medical condition or have an allergic reaction.

Suzy, I think you are correct in identifying yourself as opportunistic in this case. I have worked with families who have a child with cancer for many years and the pyschological stress is incredible. Toddler's mom doesn't need any more information or suggestions on how to treat her son's cancer. She needs to work the specialists who are treating him for the long road ahead. Plus, like her blog post said, She has No Money for the necessities for her son, much less an untested supplement that might cause more harm than good. We just don't know Because there are No Credible Research studies to evaluate the effects of supplements in certain Chemotherapies. So, Tangomean or any other vitamin supplement would not be in this child's best clinical interest. Or any other Cancer patient Unless approved by their MD. If you wanted to perform a kindness, consider donating some to the parents to help them while they endure alongside their son while he undergoes Chemotherapy for 3 years.
I appreciate your enthusiasm for TangoMean and concern for children's health, but it is not appropriate for children dealing with life threatening or chronic diseases Without MD approval.
I have many blog friends and consider myself generous of my time and expertise as a health care professional. I was taken aback to get your email requesting my marketing and clinical expertise without a prior relationship or professional understanding. I hope you can appreciate this and consider this in the future when requesting free consultation.

A final word from Suzy Q-
I appreciate your candor. Your message is very clear and I completely understand your point of view. You see my dilemma. I have been unsuccessful in even explaining my position to you, who are not dealing with this “worst nightmare” scenario. I would not suggest anyone go against their doctors wishes regarding supplementation. I have no intention of pretending to be in a position to diagnose or prescribe anything to anyone. All I know is what I have seen and what I know from different Dr’s who do know what the effects of Tangomean and minerals have on people. I am friends with Dr.Ed who has run the Healthy Clinic for many years. He has seen first hand, the effects of mangosteen on people with all sorts of ailments including cancer. He and I have discussed supplementing during chemo and he said NO. There are times when it is advisable to help the bodies systems with the invaluable nutrition a formula like Tangomean. For example, I have a friend whose grandson, 2 yrs old, was diagnosed with early warning signs of leukemia. The child took this formula for two weeks and when the child went back to be reevaluated the signs were gone.

To be clear, I am not asking you for marketing advice, simply if there is a way I could make a difference. From your last response, I can see that there really is no good way. I have plenty of customers and members in my organization and have no real need to try to solicit these unfortunate people in their darkest hour. That is why I contacted you. To see if there is a way to, possibly, make a positive difference in their lives. I thank you for taking the time to write and I will take your advice and stop trying to help in this way.


Mission Accomplished. It strikes me as cruel to come between a patient and his providers so you can hawk your snake oil. Regardless of a person's intentions which I so highly suspect.

(I have changed the names/details to protect the innocent and the not so innocent. Plus I am too busy for any more hassles. I have edited these emails for clarity and boredom prevention. I forwarded these emails to the hosts of the blogger forums so they can be aware of this too.)

Thank you for letting me share my Smackdown in Blogland. Have you had to put anybody back into their proper place recently?