According to the more in depth article linked to in exit's comment: 'There is virtually no debate about the best treatment. “It has long been held that surgery

According to the more in depth article linked to in exit's comment: 'There is virtually no debate about the best treatment. “It has long been held that surgery can lead to very long-term survival,” says Kim.' So this would not have been what your family has faced, and makes the criticism of alternative medicine valid.