Newly diagnosed cancer patients are sometimes told they are terminal with 3 or 6 months or a year or two to live. Why does the physician say this? Because, they say, they must be honest, they must be frank, and the patient and their family has a right to know and must prepare for death. The truth is that Continue Reading…
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Beware of Terminal Prognosis
Something new is happening and it is bad! I previously believed that when a physician told a newly diagnosed cancer patient they were terminal, the physician was unaware of what was available to treat that specific disease or was trying to protect their ego by forecasting the worst in which case there was no downside. If the patient fulfilled the prophecy, the physician was right and if the patient got well, they were the hero, accomplishing the impossible. Continue Reading…
There’s Good News Tonight
Cancer mortality drops for the first time in history! The age adjusted cancer death rate declined from 1990 to 1995 by 3.1% from 135.0 per 100,000 population to 129.8, the lowest it has been since 25 years ago. Further, the decline is accelerating and continuing at about 2% per year. Continue Reading…
Ten Commandments to Fight Cancer
- Recognize you have a life threatening disease.
Facing the truth is a necessary ingredient to starting on the road to successfully fighting it. The fact that it is not as bad as you imagined it would be, that you feel too good, or whatever, do not deny it. That would get in your way. Never look back. Apply all your energies to conquering it. - Make a commitment to do everything in your power to fight.
The most difficult single decision you will have to make is Continue Reading…
Choices
I have thought how devastating it must be for an oncologist to give a horribly toxic treatment to a seemingly strong patient, totally destroying the quality of their life, only to find it ineffective and watch the patient die. That physician not only has my sympathy, but my admiration, providing the treatment was given with the patient’s complete understanding and at the patient’s request. Continue Reading…
Commitment
Dear Fellow Cancer Patient:
No one likes to read a lengthy letter, but maybe this will help you have a better chance of conquering your cancer and improving the quality of your life. I’m Dick Bloch. In March, 1978 I was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and given 3 months to live by an outstanding doctor. I am now healthy, cancer free, and devoting myself along with my wife, Annette, to helping the next person with cancer have the best chance of beating it. I’m not saying you can have the same success I did, but if you try, you have a chance. Continue Reading…
Fears
What is life? Without a decent quality of life or the prospect of one, life certainly is not worth living. Health, happiness, money, friends, family and numerous other aspects all go into making up quality of life, but the overall feeling is far more important than any single factor. For cancer patients, one component that often totally destroys quality of life is the fear of death. Continue Reading…
Stimulating your immune system
The will to live is in itself an energy. It is a desire to fight for life because there is honestly something to live for. The shock and uncertainty of diagnosis causes many people to lose this and suspend living for a few weeks. The will to live will be stronger in patients who find their lives enjoyable and who have things in their lives they honestly look forward to. Continue Reading…
NCI News
- Genetic diversity predicts outcomes in head and neck cancer May 21, 2013
- Timing of cancer radiation therapy may minimize hair loss May 21, 2013
- Molecular marker from pancreatic 'juices' helps identify pancreatic cancer May 20, 2013
- Most cancer patients would like to talk with their doctors about financial concerns May 17, 2013
- Scheduled imaging studies provide little help detecting relapse of aggressive lymphoma May 17, 2013
Cancer Survivor Parks
