In a move that threatens to further inflame concerns about the rationing of medical care, the nation’s leading association of cancer physicians issued a list on Wednesday of five common tests and treatments that doctors should stop offering to cancer patients.

The list emerged from a two-year effort, similar to a project other medical specialties are undertaking, to identify procedures that do not help patients live longer or better or that may even be harmful, yet are routinely prescribed.

As much as 30 percent of health-care spending goes to procedures, tests, and hospital stays that do not improve a patient’s health, according to a 2008 analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget office.

“Our goal was to improve care and improve the value of the care we deliver,” said Dr. Lowell Schnipper, a cancer physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center who led the task force assembled by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). the group of more than 200 oncologists released the list from a report in its Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Although the task force emphasized that its recommendations — winnowed from about 10 suggestions by oncologists — were driven by medical considerations, the report makes clear that expense was a major factor. a number of cancer drugs cost nearly $100,000 but extend life a few months or not at all. Widely-used imaging tests cost up to $5,000 yet do not benefit patients.

The list has been closely guarded, with public announcements scheduled for Wednesday. Patients, advocacy groups, and policy experts contacted by Reuters were mixed in their reaction to the recommendations.

“The American people have a much higher opinion of doctors than of government bureaucrats,” said Kate Nix, a policy analyst at the free-market Heritage Foundation. whether the ASCO recommendations to withhold some tests and treatments will be seen as rationing “depends on how they are used. Will they inhibit the ability of doctors and patients to make the best decision in each case?”

Patients vs. financial interests

Advocates for cancer patients applauded the recommendations.

“I think this is a great effort from ASCO,” said Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. “They are putting their patients ahead of their own financial interests,” since in the existing fee-for-service health-care system physicians make money on every test and treatment they order.

Brawley does not see the effort as leading to health-care rationing. “This is the rational use of health-care, not rationing,” he said.

Other advocates agreed. “I am shocked, surprised, and pleased,” said Fran Visco, president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition and a breast-cancer survivor. “Shocked because ASCO has long been loath to say, ‘do less.’ pleased because it appears that they are trying to follow the science, which is nice.”

Following the science, however, can lead to conclusions that do not sit well with all patients. Shari Baker, who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer eight years ago and has been in remission since 2007, has already felt the brunt of one of the recommendations: that patients who have been successfully treated for breast cancer and have no symptoms of cancer not undergo CT, PET, other imaging, or bone scans to check for a recurrence or spread of the disease, known as metastasis.

“As a survivor of bone metastasis — the breast cancer had spread to my spine — after my doctor told me I was clear those PET scans were my peace of mind,” said Baker, a jewelry designer in Scottsdale, Ariz. “By the time you have symptoms it’s too late.”

Her insurer, guided by the same kind of studies that served as the basis for the ASCO list, would not cover the scan, citing that it provides no benefit.

ASCO recommends against routine use of four other procedures: chemotherapy for patients with advanced cancers who are unlikely to benefit; advanced imaging technologies such as CT and PET or bone scans to determine the precise stage of both early breast and prostate cancers at low risk for metastasis; and drugs to stimulate white blood cell production in patients receiving chemotherapy if they have a risk of febrile neutropenia, an often-fatal condition marked by fever and abnormally low numbers of certain white blood cells.

The supporting evidence for each recommendation is expected to surprise patients and even some physicians, since these very widely-used tests and treatments have little or no scientific basis, said Schnipper.

Withholding chemotherapy

One recommendation likely to stir controversy, and even revive charges of “death panels,” is to not use chemotherapy and other treatments in patients with advanced solid-tumor cancers such as colorectal or lung who are in poor health and did not benefit from previous chemo.

Such treatment is widespread. at one large health maintenance organization, for instance, 49 percent of patients with a common form of lung cancer but with poor “performance status” (they were largely confined to a bed or chair and capable of only limited self-care) received chemo. Research shows, however, that it is unlikely to extend their life or improve its quality.

Similarly, many patients receive three and even four kinds of chemo after not responding to earlier rounds. Yet in the largest study of its kind, only 2 percent of lung-cancer patients responded to a third form of chemo; 0 percent responded to a fourth form. In another study, withholding fourth-line chemotherapy from patients with non-small-cell lung cancer or colorectal cancer did not shorten their lives compared to that of similar patients receiving last-ditch treatments.

ASCO therefore recommends that such very ill, weak, and non-responsive patients receive only palliative and other end-of-life care. an important exception: a cancer whose molecular fingerprint makes it vulnerable to a targeted therapy such as AstraZeneca’s Iressa for non-small-cell lung cancer.

“In no way do we want to deprive a desperately-ill patient of something that might be helpful,” said Schnipper. and every oncologist should continue to base medical decisions on the individual patient, he said.

“But if nature is telling us that something will not help, it is our obligation to do no harm,” he added. Giving chemo to a seriously ill patient whose cancer has not responded to earlier treatment “might let grandma live another few weeks. but she is very likely to be made toxic by the chemo and suffer big time. There is a real risk it will make a patient worse.”

The challenge for physicians as well as insurers will be balancing the needs of the vast majority of patients against the rare cases. Studies have shown that when very ill lung-cancer patients were given a common chemotherapy, the average survival was half that of stronger patients, but nevertheless, 3.4 months.

Finding metastasis

The recommendation that physicians not perform advanced imaging or bone scans in patients with early-stage breast or low-grade prostate cancer that is unlikely to spread also reflects research that contradicts what many patients believe.

In these patients, imaging such as PET and CT to search for metastasis does not improve detection of metastases or extend survival. moreover, said Schnipper, “finding metastases early does not improve survival in breast cancer.” but the expensive imaging ($2,500 to $5,000) does misdiagnose some harmless changes as cancer, leading to unnecessary invasive procedures or treatments that can shorten lives.

Again, there are exceptions. the most authoritative review found that 99 percent of patients with early-stage, seemingly low-risk prostate cancer do not benefit from imaging or bone scans. That suggests 1 percent might.

In breast-cancer patients who have been successfully treated, such as Shari Baker, neither the advanced imaging nor blood tests for molecules associated with tumors improve survival. (The tests do help patients treated for colorectal cancer, however.) Most recurrences are found through a physical exam or mammogram. Yet the advanced tests are routine.

“Why do doctors keep doing them?” Schnipper asks. “Most of them are aware of the evidence that these tests don’t benefit patients. but in my own experience treating breast-cancer patients, sometimes when I go through the explanations of how these things don’t help a patient will say, ‘but it will help me sleep at night.’ and I do it.”

It is way too soon to know whether the recommendations will affect how ASCO’s 30,000-plus members treat cancer patients. the group is launching a program to educate physicians as well as patients to understand which tests and treatments are more likely to be harmful than helpful.

Thursday, April 19

Cancer support groups. the Wellness Community offers two ongoing groups at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. the group for adult cancer patients meets 5-7 p.m. every Thursday. the group for loved ones and/or family of cancer patients meets 5-7 p.m. every other Thursday. Both groups meet in the first floor Radiation-Oncology Department, 2801 Atlantic Ave. 310-376-3550, wellnessandcancer.org.

Friday, April 20

Macular degeneration lecture. Dr. Arthur Pazornik, optometrist with Pioneer Medical Group, discusses signs, symptoms and treatment options for macular degeneration, an eye condition that causes blurred or distorted central vision. Free. 11 a.m. Friday. Pioneer Medical Group, 2220 Clark Ave., Long Beach. 562-597-4181.

Hearing devices exhibit. Free hands-on display of devices that help with hearing difficulties; includes information on how they work and where they can be purchased. Presented by the Hearing Loss Association of Long Beach/Lakewood. 10 a.m.-noon Friday. Weingart Senior Center, 5220 Oliva Ave., Lakewood. 562-425-5651, hlalongbeachlakewood.org

ALS support group. For people with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), their families and friends. Sponsored by the ALS Association, Greater Los Angeles chapter. Noon-1:30 p.m. third Friday of the month. City of Long Beach Health and Human Services Family Health Education Center, 3820 Cherry Ave. 818-865-8067, Ext. 234.

Dental screening. For seniors age 50 and older. 10 a.m. third Friday of the month. Free. Norwalk Senior Center, 14040 San Antonio Drive. 562-929-5580.

Saturday, April 21

Nutrition boot camp. Cheyana Van Dender, a nutritionist and certified personal trainer, conducts an interactive workshop offered by South Bay Fit Camp. 3 p.m. Saturday at a home in Long Beach; address and directions provided upon registration. $45-$50. Contact Emily Duval Ledger at 562-243-2221 or .

Monday, April 23 

Breast cancer support group. For women diagnosed or in treatment. 7-9 p.m. second and fourth Monday of the month. Los Alamitos Medical Center, 10861 Cherry St. 562-594-9977.

Nar-Anon. the Long Beach family group, Healing Hearts, offers support for family and friends of drug addicts. 7 p.m. every Monday. Community Grace Brethren Church, 5885 Downey Ave., Long Beach. 562-490-4689, 888-297-9560, nar-anon.org

Tuesday, April 24

Caring and Coping. Support group for cancer patients and their families. 2:30-4:30 p.m. second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Los Alamitos Medical Center, 10861 Cherry St. 562-594-9977.

Autism Society of America, Long Beach/South Bay Parent Support Group. For parents and caregivers of those with autism. 7-9 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month. Prisk Elementary School, Room 7, 2375 Fanwood Ave., Long Beach. Contact Joey Hayashi at 562-982-9129 or , or go to greaterlongbeach-asa.org

Prostate cancer support group. 6:30-8:30 p.m. last Tuesday of the month. Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Houssels Forum, 2801 Atlantic Ave. 562-595-5977.

Recovery International. the group teaches participants skills for coping with anxiety, depression and anger. 1:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Burns Community Center, 5510 Clark St., Lakewood. Donations requested but not required. Call Bob at 562-343-5195, or go to lowselfhelpsystems.org

Wednesday, April 25

Ask the pharmacist. A pharmacist answers questions about medications. Blood pressure screening also available. 9-11 a.m. Wednesday. Cypress Senior Center, 9031 Grindlay St. 714-229-2005.

Newly diagnosed breast cancer support group. For women recently diagnosed or in treatment. 4:30-6 p.m. every Wednesday. Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Radiation Oncology Conference Room, 2801

La Leche League of Long Beach. Support group for mothers wishing to breast-feed; fathers are also welcome at this meeting. 7 p.m. fourth Wednesday of the month. 2271 Pepperwood Ave. 562-804-8725.

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A simple blood test capable of identifying lung cancer at an early stage is to be trialled by the NHS on thousands of smokers.

It his hoped the new test, developed in Britain and already piloted in the US, will drastically cut death rates, reduce medical bills and lead to an overhaul in the way cancer is diagnosed and treated.

Sir Harry Burns, Scotland’s chief medical officer, said the trial would involve 10,000 patients, mainly smokers, identified as having a higher risk of developing the disease. If successful, the £200-per-person procedure could be rolled out across the rest of the country.

“The earlier a cancer is diagnosed the greater the chance it can be treated successfully, and currently 85% of patients with lung cancer remain undiagnosed until the disease has reached an advanced stage,” Burns said. He said the detection programme aimed to increase early diagnosis by 25%.

Known as EarlyCDT-Lung, the test tracks increases in blood antibody levels that could signal the onset of cancer. Patients with raised levels will be referred for a CT scan – the x-ray-style imaging currently used to detect the disease.

Burns said the test would lead to greatly increased cancer survival rates. “By testing those at greatest risk of developing lung cancer and diagnosing it at its earliest possible stage, we stand a better chance of being able to treat it successfully,” he said.

Lung cancer claims about 35,000 lives a year in Britain and diagnosis is rarely made early enough to ensure effective treatment. about 93% of patients die within five years of the onset of symptoms.

Test developer John Robertson, professor of surgery at the University of Nottingham, said early trials in the US had improved the prognosis for a substantial number of patients. He said new breakthroughs were expected that would eventually identify all forms of the disease.

“We are working hard on bringing the next test for the early detection of breast cancer to the market within a year. we are also working on a number of similar tests for prostate, colon and ovarian cancer. a blood test to aid detection of all tumour cancers is still the overriding objective of our work.”

It is hoped that increasing survival rates will create major savings for the health service.

Once the Scottish trials are complete, it is understood the NHS will examine whether it is cost-effective for use in mass screening. If the results are positive, the UK national screening committee, which advises the government and the NHS, will decide how checks can be rolled out to millions of smokers across the country.

WINSTON-SALEM — Turning 50 proved to be a milestone for Mike Tyson not just in terms of age.

Tyson, of Winston-Salem, credits the symbolic birthday for saving his life because he chose to undergo a routine prostate-specific antigen test at that time. the test measures a specific protein released by prostate cells.

Because his PSA level was elevated for his age, Tyson underwent a biopsy that revealed prostate cancer. he had surgery in February.

He said his recovery was slow but that in August, he began feeling more like himself, particularly after participating in the Livestrong program for cancer patients and survivors at local YMCAs.

The necessity of the PSA test — and the consequences of what it might reveal — has become a significant topic at local urologist offices since October, when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended against it.

For men, prostate cancer is second only to skin cancer in frequency of cancer cases. It also is the second leading cause of death, behind lung cancer.

In 2009, health-care lobbying groups criticized the task force for recommending that most women wait until age 50 to get mammograms and then have one every two years. the American Cancer Society’s longstanding recommendation is annual screening starting at 40.

Opponents of the PSA test say it tends to lead to potential misdiagnosis and unnecessary biopsies and treatment for men, particularly for those 50 and older. they say urologists support PSA testing because it can be a significant revenue source.

After conducting five clinical PSA trials, the task force said, “There is moderate or high certainty that the service has no net benefit and that the harms outweigh the benefits.” according to a new York Times report, the task force said the test “cannot tell the difference between cancers that will and will not affect a man during his natural lifetime.”

Proponents point to examples, such as Tyson, as to why the test is pertinent.

Tyson said he’s convinced PSA testing is not only necessary but should be done sooner.

“I had no symptoms of prostate cancer,” Tyson said. “Having my wife die of bone cancer in February 2008 after fighting it valiantly for seven years, and with an 11-year-old daughter to care for, I didn’t consider anything other than surgery.

“If I had gone with the watch-and-wait approach, I might not have been checked for months, if not years, because of being 50. who knows how much the prostate cancer could have spread in that time?”

Urologists affiliated with Forsyth and Wake Forest Baptist medical centers support the stance of the American Urological Association.

“until there is a better widespread test for this potentially devastating disease, the task force — by disparaging the test — is doing a great disservice to the men worldwide who may benefit from the PSA test,” said Dr. Sushil Lacy, president of the association.

“It is our feeling that, when interpreted appropriately, the PSA test provides important information in the diagnosis, pre-treatment staging, or risk assessment and monitoring of prostate cancer patients.”

This issue isn’t one that affects just urologists, said Karen Richardson, a spokeswoman for Wake Forest Baptist. “many men get their prostate cancer screenings from their primary-care physicians,” she said.

Dr. Jeremy Hubbard, a urologist at Carolina Urological Associates, said he disagrees with the task force’s recommendation because it is a sweeping declaration for a decision that is individual in nature.

“We’re concerned that some patients — and some primary physicians — may only consider the task force’s recommendations and not access all the pertinent information they may need,” Hubbard said.

In 2008, the task force recommended against PSA testing in men ages 75 or older, relying instead on the watch-and-wait approach because treating the prostate cancer for men of that age could cause more harm than the disease itself.

Hubbard said that because some prostate cancer is slow to grow, “it requires reasonable active surveillance by physician and patient.”

“Treatment recommendations for someone with prostate cancer are different for someone in their 40s and 50s compared with 60s and 70s,” he said.

The American Council on Science and Health supported the task force’s recommendations because it said tens of thousands of men have had serious complications from unnecessary prostate surgery, ranging from blood in the urine to incontinence and impotence, and even death.

Dr. Gilbert Ross of the council said a more specific test for prostate cancer is needed — one that will identify only cancer cells that are likely to develop into dangerous tumors and metastases.

“the PSA test should not continue to wreak so much havoc on people’s lives,” Ross said.

Because a significant number of cancer patients—an estimated 25 percent—experience major depression at some point during their illness, recognizing the signs of depression among patients is a critical part of optimal treatment. From feelings of hopelessness to an inability to carry out daily tasks, depression can affect quality of life and possibly survival. For these reasons, prompt recognition and treatment of depressed patients is vital. Learn to recognize the following signs of depression. If you or a loved one experiences any of these signs, seek immediate help from a medical professional.

The Challenge of Identifying Depression

Even though depression is a common complaint among cancer patients, it isn’t always diagnosed. Signs of depression may be confused with symptoms of the cancer itself, as symptoms (like those described above) often overlap. furthermore, patients may also be experiencing a wide range of health issues, which can take medical priority over emotional and psychological concerns. these challenges in recognizing depression may be compounded by the fact that many patients don’t report depressive symptoms, perhaps due to an associated stigma or because they feel that cancer should take priority. together, these challenges make a firm understanding of the symptoms of depression a critical step in recognizing this potentially debilitating yet treatable side effect. once again, if you or a loved one experiences any of the above symptoms, seek help immediately.

More news and in-depth All Cancer Types information.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – a NASA technology originally developed for plant growth experiments on space shuttle missions has successfully reduced the painful side effects resulting from chemotherapy and radiation treatment in bone marrow and stem cell transplant patients. In a two-year clinical trial, cancer patients undergoing bone marrow or stem cell transplants were given a far red/near infrared Light Emitting Diode treatment called High Emissivity Aluminiferous Luminescent Substrate, or HEALS, to treat oral mucositis – a common and extremely painful side effect of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. the trial concluded that there is a 96 percent chance that the improvement in pain of those in the high-risk patient group was the result of the HEALS treatment. “Using this technology as a healing agent was phenomenal,” said Dr. Donna Salzman, clinical trial principal investigator and director of clinical services and education at the Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. “The HEALS device was well tolerated with no adverse affects to our bone marrow and stem cell transplant patients.” the HEALS device, known as the WARP 75 light delivery system, can provide a cost-effective therapy since the device itself is less expensive than a day at the hospital and a proactive therapy for symptoms of mucositis that are currently difficult to treat without additional, negative side effects. the device could offer patients several benefits: better nutrition since eating can be difficult with painful mouth and throat sores; less narcotic use to treat mouth and throat pain; and an increase in patient morale – all of which can contribute to shorter hospital stays and less potential for infection, added Salzman. LEDs are light sources releasing energy in the form of photons. they release long wavelengths of light that stimulate cells to aid in healing. HEALS technology allows LED chips to function at their maximum irradiancy without emitting heat. NASA is interested in using HEALS technology for medical uses to improve healing in space and for long-term human spaceflight. Ron Ignatius, founder and chairman of Quantum Devices inc., of Barneveld Wis., developed the WARP 75 light delivery system for use in the trial. the device uses the HEALS technology to provide intense light energy: the equivalent light energy of 12 suns from each of the 288 LED chips – each the size of a grain of salt. It is one of many devices using HEALS technology, developed in collaboration with NASA. In the early 1990s, Quantum teamed with the Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and Robotics – a NASA-sponsored research center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison – to develop Astroculture 3, a plant growth chamber using near infrared HEALS technology for plant growth experiments on shuttle missions. Over the years, Quantum has worked to develop HEALS technology for use in medical fields, specifically with pediatric brain tumors and hard-to-heal wounds such as diabetic skin ulcers, serious burns and oral mucositis. “With the help of NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program, Quantum Devices and its medical partners have been able to take a space technology and adapt it for an entirely different application to significantly help people here on Earth,” said Glenn Ignatius, president of Quantum Devices. “This collaboration between NASA and commercial companies has spurred innovation that is touching millions of lives on Earth – for the better.” the clinical trial was funded by NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. It included 20 cancer patients from Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and 60 cancer patients from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital and the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, also in Birmingham. the trial was the brainchild of Brian Hodgson, DDS, a pediatric dentist at Marquette University and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin – both in Milwaukee, Wis. Dr. Harry T. Whelan, Bleser Professor of Neurology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, served as the clinical trial principal investigator at Medical College of Wisconsin and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Patients participated in the multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled research study – a way of testing a medical therapy where some groups receive treatment and others receive a placebo treatment that is designed to have no real effect. Participants were randomly placed in one of four study groups: low- and high-risk patients receiving the experimental light therapy through the WARP 75 device, and other low- and high-risk patients receiving light through a similar device without therapeutic effects. the low-risk patients were those whose chemotherapy and radiation treatment tended to cause mild or no mucositis and the high-risk patients were those whose therapy treatment tended to cause severe cases of mucositis. Patients received the light therapy by a nurse holding the WARP 75 device – about the size of an adult human hand – in close proximity to the outside of the patient’s left and right cheek and neck area for 88 seconds each, daily for 14 days at the start of the patient’s bone marrow or stem cell transplant. During that time, trained clinicians assessed the patient’s mouth and patients completed a simple form to indicate their level of pain. “NASA is proud to be a part of the HEALS technology medical advancements that are improving the lives of cancer patients and providing new, innovative medical applications,” said Helen Stinson, technical monitor for the NASA HEALS contract. “It’s exciting to see the spinoffs from NASA’s science and technology initiatives continually improve the quality of life for people here on Earth.” the WARP 75 device is currently undergoing Food and Drug Administration premarket approval. Photo release nasa.gov/centers/marshall/multimedia/photos/2011/photos11-023.html Videofile nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=67915011

ABU DHABI ? in an effort to deliver quality healthcare and improve the quality of life of cancer patients, the Health Authority ? Abu Dhabi (HAAD) is looking at establishing standards of care for breast, bowel and cervical cancer patients based on the best evidence from around the world.

Once the standards are fully-established, HAAD will carry out training for healthcare professionals on this regard, said a statement on Sunday to mark the World Cancer Day on February 4.

The five most common cancers in the UAE are lung, stomach, liver, bowel and esophagus for men while breast, lung, stomach, bowel and cervix for women.

HAAD has embarked on a major programme to reduce the number of new cancers and detect cancers early.

“many people do not realise that around 40 per cent of all cancers can be prevented. Others can be detected early in their development, treated and cured. most cancers are linked to tobacco use or unhealthy diet,” said the statement. HAAD’s efforts focus on increasing public awareness about cancer risk factors and adopting a healthy lifestyle. These include the ‘Eat right, Get Active’ campaign and the Anti-tobacco campaign.

Early detection efforts include raising awareness about signs and symptoms of cancer as well as the early detection methods available. Breast cancer screening is currently available and is a success in increasing the number of women in Abu Dhabi who have had screening mammograms. from 2011, screening for bowel and cervical cancer will also be available.

Leg Bone Cancer Symptoms

I told her this: I am glad that you are fine.Leg Bone Cancer Symptoms you are indeed lucky. she replied: “I have cancer, what is so lucky about that?” and I said: “You are lucky because your arm is not swollen, your liver and bone are okay. there are many others who suffered metastasis after their chemotherapy and radiotherapy. and you are alright! That is why I said you are lucky, very lucky.” In contrast, a few patients had told me: “I am glad that I had breast cancer. Because of this, I got to know you!” there is one Dr. Shirley who had breast cancer and she once told me: “I am so happy. with this cancer, I have learned how to save my whole family. my children and husband are much healthier now than they were before. Before I got cancer I did not know anything about a healthy diet. Now the family enjoys good food.”

Cancer patients view their problems differently. It is up to each one to chose the positive and discard the negative. by doing this your perception on life and your illness will change. you will not feel that you are just an unfortunate victim. It will then dawn on you that in any circumstances that you may be in, there is always a positive or brighter side to things. Therefore, we need not always view things from a negative view point. a relaxed and peaceful mind is very important for you to regain composure. At the same time it also provides the very best environment for your body to heal itself. Fear, confusion and negative emotions within will impede the body’s healing process.

Many cancer patients who do not fear their cancers anymore ultimately enjoy a peaceful state of mind. they learn how to live with their illnesses and feel at ease. when you are calm and have attained this stage of consciousness in your mind, many good things can happen and flow from you.

1) More blessed to give.

You will learn that it is more blessed to give than to receive. you open your heart to others and share. by sharing you not only give and help others but you also heal yourself from within. Jee Sun had renal cancer and has been on the herbs for the last nine years. He is still doing fine today. He told me: “The old Jee Sun is dead. I am the new Jee Sun. I have found peace and at the same time am healing myself by helping others.” Many people unfortunately do not see this point. they prefer to hide in their own shell, refusing to talk and share. Selfishness or fear does not help you heal. It is most regrettable too that some people believe that if you are well after an illness, you must keep your mouth shut. going around telling others about your recovery is to “invite the devil” to come back and have his “revenge” again. Many patients used to tell me: “I don’t want people to know that I have cancer. It is bad luck or it is a curse, and I am ashamed.” Let me tell you this: “There is nothing to be ashamed about. to get sick is also not bad luck or a curse by the devil or God.” Sickness is a natural process. Look at the branches of any big tree. Some branches are diseased and they rot away. Some are broken and snap off due to strong winds while others grow straight and healthy. That is what Nature is. In the same way we need to look at our life as a natural process like that of a tree. In the old days, some religions taught us that illness was a punishment from an angry God. I say to you, it is not.

Lung Cancer Secrets Revealed Click here

My own experiences tell me that by giving my heart more to others, I also benefit more in return. While on this point, I am reminded of one young lady, a bank officer. she came to our house late one night because of her mother’s cancer. she told me: “Oh, you are helping people. Your God will give you all the points when you die”. I told her: “Young lady, I do all these without even thinking of wanting to collect points. Fortunately, I do not believe in a God who gives out points for good work. my God is Love.” my message is if you give with an intention or hope of getting back something in return, you will be disappointed. Worldly possessions do not necessarily bring real happiness. when I help others and they become well, there is great indescribable sense of satisfaction and joy in the heart that no money can buy. Generating such feelings in yourself is good for health and healing! It is medicine unto itself and is more powerful than herbs or drugs.

2) Count your blessings.

The events in life can be perceived differently by different minds. a mind full of hatred and anger sees things as always being destructive. the good is never seen or appreciated. a mind ingrained with love sees things positively and always sees blessings in any crisis or circumstance. my advice is: Learn to count your blessings. Give thanks with a grateful heart for each new day. Be grateful for what you are and what you have. Live one day at a time. and most important of all, try to seek the inner meaning of your illness. Your mind, soul or body is giving you a message for being sick. Seek that inner voice and understand its message.

lung cancer treatment breakthroughs Click here

Treatment for malignant mesothelioma has not been found, but the people affected by this disease still prefer to undergo treatment with a mixture of methods or participate in various clinical trials. Types of mesothelioma treatment techniques are regularly performed with the surgical procedure, drug therapy, and radiation therapy.

Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer SymptomsAlthough these treatments are most often found, you can find other treatment options are now increasing in popularity. several treatment options, which are gene therapy, immunotherapy, and photodynamic therapy.

The different surgical procedures performed on patients with malignant mesothelioma there are three types of palliative surgical procedures, surgical procedures for diagnostic, curative surgical procedure. Palliative surgery aimed at reducing the symptoms and eliminate all cancer cells. even so, the type of operation is not very advisable.

Destination curative surgery is to remove as much mesothelioma cancer, hoping this type of therapy can completely cure people. Curative surgery is usually followed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Differences in pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma

Diagnostic surgical approach intended to do with finding facts or not the cancer patients. This procedure is an addition that can help identify where the location of cancer, if found, the diagnosis of mesothelioma is usually still in the form of non-invasiv.

Chemotherapy drugs given intravenously with the aim to destroy cancerous tissue. Mesothelioma cancer cells grow very fast and delivery of chemotherapy would be more effective if given promptly.

Radiation therapy was done by comparing drug therapies, which aim to destroy cancerous tissue and limit the spread of cancer cells much as possible. This mode is also called “ionizing radiation” and is usually used after surgery. The mechanism works the same with palliative care that also aimed to eliminate pain caused by the disease.

Mesothelioma Prognosis

Photodynamic therapy is usually used if the cancer malignant mesothelioma is still small and less effective for metastasis. Cancer therapy requires intravenous medication that will kill the cancer cells will be susceptible to a particular result.

This gene treatment is still experimental and need people who will be infected by an h? virus that would make a change genetically. The virus entered the mesothelioma cancer cells that cause the production of proteins. some time after the virus infects people who have changed genetically, will be given chemotherapy drugs that do not damage normal cells, but is able to kill cancer cells.

Immunotherapy is given notice of the individual body’s immune system tries to destroy cancer cells. with the Active Immunotherapy of individuals, malignant mesothelioma cells would be removed which is then used to produce vaccines. The person who injected the vaccine, will have an immune system capable of recognizing “malignant mesothelioma cell vaccine” as a hazardous substance, so that the cancer cell itself is known as a dangerous substance.