Chemotherapy and Cancer – Checking Further
( Must-Read Advice From Black Doctors On Preventing and Battling Cancer follows below )
12 Questions to Ask BEFORE Saying ‘Yes’ to Chemotherapy Treatment
Chemotherapy is a category of cancer treatment that is used to help cure a cancerous or cancer-like condition, or to address symptoms from such a condition and prolong life.
The term has commonly been used in reference to introduction of intracellular toxins for generally blocking cell division, affecting the targeted problem cells but also affecting healthy cells as a side effect.
To avoid this connotation, more recently developed therapies that target more specific molecular structures or genetic targets such as growth-promoting signals from endocrine hormones ( primarily used for breast cancer and prostate cancer ) are called hormonal therapies.
Therapies that target other specific contributors to cellular growth, especially those associated with receptor tyrosine kinases, are referred to as targeted therapy.
Importantly, the use of drugs (whether chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or targeted therapy) constitutes systemic therapy for cancer in that they are introduced into the blood stream and are therefore in principle able to address cancer at any location in the body.
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemotherapy
From TheTruthAboutCancer.com
While chemotherapy and radiation have long been considered the gold standard for treating cancer, it’s not because they have been proven to cure cancer. The idea has gained traction as a systemic outcome of the money flowing into the pharmaceutical and medical industries.
What You Need to Know About Chemotherapy Treatment
Chemotherapy is not efficient. It is not selective, meaning it kills healthy cells along with the cancer cells. This inflicts serious damage on the body. Plus, chemo kills mostly rapidly dividing healthy and cancer cells − but not all of the cells are fast-growing.
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a small population of cancer cells that are slow-growing and therefore resistant to treatment, do NOT die. To make matters worse, the treatment makes these cells even stronger as the ratio of highly malignant cells to benign cells begins to spiral out of control very soon after chemotherapy treatment ends.
It is highly recommended to seek second and even third opinions in order to compare the various protocols available.
TheTruthAboutCancer.com Article Summary
- Chemotherapy and radiation have long been considered the gold standard for treating cancer, but it’s not because they have been proven to cure cancer.
- Chemotherapy is not selective − it kills healthy cells along with the cancer cells, which causes serious damage to the body.
- Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small population of cancer cells that are slow-growing and are resistant to treatment. Chemotherapy does not kill off cancer stem cells. These cells then take up residence elsewhere where they regenerate treatment-resistant tumors.
- Chemotherapy also impairs the immune system, which then disables it from removing cancerous cells from the body. This makes the patient more vulnerable to cancer coming back.
- Most oncologists only recommend chemo, radiation, and surgery and are unlikely to recommend alternative and complementary treatments. Seek 2nd and even 3rd opinions in order to compare the various protocols available.
If you’re considering chemotherapy, here are 12 important questions to ask your oncologist/doctor BEFORE you schedule any chemo treatments. These questions are to empower you to make smart clinical decisions for YOUR body.
- What is the goal of the chemo for my cancer? Is this a cure?
- What are the chances that the chemotherapy treatment will work for me, for my cancer?
- What chemo-sensitivity testing will you do to determine which chemotherapy agent to use?
- What is your opinion on taking supplements during treatment?
- What are my other options if I decline treatment?
- What lifestyle changes will I need to make to improve the outcome of the treatment and protect my body during treatments?
- How will you nourish and protect my healthy cells while you’re killing my cancer cells?
- What will your proposed chemotherapy treatment do to my cancer stem cells?
- How will you support my immune system during treatment?
- What will you do if I become resistant to chemo treatment?
- How will this treatment change the cancer environment?
- Would you give this same chemotherapy treatment to your spouse or children, and if not, what would you give them? Would you take it yourself?
Reference: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/questions-before-chemotherapy-treatment/
Alternatively – Alternative Treatments
Reference: https://draxe.com/10-natural-cancer-treatments-hidden-cures/
1. The Gerson Therapy and Juicing
2. The Budwig Protocol
3. Proteolytic Enzyme Therapy
4. Vitamin C Chelation
5. Frankincense Essential Oil Therapy
6. Probiotic Foods and Supplements
7. Sunshine and Vitamin D3
8. Turmeric and Curcumin
9. Oxygen Therapy and Hyperbaric Chambers
10. Prayer and Building Peace
Must-Read Advice From Black Doctors On Preventing and Battling Cancer from Essence.com
What does it take to stay cancer-free? And what should you do once diagnosed? ESSENCE got nine smart tips from African-American M.D.’s on saving your life.
TIP #1: Figure out your risk
Some contributing factors to risk of cancer include: smoking, over-exposure to sun radiation ( many feel ), having untreated HPV ( the common cold of STDs ), your age, your diet and your family history.
TIP #2: Never be a passive patient
When it comes to cancer and cancer-like disease, “You have to be aggressive in taking care of yourself”. Ask your doctor questions to try to prevent the illness, such as: “How can I avoid getting breast cancer like my mom did?” or “How accurate is the test you’d like me to take?” Take steps to prevail over cancer by asking: “Why is this treatment best for me?” and “What’s a good time to call if I have questions?”
“Sometimes you only get one shot at this, so you want to be sure you make the best possible decision you can [by getting a second opinion].”
TIP #3: Know your first defenses
Health and diet – Studies suggest one third of all cancer deaths are related to diet and obesity. Maintain a healthy diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, and low in fat. Keep in mind that you don’t have to give up all your favorite foods to eat smart. “To me, the whole idea of eating healthier means increasing fruits and vegetables,” says Lucile L. Adams-Campbell, Ph.D., director of the Howard University Cancer Center in Washington, D.C.
Exercise is another must-do when it comes to avoiding cancer. And smoking is a definite don’t. It leads to one third of all cancer deaths. Even secondhand smoke at the club or a friend’s house can harm you. Go to Smokefree.gov for help butting out.
TIP #4: Help find a cure
Even if you’re not a cancer patient, now is the time to get involved with research. Participating in a clinical trial—which can be as simple as filling out a survey—helps doctors obtain accurate data on how diseases and drugs impact different groups of people.
To find out if you qualify for a clinical trial, cancer-free or not, visit such Web sites as Cancer.gov/clinicaltrials (a resource for more than 6,000 cancer clinical trials) and wcn.org (Women’s Cancer Network Web site). If you have cancer, you can also talk to your primary care provider about joining a trial.
TIP #5: Go with your instincts
Often people know their own bodies best. Tell your doctor if something feels wrong and you want to rule out cancer. If you’re seriously concerned, tell the doctor it’s urgent so you don’t wait three months for an appointment.
Some illnesses, like breast cancer, are less likely to appear in young Black women, but symptoms can be more aggressive when they do, so timing is everything.
Make note of any unusual occurrence that could be significant: the persistent gas and abdominal pain associated with colon cancer, the abnormal menstrual bleeding tied to endometrial cancer or the urinary urgency that can be a sign of ovarian or prostate cancer.
TIP #6: Seek out a specialist
An oncologist, a doctor who specializes in cancer, should be a critical part of your cancer-fighting team. If you or someone you know is diagnosed with cancer, make sure a specialist be involved with care.
Further, there are different types of oncologists, and many oncologists have areas of specific focus even if they don’t include it in their titles. So you should ask about their background.
- A gynecologic oncologist treats gynecologic cancers, such as uterine cancer and cervical cancer.
- A pediatric oncologist treats cancer in children. Some types of cancer occur most often in children and teenagers, such as certain brain tumors, leukemia, osteosarcoma, and Ewing’s sarcoma. But they sometimes occur in adults. In these cases, an adult may decide to work with a pediatric oncologist.
- A hematologist-oncologist diagnoses and treats blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
You can find a specialist by contacting cancer centers you’ll find on the National Cancer Institute Web site ( www.cancer.gov), or through the Women’s Cancer Network Web site (wcn.org), or by calling local hospitals for recommendations.
TIP #7: Get a second opinion, Get a second opinion, Get a second opinion
“Sometimes you only get one shot at this, so you want to be sure you make the best possible decision you can. You want to be clear about what all your options are”, says B. Lee Green, Jr., Ph.D., vice-president of the Office of Institutional Diversity, Tampa, FL.
Initially, you need to do your homework. “The first second opinion should be yours,” advises Green, who encourages patients diagnosed with cancer to research their condition for any options their doctor hasn’t mentioned. Your current doctor, a major medical teaching hospital or even friends and family can offer recommendations for other doctors. Just be sure to call your insurance company and see what its policy is. “In most cases,” says Green, “particularly with surgery and cancer, the company may (even) require you to get a second opinion.”
TIP #8: Never go it alone
If you’re diagnosed with cancer, don’t navigate the system by yourself. There’s alot to take in personally, and at the same time you’ll be increasing levels of effort to manage the Dr. appointments, the insurance requirements, and to research the condition and treatment.
Build your team. Now it’s your time to be a CEO, not a lone warrior.
A friend or family member can help write down and track your appointment times so you don’t miss one. You can arrange for friends and neighbors to rotate accompanying you to chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
You’re also less likely to slip through the cracks of the health-care system. “Let’s say your doctor says you need a breast biopsy, but he also tells you that you have diabetes and heart disease,” says Harold P. Freeman, M.D., president and founder of the Ralph Lauren Center for Care and Prevention and senior adviser to the director of the National Cancer Institute. “Before your biopsy, you’ll likely see a heart disease specialist to get medical clearance. That step back, however, is how people often get lost or stuck in the system.” That’s why it’s crucial to have someone with a sense of urgency to help push you forward through the system. If you don’t have someone to help you, ask your physician if her hospital has a patient navigation program and can offer an advocate to help.
TIP #9: Keep up with chemo ( if you decide on chemo )
While no one relishes chemotherapy (the use of chemical substances, either orally or intravenously, to treat cancer), it’s crucial for survival in some cases. “Part of the difficulty is that Black women don’t want to get sick or they don’t want to lose their hair. Because of this they don’t want to get treated, even when doctors tell them to,” says Olufunmilayo I. Olopade, M.D., director of the Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics at the University of Chicago. “Some have friends who didn’t have chemo, and the word out there is that chemo is poison. Black women are opting for colonics or alternative therapies instead.” Since none of these alternative remedies has been proven, always do the chemo course as directed. It could save your life.
This article was originally published in the April 2008 issue of ESSENCE magazine.
Reference: https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/best-advice-black-doctors-cancer
My note: The “non-alternative” medical community says the “alternative” paths to treatment are “unproven”. Proponents for “alternative” treatment say the “traditional” medicine approaches aren’t successful enough. What’s needed further is continued attention to success rates on both sides.
We’re in a period where medical science is advancing perhaps faster than computer technology, and maybe it will for a long time. Also, access to information is increasing at an incredible rate.
Do your research and remember that “information momentum” happens when information is spread more slowly because established authorities take time to accept new information as “proven”. That’s good, that’s inescapable, and that’s an impediment too.
Work with your team and do your research.
God bless.
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