According to the editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine (Older age — not a barrier to cancer treatment. Vol: 345: 1128-1129. October 2001), more than half of all new cancers in the US occur in patients 65 years of age or older. Similarly about two thirds to three fourth of colorectal cancer cases occur in this elderly age group and three fourths of them die of the disease. In another report, published in the same journal (Vol: 345: 1091-1097), entitled: “A pooled analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy for resected colon cancer in elderly patients” Dr. Daniel Sargent and colleagues analysed data from 3,351 patients and compared the performance of patients in four different age groups. They concluded that:

1. “Selected elderly patients with colon cancer can receive the same benefit” from chemotherapy as their younger counterparts.

2. The five-year overall survival was 71% for those who received chemotherapy, and 64% for those who did not receive chemotherapy.

3. The toxic effects of the therapy were nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis and leucopenia (i.e., lowering of white blood cells). The toxic effects in those above 75 years old were not increased compared to other age groups.

Question: The difference of benefits between chemotherapy (5-FU leucovorin or 5-FU
levamisole) and no chemotherapy was 7%. This benefit of increased survival comes with toxic side effects. While the younger patients might be able to tolerate the side effects, I wonder if the elderly would want to go through such “sufferings.” To the oncologists and researchers, the results were “statistically significant,” but from the viewpoint of patients, I wonder if it worth it?

Theodore, J. I. & Lamont, E.B (in: Effectiveness of adjuvant fluorouracil in clinical practice: A population-based cohort study of elderly patients with stage III colon cancer. J. of Clinical Oncology. October 2002. Vol: 20: 3992-3998) wrote:

“At five years, 52.7% of the elderly, stage III colon patients treated with adjuvant 5-FU were alive compared to only 40.7% of those untreated patients.”

Questions: If you are old and had a surgery for your Stage 3 colon, but decided not to go for chemotherapy — would you die soon after that? The answer is NO. The data of this research shows that you can still be alive after five years even if you do not undergo chemotherapy. Think about this carefully: for every 100 elderly patients who are subjected to chemotherapy, only 12 of them will benefit from the treatment. This means that 88 elderly patients have to endure the side effects of chemotherapy and they do not benefit from the treatment.

Yang, T.S. and colleagues (in: Phase II study of a weekly 8-hour 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin infusion for patients with advanced colorectal cancer: dose adjusted according to its toxicity. Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2001. Vol:31: 610-615) studied 26 patients with unresectable, metastastatic or local recurrence colorectal cancer. Patients were treated with 5-FU leucovorin. The results of their result were:

1. The study commenced in June 1998, but by December 2000, i.e., one and half years later, only 3 patients were alive, meaning 23 of the 26 patients or 88% were dead. They survived for 1.5 to 28.3 months (median survival = 12.1 months).

2. The overall survival rate was 53.8% after 1 year, and 11.5% after 2 years.

3. The most frequent side effects noted were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and mucositis.

4. Hand-foot syndrome occurred in 11.5% of patients.

5. Fatigue or asthenia occurred in 57.7% of patients.

6. The study was terminated because the anticipated response rate was not achievable as expected.

Questions: Do the results of this study done in Taipei, Taiwan, not reflect the agonizing experiences of most cancer patients who had undergone chemotherapy? Are we made to believe that chemotherapy is good for colorectal cancer when 88% were dead 1.5 years after undergoing chemotherapy?

I often tell this to cancer patients: How much longer you live is not important. How you live while alive is the crux of the issue. What is the point of being alive when you have to spend most of your time going in and out of the hospital or enduring the side effects of the treatment?

For more information about holistic therapy visit: cacare.com cacare.com, NaturalHealingForYou.com NaturalHealingForYou.com, cancer-answers.blogspot.com cancer-answers.blogspot.com

Related posts

• Stage Two Colorectal Cancer Turned Terminal After Chemotherapy (0)
• Colorectal Cancer: Can Diet and Herbs Out-perform Chemotherapy? (0)
• Colorectal Cancer Part 5: Review of Medical Literature: Not All Patients Benefit From Chemotherapy (0)
• Colorectal Cancer Part 3: Must You Die if You Do Not Undergo Chemotherapy After Surgery? (0)
• Colorectal Cancer Part 2: Medical or Herbal Treatment? (0)

Tags: cancer patient, cancer treatment, chemotherapy, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, healing

Whether it be stage 1,2,3 or 4 of most any cancer, they are all reversible through alternative medecine.

Case in point, take the doctor who told his patient (another doctor), a stage 4 brain tumor dying doctor, “that as far as I’m concerned, you’re a dead man”, when this dying doctor requested his medical records. This doctor who had been given only two months to live, still lives today totally free of cancer for over 45 years, after being treated with alternative medecine.

How many success stories involving any stages of cancers of any types, must one have to read or hear about, before one finally decides to take action? What the heck is stopping people, you, from listening? It can’t be money since money is definitely not worth your life. It can’t be money, because it takes no or very little money…So what is it?

Especially, when you know that the only reason you got cancer to begin with is due to malnutrition, toxins, parasites, and other contaminants, too many to mention, dating back to hundreds of years but more rampant since the Second World War because government thinking they were doing a good thing, made food cheaply available. They didn’t know it then, but this was the beginning of a growing health problem.

Stage 4 cancer is when the primary tumor spreads to other organs in the body. About 30 years ago, I came across an interesting story, which I’ll remember forever, and vowed this is what I would do if ever I was diagnosed. The man had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and had been given about 2-4 months to live. With nothing better to do, he decided he would pass time by tendering to his garden. Having no real desire for food or drink, he began snacking on his naturally grown vegetables straight from the garden (not washed, just removing the dirt).

The man didn’t even bother with doctors visits for pain killers. As the days went by, he noticed his pains were subsiding. Thinking nothing of it, he continued his daily tendering of his garden and one day realized that he had surpassed his appointed time and no longer felt pain. He went to his doctor, and following tests and scans, the doctors couldn’t believe what they were seeing. The stage 4 cancer had totally disappeared. No traces of any cancer anywhere. That was a stage 4 cancer people…cured with naturally grown vegetables.

Which brings me back to the doctor patient, who didn’t give up and chose the alternative way, besides the negative statement by his treating physician. Again, how many times must you hear true stories before you take action on your cancer?

Jon G. Michel is a successful webmaster and advocate of a alternative medicine. If you have any type of cancer, it’s time you look at other alternatives. To learn more on cancer-help-treatment.com how to cure your cancer I suggest you visit cancer-help-treatment.com cancer-help-treatment.com You can also read how real doctors were impressed by cancer-help-treatment.com the doctor who cures cancer.

Related posts

• No related posts.

One of the most important factors in determining the survival rate or chances for remission of cancer patients is early detection. Some cancers where this is very true include breast cancer and prostate cancer because early detection of the disease makes it easier to treat since the cancer is usually just found in one localized area. With regard to lymphomas, the same principle applies; early detection of lymphomas has been proven to lead to higher survival rates. The key to early detection is an awareness of symptoms that indicate the presence of a lymphoma. Fortunately, research on this topic is extensive and provides a wealth of information that can help people detect the symptoms of lymphoma.

Some Common Symptoms

Almost all lymphomas exhibit some general and specific symptoms, which depend largely on the type of lymphoma. One of the most common symptoms among lymphomas is the swelling of lymph nodes, which often occur in the upper body. These swollen nodes are not painful, which is what distinguishes it from an ordinary case of an infected lymph node, where the swelling comes with pain. Other common symptoms include a lack of energy and dramatic weight loss. Due to the effects that lymphomas have on the immune system, increased incidences of fever and infections are also another common set of symptoms among lymphoma patients. Other symptoms include night sweats and itching deep in the skin.

Some of the more specific symptoms include lower back pain, which could be the result of the enlarged lymph node impinging on some nerves, pain in the lymph nodes after alcohol consumption, and skin patches or lesions. In addition to these symptoms, one of the most common ways by which this disease is diagnosed is through routine x-rays; these machines are powerful enough to detect any swelling in the lymph nodes of a person.

As with any cancer, early detection can also increase the chances of survival for a person who suffers from lymphoma. Given this, people need to be aware of the symptoms that they should look out for to help them detect the disease early and to get the appropriate treatment. Fortunately, the extensive research on lymphoma and it systems allow people to do just that.

e-Lymphoma.com Lymphoma provides detailed information on Lymphoma, Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, Hodgkins Lymphoma, Lymphoma Symptoms and more. Lymphoma is affiliated with i-BreastCancer.com Breast Cancer Symptoms.

Related posts

• What Are The Risk Factors for Breast Cancer? (0)
• The Lung Cancer Epidemic (0)
• Recognizing and Preventing Cancer (0)
• More Evidence That Green Tea Reduces Prostate Cancer Risk (0)
• Major Breakthrough In The Understanding Of Cancer (0)

Tags: breast cancer, cancer patient, lymphoma, prostate cancer

You see them everywhere from jewelry, to car magnets, to symbols on grocery products, to major companies displaying them on their advertisements. The pink ribbons show everyone that you care about and are interested in finding a cure for breast cancer. Whether you just wear a pink ribbon or you are more socially active in the issue depends upon your own personal experiences with breast cancer.

Today, prominent people in the movie industry and corporations are showing their support of many different causes. One of the more popular one, particularly for women, is the breast cancer ribbon. You will see prominent people wearing the pink ribbons on their fancy designer gowns as they walk down the Red Carpet at the Oscar’s or Emmy’s. They are not ashamed to show their fans that they care about a special topic of interest to the community.

It is rare today that you do not know someone that has been touched by breast cancer. If you are lucky your acquaintance survived the ordeal and is back to living a fairly normal life. For those of us that have lost someone close to us it is harder because we know that early detection might have saved them.

The pink ribbon is considered to be an international symbol for breast cancer-regardless of country, the pink ribbon serves a universal meaning. One of the very interest facts is that no one company, organization or foundation owns the rights to this worldwide symbol. Each company, organizations or foundation can create their version of the pink ribbon and this will give them the rights reserved on their copyright, for example Avon has its own, as does Estee Lauder. This is one the reasons why you see so many different pink ribbons being displayed.

Pink Ribbon Day is always on the fourth Monday of October. It marks the culmination of breast cancer activities during the month of October. It is recognized as breast cancer’s national day in support of awareness and research, and generates a range of activities with an education and fundraising focus. Pink Ribbon Day raises funds for research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

So, whether you have your own personalized pink ribbon that you share with friends and relatives or you are using a corporate one, you are showing your support for this very important cause. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each ribbon goes into breast cancer research-to help those looking for a cure for all of us.

You can help increase your communities breast cancer awareness and support breast cancer research at the same time by proudly wearing your ribbon. Each and every one of us can make a different in the fight against breast cancer. And, all you need to do is purchase a small pink breast cancer awareness ribbon. So, what are you waiting for-they are in all of the stores. Just pick one up and show your support!

For more information on breast cancer visit breastcanceranalysis.com breastcanceranalysis.com - a website that specializes in providing breast cancer related information and resources including information on breastcanceranalysis.com/breastcancerribbon.html the breast cancer ribbon.

Related posts

• Symptoms Of The Common Cancers (0)
• Show Your Pink Ribbon! (0)
• Saving Lives Through Breast Cancer Awareness (0)
• Physical Therapists Help Breast Cancer Survivors Benefit From Exercise After The Walk And Awareness (0)
• Increasing Awareness With A Breast Cancer Bracelet (0)

Tags: breast cancer, cancer awareness