After years battling with cancer, Yap was declared cancer-free on 5 August 1994. I had the privilege to meet with Yap on 18 March 1999. You can view our conversation in the video section of our website: www.cacare.com. The following are excerpts of what Yap said.

I had three cancer attacks. One was in the colon, 15 years ago. The second one was at the rectum 10 years after my first. As a result I had to wear a colostomy bag throughout my life. And then came the third cancer attack — behind the prostate gland. Immediately after my second chemotherapy, the cancer came back again. The doctor told me he could not do anything; he could not give me radiotherapy because the cancer was just behind the prostate gland. Also, after three operations he could not operate on me again. He could only give me chemotherapy.

I wondered and ask the doctor, “I have just finished my chemotherapy and you are asking me to take another dosage of chemotherapy. It means that the cancer cells could not be bothered with the chemotherapy?” The doctor agreed. So I went back home refusing, of course, to take the chemotherapy.

I was contemplating how to die with dignity. Cancer patients always die miserably, in pain all over the body. Also, sometimes even morphine cannot reduce the pain. In my case, I know that chemotherapy did not help especially after my second attack.

Question: You have been battling with cancer for so many years. What did your doctor say? Do you have any other avenues?

I almost gave up hope. My doctor could only give me chemotherapy again which he agreed would not have any effect on me. Knowing this, I turned to the rodent tuber, initially, not because I believe in it. In fact, my first impression was it was very repulsive. Fortunately, my wife believes in it and she would cling to any straw. I became even more sceptical after learning that it is only a plant. This friend of mine who gave me the rodent tuber, had lung cancer himself. His doctor found him to be inoperable because the cancer had spread to every part of the lung. So, they stitched him back without doing anything. He was supposed to have died after four months. He did not die.

Instead he was recommending the rodent tuber to me. He gave me the rodent tuber himself, and my wife believed in it. Since there is nothing to lose, I just drank the juice. It was not tasty. When I took the rodent tuber, somehow the cancer pain I had disappeared almost immediately. I was thinking if I were to take it everyday, I could die with dignity.

I took the rodent tuber quite reluctantly in the beginning … until two weeks later — I realized it had some scientific basis. I decided I had nothing to lose except to try. I went back to my doctor and ask for chemotherapy and together took the rodent tuber — this is more as a revenge trying to kill the cancer cells before I was killed by them! And after that somehow, the cancer never appeared again.

In the beginning, I took the rodent tuber juice three times at 50 grams per day. Then, I could not even lift the “pounder”. At that time, I was half my present size. My weight was about 90 pounds. Now, I am 155 pounds. I always insist and I always tell everybody: what have we got to lose?

Question: People are sceptical about this. When you take the rodent tuber, it may interfere with the chemotherapy. You said that you were taking rodent tuber at the same time you were on chemotherapy. Did that interfere with your treatment?

I took both together. At that time I could not be bothered whether it would interfere with the chemotherapy or not. Chemotherapy alone was not effective. What else could I do to keep myself alive?

Question: When you finished with the chemotherapy, did you continue with the rodent tuber?

Oh, yes. From medical perspectives — after the surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy — there is practically nothing else for the cancer patient. If the cancer still exists, that means we are waiting to die.

At least now, we have this rodent tuber which is relatively not so poisonous. I have been taking this for two to three years. I took the juice three times a day for a few months. After that I reduced it to twice a day — .taking it very religiously for eight and half months. Then I went for a medical check-up and fortunately, the cancer had disappeared.

The doctor was obviously very pleased about it. I went to Australia for another medical examination –reconfirmation — and the doctor in Australia confirmed that I was free of cancer.

After one and a half years of close combat, I was declared cancer-free on 5 August 1994. Everything was worth it. I share my victory with you.

Cancer is normally regarded not only as a disease but also as a death sentence. How can we cling on any hope when everything seems hopeless? Many people, when faced with such an agonizing experience, usually give up. They find it pointless to continue living. A quick death is more merciful. I refused to accept defeat. Life was too precious to be destroyed by the enemy within. I had to fight cancer physically, emotionally and psychologically. And I won.

Note: As of this writing Yap is still active and healthy, living a cancer-free life.

Extracted from the author’s book: Cancer Yet They Live!

For more information visit: cacare.com cacare.com, NaturalHealingForYou.com NaturalHealingForYou.com,
BookOnCancer.com BookOnCancer.com

Tags: cancer pain, cancer patient, chemotherapy, colon cancer, healing, lung cancer

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Tags: cancer pain, cancer patient, chemotherapy, colon cancer, healing, lung cancer

Patients with advanced cancer often have pain as their chief complaint. Although advances in cancer treatment have lengthened survival among cancer patients, cancer pain remains under treated in patients.

It has been estimated that 25% of all cancer patients who die, do so without adequate pain relief, despite the fact that the tools for adequate pain control are available. With advanced disease, 90% of patients with cancer require strong opiates to control their pain.

However, many physicians remain concerned about inadvertently making a patient an addict if they prescribe narcotics to treat pain. Cultural and attitudinal barriers, knowledge deficits among health care professionals, and the influence of state and federal drug regulatory agencies also contribute to the fact that the pain experienced by cancer patients, all too often, is under-treated.

Cancer pain is classified according to pain duration and quality. Duration of pain can denote the acute or chronic nature of pain. It is common to experience anxiety, apprehension and depression in patients with cancer pain. The types of pain most commonly experienced by cancer patients are:

Acute cancer related pain

Chronic cancer related pain

Pain unrelated to cancer

Pain in opiod tolerant cancer patients

End of life pain

After an appropriate medical history review and a physical, a pain physician will tailor a suitable pain treatment program. Because everyone has a different response to medications and therapies, the other types of drugs with pain relievers. They include anti-inflammatory steroids, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants. These drugs may be effective treatments for specific types of pain or pain with specific causes.

For example, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants to help relieve certain types of pain. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the patient is suffering from depression. Similarly, steroids often are effective in relieving pain associated with inflammation.

Cancer pain can be controlled effectively through therapies already available today. Pain treatments range from mild, nonprescription pain relievers, to stronger prescription medications, to neurological surgery, to alternative therapies such as relaxation, biofeedback, guided imagery, and acupuncture.

Oncologists and pain specialists can devise a treatment plan based on the type and severity of pain, side effects, and how the patient responds to the treatment. Some common approaches to treat cancer pain include:

1. Oral Medicines- Aspirin & NSAIDs, Opiods, Adjuvants

2. Intravenous drugs

3. Transdermal drug delivery systems

4. Nerve blocks

5. Interthecal drug pumps

6. Neuroablstive procedures

Although they have cancer pain, many patients are afraid of getting addicted to pain medicines. When cancer pain medicines are given and taken in the right way, patients rarely become addicted to them. To be sure, they should talk to the doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to use pain medications safely.

Many patients only need pain medicines for a time, until the cause of the pain goes away due to other treatments like chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. When they are ready to stop taking the medicine, the doctor gradually lowers the amount of medicine they take. By the time they stop using it completely, the body has had time to adjust. Some patients will need to take pain medicines for the long-term. Taking medicines regularly should not make patients feel like an “addict.”

Physical dependence, tolerance to medication and addiction are three different issues in people treated with strong pain medications. The patient’s physician can explain the subtle but important difference between them. It’s often easier to control pain in its early stages, because it becomes severe. Therefore, it is better for cancer pain patients to ask for adequate pain relief.

A primary care physician or oncologist can help explain the possible options for pain relief and can make a referral, when necessary, to a pain medicine specialist for optimal pain management.

——————————

Walton Rehabilitation Health Systems (WRHS) is a leading not-for-profit comprehensive, multi-specialty, dedicated provider of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Our mission is to be an advocate for wellness by providing a continuum of services to treat the whole person. WRHS, whose reputation extends throughout the south, is a trusted partner with just the right expertise and treatments to help people with disabling injuries and illnesses return to work and to a fulfilling life. By pursuing its mission, WRHS has grown to include Walton Pain and Headache Centers, Walton Community Services, Walton Options for Independent Living, Walton Foundation for Independence, and Walton Technologies. We are located at: 1355 Independence Drive, Augusta, GA 30901-1037. For more information visit wrh.org wrh.org or call 866-4-WALTON.

Hemant Yagnick, M.D., is an Interventional Pain Specialist and Medical Director of the Walton Pain Center in Augusta, GA. Dr. Yagnick believes that chronic pain is a complex medical condition influenced by biological, physical, behavioral, environmental and social forces. His new two-week comprehensive inpatient program helps patients receive relief from pain while becoming trained in coping techniques, speeds up their return to work and improves their quality of life. Dr. Yagnick earned his medical degree from JN Medical College and Hospital. He completed his residency in anesthesiology and an Interventional Pain Fellowship at Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS. For more information visit wrh.org wrh.org

Tags: cancer pain, cancer patient, cancer treatment, chemotherapy

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Tags: cancer pain, cancer patient, cancer treatment, chemotherapy

One of the issues that every breast cancer survivor must deal with is the possibility of the cancer coming back. We call this a recurrence and even though rates of breast cancer recurrence are lower and survival rates much higher, there is still that chance that the breast cancer will come back after the initial occurrence and treatment. There are three ways in which breast cancer can recur.

The first type of recurrence is called a local recurrence. when cancer recurs locally, it will come back in the original breast area. This is because of a failure of the original treatment. Even when there is a mastectomy, a local recurrence can happen because it is impossible remove all the breast tissue, skin and fat from the area. If even one cancer cell remains after the initial treatment, a local recurrence can happen.

The second type of recurrence is regional in nature. By regional we mean that the cancer has come back outside of the original breast and lymph node area. This is considered to be more serious than a local recurrence, but not as serious as a distant recurrence. The areas in which regional spread of the disease occur include the chest muscles (pectoral), the lymph nodes surrounding the neck area, the internal breast lymph nodes in the breast bone and rib areas and in the lymph nodes above the collarbone. This type of recurrence is rare.

The third and most serious type of recurrence is called a distant recurrence. This is also referred to as a metastasis. The areas where distant spread can occur are most likely to occur are bone (25%), liver, brain, bone marrow, lungs or other organs. Sometimes this is referred to as metastatic disease or Stage IV breast cancer. The survival rate becomes much lower once metastasis occurs, with a life expectancy of 18 months on the average after discovering it.

Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer may include bone pain, shortness of breath, lack of appetite, weight loss (possible indication of liver metastases, neurological pain or weakness and headaches.

If you are a breast cancer survivor, you should be aware of the symptoms of metastatic spread. These symptoms can include bone pain (bone), weight loss (liver), loss of appetite (liver), headaches (brain), neurological pain or weakness (brain/spine) and shortness of breath (lungs). However, keep in mind that having one or more of these symptoms does not mean you should panic. A good rule of thumb is the “three week rule”. If you have a pain or other symptom that lasts more than three week, see your doctor. If you have an unrelenting pain or constant pain, see a doctor. Cancer pain does not go away compared other types of pain which will come and go. Like back pain caused by muscle spasms and/or non-cancer related disc problem.

If you suspect you have a recurrence of breast cancer, see your doctor. They will schedule some diagnostic tests like a CAT scan, bone scan, or MRI to try to find the root of your symptoms. Usually surgery is not a treatment option, but there are many other treatments, like radiation and/or chemotherapy that could possibly put a recurring cancer back into remission. There are amazing advances in treatment being made all the time.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to

Tags: breast cancer, cancer pain, chemotherapy, mastectomy

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Tags: breast cancer, cancer pain, chemotherapy, mastectomy