Suggestions for Increasing Your Odds For Survival
The sheer
volume of information, choices, and emotions that face cancer
patients can be overwhelming. The following items summarize key
issues. The book and video
CANCER: Increasing Your Odds for Survival covers these
points in greater detail. You can choose from this list and add
any other items that you and your health care providers find appropriate.
Get a Second Opinion, Know Your Exact Diagnosis,
Your Five-Year Survival Odds, and Your Tumor Aggressiveness
Always get a second opinion regarding your diagnosis
and treatment options. Find out your exact diagnosis, your five-year survival
odds, and the aggressiveness of your tumor. This information gives you
an idea of how much time you have to work with and the odds of surviving
your cancer with conventional treatment alone.
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Find the Doctor Who is Right for You.
After you have and understand an accurate diagnosis
of your condition you must make choices about your treatment options. Find
the doctor who will listen to your concerns and discuss the treatment options
to help you weigh the risks, potential benefits, and possible side effects
of the options. If you are thinking of using alternative or complementary
methods, choose a doctor who agrees to help you with testing to monitor
the progress of your disease and treatment.
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Do Your Homework
Read, ask questions, do research and gather information.
Consider using a research service, especially if you have cancer or are considering alternatives.
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Get Support
Take care of yourself. Find caring people to share
with -- family, friends, cancer help lines. Get involved with a support
group that you are comfortable with. Try to find one that values the approaches
you and your health care provider have chosen.
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Participate in a Residential Program or Workshop
If you can afford one and find one that fits your
needs, residential programs and cancer workshops can provide tremendous
amounts of information and support.
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Be Assertive with Doctors and Hospitals Regarding
Your Needs
Remember that doctors and hospitals are your paid
consultants; they work for you (even though many do not act this way).
You have a right to know, to have your questions answered, and to be treated
with respect. When you visit the doctor's office or hospital, consider
bringing someone along for support, to help you get what you need.
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Avoid Complacency
Do not be lulled into a false sense of security
if your cancer is in remission or if your survival odds are good. The cancer
may or may not return. If you have had cancer, you are obviously prone
to it, and susceptible to its return. The fact that it has occurred at
all is a warning. You want to do everything you can to keep cancer from
returning, because when it returns and spreads, it is most often
deadly. Learn what you can do now to keep it from returning later.
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Minimize the Side Effects of Chemotherapy and Radiation
Learn about what you can do to minimize the damage
and side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, and to rebuild your immune
system.
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Consider Pretesting Chemotherapies-Sensitivity
Have your doctor acquire a large enough biopsy
to allow for chemo-sensitivity testing to see which chemotherapy will work
best on your cancer.
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Time the Delivery of Chemotherapy
The time of day a chemotherapeutic drug is given
has an impact on the effectiveness of the drug and on how much damage is
caused to the immune system and other cells in the body. Optimal times
for delivery of many common chemotherapies are known. One approach is to
ask your doctor or hospital to use a programmable drug infusion pump for
your chemotherapy.
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Use Complementary Therapies
Look into what supplemental therapies are available
to complement your primary treatment, whether it be some herbal supplement
for your immune system, or psychological counseling. Like Dr. Lawrence
LeShan says, a few extra votes can make all the difference in a close election.
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Find an Experienced Psychotherapist
One of the most important and overlooked complementary
therapies is psychotherapy. Many hospitals offer counseling to cancer patients,
and although this is useful for coping with many stressful aspects of cancer and
some quality- of- life issues it seldom, if ever, replaces what a seasoned
therapist can do. Emotional issues can have a profound impact on our immune
system and our ability to heal. Find a therapist skilled in finding out
"what's right with you"--what gifts you have to give to the world--a
LeShan type cancer therapy approach, and begin living the life you want.
At the very least, you will increase your life's quality and satisfaction
of your life, and at best you may save it.
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Consider Alternatives
If you have a cancer that is untreatable with
conventional therapy, and your odds for survival are basically nil, then,
logically, alternatives are worth considering. If you can afford it, consult
with a research service about alternatives. They have a better idea of
which alternatives work for specific cancers. If possible, pre-test. Talk
to those who have used the treatment, in person, by phone, or on the internet.
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Be Sure You Have Access to Testing
Be sure you have access to reliable objective
testing, prior to beginning a course of alternative treatment. Have a test
done prealternative treatment and then have another test done after you
have been on the treatment to be able to see if the alternative is working
or if you need to change course.
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Consider Clinical Trails
There is a new group of very promising gene and
immunotherapies, including vaccines and biologics, being tested in clinical
trials. Your doctor should be aware of any new appropriate treatments or
clinical trials for your type of cancer. You can also call 1-800-4-CANCER.
Be sure to ask about any preliminary research results, information on side
effects and risks for these individual therapies so you can evaluate them
properly.
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