Click the link to read the full article. We can't forget that as survivors, we are fighting to survive our treatments as well as the cancer.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110202040942.htm
ScienceDaily (2011-02-02) -- Common drugs used to treat breast cancer combined with the early stages of menopause could be weakening the bones of middle-aged breast cancer survivors. This bone loss may lead to hip fractures and debilitating physical effects, according to a new study.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Cat's Claw: Rainforest Plant Kills Cancer Cells and Provides Hope for Arthritis Relief
This is an interesting idea - it seems that a lot of things fight cancer, let's make use of that, and less toxins...
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Does long-term cell phone use lead to brain tumors?
I'm sharing this link - something to think about as we all rely more and more on our cell phones - not just for a quick call, but email, web searches, twitter.... constant interaction.
ScienceDaily (2011-01-19) -- Research suggests that long-term exposure to microwaves from cellular phones may lead to an increased risk of brain tumors. Although debate continues, independent studies with long-term follow-up strongly suggest an increased risk of brain tumors related to the use of cellular or cordless phones. ...read more
ScienceDaily (2011-01-19) -- Research suggests that long-term exposure to microwaves from cellular phones may lead to an increased risk of brain tumors. Although debate continues, independent studies with long-term follow-up strongly suggest an increased risk of brain tumors related to the use of cellular or cordless phones. ...read more
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine is Making Us Sicker and Poorer
"Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine is Making Us Sicker and Poorer"... and I would add "Why You Should Not Put Too Much Faith in the Advice of Your Doctor." This is a must read for anyone trying to navigate the medical industry these days.
I write this blog because I am a cancer survivor and I have learned firsthand how important it is to be in charge of your own health. But this book is important even if you don't think you are sick, or like everyone who hasn't had cancer, you may assume that is something that happens to other people. It is not a book about cancer, it is a book about the medical industry and how it works, and how information is getting to the consumer.
Yes - consumer. Not patient.
Think about drug ads on tv. Think about how there's a quick message about some woman who isn't sure whether she should take this drug because she sometimes has some anxiety. Then they proceed to quickly go through a lengthy list of side effects: dry mouth, depression, intestinal bleeding, death... Then it says "Ask you doctor if this drug is right for you."
It is not just cases like cancer where we need to worry about the treatments that are prescribed to us. And after reading this book, I also think it is not just about reading the list of side effects.
Think about the recent FDA recall of Avastin. This became an incredibly political topic. It was a dangerous drug, with "a number of serious and life-threatening side effects" with very little benefit. But, the drug company stands to lose a lot of money, so they create a campaign to scare people into keeping the drug. Among the group fighting to keep the drug are doctors, doctors who want their patients to stay on the drug - that is scary to me.
This book explains how things like this happen. It is far more involved that I can possibly get into here, but it affects EVERYONE. One example is a college student who is convinced he needs drugs to sleep better, and after a series of events eventually commits suicide (a side effect on an anti-depressant taken for a side effect of the sleep drugs).
There are some parts of the book that I think are dismissive. For example, in the discussion of unnecessary back surgeries, I was someone who had a very-much necessary back surgery, some of the language seems as though most procedures can be avoided. There should be a bit more in there to help someone determine when is it necessary or not... but that is not really the point of the book - and everything else is very eye opening, and when you begin to see how the system operates, then it does empower you to make these decisions for yourself.
If you haven't read this, you should. The healthcare system is getting more and more complicated. For your survival (really) it is important that you read this book, and not assume your doctor, or specialist are recommending the best treatment for you.
They want to treat the symptom - You want to live.
I write this blog because I am a cancer survivor and I have learned firsthand how important it is to be in charge of your own health. But this book is important even if you don't think you are sick, or like everyone who hasn't had cancer, you may assume that is something that happens to other people. It is not a book about cancer, it is a book about the medical industry and how it works, and how information is getting to the consumer.
Yes - consumer. Not patient.
Think about drug ads on tv. Think about how there's a quick message about some woman who isn't sure whether she should take this drug because she sometimes has some anxiety. Then they proceed to quickly go through a lengthy list of side effects: dry mouth, depression, intestinal bleeding, death... Then it says "Ask you doctor if this drug is right for you."
It is not just cases like cancer where we need to worry about the treatments that are prescribed to us. And after reading this book, I also think it is not just about reading the list of side effects.
Think about the recent FDA recall of Avastin. This became an incredibly political topic. It was a dangerous drug, with "a number of serious and life-threatening side effects" with very little benefit. But, the drug company stands to lose a lot of money, so they create a campaign to scare people into keeping the drug. Among the group fighting to keep the drug are doctors, doctors who want their patients to stay on the drug - that is scary to me.
This book explains how things like this happen. It is far more involved that I can possibly get into here, but it affects EVERYONE. One example is a college student who is convinced he needs drugs to sleep better, and after a series of events eventually commits suicide (a side effect on an anti-depressant taken for a side effect of the sleep drugs).
There are some parts of the book that I think are dismissive. For example, in the discussion of unnecessary back surgeries, I was someone who had a very-much necessary back surgery, some of the language seems as though most procedures can be avoided. There should be a bit more in there to help someone determine when is it necessary or not... but that is not really the point of the book - and everything else is very eye opening, and when you begin to see how the system operates, then it does empower you to make these decisions for yourself.
If you haven't read this, you should. The healthcare system is getting more and more complicated. For your survival (really) it is important that you read this book, and not assume your doctor, or specialist are recommending the best treatment for you.
They want to treat the symptom - You want to live.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Not Just a Beautiful Flower: The Marigold Brings Natural Health
This is a really interesting article from Natural News - now I'm excited to learn more about edible flowers :)
Not Just a Beautiful Flower: The Marigold Brings Natural Health
(NaturalNews) Marigold (also known as Calendula officinalis) is not just a beautiful flower, but a natural medicine for many conditions. The marigold has now been placed in the books of cancer and anti-cancer cures, because it has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. The marigold is also able to help in the treatment of wounds.
Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/026958_Marigold_flowers_vinegar.html#ixzz1ApDLkSPr
Not Just a Beautiful Flower: The Marigold Brings Natural Health
(NaturalNews) Marigold (also known as Calendula officinalis) is not just a beautiful flower, but a natural medicine for many conditions. The marigold has now been placed in the books of cancer and anti-cancer cures, because it has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. The marigold is also able to help in the treatment of wounds.
Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/026958_Marigold_flowers_vinegar.html#ixzz1ApDLkSPr
Monday, January 10, 2011
Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D., Cancer Advisor: Oncologists who need sensitivity training!
Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D., Cancer Advisor: Oncologists who need sensitivity training!: "I speak to cancer patients almost every day. One of the things that we speak about is their treatment...and I don't only mean their medical ..."
Sunday, January 9, 2011
When Do You Stop Thinking That the Cancer Coming Back?
It's Sunday morning. Time to relax from the busy week, I can't remember the last time I let myself just sit and relax. I need a job, so I'm always thinking about that... and one thing I've been thinking about lately:
Do cancer survivors ALWAYS worry that a pain in their body is the cancer coming back? When does that stop?
I still have pain, after 4 years, from the radiation, particularly around the scar tissue, but sometimes in the other breast. I try to tell myself that we are watching it, so it must just be some residual pain, but once in a while, if I'm feeling weak, it can be scary.
Pains in other parts of the body are scary too. Breast cancer often recurs in the bones, so every time I have a pain in my chest (probably indigestion), it feels like cancer in my chest. An ache in my leg will feel like a tumor.
What do I do?
I take a few deep breaths.
Amazing, but most of the time, I seem to be able to make this work. The holidays were stressful. If I stop, and rest, and let myself breathe a little, some nice long deep breaths, often the pain will subside.
The breathing seems to help me in two ways:
- oxygen in your blood is good for fighting cancer, deep breathing helps give your body what it needs to fight cancer
- if the pain goes away when I breath deep and let myself relax a little, then I begin to feel more confident that the pain is really stress-related, and NOT another tumor growing somewhere else.
I'm not young. My body will get aches and pains. That doesn't mean the cancer is going to return.
So this Sunday, I am going to relax, and enjoy my health. Live this beautiful moment in time.
Life is Good :)
Do cancer survivors ALWAYS worry that a pain in their body is the cancer coming back? When does that stop?
I still have pain, after 4 years, from the radiation, particularly around the scar tissue, but sometimes in the other breast. I try to tell myself that we are watching it, so it must just be some residual pain, but once in a while, if I'm feeling weak, it can be scary.
Pains in other parts of the body are scary too. Breast cancer often recurs in the bones, so every time I have a pain in my chest (probably indigestion), it feels like cancer in my chest. An ache in my leg will feel like a tumor.
What do I do?
I take a few deep breaths.
Amazing, but most of the time, I seem to be able to make this work. The holidays were stressful. If I stop, and rest, and let myself breathe a little, some nice long deep breaths, often the pain will subside.
The breathing seems to help me in two ways:
- oxygen in your blood is good for fighting cancer, deep breathing helps give your body what it needs to fight cancer
- if the pain goes away when I breath deep and let myself relax a little, then I begin to feel more confident that the pain is really stress-related, and NOT another tumor growing somewhere else.
I'm not young. My body will get aches and pains. That doesn't mean the cancer is going to return.
So this Sunday, I am going to relax, and enjoy my health. Live this beautiful moment in time.
Life is Good :)
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