Cancer Treatment.

[Luckydog]

When 118 oncologists at a major cancer institute in the United States were asked whether they would opt for chemotherapy if they were cancer patients, three-quarters said they would turn it down.

Why? Because cancer treatment is "ineffective and unacceptably poisonous."

And yet, a great many people subject themselves to this poisonous therapy. Patients have become objects in a system in which technology is the master. The defenseless patient is the inevitable result of the fact that health care has degenerated into an industrial system in which procedures are more important than people.

n 1973 doctors in Israel staged a month-long strike and during that month, mortality fell by 50 percent. A couple of years later, a two-month work stoppage by doctors in the Columbian capital of Bogotá led to a 35-percent decline in deaths. And during a “work slowdown†by doctors in Los Angeles protesting against the sharp increase in premiums for liability insurance, the number of deaths fell by 18 percent.

Once doctors were back at work full time, mortality immediately jumped back to the previous level. Every year, 1.2 million Britons are hospitalized as a result of improper medical care. In the United States – where 40,000 people are shot to death each year – the chance of getting “killed†by a doctor is three times greater than being killed by a gun. And every year significantly more people die from an infection sustained while in the hospital than as a result of traffic accidents.

Edited June 22, 2007 by Luckydog

[leisurely]

And?

[actiondell4]

mmmmm,yes i think you are right.

I wonder what you think of Radiation treatment where they shine a radiation light on the affected cancer area to burn the cancer.

My Dad had Chemo,made him sick,not eat and worser than he was before.

The woman doctor cancer specialist said it will work etc,when he got sicker she didnt return his calls and he changed Cancer Specialists.

I dont believe in Chemothearaphy,this is where they put medicines/drugs into your arm and a combination of anti cancer fighting drugs.

I will tell you this though,my dad was 75,he battled lung cancer for 3 years,the doctor operated on him ,then he had this radiation to "burn" any cancer left.

The doctor said you are cured.About 2 years later it was back ,this time it had spread.

They tried chemo,radiation etc etc.HE stopped the chemo,it was making him toooo sick.He got sicker,almost like a POW in his weight dropped down to skin and bones,his toungue was infected,he got pnemonia .

Anyway he was a fighter,but he told me on his last night alive that he wanted to go,the pain was too much,so the stupidest thing i did was call a ambulance,they came and got him and was well enough to walk to the ambulance.

I thought he would be ok,it was 2am in the morning,then 2 hours later they called to say he had passed away.

Now figure this out,he was very sick,ok,but he walked to the ambulance,i believe they,the doctors do give you the needle.

I was very angry and that morning i went to see the doctor on duty and he told me my dad was in a lot of pain and very sick.I then knew he had obviously helped him die.

In a way it was a relief he died because it was so much assisting him and he was always sleeping and not eating,but i wish how i knew how he died so suddenly,but in a way maybe i should be grateful that maybe and just maybe that cancer specialist assisted him,i dont know.

[Luckydog]

Awful story Action. So sorry. There is no doubt that Doctors have been performing Euthanasia for EVER! Maybe it's a good thing I don't know.......

Bit off topic though Mate.........

[samtam]

This does not surprise me. My mother underwent chemo and radiotherapies for lung cancer and whilst it may have prolonged her life, the quality of her life was simply awful, and it made me think that I would never have those treatments, if I was sick with cancer. Of course when this ever happens you cling to what ever vestiges of hope your doctor gives you. But I think your other point is correct, and that is that they have no sound knowledge that these treatments will work. The only thing is palliative care, in the cases of "terminal" cancers, which was what my mother had. In the end the nurses were made well aware of my family's wish that she should be given as much of this as she needed, and I have no doubt in the end this ended her life. But it also ended her suffering which was very hard to watch, (and I have no doubt was very painful to her as well).

[Erwin1011]

A cancer patient myself and heading for a very painful end at sometime in the future. When? How long? Nobody really knows. Chemo and radiation have been suggested as last ditch type of treatment to delay the inevitable. So far I have not made the decision. I'm weary about the chemo, I've seen the effects with a friend and my mother. I may decide for local radiation as part of the palliative treatment. I'm not afraid of dying, I've come to terms with that, I think, but I'm scared as hel_l of the pain. I certainly hope that there will be a kind soul that will assist me in getting out before it really starts hitting.

[Luckydog]

A cancer patient myself and heading for a very painful end at sometime in the future. When? How long? Nobody really knows. Chemo and radiation have been suggested as last ditch type of treatment to delay the inevitable. So far I have not made the decision. I'm weary about the chemo, I've seen the effects with a friend and my mother. I may decide for local radiation as part of the palliative treatment. I'm not afraid of dying, I've come to terms with that, I think, but I'm scared as hel_l of the pain. I certainly hope that there will be a kind soul that will assist me in getting out before it really starts hitting.

So sorry to hear this Erwin.......God bless.

[endure]

My Mum got breast cancer in 1975. She had a mastectomy and radiation treatment. She was cancer-free and led a normal life until 1989 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She had radiation and chemo which gave her another 2 years of normal life until they found it had spread to her brain. She died in 1991.

[Luckydog]

My Mum got breast cancer in 1975. She had a mastectomy and radiation treatment. She was cancer-free and led a normal life until 1989 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She had radiation and chemo which gave her another 2 years of normal life until they found it had spread to her brain. She died in 1991.

Bless her. She must have been a tough old bird. They don't make them like that anymore. May she rest in peace.

[samtam]

Erwin

I don't know about the stage of your cancer, or indeed whether you are in pain right now. This sounds crazy I know, but can you get yourself to a "healthfarm", (there may be a more apt description), at least a place that allows for a macrobiotic diet? I tried desparately to get my mother to follow this, but she was not so attuned to what is essentially an eastern philosophy, (Japanese). As to the availability of palliative care, I am not sure in Thailand, but certainly in UK, this works, although it is disguised in form, (the hospice system). I would imagine it's similar here. The initial drug of "choice" is morphine, properly prescribed. I hope that someone with med knowledge here can weigh in with advice, experience.

[samtam]

Erwin, failing that try dignitas.com as I see you're sometimes in Belgium; I don't know the procedures there, but I would imagine healthcare is pretty good and sympathetic?

[Erwin1011]

Erwin, failing that try dignitas.com as I see you're sometimes in Belgium; I don't know the procedures there, but I would imagine healthcare is pretty good and sympathetic?

Thanks Samtam. I'm aware of similar organizations in Belgium and in contact with them. The administrative hurdle imposed there is quite steep (understandably).

As far as I know there is no such thing in Thailand or neighboring countries, at least not legally accepted.

[expatwannabe]

Erwin,

Very sorry to hear about this. But you should know that cancer is not only treatable but beatable (sorry for the rhyme). Don't lose hope.

My niece had Ewings Sarcoma, underwent radiation, and when that didn't work, two successive chemos. Not a nice thing for a 16-17y/o girl. The second was her last because they had limited stem cells to work with. Fortunately she did survive - it's been five years now and she's very healthy. But by the second chemo, the tumour had grown to 8" across, and required the removal of part of one lung plus portions of two ribs. At that stage, Ewings kills about 90%+ of the time.

We learned two important things from this episode. The first was that sugar/carbohydrates/glucose - basically blood sugar - feeds cancer. So whatever you can do with your diet to reduce carbohydrates will also help to slow or impede the cancer by limiting its food source. The second was that nutritional supplements were key to my niece's improved health - especially after chemo. She was weak, in pain, etc. - but by taking large doses of anti-oxidants and other anti-cancer supplements, she regained her health very quickly. Since she only took these after the second chemo, she was able to compare her recovery period - which was much accelerated the second time.

Anyway, I wish you the best in your efforts to fight it.

EW

[observer21]

Erwin, failing that try dignitas.com as I see you're sometimes in Belgium; I don't know the procedures there, but I would imagine healthcare is pretty good and sympathetic?

Thanks Samtam. I'm aware of similar organizations in Belgium and in contact with them. The administrative hurdle imposed there is quite steep (understandably).

As far as I know there is no such thing in Thailand or neighboring countries, at least not legally accepted.

There  is a cancer treatment centre in Mexico (forget the name just now).  I saw a TV documentry about it.  The treatment is purley organic and was started by an American guy in the States 60 0r 70 years ago.  This guy had aboout 20 or 30 centres all over the US, but he was crucified by the big drug companies and US government and forced over the border.  The top US lawyer who at the time was used to prosecute him ended up being treated by him andl becoming his foremost advocate.

This guy was taken to the highest US courts on several occassions and his treatments were always vindicated - although eventually he was banckrupted as the drug companys took out law suits in almost every state.  

I truly believe there are cures for cancer out there, but if they are organic such as this guys, then the big pharmacutical companys together with the great satan (US government) bury them - as they cant patent them and cant control sales.

Edited June 23, 2007 by observer21

[Spiritman]

Very sobering thoughts from reading the previous posts, in the end for me, it's not how long you live but how well you live that matters.

Unfortunatly we all arrive at the end of the road but who wants to linger for years suffering half an existance, only each of us as individuals can make that choice when the time comes.

Regards, Spiritman

[Luckydog]

I am not very religious, but when you are facing imminent Death, it's clear that a firm belief in The Here After, is essential for ones Peace of Mind......

My dear old Mum died with a smile, in the certain belief she was going to a better place!

[Jamie]

That has always been the problem with chemotherapy. Doctors are walking a very fine line. Giving enough chemo to kill the cancer cells without killing the patient. Cancer is such a difficult disease to treat because there are so many variables that cause it and what works for one patient will possibly do nothing for the next.

I sure wish some major breakthroughs would occur. It's been 30+ years since war was declared on cancer...at least here in the States. I feel and fear we haven't even scratched the surface yet.

Edited June 25, 2007 by Jamie

[Erwin1011]

That has always been the problem with chemotherapy. Doctors are walking a very fine line. Giving enough chemo to kill the cancer cells without killing the patient. Cancer is such a difficult disease to treat because there are so many variables that cause it and what works for one patient will possibly do nothing for the next.

I sure wish some major breakthroughs would occur. It's been 30+ years since war was declared on cancer...at least here in the States. I feel and fear we haven't even scratched the surface yet.

Chemo is not addressing the cause of the cancer growth, it is trying to destroy the cancerous cells by applying a technique very similar to using a nuclear bomb to target the Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The collateral damage is enormous.

You can only hope that some day they will find what triggers it. What does not help is that some politicians block potential avenues of research ( stem cell ) based upon religious arguments.

There is progress out there for some types of cancer that now have a relative high survival rate, but the techniques used are still very aggressive and do not address in most cases the trigger mechanism. That's why ex cancer patients feel that they live with the sword of Damocles hanging above their head, fearing it will kick in again.

[Luckydog]

I have learned one thing in past months. NEVER let them operate on your Prostate until you have had a second or even third opinion!

The first Urologist wanted to cut off my balls. Fortunately the others did not!

It appears that most of the current cancer treatments for the Prostate are far worse in many cases than the disease.......so if you are over 65yrs old leave the bugger alone and enjoy life.

[Erwin1011]

I have learned one thing in past months. NEVER let them operate on your Prostate until you have had a second or even third opinion!

The first Urologist wanted to cut off my balls. Fortunately the others did not!

It appears that most of the current cancer treatments for the Prostate are far worse in many cases than the disease.......so if you are over 65yrs old leave the bugger alone and enjoy life.

That is true in many cases for this type (slow development rate) and many are dying for other reasons, while also having prostate cancer . However it is also known for its sudden changes in aggressiveness and accelerations in growth rate. So yes, by all means enjoy life, but keep a watchful eye on the bugger. You don't want to be caught with your pants down.

[Luckydog]

By the way....forgot to tell you guys. The Urologist told me to eat lots of TOFU.

Apparently Soy is very good for the Enlarged Prostate.

Soy beans are good too if you like them.