Kill the Cancer

A Cancer Survivor Story: Working With DoctorsBy: Gregory Drambour
* If you decide to do an alternative program either concurrently with your conventional program or solely by itself, I would take a few steps before discussing it with your oncologist. In the last five years oncologists are becoming more open to this multi-dimensional approach. Both my chemo and radiation oncologists were very open and knew I was doing an alternative program concurrently with the treatment.

* And these programs were absolutely valuable. It's the general feeling by my team of doctors that it really saved me from any bone loss in the jaw and improved my salvia flow. The alternative program can both protect you and enhance the conventional treatment. I would not immediately discuss this with your oncologist without getting a sense of his feelings about this. Hint around it. You will get a sense of their openness.

*Remember, oncologists are experts in their area; they are not fluent or knowledgeable about alternative supplements. It's difficult for them to keep update with new chemo agents. But make sure your alternative doctor or has extensive experience working with conventional protocols. A good sign is if they work closely with oncologists. This was the case with my herbalist, Donnie Yance. In fact, Donnie lectures to conventional docs. There are a number of cancer centers around the world that incorporate a multi-dimensional approach. If you solely do an alternative program your oncologist will more than likely attempt to talk you out of it. They will try and get details about what you are doing and who you are doing it with.

*My standard response: "I'm exploring another option right now." And their reply: "What option?" Your reply: "I prefer not going into it". They will keep pushing you but just keep smiling and saying, "I prefer not going into it." They will give up at some point. I can vividly remember going to see a new oncologist and his nurse asking the standard questions: "When were you diagnosed? November 97? That was a year and half ago, what have you been doing since then?" "An alternative program." "What kind of alternative program?"

*I reply with my standard answer said firmly, "I prefer not to go into that." Remember no matter what they say, don't go into it! For example: They need it for their records, they want to see if it will interfere with their regimens. If you have found a world-class alternative doctor, they will know if you are doing anything that will interfere with conventional therapy'

*You don't want to open yourself to a long lecture on why you are making a mistake, so on and so on. What you can say to them, is this: "What supplements are contra-indicated with this chemo or radiation?"What you ideally want to do is find an oncologist who can monitor you. To put together a team who are all on the same page. How do you make this happen? First, believe that doc is out there.

*I assure you they are. I found them but it took some time and determination. And if one does not appear right away, enroll your present oncologist into supporting you. This can be a great lesson in of itself. It starts with not judging them and knowing they are doing the best they can and their perspective comes out of a long educational process that had no opening for other ways of healing.

*If you have no judgment of them, it will help them have no judgment of you. Remember the rule: what you feel inside will be reflected back to you.Be patient with this process and keep centered. If you can bring a friend along on your doctor visits this can be very supportive to not getting reactive or giving anyone an opening to try and talk you out of your decisions. And this will happen,so be prepared.
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A Cancer Survivor Story: The Power of WillBy: Gregory Drambour

* I learned the power of will during my cancer journey through a very unusual process: I called it "Shower Sequencing". Since the cancer was in my neck and tonsil it was important to keep the lymph moving there. I discovered that a method of creating movement in the lymph was to first run hot water from the shower over each side of my neck for 30 seconds and then cold water for 30 seconds!

* For some reason I chose to do this just before I went to sleep! I would lean my head back, exposing my neck to the shower and go thru the sequence of hot and cold 12 times. Counting in my head 30 seconds for hot and then cold. I did this for three and half years, every night. During the spring and summer it wasn't difficult but come late fall and winter, it was brutal! The water got considerably colder. And this is where I discovered the "power of will". I can remember so many times during those cold months, standing under that cold shower late at night and being one second away from bailing out.

*It was just to damn cold! I would say things in my head like, "I'll just skip it tonight." Or "I'll cut it down to 15 seconds increments tonight, give it a rest". We all know the process of excuses! But I just reached down inside of myself and found a toughness I didn't know was there and hung in there and I came to understand the power of "will". After I was done, I always felt I had accomplished something--feeling a sense of victory: "I did it!" Of course, the girlfriend was never too happy when I got into bed! Because for some reason I always finished the "sequencing" on the cold water! Maybe I enjoyed making her an unwilling partner in my suffering! "No, sweetie, my doctor said it was important to finish on the cold." (I am pretty sure he said that!).

*If you're going through a journey with any kind of illness there are going to come moments when you don't want to do something. You must "cowboy or cowgirl up" and do it! It will teach you about your own strength which is so much greater than you can imagine. And learning about your strength will empower your healing. Sometimes how we heal is a healing in of itself. I not only helped my lymph to continue to move but strengthened my spirit. As I write this and think back to those moments under the shower, I remember that I also learned about surrender.

* Sometimes I would let go and just surrender myself to the cold. I would disengage my thoughts. I let go of the thought that the cold water was uncomfortable and I became friends with it. The cold on my skin felt almost luxurious. The power of thought is always there to help us. So my warrior brothers and warrior sisters, I encourage you to always try and find the gifts during your journey. It will truly change the journey.
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Your Must-Know Guide To Prostate Cancer:
*Early prostate cancer is confined to the prostate gland itself; most of the patients with this type of cancer can live for years without any problems. Men have traditionally been less likely to seek medical attention than women, especially for minor problems which often serve as warning signs for more serious underlying illness. The second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the U.S. is from prostate cancer.

*Like other cancers, the cause of prostate cancer is not known; it appears to be more common in African American men and men with a family history of the disease. Prostate cancer is simply a malignant tumor of the prostate gland. In most men, prostate cancer grows very slowly; most men will never even know they have the condition.Most prostate cancer symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions.

*There are other symptoms that may not be mentioned here. Blood in the urine or semen and frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs can be symptoms of cancer. Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for. One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate, get checked right away.

* If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms.A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine, which may or may not be related. A chest x-ray may be done to see if there's a spread of cancer. CT scans may be done to see if the cancer has metastasized (spread).There is a newer test called AMACR that is more sensitive than the PSA test for determining the presence of prostate cancer.

*Another test usually used when prostate cancer symptoms are present is a digital rectal exam (DRE) performed by the doctor, proctologist or oncologist. A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis.

* Thoroughly discuss all your treatment options and concerns with your doctor and other health professionals; it never hurts to get a second or even third opinion or more if necessary - don't be afraid to ask.Be aware that some men chose natural treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Urinary incontinence can be one of the possible complications of surgery.

*The conventional treatment of prostate cancer is often controversial.Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has metastasized (spread). In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative. Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration;

* it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes.An oncologist, a cancer specialist, will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation.For an easy fiber boost, mix in two tablespoons of ground up flaxseeds in raw applesauce, from 2-3 apples, made in your food processor.

*Consider taking cod liver oil or fish oil supplements every day. For natural treatment for the prostate make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, called a naturopath; ask around for referrals.Making a ginger tea, by adding a thin slice or two of fresh gingerroot to hot water, is helpful to many people I know. Supplements that help any disease or ailment include vitamin B12 -- the methylcobalamin type not cyanocobalamin, and sub-lingual -- dissolves slowly under the tongue; and vitamin D3 - especially if you can't get a daily dose of 15 to 20 minutes of sun on your arms and legs so you can make your own vitamin D3.

*Use flaxseed oil or walnut oil in your daily dark green salad.Make smoothies with fruit only, using a base of two bananas, adding a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost of two tablespoons of coconut oil; add one or two leaves of kale for another highly nutritional boost. Eat at least one, preferably two organic apples with the skin on every day.

* Make highly nutritious raw applesauce using a food processor and put in 3-4 cored pesticide-free apples, with the skin on, and mix for a minute; so much better for you than canned highly processed applesauce and add 1/4 tsp. cinnamon or two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed for another boost.Evidence indicates that many patients detect cancer at an earlier stage because of annual screening, so make sure to get a good exam.

*Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after their diagnosis, 93% survive at least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years. Once diagnosed you may be want to join a support group whose members share their experiences and problems.
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