Cancer survivor is an individual with cancer of any type, current or past, who is still living.Many cancer survivors describe the process of living with and beating cancer as a life-changing experience. It is not uncommon for this experience to bring about a personal epiphany, which the person uses as motivation to meet goals of great personal importance, such as climbing a mountain or reconciling with an estranged family member.

Famous cancer survivors:

Lance Armstrong

In 1996 Lance found that he had testicular cancer. Since early warning signs were ignored, by the time he was diagnosed the cancer had spread throughout his stomach, lungs and brain. If testicular cancer is discovered early, a man is usually given a 70% chance of survival.
Because, Armstrong says he ignored warning signals, his chances of survival dropped as low as 40%. He had chemotherapy and surgery followed by a physical treatment program. With the help of his competitive spirit and support system he was declared cancer free.

Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue, 37, was diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer in May 2005.
Kylie went through eight months of surgeries and chemotherapy but regained her strength and won over the disease with her optimistic outlook.
In addition to the conventional medical treatments for breast cancer, Minogue used a variety of alternative therapies, including visualization practices, nutrition, massage and Reiki.

Sheryl Crow

Singer Sheryl Crow had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. She underwent a minimally invasive surgery and had radiation treatments as a precaution.
Crow is no stranger to cancer, especially with her previous relationship with cancer survivor/cyclist Lance Armstrong. She also participated in the ‘Rock Against Breast Cancer’ concert in 2000.

Christina Applegate

Christina Applegate underwent treatment for breast cancer in 2008. The disease was caught early and the actress recovered fully. However, the ‘Samantha Who?’ star said she had a double mastectomy and underwent reconstructive surgery over the next eight months.
The Emmy winner's cancer was detected through an MRI ordered by a doctor and was not life-threatening.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was diagnosed with liver cancer in October 2003 during a routine scan. While a biopsy revealed that the cancer was a rare but treatable form, Jobs opted to try and treat the cancer with a special diet. Surgery is very effective for this type of cancer and most patients live 10 years or more after treatment. Jobs tried treating the cancer with the special diet for nine months until follow-up scans showed the tumor was growing. He recently started work again after a liver transplant.

Robert De Niro

Two-time Oscar-winner Robert De Niro had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003. The 60-year-old actor was confident of beating the disease as it was discovered early.
In the course of his 40-year career in movies, Robert has become one of the most revered character actors of all time.
De Niro underwent prostate surgery in December 2003 at the Sloan-Kettering Memorial Hospital.

Nelson Mandela

Former South African president Nelson Mandela was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
A spokeswoman had revealed shortly after that the tumour was microscopic and should not reduce Mr Mandela's life expectancy. Initially no surgery was contemplated for the 83-year-old elder statesman and he received a seven-week course of radiotherapy.
The Nobel peace prize winner was probably the world's best known political prisoner, spending 27 years in jail. In 1985, while in prison, Mr Mandela was hospitalised for prostate surgery and had some tumours removed. They proved to be benign. He then returned to jail, where he remained until his release in February 1990.

Colin L. Powell

US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell underwent surgery to remove a cancerous prostate gland in 2003.
The cancer was localized, the surgery was without complication, and Powell was in recovery soon. Powell chose to be secretive about the disease and keep it away from the press in contrast with other famous personalities who chose to use their illness as an opportunity to spread awareness.

Olivia Newton John

Singer/actress Olivia Newton John was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. She compared her battle with the disease to climbing the Great Wall of China.
The Grease star has become a health advocate since fighting off the disease following her 1992 diagnosis. And Newton-John - who led an inspirational three-week walk along the Great Wall of China in April, 2008 - insists her efforts have awakened a fighting spirit in herself.

Cancer Survivors~Lung Cancer Survivor Stories

Franklin Whatley-Thirty-three years being married was not enough, was it?" That was the comment I made to my wife as the doctor left the examination room after telling me that I had lung cancer in my left lung, that it was not operable, and that my life expectancy was probably in the neighborhood of six months.

The time was March, 1993 and the place, Albuquerque, N.M. My oldest son Jim, his wife Kari, and their 22-month-old son, along with my wife Nellie, had accompanied me to Albuquerque from Gallup, N.M. where Nellie and I were both teachers at Gallup High School. We were enjoying our teaching jobs and had no idea that the horrible "BIG C" was playing havoc in my body. Jim and his family had stopped in Gallup on their way from Ft. Lewis, Washington to Ft. Benning, Georgia.

The doctor scheduled a bronchoscopy for the following morning. Our daughter and other son arrived in Albuquerque just minutes before I went in for the test on Tuesday. It confirmed the previous day’s diagnosis. My family sprang into action, rented a truck, and we were packed up and on our way back to Tulsa by Thursday. That was a trip to remember, from snow and ice to a temperamental rental truck that did not run unless it wanted to. Including the rental truck driven by Jim, we had five vehicles in that caravan and we all communicated by CB radios. We found a channel that had no one else on it and we tried to keep up our sagging spirits with jokes, songs and games all the way across New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma.

We arrived in Tulsa where our family doctor had made an appointment with a cardiovascular surgeon and a pulmonologist. The surgeon felt confident he could operate and take the lung, thus removing the cancer. Surgery revealed a ten centimeter primary tumor in the left lower lobe which was a squamous cell carcinoma. One hilar lymph node and two parabronchial lymph nodes were positive for metastatic disease. The surgeon reported that the tumor was attached to the heart sac and he peeled it from the sac like peeling an orange. I came through the surgery with no complications and by mid afternoon I was sitting up in ICU drinking a cup of coffee. And did it taste good.

Because of the positive lymph nodes the doctors agreed that I should have chemotherapy and radiation. We talked to the team of doctors at the hospital and they answered our questions but not to our satisfaction. I would add here that our daughter, La Nell is a nurse and she had coached us on the important questions to ask such as, "Is the chemotherapy administered through a port?" and "How is the body not being radiated protected?" and "What diet should be followed and what supplements should be taken?" There would be no port and there would be little protection from the radiation for the body. I could eat anything I wanted and supplements and vitamins were not needed.

This is where Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southwestern Regional Medical Center (Southwestern) entered the picture. As I said, La Nell was a nurse and acquainted with CTCA. She made and appointment for me to meet some of CTCA's doctors. When I left the conference with the doctors at Soutwestern I had the reassurance that my body would be protected from radiation, a port would be installed prior to chemotherapy and I went home with diets and a sack full of supplements.

The following week, I began my radiation with Dr. Flynn. I was followed closely with examinations weekly and blood work each Monday morning. I finished six weeks of radiation. Minor tiredness was the only side effect I experienced. I was given a lotion to administer to the radiated spots just in case the skin was burned, but of course, it was not.

After completion of radiation, the port was inserted and I began my chemotherapy. To my great surprise, I gained 35 pounds, the most I had ever weighed, while receiving chemotherapy. I did not suffer nausea because medication was administered along with the chemo to prevent it. After the first dose of chemo, which was a giant one, I did have to have a platelet transfusion and had to stay in the hospital until my platelet count had risen. During the whole eight months of chemo, that was the only bad side effect I encountered other than suffering some loss of hair. I did not let the loss of hair affect me negatively. Nellie brought clippers to the hospital and we had a party while she shaved my head so I would quit getting hair in my mouth when I turned over in the bed. Then I had a friend paint me a cap that read, "CHEMO HEAD, NOT A SKIN HEAD." That brought comments, I might add.

If one has to suffer through cancer, then Cancer Treatment Centers of America is the place to be. Not only were the doctors great but the nursing staff was superb. The housekeeping staff could not do enough for my family and me while I was in the hospital and the dietary staff went out of their way to see that I had what I wanted to eat. Today when I return to Southwestern, I am treated as family and not just a mere patient.

At the first meeting with the doctors at CTCA, the five-year survivor tree planting ceremony was explained to me. My reply to that was, "Get my tree ready!" On May 7, 1999, I planted that tree and I remain cancer free thanks to God, the doctors and all the staff at CTCA.

Breast Cancer Survivors

I want to let you know, once again, how grateful I am that your organization exists. In January 1999, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern). I actually saw an advertisement for your center several months before I was diagnosed and said to myself, "If I ever get cancer I will go there," never suspecting that I would need your services so soon. Three months later, I arrived at your doorstep.

I feel that God lead me to CTCA. As a former medical doctor in Australia and now a minister, I was so relieved to find a center that offered the best of medical care, while paying attention to the whole person. As part of my medical practice years ago, I looked after patients with cancer. I know the grueling side effects and inconsiderate care that can often be found within cancer hospitals. In fact, I used to think that I would never undergo chemotherapy. I changed my mind when I saw the way that you administer chemotherapy in your hospitals.

In addition, I was able to integrate and apply all that I had learned about complementary and spiritual medicine in recent years. I used the vitamins, naturopathy, the nutrition program and the mind-body programs which you offer as support for my treatment and integrated these with other alternative therapies which I used. I also availed myself of every program that you offer: mind-body medicine, physical therapy, massage therapy, spiritual counseling, and image enhancement. They all were a tremendous assistance to gaining and keeping a sense of well-being in all areas of my life. My friends, family and coworkers were surprised and delighted that I looked so well while undergoing cancer treatment.

I want to thank everyone who looked after me. Wherever I went at Midwestern, I always knew that I was cared for and was not just a name on a chart. Truly, your people are your greatest asset and I am so grateful to them because so many thoughtful and kind things happened to me while I was there. I know that your atmosphere of love and caring helps to heal.

By the grace of God, I will be seeing you for years to come for follow up. Please share this letter with everyone—doctors, nurses, therapists, technicians, pharmacy, food services, volunteers, medical records, patient care coordinators, security, drivers. Everyone whom I contacted looked like embodied angels to me.

July 21, 2008

Cancer Survivors ~ Pancreatic Cancer Survivor Stories

“You have two months to live. Go home and get your things in order.” Those were the words I heard in July 2001. Just days before, I had walked 18 holes in a golf tournament and that evening I thought I might have food poisoning. After a few days, I still didn’t feel any better. A friend told me that my eyes looked yellow, so I went to the doctor. I soon heard the word “CANCER”—not just cancer—but stage IV pancreatic cancer with metastasis to my liver. My first thought was, “OK, let’s get it fixed.” But my doctors replied, “You don’t understand, it is inoperable and incurable.” That’s when I was told I had just two months to live.

To relieve my pain and jaundice, a tube was inserted into my side to drain backed-up bile. They put a leg bag on me and said I would live with that for the rest of my life. The doctor told me to go home and get my affairs in order.

My family and I decided that I needed a second opinion. My sister Pam and my caregiver Jana were busy searching the Internet and making phone calls, trying to find some place that would offer hope. That’s when my younger sister Beth called and told me that her in-laws had a friend who had been treated for pancreatic cancer at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) and that they had saved his life. Pam got on the phone right away and called CTCA’s 800-number and talked to an Oncology Information Specialist. They seemed to know exactly what we were going through, were very informative and answered all of our questions. I was scheduled for an appointment within the week. I needed to get help as soon as possible as I was losing weight, could not eat and I was in terrible pain. Not knowing I was full of infection from the insertion of the biliary tube, I was able to get some pain medication. Pam and Jana put me in a wheelchair and accompanied me on a plane to the CTCA in Zion, Illinois. The first thing I remember was entering the lobby of CTCA and seeing the tree of survivors. I said I’m going to get my name on that tree!

CTCA began treating me right away for my infection, got my pain under control and confirmed the diagnosis. I could not believe how fast they were able to do all the tests. They did more in one day at CTCA than my hospital back home did in a week. When they scheduled me for an X-ray at 10 a.m., I had my X-ray at 10 a.m. I thought, WOW, these people know what they are doing.

After three days of tests, I asked Dr. Mellijor how long I had to live. He said he could not give me my “expiration date” …that date was “in greater hands than his.” It was at that moment that I realized someone had offered me HOPE! If I was willing to fight, they would fight with me.

The doctors then explained a very aggressive treatment plan, which began immediately and consisted of five days of FUDR leucovorin with one day of intra-arterial mitomycin platinum. I spent 26 days in the hospital fighting an infection in my body, along with a collapsed lung. During my stay in the hospital, I felt like I was surrounded by friends and people who really cared and who gave me hope. Everyone was so pleasant, from the person who cleaned my room to all the nurses, doctors, kitchen staff—everyone.

Each morning at 10, the group of CTCA healthcare professionals would come into my room to see me. By doing this, they could all hear at the same time how I felt and could answer any questions I had for them. Also, as soon as I arrived at CTCA, they started me on a regimen of vitamins that I continue to take to this day. I don’t know if it was the vitamins or my prayers, but I never lost the hair on my head even with all the chemotherapy. Each time they did tests, it showed that the tumors had shrunk.

After five months, my platelets were too low to continue with the original treatment, so we went to plan B. I then started on a regimen of oral chemo, and within months, the tumor could not be seen at all on the scans. I have been off chemo since November 2002.

At present, I take Prilosec once a day and the vitamins that were recommended to me by Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). I enjoy spending my time working full time, riding my horses, camping, golfing, traveling, and being with my friends and family. Through the excellent care that I received at CTCA and the constant love, support and prayers from my family and friends, I have stayed positive and set goals for myself. I have talked to numerous patients and many of them say, “I wish I would have found CTCA right away.”

So many hospitals treat you like a number, but at CTCA they treat you like family. I was very fortunate to have found CTCA so soon after my diagnosis. I, like most people, wanted to be treated close to home, but I truly believe if I had, I would not be here to share my story. I continue to count my blessings every day and have recently taken on the opportunity of becoming South Dakota’s Team Hope Leader for an organization called the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. I hope others that have been diagnosed with this disease and are not satisfied with what they have been told will call Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Remember there is always hope and as the song goes by Lee Ann Womack, “you have a choice to sit it out or dance”...“I Hope You Dance.”

April 28, 2008

Colon Cancer Survivors

Linda Fairchild's father had died from colon cancer a month before she herself was diagnosed with the disease in 1995. Linda followed the advice of her doctors and had surgery and chemotherapy. The first round of chemotherapy never made her lose her hair or have any severe side effects, although she did have some nausea.

About three years later, Linda had blood tests which came back abnormal, signaling the return of the colon cancer. She was given the option of having colostomy surgery, but refused it. She had another course of chemotherapy, which went much like the first course had.

In the summer of 2001, a tumor was found in Linda’s bladder. She had the colostomy surgery this time, with more chemotherapy. Linda also had radiation therapy, since the doctors couldn't remove the tumor in her bladder.

Three months after finishing these treatments, on Christmas Eve of 2001, Linda was told that the cancer had spread to her liver.

Linda said, "I started to receive mega-doses of chemotherapy. With this, I lost my hair, was very weak, disoriented and I couldn't eat, so I was severely malnourished. I diminished to 89 pounds, and many of my friends saw me in a losing battle." She also had severe diarrhea that her doctor claimed was from the chemotherapy.

Linda's friend Susan saw an advertisement for Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) and sent for a brochure. The nearest center, CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) in Zion, Illinois, was about three hours away. At first, Linda was reluctant to try anything new.

"I was too caught up in my illness at the time to really see how bad things were," Linda said. "Susan encouraged me to go to CTCA to see what they could offer me."

"I finally agreed to go to CTCA. When I told my oncologist this, he was first against it. But then, he said I should go because he couldn't do anything more for me. He never led me to believe this before."

"I was now handed a note saying he believed I would never work again and I had a limited life span. This came down like a rock on my head."

"I was so grateful at this point to have set up my appointment at CTCA, but I was scared," Linda said.

Linda was admitted to CTCA in April 2002, fed intravenously and treated for a parasitic infection that was the real cause of her diarrhea. She was also given fractionated doses of chemotherapy (four different drugs) over five days, in an intra-arterial procedure that delivered chemotherapy directly to the liver.

"After the five days of treatment, I was a little nauseated, tired and out of sorts, but I had a better quality of life for the next three weeks between treatments." Her weight was 100 pounds (up from 89 pounds) by the end of the three weeks.

By the end of her second series of treatments, the tumor was no longer visible on scans and her blood tests were near normal. She continued to receive nutrition intravenously for the next three months, until her weight returned to normal.

"I was determined to beat cancer. I also took comfort in speaking with the ministry at Midwestern. Today I still take various vitamins that I get through CTCA, do a lot of walking, keep an optimistic attitude, and appreciate the gift of life everyday."

Linda returned to work in November 2002. Her friend Susan says that Linda "looks great!" They both volunteer with CTCA, helping encourage other people with cancer.

"The local doctor who did my surgeries was amazed after seeing me a year later," Linda said. "He could not believe how healthy I was."

Linda's advice for us? "You can't be afraid to live with a serious illness. If you do, then dying becomes easy. Living is so much harder, but if you take a chance on fighting to live and believe in yourself, then the possibilities are endless."

Survivors of liver cancer stories

Fay Polson

Toward the end of 1996, I was looking forward to retirement after working for 22 years. I had been to the doctor several times about the pressure I felt in my abdomen. Then a raised place came up over my liver, and the doctor told me I needed a CT scan. The scan revealed a large tumor. He wanted to do a biopsy and I agreed to have one the next day. When they put the mirror in the incision they found that the tumor had grown onto my liver and had ruptured it. After telling me I only had a few months to live, unless we got this liver cancer under control, they sent me with my files across the street to a local hospital.

After looking at my scan, the doctor sat down and had a short conversation with us. My husband, Bob, and daughter, Sheryl, were with me. The doctor said he thought we could do direct chemo to the liver and try to shrink the tumor. But he said I only had a 50/50 chance. I was scared and didn’t know what to do. Because of his heart, our daughter’s husband had gone to Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) to use the radiation pellet implant to treat his prostate cancer. They were so pleased with CTCA and the service they received, Sheryl said we should go out to the center for a second opinion. The call was made and we got in almost immediately. By this time, my abdomen was so large I had to wear a maternity top.

From the day I walked into Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, I knew that it was where I wanted to be. Everyone was so very friendly and warm. And, we did not have to sit in the waiting room for hours!

I saw Dr. Hans Nevinny. I cannot tell you how pleased we were with him. He hugged me and he hugged my husband and talked with us forever explaining what kind of treatment I would have. Then I saw Dr. Jimmie Crow, who was one of the surgeons at that time. He told us he wanted to save just one-fourth of the liver since the liver regenerates itself. If you could only know what a blessing I had just received! Until this point, I thought I was going to be dying in about three months, leaving my family, small grandchildren and all my wonderful friends. Words cannot explain the feeling. I had just been granted some more years.

On February 14, 1997, I had my first surgery. The tumor weighed 3 ½ pounds. Since my husband had wanted to see the tumor, Dr. Crow decided to carry it out in a bucket into the waiting room. After Bob looked at it, all the rest of the family wanted to see it too. I had a long six weeks trying to recover from this first surgery, as the tumor had zapped all of my minerals, from my body, and the nutritionist said I was severely malnourished. She gave me several things that I had to take every day, besides drinking Ensure. And I saw her every time I came in to see the doctor. She would always look at my charts and see how much I had improved. And if I needed other things, I would take them too. Also after my surgery, someone who came to see me at home must have had a stomach virus because I became very ill and had to be hospitalized again to take care of this. I had a long time recovering from this surgery.

In May of 1997, I took my first chemo treatment. My body was in good shape by then and I did not have any trouble with the chemo. I had radiation treatments along with the chemotherapy. It was not a chore for me to come out every day for chemo and radiation. There were so many wonderful people to talk and visit with, especially two men who were so much fun that everyone wanted to be in the room they were in. We did a lot of laughing every day.

In exactly one year, another tumor appeared in my liver. Once again there was surgery and all went well again. I only had to stay a week this time. And one of the wonderful things about CTCA is that they let Bob stay with me, every night, even in ICU. The people are just so wonderful at CTCA.

In the latter part of 2000, I had yet another tumor in my liver. This time they did four different ablations to try to destroy it, followed by two alcohol injections and two heat treatments. When the CT scans showed I still had the tumor, I once again faced surgery. Dr. Crow said that there were two tumors, one on top of the other. The injection treatments had destroyed the top tumor, but not the bottom one. The surgery was successful and it was my last one. My follow-up visits with my oncologist have all been with good results.

I just cannot explain how well I did with the wonderful help of the doctors and staff at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). Along the way, Bob and I have met many people and tried to visit them at CTCA as often as we could. They are always so glad to see a person that has a successful cancer story. What a marvelous blessing we have received! If I had not come to CTCA, I know I would not be alive today. Thanks to their outstanding care, I am cancer free.

Survivors by Lung Cancer

John Kleinfeldt has reason to celebrate. Anyone who follows the statistics on cancer survival would have given up on him a long time ago. In fact, some did. But Kleinfeldt is alive today. Alive and well.

Kleinfeldt’s journey with cancer began with a regular check up with his doctor. He was 58 years old. Blood tests revealed he was anemic. When medication did not help and Kleinfeldt began losing weight, his medical doctor referred him to a gastroenterologist. The gastroenterologist referred him to a rheumatologist since he had arthritis in his knees. During his examination the rheumatologist noticed clubbing in Kleinfeldt’s hands and took an X-ray of his knees. The specialist had a suspicion it was lung cancer but could not be certain without performing a chest X-ray.

A referral to a radiologist and a chest X-ray later, Kleinfeldt and his wife, Eileen, heard that John has a mass in the upper left lobe of his lung. It was large, measuring 4.2 centimeters by 3.3 centimeters.

The next referral was to an oncologist, who recommended chemotherapy. The Kleinfeldts opted for a second opinion, which returned an opinion for a surgical intervention. After a third opinion concurred with the second, Kleinfeldt underwent lung cancer surgery in New York City in August of 1997 to remove the tumor and part of his lung.

Four months after his surgery, in December, Kleinfeldt began experiencing dizzy spells. An MRI revealed the cancer had metastasized to his brain, detecting three lesions and a tremendous amount of brain swelling. He was admitted to the hospital immediately.

Kleinfeldt underwent 15 radiation treatments at a treatment center in Long Island. Given the poor prognosis during those radiation treatments, Eileen began researching other treatment centers which might give Kleinfeldt more options and therefore a better chance at longer survival. She found a hospital in Zion, Illinois that appeared to offer treatments in addition to the standard protocols and told John, “this is where we are going.”

John told his doctor they had found Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) and requested his opinion of their treatment facilities. The doctor was reluctant to give an answer because he had never heard of CTCA. That inclined John not to seek treatment at CTCA until his doctor supplied another opinion.

“John, listen to Eileen and go to CTCA. See what they have to say. You have nothing to lose. I can’t do anything more for you,” he said. The Kleinfeldts did get on a plane to Chicago, something Eileen is thankful for to this day.

“That was the best decision we ever made and it has forever changed our lives,” Eileen said.

Lymphoma Survivors

My name is Randy Merriken and I've been a victor over non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for many years. My experience with Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southwestern Regional Medical Center (Southwestern) began in July of 1996, when I saw my doctor (Dr. Brunk) for the first time. My struggle against cancer began several years earlier, though.

When I first noticed the "knot" in my abdomen in the summer of 1993, I wondered if there might be something serious going on, but I didn't see a doctor about it. I didn't want to be a "hypochondriac". I work in a hospital laboratory and since I'm around disease all the time I try not to worry about every bump or bruise I might see. Finally, about a year and a half after I first noticed the knot, I went to see him for a minor thing and then I used the "Oh, by the way, while I'm here·" line. He checked me out and sent me to a surgeon who ordered a CT of my abdomen to diagnose me. Three days after my CT I had a biopsy to confirm the lymphoma diagnosis.

In 1995, I went through a 5 month course of traditional chemotherapy in my hometown of Charleston, WV. My CT's looked good, but my doctors told me that this type of cancer is "easily controlled, but rarely cured". The average life expectancy for the advanced lymphoma, which I was fighting, was 3-5 years. The standard protocol is to treat it, then "watch and wait" until you have to treat it again. This involves stronger and stronger drugs until nothing else is available. (I didn't like the sound of that!)

A little over a year after I finished my chemotherapy I felt like the tumor was growing again and my CT scan confirmed my suspicions. My oncologist told me that if he were the patient he wouldn't necessarily get treatment again just yet. I wanted to be more aggressive than that so I went looking for a second opinion. I was given some information about the importance of nutrition at Southwestern and it sounded encouraging, so I called the toll free number. The folks at CTCA did all the legwork for me. They called my insurance company, then called me back and explained the plan. I made an appointment to see my doctor for an evaluation in July of 1996.

God is the great orchestrator of my healing, and I began asking Him to give my doctor wisdom for my treatment, even before my first appointment. My prayers (and those hundreds of others) were answered wonderfully! At CTCA, I found a host of caring people. The nutrition aspect of my treatment in incomparable, including an improved diet and an immune-stimulating supplement package. The Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) or "Mind Body Connections" program, is an important part of my care. There are encouraging people everywhere - housekeeping, pastoral care, patient relations, guest room services, and on and on!

My doctor used a more aggressive treatment plan for me which involves a maintenance dose of oral medication to keep the lymphoma under control. He's had patients like me on this program for 10 years. I expect to keep getting good reports. I don't know what the future holds, but my Father does and that's all I need to know! God is good and I'm glad CTCA was part of His plan for me.

Prostate Cancer Survivors

My urologist called me at 10 p.m. on a November evening in 1997 to inform me that the biopsy of my prostate showed one area of cancer. He told me what my options were. I could have it removed, have radiation therapy or do nothing. He recommended that I have my prostate removed within two weeks. A second opinion confirmed the recommendation.

I came across a description of the "permanent seed treatment" in my research. At the same time, my wife saw an ad on TV describing the prostate cancer treatment given at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southwestern Regional Medical Center (Southwestern). She called the 800-number and spoke with Sharon, who gave her some basic information and also "overnighted" some information to us. After reading the material, I called CTCA to set up an appointment for a consultation. Several days later my wife and I were at Southwestern, talking with Dr. Flynn, who explained what the treatment consisted of. I had no doubt that the HDR brachytherapy treatment was the course I was going to take.

At the time of diagnosis, my PSA was 8, my Gleason was 6, and my age was 60. I had the brachytherapy treatment in March and April of 1998. I had no negative reactions from the treatment. I went right to work when I got home. I missed no days of work following the treatment.

We have never met a group of people nicer or more caring and professional than those at CTCA. We thank God every day for helping us find them. I hate to think what my condition would be if we hadn’t found them.

My health and lifestyle are normal now. I look forward to my checkups at Southwestern. The visits will give me the opportunity to see all the friends I made there, as well as to speak to others who are being treated or are contemplating treatment.

January 2003

It’s been many years since I had the HDR brachy treatment. At my last checkup, my PSA was 0.11!!! I thank God daily for helping me to make contact with CTCA in November 1997, and for the treatment I received there, and for the GREAT people that staff the hospital.

The treatment was painless for me and I did not experience any negative side effects during or following it. When I returned home, I went back to work immediately; I do outside work. I also do some running and simply refrained from that for a couple of weeks following the treatment. I have since then ran many marathons.

During my checkups at CTCA, I have spoken with a lot of patients who had been treated or were being treated. Time after time, I have been told how happy they were to have found CTCA because of the treatment and personal care they had received.

I constantly tell people about CTCA and the treatment that is provided for all types of cancer. If I were to have any type of cancer, CTCA is where I'd want to be treated. To me, it’s home away from home.

April 28, 2008

It’s been 10 years since I had the HDR brachytherapy for my prostate cancer. I now go once a year for a checkup. I have one scheduled in May at CTCA in Tulsa. A year ago, my PSA reading was .10.

In the 10 years since my treatment, I have not had any negative effects, interference with my work or any loss of work time.

I still run several times a week, a minimum of five miles a day, or 15 to 20 miles on weekends when I’m training for a marathon. I am now 70 and shudder to think of what my situation would be had I not had the HDR treatment. I have run 18 marathons since my treatment, and will run another one in May. I only mention this to indicate the positive outcome of my treatment, which hopefully will encourage others to look into the possibility of considering CTCA for treatment.

Ovarian Cancer Survivors

Speaking as a cancer survivor, Lori Warchol’s image is splashed across television screens across the nation. The De Pere, WI resident is an advocate for taking control of cancer and one’s own treatment as opposed to letting cancer take control.

That is not to say Warchol was always so self-assured.

At age 40, she went in for her annual gynecologic exam, except, she had actually skipped a year for her annual checkup. A program supervisor for Family Services, a private non-profit human service agency in Green Bay, Warchol leads a busy life and regular doctor appointments are something that can typically get pushed out of the way, especially when a person is feeling healthy. Her doctor noticed some changes in the exam results and ordered more tests. And though she had exhibited no outward symptoms except being a little more tired than usual, the news was not good.

“Those tests revealed a mass in my abdomen. They knew I needed surgery to remove the mass” Warchol said, recalling her emotion, “It could have been a number of things, but I didn’t want to believe it could be cancer.”

The mass did turn out to be endometriosis, which is benign, but during surgery, doctors noticed abnormalities with her ovaries and uterus. They performed a complete hysterectomy, then sent cells off for examination and, to be certain, for a second opinion. “The second opinion revealed the cells were not benign. They were cancerous. My life changed dramatically in two weeks,” Warchol said.

She was referred to a local oncologist. Numb from the diagnosis, she went to the appointment. Up until now, her treatment had been as she expected, but the there were nuances in her oncologist appointment that Warchol characterized as “things starting to go downhill.”

Within minutes, he told her the details of the diagnosis. The form of ovarian cancer was not necessarily aggressive but the statistics for outcome were also not very optimistic. Warchol was stunned.

“He did not give me a lot of hope. It was a very cold presentation that did not take into account what I was going through,” Warchol recalled. “He then referred me to a nurse. She told me the side effects to chemotherapy as though my treatment was already a done deal. The entire visit was very technical and lacked optimism and support.”

Even though Warchol had hoped for a little more compassion as well as options, possibly something including a holistic approach, she agreed to chemotherapy as prescribed because she was “scared, terrified” and did not think she had any more options. She was not offered any other choice.

Her first treatment was high dose of chemotherapy delivered over a three-hour period. She was tired and very sick for five days with awful body aches and nausea. She could not go to work. She had five more treatments to look forward to on top of her dissatisfaction with the oncologist.

“He was not able to answer questions about diet, nutrition and how I could become an active participant,” Warchol said, noting she had been reading about how proper nutrition could play a significant role in preventing and battling cancer.

After her oncologist told her it didn’t matter what she ate, she was determined to take control of the course of her treatment. A colleague at work gave her a brochure on a cancer treatment facility she had obtained while researching treatment options for another friend. That person decided to stay in the immediate Green Bay area for treatment, so the colleague still had the brochure.

The brochure, distributed by Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center in Zion, Ill., offered a number of answers to Warchol’s questions, yet she was suspicious because the brochure entailed a treatment practice that sounded too good when compared to her own experience with the healthcare system. She took a chance and made a toll free telephone call.

She spoke to an oncology information specialist who verified her insurance, listed the ways the hospital would help her travel to Zion, and other things Warchol said she did not have the knowledge nor the energy to do herself.

She received an information packet in the mail the next day but that was not the most startling thing. That night, she received a call from Dr. Sybilann Williams, a gynecologic oncologist from CTCA who spent a half hour on the phone asking questions, then answering others. Three days later, Warchol was in her car making the three-hour drive south to Zion. When she arrived, her reticence changed almost immediately. “Because of the people there, my suspicion just melted away. With the layout and design, it does not look or feel like a hospital. It was a compassionate place to be. I was treated with respect,” Warchol said, adding that Dr. Williams spent two hours with her on that initial consult.

The entire experience gave her hope she had not experienced to that point. But though it went well with all the specialists that day, chemotherapy was still on the horizon. That, too, was different at CTCA. The same, high dose of chemotherapy was delivered in fractionated doses over several days and Warchol felt healthier because of the nutrition and supplement support she received. She did have minor side effects but not the wracking body aches and nausea she experienced before.

In fact, she was now able to go to work between chemotherapy treatments. She finished her total of five chemotherapy treatments at CTCA in May of 1998. Every six months since, she has received a clean bill of health. Warchol said she looks forward to coming back each time because of the connection she has with the people who work at the Zion hospital. She has become an avid spokeswoman for seeking out all of one’s options and not giving up hope. This includes her desire to be featured in a television advertisement where she talks of options and hope.

“It is important for everyone to know, no matter how scared or devastated they are, there are a number of options out there. I experienced a combination of medical expertise and good customer service that is hard to come by. This has been the best healthcare experience of my life,” Warchol said.

Cancer, Detection & Treatment

The information provided below has been modified from that furnished by the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute of the United States of America.

How can cancer be detected early?

In many cases, the sooner cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better a person's chance for a full recovery. If you develop cancer, you can improve the chance that it will be detected early if you have regular medical checkups and do certain self-exams. Often a doctor can find early cancer during a physical exam or with routine tests, even if a person has no symptoms. Some important medical exams, tests, and self- exams are discussed on the next pages. The doctor may suggest other exams for people who are at increased risk for cancer.

Ask your doctor about your cancer risk, problems to watch for, and a schedule of regular checkups. The doctor's advice will be based on your age, medical history, and other risk factors. The doctor also can help you learn about self-exams. (More information and free booklets about self-exams are available from the Cancer Information Service).

Many local health departments have information about cancer screening or early detection programs. The Cancer Information Service also can tell you about such programs.

Exams For Both Men And Women

Skin - The doctor should examine your skin during regular checkups for signs of skin cancer. You should also check regularly for new growths, sores that do not heal, changes in the size, shape, or color of any moles, or any other changes on the skin. Warning signs like these should be reported to the doctor right away.

Colon and Rectum - Beginning at age 50, you should have a yearly fecal occult blood test. This test is a check for hidden (occult) blood in the stool. A small amount of stool is placed on a plastic slide or on special paper. It may be tested in the doctor's office or sent to a lab. This test is done because cancer of the colon and rectum can cause bleeding. However, noncancerous conditions can also cause bleeding, so having blood in the stool does not necessarily mean a person has cancer. If blood is found, the doctor orders more tests to help make a diagnosis.

To check for cancer of the rectum, the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and feels for any bumps or abnormal areas. A digital rectal exam should be done during regular checkups.

Every 3 to 5 years after age 50, an individual should have sigmoidoscopy. In this exam, the doctor uses a thin, flexible tube with a light to look inside the rectum and colon for abnormal areas.

Mouth - Your doctor and dentist should examine your mouth at regular visits. Also, by looking in a mirror, you can check inside your mouth for changes in the color of the lips, gums, tongue, or inner cheeks, and for scabs, cracks, sores, white patches, swelling, or bleeding. It is often possible to see or feel changes in the mouth that might be cancer or a condition that might lead to cancer. Any symptoms in your mouth should be checked by a doctor or dentist. Oral exams are especially important for people who use alcohol or tobacco products and for anyone over age 50.

Exams For Men

Prostate - Men over age 40 should have a yearly digital rectal exam to check the prostate gland for hard or lumpy areas. The doctor feels the prostate through the wall of the rectum.

Testicles - Testicular cancer occurs most often between ages 15 and 34. Most of these cancers are found by men themselves, often by doing a testicular self-exam. If you find a lump or notice another change, such as heaviness, swelling, unusual tenderness, or pain, you should see your doctor. Also, the doctor should examine the testicles as part of regular medical checkups.

Exams For Women

Breast - When breast cancer is found early, a woman has more treatment choices and a good chance of complete recovery. It is, therefore, important that breast cancer be detected as early as possible. The National Cancer Institute encourages women to take an active part in early detection. They should talk to their doctor about this disease, the symptoms to watch for, and an appropriate schedule of checkups. Women should ask their doctor about:

• Mammograms (x-rays of the breast);
• Breast exams by a doctor or nurse; and
• Breast self-examination (BSE)

A mammogram can often show tumors or changes in the breast before they can be felt or cause symptoms. However, we know mammograms cannot find every abnormal area in the breast. This is especially true in the breasts of young women. Another important step in early detection is for women to have their breasts examined regularly by a doctor or a nurse.

Between visits to the doctor, women should examine their breasts every month. By doing BSE, women learn what looks and feels normal for their breasts, and they are more likely to find a change. Any changes should be reported to the doctor. Most breast lumps are not cancer, but only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

Cervix - Regular pelvic exams and Pap tests are important to detect early cancer of the cervix. In a pelvic exam, the doctor feels the uterus, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum for any change in size or shape.

For the Pap test, a sample of cells is collected from the upper vagina and cervix with a small brush or a flat wooden stick. The sample is placed in a glass slide and checked under a microscope for cancer or other abnormal cells.

Women should start having a Pap test every year after they turn 18 or become sexually active. If the results are normal for 3 or more years in a row, a woman may have this test less often, based on her doctor's advice.

Cancer Treatment: Pre-Treatment Eating Tips

When your cancer was first diagnosed, your doctor talked to you about a treatment plan. This may have involved surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biologic immunotherapy or some combination of those treatments.

All of these methods of treating cancer kill cells. In the process of killing the cancer cells, some healthy cells are also damaged. That is what causes the side effects of cancer treatment. Side effects that can affect your ability to eat include:

• loss of appetite
• changes in weight (either losing or gaining weight)
• sore mouth or throat dry mouth
• dental and gum problems
• changes in sense of taste or smell
• nausea/vomiting
• diarrhea
• lactose intolerance
• constipation
• fatigue and/or depression

You may or may not have any of these side effects. Many factors determine whether you will have any and how severe they will be. These factors include the type of cancer you have, the part of your body being treated, the type and length of treatment, and the dose of treatment. The good news is that if you do have side effects they can often be well-controlled. Most side effects also go away after treatment ends. Your doctor or nurse can tell you more about your chances of having side effects and what they might be like.

Nutrition Recommendations Can Be Different for Cancer Patients

Recommendations about food and eating for cancer patients can be very different from the usual suggestions for healthful eating. This can be confusing for many patients because these new suggestions may seem to be the opposite of what they've always heard. Nutrition recommendations usually stress eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain breads and cereals; including a moderate amount of meat and dairy products; and cutting back on fat, sugar, alcohol, and salt. Nutrition recommendations for cancer patients may focus on helping you eat more higher calorie foods that emphasize protein. Recommendations might include eating or drinking more milk (read our Fortified Milk recipe), cream, cheese, and cooked eggs. Other suggestions might include increasing your use of sauces and gravies, or changing your cooking methods to include more butter, margarine, or oil. Sometimes, nutrition recommendations for cancer patients suggest that you eat less of certain high- fiber foods because these foods can aggravate problems such as diarrhea or a sore mouth.

Nutrition recommendations for cancer patients are different because they are designed to help build up your strength and help you withstand the effects of your cancer and its treatment. When you are healthy, eating enough food to get the nutrients you need is usually not a problem. During cancer treatment, however, this can become a challenge, especially if you have side effects or simply don't feel well.

Cancer Treatment - Managing Eating Problems

All the methods of treating cancer - surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy (immunotherapy) - are very powerful. Although these treatments target the fast-growing cancer cells in your body, healthy cells can also be damaged. Healthy cells that normally grow and divide rapidly, such as those in the mouth, digestive tract, and hair, are often affected by cancer treatments. The damage to healthy cells is what produces the unpleasant side effects that cause eating problems.

Side effects of cancer treatment vary from patient to patient. The part of the body being treated, the type and length of treatment, and the dose of treatment determine whether side effects will occur. The good news is that not everyone has side effects during treatment, and most side effects go away when treatment ends. Side effects can also be well-controlled with new drugs. Talk to your doctor about possible side effects from your treatment and what can be done about them.

Remember, there aren't any hard and fast nutrition rules during cancer treatment. Some patients may continue to enjoy eating and have a normal appetite throughout most of their cancer treatment. Others may have days when they don't feel like eating at all; even the thought of food may make them feel sick.

Here are some great tips to keep in mind if you or someone you know is receiving cancer treatment:

• When you can eat, try to eat meals and snacks with sufficient protein and calories; they will help you keep up your strength, prevent body tissues from breaking down, and rebuild tissues that cancer treatment may harm.



• Many people find their appetite is better in the morning. Take advantage of this and eat more then. Consider having your main meal of the day early, and have liquid meal replacements later on if you don't feel so interested in eating.



• If you don't feel well and can eat only one or two things, stick with them until you are able to eat other foods. Try a liquid meal replacement for extra calories and protein.



• On those days when you can't eat at all, don't worry about it. Do what you can to make yourself feel better. Come back to eating as soon as you can, and let your doctor know if this problem doesn't get better within a couple of days.



• Try to drink plenty of fluids, especially on those days when you don't feel like eating. Water is essential to your body's proper functioning, so getting enough fluids will ensure that your body has the water it needs. For most adults, 6-8 cups of fluid a day are a good target. Try carrying a water bottle with you during the day. That may help you get into the habit of drinking plenty of fluids.

Chemotherapy and Cancer Treatment, Coping with Side Effects

What Causes Side Effects?

Because cancer cells may grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells, many anticancer drugs are made to kill growing cells. But certain normal, healthy cells also multiply quickly, and chemotherapy can affect these cells, too. This damage to normal cells causes side effects. The fast-growing, normal cells most likely to be affected are blood cells forming in the bone marrow and cells in the digestive tract (mouth, stomach, intestines, esophagus), reproductive system (sexual organs), and hair follicles. Some anticancer drugs may affect cells of vital organs, such as the heart, kidney, bladder, lungs, and nervous system.

You may have none of these side effects or just a few. The kinds of side effects you have and how severe they are, depend on the type and dose of chemotherapy you get and how your body reacts. Before starting chemotherapy, your doctor will discuss the side effects that you are most likely to get with the drugs you will be receiving. Before starting the treatment, you will be asked to sign a consent form. You should be given all the facts about treatment including the drugs you will be given and their side effects before you sign the consent form.

How Long Do Side Effects Last?

Normal cells usually recover when chemotherapy is over, so most side effects gradually go away after treatment ends, and the healthy cells have a chance to grow normally. The time it takes to get over side effects depends on many things, including your overall health and the kind of chemotherapy you have been taking.

Most people have no serious long-term problems from chemotherapy. However, on some occasions, chemotherapy can cause permanent changes or damage to the heart, lungs, nerves, kidneys, reproductive or other organs. And certain types of chemotherapy may have delayed effects, such as a second cancer, that show up many years later. Ask your doctor about the chances of any serious, long-term effects that can result from the treatment you are receiving (but remember to balance your concerns with the immediate threat of your cancer).

The side effects of chemotherapy can be unpleasant, but they must be measured against the treatment's ability to destroy cancer. Medicines can help prevent some side effects such as nausea. Sometimes people receiving chemotherapy become discouraged about the length of time their treatment is taking or the side effects they are having. If that happens to you, talk to your doctor or nurse. They may be able to suggest ways to make side effects easier to deal with or reduce them.

Cancer Treatment - Weight Gain

Some patients find their weight does not change during treatment. Some patients lose weight from nausea and loss of appetite. Some may even gain weight! This is particularly true for patients with cancer of the breast, prostate, and ovary who are taking certain medications or who are on hormone treatments or chemotherapy.

It is important not to go on a special diet right away if you notice weight gain. Instead, tell your doctor so you can find out what may be causing this change. Sometimes, weight gain happens because certain anticancer drugs can cause your body to hold on to excess fluid. This condition is called edema. The weight comes from the extra water. If this is the case, your doctor may ask you to talk with a registered dietician for guidelines on limiting the amount of salt you eat. This is important because salt causes your body to hold extra water. Your doctor also my want to prescribe a diuretic. This is a medication that causes your body to get rid of excess fluid.

Breast cancer patients with a primary diagnosis of cancer may be different. Over half of them may actually gain weight rather than lose during treatment. Because of this, many of the recommendations for breast cancer patients do emphasize a lower fat, reduced calorie diet similar to those provided to patients after cancer treatment has been completed.

Weight gain may also be the result of increased appetite and eating extra food and calories. If this is the case and you want to stop gaining weight, here are some tips that can help. Talk to a registered dietician for more guidance:

• Emphasize fruits, vegetables, breads, and cereals.
• Choose lean meats (lean beef or pork trimmed of fat, chicken without the skin) and low-fat dairy products (skim or 1% milk, light yogurt).
• Cut back on added butter, mayonnaise, sweets, and other extras.
• Choose low fat and low calorie cooking methods (broiling, steaming).
• Avoid eating high-calorie snacks between meals.
• If you feel up to it, increase the amount of exercise you get.

Source: CancerNet (http://www.cancernet.nci.nih.gov/peb/eating_hints/index.html)

Cancer Treatment Side Effect, Dry Mouth

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the head or neck area can reduce the flow of saliva and cause dry mouth. When this happens, foods are harder to chew and swallow. Dry mouth also can change the way foods taste. The following suggestions below may help you deal with dry mouth:

• Have a sip of water every few minutes to help you swallow and talk more easily. Consider carrying a water bottle with you so you always have some handy.
• Try very sweet or tart foods and beverages, such as lemonade; these foods may help your mouth make more saliva. (Do not try this if you also have a tender mouth or sore throat and the sweet or tart foods make it worse.)
• Suck on hard candy or popsicles or chew gum. These can help make more saliva.
• Eat soft and pureed foods, which may be easier to swallow.
• Keep your lips moist with lip salves.
• Moisten food with sauces, gravies, and salad dressings to make it easier to swallow.
• If your dry mouth problem is severe, ask your doctor or dentist about products that coat, protect, and moisten your mouth and throat. These are sometimes called "artificial saliva."

For additional information, please visit the Cancer Center.

This information has been provided with the kind permission of www.cancer.gov.
Last Editorial Review: 12/20/2002

Testicular Cancer: Survival High with Early Treatment

Most Common Cancer in Young Men

Cancer of the testicles --egg-shaped sex glands in the scrotum that secrete male hormones and produce sperm--accounts for only about 1 percent of all cancers in men, according to the National Cancer Institute. About 7,000 Americans were expected to get the disease in 1995, with an estimated 325 deaths. Compared with prostate cancer, estimated to kill 40,400 of its 244,000 victims in 1995, testicular cancer is relatively rare. However, in men aged 15 to 34, it ranks as the most common cancer. For unknown reasons, the disease is about four times more common in white men than in black men.

Only 15 years ago, a diagnosis of testicular cancer was grim news. Ten times as many patients died then as now. But dramatic advances in therapeutic drugs in the last two decades, along with improved diagnostics and better tests to gauge the extent of the disease, have boosted survival rates remarkably. Now, testicular cancer often is completely curable, especially if found and treated early.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved several drugs to treat testicular cancer, including Ifex (ifosamide), Vepesid (etoposide), Velban (vinblastine sulfate), Blenoxane (bleomycin sulfate), and Platinol (cisplatin).

Many medical professionals regard Platinol as the "magic bullet" for treating certain forms of testicular cancer. FDA approved the platinum-based drug for use after surgery or radiation. Platinol almost always is used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs.

"[Platinum-based treatment] is truly the great success story for solid-tumor chemotherapy," says S. Bruce Malkowicz, M.D., co-director of urologic oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. These drugs have helped cut testicular cancer's death rate and bolster its cure rate, he says, adding that many patients "respond very nicely" to platinum-based drug treatments, which are effective even when cancer has spread beyond the testicle.

"That is not a death sentence," Malkowicz says. About 70 percent of men with advanced testicular cancer can be cured, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Detection and Diagnosis

Most testicular tumors are discovered by patients themselves--either by accident, as Knies did, or while performing a self-examination on each testicle. "The usual presentation is of an enlarged, painless lump," says Malkowicz. "Occasionally there can be pain." The lump typically is pea-sized, but sometimes it might be as big as a marble or even an egg.

Cancer Treatment: Getting the Support You Need

Chemotherapy, like cancer, can bring major changes to a person's life. While it can help cure your cancer, it can sometimes affect overall health, cause stress, disrupt day-to-day schedules, and strain personal relationships. It is no wonder, then, that some people feel tearful, anxious, angry, or depressed at some point during their chemotherapy.

These emotions can be perfectly normal, but they can also be disturbing. Fortunately, there are ways to deal with these emotional side effects, just as there are ways to cope with the physical side effects of chemotherapy.

How Can I Get Support?

You can draw on many sources of support. Here are some of the most important:

Doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. If you have questions or worries about your cancer treatment, talk with members of your health care team. Tell them if you are feeling anxious or depressed, or if you are experiencing other emotional or physical changes.

Counseling professionals. There are many kinds of counselors who can help you express, understand, and cope with your feelings. If you are depressed, you should consider seeking professional help. Feeling hopeless, worthless, guilty, or that life is not worth living are signs of depression. Depending on your preferences and needs, you may want to talk with a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, sex therapist, or member of the clergy. There are also medicines that can be used to treat depression. Many cancer centers have "psycho-oncology" programs with psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers trained to work with cancer patients. Your doctor, nurse, or social worker may be able to suggest who to contact.

Friends and family members. Talking with friends or family members can help you feel a lot better. Often, they can comfort and reassure you in ways that no one else can. However, you may need to help them help you. At a time when you might expect that others will rush to your aid, you may have to make the first move.

Asking friends and family for help. Many people do not understand cancer, and may withdraw from you because they are afraid of your illness and not know what to do to help you. Others may worry that they will upset you by saying "the wrong thing." You can help by being open in talking with others about your illness, your treatment, your needs, and your feelings. By talking openly, you can correct mistaken ideas about cancer. You can also let people know that there is no single "right" thing to say, as long as their caring comes through loud and clear. Once people know they can talk with you honestly, they may be more willing and able to open up and lend their support. Accepting help may be hard. When you allow others to help, you make them feel less helpless. In a sense, you are helping others deal with your illness.

The National Cancer Institute's booklet, Taking Time, offers useful advice to help cancer patients, their families and friends communicate with one another.

Support groups. Support groups are made up of people who are going or have gone through the same kinds of experiences as you. Many people with cancer find they can share thoughts and feelings with group members that they do not feel comfortable sharing with anyone else. Support groups also can serve as an important source of practical information about living with cancer. Some studies suggest that not only can support groups help with how you are feeling emotionally, but may also help you recover physically from your cancer.

Support can also be found in one-to-one programs that put you in touch with another person very similar to you in age, sex, type of cancer, and so forth. In some programs, this person comes to visit you. In others, a "hotline" puts you in touch with someone you can talk with on the telephone. Later, you may want to help others who are going through the same experience you did.

Sources for information about support programs, counseling advice, financial assistance, transportation to and from treatment, and information about cancer include neighborhood organizations, local health care providers, and your hospital, clinic, or medical center where you are being treated. At public libraries and patient libraries at hospitals, a librarian can help you find books and articles through a literature search. The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service (1-800-4-CANCER) is also an excellent source of information and publications.

How Can I Make My Daily Life More Enjoyable?

• Share your feelings with friends and family.
• Watch funny movies. Help someone else.
• Listen to music.
• Try new hobbies and learn new skills.
• Exercise, if you can.
• Do things that interest you.

Cancer Treatment: Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Many people with cancer are exploring complementary therapies. These methods focus on the mind, body, and spirit. They do not take the place of medical therapies, but add to them. They can reduce stress, lessen side effects from cancer and cancer treatments, and enhance well-being. And they can help you feel more in control; it is something you can do for yourself.

A few of the therapies available are described here. Many more therapies exist such as art therapy, humor, journaling, reiki, music therapy, pet therapy and others. You may want to check with your doctor before using these techniques, especially if you have lung problems. A social worker, psychologist, or nurse may be able to help you with these therapies. You may also want to read books, listen to audiotapes, and watch videotapes about these techniques.

Biofeedback

With training in biofeedback, you can control body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension. A machine will sense when your body shows signs of tension and lets you know in some way such as making a sound or flashing a light. The machine also gives you feedback when you relax your body. Eventually, you can control your relaxation responses without having to depend on feedback from the machine. Your doctor, nurse, or social worker can refer you to someone trained in teaching biofeedback.

Distraction

Distraction is the use of an activity to take your mind off your worries or discomforts. Talking with friends or relatives, watching TV, listening to the radio, reading, going to the movies, or working with your hands by doing needlework or puzzles, building models, or painting are all ways to distract yourself. Many cancer centers now have music or creative art therapists who can be very helpful to you while you are getting treatment for your cancer. Ask your nurse or social work department about possible resources in your area.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis puts you in a deeply-relaxed state that can help reduce discomfort and anxiety. You can be hypnotized by a qualified person, or you can learn how to hypnotize yourself. If you are interested in learning more, ask your doctor, nurse, or social worker to refer you to someone trained in the technique.

Imagery

Imagery is a way of daydreaming that uses all your senses. It is usually done with your eyes closed. To begin, breathe slowly and feel yourself relax. Imagine a ball of healing energy-- perhaps a white light--forming somewhere in your body. When you can "see" the ball of energy, imagine that as you breathe in you can blow the ball to any part of the body where you feel pain, tension, or discomfort such as nausea. When you breathe out, picture the air moving the ball away from your body, taking with it any painful or uncomfortable feelings. (Be sure to breathe naturally; do not blow.) Continue to picture the ball moving toward you and away from you each time you breathe in and out. You may see the ball getting bigger and bigger as it takes away more and more tension and discomfort. To end the imagery, count slowly to three, breathe in deeply, open your eyes, and say to yourself, "I feel alert and relaxed."

Massage Therapy

The idea that touch can heal is an old one. The first written records of massage date back 3,000 years ago to China. Massage therapy involves touch and different methods of stroking and kneading the muscles of the body. A licensed massage therapist should do the therapy. Talk to your doctor before beginning this therapy.

Meditation and Prayer

Meditation is a relaxation technique that allows you to focus your energy and your thoughts on something very specific. This is especially helpful when your mind and body are stressed from cancer treatment. For example, you may want to repeat a word (over and over), or look at an object, such as a picture. Another form of meditation is allowing your thoughts, feelings, and images to flow through your mind. For patients who believe in a higher spiritual power, prayer can provide strength, comfort and inspiration throughout the cancer experience. Whether you pray alone, with family and friends, or as a member of a religious community, prayer may help. A member of the clergy or your spiritual advisor can help you incorporate prayer into your daily life.

Colon cancer: Cancer that forms in the tissues of the colon (the longest part of the large intestine). Most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas (cancers that begin in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids).

• Colon cancer is a malignant tumor arising from the inner wall of the large intestine.
• Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in males and fourth in females in the U.S.
• Risk factors for colon cancer include heredity, colon polyps, and long-standing ulcerative colitis.
• Most colorectal cancers develop from polyps. Removal of colon polyps can prevent colorectal cancer.
• Colon polyps and early cancer can have no symptoms. Therefore regular screening is important.
• Diagnosis of colon cancer can be made by barium enema or by colonoscopy with biopsy confirmation of cancer tissue.
• Treatment of colon cancer depends on the location, size, and extent of cancer spread, as well as the age and health of the patient.
• Surgery is the most common treatment for colon cancer.

Definition of colon cancer: Cancer that forms in the tissues of the colon (the longest part of the large intestine). Most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas (cancers that begin in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids).
Surgery is the most common treatment for colorectal cancer. During surgery, the tumor, a small margin of the surrounding healthy bowel, and adjacent lymph nodes are removed. The surgeon then reconnects the healthy sections of the bowel. In patients with rectal cancer, the rectum is permanently removed. The surgeon then creates an opening (colostomy) on the abdomen wall through which solid waste in the colon is excreted.

Specially trained nurses (enterostomal therapists) can help patients adjust to colostomies, and most patients with colostomies return to a normal lifestyle.

The long-term prognosis after surgery depends on whether the cancer has spread to other organs (metastasis). The risk of metastasis is proportional to the depth of penetration of the cancer into the bowel wall. In patients with early colon cancer which is limited to the superficial layer of the bowel wall, surgery is often the only treatment needed. These patients can experience long-term survival in excess of 80%. In patients with advanced colon cancer, wherein the tumor has penetrated beyond the bowel wall and there is evidence of metastasis to distant organs, the five-year survival rate is less than 10%.

In some patients, there is no evidence of distant metastasis at the time of surgery, but the cancer has penetrated deeply into the colon wall or reached adjacent lymph nodes. These patients are at risk of tumor recurrence either locally or in distant organs. Chemotherapy in these patients may delay tumor recurrence and improve survival.

Chemotherapy is the use of medications to kill cancer cells. It is a systemic therapy, meaning that the medication travels throughout the body to destroy cancer cells. After colon cancer surgery, some patients may harbor microscopic metastasis (small foci of cancer cells that cannot be detected). Chemotherapy is given shortly after surgery to destroy these microscopic cells. Chemotherapy given in this manner is called adjuvant chemotherapy. Recent studies have shown increased survival and delay of tumor recurrence in some patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy within five weeks of surgery. Most drug regimens have included the use of 5-flourauracil (5-FU). On the other hand, chemotherapy for shrinking or controlling the growth of metastatic tumors has been disappointing. Improvement in the overall survival for patients with widespread metastasis has not been convincingly demonstrated.

Chemotherapy is usually given in a doctor's office, in the hospital as a outpatient, or at home. Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles of treatment periods followed by recovery periods. Side effects of chemotherapy vary from person to person, and also depend on the agents given. Modern chemotherapy agents are usually well tolerated, and side effects are manageable. In general, anticancer medications destroy cells that are rapidly growing and dividing. Therefore, red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells are frequently affected by chemotherapy. Common side effects include anemia, loss of energy, easy bruising, and a low resistance to infections. Cells in the hair roots and intestines also divide rapidly. Therefore, chemotherapy can cause hair loss, mouth sores, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Radiation therapy in colorectal cancer has been limited to treating cancer of the rectum. There is a decreased local recurrence of rectal cancer in patients receiving radiation either prior to or after surgery. Without radiation, the risk of rectal cancer recurrence is close to 50%. With radiation, the risk is lowered to approximately 7%. Side effects of radiation treatment include fatigue, temporary or permanent pelvic hair loss, and skin irritation in the treated areas.

Other treatments have included the use of localized infusion of chemotherapeutic agents into the liver, the most common site of metastasis. This involves the insertion of a pump into the blood supply of the liver which can deliver high doses of medicine directly to the liver tumor. Response rates for these treatments have been reported to be as high as eighty percent. Side effects, however, can be serious. Additional experimental agents considered for the treatment of colon cancer include the use of cancer-seeking antibodies bound to cancer-fighting drugs. Such combinations can specifically seek and destroy tumor tissues in the body. Other treatments attempt to boost the immune system, the bodies' own defense system, in an effort to more effectively attack and control colon cancer. In patients who are poor surgical risks, but who have large tumors which are causing obstruction or bleeding, laser treatment can be used to destroy cancerous tissue and relieve associated symptoms. Still other experimental agents include the use of photodynamic therapy. In this treatment, a light sensitive agent is taken up by the tumor which can then be activated to cause tumor destruction.

Definition of colon cancer: Cancer that forms in the tissues of the colon (the longest part of the large intestine). Most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas (cancers that begin in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids).
Unfortunately, colon cancers can be well advanced before they are detected. The most effective prevention of colon cancer is early detection and removal of precancerous colon polyps before they turn cancerous. Even in cases where cancer has already developed, early detection still significantly improves the chances of a cure by surgically removing the cancer before the disease spreads to other organs.

Multiple world health organizations have suggested general screening guidelines.

Digital rectal examination and stool occult blood testing

It is recommended that all individuals over the age of 40 have yearly digital examinations of the rectum and their stool tested for hidden or "occult" blood. During digital examination of the rectum, the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel for abnormal growths. Stool samples can be obtained to test for occult blood (see below). The prostate gland can be examined at the same time.

An important screening test for colorectal cancers and polyps is the stool occult blood test. Tumors of the colon and rectum tend to bleed slowly into the stool. The small amount of blood mixed into the stool is usually not visible to the naked eye. The commonly used stool occult blood tests rely on chemical color conversions to detect microscopic amounts of blood. These tests are both convenient and inexpensive. A small amount of stool sample is smeared on a special card for occult blood testing. Usually, three consecutive stool cards are collected. A person who tests positive for stool occult blood has a 30% to 45% chance of having a colon polyp and a 3% to 5% chance of having a colon cancer. Colon cancers found under these circumstances tend to be early and have a better long-term prognosis.

It is important to remember that having stool tested positive for occult blood does not necessarily mean the person has colon cancer. Many other conditions can cause occult blood in the stool. However, patients with a positive stool occult blood should undergo further evaluations involving barium enema x-rays, colonoscopies, and other tests to exclude colon cancer, and to explain the source of the bleeding. It is also important to realize that stool which has tested negative for occult blood does not mean the absence of colorectal cancer or polyps. Even under ideal testing conditions, at least 20% of colon cancers can be missed by stool occult blood screening. Many patients with colon polyps are tested negative for stool occult blood. In patients suspected of having colon tumors, and in those with high risk factors for developing colorectal polyps and cancer, flexible sigmoidoscopies or screening colonoscopies are performed even if the stool occult blood tests are negative.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy

Beginning at age 50, a flexible sigmoidoscopy screening tests is recommended every three to five years. Flexible sigmoidoscopy is an exam of the rectum and the lower colon using a viewing tube (a short version of colonoscopy). Recent studies have shown that the use of screening flexible sigmoidoscopy can reduce mortality from colon cancer. This is a result of the detection of polyps or early cancers in people with no symptoms. If a polyp or cancer is found, a complete colonoscopy is recommended. The majority of colon polyps can be completely removed by colonoscopy without open surgery. Recently doctors are recommending screening colonoscopies instead of screening flexible sigmoidoscopies for healthy individuals starting at ages 50-55. Please read the Colon Cancer Screening article.

Patients with a high risk of developing colorectal cancer may undergo colonoscopies starting at earlier ages than 50. For example, patients with family history of colon cancer are recommended to start screening colonoscopies at an age 10 years before the earliest colon caner diagnosed in a first-degree relative, or five years earlier than the earliest precancerous colon polyp discovered in a first-degree relative. Patients with hereditary colon cancer syndromes such as FAP, AFAP, HNPCC, and MYH are recommended to begin colonoscopies early. The recommendations differ depending on the genetic defect, for example in FAP; colonoscopies may begin during teenage years to look for the development of colon polyps. Patients with a prior history of polyps or colon cancer may also undergo colonoscopies to exclude recurrence. Patients with a long history (greater than 10 years) of chronic ulcerative colitis have an increased risk of colon cancer, and should have regular colonoscopies to look for precancerous changes in the colon lining.

Genetic counseling and testing

Blood tests are now available to test for FAP, AFAP, MYH, and HNPCC hereditary colon cancer syndromes. Families with multiple members having colon cancers, members with multiple colon polyps, members having cancers at young ages, and having other cancers such as cancers of the ureters, uterus, duodenum, etc., should be referred for genetic counseling followed possibly by genetic testing. Genetic testing without prior counseling is discouraged because of the extensive family education that is involved and the complicated nature of interpreting the test results.

The advantages of genetic counseling followed by genetic testing include: (1) identifying family members at high risk of developing colon cancer to begin colonoscopies early; (2) identifying high risk members so that screening may begin to prevent other cancers such as ultrasound tests for uterine cancer, urine examinations for ureter cancer, and upper endoscopies for stomach and duodenal cancers; and (3) alleviating concern for members who test negative for the hereditary genetic defects.

Diet and colon cancer to prevent colon cancer

People can change their eating habits by reducing fat intake and increasing fiber (roughage) in their diet. Major sources of fat are meat, eggs, dairy products, salad dressings, and oils used in cooking. Fiber is the insoluble, nondigestible part of plant material present in fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain breads and cereals. It is postulated that high fiber in the diet leads to the creation of bulky stools which can rid the intestines of potential carcinogens. In addition, fiber leads to the more rapid transit of fecal material through the intestine, thus allowing less time for a potential carcinogen to react with the intestinal lining.

Colon cancer definition: Cancer that forms in the tissues of the colon (the longest part of the large intestine). Most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas (cancers that begin in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids).
Causes of colon cancer?

Diet and colon cancer

Diets high in fat are believed to predispose humans to colorectal cancer. In countries with high colorectal cancer rates, the fat intake by the population is much higher than in countries with low cancer rates. It is believed that the breakdown products of fat metabolism lead to the formation of cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens). Diets high in vegetables and high-fiber foods such as whole-grain breads and cereals may rid the bowel of these carcinogens and help reduce the risk of cancer.

Colon polyps and colon cancer

Doctors believe that most colon cancers develop in colon polyps. Therefore, removing benign colon polyps can prevent colorectal cancer. Colon polyps develop when chromosome damage occurs in cells of the inner lining of the colon. Chromosomes contain genetic information inherited from each parent. Normally, healthy chromosomes control the growth of cells in an orderly manner. When chromosomes are damaged, cell growth becomes uncontrolled, resulting in masses of extra tissue (polyps). Colon polyps are initially benign. Over years, benign colon polyps can acquire additional chromosome damage to become cancerous.

Ulcerative colitis and colon cancer

Chronic ulcerative colitis causes inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. For further information, please read the Ulcerative Colitis article. Colon cancer is a recognized complication of chronic ulcerative colitis. The risk for cancer begins to rise after eight to 10 years of colitis. The risk of developing colon cancer in a patient with ulcerative colitis also is related to the location and the extent of his or her disease.

Current estimates of the cumulative incidence of colon cancer associated with ulcerative colitis are 2.5% at 10 years, 7.6% at 30 years, and 10.8% at 50 years. Patients at higher risk of cancer are those with a family history of colon cancer, a long duration of colitis, extensive colon involvement, and those with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

Since the cancers associated with ulcerative colitis have a more favorable outcome when caught at an earlier stage, yearly examinations of the colon often are recommended after eight years of known extensive disease. During these examinations, samples of tissue (biopsies) can be taken to search for precancerous changes in the lining cells of the colon. When precancerous changes are found, removal of the colon may be necessary to prevent colon cancer.

Genetics and colon cancer

A person's genetic background is an important factor in colon cancer risk. Among first-degree relatives of colon cancer patients, the lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is 18% (a threefold increase over the general population in the United States).

Even though family history of colon cancer is an important risk factor, majority (80%) of colon cancers occur sporadically in patients with no family history of colon cancer. Approximately 20% of cancers are associated with a family history of colon cancer. And 5 % of colon cancers are due to hereditary colon cancer syndromes. Hereditary colon caner syndromes are disorders where affected family members have inherited cancer-causing genetic defects from one or both of the parents.

Chromosomes contain genetic information, and chromosome damages cause genetic defects that lead to the formation of colon polyps and later colon cancer. In sporadic polyps and cancers (polyps and cancers that develop in the absence of family history), the chromosome damages are acquired (develop in a cell during adult life). The damaged chromosomes can only be found in the polyps and the cancers that develop from that cell. But in hereditary colon cancer syndromes, the chromosome defects are inherited at birth and are present in every cell in the body. Patients who have inherited the hereditary colon cancer syndrome genes are at risk of developing large number of colon polyps, usually at young ages, and are at very high risk of developing colon cancer early in life, and also are at risk of developing cancers in other organs.

FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis) is a hereditary colon cancer syndrome where the affected family members will develop countless numbers (hundreds, sometimes thousands) of colon polyps starting during the teens. Unless the condition is detected and treated (treatment involves removal of the colon) early, a person affected by familial polyposis syndrome is almost sure to develop colon cancer from these polyps. Cancers usually develop in the 40s. These patients are also at risk of developing other cancers such as cancers in the thyroid gland, stomach, and the ampulla (the part where the bile ducts drain into the duodenum just beyond the stomach).

AFAP (attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis) is a milder version of FAP. Affected members develop less than 100 colon polyps. Nevertheless, they are still at very high risk of developing colon cancers at young ages. They are also at risk of having gastric polyps and duodenal polyps.

HNPCC (hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer) is a hereditary colon cancer syndrome where affected family members can develop colon polyps and cancers, usually in the right colon, in their 30s to 40s. Certain HNPCC patients are also at risk of developing uterine cancer, stomach cancer, ovarian cancer, and cancers of the ureters (the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder), and the biliary tract (the ducts that drain bile from the liver to the intestines).

MYH polyposis syndrome is a recently discovered hereditary colon cancer syndrome. Affected members typically develop 10-100 polyps occurring at around 40 years of age, and are at high risk of developing colon cancer.