Stress- Why It's Making You Sick

After racing to the airport this morning at 5:30 am, I can relate to any article about stress! The one I read today on the plane in the AARP Bulletin is an excellent one. Click on "What, Me Worry?" to access the article. Bottom line:
Stress creates conditions that make the body more vulnerable to disease. Keeping that in mind, I tried to "talk myself down" and relax after, despite my late start, I made my flight with ten minutes to spare!
So relax, feel good and keep smiling! Pat

Building A Good Medical Team Is Important In New Zealand, Too!

A week ago I wrote about how important it is for a cancer patient to build a team of health care professionals to help him or her navigate the physically and emotionally challenging life of a cancer survivor. I was pleased to receive a response from myeloma patient Sidney Hider in Watiakere City, New Zealand. Here is what Sidney wrote about his experiences putting a medical team together:

As part of my way forward to myeloma survival I created a team, “Team Sid”, a network of help and support for medical, emotional and logistical reasons.
“Team Sid” comprised myself of course, my wife Myra, family, GP, Haematologist, Hospital day stay staff, cancer society, Leukaemia and Blood, work, neighbours and others when needed. My number one team member was Myra who is a trained caregiver, I had the best. More about Myra and others in another posting.
Being the Boss and chief administrator of “Team Sid” I compiled a list of contacts; contact name, designation, address, phone and email.
Another list was a” how to/what if” list, how to do anything that arose without panic. How to arrange transport if I could not drive myself, public transport timetables. How to use the St John’s ambulance service in an emergency. How to use the hospital shuttle bus. What to do if my temperature rose. Who to contact if I fell ill at home, etc, etc.
One of regular my tasks was to maintain my appointment book up to date. Every appointment and meeting was entered then added to the kitchen calendar as backup. Another task was to maintain a daily diary of how I felt, medication, anything that could be of use at appointments. Initially I did not realise the significance of recording my test results. My doctor and Haematologist gave them to me verbally. Later I learnt from a support group member that I could have the results posted to me. Once that commenced I created a spread sheet to record results electronically.
There were times when I could not cope due to health and side effect issues. Myra had been briefed on the lists so stepped in to take over my role...
“Team Sid” members were all told that I was living with myeloma and would recover to good health again. I led by example with my positive attitude, negativity was not to be tolerated.
“I will get better”.
By creating “Team Sid” I took an active role in my recovery giving me a sense of control over my illness.
On reflection the main benefit of “Team Sid” was organisation. Having all my contact and what if information up to date and in one place. A system I still follow today.

Important advice and insight from a fellow cancer survivor who lives on the other side of our world. Just goes to show how a good idea can be universal. Thanks for your input, Sid!

Feel good and keep smiling- Pat

Combination of Books Available for Multiple Myeloma Patients and/or Their Friends and Families

I received a book order today from someone in California. I am guessing that they, or someone they love, was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma because they ordered three books: My book, Living with Multiple Myeloma, an excellent book called 100 Questions and Answers About Multiple Myeloma as well as a research guide Multiple Myeloma- Translational and Emerging Therapies. Production of the last two books is subsidized by drug companies so we are able to sell them for $9.99 each, with all of the money being donated to myeloma related research. What a great idea! The combination of these three books gives the reader an extensive background into myeloma and recent therapies used to treat the disorder. My Help With Cancer Internet Bookstore automatically charges $3.95 shipping and handling for each book. It isn't sophisticated enough to adjust to charge less for multiple book orders, so the order total was $46.23. To help out, I included a copy of the $40 DVD, also called Living with Multiple Myeloma at no additional charge. I would be more than happy to include the DVD free with any multiple book order until I can get the shipping thing figured out!
Feel good, keep smiling and remember: An informed patient, especially when being treated for a disease like myeloma with so many treatment options, is an empowered, healthier patient! Pat

MIT vs Bank On A Cure

Yesterday I wrote about a small but international effort called Bank On A Cure. Today, in a press release sponsored by the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), I learned that the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT are starting a similar project. Great! But, I do have some questions. For example, although they wouldn't call themselves "competitors," the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is backing the Bank For A Cure. Any unnecessary duplication here? I'm not sure. I'm not trying to do an online expose' or create a controversy. And, to be fair, the genome project at MIT does seem to have a broader goal, targeting a number of different cancers. Read about the project yourself:
MIT Genome Project
The good news; research seems to be progressing at a rapid rate. And both groups promise to post all test results on the Internet for any interested researcher to review and share.
Feel good, keep smiling and keep your fingers crossed that these dedicated scientists can help find the key to genetic cancer treatment!

Bank On A Cure

Dr. Brian Van Ness's research initiative, "Bank On A Cure" is an program with amazing potential. With the help of the International Myeloma Foundation, Dr. Van Ness and several research teams in Europe and the US have been studying DNA samples from more than 1000 myeloma patients in an attempt to isolate genes specific to myeloma. So far so good! At a recent meeting in Stillwater, Minnesota, Dr. Van Ness revealed that significant progress had already been made. The ultimate goal: To allow oncologists to tailor myeloma treatments individually for each patient based on their unique, individual genome, increasing the success of treatment and minimizing side effects. Go to http://myeloma.org/main.jsp?type=article&id=670 to learn more.
Feel good and keep smiling! Pattie

Amazing New Colon Cancer Screening Tool May Be Available Soon

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota is only an hour or so away from Minneapolis/St Paul. I live another hour away on the north side of the Twin Cities Metro, but since we get all of the Twin Cities local stations Pattie and I see lots of Mayo Clinic coverage. Last night the area's ABC affiliate ran a story about a new, non-invasive diagnostic tool Mayo Clinic researchers are developing for colon cancer. Using stool samples, these researchers are able to identify pre-cancerous or asymptomatic cancers of the colon using DNA testing. This eliminates the need for a colonoscopy unless these DNA markers are found. Sounds like the test may be available in a few years, subject to peer review. Wow! This could be huge! Big cost savings and a safer way to test older or at-risk patients. I went to Mayo's website but I couldn't find anything posted there yet. Too new! I will watch for updates and confirmation details.
Feel good and keep smiling! Pat

Radioactive Thyroid Therapy

Click on the following link to learn more about radioactive thyroid therapy for the treatment of thyroid cancer: American Cancer Society Thyroid Therapy Sounds both safe and effective.
Feel good and keep smiling! Pattie

Time is Relative

Today is a travel day for me. I have left my orphaned wife alone with our animal family back in Florida while I travel home to take care of our real estate business. I'm in Charlotte waiting for my connecting flight back to Minneapolis. This airport is always busy! I have been here at 10 PM on a Friday night. Busy. Today, the holiday Sunday before Memorial Day. Busy. And try finding an electrical outlet! As I write this, I am sitting in the main hallway, on the floor, people and their bags rushing by. Whoa, someone just hopped over my right leg, bag swerving perilously close to tipping, as he races toward his connecting flight. He never even broke stride! Anyway, I sat next to a gentleman who will also be relocating to Florida soon. No wife, no home, few obligations. I never did ask his name. But this forty year old has a completely different concept of time than I. He can afford to make a mistake, to take a chance, to try something new. On the other had, I stress over every minute of precious time. We are all living on borrowed time. Our lives are finite. Yet following my cancer diagnosis my time feels more finite than before. Even though I am doing fine for now, I know the cancer will come back. I spend an entire chapter of my book, Living with Multiple Myeloma, musing at length about the topic. Cancer patients are supposed to avoid stress. Yet at the same time we are supposed to live every moment like it is our last... To not waste a minute. Doesn't that cause stress? It does for me! Sometimes I get stressed when I start to get stressed trying not to get stressed! Guess all we can do is try to keep our sense of humor and not take life too seriously. While not waisting a minute. Does that mean frivolous play and rest is a waste of time? Or is that part of what is really important in life? Oh well, I hear my boarding announcement, off in the distance far down the hall because the only available outlet in the airport was so far away, so I had better sign-off. Sorry to leave you with so many important, unanswered questions. When you discover the answers, let me know and we will all be rich!
Feel good, keep smiling and enjoy the Memorial Day Weekend (hopefully with friends and family) because, after all, you don't want to waist a minute of your precious, finite life!

Non Hodgkin's-Lymphoma

Hon-Hodgkin's Lymphomas are the second leading cause of cancer deaths in patients ages fifteen to thirty-four and the third leading cause of cancer deaths in patients ages thirty-one to fifty-four. An estimated 63,190 new cases of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma were diagnosed in the United States during 2007, according to the book Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy. This is a difficult type of cancer to cure. But depending on the specific type of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and how early the cancer is identified, patients often can live many years with good treatment and follow-up care. For more information about Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, click on the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society link on the right side of the page.

Feel good and keep smiling! Pat

Doctors are your Healing Partners - Revisited

I wrote this post last year and thought it was worth another look:

I was re-reading a great, basic primer about dealing with cancer called Cancer- 50 Essential Things to Do, by Greg Anderson today. In Chapter 18, Anderson discusses operating under new assumptions. My favorite is this: Instead of being the authority, a doctor or other health care professionals are your healing partners. As a former coach, I imagine that I am assembling a medical team. My internist or general practitioner, my oncologist, oncology nurses, specialists at Mayo clinic, a nutritionist and naturopathic doctor. Your team might also include an exercise or occupational therapist, chiropractor and/or counselor. Almost everyone that enters the health care profession wants to help you, their patient. It is your job to coach, coordinate or orchestrate their efforts to maximize this help. Like other, more traditional coaches and teams, there will wins and losses. Good days and bad. It isn't easy. But you can do it!

Feel good and keep smiling! Pat

Seminar About Chemo Brain

You can read an interesting transcript found on EverydayHealth.Com about chemo brain at Chemo Brain - It isn't all in your head. Those of you that follow my blog know chemo brain is a personal concern for me and a number of my friends who are also cancer survivors. Check it out!
Feel good and keep smiling! Pat

Health Care: Is It Time For Change? Revisited

I try to stay as neutral as possible politically on this site. I hate the way some bloggers push political agendas and/or rant on and on about personal political issues. But if you have followed this site at all over the past months you should have noticed I feel (as do most Americans) that our health care system is broken and needs to be fixed. Recently, I wrote about the difficulties I faced, as a cancer survivor, planning my eventual move to Florida because of health care related considerations. A step as simple as guaranteeing coverage to those of us with pre-existing conditions would go a long way toward making our already challenging lives better. Today I received an e-mail from the Obama campaign. For the record, Pattie and I both voted for President Obama. But neither of us donated money to his, or any other politicians campaign. Anyway, here is a link to the site asking me (and now I'm asking you) to write our representatives in support of health care reform:
Health Care Reform Initiative If you can find the strength and time, please let your representatives know how important it is for those of us with cancer to keep affordable health care coverage!
Feel good, keep smiling and don't get sick, because if you do you might not be able to get health insurance! Pat

Hello From Rainy Florida!

Pattie and I arrived safely in Florida yesterday, along with all seven cats and three dogs. It is unusually cool and rainy. Fine with us! We expect adjusting to the heat this summer will be our biggest relocation challenge. Getting settled in to new home here. I will fly back to Wisconsin/Minnesota Sunday and resume my life as real estate agent until I get our home cleaned up, painted and ready to sell... And then at least until it does sell. Speaking of selling, my book, Living with Multiple Myeloma, is beginning to sell a copy or two each day. I haven't had time to promote the book (If you have read my last few posts you understand why!) so interest in encouraging. Several readers have taken the time to call or e-mail and let me know they feel the book is helping them cope with their myeloma journey. Nothing in the world could make me feel better! The daily chemotherapy side-effects and skeletal aches and pains quickly melt away when I hear I helped brighten another cancer survivors day.
Feel good and keep smiling! Pat

Our Long Journey Begins

If you read our personal profile or follow our HelpWithCancer.Org Blog, you understand our connection with cancer. What I don't talk much about is our love and lifelong service for animals. I often joke my wife Pattie is going to "same the world, one stray cat at a time!" While living in the northwoods of Wisconsin in the early 90's, Pattie and I started an organization called Critter Rescue. Over the years we raised money to build an animal shelter in a county that was without. We accomplished that goal before moving near the Twin Cities on the Minnesota/Wisconsin border to St Croix Falls, Wisconsin seven years ago. Since then I have served on the Polk County Humane Society Board, recently serving as President. Since Pattie couldn't have children (her first round fight with cancer began at the young age of 34) dogs and cats have always been our "kids." We raced rescued sled dogs up north and helped a number of animals as a foster care family. We still have 3 aging dogs and 7 cats to show for our efforts. Why am I telling you this? Because in one hour we will be driving all 10 animals, in two small vehicles, down to Florida where we have purchased a second home. 25+ hours of highway fun!? Oh boy, here we go! Anyway, I hope you will understand why I won't be posting tomorrow... Cancer will have to wait until after we arrive safely in Weeki Wachee, Florida late Sunday night. You will hear from me again Monday, tired but safe I hope!
Feel good, keep smiling and pray for us, please! Pat

Nutritional Myths Debunked Again- Zinc

So, from reading my last post it seems clear vitamin C doesn't do much to help prevent or cure the common cold. What about zinc? Here, there may be some evidence zinc can help. The Medical College of Wisconsin reports the following on their HealthLink site:

Studies of the effectiveness of zinc supplements in treating the common cold have yielded conflicting results: some have shown that zinc helps, while others find that it has no effect. A recent entry into the fray is a study of 48 cold sufferers at Wayne State University in Detroit. Half of them were given zinc lozenges and half were given placebos -- identical lozenges with no active ingredients. The zinc group's cold symptoms lasted about 4.5 days. Cold symptoms lasted significantly longer in the group taking placebo lozenges: an average of 8 days.

People joined the study within 24 hours of the onset of their cold symptoms, and they were told to take zinc acetate lozenges containing 13 mg of zinc (or placebo lozenges) every 2-3 hours while they were awake. They took no other cold remedies. Each day they recorded (on a scale of zero to 3) the severity of their cold symptoms overall, and of 10 specific cold symptoms: sore throat, nasal discharge, nasal congestion, sneezing, cough, scratchy throat, hoarseness, muscle ache, fever and headache. The symptom scores were totaled each day.

In addition to having shorter colds overall, coughs and nasal discharge were resolved earlier in those patients taking zinc than in the placebo group. Coughing lasted an average of 3.1 days in the zinc group and 6.3 days in patients taking the placebo. Nasal discharge lasted an average of 4.1 days in the zinc group and 5.8 days in the placebo group.

Guess it couldn't hurt taking some extra zinc when you feel that cold coming on.
Feel good and keep smiling! Pat & Pattie

Nutritional Myths Debunked Again- Vitamin C

Does vitamin C help prevent colds and/or shorten their severity or diration? Say it ain't so, Joe but the answer is no! PhD Charles Marshall sums up the disappointing scientific results on Quackwatch.com:

Does it make sense to supplement with vitamin C? If so, should it be done daily or only at the first sign of a cold or other infection? And what dosage should be used? The many studies done in the last 30 years clearly prove that daily vitamin C supplements, whether 100 mg or 5,000 mg, do not prevent colds and provide, but only for some people, only a slight reduction in duration and severity of colds. Dr. Thomas Chalmers concluded in 1975: "I, who have colds as often and as severe as those of any man, do not consider the very minor potential benefit that might result from taking vitamin C three tines a day for life worth either the effort or the risk, no matter how slight the latter might be."

If you choose to supplement when a cold strikes, there is no reason to take more than 250 mg per day, as shown in the 1974 Anderson study. This amount is easily obtained from the age-old "remedy," fruit juices. Supplementation with larger amounts of vitamin C has not been shown to be more effective, and it may cause diarrhea or have other adverse effects.

In an age when many subscribe to mega dosing with oral vitamin C or even vitamin C IV's, this is eye-opening news. So, feel good and, if you don't, save on the vitamin C! Pat & Pattie

Depression and Cancer

Several members of my cancer support group are dealing with depression related to their disorder. The National Cancer Institute features an in-depth Website related to depression in cancer patients. Click on the following link to visit the site:
www.cancer.gov
Feel good and try to keep smiling!

The Anticancer Lifestyle Re-visited

In March I reviewed a worthwhile article written by a cancer survivor/physician David Servan-Schreiber from last month's AARP Magazine. Here are some specifics he recommends and calls "cancer-fighting behaviors:
Sugar fuels cancer growth and triggers inflammation. Avoid refined sugar wherever it lurks.
Add cancer fighting spices such as turmeric, thyme, rosemary, mint, basil, sage and ginger.
Avoid Stress. It causes inflammation and weakens you immune system.
Minimize the use of household toxins such as Teflon, percholorethylene from dry cleaning an caustic cleaners and detergents.
Eat food rich in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, sardines, walnuts and dark green vegetables.
Eat lots of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, garlic, onions, leeks, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and dark chocolate.
Drink green tea and pomegranate juice.
Basic, good advice! Feel good and keep smiling! Pat

Health Care: Is It Time For Change?

My wife and I recently purchased a home in Florida. She has been offered a job nearby and we are considering a permanent move there. No surprise, one of the biggest road blocks to the move are health care considerations. Pattie will be eligible for health insurance through her new employer after two months on the job. And, if things don't work out, she has been cancer free long enough to be eligible for independent insurance. She wouldn't have a lot of options, but there are a few expensive possibilities. Pattie and I are both self employed Realtors. That means no health care or other benefits paid for by our real estate company. Here in Wisconsin, she is part of a high risk insurance pool for the uninsured called HIRSP. Expensive but very comprehensive. But it has its limitations. For example, it is only good (unless in case of emergency) while the insured is in the State of Wisconsin. That means if Pattie needs health care for the next three months she either needs to return to Wisconsin or pay out-of-pocket for care in Florida. But her new employer subsidized plan will eventually save us at least $300 a month over the HIRSP policy, even with her contributing about $100 monthly from her paycheck. I will also be eligible for care under her policy, even with my cancer. But what if she wants to quit? Or gets fired or layed off? Then I am out of luck! Totally uninsurable. Did you know Florida no longer has an active equivalent to Wisconsin's HIRSP for the uninsured? Nothing. No options. No wonder everyone isn't racing to live in paradise! Anyway, I will keep my current Blue Cross plan for a long, long time after Pattie starts her new job. If I get sick or suffer complications while in Florida, at least my company will cover 70% of the expenses. I will probably use our new policy in that case. Eventually, if I switch over to my wife's plan, we will save an additional $250 a month. But when do I dare switch? After 3 months? Six months? A year? We will still have your home in Wisconsin so we can juggle things a bit. But by doing that we will end up spending more, not less on health care. Are your eyes glazing over yet? Complicated, expensive and stupid! We can all hope that President Obama can help create some form of national HIRSP program guaranteeing coverage for people like me. I believe we should all be able to live and move freely anywhere in our country without having to make such difficult and calculated decisions about where we can or cannot live or work.
Feel good, keep smiling and, for goodness sake, if you are going to need medical attention, make sure you are in the right state at the right time!

The Side Effect You Try To Avoid Is Dying!

As I write this, Elizabeth Edwards, wife of now former politician John Edwards, is completing a painful interview with Matt Lauer on NBC's Today Show. Scandal and innuendo aside, her battle with breast cancer that metastasized to her bones in 2007 is interesting and compelling. Ms Edwards made a comment early in the interview that struck a chord with me. Matt was asking her about the side effects of her treatment. Her response: "I have some difficulties. But the side effect you try and avoid is dying." So true! She didn't look good. But I admire her perseverance and determination. Ms Edwards "new normal" is truly just trying to stay alive. So far so good!
I hope she, and you, feel good and keep smiling today! Pat

Five Most Common Cancers In Women

Since it's mother's day, I felt it was appropriate to post about a topic important to women. EverydayHealth.Com featured an article yesterday listing the five most common types of cancer among women. I found it interesting/helpful because it also gave survival data and percentages of women affected. The five most common cancers in women are:

Breast cancer accounted for 26 percent of all female cancer cases and 15 percent of the 272,000 female cancer-related deaths that year. A woman’s odds of getting this cancer: 1 in 8
Lung and bronchus cancers accounted for 14 percent of female cancer cases and 26 percent of all deaths. A woman’s odds of getting this cancer: 1 in 16
Colon and rectal cancers accounted for 10 percent of all cancer cases and 9 percent of all deaths. A woman’s odds of getting this cancer: 1 in 19
Uterine cancer accounted for 6 percent of all cancer cases, and 3 percent of all deaths. A woman’s odds of getting this cancer: 1 in 41
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma accounted for 4 percent of all cancer cases and 3 percent of all deaths. A woman’s odds of getting this cancer: 1 in 53

Wouldn't it also be interesting to know average longevity for each type of cancer following diagnosis? In other words, which types of cancer affecting women were responding best to treatment?

Feel good and keep smiling! Pattie

Chuck Daly, Patrick Swayze and Pancreatic Cancer

Former NBA and Olympic championship coach Chuck Daly died today from complications associated with his pancreatic cancer. He was 78. Nasty stuff, that pancreatic cancer. It is hard to tell how authentic they are, but have you seen the pictures floating around of Patrick Swayze? Grim. No matter how good your attitude or how determined or famous or rich you are, there seems to be no escape from this fast moving, deadly cancer. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone battling pancreatic cancer... Win or lose.

Feel good and keep smiling! Pat & Pattie

More About Asparagus Fighting Cancer

Researching this topic is interesting but frustrating at the same time! There seems to be an almost viral attempt to push the concept that asparagus cures cancer on all of the search engines. The opening line of most articles starts out:

According to the National Cancer Institute, Asparagus is the highest tested food containing glutathione, one of the body's most potent cancer fighters...

I never found this quoted article by the National Cancer Institute using Google. There were several articles about the asparagus cancer link as "urban legend" or as a "fact or fiction" topic. The rumor or link seems to start sometime in 2006. Conclusions ranged from asparagus as "wonder food" and cancer cure to cautionary articles warning cancer patients not to eat too much asparagus because it is high in glutathione which, in some cases, can inhibit the effectiveness of certain chemotherapies. I can find preliminary studies of asparagus and glutathione as far back as 2002. Most articles are positive, often referring to asparagus as nature's highest source of anti-cancer glutathiones.

My conclusion? Who knows! As with most foods and supplements it remains difficult to quantify benefits or results. Worse yet, optimum doses are rarely clinically tested or available.

My advice? Feel good, eat asparagus in moderation (most viral sites promote eating or drinking cooked asparagus, either hot or cold) and keep smiling! Pat

Diagnostic Advances Featured Tonight On NBC

The NBC Nightly News (6:30 Eastern time, 5:30 Central) is running a report about new diagnostic equipment that can spot skin cancer more reliably than a doctor's visual check. May be worth watching.

Feel good and keep smiling! Pattie

Can Asparagus Save Your LIfe?

I received an interesting e-mail today from a reader about asparagus. Supposedly, several servings of cooked asparagus daily has helped a number of cancer patients reduce their cancer load and significantly improve. Fact or fiction? I didn't include this in my series "Nutritional Myths Debunked" because I don't have enough of the facts. I will follow-up with more details/data soon. One thing is clear: It can't hurt to eat more asparagus and other vegetables often and in large servings! (Unless you are on a blood thinner... Then check your INR often and you may need to increase your dosage, due to your increased intake of Vitamin K)

Feel good, keep smiling and eat more asparagus! Pat $ Pattie

Why Non Smokers Get Lung Cancer

I just read an interesting article about lung cancer by Krisha McCoy on EverydayHealth.com. Click on this link:
Why do non-smokers get lung cancer?
Feel good, keep smiling and please don't smoke! Pat & Pattie

Help for Prostate Cancer Patients Sex Lives

For those of you that don't read the occasional comments on our daily articles, reader Steven Douglas took the time to comment about an inexpensive yet effective ED supplement he has used:

There is only one truly non chemical impotence solution I have found which is supported by clinical trials and that is Butea Superba. The results for impotence sufferers taking Butea is over 84% successful, which compared with results as low as 50% for Viagra is without doubt impressive. Butea is readily available now under the brand name HealthyED and is considerably cheaper than the chemically enhanced alternatives. Taken as a supplement each day HealthyED improves the blood flow into those vital tiny blood vessel which are so important in gaining pleasure and maintaining firmness. Interested? Well read about Butea for yourself at www.healthyed.co.uk I could not be happier with the results I have experienced.

Steven, we are assuming you are not affiliated with the company that produces this product. Thanks for your input!

Feel good and keep smiling! Pat & Pattie

Prostate Cancer Therapy Options

Here is an article from the American Cancer Society about options for men with prostate cancer:

If you have prostate cancer, you will want to think about a lot of things before you choose a course of treatment. These things include your age, your overall health, your goals for treatment, and your feelings about side effects. Some men, for example, can't imagine living with side effects such as incontinence or impotence. Others are less concerned about these and more concerned about getting rid of the cancer.

If you are over 70 or have serious health problems, you might want to think of prostate cancer as a chronic disease. It will most likely not lead to your death. But it could cause symptoms you want to avoid. In this view, the goal is to relieve symptoms and avoid side effects of treatment. So you might decide to choose watchful waiting or hormone therapy. Of course, age itself is not the best basis on which to make your choice. Many men are in good mental and physical shape at age 70, while some younger men may not be as healthy.

If you are younger and otherwise healthy, you might be more willing to put up with the side effects of treatment if they offer you the best chance for cure. Most doctors now feel that external radiation, radical prostatectomy, and radioactive implants have the same cure rates for the earliest stage prostate cancers. But each man's situation is unique and is influenced by many factors.

These decisions are even harder for you if you try to make them alone. It is often helpful to discuss treatment options with more than one doctor. It's natural for surgical specialists, such as urologists, to recommend surgery, and for radiation oncologists to recommend radiation. You may want to consider getting more than one medical opinion, perhaps even from different types of doctors. Your primary care doctor can often help you sort out which treatment plan is best for you.

Many men find it helps to talk to others who have faced the same issues. The American Cancer Society's Man to Man program (or programs like this offered by other organizations) provides a way for men to meet and talk about issues related to prostate cancer. To learn more about Man to Man, please call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Questions for Your Doctor
As you cope with cancer and cancer treatment, we encourage you to have honest, open discussions with your doctor. Feel free to ask any question that's on your mind, no matter how small it might seem. Here are some questions you might want to ask. Be sure to add your own questions as you think of them. Nurses, social workers, and other members of the treatment team may also be able to answer many of your questions.

Would you please write down the exact type of cancer I have?
May I have a copy of my pathology report?
What is the chance that the cancer has spread beyond my prostate? If so, is it still curable?
What further tests (if any) do you recommend and why?
What is the clinical stage and Gleason score of my cancer? What do those mean in my case?
Do you recommend watchful waiting as an option for me? Why or why not?
Do you recommend a radical prostatectomy or radiation for me? Why or why not?
If you recommend a radical prostatectomy, will it be nerve sparing? Will it be lapararoscopic?
What type of radiation treatment might be best for me?
What other treatments might be right for me? Why?
Among those treatments, what are the risks or side effects I should expect?
What are the chances that I will have problems with incontinence or impotence?
What are the chances that I will have other urinary or rectal problems?
What are the chances of the cancer coming back with the treatment you suggest? What would be our next step if this happened?
What is my expected survival rate based on clinical stage, grade, and various treatment options?
Should I follow a special diet?

Feel good and keep smiling! Pat

Odds & Ends

Here are a few news items of note from this weekend:

Former NFL quarterback and Republican politician Jack Kemp died of cancer this weekend. I spent a few minutes on the Internet researching his illness. The family was very private about what type of cancer Mr. Kemp had and the cancer classification and any medical details were not disclosed. He was first diagnosed in January of this year. I have written in the past about how much it bothers me when families don't share details about their loved ones cancer. Selfish, I guess, but I like to know the how's and why's and when's. Professional curiosity.

The NBC Today Show reported today that over one million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year. That seemed a bit high to me, considering there will only be an expected 1.4 million cases of cancer in the U.S. in 2009. But I checked my handy Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy guidebook and it confirmed the statement. Wow! That's an amazingly high number.

Along those same lines, just as surprising was the fact that nearly as many women as men are diagnosed each year, with the percentage of woman patients increasing as well. Tan legs and vanity were reasons given for increase. I would also speculate fewer men are working outside professionally than in the past.

Feel good, use your sun screen and keep smiling! Pat

Do Statins Help Guard Against Prostate Cancer?

Several new studies suggest statins help prevent prostate cancer and reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction. Click on the following link Health Day News to learn more. The April 26th article lists four different studies that support the theory.
Feel good and keep smiling! Pat

Nutritional Myths Debunked Again- Aspartame

I found this surprising information on the American Cancer Society Website:

As recently as April 2007, the FDA released this statement: "Considering results from the large number of studies on aspartame's safety, including five previously conducted negative chronic carcinogenicity studies, a recently reported large epidemiology study with negative associations between the use of aspartame and the occurrence of tumors, and negative findings from a series of three transgenic mouse assays, FDA finds no reason to alter its previous conclusion that aspartame is safe as a general purpose sweetener in food."

What Do the Experts Say?

Aspartame has been approved for use as a sweetener by the FDA and by the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, and the World Health Organization. They have concluded that aspartame does not cause cancer or other adverse health effects in the general population. Though research into a possible link between aspartame and cancer continues, no study to date has had results that change this conclusion.

Wow! All I ever hear is how bad aspartame is for you/us! The number one reason given is always "it causes cancer." Well, it may in fact cause some health problems and just because experts haven't found a link to cancer doesn't mean it isn't possible. But at least officially, it looks like aspartame, used in moderation (and isn't this good advice when using most dietary additives or supplements) might not be the worst thing. Like say, eating and drinking lots of sugar which leads to obesity which leads to high blood pressure and other heart health issues.

Feel good, keep smiling and try to limit your Diet Coke intake to one or two a day! Pat