Although this all sounds so discouraging, lung cancer screening programmes have been tried. A high-risk population was chosen for testing—males over forty-five who were heavy smokers. X-rays and sputum cytology were repeated every four months. Some early cases were picked up and operated on successfully, but there were still patients who developed symptoms of cancer between screens, that is, in the four month breaks. Some of the cases picked up at screening had already spread. The numbers of patients eventually dying of lung cancer were not convincingly less than those for a group of men who were not screened regularly. Therefore, for lung cancer at least, there is so far no effective method of screening.

Let me stress that all of the above refers to patients with no symptoms. All I am saying is that patients diagnosed by these screening methods did no better in the long run than patients who were diagnosed and treated as soon as they developed symptoms. The screening tests weren’t good enough. They only picked up the same proportion of curable cancers as are picked up ,irf patients who go to the doctor as soon as they develop symptoms. Don’t take this to mean that you shouldn’t go and have tests if you have any symptoms that could be due to cancer. The longer you leave it, the worse your chances. With many types of cancer, the only cases that are ever cured are the ones that haven’t spread before diagnosis and treatment. The later cancer is diagnosed, the more likely it is to have spread.

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What happens when cancer growths interfere with the function of the brain or spinal cord? Most often there is simply loss of function of whichever part of the body is controlled by the affected area. Thus, if the cancer growth is in the left side of the brain, there may be loss of feeling and strength in the right side of the body. A growth in the spine pressing on the spinal cord can cause paraplegia— loss of feeling and strength in the legs and loss of control of the bladder or bowel. As well as loss of function, cancer growing in the brain can irritate the brain cells, causing twitching or convulsions. This does not happen with lesions in the spinal cord or meninges.

The symptoms of increased pressure in the brain and spinal column can include headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred or double vision and stiffness in the neck and back.

Your doctor should examine you carefully for any loss of feeling or strength, especially if you have any of these symptoms. He or she should also examine the back of your eye, by looking through your pupil with a special lighted instrument called an ophthalmoscope. The end of the optic nerve can easily be seen at the back of the eye with the ophthalmoscope. The optic nerve is actually an out-pouching of the brain itself. Build up in pressure on the brain can cause the end of the optic nerve to swell, producing a typical appearance, which your doctor should recognise. Unfortunately, however, the optic nerve can look quite normal even when the brain pressure is very high, so this is not a foolproof test.

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Wonders of the Kitchen – Cinnamon and Parsley

Cinnamon contains cinnamic acid, a polyphenol. Cinnamic acid may reduce the incidence of cancer caused by several synthetic food additives. Cinnamon suppresses some forms of detrimental bacteria and inhibits the growth of yeasts and moulds. It inhibits the growth of anatoxin, a deadly cancer-forming substance. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment causes the growth of Candida, and cinnamon helps to treat and suppress these yeast growths.

Parsley is a common herb that is extremely easy to grow. Parsley is thought to prevent some forms of cancer, due to its histidine content. It is also claimed to lower the carcinogenic potential of fried foods. It is a very rich source of vitamin Ñ, à powerful antioxidant and cancer preventative.

Yellow and Orange Fruits and Vegetables

Yellow and orange vegetables contain many cancer-fighting properties.

Apricots are useful in preventing lung and skin cancer, possibly due to their high beta-carotene content – dried apricots contain more beta-carotene than the whole fruit. When buying dried apricots, look for low sulphur or sulphur-free apricots. Apricot seeds contain a substance called laetrile that is believed to contain strong cancer-fighting properties.

Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, which may lower the incidence of a variety of cancers and prevents the formation of cancer in the later stages. They are particularly useful in preventing colon cancer. In extensive studies, carrots were shown to reduce the lung cancer risk of smokers, reduce the risk of cancer in ex-smokers and reduce the risk of lung cancer to non-smokers exposed to cigarette smoke.

Carrots and pumpkin contain large amounts of alpha-carotenes. Alpha-carotenes protect against liver cancer and are 10 times more effective in protecting against skin and lung cancer than beta-carotene. Carrots, apricots, pumpkin, papaya, mangoes, peaches and sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene and this makes them very effective in enhancing the immune system by stimulating the activity of T lymphocytes (T-Lymphocytes are the ‘commanders of the immune army’).

Yogurt

Russian biologist Ilich Metchnikoff asserted that the secret to the longest living people in the world, the Bulgarians, was their high intake of yogurt. Recently, research in France has shown that women who eat yogurt (with live yogurt cultures) are less likely to develop breast cancer than women who don’t eat yogurt. Studies in Japan, Italy, Switzerland and Poland indicate those who eat yogurt show less incidence of disease and infection as a whole. Yogurt helps to lower the risk of cancer by boosting the body’s immune system and defending against disease. It is an essential aid in the prevention of stomach and colon cancer.

Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, a common bacterial culture for yogurt, has a particular strain (LV-51) that has been used in Europe for cancer treatment and immune fortification. LV-51 is found to stimulate leukocyte production, T lymphocyte production and anti-tumour activity of macrophages.

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Nutrients

Specific nutrients are very important in maintaining adequate functioning of all levels of the immune system. If one single nutrient is lacking in the body, the immune function can dramatically become depressed. It is important to maintain good levels of beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, vitamin B6 and other antioxidants. Coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, N. Acetyl cysteine, germanium, selenium and bioflavonoids have immune system-boosting effects.

Antioxidants are vital for maintaining optimal immune system function as they act to prevent free radical damage to immune cells and the thymus gland. Recent clinical trials have found that antioxidants can significantly improve immune response, including increasing the activation of cells involved in tumour immunity.

Lactobacillus Bulgarius, a common bacterial culture from yogurt, has been used to stimulate T-lymphocyte production and anti-tumour activity of macrophages, thereby enhancing the function of the immune system.

Ozone Therapy

Supersaturating oxygen in the blood oxidizes foreign agents, improving immunity. Liquid oxygen is available from health food stores.

Pets

The human/animal bond is emotional in nature. Given that emotions and neurotransmitters are linked, our pets may help to maintain or enhance our immune system’s strength. Pets teach us the magic of ‘unconditional love’ and provide us with a wonderful stress release. If we are stress-free emotionally, we remain stress-free physically. After all, we can talk to our pets all day long and get all of our worries off our mind. Can you think of a simpler way to release your stresses and improve your physical health?

Relaxation/Meditation

Meditation or placing ourselves in a relaxed state brings about a sense of calm, peace and serenity, and hence has a positive effect on immune function. Visualizing positive outcomes and good health sets up a plan for the subconscious mind to carry out these desires and wishes.

Sleep

Get adequate sleep. The hours slept before midnight are twice as beneficial as the hours slept after midnight. Go to bed early. Sleep is a revitalizing nutrient that enhances immune system function and provides resistance to infections.

Sunlight

Sunlight is extremely important in enhancing immune system function and having a positive effect on moods and emotions.

Thymus Gland Tapping

Tapping or gently pounding on your thymus gland daily stimulates the release of white blood cells and improves thymus gland health and function.

Touching and Being Touched

As humans we need to feel accepted and loved. Touch in whatever form, whether it be a kiss, a hug, a gentle touch or holding hands, enhances the psycho-neurological phenomena that support immune system function.

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You’ve all heard the saying, ‘what you don’t know, won’t hurt you’. I feel this saying is all too often employed in the practice of medical doctors, especially surrounding certain aspects of cancer. This may come from the fact that many doctors actually don’t know everything about cancer and refuse to admit they don’t have all of the answers. It also stems from the fact that many doctors place themselves in a superior class, higher than most people. They therefore feel the normal person just wouldn’t understand what they are talking about.

Understand or not, it is your moral right to be given all of the facts about your condition. Before undertaking chemotherapy I was told very little, apart from the fact it was the only solution to possibly cure my cancer and some of the possible side effects. As the treatment progressed, everything I was told in the beginning turned out to be less than ten per cent of what I really needed to know. Treatment was completely different to what I was informed it would be like, so no doubt it made me feel frustrated and helpless.

Many medical professionals simply feel that the average person with an illness does not possess the full comprehension to understand what they are talking about. Doctors may feel it is better to keep certain things from you to avoid unnecessary stress or anxiety. This should be the patient’s decision, as you will ultimately have to deal with the problems at some stage, whether it is now or later.

Always seek a medical professional who treats you with respect and is empathetic to your needs. Ask them to share everything with you, including all possibilities and options. Inform them it is okay for them to ring you with results immediately and to give you full copies of every report.

Maintaining secrecy about your results and physical health, due to whatever reason, is simply not good enough. There are many open, understanding doctors out there who realize that no person is better than the next, we are all just different. And for this reason, we should all be treated equally with the same amount of respect we show cowards the person who is treating us. That means if you are divulging valuable and personal information about yourself to the doctor, then you have every right to expect the doctor to divulge all of the information regarding your condition back to you.

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Vitamins and Nutrients

• Free form amino acid supplements (3 1/2 grams/day).

• Vitamin  complex increases the appetite and maintains energy levels.

• Check zinc levels – low zinc levels can cause a lack of taste and appetite. Zinc (80 mg/day) is recommended.

• Check for hydrochloric acid or digestive enzyme deficiency (commonly depleted during orthodox treatment). If levels are low, supplement with hydrochloric acid supplements or apple cider vinegar or digestive enzymes.

• Swedish bitters are also useful for stimulating the appetite.

Herbs

To stimulate a poor appetite use fennel seed, centaury, ginger root, ginseng, papaya leaves or peppermint leaves.

Calamus (also known as Sweet Flag), is an excellent tonic for the gastro-intestinal tract and a great appetite stimulant. Pour 1 cup of boiling water onto 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried herbs/seeds and let infuse for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink 30 minutes before meals.

Gentian root is an excellent bitter that stimulates the appetite and digestion via the gentle stimulation of digestive juices. Gentian combines well with ginger and cardamom. Put 1/2 teaspoon full of the shredded root in a cup of water and boil for 5 minutes. This should be drunken warm 15 to 30 minutes before meals.

Other Advice

• Gentle exercise can stimulate appetite.

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No form of diagnosis is 100 per cent effective in detecting cancer. Mistakes are often made in diagnosis, as screening methods are still largely based on the medical practitioners’ experience and personal knowledge. I am a perfect example of misdiagnosis, as are many friends of mine. In my search to discover what exactly was out of balance in my body, I attended a number of highly respected medical institutions throughout Europe, America, Asia and Australia and was misdiagnosed six times by specialists in their respective fields.

A good friend of mine was misdiagnosed by doctors for over one year and hence given the wrong medication, further exacerbating her condition. These are but two cases out of millions throughout the world. Diagnosing cancer in many cases is similar to a guessing game; chances are they will find it, but how long it will take is the real question. And at what cost to your health?

No diagnostic tool is completely accurate. Many blood tests that are deemed specialized in detecting cancer in the body find it difficult to discriminate between cancer and inflammation, and other similar conditions. It is impossible in many cases for doctors to determine what the actual problem is until they actually open you up to operate. This can be dangerous, as cancer is a fear-based condition and cancer cells tend to spread through the body rapidly and easily, if given the right environment to do so. By opening you up to explore they run the risk of spreading the cancer further to other areas of the body, which is obviously why chemotherapy, radiation therapy and cancer drugs are so often employed in follow up treatment of cancer.

It is important to never let a doctor turn you away. We all have strong intuitions and most people know their own bodies very well. If you feel something is out of balance or not quite right, don’t be afraid to see a medical practitioner and ask for tests. If they refuse to listen to you or laugh at you, never give up. Seek a practitioner who is understanding and empathetic to your needs. Chances are if you think something isn’t quite right in your body, you’re absolutely right.

A close friend of mine had no symptoms at all, yet felt something wasn’t quite right in his body. He went to see a doctor and asked him to run some blood tests. Of course, the doctor thought he was crazy, but reluctantly acknowledged his wishes and ran the appropriate blood tests. He later discovered he had the early stages of prostate cancer, which had only begun a few months earlier. Listening to his intuition and trusting his gut feeling saved his life, and the future happiness of his family.

As most medical practitioners only spend 10 to 15 minutes with every patient, it is difficult for them to fully take the time to listen to your problems. Never leave until you are completely satisfied with the outcome and their diagnosis. Many cancer deaths today are due to misdiagnosis, which allows the cancer to spread further and in many cases, makes it difficult to cure. Become aware of the symptoms for each type of cancer and if you are experiencing any of these, consult with an open-minded practitioner. Don’t let any medical practitioner make you feel like you are being a hypochondriac. It is your health and listening to your intuition could mean the difference between life and death.

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