Cancer Blog

Mouth cancer is a painful disease. It can affect your lips, tongue, cheeks and even your throat in a short period of time. The first sign is a non-healing mouth ulcer or a red or white patch in the mouth.

This disease can affect anyone. It does not matter if you are a young or an old person. The important thing is the way of leading your life, because experts believe that mouth cancer is increasing probably due to drinking alcohol and smoking in huge quantities, and to a poor diet also.

It is believed that these people are up to 30 times more likely to develop this type of cancer than those who do not smoke nor drink alcohol. The British Dental Health Foundation estimates mouth cancer kills 1,700 people in the United Kingdom every year, meanwhile 4,300 new cases are diagnosed. Thereby the importance of warning people of all ages to check their mouth regularly, since if mouth cancer is diagnosed early, it can be treated successfully in most cases.

Remember that the way to diminish considerably your risk of being affected by mouth cancer is leading a healthy lifestyle, giving up smoking, cutting down on alcohol and eating a healthy diet.

Regular self-examination is very important too, because you shall visit your doctor or dentist if you notice persistent ulcers, lumps or red or white patches in your mouth.

Asbestos is a dangerous and potentially deadly substance that was once widely used in a range of items, from ceiling and wall tiles to insulation and auto brakes. In the past, most people outside of the industry were totally unaware of the dangers relating to asbestos. However, over recent years the dangers and deadly effects of asbestos have become all too apparent, with more and more cases of the most deadly of these effects - mesothelioma - coming to light every day.

Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that can start in the cavities of the lungs, the heart, or the abdomen. This cancer is the direct result of exposure to disturbed asbestos, where the fibers become airborne. These airborne asbestos fibers can then be easily ingested or breathed in by those in the vicinity that are not wearing adequate protection. Once the asbestos fibers have lodged themselves within various parts of the body, they cannot be destroyed by the cells of the immune system, which are known as macrophages. Instead, the asbestos fibers lead to scar tissue within the body, and this is what can lead to mesothelioma and other asbestos related injuries.

People that have contracted mesothelioma through asbestos exposure do not realize that anything is wrong for years. The typical latency period for this cancer is around twenty to forty years, which means that those affected may not find out for three or four decades following the exposure. Further delays can be experienced because of the symptoms of mesothelioma, which are very non-specific in nature - this means that they could easily be attributed to other more common ailments. This often leads to a delay in diagnosis, causing further delays when it comes to treatment of any sort.

There is currently no known cure for mesothelioma, although clinical trials and tests are continually being conducted. Over the past few years, many breakthroughs have been made in short term treatments and diagnostic procedures, which gives fresh hope to sufferers of this cancer. However, until a cure has been found, many people will continue to lose their lives due to the irresponsibility of various companies and manufacturers in decades gone by.

Understandably, sufferers and their families want to see some form of compensation for the pain, suffering, and misery caused by asbestos and mesothelioma. Although no amount of money can make up for the damage done by unprotected asbestos exposure, it can help to pay for medical costs, and can also provide the sufferer’s family with a more financially secure future.

It is important for anyone that is diagnosed with mesothelioma to seek legal assistance from an experienced mesothelioma lawyer without delay. Although legal action may not be something that you wish to think about after being dealt a bombshell such as this, any delay could make a difference between claiming millions of dollars for your suffering, expenses, and your family’s future, or getting nothing at all. Your lawyer will need to know the extent of damage and the stage of your cancer, so it is advisable to provide a medical report from your doctor to enable your lawyer to put together a solid mesothelioma lawsuit and get as much compensation as possible for you and your loved ones.

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and has been spreading like wild fire over the last decade. It is curable, but for melanoma treatment to be fully effective, early diagnosis is imperative. Melanoma treatment may take the form of surgery, chemotherapy in early stages, and biological or radiation therapies in extreme cases.

Melanoma takes on four forms. Both superficial spreading melanoma, the most common form accounting for 70% of all melanoma cases and lentigo maligna begin as flat or elevated irregularly shaped tan, brown or black patches.

Both these forms of skin cancer begin as localized tumors, but left untreated, they penetrate deeper and spread to other parts of the body. Acral lentiginous melanoma is a superficial melanoma common amongst Asians and African-Americans.

Nodular melanoma is the most severe form, beginning as invasive cancer and when malignant, shows a lump. It accounts for 10-15% of melanoma cases.

Prevention is always better than cure. Melanoma can be prevented by reducing the sun exposure, especially between 10am and 4pm with adequate clothing and sun blocks with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Children are vulnerable to sunrays and it has been proved that juvenile sunburns greatly increase the risk of adult melanoma.

Melanoma remedy is most effective in the early stages. This means that you should be aware and alert about every symptom of the disease.

You should be especially concerned about your existing moles changing shape or color and of course, new ones appearing unexpectedly. Typical melanoma moles are lop-sided with irregular borders. Advanced melanoma moles have swellings, oozing, itching or bleeding.

Melanoma remedy varies according to the progression of the disease. Actinic Keratoses or sun damage leading to skin cancer can be treated by laser resurfacing, TCA peels or the application of Efudex cream.

In the early stages, surgery to remove the tumor and the adjacent healthy tissues is effective enough to destroy the metastatic cancer cells. The amount of tissue removed depends upon the spread of the cancerous growth.

Surgical melanoma remedy may also involve a skin graft to replenish the lost tissues. If the melanoma spreads to the lymph nodes, surgery may also involve removal of these.

Advanced melanoma treatment includes chemotherapy. This either involves the use of cancer drugs in capsule form or intravenous injections to kill the cancer cells.

Biological and radiation therapies are the last bastions of melanoma treatment. In the former, laboratory-generated cancer-combating substances called biological response, modifiers (BRMs) like tumor vaccines, interleukin-2, or interferon-alfa are administered to the melanoma patient.

Radiation therapy involves the use of x-rays to destroy cancer cells that have spread throughout the body. This form of melanoma treatment can last several sessions. Its side effects include topical redness, dryness and rashes, which disappear over time. However, changes in skin color and texture may occur after a few years.

Melanoma treatment should be undergone only under strict medical guidance to ensure complete remedy and prevent a recurrence.

Four days after I got engaged in March of this year I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. The doctor said, “You have a cauliflower growth on your cervix. That’s not normal. I am booking you in to see a specialist.”

A myriad of tests and a few weeks later I am getting ready to go into hospital tomorrow and have what is called a ‘radical trachelectomy’ - removal of the cervix, leaving the uterus and ovaries intact in order to preserve my fertility.

I decided to share this story because I know that each one of you reading this will know someone who has cancer, whether it be a friend, family member, or a colleague. I am hoping that some of what I share will be helpful to you.

Like you, when you hear of someone being diagnosed with cancer there is a shock and horror about the news, and then a secret relief that it is not you. I believed cancer was for other people. Not me. People who do not look after themselves get cancer. Old people get cancer. Some poor unfortunate kids get cancer. Not me. I’m healthy. I have been a vegetarian for twenty years and have run five marathons. When I went to see the doctor I was two weeks away from running my sixth marathon.

When I got the call saying I had cancer, this was my reaction: terror. Then grief, then shock, then horror, and a whole cocktail of other emotions. I sobbed long and hard. I looked at my new husband-to-be and wondered if he still wanted to marry me as I faced the prospect of losing my ability to give us children.

I would love to say that I was strong, that I saw the positive side of things, that I laughed it off. I did no such thing. I was as terrified as anyone else who learns their body is under major threat. Being told you have cancer really, really sucks. It hardly seems real, even now, a month later.

The worst part was the waiting between tests and results and doctor’s visits to clarify what it was we were dealing with. The worst imaginings tend to wreak havoc.

Then there were plenty of questions. Why? How? How does a life coach get cancer?? The truth is that a life coach did not get cancer. Zoë got cancer. And that’s when I started to understand a little more about what this could teach me.

I raked my history to find some source, some reason for my cancer, some personal transgression, some oversight in my health that I had missed. I beat myself up wondering how I did this to myself. I stripped all of my emotional and mental cloaks away to go to the source and stood there raw and vulnerable to see the human being under the skin. And that’s when I felt a deep compassion - a compassion for myself. When I reached this deep place of love, I was then able to let it flow to others and feel compassion for every other human being who is wrestling or hiding from their own demons - physical, emotional, or spiritual. It is a big journey requiring much courage.

Some people say that cancer is a gift, or that they have it for a reason. This sounds dreadfully punishing. I choose to find something I can learn from this. It is a big journey, only just beginning, but I have found some crystals of truth in the anguish.

Here is what I am learning on my cancer journey:

* Each and every human being is a universe of gifts and stories and wonder.

* I love many people and am loved deeply in return.

* I don’t have to be brave all on my own.

* I can heal my soul, if not my body.

* I am already good enough - I do not need a massive bank balance, fancy clothes, or any other markers to know that I am a worthy human being.

* I am who I am - I am not my job, my services, the roles I play in life as sister, daughter, partner, business owner. I am Zoë - a woman who lives and loves deeply.

* Laughing is a really, really good thing.

My wish for you, dear readers, is that you pause for a moment each day in full and complete gratitude for the gift of life and all the wonderful things before you. See and appreciate the sunlight on the trees, the blue sky, a smiling dog, a beautiful song.

Copyright Inner Compass 2005 www.innercompass.com.au

Mesothelioma is a severe disease that is thinning out its roots everywhere in the world especially in United States of America. It is a lethal form of cancer that is dreaded across the globe. For though there is medication to handle the disease’s symptoms, a cure to mesothelioma is still missing.

Excess confrontation of asbestos is posited as the primary cause of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is used in insulation, clothing and fire-resistant materials. But its usage is often less significant than the disasters caused by it. For those who work with asbestos, breathe or inhale the infesting tiny asbestos particles that result in development of mesothelioma and other Asbestos Related Diseases (ARDs). Initially people were unaware of the damaging nature of these particles. It was discovered only lately through various tests such as X-Rays, MRI tests i.e. Magnetic Resonance Imagery and CAT scans or Computed Axial Tomography scans.

Mesothelioma’s very cause has become its bone of contention. This is because numerous asbestos workers and consumers who have been inflicted by this deadly disease claim that they were not intentionally forewarned of the perils of this material. Consequently lawsuits were and are till date filed on these companies. However, it is a myth to think that these court cases have driven many asbestos-manufacturing companies to bankruptcy. The facts reveal that many such companies have survived under the protection of Chapter 11 and that they have in turn used their insolvency to pay off their former debts and have reorganized themselves by it. But this is not the only myth associated with mesothelioma, there are countless others.

1. One universally known myth is that nothing can be done after a person is in the grip of mesothelioma. Though there is no cure for this unsympathetic form of cancer, some medicines can help with lifestyle quality and symptoms.

2. People commonly believe that working in mines and playing in piles where you are surrounded by asbestos and staying close to a person suffering from mesothelioma are the only factors responsible for its outbreak. But in reality, mesothelioma and any other ARD is not a communicable one and individuals who have never taken up any such tasks are even inflicted with it.

3. The next important thing hovering on people’s mind related to mesothelioma is smoking. Some believe that smoking invokes this disease. But the truth is that those who smoke and are exposed to asbestos perhaps involve the highest risk of being infected by mesothelioma. But there are innumerable patients of this ARD who have never smoked even a single cigarette throughout their lives.

4. Those who think that an exposure to asbestos will result in an instant exhibition of its symptoms are even wrong. According to medical science, the effects remain latent and unknown for 10-40 years.

5. Generally it is deemed that even a slight exposure to asbestos particles leads to mesothelioma. So if these fibres are detected in your house or office, they should be removed as soon as possible and all the materials that came in contact with it should be thoroughly cleansed. But this is not what is actually required. An improper hurried removal can be extremely hazardous since these particles easily get mixed in the surrounding air and cause damage. The best technique to ward off the threat of asbestos particles is to properly cover the affected area. Moreover, this task should not be taken up by any naïve individual. Only the skilled certified asbestos abatement professionals should be called to do this job.

6. A number of people are of the opinion that Chrysotile is a safe form of asbestos. But researches have shown that all forms of asbestos including the largely used Chrysotile are effective in causing Mesothelioma and other ARDs like lung cancer, asbestosis etc.

Cancer invariably affects many of us — young, old, rich and poor. By the way things are cancer is here to stay. It is written that by 2020, new cases of cancer will double to 20 million a year. A review of literature shows that we are not winning this “war” against cancer. Cure for cancer still remains uncertain and elusive for most people.

Malaysians are a people of different ethnic background with various healing traditions derived from the Malay, Chinese, Indian and various indigenous races. The practice of “alternative” medicine is allowed, and is popular among Malaysians. In 1995, my wife and I started a semi-charitable organization called CA Care with the aim of helping cancer patients who have failed to find cure for their cancer through modern medicine. We understand that cancer in a complex problem and we need multi-approaches to achieve healing. The world needs more than the perspectives of medical science to help understand and solve this problem or at the very least contribute to lessen the pains and sufferings. Our strategy is to combine the best of what medical science has to offer besides relying on our Eastern healing wisdom. To us, healing of cancer should come from within. Patients need to participate in their own healing process and do what is best for themselves. After dealing with patients for over a decade we found our ways to be effective.

Our Cancer Care Therapy consists of the following holistic steps:

Step 1: Give total commitment to your healing. This is your sickness and only you can heal yourself — others can only help. If you come to us but do not believe that we can help you, then go and find someone else whom you have faith in or can trust so that he can help you better. Searching for healing in cancer needs your whole-hearted commitment. You need to change your ways — your lifestyle and mental attitude. It is more than swallowing some pills or getting an injection. Our decade of experience shows that those who participated fully in the healing process benefited tremendously.

Step 2: Seek proper medical help. We do not substitute medical doctors. We advise you to consult your doctors and get the best possible treatments, but at the same time know the limitations of what medical science can do. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are invasive and destructive. Most patients who came to us have generally undergone all these treatments and they failed to find a cure. So it is good that patients learn to know, “when enough is enough”.

Step 3: Take herbs. Herbs are not magic potions. But, herbs can restore the imbalances that exist in the sick body. People of China and India have been taking herbs for thousands of years to cure and maintain their health. Herbs do not kill cancer cells like the cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs or radiation. Many “educated”, presumably “scientific people” are skeptical about taking herbs. Our experiences show that herbs do no harm but on the contrary, help many cancer patients. There is a saying: the believer asks no question, while no answer can satisfy the unbeliever! If you do not believe in herbs, our advice is, find other avenues for your healing.

Step 4: Eat rightly. But, we also know that diet by itself cannot heal cancer, just as drugs or herbs alone cannot cure it. However, diet is important and can determine the progress and direction of your healing. From our experience, having to give up one’s favorite food is often refuted and even detested by some patients. They counter with: My doctors say I can eat anything I like — food has nothing to do with my cancer. We suggest that you read more widely. Every year, more and more evidence accumulates and points to the fact that what we eat determines the progress and direction of our healing or have a great influence on whether we get sick or not. Today, we are aware that the causes of 70% of cancers are related to our food and lifestyle. Studies have shown that as the Western way of life gains popularity in the developing countries, more and more people in the third world are getting cancers.

From the literature, we know that cancer patients benefit from a diet that consists of the following:

• Fresh vegetables, either raw or cooked.

• Lots of fresh juices and fruits.

• Whole grains, cereals, seeds and nuts in an as unprocessed form as possible.

• Avoid taking meat, dairy products, table salt, white sugar and cooking oils in the diet.

• Avoid types of food that are preserved, canned or processed.

Step 5: Lead a happy, stress-free life. We advocate that you do proper exercise daily but do not over-strain yourself. Qi-kung, tai-qi and deep abdominal breathing exercises are good for you. Also, cultivate a positive attitude. Avoid anxiety, anger and other forms of negative emotions. Learn to love and to forgive and forget. Let go of any emotional baggage that you have been carrying in your life! We also find that those who believe in God or a higher being/order, cope better with their sickness. We advise cancer patients to find solace in the Loving God, according to their own beliefs. On top of all these, patients who have full-hearted family support and tender loving care, generally fare better. Love, care and understanding of the spouse, children and relatives are important recipes for healing.

Skin cancer is the most common form of human cancer, affecting over a million people each year. Fortunately, it is also the most preventable type of cancer if you know what the risk factors are and how to avoid them.

RISK FACTORS FOR SKIN CANCER:

A number of things can put a person at risk for skin cancer. The primary risk factors are:

*You have fair skin, red or blond hair, and light-colored eyes.

*You sunburn easily or have experienced a serious sunburn (sunburns are thought to increase your risk of skin cancer).

*You have many moles or freckles.

*You spend a lot of time working or playing outside.

*You live in tropical or subtropical climates.

*You have a family history of skin cancer, especially melanoma.

*You spent a lot of time in the sun as a child. Most skin cancers appear after the age of 50. However, the damaging effects of the sun begin in childhood.

*You tan in the sun or with a sunlamp or tanning bed. Sun lamps and tanning beds give out rays that can cause serious long-term skin damage and contribute to skin cancer.

There are other factors that can impact your risk of damage from UV light. You must be especially careful in the sun if:

*You have previously been diagnosed and treated for skin cancer, especially melanoma.

*You have any auto-immune disease such as systemic lupus.

*You have had an organ transplant.

*You take oral contraceptives (birth control pills).

*You take any antibiotics that lower your immunity.

*You take any anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, diuretic, or antidepressant drugs.

Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about the risk of any medicines you may be taking that could be harmful to you if you are exposed to sunlight.

SKIN CANCER PREVENTION:

Skin cancer is mostly avoidable if sensible precautions are taken. The following are preventive tips for reducing your risk of developing skin cancer:

*Stay in the shade between 11am and 3 pm, when the sun is at its strongest. UV radiation is at its most intense in the middle of the day between April and September, and is strongest closer to the equator and at higher altitudes.

*You can still get burned on cloudy days. UV rays reach the ground through the clouds.

*UV rays can also pass through water. Never assume you are safe from burning because you are in the water.

*Sand and snow reflect the UV rays. Be especially careful on the beach and in the snow.

*When in the sun, wear protective clothing. Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and long skirts offer the most protection. Dark colors are better than light colors. Tightly woven clothing protects better than loosely woven clothing.

*Always wear wide-brimmed hats that shade your face as much as possible.

*Always wear sunglasses. UV-blocking sunglasses can help protect your eyes from sun damage.

*Always apply sunscreen with a sun-protection factor (SPF) of 15 to 30 before spending time in the sun. When applying it, pay close attention to your face, ears, hands, and arms. Sunscreens should be reapplied at least every 2 hours and even more often if you are swimming or sweating. If you are also using insect repellent, make sure the sunscreen is applied first.

*Give yourself a self-exam every month for signs of skin cancer. Examine every inch of your body including your scalp. Use a mirror to expose the areas on the back of your body. Be aware of the moles you have in order to notice any changes that may occur.

To effectively prevent skin cancer, you must pay special attention to the risk factors and follow the precautionary tips that are listed above. Taking these steps will greatly decrease you and your family’s chances of developing skin cancer.

For the last decade or so Australians have been bombarded with information about the harmful effects of the sun, but it seems that we, along with others from all over the world, are still ignoring the advice and are continually exposing ourselves to not only the minor dangers but also the life-threatening concerns like skin cancer.

We all know that sunshine feels good; sometimes nothing invigorates you more than heading outside and feeling the warmth of the sun beating down on you. The one thing we all need to remember is that as in all things moderation and precaution are always wise.

Before you next head out to soak up the sun’s rays try to remember these points.

A suntan is not a sign of good health. It’s actually a sign that your skin has been damaged by the sun (ultraviolet radiation). When your skin is damaged by these rays melanin (the chemical responsible for skin colour) comes to the surface for protection against anymore harmful rays. Your skin becomes darker as more and more melanin is required for protection to help with the damage already caused.

The most dangerous type of skin cancer is the malignant melanoma, while not as common as other forms it can be fatal. At most risk are those with fair hair and skin, freckles, those who have difficulty tanning and tend to burn easily in the sun, and those with a family history. Though the good news is that if found early often melanomas can be easily and successfully treated.

Of course skin cancer is not the only problem caused by the sun. It can also cause premature ageing, wrinkles, dark spots (sometimes called age or liver spots) and rough or scaly patches of skin. It can also cause cataracts and other eye problems.

Another major point to remember is that ultraviolet radiation cannot be felt on your skin, so just because you don’t feel yourself burning doesn’t mean that you’re not. Ultraviolet radiation can damage your skin just as easily on an overcast day as what it can when the sky is clear.

Next time you plan on spending any amount of time outside, just remember to take a few precautionary steps. Not only should you use sunscreen, you should also keep yourself covered when possible and always wear a hat. As an often repeated commercial in Australia states: Slip, Slop and Slap – slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat. Try not to be in direct sunlight in the middle of the day as this is when the ultraviolet index is very high: if it’s necessary remember to Slip, Slop and Slap before going outside and to reapply if you’ve been swimming, have sweated a lot or towel dried your skin etc.

By keeping those few points in mind, along with finding shade when possible and wearing sunglasses, we should all be able to reap the benefits the sun can provide and not worry about the long term negative effects it might have.

The following headlines appeared in one publication of only thirty pages

• A Kinder, Gentler Form of Chemotherapy,

• Understanding the Full Spectrum of Cancer Support,

• The Use of Prolotyherapy in Pain Management,

• Cancer It Can Happen to You.

• Are You At Risk for Cancer—Find Out before it Happens Now. Why wait?

We are constantly bombard with all the illnesses the pharmaceutical industry has pills and potions for and some we haven’t heard of before. So, who has these mysterious illnesses? Maybe only a few people, but through the power of suggestion, many more people will have it soon and therefore, the pharmaceutical industry is ready for the pandemic.

Let me explain how the medical profession and pharmaceutical industry believes they can ‘cure’ cancer.

Conventional medicine practitioners find out that there is a burglar in the bedroom, so they throw a hand grenade in. The grenade not only kills the burglar, but destroys the bedroom and sometimes the entire house. Does that make sense? Well, that is exactly what oncologists do to ‘cure’ people of cancer.

The new cancer ‘cure’ buzz is Kinder, Gentler chemotherapy—known as IPT—Insulin Potentiation Therapy a modality for the administration of low dose chemotherapy that has been in use since the mid 1930’s. A IPT physician finds there is a burglar in the bedroom, so they inject some poison into a hungry mosquito and then send it into the bedroom. This theory strongly posits that it is important to keep the bedroom in tact. This theory also posits that even if the burglar escaped through the bedroom window, being bitten by the mosquito, the person will live longer. Does that make sense? Well, that is exactly what IPT physicians want you to believe.

What can one do? There is good news! There is a better more effective and long lasting choice. Healing the Mind, Body and Spirit.

As Louise Hay wrote in her book, Heal Your Body:

“Like anyone who has just been told they have cancer, I went into total panic. And yet, I knew that mental healing worked. Being aware that cancer comes from a pattern of deep resentment that is held for a long time, until it literally eats away at the body, I knew I had a lot of mental work to do. I realized that if I had the operation to get rid of the cancer and did not clear the mental pattern that created it, then the doctors would just keep cutting Louise until there was no more Louise to cut. If I had the operation and cleared the mental pattern that was causing the cancer, then the cancer would not return. When cancer or any other illness returns, I do not believe it is because the doctor did not ‘get it all out,’ but rather the patient has made no mental changes and so just recreates the same illness. I also knew if I could clear the mental pattern that created the condition called cancer, I would not need the doctor. So I bargained for time. The doctor grudgingly gave me three months, at the same time warning me that my life was endangered by the delay.”

“I immediately began to work with my own teacher to clear old patterns of resentment. Up to that time, I had not acknowledged that I harbored deep resentment. We are often so blind to our own patterns. A lot of forgiveness work was in order. The other thing I did was to go to a good nutritionist and completely detoxify my body. So between the mental and physical cleansing, in six months I was able to get the medical profession to agree with what I already knew; that I no longer had any form of cancer. Now when a client comes to me, no matter how dire their predicament seems to be, I know if they are willing to do the mental work of releasing and forgiving, almost anything can be healed. The words ‘incurable,’ which is so frightening to so many people, really only means that the particular condition cannot be cured by ‘outer’ methods and that we must go within to effect the healing. The condition came from nothing and will go back to nothing.”

Marco Ridomi wrote a poignant reminder about illness after his life threatening illness was healed—“You will never be healed of an illness if you focus on each and every detail of your disease’s degenerative process. Instead you need to find a way to ‘wipe the windows’ of your life; to clear the lens of the soul so that you may see and experience each living moment for what it is; and embrace it with trust and wonder.”

A Mind, Body, Spirit approach to healing physical illness is totally different from conventional treatment. Conventional treatment treats symptoms. A Mind, Body, Spirit approach treats the root-cause of the matter. Treating the root-cause offers a totally unique, profound and powerful experience that is tailored to each individual’s needs. The process begins with a look at every aspect of the person’s life—Spiritual, Physical, Financial, Career, Emotional, Mental, Social and Relationships. The Basic Principals to create the person’s ideal future self is reviewed and a Seven Step process for Creating the ideal future is tailored specifically for the person’s issues and needs. Healing emotional issues at the core addresses the all-important relationship to one’s true spiritual nature. Transforming the psychological conditional patterns and unconscious beliefs that arise from one’s personal histories and adaptations effectively transforms the mind, body and spirit. Thus, the person transforms how she/he feels, senses and experiences mass consciousness as well as one’s individual consciousness, like never before. A Mind, Body, Spirit approach addresses the three critical aspects of one’s being, therefore opening the door to true balance and emotional, physical and spiritual healing and well-being.

Well-being comes from the understanding of the Self, the family, the local community in which we live, and the global community of which we are a part. We are each one heart of the Whole; each heart here to express its unique piece of the Whole. Knowing Self creates a sense of “I as a piece of this Whole,” different and one at the same time.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the American population and the western world. Lung cancer use to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in American men only, but since 1988, women have caught up with men and since then lung cancer is leading cause of cancer deaths in women as well. Well over 170,000 cases of lung cancers are diagnosed in the United States each year. Very few fortunate ones get cured from this miserable disease. About 157,000 people die as the direct result of lung cancer.

The mortality related to lung cancer exceeds the combined mortality rates of second (breast cancer), third (prostate cancer), and fourth (colon cancer) leading causes of cancer death. How would we react if every day a Boing 747 crashes and all the passengers die? That’s what happens with lung cancer. About 430 people die every day from lung cancer.

Despite the high rates of cancer deaths, lung cancer receives much less attention compared to other cancers, especially breast cancer. Lung cancer research receives much less funding, and general public takes much less interest in lung cancer. Even though lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women, very little research and scientific progress occurs in the field of lung cancer.

It is estimated that about $1,723 per cancer deaths is spent on lung cancer research where as the corresponding figures for breast cancer ($13,953), prostate cancer ($10,3 and colorectal cancer (4,6 are much higher. It is interesting to note that the department of defense funds breast cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer but not lung cancer.

Part of the problem associated with lung cancer research funding is the fact that, there are not many lung cancer survivors to lobby for the cause of lung cancer. High mortality rates associated with lung cancer leaves very few survivors to fight for their cause, and even those fortunate survivors are not in very good health, since most of these survivors are patients who had undergone extensive lung resection.

There is also a stigma associated with lung cancer. Unlike many other types of cancers risk of lung cancer is very much linked with smoking. Many who deal with lung cancer patients and the patient himself think that the disease is the direct result of misbehavior. This fills a feeling of guilt on the lung cancer patients who tend to blame themselves. Also this acts against any fund-raising program aimed at lung cancer where people unconsciously feel that lung cancer is a disease that these patients brought on themselves.

More funding and research are urgently needed for lung cancer. We all have to join our hands to fight this miserable enemy of the human species.