Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Chemotherapy Treatments
By Patricia Kopp
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy cancer cells. These drugs often are called "anti-cancer" drugs. Your doctor will recommend an appropriate chemotherapy plan based on your medical history, type of cancer, extent of cancer, current state of health, and updated research.
Many people hear about chemotherapy from friends and family or read about it in books or brochures. What you hear and read can give you a general idea about chemotherapy treatments; however, all of the information may not apply to you and your specific situation. Before deciding to begin chemotherapy, you should ask your doctor questions that will help you understand treatment and what to expect during treatments.
Some of the important questions to ask your doctor are:
• Why do I need chemotherapy?
• What are the risks of chemotherapy?
• What are the benefits of chemotherapy?
• What do you hope the chemotherapy will do for me?
• What are the specifics of chemotherapy treatments in my case?
• Are there any other possible treatment methods for my type of cancer?
• What type of chemotherapy drugs will I be given?
• How will the chemotherapy drugs be given to me?
• How long will I be receiving chemotherapy treatments?
• How long will each treatment last?
• Who will give me the treatments?
• How will I feel during chemotherapy?
• What are the short term side effects of chemotherapy?
• Are there any long term side effects of chemotherapy?
• How soon can I expect any side effects to occur and how long will they last?
• What can I do to prepare for any side effects?
• Are there medicines available to help me manage any side effects I may have?
• Can I continue to work or go to school during treatment?
• Will I see a doctor at each treatment?
• Should I bring a family member or friend along to each treatment?
• Will I need someone to drive me to and from treatments?
• How will we know if the chemotherapy treatments are working?
• After I finish chemotherapy, what kind of follow-up care will I receive?
• What activities should I do or not do to take care of myself?
• Are there any clinical trials for my type of cancer?
• What other resources offer information and support for chemotherapy patients?
When you sit down and ask the doctor these important questions regarding chemotherapy, the following tips might help you keep track of the information you learn during visits with your doctor:
• Bring a friend or family member to sit with you while you talk with your doctor. This will help you understand what your doctor says during your visit and they can help refresh your memory afterward.
• Ask your doctor for printed information that is available on your specific type of cancer and treatment.
• Take notes during your appointment. If you need more time to write ask your doctor to talk slowly.
• You may want to ask if you can use a tape recorder during your visit. Take notes from the tape after the visit is finished. That way, you can review your conversation later as many times as you wish.
Chemotherapy is difficult for anyone to undertake but if you are prepared by knowing what to expect throughout the treatment you may be able to handle it better both physically and mentally.
Article by Patricia Kopp. Please visit our site [http://www.natural-cancer-cures.info/]http://www.natural-cancer-cures.info for information on natural cancer treatments. We also provide resources for [http://www.natural-cancer-cures.info/cancer-self-help-tips.html]cancer self help therapies.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Kopp http://EzineArticles.com/?Questions-To-Ask-Your-Doctor-About-Chemotherapy-Treatments&id=142757
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Natural cancer therapy supplement
Natural cancer therapy supplement by A team of Australia researchers have been able to boost the cancer attacking activity of immune cells using a natural dietary supplement called MC-S. The treatment appears to slow the progression of breast, bowel, melanoma and prostate cancers. Experts say this study is "significant". Advanced cancers are a devastating disease for which there is no effective long term treatment and the average life expectancy after diagnosis of the most serious form of the disease, stage four, is around nine months.
Though surgery or high doses of chemotherapy drugs are used to treat the cancer, which can reduce the size of tumours they also inhibit the body’s natural immune response and cannot prevent the disease recurring. The body’s immune system is the only thing that can control cancer cells from taking hold. The immune system that attacks cancer cells is a delicately balanced defence system; the number of cells, which recognise and attack foreign bodies such as tumour cells, are controlled by T-cells, their role is not only to destroy foreign cells, but to also prevent the immune system from turning on its self. National award winning researcher David Clark says, “MC-S could be of great benefit to people inflicted with cancer or an immune deficiency when used in conjunction with mainstream medical treatments”.
Research has shown that cancer patients using an immunoceutical such as MC-S with conventional medicines have survived longer than the median average life expectancy of a patient with stage three and four cancer and believes that, natural immuno-therapies that stimulate NK and T-cell activity may prove to be useful in all types of cancer treatment. Experts in this field say this study represents a fundamentally different approach to treating cancer.
Jeremy Dawes is the author of this article on Cancer Research. Find more information about Cancer Treatmenthere.
Article Source: http://www.article-library.net/Article/Natural-cancer-therapy-supplement/39017
Though surgery or high doses of chemotherapy drugs are used to treat the cancer, which can reduce the size of tumours they also inhibit the body’s natural immune response and cannot prevent the disease recurring. The body’s immune system is the only thing that can control cancer cells from taking hold. The immune system that attacks cancer cells is a delicately balanced defence system; the number of cells, which recognise and attack foreign bodies such as tumour cells, are controlled by T-cells, their role is not only to destroy foreign cells, but to also prevent the immune system from turning on its self. National award winning researcher David Clark says, “MC-S could be of great benefit to people inflicted with cancer or an immune deficiency when used in conjunction with mainstream medical treatments”.
Research has shown that cancer patients using an immunoceutical such as MC-S with conventional medicines have survived longer than the median average life expectancy of a patient with stage three and four cancer and believes that, natural immuno-therapies that stimulate NK and T-cell activity may prove to be useful in all types of cancer treatment. Experts in this field say this study represents a fundamentally different approach to treating cancer.
Jeremy Dawes is the author of this article on Cancer Research. Find more information about Cancer Treatmenthere.
Article Source: http://www.article-library.net/Article/Natural-cancer-therapy-supplement/39017
Monday, May 19, 2008
Announcing CleaningForCancer.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TEN YEAR OLD BRAIN TUMOR SURVIVOR SAYS ‘YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TO PAY TO HELP SICK PEOPLE’
Cleaning Companies Get A Guide To Setting Up Charity Cleaning Programs
Michigan City, IN May 20, 2008- CleaningForCancer.com announces the launch of their website which will offer a free to join directory and guide independent cleaning companies on setting up free cleaning programs for cancer patients, the terminally ill or parents of critically ill children.
CleaningForCancer.com provides interested cleaning businesses with a program guide, free webpage, marketing materials and a directory listing so they can better reach those in need in their communities. The website will open on May 29 and will be searchable for cancer patients to find companies in their area that provide free cleaning to those that need the extra support.
Ten year old Vee Caley, with assistance from her parents, will upload the homepage on the 29th before she leaves for a day of third grade. This day also marks the seven year anniversary of her brain tumor diagnosis. Vee is assisted by her parents, veterans of the contract cleaning and maintenance industries that now provide website and logo design services to cleaning companies. “Since she was recovering from her illness she has always wanted to find a way to bring cheer into the day of others who are coping with critical illness. She overheard her dad and I discussing an existing program that charges a fee for cleaning companies to clean for free. Vee voiced her opinion that you shouldn’t have to pay someone to help sick people and the ideas about what we could do to help just started rolling. Before we knew it we had a full blown program!” says Vee’s mother Christy Caley.
Vee says her next project is to put her recently adopted Yellow Lab thru Canine Good Citizen Training so that he can visit hospitals and make people smile the way volunteers brightened her day during hospitalization. For more information please visit www.cleaningforcancer.com or contact a member of the Caley family by emailing admin@CleaningForCancer.com
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