Understanding the Cancer Treatment Process

The cancer treatment process begins at diagnosis.

Treatment Plans: will depend on the physician's expert opinion based on the diagnosed tumor or metastasis (Tumor Types). There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for cancer. Treatment options include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and more, and in some cases a patient will require a combination to maximize the effectiveness of treatment. It is becoming increasingly common to engage a team of experts to provide the best treatment mix for certain patients; please see Multidisciplinary Care for more information. Each treatment has both benefits and side effects, and a patient's physician should discuss both in depth before proceeding. No matter the diagnosis and recommended treatment plan, it is always appropriate to seek a second opinion.

Chemotherapy: (colloquially known as chemo) is a treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Medical oncologists specialize in cancer treatment using drugs such as chemotherapy agents. The drugs can interfere with the growth of tumors, shrink or even eliminate the cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often an effective treatment however it can cause side effects because the drugs also affect healthy cells. Side effects often include nausea, vomiting and fatigue but can vary greatly in form and severity depending on the specific drug, cancer type and the individual's reaction. Many of the new chemotherapy drugs now available do not cause the same severity of side effects as the older drugs. Although the side effects are often unpleasant they are not related to the effectiveness of the treatment and generally go away after treatments are finished. Chemotherapy is usually prescribed in a specific number of cycles given over a period of time.

Surgery: involves the removal of cancerous tissue from the body. For some cancers, surgery is the primary treatment and can even provide a cure but it can also be used as a diagnostic tool. Most surgeries are performed in the hospital. The side effects and risks are varied depending on the type of surgery and the patient's health but the most common side effect is pain which is generally treatable.

 
Radiation Therapy: uses high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells. It is often used in conjunction with surgery to shrink tumours before the operation and to mitigate re-growth of cancerous cells post-operation. Radiation therapy can be given externally and internally. Although radiation therapy is a local treatment, it can still damage normal cells causing a range of side effects such as fatigue, swelling and alopecia. These short-term side effects go away after treatment but external-beam radiation can also cause serious long-term side effects such as infertility, neurologic and thyroid problems, and should be discussed thoroughly with a physician.

 
Hormone Therapy: fights cancer by changing the amount of hormones in the body to treat certain forms of cancer that rely on these chemicals to grow and spread. Hormone therapy is used for cancer of the prostate, breast and reproductive system, and the side-effects vary between men and women, and depending on the drug.

 
Immunotherapy: (or biologic therapy) stimulates the disease fighting mechanisms within the patient's body to fight cancer. Research is currently underway into developing and improving immunotherapies such as monoclonal antibodies, which are laboratory-produced substances that block specific protein functions by binding to cancer cells, and cancer vaccines, which train the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells. The side effects are generally flu-like symptoms.

Targeted Treatments: are drugs that target proteins that contribute to cancer, which in turn target cancer cells specifically, as opposed to systemic drug treatments like chemotherapy. Targeted treatments often have different side effects than chemotherapy which are also generally less severe. Many targeted treatments are still in development.

Adapted from the American Society for Clinical Oncology' s online resource centre Cancer.Net. Please visit Cancer.Net for the full text of this article and other useful patient and carer resources.

*The medical terms and definitions provided here are not intended to replace medical information provided by licensed medical professionals. Please contact your doctor if you require medical assistance.

Most Effective Natural Cancer Treatments

1. The Gerson Therapy and Juicing:

How the Gerson Therapy Works

The Gerson Therapy targets the most significant metabolic requirements in your body. How? Believe it or not, this therapy allows you to reap the nutritional benefits of consuming 15–20 pounds of organically grown fruits and vegetables each day! Here’s the breakdown:

• The Gerson Diet – Consisting of eating only organic fruits, vegetables and sprouted ancient grains, the Gerson Diet is exceptionally rich in vitamins, minerals and enzymes. It’s also very low in fats, proteins and sodium. The meal plan advises cancer patients to drink 13 glasses of freshly prepared juice, eat three plant-based meals, and only snack on fresh fruits each day. Also, the traditional Gerson Therapy recommends consuming raw beef liver since it is the most nutrient-dense food on the planet and extremely high in vitamin B12.

• Juicing – According to the Gerson Institute, “Fresh pressed juice from raw foods provides the easiest and most effective way of providing high quality nutrition.” The cancer-fighting protocol calls for patients to drink fresh vegetables each day, including raw carrots or apples and green-leaf juice. To preserve the nutritional content, the juice should be prepared hourly using a two-step juicer or a masticating juicer used with a separate hydraulic press. This helps prevent denaturation — when vitamins, minerals and enzymes are destroyed. (Most commercial juicers spin so fast that they heat up juice to the point they are basically pasteurized!)

• Detoxification – The Gerson Therapy utilizes coffee enemas as the primary method of detoxing the body by increasing the parasympathetic nervous system. For cancer patients, this may take up to five enemas each day. The importance of keeping the body free of toxins is stressed

The moment a patient is put on the full therapy, the combined effect of the food, the juices and the medication causes the immune system to attack and kill tumor tissue, besides working to flush out accumulated toxins from the body tissues. This great clearing-out procedure carries the risk of overburdening and poisoning the liver — the all-important organ of detoxification, which, in a cancer patient, is bound to be already damaged and debilitated.

• Supplements – The Gerson Therapy recommends the following organic medicinal therapies:
• Lugol’s solution
• Pancreatic enzymes
• Potassium compound
• Thyroid hormone
• Vitamin B12

2. The Budwig Protocol:

How the Budwig Protocol Works

When you replace deadly processed fats and oils with life-giving unsaturated/saturated fatty acids, your cells rebuild and are rejuvenated. Dr. Budwig found that consuming a mixture of cottage cheese, flaxseeds, and flaxseed oil had the best results.

When cottage cheese (which is rich in sulfur protein and saturated fats) and flax (which is high in electron-rich unsaturated fatty acids) are combined this way, your body is able to absorb these vital nutrients easier and quicker.

My “Beyond Budwig” Recipe

Because of the changes in agriculture, I suggest this updated 21st century version of the Budwig Protocol:

• 6 ounces cultured dairy (cottage cheese, goat’s milk kefir or amasai)
• 4 tablespoons sprouted and ground chia or flax
• 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Mix all the ingredients together in bowl or blender and consume once daily.

Home Remedies For Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is caused when the cells present in your

lungs start multiplying uncontrollably forming a tumor.

 This tumor can be very painful and can also expand to 

other body parts, leading to fatal consequences.It is a

 deadly disease and also the most common of all 

cancer forms. Such is the prevalence of this disease that,

 every week around 10000 people die of this condition.

 The number of deaths caused by lung cancer in our 

world is around 1.3 million every year, out of which 

around 3000 cases are result of passive smoking.

Lung Cancer Can Be Controlled By Home Remedies

The worst thing about lung cancer is that, there is no permanent cure for this condition and so, the patient has to resolve to chemotherapy and radiation therapies. These therapies are not only painful, but also do not guarantee a complete recovery. They have various side effects too and so, the patient has to go through a lot of mental and physical stress. But, thankfully there are some home remedies that can be of great help in this condition and help the patient combat side effects caused due to treatment of lung cancer and even help in curing this disease.

These home remedies are easily available at our homes. They are very effective in strengthening immune system of the patient. You can use them, but before that, you should definitely consult your doctor, as he/she is your best advisor, in this time of need. Also, as you know, smoking is the main causative agent for lung cancer, so don’t forget to improve your lifestyle and stay away from both, active and passive smoking.

Natural Remedies For Lung Cancer

Green Vegetables And Fruits

You should take a well balanced diet including sufficient amount of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, fibers and fats. For this purpose, you should include more of green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits in your diet. This would improve your digestive system and give boost to your immunity.These vegetables and fruits also help in preventing fatigue, diarrhea and other side effects of lung cancer and its treatment. Including carrots, papaya and other fruits containing vitamin A will strengthen your metabolism and immunity, while including fibers will improve your digestive system and prevent constipation.

Asparagus Juice 

Asparagus juice is also one of the most trusted home remedies for lung cancer. It has the potential to curb the possible side effects of cancer and heal the lung tissues. You can boil a bowl of asparagus roots in water for 10 minutes and then strain them. Consuming this water three times in a day can be very effective in combating lung cancer.

Ginger

Ginger is very effective in controlling nausea and so lung cancer patients should include it in their daily diet. It also cleans the impurities present in your blood and improves the health of your lungs.

Garlic

Garlic acts as a natural antibiotic and protects your body from external pathogens, which can attack as your body weakens due to cancer. It also gives strength to your immune system, which weakens in cancer and is one of the main reasons for spread of this disease. You can chew 2 cloves of raw garlic daily to get the maximum results, but if you are not able to bear the strong flavor of garlic, then you can also extract its sap and drink it daily.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has many medicinal properties and is also very effective against lung cancer. This vinegar added to an equal amount of baking soda can be taken at least twice daily, to improve the health of lungs and control the condition of cancer.

Bicarbonate And Maple Syrup Mixture

Many people claim that bicarbonate along with maple syrup is very effective home remedy for lung cancer. You can mix half teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in two teaspoons of maple syrup and consume it thrice every day. You can replace bicarbonate and maple syrup with lemon and honey also.

White Grape Juice

White grapes juice possesses great healing properties. It is very effective in healing the damage done to the lung tissues by cancer as well as radiation and chemotherapies.

You should preferably prepare this juice at your home from fresh white grapes and consume it twice daily

Fenugreek Tea

Drinking fenugreek tea, made from fenugreek seeds, can also be very helpful for the patients suffering from lung cancer. This tea helps in relaxing the lung muscles and relieves them from the pain.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus roots are very effective in the condition of lung cancer as they have very strong healing power.

They help in healing the lung tissues that have been damaged due to cancer. You can take its root in addition to liquorice root and marshmallows to improve the health of your lungs.

Take Enough Rest

Your body weakens due to lung cancer and this condition further deteriorates due to chemotherapy and radiation. So, it is very important that you give your body all the rest that it requires to rejuvenate. You should take minimum 8 to 10 hours of sleep daily and avoid very stressful exercises. Going on a walk daily and involving into other such activities can also be helpful, as they improve the immune system of your body.

You can use these home remedies to get relief, but it should not be forgotten that lung cancer has to be taken very seriously. You need to visit your doctor and start treatment immediately, as soon as you are diagnosed with this condition. If you are at the beginning stage in this disease, than you can expect great relief from these home remedies, but they are not bad for the advanced stages also.

So, if you are fighting lung cancer, take help from your doctor, follow the medical treatment and use these home remedies to make those treatments more effective and less painful. Also, don’t forget to bring the required changes in your lifestyle and stay away from both, active and passive smoking.