Talk Cancer

Question:

IN    I have recently been diagnosed with cancer that INwill require chemotherapy.  I’ve been insulin dependant INsince childhood and am now 29.  I have been in pretty good health INconsidering, but I have a lot of fears on how I’m are going INto manage the diabetes and chemo.  I will be meeting with INthe doctors next week to discuss the first steps. IN  Can anyone give me advice on references, organizations, INweb sites, questions to ask and anything else that will INhelp me through this? I’m a Type II that just finished my last chemo. So I guess you can say "I been there and done that". I have several suggestions that should help you even though my experience with MY oncolgist was not good I think I have an idea of some of the questions/concerns that are running through your mind right now. I wish I had had more information BEFORE I started treatments. Suggestion #1 – Get a copy of "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" by Dr.                 Patrick Quillin. This book did MORE for me in                 understanding cancer and related nutrition issues than                 all the talking. The book also has a TERRIFIC receipe in                 it called the Dragon Slayer that will help you a LOT if                 you can’t eat either because of nausa or mouth sores. I                 had to QUIT taking my diabetes medication because the                 shake didn’t raise my BG high enough to use them and the                 shake was ALL I lived on for a week and I gained 5 Lbs.                 Obviously with you being a Type I you couldn’t do that                 but the point is the shake won’t increase your insulin                 need. It also has a ton of references in the back for                 further reading if you want. One of MY biggest problems                 was getting by the depression and feeling of total                 helplessness that comes with finding out you’ve got                 cancer. This book changed my ENTIRE outlook on the                 disease and helped me get through what the doctors were                 saying I HAD to do. Suggestion #2 – If you DO get mouth sores, forget their "magic                 mouthwash". Try Green Tea with or without lemon grass 4                 or 5 times a day. It will keep your mouth from hurting                 and help it heal at the same time. Suggestion #3 – Try the group SCI.MED.DISEASES.CANCER for a discussion                 of cancer and possible answer to some of your questions. Suggestion #4 – Make ABSOLUTELY sure you have a GOOD Oncolgist. Don’t                 assume he/she has all the answers much less the RIGHT                 answers. The first clue would be if they tell you to                 AVOID fresh foods and eat ANYTHING you want. I know 3                 younger Oncolgists in this area that MAY know chemical                 formulas but have NO bedside manner. They can’t even                 answer simple questions you typically have without                 getting "flustered" or starting an argument to get you                 to DO IT THEIR WAY OR ELSE without any questions.                 That’s NOT true of all of them but the ones I’ve dealt                 with up until my current doctor have left a VERY sour                 taste in my mouth. Even my family doctor shakes his head                 and doesn’t even attempt to defend their positions. The first step is to get a positive outlook. I don’t have all the answers anymore than anyone else but if you have some questions you want to run by me, feel free. Every persons cancer is different and has to be treated as such but YOU are in the drivers seat, the decisions are YOURS for the most part. Get a 2nd opinion if you think it will help. I shocked my Oncolgist and surgeon both by using my family doctor to get a 2nd opinion. From my standpoint HE was the ONLY one that had my entire HEALTH in mind and didn’t have what I call a pre-planned agenda. The rest of them just wanted me to do the surgery and chemo and radiation without any questions. BTW, I refused the radiation and had I read the book FIRST I MIGHT have refused the chemo. My only point is it IS YOUR decision on how far to take the treatments. Best Wishes I’ll keep you in my prayers Bill Ball —