Rana (not real name, male) was 47 years old when he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Sometimes he had blood in his stools. This problem persisted for a few years. Like many people, Rana did not pay attention to what his body was trying to tell him. A blood test showed elevated CEA, at 21.2 . Later a colonoscopy indicated cancer and Rana underwent an operation to resect 26 cm of his bowel. The histopathology report dated 22 April 2004, indicated a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the rectum, involving fat with spread to pericolic lymph nodes (6/10). The resected surgical margins were free. The cancer was staged as Duke’s C.

Rana was asked to undergo chemotherapy but he declined. He decided to take herbs and change his diet instead. He has been on this alternative therapy for three years now. He claimed that he is even healthier now than before he had cancer. The results of his blood test reflected this wellbeing – all values were within normal range and his recent CEA was at 2.2 (compared to 21.1 at diagnosis).

I met up with Rana on 28 November 2006. Below are excerpts of our conversation.

Question: How did you get to know that you had cancer?

Answer: This is an interesting story. My brother-in-law was diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2003. He had his operation in the same month. Two months later, my late mother-in-law was also diagnosed with colon cancer and she was operated on in February 2004. I sometimes had to bring her to see her doctor for a follow-up check. While waiting in the doctor’s clinic, I saw posters about doing tests to find out about all these things. Out of curiosity I did my blood test. A week later they called me up saying that something was wrong – my CEA was 21.

Q: Okay, after your CEA was 21, what did you do?

A: As I have said earlier, my brother-in-law and later my late mother-in-law had cancer and they went to see the doctor in one private hospital. So, I also went to see the same gastrointestinal specialist. He did a colonoscopy and told me that I had cancer. The doctor told me that I should not wait any longer and said: “I have already notified the surgeon to stand by. You need to do the operation immediately.”

My wife was a bit angry because he did not even do a biopsy and yet he had already made a decision that it was cancer. Anyway, it was three days later that he called me and said: “I am afraid it is cancer.” Being ignorant, I did not panic or collapse. I just accepted the verdict. I was grateful that I was ignorant at that time. If I were to know too much, perhaps I would have reacted and took it differently. People say the moment you are diagnosed with cancer, it is a death certificate.

Q: After the diagnosis, I remember that you came to see me in Penang.

A: Yes, and you told me to go ahead with the surgery and after three weeks to start taking the herbs. Since then I have been on your herbs.

Q: After the operation, did they want you to go for chemotherapy?

A: Yes. A day before I was to be discharged, the surgeon came and said this: “I have good news and I have bad news for you. The good news is you don’t have to do radiotherapy. The bad news is you have to do chemotherapy. If you don’t do it the chances of your surviving for the next five years is 35 percent.” I asked the surgeon: “What happen if I do chemo?” He replied: “55 percent.”

Q: Then, you took herbs?

A: Yes, from April 2004. Chemotherapy — I didn’t think I could take it. Then based on trust, I wanted to try and do something different.
Wife: It has been two years plus now.

Q: Okay, as a person, how do you feel now?

A: I feel better now than I was before. I don’t have this tiredness. I also realized that if the stools are still inside, I feel uneasy — I feel heavy and it goes to the head. Now, I go to the toilet, may be 3 to 4 times a day — before it was 2 to 3 days once. I remember you telling me about the carrots. Since then, I take carrot juice every morning on an empty stomach.

Q: So, in terms of health, are you better off?

A: Yes, and I have gained weight too and with no meat in my diet!

Q: Now, in terms of your blood test results, is everything okay?

A: Yes, only once the ESR shot up to 12 after I came back from London. I was worried but you told me it could be due to stress, etc. Before that I did not believe that these would affect my health. I remember you telling me: “You are your own doctor. Your body will tell you if something is not right.” Anyway, now I do realize and do not accept the idea that I am already 100% cured. But I only know that the next day I can wake up and be thankful to God for this.

Q: Are you happy with what you are doing now and also happy with the herbs?

A: Of course, yes — no complaints.

Q: Do you feel more empowered now?

A: Yes. I am more careful and I know the risks. So when I travel I bring along with me all the herbs –Capsule A and then my boiling flask for my herbal teas. There was something I noticed. I was in Chiang Mai (northern Thailand) one time. I took only the capsule and not the teas. I felt something was wrong with my body. I did not go to the toilet as often. I was just different from before. I felt different and there was a difference!

Before the herbs, I had to see the doctor for flu, coughs and sore throat. These problems cropped up once every two or three months. But since taking the herbs, for two and half years now, I have not seen any doctor. No, I don’t have to see any doctor.

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in United States. It is estimated that about 108,070 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in 2008. The lifetime risk for developing is about 1 in 19. This risk is slightly higher in men than women. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in US for about 50,000 deaths during 2008. There are some risk factors for colon cancer: age (90% are older than 50), personal and family history, inherited genetic, racial and ethnic background, types of diets (high in red , processed meats and animal fat), obesity, smoking, type 2 diabetes. No wonder that healthy colon is becoming a major concern in our society even if colon cancer has been dropping in the last 20 years. The question is: can colon cancer be prevented. For sure, it can.

COLON CANCER PREVENTIVE ACTIONS

It’s so amazing how many health problems could be eliminated when you have an healthy colon and amazing also it can now be to keep your colon clean. But a colon that is not healthy and clean can present dangerous health problems. When your colon is clean and is working properly, your overall health can improve because your body’s organs can get the proper nutrients to function. When the partly digested food enters the colon from the small intestine, the colon removes water and nutrients from the food and turns the rest into waste (stool). If your colon is clogged with fermented feces it could block beneficial nutrients from entering your system. Moreover, the fecal matter could seep into your bloodstream and deliver toxins to every organ in your body, killing you slowly.

If you have digestive problems, fatigue, weight gain, bowel and stomach problems, bloating, diarrhea, arthritis, flatulence and IBS, chronic constipation, blame your colon. The solution of those problems could very well be HEALTHY COLON. Hippocrates, founder of modern medicine, said: “Colon toxicity is the common denominator of all disease,” Now, to solve those problems above, people relied upon over-the counter remedies that provide short-term relief and upset the natural balance of bacteria and enzymes that is essential to a normally functioning digestive system impairing your body’s ability to break down foods, Most of those products like laxatives and antacids are for short-term use. The real lifelong, lasting solution is a clean, properly working colon. For sure, colon cancer can be prevented with natural, plant-based ingredients, as suggested below, that help clean your colon. You could feel fast relief, and your relief could last and last. Take action now for healthier and longer life.

Treatment of Stage 0 Colon Cancer

Treatment of Stage 0 colon cancer (carcinoma in situ) may include the following types of surgery:

· Local excision, which is surgery to remove the colon cancer without cutting through the abdominal wall.

· A polypectomy, which is surgery to remove the colon cancer from the bulging piece of tissue.

· Resection/anastomosis, which is surgery that removes the colon cancer by taking out a section of the colon and rejoining the cut ends of the colon. This procedure is done when the cancerous tissue is too large to remove by local excision.

Treatment of Stage I Colon Cancer

Treatment of Stage I colon cancer is usually resection/anastomosis (removal of colon cancer by joining the cut ends of the colon) because the cancerous tissue is usually too large at this stage to be removed by local excision.

Treatment of Stage II Colon Cancer

Treatment of Stage II colon cancer may include the following:

· Resection/anastomosis

· Clinical trials of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or biological therapy after surgery

Treatment of Stage III Colon Cancer

Treatment of Stage III colon cancer may include the following:

· Resection/anastomosis with or without chemotherapy.

· Clinical trials of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or biological therapy after surgery.

Treatment of Stage IV Colon Cancer

Treatment of Stage IV colon cancer may include the following:

· Resection/anastomosis

· Surgery to remove parts of other organs such as the liver, lungs, and ovaries where the cancer may have spread.

· Chemotherapy.

· Clinical trials of chemotherapy or biological therapy.

· Radiation therapy may be offered to some patients as palliative therapy (to relieve symptoms).

Treatment of Recurrent Colon Cancer or Cancerous Cells

Treatment of recurrent colon cancer depends on where the cancer has recurred (come back) and the general health of the patient. Treatment for recurrent colon cancer may include the following:

· Surgery to remove cancer that may have spread to the liver, lungs, or ovaries.

· Surgery to remove cancer cells that have recurred in the colon.

· Radiation therapy as palliative therapy.

· Chemotherapy as palliative therapy.

· Clinical trials of biological therapy or chemotherapy.

This article will tackle the cause of two pandemic forms of cancer, cancer of the prostate and colon cancer. Scientists have determined that prostate cancer is an epidemic so vast that nearly one autopsy in two of older men reveals the presence of this cancer. Fortunately, this cancer is usually so slow growing that most men die of other causes, even as the cancer grows slowly within the prostate gland. Yet deaths by prostate cancer and the debilitating effects of prostate surgery still affect thousands of families today. In addition, nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate afflicts millions of American men with such symptoms as painful and frequent urination. As a therapist who specializes in discovering the underlying causes of disease, I have discovered, once again, the reasons for this pandemic can be found in the cultural habits of our society.

First, let’s ask the obvious question: what is the prostate’s job in a healthy individual? Although prostate conditions including cancer usually show up as problems with urination, the prostate gland is mainly about sex. The prostate’s job is to mix sperm with its own liquid secretions to produce semen, then through contractions associated with male orgasm, it propels this semen into the penis. When I have worked with men who have any prostrate condition I nearly always find that these men feel subconsciously frustrated and often guilty about their sexual behavior. Each case has unique elements. Therefore I will not claim that it is always one particular feeling or trauma. But my experience is that it always is about sex.

One client feels guilty about years of being unfaithful to his wives. Another feels remorse over years of visiting prostitutes, and having meaningless sex. Still another feels badly that he had sex with a wife he didn’t really love. So far I have not met any man whose prostate is complaining because it didn’t get enough sex. While I can’t rule out this possibility, it seems that wasting of one’s procreative life force is the issue which is locked into the prostates of most of my clients. (Incidentally, I always use open ended questions, and never use direct suggestion or leading questions in my work with cancer patients in order to minimize the influence of my own beliefs on the subconscious minds of my clients. In addition, when I began this research, I had no clue as to what might be found in the prostates of my clients)

This discovery of loose sexual behavior among the vast majority of my prostate clients is consistent with the “sexual revolution” of the 1970s, in which sex went from being a form of recreation reserved exclusively for married couples, at least theoretically, to becoming a free for all. The Playboy philosophy, birth control, and the hippie and women’s lib movements combined to create unprecedented opportunities for men and women alike to spread their seeds to the four winds. While I too had the chance to celebrate and enjoy this new freedom, it is our prostate glands, concerned with such “obsolete” concepts as romantic love, families, and children that I have discovered are in rebellion among so many men today.

As a hypnotherapist it is my job to listen to this prostate gland in a way that the client has never done. Indeed most clients are shocked to discover this throwback to conservative values living inside their bodies. Sometimes tears of remorse, dedication to a new lifestyle, even acts of atonement performed for women can help heal this condition. At other times, committing oneself to seeking a loving partner, even to reaching out to ones lost or grown children has proved valuable. I really don’t know what my client’s prostate needs to heal itself … but fortunately that prostate always does.

Another kind of cancer epidemic is colon cancer. Well, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the why of this epidemic either. We know that the colon is the place where waste is produced, and the water we need is pulled out. I have occasionally found unprocessed waste emotions in the colon, including anger, of which the client is often in denial. One client of mine who suffered severe ulcerative colitis screamed at me in a purple faced rage “Damn it! I am NOT angry!!” when I attempted to point out, very politely, what I was feeling from him. Even residual traumas from toilet training can be found in there sometimes.

But the culturally common causes of colon cancer I have found is connected to the diet and lifestyle choices pursued by most Americans. All of these eating habits have been scientifically proven to have debilitating effects on the colon: large amounts of animal fat in the diet, too much melted cheese and white flour products, all of which stick like glue to the colon walls, where they rot and produce inflammation, too little vegetable fiber, including the raw roughage like lettuce and carrots that clean the colon like a bottle brush, and too little water. (okay, how many of you really drink the 8 glasses a day minimum recommended by doctors?) Also critically dangerous to the colon is our lifestyle choice of sitting for most of every day on our sedentary butts. Remember that as a species homo sapiens evolved to spend many hours every day in physical movement.

So any proposed solution to this epidemic requires a radical revision of our diet and lifestyle. Fortunately the services of a clinical nutritionist and hypnotherapist can be combined to make the transition to a healthy diet and lifestyle much easier. Hypnosis can help build motivation for exercise and can help strengthen our new dietary choices. It can also help uncover and heal the emotions that are stored in the colon. Combined with the latest in medical treatments, such methods offer far more promise for recovery than we could have hoped for 20 years ago.

Colorectal cancer is a life-threatening disease which requires immediate medical intervention. Statistics indicate that colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer diagnosed in the United States each year. Although colorectal cancer predominantly affects the elderly, the disease can also affect young adults and even children. Oncologists sustain that early diagnosis of colorectal cancer plays a major role in overcoming the disease, as prompt medical intervention considerably increases patients’ life expectancy. Thanks to medical advance, doctors can nowadays rely on various modern techniques for diagnosing colorectal cancer. Common methods used for revealing early signs of colorectal cancer are barium enemas, colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy.

Sigmoidoscopy is one of the most reliable medical procedures used in diagnosing colorectal cancer in present. Through the means of sigmoidoscopy, oncologists are able to timely detect signs of physiological abnormalities at the level of the colon. Sigmoidoscopy can be either performed with an immobile or a flexible scope, depending on the segments of the colon that require screening. However, due to the fact that rigid sigmoidoscopy provides limited visibility, doctors usually prefer using a flexible scope instead. In addition, flexible sigmoidoscopy is less likely to cause discomfort to patients. Flexible sigmoidoscopy involves using a 60-cm scope that can easily detect cancerous colonic polyps, tumors or adenomas situated in various regions of the large bowel.

Sigmoidoscopy is primarily recommended for patients that present no clear symptoms of colorectal cancer. The procedure involves very few risks and it is well tolerated by most patients. Post-sigmoidoscopy symptoms are usually mild and disappear completely within a few hours or days. Such symptoms may include abdominal pain and bloating, internal discomfort and rarely, minor rectal injuries.

Although sigmoidoscopy is a simple procedure, it is important to note that it may not be appropriate for some patients. Sigmoidoscopy is not recommended to people who have suffered bowel surgery, people with acute peritonitis or people with acute diverticulitis. In some cases, the procedure may also be contraindicated for people who have recently suffered abdominal surgery.

Before receiving an examination with the sigmoidoscope, patients are administered bisacodyl and magnesium citrate. Combined with enemas, these medications are used for preparing the large bowel for sigmoidoscopy. The preparation treatment for sigmoidoscopy is very important for increasing the visibility inside the bowel. The actual procedure is very quick and it generally causes minimal discomfort to patients. Post-sigmoidoscopy complications are also very rare.

Corroborated with colonoscopy screening and barium enemas, sigmoidoscopy is very effective in timely spotting traces of malignant activity at the level of the large bowel. Since it has been introduced in the process of diagnosing colorectal cancers, sigmoidoscopy has considerably decreased patients’ mortality rate.

You have just left your doctor’s office, where you got the news that you have colon cancer. The doctor is recommending that you have colon cancer surgery to remove it. Though he went over the surgery in his office, if you are like most of us, your mind started to wander to other concerns that you have. It may be possible that the jargon the doctor used just wasn’t making sense at the time. Now you are ready to understand what you are going to go through.

We can start with the basics. I like to know what to expect through the whole process, so that is the information that I am going to give you. You will stay in the hospital over night. After surgery you need to know that it takes time to heal and completely recover from the colon cancer surgery. Much like it does after any major surgery. You can expect to be uncomfortable during your first few days; this is normal and a typical complaint by most.

The most common “side effect” after colon cancer surgery is fatigue. You are going to be tired and weak. This is normal, and you need to give yourself time to heal and recover. The surgery has also been known to cause constipation or diarrhea. Your health care team at the hospital will be watching you for signs of bleeding, infection or other problems that may require immediate treatment.

Colon cancer surgery is the most common treatment for colon cancer. During the surgery the tumor that you have is going to be removed. Along with that the surgeon will take a small piece of the healthy tissue around the tumor and the adjacent lymph nodes. In most cases, then the surgeon will reconnect the healthy parts of the bowel.

The exception to this is if your cancer includes the rectum. If it does, then the surgeon will remove the rectum and create an opening in the abdomen wall. This opening is called a colostomy. It is through this created hole that solid waste in the colon will then leave the body. There are specialty nurses that will help you adjust to having a colostomy, so you will not be on your own. More often then not, a colostomy is not permanent. It is only needed until healing takes place. Also realize that most patients with colostomies do return to a normal lifestyle.

Depending on when your cancer was detected will determine if you will need radiation or chemotherapy. I am sure that what you really want to know is what the prognosis is. If I go through all this will I survive. Without a crystal ball it is impossible for anyone to give you a definite answer. You need to understand that from the outset. What I can tell you is that the long term prognosis after you have colon cancer surgery will depend on if the cancer spread to any other organs in your body. Usually, the best prognosis comes when the cancer is detected early. Surgery is often the only reasonable treatment and those patients tend to have a long term survival. More then 80% exceed the five year survival rate. Unfortunately the farther advanced the cancer the lower the percentage rate is. Medicine is not an exact science in the fact that we can not predict with precision a prognosis on an individual basis. You survival rate is significantly greater with the surgery then without it.

Talk to your doctor and your family. Make a plan and make sure that you have all the information that you need to be comfortable. Healing takes time, let yourself rest and heal properly.

]]> http://www.coloncancerall.com/facing-the-possibility-of-colon-cancer-surgery/feed http://www.coloncancerall.com/colon-cancer-awareness-ribbon-and-pins http://www.coloncancerall.com/colon-cancer-awareness-ribbon-and-pins#comments Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:22:24 +0000 http://www.coloncancerall.com/?p=158

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, and many people will choose to wear a ribbon pin during that time to raise awareness about this devastating disease. There are several things to consider when purchasing a cause ribbon.

The Colon Cancer cause ribbon actually has two colors associated with it. The primary color is topaz brown; however, an alternate color of cobalt blue has emerged through the years. While the choice is completely one of personal taste, it should be noted that cobalt blue is also the recognized color for Child Abuse awareness.

The style of ribbon is also a question of personal taste. Many people simply choose to use a piece of fabric ribbon from a spool and affix it with either a straight pin or safety pin. However, if a more permanent form of expression is desired, then there’s no substitute for a jewelry ribbon with enameled color.

While a plain ribbon is fine, a second element can bring an entirely new depth of meaning to the ribbon. For example, when an angel is added to the ribbon, it conveys a message of hope, love, and protection. An angel is especially appropriate for the person battling cancer who wants a positive affirmation of comfort and empowerment.

While an angel cause ribbon is perfect for ladies, men may prefer an icon they consider to be less feminine. The star is perfect for the gentleman who wants to wear an awareness ribbon that’s just a bit different from the rest. Like an angel, a star also conveys a message of hope.Awareness ribbon enameled pins are a great way to bring the fight against cancer to the forefront. When the ribbon is enhanced with an angel or star, the message becomes even more special!

“I have great respect for western medicine — but for cancer, I don’t have much confidence in western medicine. The end results were not encouraging, in fact many cases ended up in disaster. I wanted to try the herbs. I knew I was not hopeless or helpless.” These were words of Dr. Daniel (not real name), a member of the medical profession.

Daniel came from a family of 11 siblings but currently only two of them (he and his younger brother) are still alive, the rest passed away. Three of his brothers and a sister had cancer.

In September 2003, Daniel started to have “stomach winds.” He lost weight and his bowel habits changed. He brushed off this problem as insignificant and took “deworming” medication, hoping that the problem would go away. Unfortunately the problem became more serious. He came to seek our help in March 2004, and was started on herbs besides changing to a healthy diet. His health improved and he has been on this healing path for the past three years.

Being medically trained, we find it strange that from the beginning he flatly refused to seek medical help, even declining to go for a colonoscopy or blood test.

On 9 November 2006, we had a frank talk with Dr. Daniel. The following are excerpts of our conversation.

Question: How old are you now?

Answer by Daniel: I am now 75 years plus.

Q: Could you tell us how your problem started?

A: Basically my blood pressure was okay — 120/80 or sometimes 110/70. Both my sugar and cholesterol levels were okay too. Before my retirement (from a government job, heading a division in the health services) I could eat anything I liked. I ate but I did not put on weight. When I was about 70 / 71 years old, I found it a bit hard to sleep. When I was 72 years old (that is 3 years ago), I started to have stomach problem. It was like indigestion and winds. In the beginning the problem was not so bad. On certain days I was alright but on certain days I had winds. My stools were either loose or watery and sometimes foamy.

Q: Any blood?

A: No, blood — so far no blood.

Q: Basically, your bowel movements and habits changed?

A: Yes, before that it was natural although sometimes I had constipation.

Q: How often did you have this stomach winds?

A: From March 2004 onwards the winds became more frequent and that was the time I came to see you. Actually from September 2003, I already started to have winds but it was not so bad, even though it was not like before. In the earlier years I could eat anything I like. I liked to go for hawkers’ food. But in September 2003, my problem started. Before this time I had no problem taking any kind of food — there was no wind problem.

Q: You said at the beginning it was not bad, but in March 2004, it became more serious?

A: From March 2004, the problem became more often. Sometimes, I would have diarrhea for the whole day. Then I was okay for a day or two and then had diarrhea again.

Q: In March 2004, you said you did not feel good — what did you do then?

Wife: He came to see you but the daughter (who is a medical specialist) told him to go for a scope.
A: I talked to my daughter about this problem. She asked me to go for a colonoscopy and see what could be the problem. It could be due to polyps. I did not want to do that. I knew about your herbs, since many people have been coming to see you and it seemed the herbs helped. So I came to see you but I did not tell my daughter about this.

Q: Did you do any blood test?

A: So far, only once. At first my daughter suspected the problem was due to worms because the eosinophil was elevated — which could indicate worm infection. I took deworming medication but the problem persisted. So when I came to see you, you gave me Capsule A, GI 1 and GI 2.

Q: Knowing that you were medically trained and so was your daughter — now that you have encountered a problem like this which is not a good sign — by right, it is good to go for medical treatment, for example a colonoscopy, etc., etc. But you declined to do all these. Tell us frankly and honestly, the reasons why you did not want to go and see the doctors?

A: It was not because I didn’t want to do it. I have heard about your herbal treatment and also some cases of recovery and the results were encouraging. On the other hand, in western medicine for cancer — for other diseases it is different, I have great respect for western medicine — as far as I can see it, so many cases the end results were not encouraging, in fact many cases ended up in disaster, even after going through those treatment like chemotherapy. Because of that I wanted to try the herbs and may be it will work for me.

Q: Before you knew us and had seen what we have done, did you ever believe in the herbs?

A: No, never. I would go for western medicine. But based on my experience with my brothers, they died of cancer. Then, I had a cousin who was a retired matron of a hospital. She too died of cancer after undergoing two operations for her colon cancer and had chemotherapy. So as for cancer, I didn’t have much confidence in western medicine.

Q: In March 2004, you came to us and were started on the herbs. Now it is November 2006 – it has been 2 years and 8 months now.

Wife: Yes and he is as strong as before.
A: Yes, I feel good. I can now take more kinds of food without any problem. My appetite is better.

Q: Taking every thing together, after being on the herbs for 2 plus years, are you better off or worse off?

A: Yes, I am better off. My stamina is better. I can swim — like breast strokes, even one mile would be no problem.
Wife: He can swim non-stop!
Q: In September 2003, when you started to have this problem, could you swim like that?

A: I could also swim but the stamina was not that good.

Q: What about your weight?

A: It has increased by 1 to 2 pounds since the past two plus years. There was no loss in weight. Between September 2003 and March 2004 (before taking the herbs) I was losing weight, besides my stamina was going down.

Comments: Gurdjieff wrote: “The wise man is not educated, and the educated man is not wise.” This saying seems to be often true in life. It would be wonderful indeed if the educated man is also wise — it makes the world a better place to live in! In this story, Dr. Daniel is an educated man and he is also a wise man — and the result? He made a sensible decision that perhaps had “saved” his life.

Dr. Daniel is schooled in the medical tradition. He was taught that a drug has to undergo a placebo-controlled double blind clinical study before evidence of efficacy is acceptable. Anything short of this requirement is “bunked off” as unacceptable or quackery. Anecdotal evidence, no matter how true and relevant, is never acceptable or taken seriously as evidence. Perhaps such hard-line thinking only belongs to the educated man? For him to defend the “turf” or protect his “rice bowl”?

Dr. Daniel saw for himself what had happened to his loved ones after they had undergone treatment for their cancers using the so-called FDA-approved and “proven” drugs. Yet they died. When his turn came to make a decision about his own treatment, Dr. Daniel did not have confidence in modern medicine! He relied on his own wisdom and saw for himself what was going around him. He said: “I have heard about your herbal treatment and also some cases of recovery and the results were encouraging. On the other hand, in western medicine for cancer – as far as I can see it, for so many cases the end results were not encouraging, in fact many cases ended up in disaster. Because of that I wanted to try the herbs and may be it will work for me.” In short, Dr. Daniel believed in anecdotal evidence.

I read a news report somewhere, sometime ago, about an oncologist in a renowned hospital in the US, who started to advocate complementary therapy for his patients after his wife who had breast cancer benefited from such unorthodox therapy. Indeed, personal experience makes a wise man. I tend to wonder if those hard-line proponents of this double blind study ever have their own loved ones suffering from cancer. If they do, after the “battle”, I wonder if they ever reflect and question the rationale of what is going on. Is there any wisdom in what is being done? There is a saying: “None are so blind as those who have eyes and see not, and none are so deaf as those who have ears and hear not.”

In this part of the world I am living in, colorectal cancer patients are often told that they must undergo chemotherapy (sometimes even radiotherapy) after their surgery, otherwise they would die. That is the perception being “cultivated” here. However, after reading medical literature on this issue, it came as a shock to know that one does not necessarily have to die if one does not undergo chemotherapy. The perception I had then was without chemotherapy, colon cancer patients would die — if not all of them, at least a great majority of them. But research data does not support that perception. Let me highlight two research papers for your reading.

Dr. Charles Moertel and colleagues of the famed Mayo Clinic, advocated the use of 5-FU + levamisole for colorectal patients. They showed that this concoction is more effective than using 5-FU alone. Based on the data of 929 patients with Stage 3 colon cancer, they presented their report in the Annals of Internal Medicine, 1 March 1995, Volume 122: 321-326 ( Fluorouracil plus Levamisole as Effective Adjuvant Therapy after Resection of Stage III Colon Carcinoma: A Final Report) as follows:

1. Out of the 315 patients who did not receive chemotherapy 177 of them, i.e. 56 %, suffered recurrence.

2. Out of the 304 patients who received chemotherapy, only 119 or 39 %, suffered recurrence.

3. Out of the 315 patients who did not receive chemotherapy 168 of them, i.e. 53.3 %, died.

4. Out of the 304 patients who received chemotherapy 121 or 39.8 %, died.

5. The side effects of fluorouracil plus levamisole were: nausea, infrequent vomiting, stomatitis, diarrhea, dermatitis, fatigue, occasional mild alopecia and neurotoxicity.

6. Approximately half of the patients had hematologic depression that was usually limited to mild leukopenia.

7. Forty percent of patients had abnormal liver function test results during the course of the therapy. Their toxicity were reflected in elevated alkaline phosphatase levels (which peaked approximately 7 months after onset of therapy), elevated aminotransferase (AST) levels, and elevated serum bilirubin besides causing fatty liver.

From the above data it is clear that chemotherapy reduced recurrence by 17 % and reduced death by 13.5 % but not without side effects which are often brushed off as insignificant.

Similarly Wolmark et al. (Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy or BCG for colon cancer: results from NSABP protocol C-01. J. National Cancer Inst. 1988. Vol: 80:30-36), showed that a mixture of 5-FU + semustine + vincristine also did a good job. Let us look at the data presented below:

A total of 1,166 patients who had undergone surgery for Duke’s B and C colon cancer were divided into 3 groups and given the specified treatments. The results of the study were as follows:

1. 59% of those who underwent surgery only (as control group) survived after 5 years.

2. 67% of those who received 5-FU + semutine + vincristine survived after 5 years.

The results demonstrate that the use of 5-FU + semustine + vincristine after surgery for Duke’s B and C colon cancer provided higher rates of 5-year survival. Leukemia has been observed in 3 of 479 patients who had received semustine.

Take note that the REAL benefit of chemotherapy in this study can be seen in 8 % of patients only. Also after 5 years, 59% of patients were still alive even without chemotherapy. The question we may want to ask is: “what if they had undergone chemotherapy?” I expect almost all or a great majority of them to be alive at the end of five years. No, the data shows only 67% of them survived. This is another shocking truth — even if one were to undergo chemotherapy, research shows that 33% of patients still die from colon cancer.

One doctor told his patient that taking herbs and getting well is a matter of luck. Now, what about chemotherapy? Chemo-patients probably need just as much luck?

The difference of five-year survival between chemotherapy and no chemotherapy group is only 8% or 13.5 % (based on work in Mayo Clinic). Chemotherapy is proven to be beneficial by only a slim margin. Indeed, from the academic point of view, the result is statistically significant. This would please the statisticians and the scientists, but I am not sure if it pleases cancer patients at all. I believe this is not what patients (especially those in the poor developing country) are looking for. They are seeking for a REAL cure (not a MEDISAL CURE either!). If this is not possible, at least they expect a much greater chance of achieving it. I wonder if 8 % or 13.5 % benefit is good enough?

Chemotherapy causes severe side effects in most patients. It is not like an “ant-bite” as one oncologist would tell some patients. With only 8 % or 13.5 % difference, is it worth the gamble?

One question comes to mind: Can this slim margin of 8 % or 13.5 % not be achieved by some other non-invasive or non-toxic means? For example, does it ever occur to people that by just a change of diet or taking of herbs, perhaps we can also increase our chances of healing colorectal cancer and the result could be better than chemotherapy? In my future articles I shall present various case studies to show that indeed this hypothesis is valid and has merit — herbs and change of diet and lifestyle can prolong meaningful survival better than chemotherapy!

A recent study showed that taking aspirin could in fact reduce your risk of getting colon cancer. Although the study only involved data taking from a sampling of women, it appears that aspirin may possibly prevent colon cancer, or so they say? Aspirin is over 100-years old and appears to cure lots of things, yet many were shocked to learn of this latest finding, still other completely doubt the study. The study showed that people who already had polyps maybe able to prevent the onset of colon cancer thru regular use of aspirin. The researchers went on to extrapolate that it could help those without polyps from getting one in the first place.

Now several articles in major Medical Journals are showing that if you took aspirin for a decade 1-2 per week, it would reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by a large margin over those who did not take aspirin regularly. Some of the researchers in near by fields were not surprised while other totally doubted the findings as hogwash. They are saying that any anti-inflammatory drug may have done the same and would certainly help to keep removed polyps from returning, thus reduce the risk of cancer. The study indicated that 14 aspirins per week or 2 every day would reduce the chances of colon cancer by nearly one-third. Those who took even more are said to reduce colon cancer by over 50 percentiles. Of course taking that many aspirins is not good for you, over use of aspirin can cause bleeding. So although the study appears to be a wash for many belief systems of cancer researchers, the evidence is notable and very telling. All this research is helping us fight some of the more serious forms of cancer killers. Think on this and live strong.