Nobody enjoys going to get a flu shot, but we do expect that if we want one, getting in line for it should simply be a matter of showing up for the event. But what if that was not the case? What if you discovered that you were actually turned away from an inoculation center because you did not fit a predefined “profile” for who is eligible to receive a shot?

Ironically, in a year in which a pandemic strain is circling the globe, this is a very real possibility. Right now we know for certain that swine flu vaccines will be in short supply until sometime in 2010. That means not everyone can be vaccinated against the new pandemic virus. Continue reading ‘Will You Be Denied The Swine Flu Shot?’ »

If I had been diagnosed with your cancer 20 years ago I would have accepted any treatment recommended by my doctors because after all they are the experts. However today that is not so and that’s because of one simple reason, knowledge. The study of cancer has taught me many facts which of course I was ignorant of back then. I have learnt why we only have those 3 treatments of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, I have learnt of the ineffectiveness of those 3 treatments, I have learnt who controls the cancer industry and I have learnt there are other, better ways to overcome all cancers.

Now days being 20 years wiser if I was diagnosed with cancer I would apply a little common sense and ask myself a few questions, for instance why did I get cancer in the first place and if I get it surgically removed what’s going to stop it from growing back again since surgery doesn’t address that. Also does it make any sense to use nuclear radiation to burn it out or a poison as in chemotherapy to try and remove it which also won’t stop it coming back. People today accept those treatments because they believe they are the only ways to cure cancer.

One of the first facts I learnt about cancer is, when it is first diagnosed it is in its primary state and nobody ever dies from primary cancer. It’s secondary cancer, cancer that has shifted to another location that kills, so as long as it doesn’t spread I’m not going to die. To make sure my cancer doesn’t spread means addressing the root cause or the prime reason why it first appeared and not just remove the problem which is the unwanted growths and that’s all our orthodox medical system is doing. Continue reading ‘What treatment would I have if I had your Cancer?’ »

When most people think about the prospect of a severe pandemic visiting their neck of the woods, it is the fear of becoming infected that scares them. In the case of a flu strain that kills as efficiently as the one that circled the world in 1918, the prospect is hardly a comforting one. In the case of blue collar workers it is believed that in some U.S. communities the mortality rate for those infected was as high as 10 percent. In more epidemiologically isolated communities, like the Inuit Eskimo tribes of Alaska, the mortality rate reached 90 percent and virtually wiped those communities off the map.

Less widely appreciated is that a pandemic need not even reach your door in order to be able to kill you or a family member. During a severe pandemic you could literally starve to death while never having come in close contact with the virus. This is just one of the conclusions I reached after reading which will have you rethinking just how much you really understand about your own place in the world. Because it turns out that we are a lot more delicately positioned than we like to believe. Continue reading ‘You Can Avoid Infection And A Pandemic Can Still Kill You’ »

More than 60,000 American women are diagnosed with DCIS annually. For those unfamiliar with the term, and I was too until I was diagnosed with it in 1999, DCIS stands for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, which is a growth of malignant cells inside the milk ducts of the breast. Some doctors call it a pre-cancer, while others say that it’s the earliest stage of cancer.

I don’t know for sure, but I imagine if you’re reading this article you personally or someone in your life has been diagnosed with DCIS and you’re wondering what kind of treatment is best, given that it’s labeled a pre-cancer or early stage cancer. Should you choose treatment that is as aggressive as that prescribed for aggressive cancers, or people with large tumors?

As I am not an oncologist, but a 10-year cancer survivor, I am not in a position to give you any advice. But your questions are ones the medical profession has been asking itself lately as well. Susan Reed, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center recently served on an expert panel on DCIS in September, 2009 at the National Institutes of Health. Reed was quoted as saying that the medical profession is asking women to make decisions that are crucial to their lives, without a lot of hard evidence. Continue reading ‘DCIS Diagnosis – Does This Cancer Diagnosis Require the Rigorous Treatment Used For Other Cancers?’ »

One of the most common forms of cancer nowadays is skin cancer, or more accurately, the three cancers associated with the skin since there are 3 major types of this cancer.

The most commonly seen and least harmful is what is known as a rodent ulcer ( or basal cell carcinoma). Then we see a skin cancer named Squamous cell carcinoma. Last but not least we come to what I would have to say is the most recognized type of skin cancer referred to as malignant melanoma. This third form is the most lethal but mercifully also the rarest sort of skin cancer.

Despite the fact that malignant melanoma is rare, considering that it is the most hazardous, it is worthwhile having a brief look at precisely what it is. This particular kind of cancer is responsible for approximately 1% of cancers and is a tumor in the cells which create melanin and which are known as melancytes. Melanin is the pigment which produces your sun tan and which gives your skin the color it has usually. It is additionally the agent that accounts for the color of your hair and eyes which means that malignant melanoma can also affect the eyes and not just the skin. Continue reading ‘Exactly What Are the Actual Facts Regarding Skin Cancer’ »

Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, affecting millions of people yearly. Like many cancers, however, it comes in multiple varieties. Of the three primary skin cancers-basal-cell carcinoma, squamous-cell carcinoma, and melanoma-only melanoma is typically lethal. Knowing what type of skin cancer is crucial both for treatment and for paying for your medical bills.

The most common skin cancer is also the least deadly: basal-cell carcinoma. It rarely spreads or causes serious health issues, but doctors remove it to be on the safe side. The removal procedure is far less complex and expensive than treatment for serious cancers. If you have insurance, your insurance will likely cover the treatment. If you do not, and if you are eligible for health or retirement benefits from Social Security, you may be able to receive help for your medical expenses. Continue reading ‘Skin Cancer – Different Types, Different Coverage’ »

Often, when we hear about our cholesterol levels, we automatically assume that this is a bad thing. High cholesterol is a well known cause of a variety of heart diseases and cancers and has gained a reputation as a killer. But the good cholesterol, or HDL cholesterol is essential if we are to remain healthy. If we do not know how to increase good cholesterol naturally, then we are setting ourselves up for a number of health problems.

What this HDL cholesterol does is that it stays in the bloodstream; essentially lining the blood vessels and disposing of the bad, or LDL, cholesterol. It would, therefore, be unhealthy to remove all cholesterol from your body, whilst also being practically impossible! The healthiest option is to ensure that you retain the HDL cholesterol by reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol that you have in your body. Continue reading ‘Know How to Increase Good Cholesterol Naturally’ »