"Cancer Support Groups Offer Better Quality of Life" Guest Post By David Haas

Cancer Support Groups Offer Better Quality of Life

Cancer support groups have long been shown to provide a positive experience to those who are dealing with cancer or who have survived cancer. These groups have been shown to improve mood and mental, spiritual and emotional wellbeing while also improving some physical symptoms. In this modern world, more support groups are beginning to meet online as well as in person.

Different types of cancer produce differing side effects. Some produce a great deal of pain while others are fairly painless but may greatly affect how a person looks and how they perceive themselves. For example, breast cancer patients who have had a mastectomy may deal with issues of self-esteem, skin cancer patients may deal with a fear of the sun and the outdoors while mesothelioma patients may deal with more physical problems such as shortness of breath and chest congestion.

However, a cancer support group can improve the quality of life of any of these situations. They provide a safe place for everyone involved to discuss their feelings and to ask questions. Cancer patients and cancer survivors provide an intricate network of empathy and support while family members of cancer patients learn how to cope with the daily hardships, the financial concerns and the side effects of their loved one's treatments. Some support groups may be attended by various members of the medical team such as an occupational therapist or specialist such as a mesothelioma doctor.

The National Cancer Institute, which is a part of the National Institute of Health, states that some research studies have shown that support groups not only improve the quality of life but also can affect patient survival. It has certainly been documented that people with more positive moods typically experience more happiness and fewer physical conditions. When one connects with others who have dealt with similar medical experiences and have probably worked through some of the same emotional concerns, his experience becomes more hopeful and he gains the strength to face the disease and fight back.

A cancer support group can often be found through one's healthcare system. Patients and their families who live too far away to attend can often get a recommendation for an online group through their doctors. The result will be a better quality of life for the entire family.

By: David Haas

David Servan-Schreiber (April 21, 1961 – July 24, 2011)

It is with great regret that I report the death of Dr. David Servan-Schreiber this past July 24th.  I apologize for not posting for so long, but his death took me by surprise and reminded me of my own mortality.  It is unfortunate, but none-the-less true, that in order to have life, we must also have death.  Dr. David and his MDAnderson video/audio gave me hope when I was frightened and feeling quite alone.  He lived roughly 20 years past his first diagnosis of brain cancer.  He had been given only 8 months to live.  Thank you Dr. David;  I am doing my best to spread your message.

If you are interested in contributing to the

The Servan-Schreiber/Cohen Anticancer Fund at MD ANDERSON

click the link below:

http://www.mdanderson.org/how-you-can-help/make-a-donation/the-servan-schreiber/cohen-anticancer-fund.html

Video from the MD Anderson website

http://www3.mdanderson.org/streams/FullVideoPlayer.cfm?xml=publicEd%2Fconfig%2FAnti-Cancer_cfg

The above link goes to a video on the MD Anderson website that was my introduction to Anti-Cancer and David Servan-Schreiber.  It is roughly 1.5 hours long.  When I realized what it was about I got a small journal, started the video over and began taking notes, as detailed as I could get.  I stopped the video (really and mainly audio) and rewound to hear things again.  At the time, I didn't know the other links existed or I might have just listened....

Missing Link

http://www.anticancerbook.com/steps.html

For some reason the link did not publish in the previous post, so I am trying again.

Here is another page of the same website.  On this page, you will find a series of rules to follow.  Personally, I like to think of them as guidelines, as rules can become rather burdensome.

http://www.anticancerbook.com/rules.html

Questions

I just received an email from someone named David saying that he has a question about my blog.  David, if you are reading this, please email me the question so that I know it is not a phishing expedition.  This applies to other readers too.

Video Outline of the Principles Outlined in "Anti-Cancer"

I have attached a link that presents the fundamentals of David Servan-Schreiber's ideas about an anti-cancer life style.  Good luck to you and remember, it may better to integrate these "rules" or steps one or two at a time.  It does us absolutely no good if we become overwhelmed in trying to do it perfectly.  I know, because I tried.   You will have to make your own judgments about how to approach implementing his plan.  Whatever you do, have faith that your path will be be perfect for you.    

http://www.anticancerbook.com/steps.html

So, what is Anti-Cancer all about?

The premise of "Anti-Cancer:  a new way of life" is the life expectancy provided by a doctor is derived statistically and it is possible (in many cases, even probable) to live well past that expectation by helping your immune system deal with cancer cells.  Dr. Servan-Schreiber proposes a four pronged approach to prolonging cancer, all aimed at improving your body's ability to fight the promulgation of cancer cells.  this approach is outlined below.

1)  Guard yourself against environmental cancer promotors such as pesticides, VOCs, herbicides (the list goes on).

2)  Adjust your diet to avoid cancer promoting compounds (e.g., pesticides, herbicides, fungicides) and increase phyto-nutrients known to help your body fight cancer (e.g., those found in leaks, cabbage, blackberries are especially good).

3) Heal psychological wounds, especially old and persistent wounds.  Asn you heal these wounds, connect with people and God, however you understand God to be.

4) Develop a personal (even a spiritual) relationship with your body that is geared towards caring for your entire sellf, body and soul).  In this endeavor,  remember that a key part of caring for yourself is improving your immune function and reducing inflammation in your body.

The keys to becoming a long term cancer survivor is to better educate yourself, be motivated for survival, and get into better health.

Your friend in Christ, and fellow cancer survivor,
Christine

Who is the author of "Anti-Cancer: A new way of life"?

David Servan-Schreiber is the author of "Anti-Cancer:  a new way of life".  He is both a physician and a neuro-scientist.  Being an M.D. and Ph.D., he understands both medicine and the statistical mean of the cancer studies he has reviewed and compiled in his book.  He is also a cancer survivor.  In the pursuit of his research interests, a high quality MRI revealed a walnut sized mass in the front of his brain.  He went on to be evaluated and was told his life expectancy was 8 months.  Luckily, he understood that this expectancy represented the median of a statistical curve.  This meant the 1/2 of the people who experience his type of cancer are expected to live longer than 8 months.  Armed with this information, he was motivated to learn as much as he could about how he could put himself on the long life expectancy side of the statistical distribution.  This book summarizes what he learned in his quest.  

How do I find the book Anti-Cancer?

The following is a link to Amazon.com for the book "Anti-Cancer:  a new way of life" by David Servan-Schreiber.  It is also available in paperback.
http://www.amazon.com/Anticancer-New-Way-Life/dp/0670021644/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305070530&sr=8-1

Birth of an Idea

Hi All!  I have decided to blog about living an anti-cancer lifestyle.  The purpose o this blog is to bring an awareness to the public that we have quite a bit of control over cancer through our immune system.  Keep the immune system healthy, keep cancer at bay.  I am not certain that this is a universal truth, but I do believe that if your immune system is healthy to begin with, that cancer will have MUCH LESS of an opportunity to take hold. 

My blogs will be based on my interpretations of David Servan Schreiber's book Anti-Cancer.  My goal is to take the essence of the book and to distill it into its essential points (as I see it).  However, I do not believe my blog should be read instead of the book, but rather be an introduction to it. 

So, who am I?  I am a highly intelligent, middle aged (oh! how strange that is~) woman.  I have a Ph.D. in Marine Science and understand statistics as well as most of the science in Dr. Servan-Schreiber's book.  Having been a high school math and science teacher, I know how to take complex ideas and break them down in to easy to digest morsels.  I am a cancer survivor and know the fear one faces in that situation.  I am a licensed massage therapist and have an intense interest in the human body (have had this interest all of my life stemming from complication of surgeries I had as an infant).