Cancer Can’t Kill

Sorry abt your mom. Agree wholeheartedly. Sometimes, a person with cancer may live on without symptoms for even 20 years and finally die of something else. But because of the exposure this disease has got, people get treated and suffer more from the treatment than the disease.

Re: # 12

Since Saima [Industrial Food] sheds light on the processed food earlier, how about the fact that environmental factors [that includes some processed food] cause 65-70% of breast cancers in north american women?

Only 5% of Medical Research Council’s funds are dedicated to women’s health according to the Advisory Committee on Women’s Health Research Issues (1994)

If the fact is true then women are objects of biomed research [because biomed approach does not want to recognize collective women`s health problems, nor treats them. Wait, maybe it does –but the same way as men`s problems are treated because the medical research/result is andocentric].

Even if the fact is not true, we still know somewhere in the back of our heads that something man-made is responsible for all ills of the world.

Sighs, -especially for the poor female beings [thank God they are at least considered human being ]

The increasing using of artificial/chemical ingredients in the food chain as well as coming into contact with them on a daily basis as the developing world industrializes is, IMHO, the root cause for the increase in cancer rates. Cancer was rare in Japan until beef from cows raised on artificial hormones and other chemicals was introduced into the diet (post WWII?).

And I am afraid cancer rates will only increase, especially because developing countries do not have the werewithal to implement prevention programs.

I agree fully with #8 nasah .
Early diagnosis AND treatment if available(Not in Pakistan for now)is the answer.
In future genetically cancer can be predicted in a person by Genanome
and hopefully can be predicted even.
But i am realist too it may not happen soon enough

I am sorry to learn about you Mom ..... But, yes there are two pivotal factors to consider.. one being an early detection ... but then again, there are cases where cancers are not detected early .... The other pivotal factor is the Will Power/Determination ... One really needs to have this will power to keep the ball rolling ... You mentioned, Life is a gift from God and then you continued ... He can claim it any time.. I as well believe that Life if the gift from God, but beautiful living is wisdom.... and I wonder if Gifts could be claimed back ....

Sehar, sorry for your loss. I agree with what Nasah ji has said.

I recently was at an office retreat, and one of my colleagues is a child of holocaust survivors. She mentioned that her father always said that “if you wanted to live, you could find a way”, or “you had to want to live”, “only the strongest survive”. I thought that was such a pig-headed way of looking at life. The whole idea of “you can do it”, “you can beat cancer”, “if you work hard, you can do it”, is a bit of conceited attitude that is not very healthy. Everyone loves life, and everyone wants to live, after a while, the nature takes over, and there is little humans can do. One should accept it, and it is not easy dealing with one’s loss, therefore, a good physician and oncologist will always lay out the options in front of you, and help you prepare to deal with the remaining time with your loved one. And as you indicated, one should become fully engaged in one’s ailment and treatment to help the process go smoothly and less painfully.

It was so uplifting to see Lance run the NYC Marathon. As Sehar mentioned in her essay, the right combination of treatment, diet, and exercise can make a difference.

``but I will insist upon saying:CANCER CAN`T KILL...`` -- yes you can say that if diagnosed early and treated well before it spreads -- especially for the killers of subcontinental females -- the breast cancer -- the cervical cancer -- the ovarian cancer -- shyness and ignorance of ones owns body with the lack of regular checkups -- are among the major reasons for the subcontinental female mortality -- cancer ones it spreads is very debilitating -- not much can be done thereafter -- but cancer at the earliest stages is `curable`.

sorry to hear about your mother bibi -- you wrote an enlightening column -- continue to educate and inform the subcontinental female and of course the male as well. Great column.

Re: # 4:

Thanks jeopardy for telling symptoms of cancer. A thorough check-up of different multifunctions in the body gives us pointers that something can be go wrong if not properly checked out! Proper diet, taking healthy natural ingredients and avoiding synthetic food and junk can avoid lots of troubles in later life!

Multinationals in pakistan claim on only the possible sides that are related to taste making of prduct not the dangerous aspects. anyways one should keep an increased amount of citrus intake then other nutrient of the diet that prevent cancer. Cauliflower, brocolli usage and garlic use in meals give anti-cancer components to rise and help strenghthen body`s resistance!

Re: # 2
Surely the nutritional values of the branded juices is always an issue of concern.In pakistan there are no standards and quality controls so we have to depend upon the claims of the multinationals telling that the juices are free of preservatives and artificial flavors.The citrus juices may serve as a stimulant to the apetite of the nauseatic patient,they are not intended as a replacement of the nutritional supplements.

AOA
``Surely we belong to Allah and to Allah is the return``
I would like to offer my sincerest and deepest condolences to you. May ALLAH watch over her and grant her the heavens Ameen. May Allah you give you strength and patience.
A very informative and easy to read kind of an article. Cancer, the name is so scary that it makes u half-dead when u hear it for the first time. The trauma is not only for the patient but also for the care-takers so I was wondering how to treat it psychologically?

Re: # 1
Thanks for ur appreciation Nadia.
Well as far as cancer detection is concerned,the first key to early detection is suspection.EVen if cancer is nowhere near in your family and you never ever heard of this disease,still anyone can get this disease no matter how good the past medical record is.
secondly,any thing that is new to body,ie a lump in any part of the body should be seen with suspicion because the bening tumours usually presents like that.No location even an arm or leg can harbor a tumor mass.Same goes for the breast tumor which is unfortunately very common but can be cured completely if that is detected at an early stage and it has presenting signs and symptoms which are distinctive and alarming like pain and mass felt on regular inspection.
Another very important clue to cancer is any wound that is unhealed.If the person is not a diabetic still there is a wound/ulcer on the skin or in mouth which is not healing for the last 10-14 days should concern the person.
Well having a healthy life style and good health care can prevent the occurance,still it is something which can virtualy affect anybody so having it detected early is the only point in my opinion which can prevent the mortality and morbidity caused.
The radiologic approach can very helpful and early diagnosis can be established with a CT scan or MRI scan upon suspicion.Blood counts are important for the diagnosis of leukemias and lymphomas.ESR can help pointing toward any damaging change going on in the body.
The cancers of the the visceras are still difficult to detect early but there are associated signs and symptoms which will point towards some unwanted change.Anorexia,difficulty in swallowing points towards something wrong with stomach and food pipe.Micturation problems in old age could be due to a Prostate pathology.Uncontrolled cough can be an alarming symptom in chronic smokers.

Very sad to know about your mother .God bless her and give you patience and courage to bear the loss.
A friend of mine has a jaw cancer.She has been treated in Military hospital and improved a lot.you are right , the person in this condition need love and care and she is fortunate for this matter.
she also used to take packed juices.
Nadia , there is no exact tests and symtoms of disease.I know many people who look healthy and but had a cancer inside .
Allah knows the best.

I am sorry for mother`s death, It was a brisk read from disease-treatment!

You have said:

``Prefer to take juices that are packed rather than home made because the food processor can harbor alot of germs. ``

Though the nutritional value of home-made juices cant be taken, isnt the juices in packed form should be avoided even for healthy being as a medical advice. Because they have preservants that act harmfuly, and have chemicals and taste makers that spoil the health then boosting it. Using clean, sterlized utensils for making juice can be opted then packed artificial useless juices!

A very informative article on a ruthless disease which is seemed to be life-taking anyways.
May you manage and handle the health-issues of your mother with upmost care with intelligent findings and proper treatment of all aspects of disease:

Few questions:

Though as a browser one can get hundreds of sites of material about cancers and its impurities and their treatment but you being a medical background status can give your opinion that how a person gets to know that s/he is suffering from cancer, any pointers that show the signs. Mostly it is evident that it is passive process that gets a litmus approval by special test and patients gets to know at late stages.

To what extent Normal Blood tests, and different radiology test help in building an opinion. And what kind of symtoms should be taken seriously to attend towards a cancer scenario.

The treatment of cancer is very painstaking, with all chemeotherapy that alters body`s health with side-effects..Is there any natural phenomenon of exercising, walking, swimming and cycling that if done rigorously can beat cancer cells from infecting and mutating! I have heard a few examples where some ladies burnt the cancer with sports activities!