What Everyone Should Know When Fighting Cancer

 

It's just about the worst news you can hear: you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer. What you do next can make all the difference.

Knowing what to ask the doctor and keeping up with new advances can help you and your family plot a course to fight off cancer.

"Our efforts against cancer, including prevention, early detection and better treatment, have resulted in profound gains," said Dr. Eric Kort, lead author of a new study in the journal "Cancer Research" that indicates cancer mortality rates have been dropping over the past three decades among both young and older cancer victims.

Educate Yourself About The Cancer
No matter what type of cancer has been diagnosed, educating yourself about it is critical. Find out exactly what type of cancer it is and whether it has spread. When researching the cancer, be sure the source you are accessing is trustworthy - whether on the Internet, in the library or at a doctor's office.

Learn About Recommended Treatments
For most cancers, the treatment options are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or watchful waiting. Before embarking on a path recommended by your doctor, learn exactly what the treatment is hoped to accomplish. Don't be afraid to ask questions or for second opinions.

Ask About New Treatments
Ask your doctor what new treatments may be available for the cancer - even if he or she doesn't necessarily offer it, or if it isn't available at your hospital or doctor's office. Just because your doctor isn't an expert on a new treatment or doesn't have access to it, doesn't mean you shouldn't pursue it.

For example, new radiation therapy systems, such as one called TomoTherapy, can be used to target certain tumors more precisely without damaging surrounding tissue, and therefore are more effective while causing fewer side effects. However, many hospitals and facilities don't yet offer this new treatment.

When it comes to cancer drugs, there are many innovative treatments just becoming available. One revolutionary drug called Reolysin is made from a common virus that causes stomach upsets and currently is being tested on patients with advanced head and neck tumors, and liver and breast cancer. The company behind Reolysin, Oncolytics Biotech Inc., has become the first to reach an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration on a Phase III trial of a drug made from this type of virus.

When it comes to your personal war on cancer, you need to partner with your doctor to arm yourself with the best available knowledge.