How To Guide

Dave Manners

Dave Manners had loss of appetite, lethargy and was sleeping too much when he went to a doctor and, after a number of tests, was diagnosed with kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma). His right kidney was removed.

More than a year later he experienced pain in his right shoulder and an MROI revealed a tumor in his right scapula. A CT Scan of his abdomen showed numerous tumors on his liver and upper right lobe. A needle biopsy of the right kidney bed area confirmed that the cancer had spread.

Shortly after that he had an attack of appendicitis and when the doctor was removing the organ, it was found that part of the omentum had to be removed as it had a metastic tumor and there were nodules in the liver as well.

Then he started with radiation treatment on his right scapula, five days a week for five weeks and also blood transfusions. Then he was diagnosed with a small tumor in his brain, which was also surgically removed.

He opted for treatment with… Read More

Two examples below

Fay Polson

Fay Polson was looking forward to retirement when she went to her doctor with a feeling of pressure in her abdomen. Finally a CT scan and a biopsy revealed that she was suffering from liver cancer. Her doctor wanted to give her direct chemo to the liver and told her that there was a 50 percent chance that she would survive.

Then she went to the Cancer Treatment Center at Tulsa where surgery was done and a tumor removed. She had both chemo and radiation. But a year later, the tumor reappeared and she had surgery again. She had to have two more surgeries after that to remove the tumors which had again resurfaced. Subsequently follow up visits have shown that she is cancer free.

Danielle Duran Baron

Prior to undergoing liposuction, at the age of 28, Danielle Duran Baron from Brazil had blood tests which revealed tumor markers and subsequent visits to doctors and an ultrasound found that she had liver cancer. She had surgery and two rounds of chemoembolization and then was declared… Read More

Two examples below

Ted Willbright

Ted Willbright was 50 years old when he was diagnosed almost simultaneously with prostate cancer and Parkinson’s. He did not want to undergo a radical prostatectomy, which is known for affecting sexual performance as he was supposed to be getting married. Instead he underwent advanced radiation treatment for 12 weeks.

Along with that he took naturopathy and acupuncture treatments to help him though the treatment. He also concentrated on nutrition and exercise. Now he is a cancer survivor. He says, ‘I continue to work hard as a social worker. I work out at the gym about three or four days a week, take my recommended supplements, eat healthy, and enjoy life as a newly married man.’

John Martin

John Martin was diagnosed with Stage IV prostate cancer and underwent radiation, but a few months later, the cancer was still there so he had a bilateral orchiectomy. At that point in time, he was told he might live for two or three years.

His prostate antigen test varied from low to high, but he learnt to… Read More

Two examples below

Pam Whitehead

When Pam Whitehead was 35 years old, after a battery of tests following her annual physical, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer. She and her husband did not have children, but she was determined to survive, having seen both her mother and stepmother battle cancer and survive.

Just a week after her 36th birthday she entered hospital and had a radical hysterectomy. After her bout with cancer she and her husband who were both architects with secure jobs, quit to start their own company. She became active in the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s Peloton project and was interviewed by television and newspapers.

In 2004 she even won the Lori A. Tilton Peloton Triumph Award for the volunteer “who best exemplifies the spirit of the Peloton Project.” The award came with a $5,000 prize, money that recipients agree to use to support a local, non-profit program benefiting cancer survivors – she used the money to start a fitness program for cancer survivors.

Michelle Sybert

Michelle Sybert was diagnosed with a rare form of uterine cancer when she… Read More

What is thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer is found in the cells of the thyroid, which is found below your Adam’s apple. The thyroid creates hormones that help regulate your blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and body temperature,

Thyroid cancer is not a common cancer found in the US. On the other hand, over 37,000 people are diagnosed with thyroid cancer every year.

Types of thyroid cancer

There are different types of thyroid cancer, which include papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer and thyroid lymphoma.

Papillary Thyroid cancer is the most common type of thyroid cancer, which can occur at any age but is often seen in individuals in the age range of 30 to 50.

Follicular thyroid cancer, which includes Hurthle cell cancer, is often found in individuals over the age of 50.

Medullary thyroid cancer is linked with inherited genetic syndromes.
Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a rare type of thyroid cancer that is often found in individuals over the age of 60.

Thyroid lymphoma is a thyroid cancer that begins in the… Read More

What is stomach cancer?

Stomach cancer also know as gastric cancer can be found in any part of the stomach and can spread to other organs normally the esophagus and small intestine, however, it can also travel through the bloodstream or lymph nodes and attack other organs of the body. If gastric cancer spreads to other organs it is still referred to as stomach cancer as the cancer is made up of the same cancer cells that are present in the stomach. The main location for the beginning of stomach cancer is in the inner layer of the stomach known as the mucosa. The fluids that are created by the glands in the mucosa help digest food. Close to one million deaths are caused by stomach cancer every year throughout the world.

Causes of stomach cancer

There is no known cause of stomach cancer however, it has been discovered there are a few risk factors that have been noted in stomach cancer patients more often than not.

Studies have found that stomach cancer is seen in more individuals over the… Read More

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian Cancer normally is cysts that are similar to tumors that contain fluid or in some cases solid tissue. In many cases, the cysts found on the outside or the inside of the ovaries are benign meaning they are not cancerous; however, some cysts are cancerous, thus ovarian cancer.

The majority of cysts go away on their own without any help at all, however, one that stay and grow larger are usually cancer. Ovarian cancer can spread to other organs of the body usually the fallopian tubes and uterus. In other cases, the cysts can break off from the ovaries and shed into the abdomen, which can lead to other tumors in the organs and tissue in the area. Spreading of ovarian cancer is often seen in the lymph nodes, the pelvis, abdomen, and chest. It has also been known to spread through bloodstream to the lungs and liver.

Causes of ovarian cancer

There are no known causes of ovarian cancer, there is no known explanation as to why one woman will develop ovarian cancer, and… Read More

What is oral cancer?

Oral cancer like other cancers is the uncontrolled growth of cells that damage tissue and invade other tissue and organs. Oral cancer is a growth or sore that is found in the mouth that does not heal and go away. Oral cancer includes cancer of the lips, cancer of the cheeks, cancer of the tongue, cancer of the floor of the mouth, cancer of the hard palate, cancer of the soft palate, cancer of the sinuses, and cancer of the pharynx.

Causes of oral cancer

The American Cancer Society reported that men are at twice the risk of developing oral cancer than women over the age of 50. Even though the cause is not known, there are risk factors that increase your chances of developing oral cancer. The risk factors include smoking, using smokeless tobacco, excessive drinking of alcohol, family history of cancer, and overexposure to the sun during childhood.

Symptoms of oral cancer

Oral cancer can include such symptoms as white patches in the mouth, red patches in the mouth, bleeding in the… Read More

What is bone cancer?

Bone Cancer is more often seen in children and adolescents whereas an adult with cancer that is found in the bones has spread from a different location of the body known as metastasis.

Types of bone cancer

There are many different types of bone cancer with the most common being chondrosarcoma, chordoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, fibrosarcoma, histiocytoma, lymphoma, malignant fibrous, multiple myeloma, and osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer found in males between the ages of 10 and 25 years. This type of bone cancer spreads quickly and often attacks the lungs.

Ewing’s sarcoma is the most common bone cancer for children between 4 years and 15 years. It is more often seen in boys. This type of bone cancer also spreads to the lungs and other tissues.

Chondrosarcoma is the most common bone cancer found in individuals over the age of 40. It is seen a bit more in males than females. It often spreads to the lungs and lymph nodes as well as the pelvis and hips.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is the most… Read More

What is bladder cancer?

Bladder Cancer is often malignant tumors found within the bladder, however, not all tumors are cancerous. Malignant tumors have the ability to travel to other organs through the blood or the lymphatic system. There are three cell types that can turn into cancer in the bladder.

Urothelial carcinoma also known as transitional cell carcinoma. This is the most common bladder cancer in the US. These are normal cells that form the inner lining of the bladder wall. The cells begin to change and lead to fast uncontrolled growth, which is characteristic of cancer.

Squamous cell carcinoma is thin flat cells that are created from bladder inflammation or irritation that has been present for a very long time even years.

Adenocarcinoma is cancer of the cells that make the glands.

Causes of bladder cancer

The exact cause of bladder cancer is unknown; however, many of the carcinogens that can cause cancer have been linked to bladder cancer. Smoking is the highest risk of the development of bladder cancer.

Chemical exposure has been linked to bladder cancer from… Read More

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer develops when normal cells change and they begin to grow and multiply uncontrollably. The cells grow and create a mass called a tumor. The majority of tumors found in the lungs are malignant or meaning they are cancerous. The tumors can spread to other areas of the body through the blood stream or the lymph nodes.

Most cancers are metastasis, which means they can travel to other parts of the body. If the main source of the cancer is found in the lungs and then travels to other parts of the body it is classified as lung cancer, however, if the lungs are not the beginning cancer the cancer will be classified as the cancer that was the main source such as prostate cancer.

Lung Cancer is separated into two types, which are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer is fast growing and spreads more often than the other type of lung cancer. There are types of lung cancer include Adenocarcinoma, bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma,… Read More