Last year, when Katherine Brown’s mother-in-law Ruth was diagnosed with Lymphoma, she went on an internet search to find people Ruth could talk to, who knew what it was like to be diagnosed with cancer, be inspired by the personal stories of triumph over the trials and tribulations of a cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment and cancer survivorship.

After an extensive internet search for the kind of community Ruth could connect with, Brown came up empty-handed. As need is the mother of all invention, Brown decided to create what she was looking for and could not find.

The Cancer Buddy Network is a result of Brown’s vision. At the Cancer Buddy Network, you create an account; tell your story; be a buddy. Newly-diagnosed cancer patients, family members and friends, and cancer survivors are welcome. It is the blend of cancer patients, cancer survivors and the loved ones touched by cancer that brings real life hope and inspiration in cancer community support. The Cancer Buddy Network is a recent web destination and it looks very well done. Stop by and give it a look, add your voice to hope.

Source: The Cancer Blog

According to Lois Keithly , director of the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program, “We in public health have tried to spend a lot of time figuring out why people don’t stop smoking.”

Full withdrawal will be felt after the first day of not smoking. But symptoms from nicotine withdrawal are felt within the first 30 minutes after the last cigarette, with smokers reporting cravings within the first hour after the last cigarette. In one hour, smokers reported anger. In three hours of smoking cessation, smokers reported heightened levels of anxiety, sadness and difficulty concentrating. Nicotine is what makes cigarettes so addictive.

The Boston Globe reports when contacted, representatives of the three major tobacco makers in the US declined to comment on the study and would not answer questions about the nicotine content of their products.

Source: The Cancer Blog

It’s not that the Baltimore businessman was less decisive. Instead, Linzey ran into a distressing reality: Unlike with breast cancer and many other malignancies, doctors simply couldn’t tell him which therapy was a better bet for the leading male cancer.

There is little good research directly comparing prostate treatment options to help the newly diagnosed choose between surgery, two types of radiation, or watching a small tumor to see if it needs treating at all.

“I never felt comfortable, even when I made my choice, with my choice. Because no one would say, ‘That’s a good choice,’” says Linzey, 59, who ultimately went with implanted radioactive “seeds” and is faring well.

Two new studies suggest the advice gap has consequences: overtreating early-stage tumors, and therapy choices driven by fear and misperceptions.

“When we give people choices, it’s sometimes more difficult,” acknowledges Dr. John B. Fiveash, a radiation oncologist at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, who is at the forefront of a fledgling trend to try to change that – through specialized prostate clinics.

Key for patients to know: “Not all prostate cancer is the same,” stresses Dr. John T. Wei, a University of Michigan urologist who recently reported that about 55 percent of men with low-risk tumors are overtreated, unnecessarily exposing them to such side effects as impotence and incontinence.

Certainly aggressive prostate cancer can kill. But often, prostate cancer is so slow-growing, and discovered when it’s so small, that men will die of something else before it ever causes symptoms, much less becomes life-threatening.

One man in every six will get prostate cancer, but only one in 34 will die of it, the American Cancer Society says.

That sounds reassuring until you’re the man wondering if you’ll be in the lucky majority or not. Unfortunately, doctors have no easy way to tell.

Adding to the confusion: Studies are contradictory about whether aggressive treatment really improves a low-risk man’s long-term chances of survival – or if a better option might be to closely monitor the tumor and treat it only if it starts to grow, so that he doesn’t endure side effects until he really has to.

And while some older studies do suggest that radiation and surgery recipients fare equally well for up to 10 years, Fiveash laments that there are no direct comparisons of more modern surgical and radiation techniques, including more precisely targeted, potentially safer ways to deliver radiation.

So doctors typically just present all the options and let men choose.

Michigan’s Wei and colleagues tracked more than 64,000 men deemed so low-risk that they were good candidates for what’s dubbed “active waiting” instead of immediate treatment. Those over 70 were most likely to be unnecessarily treated, he reports this month in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

How do men choose? University of Colorado researchers interviewed 20 newly diagnosed patients just after a doctor explained their options. More than half wanted treatment as fast as possible; they were too frightened to wait even for a second opinion, the researchers recently reported in the journal Cancer.

More troubling were the myths. Some called removing a cancerous prostate a guarantee for a cure – it’s not – while others opted for radiation because they wrongly thought only surgery could cause impotence. In fact, men were more likely to follow a friend’s recommendation than to compare the limited scientific data on treatment side effects and benefits.

To help men make more educated choices, UAB and Michigan head a small but growing number of cancer centers that offer “multidisciplinary prostate cancer clinics.” Modeled on the one-stop consultations long available to breast cancer patients, men can see, in one visit, urologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists, to compare their options with proponents of each.

And Wei and the Michigan Cancer Consortium developed a Web site – http://www.prostatecancerdecision.org – that presents what scientific data is available for each therapy at a 6th-grade reading level, for a side-by-side comparison.

Linzey, the Baltimore man, recalls his frustration as specialists quickly laid out the top option for his wife’s breast cancer at the same time he was searching out doctors to debate the pros and cons of prostate treatment.

“It’s a shame there is no right answer,” says Linzey, whose tests suggest his cancer is gone three years after he settled on seed implants. He gets regular checks, so even if it returns, “the chances of it killing me are pretty slim.”

Source: SeattlePi

Aromatherapy is the use of oils extracted from plants to alleviate physical and psychological disorders, usually through massage or inhalation.

Scan the shelves of the local bath and body stores and one is sure to find products labeled for aromatherapy. Many might be surprised to learn the science behind it. So what is aromatherapy, how is it used and will those products actually work?

Cherie Perez, a supervising research nurse in the Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, teaches a monthly aromatherapy class to answer those questions for cancer patients and caregivers undergoing treatment at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Perez’s classes are offered free of charge through M. D. Anderson’s Place of wellness, a center within the institution that focuses on helping patients and caregivers deal with the non-medical issues of living with cancer, and is the first complementary therapy facility to be built on the campus of a comprehensive cancer center.

Perez, who first became involved with aromatherapy to help relieve the physical pain and discomfort caused by fibromyalgia, shares her professional knowledge of the basics of aromatherapy, safety precautions and interactive demonstrations in each hour-long class.

Oils and healing

While essential oils may not directly stimulate the immune system, they can complement cancer treatment by boosting the system’s ability to fight off infections, says Perez.

Certain oils can also stimulate lymphatic drainage or have antibacterial properties. Since it has many potential uses ranging from managing anxiety and nausea to helping with sleep, general relaxation, memory and attention, many individuals, including cancer patients, can benefit from aromatherapy [See on this page: Five Oils to Reduce Stress and Relieve Ailments.]

There are a variety of different products and methods of diffusion to obtain the healing benefits of oils. Some oils – like lavender, ylang ylang and sandalwood can be applied directly to the skin – while others are too concentrated and need to be diluted into carriers such as massage oils, bath soaps and lotions [See on this page: Everyday Uses for Aromatherapy.]

Most typically, Perez advises patients to put a few drops of an oil, or a combination of oils onto a handkerchief and “fan themselves like Scarlett O’Hara.” Burning oils or incense is not recommended because most are poorly constructed and give off unhealthy fumes and soot.

Who should, or shouldn’t, use oils?

Widely sold in health food stores and beauty chain stores, essential oils do have chemical properties that can affect the brain and enter the bloodstream, and for some patients may be toxic when combined with common cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Perez says essential oils, like many medicines, can increase a person’s sensitivity to the sun and should be used with caution. Patients should always inform and discuss with their physicians before using aromatherapy oils to complement a medical condition.

People with high blood pressure should avoid hyssop, rosemary, sage and thyme, while diabetics should avoid angelica oil. Women who are pregnant or nursing should avoid a number of oils that stimulate the uterus including star anise, basil and juniper to name a few and should use with caution peppermint, rose and rosemary in the first trimester. According to Perez, pediatric patients can use aromatherapy essential oils in very low concentrations. [See on this age: Tips for Buying Oils.]

Aromatherapy’s role in cancer treatment

“The nature of aromatherapy makes it challenging to study due to the fact that it is difficult to create a placebo and every person is different in their nasal sensitivities and skin absorption rates,” says Perez.

In the future, however, she would be interested in designing research to examine how aromatherapy can be used to treat/heal burns caused from radiation treatment safely and effectively, soothe pre-treatment anxiety and manage loss-of-memory issues in cancer survivors.

Five Oils to Reduce Stress and Relieve Ailments

● Lavender – First used as perfume by ancient Egyptians 2,500 years ago, lavender is now used to treat insomnia, migraines and provide stress relief.

● Rosemary – This fragrant plant relieves muscle pain, low blood pressure and cold feet and hands.

● Spearmint – The oil from spearmint aids digestion and eases nausea and vomiting.

● Masculine scents – Scents such as bay laurel and ylang-ylang appeal to men for their deep scent. They also treat skin rashes, rheumatism and stomach ailments.

Everyday Aromatherapy Uses

● Muscle Relaxation Bath Salts – 2 cups of Epsom salts, 5 drops of each oil – lavender, lemon grass, tea tree & orange. Use 1/2 cup mixture per bath.

● Room Spray Diffusion – Use any oil 5-20 drops along with 2 to 4 ounces of distilled or spring water. Common sense precaution – don’t spray in your eyes.

● Energizing Carpet Cleaner – Combine pink grapefruit oil with baking soda and sprinkle before vacuuming.

● Natural House Cleaner – Blend lemon and ravensara leaf oils with distilled water and non-sudsing soap.

Tips for Buying Oils

When purchasing oils for themselves, Perez gives the following guidelines:

● Essential oils from a bath or general store may be of questionable quality; shop for oils in a specialty store, staffed by salespeople with aromatherapy training.

● Quality oils, which are light and heat sensitive, will be in a blue or brown light protective glass.

● Labeling on the bottle should provide should provide both the common and botanical name for the oil.

● Steer clear of concentrated oils with rubber eyedroppers since the oils react with the rubber causing it to break down and contaminate the oil.

Source: M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

M. D. Anderson is located in Houston and was designated by the National Cancer Institute as one of the first three Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States. For 4 of the last 7 years, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center has ranked number one in cancer care in “America’s Best Hospitals,” a survey published annually in U.S. News & World Report. M. D. Anderson has provided care for more than 600,000 cancer patients since 1944.

Source: Senior Journal

It’s a program that puts together breast cancer survivors with fly-fishing instructors for a weekend retreat on the water, combining physical therapy with spiritual and emotional recovery.

Linda Keller, a professor of rehabilitation counselor education at Western Oregon University, knows a lot about both.

Five years ago, she became a breast cancer survivor and had to apply to herself the same lessons she teaches.

Keller attended the first Oregon retreat as a survivor in 2004.

She returned in 2005 — and will participate in the Sept. 8-10 retreat this year — as a “psycho-social facilitator.”

That’s a fancy term for doing everything from serving as a group counselor, activities director and cheerleader to providing a handy shoulder to cry on or a listener who’s all ears.

“You know, it gives you new eyeglasses to look through,” Keller said about her dual experiences. “It does weave into my conversations.

“Dealing with loss and adjustment to loss, and dealing with disability, and all that kind of thing. And now of course, it’s different now having worn the shoes myself.”

But fishing?

“I hadn’t been fishing since I was a kid,” Keller said with a laugh. “I’ve been involved with the YWCA breast cancer support group since I went through chemotherapy. That’s been about 4 1/2 years ago now.”

Eileen Hirsh of Salem, a longtime volunteer with the 10-year-old Vermont-based national Casting for Recovery program, came to speak to the group when the first Oregon retreat was set up, pitching for recruits.

“I said ‘It looks nice, but I don’t see myself fly-fishing,’ ” Keller said about her initial skepticism. “But I thought, “What the heck? I’m going to put my hat in the ring.’ And I was one of four from Salem who was chosen.”

The extended weekend of bonding and fishing at the Big K Guest Ranch on the Umpqua River had the intended effect.

“It was more than I ever expected,” Keller said, adding with a laugh about the transformation upon her return, “My husband though I was crazy because I was like, ‘I’m going out and buying my waders, and I’m getting my boots. And I doing this, I’m doing that.’ “

It seemed like a perfect fit from the get-go, said Kathie Larsen, the guest ranch director and part owner of the family run Big K, a working ranch as well as fishing lodge.

“It’s an awesome group, a wonderful group,” Larsen said of the annual invasion, adding that first year, “We had basically heard about groups like them, but not to where I really had an idea as to who they were.”

Now Big K is a partial sponsor, offering Casting for Recovery a discount on the stay.

That first retreat, Keller was one of the only participants to catch a fish and got a prize for the biggest.

And her reaction — going from mild to wild about the experience — is pretty typical, said Cathy Tronquet of Medford, one of the founders of the Oregon retreats.

“I’d taught fly-fishing to women for about 10 years, so that part of it was a no-brainer for me because I love to share my knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport,” she said. “So this was my way of just giving back.”

Some of the 14 who are picked for the all-expenses-paid weekend have fished before, some are just curious.

All have a need to share, though.

“I see the connection with nature and the connection with, you know, your fishing buddy who’s down the way and does catch a fish,” Tronquet said. “And, you know, that whole spiritual connection with the outdoors is healing, and I’ve always looked at fly-fishing that way.

“Even before Casting for Recovery.”

For the volunteers, enough for one-on-one with the participants, the goal is pretty simple, Tronquet said.

“Our mission is to just spoil them rotten for a weekend, to give them a weekend where they don’t have to lift a finger, they feel special, they’re given an opportunity to do what they want,” she said with a laugh.

For some, it’s a lot more than the physical therapy that’s needed, Tronquet added.

“I know that first retreat we had a woman from the netherlands of Eastern Oregon who, you know, the doctor just lopped off her breasts and sent her home,” Tronquet recalled. “And she didn’t have any kind of support network.

“She was a phenomenal experience, just to see how much she just needed to laugh and cry and be with other women who have been through the same thing.”

Source: Statesman Journal

The study team also found that higher levels of optimism at the start of treatment were associated with greater declines in cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) levels during treatment. Declines in CA 125 have been used to predict the likelihood of remission and survival in ovarian cancer patients.

“It is important for health care providers to identify patients who feel less optimistic about life and their cancer and treatment because this population may be vulnerable to distress, diminished quality of life, and suboptimum clinical outcomes,” said Dr. Janet S. de Moor, now at the Ohio State University School of Public Health in Columbus.

“Patients who are less optimistic may benefit from interventions to help them cope with their cancer diagnosis,” she added.

While Dr. de Moor was at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, she and her colleagues assessed levels of optimism, distress, and health-related quality of life, and the change in CA 125 at the start and end of chemotherapy in 90 women with ovarian cancer.

As reported in the July/August issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, the researchers found that women who reported higher optimism about life in general and about their cancer and treatment reported lower anxiety, depression, and perceived stress, as well as better health-related quality of life. They also experienced greater declines in their CA 125 levels during chemotherapy.

“The association between optimism and CA 125 is plausible given other research linking psychosocial variables to tumor-related markers,” Dr. de Moor told Reuters Health. “It should be tested further in future research.”

SOURCE: Psychosomatic Medicine, July/August 2006.

The point is, until expressed, you are stuck with whatever you are feeling. With the passage of time, you might not even be aware of the emotions you are carrying around inside affecting you and your health, as they tend to pile up and become obscured from view.

Adelaide University psycho-neuro-immunology researcher Vikki Knott understands the benefit of letting it all out emotionally, and that sharing and releasing distressful emotions can help a cancer survivor survive cancer longer. Knott will be conducting research in emotion-focused treatments to improve cancer survivorship by charting the physical changes to the immune system before and after talk therapy sessions.

According to Knott, “It’s about the link between the mind and the body and how your mind state can affect the disease state in the body.” The researchers will be examining three techniques — journaling, meditation and hypnosis. Previous research has already proven that breast cancer survivors who belong to a support group tend to live longer than their more isolated and disconnected counterparts.