It is easier to come to grips with the reality of any crisis if we replace ignorance with information. There is much to learn about each type of cancer, its treatments, the possibility for recovery and methods of rehabilitation. Individuals well-versed in facts are less likely to fall prey to old wives' tales, to quacks touting worthless cures or to depressing stories of something that happened years ago to someone else. The more you know, the less you have to fear.

Fighting cancer is not a simple matter of thinking positively, wishing it away and saying, "Hey, doc, cure me." It is a matter of knowledge. It is a matter of the patient educating themself about every detail and mustering all their resources. They must use every drop of energy in an organized fashion to constructively concentrate on getting rid of cancer. Most cancers can be successfully treated, but generally there is only one chance. If they miss that first chance, if they don't do everything in their power, often there is no second chance. This is why no cancer patient can afford the luxury of looking back and saying, "I wish I would have...." Never look back. Have them concentrate on this moment forward and do everything in their power. There is no downside risk. Now they may have a chance.

The next step you can take is to help them acquire knowledge. They, personally, must find out all they can about their disease. When they try, they will be amazed how simple and interesting it is, even with their lack of medical background. 

First and foremost, they should talk to their personal doctor who diagnosed them. Be certain to tape record or write down all his answers. The patient is not a professional, and they will be confused and forget. You may offer to visit their doctor with them. In the stress of the moment, they might not hear or understand everything the doctor says or misinterpret what is said. After a while, they will be amazed at what they understand. And remember, this is their life. It isn't their doctor's, it isn't anyone else's. If they want help, they had better help themselves first. Later they can count on others to assist them.

Help them find out what kind of cancer they are supposed to have. This would include type, stage, grade, location, size, spread, receptors, differentiation, virulence, types of treatment it is receptive to, types of treatment their doctor believes it is not receptive to, and anything else their doctor can tell them. 

Telephone 1-800-4-CANCER. This is the U.S. Government's Cancer Information Service. Everything is free. Ask for a PDQ (Physicians Data Query) state-of-the-art cancer treatment computer printout for their type and stage of cancer. This will show them the recognized standard therapy for their specific disease. Next, ask for a PDQ computer printout of open protocols (organized experimental treatments) for their specific type and stage of cancer from the entire U.S. This will tell them briefly about every experimental therapy currently available for their disease. It will allow them to know that there are other options just in case their state-of-the-art therapy does not work. 

Call 1-800-433-0464 to request a free copy of Fighting Cancer, which is a step-by-step guide of things a patient can do to help fight the disease along with their treatments. Finally, from 1-800-433-0464, the Bloch Cancer Hot Line, ask for a list of institutions that provide a multidisciplinary second opinion. All of this and much more is available for the asking. Get accustomed to calling 1-800-4-CANCER for most things you want to know and be very specific in what you request. The wonderful people there are trying to help you, but they can't guess what you are thinking.

PDQ, written in understandable English, will give a great deal of up-to-the-minute information on their disease. It will tell them how it is staged and what the overall statistics on their specific stage are. Remember, however, the patient is not a statistic. If they make it, their chances are 100%; if they don't, they are 0%. There is no in between.

Trials (experimental therapies) are a wonderful thing. For purposes of discussion here, there are fundamentally two types of trials. First, there are trials for generally difficult types of cancer. The procedure is usually to start off with the state-of-the-art therapy. If that should fail, they are switched to the next line of defense. If that fails, they then go to the third line, etc. After all standard therapies have been exhausted, they go for experimental therapies. Clinical trials are undertaken when there is a strong possibility that the new approach will improve cancer treatment. Each clinical trial offers a chance to live. It should work in theory. Maybe it can work with them. They have nothing to lose. 

The second type of trial is a randomize, or sometimes called a double blind trial. This is where there is a difference between two or three types of treatments or dosages or methods, and it is desired to find out which is better. Absolutely no one can say for sure that one is better than the other. Individuals are asked to volunteer where they have no real preference and receive one of the methods, possibly without even their knowledge of which they are receiving. Then the results are monitored to find out which is better. For example, half the participants might receive a dose each month and the other half might receive a 1/4 dose each week to see which group does better. Maybe half would receive their treatment in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. Either way, this is possibly helping patients in the future and in no way hurting the patient. Patients who participate in trials have the opportunity to receive the most advanced care available - either the new treatment or the best standard therapy. If the new treatment is successful, trial patients are the first to benefit, and they have the satisfaction of helping themselves and others. 

Usually, the diagnosis of cancer is given by the patient's family doctor. It is important, at this time, to call in a board certified oncologist (a doctor who specializes only in the treatment of cancer).Talk to this doctor and get the same information. Again, be certain they write all answers. If the patient relates well to this qualified physician, and they believe he can successfully treat them, the patient should have complete faith in him and do everything recommended. Once they have found this doctor, they should stop looking for other physicians and use all their energy to get well.

If, however, they do not relate well to this doctor or do not have faith in him, or he does not believe they can be successfully treated, go for a true second opinion. Having their original doctor recommend another doctor is often like getting a second first opinion, not an independent second opinion. So this means leaving the comfort of their original doctor and hospital and going across the street or across the city to a different medical system. The best they can do for themselves would be a "multidisciplinary second opinion." This is by one of the institutions you can find out about by calling 1-800-4-CANCER. There they will be allowed to sit with their family and friends and hear their case discussed by independent specialists from each type of cancer medicine. These specialists will tell them everything about their disease and answer any questions they or their family have openly and honestly. They will hear all their options. 

If they are unable to get a multidisciplinary second opinion, find a second oncologist totally away from their present doctor or hospital. Get the same information from him. If again you get the impression that this physician cannot successfully treat them, go further. Cancer is a disease in which the patient must be very selfish and think only of themself.
 

DEFINITIONS CURE: No sign of cancer and statistically should not recur. REMISSION: No sign of cancer but statistically might recur CONTROL: Growth rate reduced to where it is not life-threatening. ARRESTED: Growth stopped (possibly temporarily, possibly permanently).

Using PDQ protocols, look up who is doing the most work in their type of cancer and have the patient call him on the telephone explaining their problem. Ask straight out if he believes they can be successfully treated. Successfully treating them might not necessarily mean cure in their specific disease. It might be "control," it might be remission, it might be holding it where it is without getting worse. It is amazing how a qualified specialist can accomplish things a less skilled individual does not believe can be done. With the help of a telephone, find the most skilled specialist who believes he can do the most for them and then go to him to be certain it is what they want. Then see that they place all their faith and efforts with this individual to help the physician accomplish what he has set out to do.

If you follow our suggestions, initially you did the most difficult single thing in the whole battle - you got them to make a commitment to do everything. Second, you got them to feel in charge. Third, you got them the best possible medical attention. Now it is time to rationally plan the rest of the actions necessary to complete their commitment. You want to see that they do everything and leave nothing out that could possibly help.

There is a saying that it takes six things to beat cancer. First is the best possible medical treatment. Second is the best possible medical treatment. Third, fourth and fifth are the best medical treatment. Sixth is a positive mental attitude. Without all six, they don't have a chance. But look at it in that perspective and relative importance. A positive mental attitude is not burying their head in the sand and saying, "I'm going to get well." It is doing everything within their power in addition to medicine to help themself recover. 

That "everything" is to thoroughly read and digest the book "Fighting Cancer" that they received free from 1-433-0464. It is written in layman's language to help them understand their disease and do everything in their power to help them fight it. The last chapter is a check list. Make absolutely certain that they have checked each item in the last chapter. Go over it question by question with them. This is for no one's benefit but their own. It is their life.

Chapter 5, Medical treatments