June 14, 2010
"There is no greater treasure than the respect and love of true friends." Anonymous
"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."
--James Baldwin
True friends -- Yes, there are such individuals. Those that you count on your hands. Not two hands - sometimes not even one hand, but only on 3 fingers. You know you cannot choose your family, but you can choose your friends. Choose wisely. I also believe even though there is family, we all have different family experiences. None of us have perfect family backgrounds... the white picket fence, garden, dog, the Donna Reed mother or the 'Leave it to Beaver' family may not exist for all of us.
I have many friends, yet to be honest (as I always try to do) some are just mere acquaintances.
I have a best friend in my partner, Rick. He is my life-line to health, serenity and happiness. As I think of the past, I do not know how I did it without someone like him in my life. The key to any relationship success is communication. More communication and even more communication.
James Arthur Baldwin (August 2, 1924 – November 30, 1987) was an American novelist, writer, playwright, poet, essayist and civil rights activist. Most of Baldwin's work deals with racial and sexual issues in the mid-20th century in the United States. I have admired his work as he had an upward struggle: being gay and being black. Two of the most repressed groups in history. His novels are notable for the personal way in which they explore questions of identity as well as the way in which they mine complex social and psychological pressures related to being black and homosexual well before the social, cultural or political equality of these groups was addressed.
I love the quote below:
I've always believed that you can think positive just as well as you can think negative. James A. Baldwin
The last few blogs have been about Cancer Prevention. We discussed the Medicinal Benefits of Mushrooms as well as the Pros and Cons of Soy.
I will begin to discuss the Vitamins and Supplements used in Cancer Therapy. I will eventually talk about the plants and herbs used in Cancer therapy. I feel that vitamins and supplements offer a new hopeful approach to cancer treatment. I could just list the supplements but I like to discuss a few, if not all in the next week. There are clinical and epidemiological studies to show that certain supplements do work. Some physicians need double blind controlled studies. I have learned by experience. I have seen cancer patients benefits from different modalities of medicine.
Again as I always say - I am not an Oncologist (cancer specialist). I am a physician who listens to patients. I listen to their fear, their hope, their pain, their eating habits, their stress and even their family/ partner stress. If you haven't felt my passion to heal in the past blogs please hear it now. I love helping people--and I love talking to patients about everything, not only medicine.
There are studies you as an individual might not hear about. The National Cancer Institute sponsored a study in China where a combination of three vitamins were used: B carotene, Vitamin E and selenium. There was a reduction in cancer death in those who took those supplements. Was it in the New York Times? On 60 minutes? Of course not. Many oncologists do not approve of supplements during the chemotherapy and radiation. I do agree with that. There are few studies (<10) that discuss supplements , especially anti oxidants interfering with conventional treatments.
Certain supplements can decrease short and long term toxic side effects of chemotherapy, others have a positive effect on the body system and some supplements/herbs actually inhibit cancer.
So let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start...
A common vitamin in a multiple is Vitamin A. The dosage of Vitamin A varies from different brands of multivitamins. Some have 10,000 while others have 15,000. Any dosage greater than 50,000 should be monitored by a health care professional. There are studies that have shown tumor free intervals in those taking high dose Vitamin A (up to 300,000 IU). Most of studies with use of Vitamin A are with Lung Cancer.
Your homework is to think of foods that are rich in Vitamin A. There are the carotenoids that are rich in the precursor for Vitamin A. The carotenoid family has about 1000 different members each with individual properties . You cannot make a statement that every carotenoid is beneficial against cancer, because some are not. An example of a carotenoid is lycopene which is useful in reducing the risk of prostate cancer. Some studies have used lycopene in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Lycopene is found in tomatoes. Yet NOT that much in raw tomatoes. Besides tomatoes are acidic when consumed raw. It is better to have cooked tomatoes, grilled in olive oil, tomato sauce, or tomato paste. These have higher levels of lycopene than a raw tomato.
Th photograph above is an ocean. It is peaceful and serene. This is how I feel today. I am floating on water or perhaps above the clouds. This is due to one person, Rick. I have never felt so much warmth, love, happiness and humanity as I did on Saturday evening. This was due to him. One person. How one person has changed my perception, my self esteem and my happiness is beyond my wildest dreams.
Not only was the company exceptional but the "angels" were there looking down. I felt a sense of relief that "the angels" know that I am in good hands in the company I choose to spend my life with. With friends and family, I had the opportunity to walk down memory lane through speeches, photographs and conversation. As I heard my children speak, tears flowed but I had a sense of being a proud father. Through the evening I had a sense of being a proud son, father, healer, family member and friend to so many in that room.
The feeling of gratitude today is beyond measure.
Until tomorrow...
No comments:
Post a Comment