Being diagnosed with cancer can be one of the scariest things that a person has to deal with. Regardless of your age, gender, or religion, cancer doesn't discriminate. All of the unknowns, millions of questions, and constant uncertainty can consume the mind and really affect a persons well being. It is important to not let a cancer diagnosis define you and cause you to lose interest in the things you once loved and lose sight of your hopes and dreams. Here are some tips to keep in mind and help guide you:

Don't allow your cancer diagnosis to take over who you are and what you enjoyed doing before finding out you have cancer. As long as you are able to, make time for your hobbies. If you enjoy doing crafts and creating DIY projects, be sure to make that a priority on your schedule. If reading novels is something that makes you happy and you are well enough to do so, be sure to include it in your daily routine.

When going through this difficult time it is not uncommon for your mind to be bogged down with things like what will happen at your next doctor's appointment or when your next round of treatment will be. It is important to keep your friends and family close. Spending time with loved ones may be just what you need to aid you in keeping your mind in a positive and hopeful state.

One of the most powerful feelings that a cancer diagnosis can bring is fear. Its important try to let go of fear and all of the "what if's" that a person may be thinking upon being diagnosed with cancer. Living every moment and embracing every single day can really have a positive effect on your mind and body. Focusing on positive thoughts will help put you in a place of hope and optimism.

Being diagnosed with cancer shouldn't be a reason to stop following your dreams. Regardless of your age, if you have hopes, dreams and goals for your life and your future, don't lose sight of them. Whether your goal is to be a writer, to start your own business, to earn a college degree, or to travel the world. Don't let a cancer diagnosis put those dreams to rest. Continue to stay on track and try your best to think of your diagnosis as a bump in the road.

A cancer diagnosis is not something that anyone expects to receive from his or her doctor. But if it does happen, it's important to not let cancer consume your entire life and take over everything that was. Take these tips into consideration and remember; you were you before you had cancer and you will continue being you after cancer.

Tags: cancer, cancer diagnosis

< OlderNewer > Joined MCA in 2009Develops medical content and outreach effortsSpecializes in cancer support programs and social media campaignsAdvocate for the integration of complementary / alternative medicine in cancer treatment

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A cancer diagnosis is not only extremely physically demanding for a person as they begin treatment; a diagnosis is also very challenging mentally as well. For a patient beginning their journey through their disease, 20+ year cancer survivor, author, and CEO and President of The Cancer Club, Christine Clifford provides 9 tips to stay mentally and emotionally strong.

1. Take four steps forward: speak with an surgeon, an oncologist, a radiologist and a psychologist. These four people can help you get moving in the right direction.

2. Surround yourself with supportive friends and family. In adverse situations, you always learn who your friends are, and who they aren't. Leave the ones that are not supportive behind. Embrace the ones that are.

3. Realize that your life will never be the same. But that doesn't mean you won't have a good life or a better life. It just means it will be different. The sooner you can embrace your cancer, the sooner you will be able to move forward.

4. Research all the possibilities. Read books, visit the internet, and listen to tapes on the topic of cancer, but also on topics such as fear, serenity, hope, overcoming obstacles.

5. Do something special for yourself. Treat yourself to something that will make you feel pampered: a massage, a change in hair color, buy a new outfit, or take a trip.

6. Don't beat yourself up. Instead, ask yourself, "What am I supposed to learn from this challenge, and how might I do things differently?"

7. Find Happiness. Remember: YOU are the source of your happiness; not somebody else. A positive attitude will help tremendously in getting through your treatments.

8. Learn to forgive. Harboring negative feelings will only slow down the progress of moving forward. Gather the tools and skills to find forgiveness through your church/synagogue, counseling, books and tapes, family and friends.

9. Don't forget to laugh!TM Laughter is still the best medicine!

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Presenting Up-to-Date Mesothelioma Topics

Today, February 4th, is World Cancer Day. Tag your loved one who is fighting, has survived, or has lost the battle to cancer on our Memory Candle and SHARE it to keep the flame burning!

Last year, the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance shared this photo via Facebook in support of World Cancer Day and received over 18,000 likes and was shared over 220,000 times. This year, we hope to continue to share our virtual candle to support World Cancer Day and spread awareness for victims, survivors, and loved ones affected by mesothelioma.

World Cancer Day was founded by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) as a day for raising awareness for all types of cancer to encourage education, detection, treatment, and prevention. This year’s mission of World Cancer Day is focused on Target 5 of the World Cancer Declaration—to dispel the myths and misconceptions about cancer. These myths are:

Myth 1) Cancer is just a health issue.
Myth 2) Cancer is a disease of the wealthy, elderly and developed countries.
Myth 3) Cancer is a death sentence.
Myth 4) Cancer is my fate.

This year on February 4th, tag your loved one who is fighting, has survived, or has lost the battle to cancer on our candle and SHARE it to keep the flame of our Memory Candle burning!

Tags: mesothelioma, UICC, World Cancer Day, World Cancer Day Declaration

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week intensified its campaign to reduce exposure to radon by urging homeowners across America to test for the dangerous gas.

Exposure to radon is second only to smoking as the most common cause of lung cancer. The EPA estimates that one in 15 American homes has an elevated level of radon gas.

“Testing for radon is one of the easiest and smartest things people can do to protect their homes and families from this serious health risk,”  said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, in a press release Monday. “Addressing high radon levels greatly reduces exposure.”

Dangerous levels of radon can occur within homes, schools and other buildings from the natural decaying of uranium in the soil and rocks beneath, seeping in through foundation cracks and causing serious health issues. The radioactive gas is both odorless and colorless, often going undetected.

There are approximately 225,000 people in the United States diagnosed annually with lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death, according to the American Cancer Society.

Radon Threat Is Real

An estimated 80 percent of lung cancer deaths are attributed to smoking, while an exposure to radon gas and asbestos fibers rank second and third, respectively. The EPA estimates that 21,000 Americans die annually from radon-related lung cancer.

The risk from both radon and asbestos also is considerably higher for people who smoke. And studies have shown that the risk for lung cancer is higher in areas where there are natural uranium deposits, which can be almost anywhere.

Radon decays naturally into radioactive particles that can accumulate in homes and buildings, then become trapped in the lungs when they are unknowingly inhaled. They can damage lung tissues and lead to cancer. Unlike asbestos, radon is not considered dangerous outdoors, where it becomes less concentrated and dissipates quickly. It is most dangerous in the basement of homes.

The efforts by the EPA to dramatically reduce radon exposure are relatively new. The Federal Radon Action Plan was not introduced until 2011. Its goal was reducing radon risk in homes, schools and daycare facilities, along with encouraging radon-resistant new construction. It includes both new commitments for future actions, along with the current federal government actions.

In that Action Plan, the federal government hopes to provide economic incentives for businesses to test and support the risk reduction plans; build a demand for the radon services industry; and demonstrate to the public the value and feasibility of radon testing.

EPA Calling For Action

The EPA Monday used National Radon Action Month to encourage the public to take these steps:

Test: All buildings should be tested, with or without basements. Hardware and home-improvement stores offer affordable do-it-yourself test kits. The National Radon Program at Kansas State University offers discounted test kits online. Certified radon testers can be hired, too.Fix: Radon levels above 4 picoCuries per Liter (pCi/L) should be fixed by a qualified radon-reduction contractor.Save A Life: By addressing elevated levels of radon, you can prevent lung cancer while creating a healthier home and community.

The EPA has a national map on its website that details the areas where the greatest potential for radon exposure are.

The EPA was part of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) first call-to-action initiative in 2009 that brought considerable global attention to the problem of radon and lung cancer. The WHO estimated that 14 percent of the lung cancer cases worldwide were caused by radon.

A handbook was produced and designed to help countries expand or establish radon reduction programs, providing detailed recommendations and policy options. In part, it was aimed at the construction industry, helping them with ventilation and foundation tips that could prevent radon entry.

An award winning reporter and writer, Tim Povtak is a senior content writer for the Mesothelioma Center. He previously worked at the Orlando Sentinel and then at AOL. You can contact him directly tpovtak@asbestos.com with any story ideas or comments. Twitter Facebook Reddit Delicious Stumbleupon

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Mesothelioma cancer patients utilizing marijuana for medicinal purposes were dealt a setback earlier this month when a federal appeals court in Washington D.C. ruled in favor of the government’s long-standing classification of cannabis as a top-tier, dangerous drug.

The ruling dismissed a challenge to the Drug Enforcement Agency’s refusal to reclassify marijuana and loosen the restrictions that mostly prohibit the production, sale and use of it.

Many cancer patients have been using marijuana to combat the nausea and appetite loss that typically comes with chemotherapy treatments – and to help with pain management –, but the appeals court still sided with the DEA, making it much more difficult to obtain legally.

Although voters or legislators in 18 states have enacted laws in recent years making medicinal marijuana legal (under strict controls) – and two states have legalized it for recreational use – the federal designation remains unchanged after the court ruling.

The DEA, under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, with no accepted medical uses, placing it alongside heroin and LSD.

“To establish accepted medical use, the effectiveness of a drug must be established in well-controlled, well-designed, well-conducted and well-documented scientific studies with a large number of patients. To date, such studies have not been performed,” the DEA stated in defense of its decision, which was used in the appeals court opinion.

Americans for Safe Access, a marijuana advocacy group, and several disabled American veterans, brought the case in October 2012 before a three-judge panel.  The DEA has rejected a similar petition in 2011.

More than 200 published studies were cited by Americans for Safe Access – including one by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), a governmental health advisor – to demonstrate the medical efficacy of marijuana, but the overall reasoning was rejected by the court.

“The IOM report does indeed suggest that marijuana might have medicinal benefits. However, the DEA fairly construed this report as calling for ‘more and better studies to determine potential medical applications of marijuana,’ and not as sufficient proof of medical efficacy itself,” the court opinion read.

The Americans for Safe Access has organized a conference called Bridging the Gap between Public and Policy, for Washington, D.C. on Feb. 25. It will include a Congressional lobbying effort that day.

The chief counsel for the ASA already has said it will seek another hearing before the full, nine-person appeals court, and a possible appeal to the United States Supreme Court on the matter.

“We’re disappointed, but not surprised,” Steph Sherer, ASA executive director, told the Los Angeles Times of the recent ruling. Sherer told the Times that more than one million patients have used marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The use of medicinal marijuana in Western countries can be traced back to the 19th century when it was used to relieve inflammation and pain. It was shown to help with convulsions and spasms, providing quick relief for a number of symptoms associated with physical ailments.

Mesothelioma patients in states where it is legal for medicinal purposes must have a prescription from a physician and a registration card to use the plant. The laws vary from state to state.

Although smoking marijuana provides the quickest relief from pain, patients already with lung problems can consume it through the digestive process by eating it in baked goods. Drug companies also have developed synthetic versions that can be taken in pill form.

Patients in various trials have reported its usefulness in improving sleep quality and increasing appetite, which are common problems with cancer patients. It also has helped with nausea, pain and anxiety relief. Additionally, it has shown to have fewer lasting side effects compared to many opiates that are prescribed to cancer patients by doctors.

An award winning reporter and writer, Tim Povtak is a senior content writer for the Mesothelioma Center. He previously worked at the Orlando Sentinel and then at AOL. You can contact him directly tpovtak@asbestos.com with any story ideas or comments. Twitter Facebook Reddit Delicious Stumbleupon

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Mesothelioma cancer patients utilizing marijuana for medicinal purposes were dealt a setback earlier this month when a federal appeals court in Washington D.C. ruled in favor of the government’s long-standing classification of cannabis as a top-tier, dangerous drug.

The ruling dismissed a challenge to the Drug Enforcement Agency’s refusal to reclassify marijuana and loosen the restrictions that mostly prohibit the production, sale and use of it.

Many cancer patients have been using marijuana to combat the nausea and appetite loss that typically comes with chemotherapy treatments – and to help with pain management –, but the appeals court still sided with the DEA, making it much more difficult to obtain legally.

Although voters or legislators in 18 states have enacted laws in recent years making medicinal marijuana legal (under strict controls) – and two states have legalized it for recreational use – the federal designation remains unchanged after the court ruling.

The DEA, under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, with no accepted medical uses, placing it alongside heroin and LSD.

“To establish accepted medical use, the effectiveness of a drug must be established in well-controlled, well-designed, well-conducted and well-documented scientific studies with a large number of patients. To date, such studies have not been performed,” the DEA stated in defense of its decision, which was used in the appeals court opinion.

Americans for Safe Access, a marijuana advocacy group, and several disabled American veterans, brought the case in October 2012 before a three-judge panel.  The DEA has rejected a similar petition in 2011.

More than 200 published studies were cited by Americans for Safe Access – including one by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), a governmental health advisor – to demonstrate the medical efficacy of marijuana, but the overall reasoning was rejected by the court.

“The IOM report does indeed suggest that marijuana might have medicinal benefits. However, the DEA fairly construed this report as calling for ‘more and better studies to determine potential medical applications of marijuana,’ and not as sufficient proof of medical efficacy itself,” the court opinion read.

The Americans for Safe Access has organized a conference called Bridging the Gap between Public and Policy, for Washington, D.C. on Feb. 25. It will include a Congressional lobbying effort that day.

The chief counsel for the ASA already has said it will seek another hearing before the full, nine-person appeals court, and a possible appeal to the United States Supreme Court on the matter.

“We’re disappointed, but not surprised,” Steph Sherer, ASA executive director, told the Los Angeles Times of the recent ruling. Sherer told the Times that more than one million patients have used marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The use of medicinal marijuana in Western countries can be traced back to the 19th century when it was used to relieve inflammation and pain. It was shown to help with convulsions and spasms, providing quick relief for a number of symptoms associated with physical ailments.

Mesothelioma patients in states where it is legal for medicinal purposes must have a prescription from a physician and a registration card to use the plant. The laws vary from state to state.

Although smoking marijuana provides the quickest relief from pain, patients already with lung problems can consume it through the digestive process by eating it in baked goods. Drug companies also have developed synthetic versions that can be taken in pill form.

Patients in various trials have reported its usefulness in improving sleep quality and increasing appetite, which are common problems with cancer patients. It also has helped with nausea, pain and anxiety relief. Additionally, it has shown to have fewer lasting side effects compared to many opiates that are prescribed to cancer patients by doctors.

An award winning reporter and writer, Tim Povtak is a senior content writer for the Mesothelioma Center. He previously worked at the Orlando Sentinel and then at AOL. You can contact him directly tpovtak@asbestos.com with any story ideas or comments. Twitter Facebook Reddit Delicious Stumbleupon

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It’s easy to get excited about an experimental new cancer drug that delivers tumor shrinkage for 95 percent of the patients who tried it.

It may take many years for a pharmaceutical company to bring a new drug to market, but the financial markets respond quickly to clinical trials that produce those kind of results.

Oncolytics Biotech Inc., a small publicly traded company based in Calgary, Canada, has seen a dramatic surge in value and stock price since releasing results of recent clinical trials involving its lead product Reolysin, which has been especially effective in killing cancer cells.

It could be especially promising for patients with lung cancer and even pleural mesothelioma, the cancer involving the thin membrane surrounding the lungs. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos.

Reolysin is based upon a common, and otherwise harmless virus, but it shows powerful and uncommon results when altered and used intravenously in conjunction with chemotherapy.

“Reolysin works freakishly well in combination with typical first-line and second-line chemotherapeutic products,” Oncolytics CEO Brad Thompson told The Canadian Blueprint. “Most good science is found by accident.”

Thompson believes that Reolysin could revolutionize the way many cancers are treated. The latest phase II trial, whose results were released last week, involved squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and the chemotherapy regimen of carboplatin and paclitaxel.

Positive results involving Reolysin and colorectal cancer were presented in January at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San Francisco. In December 2012, the company released results from a phase III study of patients with head and neck cancers. And in October, it completed enrollment in another phase II trial involving pancreatic cancer.

It has shown effectiveness with a broad range of cancers, which could make it particularly valuable. Oncolytics has no drugs on the market yet, but its stock price has more than doubled in the last three months, an indication that big investors believe in the potential of Reolysin.

“Based on these (latest) findings, we intend to continue to look at Reolysin as a treatment for cancers of the lung and cancers that metastasize to the lung,” Thompson said. “It’s exciting to have 95 percent of patients in this study exhibit tumor shrinkage, and these results further suggest that Reolysin may have potential in pre-surgical settings.”

Reolysin is based around the Respiratory Enteric Orphan Virus (reovirus), which is relatively harmless and produces few symptoms. Most people are exposed to it as children. And while the body’s own immune system can stop the Reolysin from replicating in healthy cells, it can be designed to infect and destroy cancer cells with specific mutations.

The latest study included 20 patients, and 19 of them exhibited overall tumor shrinkage. An earlier study showed an overall progression-free survival of 7.4 months. One of the biggest benefits of Reolysin is the lack of side effects, especially compared to other cancer therapies.

The concept of using a virus to help kill cancer cells is not new. Viruses can be engineered to selectively infect and reproduce in tumor cells, effectively killing cancer cells. Viruses are playing a big role in novel gene therapy.

Scientists at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, are studying a genetically altered measles virus to test its effectiveness against pleural mesothelioma.

Oncolytics Biotech has been focusing on the development of viruses as potential treatment options for a broad range of cancers. Reolysin is its lead product.

An award winning reporter and writer, Tim Povtak is a senior content writer for the Mesothelioma Center. He previously worked at the Orlando Sentinel and then at AOL. You can contact him directly tpovtak@asbestos.com with any story ideas or comments. Twitter Facebook Reddit Delicious Stumbleupon

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The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com is among the many organizations today that are observing World Cancer Day 2013, demonstrating the growing importance of advocacy in a global fight against this dreaded disease.

Today’s World Cancer Day is an initiative of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), which announced Monday its latest goal of preventing 1.5 million deaths annually from the disease.

The UICC, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland, estimates that 7.6 million people worldwide die each year from cancer. It also believes that one-third of those deaths are preventable.

Although a recent report by the American Cancer Society detailed a slow but steady decline in cancer rates in the United States, the UICC believes that current rates on a global scale will double within the next 20 to 40 years without the proper measures in place.

“There is need for a global commitment to help drive advancements in policy and encourage implementation of comprehensive cancer control plans,” said Christopher Wild, M.D., director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. “We have a collective responsibility to support low and middle income countries that are tackling a cancer epidemic with insufficient resources.”

Asbestos-related diseases, which kill an estimated 100,000 people each year, are expected to increase in many of those still-developing countries. Among the diseases are mesothelioma, a slow-developing cancer that attacks the lining around the lungs and other vital organs.

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, has been banned in more than 50 countries, but its use has increased in others because of its versatility, affordability and heat-resistant qualities that still make it desirable for commercial use.

The UICC considers asbestos as one of its top cancer-causing, workplace hazards. And one of its goals of World Cancer Day is the continued emphasis on raising awareness toward preventable cancers like mesothelioma and the dangers from asbestos fibers.

There were 442 World Cancer Day Events scheduled globally for Feb. 4 and registered with the UICC, which includes 156 countries and many of the major cancer societies, research institutes and patient groups.

Various communities held events both big and small, including informational campaigns, seminars, film screenings and educational meetings involving simple things like healthier eating and trying to stop smoking.

In the United States, there were events scheduled from coast to coast. One of the most visible was in New York City, where the landmark Empire State Building was decorated and lit in blue and orange lights, reflecting the colors of the UICC.

As part of World Cancer Day, the UICC also adopted the World Health Organization’s (WHO)  “25 by 25? campaign. The goal is for a 25 percent reduction of premature cancer deaths by the year 2025. Based upon the projection of 6 million preventable cancer deaths that year, the UICC set its goal on that 1.5 million figure.

“This World Cancer Day, its members and partners urge everyone from individuals to governments to take a stand against damaging myths on cancers,” said UICC CEO Cary Adams. “By truly understanding this deadly disease, governments can develop appropriate strategies to reduce premature deaths.”

Adams pointed to four major myths (and truths behind them) that have held back the reduction of cancer:

Myth 1: Cancer is just a health issue. Truth: Cancer has wide-reaching, economic, social and human-rights implications.Myth 2: Cancer is a disease of the wealthy, elderly and developed countries. Truth: Cancer is a global epidemic, affecting everyone regardless of socio-economic standing, and with still-developing countries carrying a disproportionate burden.Myth 3: Cancer is a death sentence. Truth: Many cancers now can be cured and others can be treated effectively, allowing people to extend their lives significantly.Myth 4: Cancer is inevitable. Truth: At least 30 percent of cancers can be prevented with the right strategies and the current knowledge. An award winning reporter and writer, Tim Povtak is a senior content writer for the Mesothelioma Center. He previously worked at the Orlando Sentinel and then at AOL. You can contact him directly tpovtak@asbestos.com with any story ideas or comments. Twitter Facebook Reddit Delicious Stumbleupon

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