Thursday 16 December 2010

chinese herbal drinks

Some NPC patients have asked what drinks they could consume to help reduce the body's heatiness caused by radiotherapy & chemotherapy.

Besides the more common "cooling" drinks that you can boil such as barley & chrysanthemum, you can also try drinking herbal drinks to take away the heatiness & "dampness" of the body.


Below are some herbal drinks recipes* recommended by TCM Physician Long for nose/nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients & survivors (note : recipes & instructions are re-produced here in their original form as provided by Physician Long).

a)
无花果木瓜仔汤 (Figs and papaya seeds soup)

材料 (Ingredients)
1. 无花果 30 粒 (Figs 30 pcs)
2. 木瓜仔 30 粒 (Papaya seeds 30 pcs )
3. 罗汉果1 粒 (Luo Han Guo 1 pc)
4. 木蝴蝶 20gms (Mu Hu Die (Indian Trumpet Flower seeds 20 gms)
5. 鸡蛋衣 30gms (Egg shell 30 gms )
6. 蜜枣 6 粒 (Preserved Dates 6 pcs)
7. 水10 碗 (Water 10 bowls or 1000 cc)

煮法: 将上述材料同煮1小时, 去渣, 分多次饮用.
Preparation: Boil the above ingredients together with water for one hour. Remove all residues after boiling. Drink the soup on various occasions.

疗效: 放化疗后咽喉溃烂, 声带发炎, 声音沙哑
Functions: Mucous cyst of oral mucosa after chemotherapy or radiotherapy, hoarse or sore throat, pharyngolaryngitis.

b)
仙草冻罗汉果 (Grass Jelly & Luo Han Guo)

材料 (Ingredients)
1. 仙草冻 (Grass Jelly)
2. 仙草 (Mesona Chinensis Centh)
3. 罗汉果 (Luo Han Guo)

煮法:
Preparation:

疗效: 性凉味甘, 淡, 清热解暑, 利湿, 降压
Functions: It tastes light. Good for clearing the heat-evil and dampness of body. Promotes urination, subdues blood pressure.

c) 罗汉果鹏大海汤 (Luo Han Guo & Pang Da Hai soup)


材料 (Ingredients)
1. 鹏大海: 6 枚 (Pang Da Hai 6 Pcs)
2. 罗汉果: 1 枚 (Luo Han Guo <> 1 Pc)

煮法:
Preparation:

1) 鹏大海浸水泡胀后, 清理纤维物质, 捞起待用
Soak the Pang Da Hai until it is fully expanded. Separate and collect the fiber / jelly from the seed and put it in a container for later use.

2) 罗汉果砸碎, 加5 碗水煮45分钟
Smash the Luo Han Guo. Add 5 bowls of water and boil it for 45 minutes.

3) 将材料 (a) + (b) 同煮10分钟即成
Put (1) & (2) together and boil them for 10 minutes.

疗效: 咽喉发炎
Functions: Catarrh (ie inflammation of the oral cavity, nose and throat with increased production of mucus)


References
* recipes given at a talk by Dr Long at the NPC Support Group







Sunday 25 July 2010

nutrition therapy for nose cancer : before, during & after radiotherapy

When you have cancer, it's important to eat well & eat enough. But to most cancer patients & survivors, this is easier said than done. For people with cancer, eating can be a challenging daily activity. Many cancer survivors will experience changes to their eating habits & tastes. Life after cancer is a new lease of life.

When I was diagnosed with nose cancer in 2006, my doctor advised me to put on weight. He explained that I would lose some weight during treatment so the extra weight would act as a buffer. I asked, “What can I eat and what food should I avoid?” He said, “Eat anything you fancy. Eat your favourite food.” I took my doctor’s advice seriously. For three weeks, I ate all my favourite food & my weight increased from 46kg to almost 50kg! And my doctor was right. By the time I completed my 33 sessions of radiation treatment, I had lost about 8 kg. Four years later today, I have not only regained those lost kilos but have also put on additional kilos (for the record, I now weigh 51kg, with a healthy body mass of 20.7).

"When you have cancer, you may need extra protein and calories. At times, your diet may need to include extra milk, cheese, and eggs. If you have trouble chewing and swallowing, you may need to add sauces and gravies. Sometimes, you may need to eat low-fiber foods instead of those with high fiber." (National Cancer Institute, USA)

Below are notes taken from a talk on "Nutrition Therapy for NPC" ** given at the NPC support group in 2009.

Why is Nutrition Important

  • help you feel better
  • keep up your strength & energy
  • maintain weight & preserve body's store of nutrients
  • tolerate treatment-related side effects better
  • decrease risk of infection
  • recover faster

Pre-Treatment Preparation : Build Yourself Up!

  • eat adequately & regularly
  • ensure sufficient protein intake (eg chicken, fish, meat, eggs, tofu)
  • include 5 colourful servings of fruits & vegetables daily
  • avoid alcohol
  • limit salt-cured, smoked & pickled foods
  • try new food
  • stock up your pantry

During Treatment : Managing Side Effects!

(1) loss of appetite

  • generous use of fat
  • canned fruits in heavy syrup, dried fruits
  • high protein food (you may enhance protein content of diet by adding milk powder to beverages or cream soups and adding chopped meats/eggs/anchovies powder (ikan bilis)/chicken or meat floss to soups or porridge)
  • eat small frequent meals throughout the day
  • eat most when you have the best appetite
  • present food in an attractive manner
  • vary your diet & try new recipe

Remember, every bite counts!

(2) fatigue

  • let other people cook for you
  • prepare simple meals in small batches & freeze them to use later
  • keep snacks close by for nibbling
  • you may need to eat at every 2-3 hours' interval
  • eat 1 hour before treatment
  • bring snacks/supplements along when you go for treatment
  • sip high calorie drink/supplement throughout the day

(3) dry mouth

  • drink plenty of water
  • try citrate containing beverages eg lemonade, orange-flavoured drinks, popsicles
  • eat soft moistened food
    - stew, braise or steam your food (don't forget the oil)
    - add gravy, sauces, soups or milk liberally to food
    - soft snacks eg jelly, soft bean curd, milkshake, pudding, ice-cream

(4) mouth sore

  • eat food cold or at room temperature
  • avoid hot, highly spiced/salty/coarse/acidic foods
  • eat smooth, well-blended moist food (creamed soup, cooked cereals, pureed meat/veg)

(5) taste change

  • identify specific taste sensations that are altered
  • correlate findings with specific foods & modify appropriately
  • serve food in an attractive manner placing emphasis on colour, texture & feeling in the mouth

What happens if can't eat or will not eat?

Possible signs :

  • under-nutrition (if eat less than 60% of daily food intake for 10 days or more)
  • unable to eat for more than 7 days
  • loss of weight continuously

Possible solutions :

  • oral nutrition support or tube feeding
  • drink soy-based lactose-free formula milk (eg Ensure, Prosure, Resource, etc)

After Treatment : Eating to Great Health!

  • choose low-fat food
  • choose fresh foods over processed foods
  • avoid salt-cured, smoked & pickled foods
  • if choose to drink, drink alcohol only occasionally
  • maintain a healthy weight

References

** notes taken from a talk presented by a dietician, Ms Liew at NCC in Sep 2009

National Cancer Institute, USA
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/eatinghints/page2


Saturday 19 June 2010

cancer recurrence : when nose cancer returns

"Your cancer has returned. Cancer may have spread to your lung." To cancer survivors, this is probably the most devastating news. And it happened to me less than 2 years after my first cancer diagnosis.
Cancer recurrence or relapse is something that most cancer survivors hope would never happen to them. After the end of cancer treatment, no survivor would wish to go through the agony of cancer again. The second time can be more distressing than the first. But when cancer returns, what should you do?
My experience with cancer recurrence
2006 - diagnosed with Stage 2 nasopharyngeal cancer, underwent radiotherapy
2007 - CT scan picked up tiny nodules on right lung, metastasis suspected
2008 - underwent lung resection (keyhole surgery) to remove 3 malignant nodules
2010 - CT scan showed no tumour in lungs & other parts of body

What is cancer recurrence? (source :
http://www.mayoclinic.com/)
When cancer returns after a period of remission, it's considered a recurrence. A cancer recurrence happens because, in spite of the best efforts to rid you of your cancer, some cells from your cancer were left behind. These cells could be in the same place where your cancer first originated, or they could be in another part of your body. These cancer cells may have been dormant for a period of time, but eventually they continued to multiply, resulting in the reappearance of the cancer.

A cancer recurrence means it's the same cancer coming back after some period of time. In rare cases you may be diagnosed with a new cancer that's completely unrelated to your first cancer. This is referred to as a second primary cancer.

Why does cancer recur? **
  • tumour too big
  • tumour cells resistant
  • geographic miss
  • cancer already spread at time of diagnosis (but too small to be picked up)
Where does cancer recur? (source : http://www.mayoclinic.com/)
Your cancer can recur in the same place it was originally located, or it can migrate to other parts of your body. Recurrence is divided into three categories:
  • Local recurrence. This means the cancer reappears in the same place it was first found, or very close by. The cancer hasn't spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
  • Regional recurrence. A regional recurrence occurs in the lymph nodes and tissue located in the vicinity of your original cancer.
  • Distant recurrence. This refers to cancer that has spread (metastasized) to areas farther away from where your cancer was first located.
Where your cancer recurs depends on your original cancer type and stage. Some cancer types commonly recur in specific areas. For recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), the common sites of relapse are ** :
  • nasopharynx
  • neck
  • distant sites (esp lung, liver & bones)
  • combinations of above
Ways cancer spreads (source : http://www.cancer.gov/)
Cancer can spread in 3 ways :
  • Through tissue. Cancer invades the surrounding normal tissue.
  • Through the lymph system. Cancer invades the lymph system and travels through the lymph vessels to other places in the body.
  • Through the blood. Cancer invades the veins and capillaries and travels through the blood to other places in the body.
When cancer cells break away from the primary (original) tumor and travel through the lymph or blood to other places in the body, another (secondary) tumor may form. This process is called metastasis. The secondary (metastatic) tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the bones, the cancer cells in the bones are actually breast cancer cells. The disease is metastatic breast cancer, not bone cancer.
Recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) (source : http://www.cancer.gov/)
Recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer is cancer that has recurred (come back) after it has been treated. The cancer may come back in the nasopharynx or in other parts of the body.
Treatment options for recurrent NPC (source : http://www.cancer.net/)
Recurrent NPC is treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or in some instances, surgery. Chemotherapy is used for people whose cancer has recurred in distant sites and who were previously treated with radiation therapy only. Chemotherapy may also be used together with radiation therapy (chemoradiotherapy) to improve the effectiveness of the radiation therapy. In addition, a clinical trial of biologic therapy may be an option.
The following factors may influence the treatment options **:
  • disease-free duration - if less than one year, usually no radiotherapy
  • extent of recurrence - if too large, radiotherapy is not feasible
  • number of previous radiotherapy - not more than 2 courses of RT can be given per patient's lifetime
NPC metastases **
  • affect 30% or more of NPC survivors
  • bone is most frequent site, followed by lung & liver
  • most appear within 18 months of first cancer diagnosis
  • usually treated with chemotherapy
  • cure & long-term survival possible in some cases

References
** Notes taken from a talk presented by Dr T Tan at NPC support group in Apr 2009 on "Management of NPC Recurrence".

MayoClinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cancer/CA00050
National Cancer Institite, USA
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/nasopharyngeal/Patient/page2
American Society of Clinical Oncology
http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Nasopharyngeal+Cancer

Thursday 10 June 2010

cancer and side effects : overcoming side effects of radiotherapy

Most nasopharyngeal or nose cancer patients will experience some side effects of radiotherapy. The side effects usually appear gradually during the course of radiotherapy & might be at their worst at the end of the treatment. Different people react differently to radiotherapy. The intensity & severity of the side effects may be influenced by the following factors ** :
  • radiation dose
  • energy source
  • volume of tissue treated
  • radiotherapy techniques & regimen
  • pre-treatment periodontal condition (area around the teeth)
  • the patient's body constitution (eg size, weight, health status, muscle buffer)

There are early & late side effects of radiotherapy.

Early Side Effects
Some early side effects may vanish when treatment ends but some may linger for weeks, months or even years. Early side effects of radiotherapy include the following ** :
  • oral mucositis (mouth ulcers)
  • taste dysfunction
  • reduced sense of smell
  • xerostomia (dry mouth)
  • skin blisters & burns
  • difficulty chewing & swallowing (due to pain & inflammation)
  • fungal infections in oral cavity
Late Side Effects
Late side effects can appear months or years after the end of radiotherapy. Late side effects of radiotherapy include the following ** :
  • oral complications
  • otologic (ear) complications
  • opthalmic (eye) complications
  • radiation induced cancers
  • pituitary (endocrine) problems
  • swallowing problems
  • neck stiffness & ache
  • numbness of hands, neck, face
  • loss of sense of smell

My experience with early side effects

  1. Xerostomia (dry mouth caused by radiation damage to the salivary glands). My mouth became dry gradually as radiation progressed from Day 1 to Day 33. By the end of the 33 sessions of radiation, my mouth had near-zero saliva, as dry as the Sahara desert. It was unbearable. Today, almost 4 years later, I would say my saliva has come back about 80%. The salivary glands, which were destroyed & damaged by radiation, had healed gradually over the years, although not to the 100% pre-cancer level.
  2. Oral mucositis (mouth ulcers). By Day 8 of radiotherapy, the first ulcer appeared in my mouth. Over the next 2 months, the ulcers multiplied by the hundreds all over my mouth -- walls of the mouth, palate, tongue, throat, gums. It was painful. I found it difficult to eat or drink through the mouth.
  3. Saliva. My glue-like saliva became thicker by the day. By Day 13, my salivary glands had been bombed so badly by radiation that volumes of thick saliva were flowing out of my mouth 24/7 for about a month. I had to continuously spit it out as it was impossible to swallow the sticky saliva. As I could not eat or drink, I had to reluctantly agree to have a feeding tube inserted through the nose. My main concern at this time was that even if I didn't die of cancer, I might die of starvation or malnutrition. I survived through liquid food fed through the tube. I became very self-conscious of my looks as the feeding tube made me look like a monster from outer space. It affected my self-esteem. I felt lousy.
  4. Difficulty talking. The non-stop outflow of saliva affected my ability to talk. I had to use pen and paper method to communicate with others. Sleeping was a problem as I had to slant my face sideways to allow the saliva to flow out onto pieces of tissue paper. I had broken sleep every night.
  5. Fungal infection in oral cavity. The dry mouth effect caused fungus to grow on my tongue. I was put on Nystatin & Fluconazole medication to minimise infection.
  6. Nausea. I suffered from nausea throughout the radiotherapy. By Day 18, the nausea became so bad that I had to be hospitalised for acute dehydration.
  7. Constipation. I was put on medication to relieve the pain caused by ulcers. As a result, I suffered from constipation which became so serious by Day 25 that I had to be hospitalised a second time.

My experience with late side-effects

  1. Dental caries (tooth decay). One to two years after radiation, I began to experience some signs of tooth decay. I suffered from toothache, cavities & broken teeth. I had undergone several root canal operations & dental treatments at the Singapore National Dental Centre. To protect my teeth from further decay, I use a tooth tray to apply tooth mousse on my teeth & gums when I sleep at night. The tooth mousse also helps to keep my mouth moist throughout the night. As a result, I experience less dental problems now.


References

** Notes taken from a talk presented by Dr Tham @ NPC support group in 2007 on "Coping with the side effects of radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Cancer".

CancerHelp UK


Thursday 28 January 2010

email hoax : cancer update from Johns Hopkins

"Cancer Update from John (sic) Hopkins" -- many of us might have received, and even forwarded, this email from time to time.

Johns Hopkins has issued a statement to say that this email hoax did not originate from them and has requested that we help to combat the spread of this hoax by alerting others.

Source :
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel_cancer_center/news_events/featured/cancer_update_email_it_is_a_hoax.html


Email Hoax: "Cancer Update" from Johns Hopkins
Updated April 2009

Mythbusting at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center

STATEMENT: EMAIL HOAX REGARDING CANCER
Information falsely attributed to Johns Hopkins called, "CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHN HOPKINS" describes properties of cancer cells and suggests ways of preventing cancer. Johns Hopkins did not publish the information, which often is an email attachment, nor do we endorse its contents. The email also contains an incorrect spelling of our institution as "John" Hopkins; whereas, the correct spelling is "Johns" Hopkins. For more information about cancer, please read the information on our web site or visit the National Cancer Institute's web site at www.cancer.gov. Please help combat the spread of this hoax by letting others know of this statement.

Another hoax email that has been circulating since 2004 regarding plastic containers, bottles, wrap claiming that heat releases dioxins which cause cancer also was not published by Johns Hopkins. More information from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The Truth about the “Cancer Update” Email
It has become such a problem, that the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, and individual cancer centers like the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have posted warnings on their Web sites. Emails offering easy remedies for avoiding and curing cancer are the latest Web-influenced trend. To gain credibility, the anonymous authors falsely attribute their work to respected research institutions like Johns Hopkins. This is the case with the so-called “Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins.”

The gist of this viral email is that cancer therapies of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy do not work against the disease and people should instead choose a variety of dietary strategies.

Traditional therapies, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, work. The evidence is the millions of cancer survivors in the United States today who are alive because of these therapies. We recognize that treatments don’t work in every patient, or sometimes work for awhile and then stop working, and there are some cancers that are more difficult to cure than others. These problems are the focus of ongoing cancer research.

We’ll go through each statement in the email hoax and provide real responses from Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center experts.

Email hoax contentions #1 and 2: Everyone Has Cancer Cells
Cancer is a genetic disease resulting from a variety of mutations and alterations either inherited from our parents or, more commonly, acquired over time due to environmental exposures and behaviors, such as smoking and poor diet. These alterations turn off important cell growth regulators allowing cells to continually divide unchecked, explains Luis Diaz, a clinician-scientist in Ludwig Center for Cancer Genetics. This type of cell is called a malignant or cancer cell. Among the trillions of cells in the human body, inevitably everyone has some abnormal or atypical cells that possess some of the characteristics of cancer cells, most resolve themselves and never result in cancer, says Diaz.

There is no single or standard test for cancer. There are ways to screen for certain cancers with tests such as colonoscopy for colon cancer, mammography for breast cancer, PSA for prostate cancer, and the Pap smear for cervical cancer, and these tests can detect cancers in a very early and curable stage. For many cancers, there currently are no screening tests, and they are diagnosed when they begin to cause symptoms.

Diaz and other Kimmel Cancer Center researchers are working on new tests that detect abnormal DNA shed by cancer cells into blood and body fluids and have the ability to find cancers before they cause any symptoms. Approaches like this could lead to a broad-based screening test for cancer.

Tests like these also are being used to detect cancer recurrences and malignant cells left behind following surgery, and can find cancers that are not detectable under the microscope or in x-rays.

Other researchers are studying cancer stem cells. They are stealth cells that make up just a tiny fraction of a tumor. While small in number, investigators believe they may be the cells that drive certain cancers and lead to cancer recurrence. Therapies that target these cells are now being tested in clinical trials.

A team of our breast cancer researchers has developed a method that could make it possible to detect breast cancer from the DNA contained in a single drop of blood.

But, while evasive cancer cells are a challenge and the focus of ongoing research, it does not mean, as the email contends, that all patients, even those treated successfully for cancer, have cancers-in-waiting—undetectable but still there. People are treated and completely cured of cancer everyday.

Email hoax contention #3: A Strong Immune System Destroys Cancer
When it comes to cancer and the immune system, it is not a matter of strong or weak as the fictional report contends, but rather an issue of recognition. The immune system simply does not recognize cancer. In its complexity, the cancer cell has learned to disguise itself to the immune system as a normal cell. Infected cells send out danger signals setting the immune system in action. Cancer cells do not, explains Elizabeth Jaffee, co-director of cancer immunology and leading expert on cancer and the immune system. By deciphering the methods cancer cells use to make them invisible to the immune system, Jaffee and team have developed cancer vaccines that have successfully triggered immune reactions against prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia, and multiple myeloma.

Email hoax contention #4 and #5: Cancer is caused by Nutritional Deficiencies and Supplements Will Correct Them
Dietary habits and lifestyle choices, such as smoking, contribute to the development of many human cancers, says Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson. Our experts recommend a balanced diet (see response #11) as a way of reducing cancer risk. In terms of supplements, Nelson points out that while they may help mediate vitamin deficiencies, taking doses above what the body needs provides no added benefit.

Email hoax contentions #6, 7, 8, 9, and 10: Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Harms Normal Cells. Surgery Causes Cancer to Spread
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy kills cancer cells with remarkable selectivity, says Nelson. There are some temporary and reversible side effects common to cancer therapies, including hair loss and low blood counts. Limiting and managing these side effects is an integral part of treatment.

Surgery is the first line of treatment for many types of cancer. It does not cause cancer to spread. Cancers spread to other tissues and organs as a tumor progresses and cancer cells break away from the original tumor and travel through the bloodstream to other body sites.

Email hoax contentions #11, 12, 13, and 14: Cancers Feed on Certain Foods
The premise is that cancer cells feed on certain foods, and if a person refrains from eating these foods, the cancer will die. According to our experts, a poor diet and obesity associated with a poor diet is a risk factor for the development of cancer. However, there is no evidence that certain foods alter the environment of an existing cancer, at the cellular level, and cause it to either die or grow.

While there is such a thing as tumors that produce mucus, the mucus made by a tumor does not result from drinking milk. And, eating less meat, while a good choice for cancer prevention, does not free up enzymes to attack cancer cells, explains cancer prevention and control expert Elizabeth Platz.

Moderation is key, says Platz. As part of a balanced diet, sugar, salt, milk, coffee, tea, meat, and chocolate—the foods the “Update” calls into question—are all safe choices, she says. The real concern with many of these, particularly sugar, is that it adds calories to a diet and can lead to obesity, and obesity is a major risk factor for cancer. A balanced nutritious diet, healthy weight, physical activity, and avoiding alcoholic drinks may prevent as many as 1/3 of all cancers. Platz recommends eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day and limiting red and processed meats, like hot dogs.

Several Johns Hopkins experts participated in the World Cancer Research Fund - American Institute for Cancer Research report Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective, published in November 2007, which is considered by cancer prevention experts to be an authoritative source of information on diet, physical activity and cancer. Their recommendations for cancer prevention and for good health in general are:
1. Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.
2. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.
3. Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods (particularly processed foods high in added sugar, or low in fiber, or high in fat).
4. Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes such as beans.
5. Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats.
6. If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks to 2 for men and 1 for women a day.
7. Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with salt (sodium).
8. Don't use supplements to protect against cancer.
Our experts recommend that people meet their nutritional needs through their food choices. While vitamin supplements can be helpful in people with nutritional deficiencies, evidence suggests that supplementation above what the body can use provides no added health benefit.

Email hoax contention #15: Cancer is a Disease of Mind, Body, and Spirit Cancer is a disease caused by genetic alterations. Many times, these alterations occur through our own behaviors—cigarette smoking, a poor and unbalanced diet, virus exposures, and sunburns, says cancer prevention and control expert John Groopman.

How stress, faith, and other factors influence this is largely unknown. We would like people to be happy, loving, and stress free, simply because it is a nice way to live and can contribute to an overall feeling of well being, says Platz. There is no evidence, however, that a person prevents or causes cancer based on his or her state of mind.

Still, we understand that a cancer diagnosis can make patients and families feel stressed and anxious, and these are not pleasant feelings. So, we offer extensive patient and family services, including a cancer counseling center, pain and palliative care program, chaplain services and a meditation chapel, an image recovery center, and the Art of Healing art and music program.

Email hoax contention #16: Oxygen Kills Cancer Cells
Platz recommends regular exercise as a part of any healthy lifestyle, but says there is no evidence that breathing deeply or receiving oxygen therapy prevents cancer.

On its Web site, the American Cancer Society includes the following statement about oxygen therapy, “Available scientific evidence does not support claims that putting oxygen-releasing chemicals into a person's body is effective in treating cancer. It may even be dangerous. There have been reports of patient deaths from this method.”

Please pass this information on to family and friends.

Questions?
Contact: Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center
Office of Public Affairs
410-955-1287



Source : Johns Hopkins Medicine
http://www.hopkinskimmelcancercenter.org/