Cancer – Conventional Treatments

In recent years, cancer has emerged as a significant health killer in Malaysia. The statistics from the Ministry of Health Malaysia showed that out of 100,000 people, 95 were reported to have cancer in 1978 and the incidence increased to 112 people in 2003 (Nanyang Siang Pau, 2 December 2006). In 2004, the National Cancer Registry report showed that there were 21,464 new cancer cases in Peninsular Malaysia alone, comprising 9,400 males (44%) and 12,064 females (56%). On average, a total of 59 persons are diagnosed to have cancer each day. The most common types of cancer among males are lung, nose, colon, blood, intestine and prostate cancers while for females are breast, uterus, colon and intestinal cancers.

All of us have cancer cells in our body. Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Normal cells grow in the body and die in a controlled way. When cancer occurs, cells in the body that are not normal keep dividing and forming more cells without control.

Currently, it is the No. 3 health killer in the world, after heart disease and stroke. Most people are frightened when diagnosed with cancer because it could lead to death within a short period of time.

The fact is cancer is not formed overnight but it takes many years for the tumour to take shape. For 1 g of tumour to become 10 g, it may take a few years. 1 g of tumour is equivalent to 108 to 109 or 100,000,000 to 1,000,000,000 cancer cells. The formation of a 1 cm tumour may take as long as 15 years.

Once the tumour is formed, various symptoms appear and these include the following body conditions.
1. Appearance of unknown lump
2. Obvious changes on the appearance of moles
3. Abnormal increase in excretion of phlegm, ear wax and eye fluid
4. Abnormal increase in ‘bleeding’ during menstruation, nose bleeding, phlegm with blood
5. Abnormal and lasting ‘fever’
6. Abnormal continued pain such as stomach ache
7. Abrupt change in urinary and bowel habits, such as mild diarrhoea and reduced urine
8. Feeling something in the throat, no phlegm, sore throat and difficulty in swallowing
9. Loss of body weight
10. Fatigue
11. Difficulty in wound-healing

What are the major causes of cancer? Exposure to environmental factors that promote gene damage is by far the most important determinant of whether we develop cancer or not. These factors include food and nutrition, physical activity, body composition, tobacco use, infectious agents, radiation, industrial chemicals, pollution and medications (Utusan Konsumer Sept–Oct 2008). In a detailed 517-page report (2007) entitled Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), evidences were shown linking cancer to diet, physical activity and weight (cited in Utusan Konsumer Sept–Oct 2008).

How about genetic inheritance? While it’s true that DNA (genetic material) damage promotes cancer, only 5–10% of cancers are directly inherited, and someone with an inherited gene will not necessarily develop cancer but is at increased risk compared with the general population (EUFIC, cited in Utusan Konsumer Sept–Oct 2008).

The main western treatment for cancer includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these. The doctor’s recommended treatment plan is normally based on the kind of cancer, the affected body part, the possible effect of cancer on the normal body functions and the general health of the patient.

Surgery usually removes the tumour or affected organ. In breast cancer, it involves the removal of one or both breasts, followed by other treatments.

Radiotherapy (also called x-ray therapy or irradiation) involves the use of a certain type of energy (called ionizing radiation) to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours. Accordingly, radiation therapy injures or destroys cells in the area being treated (the ‘target tissue’) by damaging their genetic material. This would make it impossible for the cancer cells to grow and divide. However, this therapy damages both cancer cells and normal cells. Radiation therapy is used to treat solid tumour, including cancers of the brain, breast, cervix, larynx, lung, pancreas, prostate, skin, spine, stomach, uterus, leukaemia and lymphoma.

In chemotherapy, ‘anticancer’ drugs are applied to destroy cancer cells by stopping them from growing or multiplying. In the process, healthy cells are also destroyed. Again, in the process, harm to healthy cells may cause side effects. It is believed that these cells usually repair themselves after chemotherapy. In some cases, two or more drugs are often given at the same time to have maximum impact.

Chemotherapy can be used for the following purposes:
1. To cure the cancer. Cancer is considered cured when the patient remains free of evidence of cancer cells.
2. To control the cancer. This is done by keeping the cancer from spreading, slowing the cancer's growth and killing cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body from the original tumour.
3. To relieve symptoms (such as pain) that the cancer may cause to the patient.
Other than surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, other drug treatments such as biological therapy is also used. This is treatment with substances made in the laboratory that boost the body's own immune system against cancer. These substances are given to patients to destroy cancer cells or change the way the body reacts to a tumour. They may also help the body repair or make new cells destroyed by chemotherapy.

In some cases, chemotherapy is the only treatment a patient receives. It is now common to find a combination of treatments, i.e. surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and/or biological therapy. This is used for the following purposes.
1. To shrink a tumour before surgery or radiation therapy. This is called neo-adjuvant therapy.
2. To help destroy any cancer cells that may remain after surgery and/or radiation therapy. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy.
3. To make radiation therapy and biological therapy work better.
4. To help destroy cancer if it recurs or has spread to other parts of the body from the original tumour.

Western treatment for cancer is to ‘remove and kill’ the cancer cells. In the process, other than the cancer cells, healthy cells are destroyed resulting in various side effects such as mouth ulcers, chest pain, poor eye sight, stomach-ache, tooth drop and hair loss. More importantly, the use of drugs in treatment may cause other problems. In the case of breast cancer, Tamoxifen, a drug used to prevent cancer recurrence, could lead to liver and urinary cancer as revealed by Prof. Dr. Azimahtol Hawariah Lope Pihie (The Star, 1 February 2004).

Below is the case of a patient undergoing breast cancer treatment (Healthy Magazine, No. 14, 2003).

1998: Felt the existence of a lump on one breast. She was confirmed to have cancer after X-ray (Mammogram) test. She could not accept this reality of having breast cancer. Felt worried, scared and mentally tormented. She did not have peace of mind. Which treatment is best: modern, traditional Chinese or both? She sought the advice of a psychiatrist. She accepted the reality of having cancer, learned about it and faced it. She underwent surgery and chemotherapy. The third chemotherapy treatment brought side effects. She felt eye pain, she could not open the eyes and no tears flowed when she cried. She took Chinese herbal medicine and the eye condition returned to normal.

2003: She began to practise Quolin Qi Gong to fight cancer. She is of the opinion that it is important for cancer patients to learn Qi Gong to control the cancer cells. In her opinion, when western medication does not help, a cancer patient should never give up trying Chinese medication, hoping that may be, it could help. Other than medicinal treatment, the care and concern of her spouse and family members also helped her recover from cancer.

How long do cancer patients survive with conventional treatment? Since my father-in-law practices Quolin Qi Gong with a group of cancer patients, it was observed that most patients diagnosed with cancer died within five years. Of the total 33 cancer patients who passed away from 2003–2008, only 15% survived more than five years.

Why do cancer patients undergoing conventional treatments not live longer than they wish? The possible and yet often ignored reality is that cancer cells are very active and they keep dividing endlessly. When they divide, they will take in nutrients that are provided for the normal cells. Moreover, the cancer cells are resistant to chemicals. When you kill the cancer cells, you will not kill all. You will probably enjoy a few more years before the rest of remaining cancer cells recovered but when they become strong again, they may claim your life. However, after treatments, if you go on health food, the chance of reclaiming health is higher. The health food you take helps for the recovery of damaged cells in a soft and gentle way. Health food, which helps in detoxifying, assists in preventing the proliferation of cancer cells.

In short, if you are diagnosed with cancer, one of the first things to do is to switch to health food as soon as possible. This will increase your chance of lengthening your life and reduce the risk of bearing more suffering in conventional treatments. Make a wise choice, your life destiny can be changed. You are the decision maker.