How Leukemia Is Diagnosed

Cancer
There are various tests that can be done to help diagnose a patient for leukemia. The following three methods are the most common:
1. Physical Examination - Often used to check for lumps, abnormalities, or certain leukemia symptoms that may be present in a patient. This examination will usually include a thorough revision of the patients medical history, family history, and any risk factors that may exist specific to the patient. After the examination has been completed, it is usual for blood testing to follow.
Cancer 
2. Blood Tests - Such as CBC (complete blood count) tests can detect leukemia by determining the number of both red and white blood cells, together with the platelets (the small, round, thin blood cells that help the blood to stop flowing from a cut by becoming thick and sticky), the number of red blood cells that make-up the blood sample, and the amount of hemoglobin that consists in the blood.
Cancer 
- A peripherial blood smear (a thin layer of blood [stained] smeared on a microscope slide which allows for the cells to be examined microscopically) to determine the presence of "blast cells," which will reveal both the type and quantity of white blood cells that exist, may also be used.
Cancer 
- A cytogenetic analysis of the blood may be used to check for any changes in the chromosomes of the lymphocytes, together with other blood tests to see how well the body's organs are functioning.
3. Biopsy - A fine needle is usually inserted into the hip or breast bone to remove either a sample of bone, or bone marrow for microscopic examination in a laboratory (bone marrow aspiration [most common]). The sample is usually examined by a pathologist for any signs of cancerous cells.
Cancer 
Other forms of biopsy may include:
(a) Lymph node biopsy - depending on the type of leukemia suspected (a lymph node is removed for examination by a pathologist).
(b) Lumbar Puncture/Spinal Tap - is where spinal fluid is removed from between the vertebrae in the spine, for examination by a pathologist.
Other procedures during the biopsy process may include:
CT Scans, X-rays, MRI's (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and Ultra Sound Scans.
Cancer 
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The Story of a kids book

Kids and Teens
When the author flew to Ghana in February 1971, to take up a teaching post at the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, his three sons were 9 years, 6 years and 3 months old. As the years passed, one by one the boys left to attend boarding school in England and the father took to writing each a letter every Sunday morning.
Kids and Teens
As often as possible, he tried to send a story with the letter and these proved popular not only with his sons but with their school mates. When the stories were sent recorded on tape, the tapes were misappropriated. Other parents urged the publication of the stories but the effort was postponed because suitable illustrations were not available. Now that grandchildren have read the stories, they are to be published in the hope that their children and many others will also enjoy them.
Kids and Teens
The true origin of the stories must be traced back to long car journeys in England in the 1960s, when they were related in answer to the plea 'tell us a story.' So the characters were well known to the boys before they read about them at boarding school. The boys spent long summer holidays in Kumasi and were friends with the children of other lecturers and professors. Inevitably, the stories were shared and came to the attention of other parents. One father, employed in the Faculty of Architecture, pressed for the publication of the stories and offered to provide the illustrations. The offer was accepted but the pictures never materialised.
Kids and Teens
This scenario was repeated over the following years. Sadly, one would-be illustrator passed away before the task could be accomplished. After this disappointment the drafts languished for three decades. They were lucky to survive, having been composed on a portable typewriter, long before the days of word processors or personal computers. Their revival was prompted by the demands of grandchildren, alerted to the possibility by their fathers.
Kids and Teens
One grandson produced a few sketches of the characters in the stories and once again the issue of publication arose. So the old yellowing pages with faint grey type were painfully retyped into a Word file in preparation for sending to a publisher. In this exercise it was realised that in the forty years or more since the stories were originally composed much had happened to change perception and understanding.
Kids and Teens
A hidden agenda had always been to help extent the knowledge and vocabulary of the youthful reader. To ensure the continuing pursuit of this end some updating was needed, so an extended period or rewriting then ensued.
Kids and Teens
The matter of suitable illustrations was not resolved before the task was taken up by a publisher. There was some delay in finding an illustrator with the right style, and even after one was selected there remained a few problems with some characters and locations. The process of final adjustment was aided by some sketches executed by a granddaughter. So what began as a family-centred task ended the same way. After gestating for more than two generations the stories are now set to meet new families and a new generation of readers.
Kids and Teens
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Self Improvement

Self Improvement
While celebrities have always existed in some shape or form, it has never been as easy as it is today for someone to be famous. There is no need for someone to have achieved something significant; the only thing they need is an online presence.
Self Improvement
This is something that one can develop in a matter of weeks or even hours; it is no longer necessary for one to wait for a prolonged period of time. For example, if someone creates something that ends up going 'viral', it can end up being seen by millions of people in a matter minutes.
Self Improvement
A Star Is Born
When this happens, one can go from being a relative unknown to someone who is known by people from all over the world. And while this may relate to a video that they have made that demonstrates a certain talent or skill, this might not be the case.
Self Improvement
It could just be a video that makes other people laugh, or they might be sharing their life with others. This is not to say that comedy has no value or someone's life has no importance; what it comes down to is how times have changed.
Self Improvement
Values
Even though one generation values something, it doesn't mean next generation will have the same outlook. This is why it is to be expected that there will be a difference when it comes to who each generation elevates.
Although there will still be some people who have values that match up with the values people had in the past, it is not always possible for someone to realise this. And this is because their attention might be consumed by what is taking place in the mainstream.
Self Improvement
The Mainstream
When it comes down to what people believe about the world, or about the people who inhabit the planet, there is strong chance that they developed these views through being exposed to the mainstream media. One reason for this is that it takes effort to think, and how one doesn't need to think if they let others do it for them.
Self Improvement
So on one side, this will allow one to save energy, but on the other, it will set them up to be manipulated. This is not the say that everything the media presents is false, but at the same time, it would be dangerous to believe everything.
Self Improvement
Control
In the past, the mainstream media and the other establishments would have had most of the power when it came to who would be famous. But the internet has changed this, and this have given people far more control than ever before when it comes to whether they will be famous or not.
Self Improvement
It has been said that everyone wants to be famous, and in today's world, this is something that one can make a reality. And while they will need other people to elevate them into a certain position, they won't need other people to give them any kind of financial backing in order to 'make it big'.
Self Improvement
Suppression
If one does have the need to be famous, they will no longer have to suppress this need. They can embrace how they feel, and do what they need to do in order to fulfil this need.
The first thing they can do is to look at what other people are doing, and then come up with the same thing or something similar. From here, they can set up an account on a social media site.
Self Improvement
Saturated
Once they begin to look into what other people are doing, they might start to get an idea of what they need to do to be famous. However, this might also make them think about how saturated the internet has become with people who are 'famous'.
Self Improvement
During this time, they may begin to see how anyone can be famous, and that it doesn't matter what they look like, how talented they are, or whether they are adding value to the world. So even though they may feel inspired by what they see, it might also cause them to feel overwhelmed.
Self Improvement
Meaningless
If everyone drove around in an expensive car, the car would no longer stand out, and this is because it wouldn't be exclusive. These cars wouldn't have the same value, and they would just be seen as another car on the road.
Self Improvement
When a small amount of people are famous, it will be normal for them to stand out, and this is because there are far more people who are not famous. Yet, if fame is no longer limited to a select few, it will start to lose its meaning.
Self Improvement
Valueless
And just as the quality of something can go down when it is massed produced, the same can apply when there is an increase in the amount of people who are famous. If one was famous in the past, there was the chance that they had achieved something significant, but there is less chance of this being the case today.
In many ways, being famous can be seen as something that one experiences because they are alive at this time. Through living in this age, one might have come to believe that they deserve to be famous.
Self Improvement
Conclusion
There is then no need for them to make a contribution to the world, and this is because they are entitled to be famous. This shows how people's values have changed, and while it would be easy to blame social media, there are other factors involved.
Self Improvement
What this could also show is that there is lack of guidance in today's world, and this is why fame is seen as the 'answer' to one's problems. Even though we are more 'connected' than we have ever been, it could also be said that we are more disconnected than we have ever been.
Self Improvement
Prolific writer, thought leader and coach, Oliver JR Cooper hails from the United Kingdom. His insightful commentary and analysis covers all aspects of human transformation; love, partnership, self-love, and inner awareness. With over seven hundred in-depth articles highlighting human psychology and behavior, Oliver offers hope along with his sound advice. Current projects include "A Dialogue With The Heart" and "Communication Made Easy."
Self Improvement
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Self Defense

Self Defense
Your action in any situation is dependent on how well you instinctively react in that critical moment. People will generally first act on the knowledge they have gained from DVDs and a few nights in a gym learning self-defense. They think they know what to do; for example, as the person or hoodie comes forward and reaches out towards you, you must take the first evasive - but, stop, it's all over, whilst you were thinking of taking that first evasive action, he has already taken you down, everything is a blur.
Self Defense
My friends, in all combative Martial Arts you have no time to think. In the Western Martial Art of boxing, what you see in the ring during a serious bout is a series of blows, counter blows, weaving and dodging - neither has time to think of the first blow or counter blow. What you see is an instinctive action of blows, counter blows, weaving and dodging created by a systematic form of training or practice.
Self Defense
The concert pianist doesn't have to place a finger consciously on each key; if he did, his concerto would be a total disaster, and that classical recital a total failure. If his passion and desire is to be a concert pianist, he must than add to his knowledge of the written music and keyboard many hours of "PRACTICE", in order to achieve the same interpretation of the theme on his keys as the boxer in the ring.
Self Defense
There is no easy way to be proficient in any discipline except through the boring repetition of practicing the same movements or techniques. But it is your passion for that discipline that will drive you to success. Serious self-defense practitioners, professional bouncers and many self-defense students practice each movement a minimum of 3000 to 5000 times before it becomes a habit, before you can react to an assault instinctively
Self Defense

So, let's look at an average repetition of 4000 times to achieve your goal of mastering a move in one month: That is approximately 134 repetitions a day, which would take about 20 minutes to complete. It is so easily achievable to gain that very important feeling of self-confidence, to begin to banish your fears and start to learn to trust your instincts. And it is on your instincts that you will react during those first few critical seconds.
Self Defense
During the annual "Budokwai" Judo display at the Albert Hall in London, in the 1960s, the highlight of the evening was the 1 against 10 competition, which was always a Senior Judoka against the National Team. On this night, Mr. Watanabe 6th Dan would take each member of the British Judo National Team in turn and, as he defeated his first opponent, the second opponent would step on to the mat, and so on. On this night, he defeated the ten members of the team in just over two minutes and his favorite technique on that night was the Tai Otoshi.
Self Defense
Sadly (although it didn't make much of a difference), Mr. Watanabe had sprained his right ankle earlier that week and it was heavily bandaged before he walked on the mat; when he walked off the mat, he turned to one of the other contestants and said, "I am just beginning to get the feel of that Tai Otoshi."
 Self Defense
In other words, he had been practicing the Tai Otoshi for possibly 20 years or more, and it became part of an instinctive reaction to a movement, a sudden calculated step by his opponent that would allow Mr. Watanabe to execute his favorite throw. It has often been said that Judo is very much like a game of chess on the mat; the master can always anticipate the next move his pupil will take before he executes his move, in this case, his Tai Otoshi.
Self Defense
It is this instinctive action that we must achieve through repetition and practice; there is no other way to achieve this. But here comes the crunch: to just simply carry out a series of movements repeatedly, with no specific technique or timing, creates a bad habit, and the wrong instinctive reaction. It is not sufficient to just place one foot in front of the other, twist, turn and then visualize throwing your opponent or parrying his attack; you would fail to achieve your purpose, to create a smooth, coordinated, uninterrupted throw or parry.
Self Defense
If you wish to practice a defense technique, you would for instance do the following: as your opponent comes forward and attempts to grab you with his right hand: (1) step off his attack line, (2) at the same time, parry his right hand across with your left palm, and (3) then counter attack with a right hammer blow to the side of his head. In practices, you would not over step in (1), but would maintain your balance; in (2) you would not over reach as your left hand moves across to parry his right hand; and in (3) the force of your blow would come from your hip.
Self Defense
You would therefore practice the correct steps, and maintain your balance, your strength and the maximum force in that blow to the side of his head. The purpose of your practice is to imitate exactly the movement of your throw or your evasive technique.
Self Defense
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Teen Mental Health

Teens
Kids and Teens
Parents worried about teen mental health need not look any further. Factual information can help you to make decisions that will actually help your child be happier in his or her life. Teens are at the vulnerable stage in life and, as a parent, if you search the net or talk to your friends, you will get a lot of advice on how to help improve your teen's mental health.
Kids and Teens
Yet, facts are what matter! Facts have no vested interest or bias and may help you, the loving parent, to determine what is best for your child. First, to define mental health symptoms, disorders and diagnoses, there are these facts: No medical tests exist that can detect a mental health disorder (no brain scan, no blood test, no chemical imbalance test).
 Kids and Teens
Dr. Allen Frances, Editor of the psychiatric diagnostic manual, edition IV, states in an article titled, Mislabeling Medical Illness as Mental Disorder, " that the diagnoses "will harm people who are medically ill by mislabeling their medical problems as mental disorder." Dr. Russell Barkley, clinical professor of psychiatry, and pediatrics, in the same article, states, " There is no lab test for any mental disorder right now in our science."
Kids and Teens
Psychiatric disorders are listed in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The disorders are voted on by workgroups comprised of psychiatrists. Dr. Thomas Insel, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, was reported by the New Yorker as refuting the validity of mental health diagnoses.
 Kids and Teens
"Insel announced that the D.S.M.'s diagnostic categories lacked validity, that they were not 'based on any objective measures,' and that, 'unlike our definitions of ischemic heart disease, lymphoma or AIDS,' which are grounded in biology, they were nothing more than constructs put together by committees of experts. America's psychiatrist-in-chief seemed to be reiterating what many had been saying all along: that psychiatry was a pseudoscience, unworthy of inclusion in the medical kingdom.
Kids and Teens
According to a 2012 report from the University of Massachusetts, "Three-fourths of the work groups continue to have a majority of their members with financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry". Per the FDA, some of the side effects of psychiatric drugs include mania, psychosis, depression, suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts and death. Non-psychiatric medical professionals can, and do, perform medical tests to detect any potential underlying physical cause of unwanted mental health symptoms.
Kids and Teens
Per Florida Department of Health Regulation, Florida Patient's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, each individual has the right to be fully informed about the proposed medical treatment or procedure. This includes the right to know the risks and alternatives. For those who live outside of Florida, Informed Consent, the right to know the risks and the alternatives to any treatment, is a legally accepted term that is used globally and ensures your right to make decisions for your health and well being.
Kids and Teens
Second, considering the, above-mentioned, facts, there becomes a vicious circle for any teen, adult or elder, who is experiencing life's stresses, and therefore the effects of those stresses, such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, aggression, and more. The never-ending circle is that of mental health diagnoses, mental health drugs, (more drugs, whether prescribed or abused) and more mental health diagnoses, with only seeming improvement in symptoms if the drug or drugs have chemically restrained the initial and unwanted mental health symptoms, temporarily.
Kids and Teens
Unfortunately, for most those restraints fail to work after time and the adverse effects take place, which of course produce more mental health symptoms, more diagnoses and more drugs.
Teen mental health is an important topic! It has to do with the welfare of your child, our future adult in society. Those that shape and direct how our culture will develop over time. To improve your teen's mental health, consider the facts and in doing so, talk to traditional, non mental heath, medical professionals about the possibility of a thorough medical exam that will test for all possible physical causes of the teen's depression, anxiety, aggression, etcetera.
Kids and Teens
Time and history are on your side, because over time, and strewn through the last 4 decades are medical research and multitudes of documented real-life cases of individuals who did avail themselves of a thorough physical examination, found the true physical cause of their problems and resolved all through the use of medical science that carried none of the FDA warnings on mental health drugs, which of course, are mental health symptoms in themselves. Such as, mania, delusions, psychosis, worsening depression, anxiety, hallucinations, suicidal and homicidal thoughts and actions.
Kids and Teens
Will Fudeman, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, recently published an article about his work as a psychotherapist. He felt he had to do more to help his patients than listen to their woes. He decided, after his own personal experience of having horrific pain after a car accident, that he wanted to study Chinese medicine. He got his license to practice as an Acupuncturist and, after his 20 years as a therapist, he says that he had come to understand that emotional and physical are "intertwined".
Kids and Teens
Dr. Fudeman cites Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and his research treating those who have experienced all types of trauma. Even those who have been to war, experienced natural disasters and serious accidents, etcetera. Fudeman says "Van der Kolk has found that survivors of trauma are helped most by treatments that bring them into their bodies in the present time."
Kids and Teens
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The Most Effective Way of teaching our kids

Kids and Teens
When we already have kids on their early adolescent stage, it's very difficult to motivate them to be more compliant to us parents. During this period, our children are older and more mentally and physically mature. So, we expect them to be capable of doing simple house chores such as making their beds, washing dishes, sweeping the yard, putting away clean laundry and even cleaning the house. At this point, our kids even start learning how to cook. To top it all, we are teaching them to learn how to spend money wisely.
Kids and Teens
Many parents choose to give children a small amount of money for completing certain chores. By doing this, children are taught how to spend and to save money at a relatively early age.
We can help our children learn about spending and saving by setting a good example of the value of thriftiness and having discussions focused on this topic. For example, letting our kids know the cash flow of the family. Then, let them help on the budgeting. List the things that need to be bought. Allow them to see which is needed or not. Thus, we let our kids realize how to separate the needs from their wants.
Kids and Teens
Children are most likely to learn and take to heart these important money-related skills and values when they see us actually doing these things rather than just talking about them. Therefore, it is useful if we can let our children see us in paying bills and going to the bank to save money, and setting up and following a budget, rather than hiding these activities from our children's view. We can also have a piggy bank at home. We can show them that no matter how tight our budget is, we still allocate a small amount for savings. Having a reserved fund helps a lot especially in cases of emergency.
Kids and Teens
We also need to have an open and honest conversations with our children about money so that they can appreciate the fact on how the family gets money, and how that money is spent to provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, etc. By showing children that obtaining money requires hard work and a lot of effort, they will know how much money must be budgeted just to provide for the basics of life. Thus, parents can help children better appreciate the value of money so that they are less likely to waste it on useless things such as buying toys instead of food.
Kids and Teens
Our kids may find it hard to appreciate what we go through just to provide them food and shelter. It may be easier for our kids to understand if money discussions are put into concrete terms children are more familiar with like spending money on a computer games. We can assist our children in understanding concepts like budgets by helping them set up their own budget.
Kids and Teens
Thus, setting a good example still remains the most effective way of teaching our kids to be more responsible in spending and saving money.
This article speaks of the most effective way of teaching our kids to be more compliant and responsible.
Kids and Teens
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Horses


Horse
Pets
Many children become obsessed with horses. For some, the obsession will last a lifetime, but for others it is just a phase. The key is to make sure your child's love is not just a passing phase before you make the huge commitment of purchasing a horse.
Pets 
The best way to do this is to sign your child up for riding lessons at a local stable. Even if you do purchase a horse, your child will need to take lessons, be it from a professional or an experienced friend, in order to maximize the safety and enjoyment of having a horse. I highly recommend starting with lessons from a professional for a minimum of six months to a year before even thinking about buying a horse. If you live in a climate that is cold during the winter months, make sure you get through the winter before making a decision. In colder seasons, riding becomes much less desirable, and your child may not want to make horses a day-in, day-out, year-long commitment after experiencing the barn in the winter.
Pets 
It's also helpful for your child to get some experience with the non-riding-related labor that comes with horse ownership, especially if you will keep your horse at home instead of boarding it. See if the stable your child takes lessons at will let him or her help muck out stalls, stack hay bales, clean water troughs or buckets, etc. When I was a kid, I happily did these tasks just to be able to spend more time in the barn. If your child is less than enthusiastic about this extra work, you may want to think twice about buying him or her a horse. There's an old saying that for every hour of riding, there are two hours of work: grooming, cleaning tack, feeding, mucking stalls, and so on. It's true.
Pets 
If, after a long period of lessons and barn work, your child still adamantly wants a horse, then it is safer to consider. Regardless, there are many ways to ride and work with horses without actually owning one. Aside from riding lessons, you could consider leasing a horse. The most common types of leases are a full lease and a half lease. In a full lease, the lessee has use of the horse at all times and generally pays for all the expenses and veterinary care.
Pets 
This is a great way to see if you and your child are ready to purchase a horse, without making the ultimate commitment. Leases can span a time period anywhere from a month to several years. Sometimes there is an option to buy the horse at the end of the leasing term. In a half lease, the lessee would have use of the horse only on certain days or times. The schedule and financial responsibilities can vary with this arrangement, depending on what works best for you and the owner.
Pets 
If you do not have horse experience, you will need to learn some things as well before buying a horse, especially if you will be keeping it at home. While you as the parent may not want or need to actually ride the horse, you should be comfortable handling it and leading it, and have basic horse safety skills and a general knowledge of horse behavior.
Pets 
Once you're certain your child's passion for horses will endure through all the hard work and tough days, then you can confidently consider whether or not to buy him or her a horse. There are of course many other factors to take into account, but the first step is deciding whether your child is truly committed.
Pets
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How to Introduce a Cat to Your New Baby


Pets
There are plenty of old wives tales around that convince people that because they are pregnant, this means they need to give up their cat because of the risks to the baby. But the reality is that with some precautions taken during pregnancy and careful introduction of baby and cat, the process can be straightforward and successful.
Pets
Before the birth
The biggest thing to remember is that the biggest risk to a pregnant lady from a cat is from a parasitic infection called toxoplasmosis. This can result in miscarriage, stillbirth or a number of birth defects including blindness, deafness, hydrocephalus or even epilepsy. The cat can become infected with these parasites by eating a bird or small mammal so the best way to avoid this is to keep the cat indoors. It also makes it not an ideal time to take in a stray cat or a new cat from a shelter.
Pets
Toxoplasmosis cysts are also shed through the faeces of an infected animal so it is important to wear gloves when gardening in case a cat has used the garden as a litter tray. Also, do the same when washing raw fruit and vegetables, handling raw meat or scrubbing food preparation areas. If you are cleaning out the cat litter, the gloves are also essential for doing this job.
Pets
On the personality side, some cats don't take to any changes and this can come to the fore when the lady of the house is pregnant. It is important to help adjust the cat to the presence of a baby beforehand and by playing tapes of baby noises is a good way to do this. Get them used to baby lotion by rubbing it onto your hands and then doing things like rubbing the cat in their favourite way or cuddling with them - this helps associate the smell with good things. Avoid encouraging them from becoming too happy sitting in the cot or the changing table as this may lead them to sit on the baby when it comes.
Pets
After the birth
When you first come home with your new baby, make sure you greet the cat and fuss it without any interruptions. After a few minutes quiet time, let everyone else in, including the baby and visitors. The cat will likely behave in their normal way, either staying to greet the visitors or leaving the room and returning when things settle down.
Pets
At this point, put down a receiving blanket or a piece of the baby's clothing in a quiet spot for the cat to investigate. When you are nursing, allow the cat to approach and see what is going on and come into the nursery, as long as he doesn't jump into the crib. Cats will seek out another warm body to curl up with so left alone may curl up with the baby and could lead to breathing difficulties. This means it is best to keep the nursery door closed when you aren't there, or put a screen up so the cat can't get in but you can hear what's happening.
Pets
Once the baby is settled for the night, make sure you spend the time with the cat that you would normally do so they don't feel left out or jealous of the baby.
Pets
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Breast Cancer Information and Statistics

Cancer
Today we are here to discuss information and statistics surrounding one of the most common cancers currently in America. Breast cancer is defined as the formation of malignant tumors that are created in the cells of the breast. Malignant tumors can grow and spread to surrounding tissues and other areas of the body. This disease almost occurs exclusively in women but in some rare cases men have been diagnosed with it as well. The American Cancer Society projects that in the year 2015 an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women. 
Cancer
Out of those women who are diagnosed, a projected 40,290 women will die from this form of cancer. Both of these are extremely alarming statistics that we must work on reducing in the future. Another surprising statistic is that about 1 in 8 (12%) of all women in the US will develop invasive cancer of the breast at some point throughout their lifetime. Statistics show that breast cancer is the second most common cancer in American women and is only behind skin cancer. 
Cancer
Death rates have been in the decline since about 1989 thanks in large part to the results of early detection screenings and the increase in public awareness surrounding the disease. Currently, the United States boasts over 2.8 million survivors of this deadly disease.
Cancer
Survival rates for breast cancer greatly determine on the stage your cancer is in when it is detected. Stage is a reference used to describe the amount of area that your cancer has spread throughout your body, the size of the tumor, and whether or not your cancer is invasive. This is the one of the most important factors in determining prognosis and treatment options.
Cancer
In order to evaluate for changes in the breast many doctors recommended that women undergo a mammogram exam. Women should undergo a mammogram on an annual basis so that doctors can look for lumps, calcifications, and to measure breast density to determine if any tumors could have formed inside the tissue of the breast.
Cancer
All women should be aware of the risk factors surrounding breast cancer to know if they are at an increased risk for breast cancer diagnosis. Many risk factors for breast cancer are often not related to personal choice and include gender, age, race or ethnicity, genetic risk factors, and family history of breast cancer. On the other hand, there are also multiple lifestyle-related factors that contribute to an increase in risk for breast cancer. These factors include having children, birth control, and breastfeeding, drinking alcohol, obesity, and not undergoing enough physical activity. For the most part, one or two of these lifestyle factors are not a big deal but if you fall under multiple categories your risk for breast cancer is significantly increased.
Cancer
Simply put, breast cancer is a disease that continues to ruin lives and tear families apart. It cannot be stated enough how important it is to undergo the proper examinations on a regular basis to ensure you cancer will be detected in an early stage so that your chances for survival will be as high as possible. Cancer Society's online communities offer support by connecting you with patients, survivors, and cancer experts to help you cope with you or your loved ones cancer diagnosis.
Cancer
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Breast Cancer


Cancer
One in eight US women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Overcoming breast cancer is a personal journey with choices along the way. There are choices about the type of breast surgery, the need for additional treatments and options for breast reconstruction. Research has found that breast reconstruction contributes to a woman's self-esteem and sense of wellbeing; however, more than 70 percent of women eligible for breast reconstruction are not told about all of their options.
Cancer
The media frequently heightens awareness of breast cancer, but awareness doesn't always translate into a positive impact on health care. Agreeing or disagreeing that Angelina Jolie Pitt's decision to surgically remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes to prevent ovarian cancer was a heroic and courageous move is a matter of perspective. However, in between the lines of Angelina's latest article in the NY Times ("Angelina Jolie Pitt: Diary of a Surgery", NY Times, March 24, 2015) lies a subtler message... KNOWLEDGE IS POWER AND WOMEN NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR OWN PHYSICAL HEALTH.
Cancer
This is a dialogue we need to have with ourselves. Angelina Jolie Pitt made choices consistent with her history and lifestyle. As the Delphic Maxim on the Temple of Apollo reads "Know thyself." Each person is driven by different motives and sensitivities, personally unique to their individual circumstances. There is always more than one way to deal with any health issue. The most important thing is to learn about your options and choose what is right for you and your loved ones.
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Every woman diagnosed with breast cancer should seek a referral to a plastic surgeon to learn about all of her reconstructive options before her cancer is treated and removed. Breast reconstruction after mastectomy or lumpectomy generally falls into two categories: implant based reconstruction or reconstruction using a person's own tissue, also known as autologous reconstruction. Autologous reconstruction can be subdivided into flap reconstruction, total reconstruction with autologous fat transfer, or a combination of the two. Reconstructive techniques are not necessarily mutually exclusive, and often techniques are combined to give the best result.
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Breast reconstruction is staged which means more than one surgery will need to be performed to reconstruct the breasts to a more natural shape and size. Not all plastic surgeons are the same, and in one's weakness lay another's strength. Speaking to more than one plastic surgeon may help a woman affected by breast cancer (and her family) see the picture through a wider lens.
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As health care professionals, we are here to help you make the decisions that will give you the best quality of life in the long run. In closing her article Jolie Pitt poignantly wrote, "It is not easy to make these decisions. But it is possible to take control and tackle head-on any health issue. You can seek advice, learn about the options and make choices that are right for you."
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Baby Boomers

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A recent study by the Federal Reserve revealed that more individuals 55+ years are now working longer. This is a turnaround of the style of a couple of decades earlier. It seems the Baby Boomers are not retiring as early. There are a few reasons:
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1. They can not afford to retire. In between higher living expenses yet incomes not increasing to stay up to date with the rising cost of living, there are fewer individuals able to save enough money for retirement.
2. In the U.S. the size of the public debt could suggest a loss of social security benefits at some time in the future. The huge number of individuals qualified for payments is increasing also. Federal government benefits might not be a trusted source of income.
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3. With such a multitude of retiring employees but fewer young employees to fill the work, it leaves job vacancies for the older employees to take. What business would not desire seasoned, already educated employees in every industry?
Josh Zumbrun writing for The Wall Street Journal has explained that Americans are working longer but eventually they do get around to retirement. We haven't returned to the Dark Ages when individuals functioned till they broke down and passed away.
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The change in labor force participation that has happened at each age has been biggest for workers in their mid-60s. From age 62 to 65, women are about 10-12 percentage points more likely to work today than in 2000, and men about 6-8 percentage points more likely. These are precisely the years when decisions to continue to work help optimize the size of Social Security payments and the years where some workers may choose to continue working until becoming eligible for Medicare.
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Americans' retirements have been delayed, but not abandoned entirely. Having the financial means to retire is a big part of the story. But the vast majority are still getting to their golden years eventually.
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It needs to be explained that the style to work longer is true for both men as well as females. Just what will the future hold for those reaching their 60's? Will they retire at 65 as their family members did? It's unlikely as individuals are also living longer now.
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Retired life for 30 years is bound to be expensive as well as for some individuals, somewhat boring. I think there will certainly be more individuals altering occupations in mid-life, much as the retiring armed forces do now. The community colleges already offer good training as well as correspondence courses. We see an increase in online courses also. Just what do you believe is ahead for retiring employees and exactly what do you intend to do?
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Adolescent Care

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Developmental Changes during the Adolescent Years
Adolescence is a time of major growth and change and is a significant period in your child's life. As a parent, knowledge of this developmental stage can provide you with an understanding of what to expect during the teenage years. This important stage of development requires positive caring adults to support teenagers as they attend to certain tasks, and begin their transition to adulthood.

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Developmental changes that occur during this time will also impact on how your child communicates with you, and how they to begin to view and develop relationships in general. Keep in mind that your child's self-esteem may drop as they begin adolescence. You can help at this time by making sure that they understand and are prepared for the changes their body and mind are going through.
Teenagers experience developmental changes in the following areas:
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• Physical
• Emotional
• Cognitive
• Social and Psychological

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Protective factors that enhance adolescent development include strong family support and love, positive family communication, a caring school environment, opportunities to provide service to others, clear family and school rules and consequences, positive adult non-parent relationships, learning life skills and providing decision making opportunities, constructive peer relationships and support and encouragement from parents and teachers to do well at school.
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Due to the many changes teens undergo even the most well prepared adolescent can sometimes feel overwhelmed and alone. Approximately one in five young people will experience depression and girls report higher rates of depression than boys.
Feeling depressed is not the same as feeling stressed. Symptoms of stress such as tension, frustration, and worry tend to last for only a few hours or a few days. Depression is more severe and lasts longer. Studies reveal that teens who have a close relationship with their parents are less likely to experience long term depression. They are also more likely to discuss problems with their parents. If you have concerns and are unable to communicate with your teen, contact the school counsellor, family doctor, or mental health professionals.
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Implementing protective factors into your teen's life will provide them with safety nets and support them to bounce back from challenging times. They are also a must in the development of positive adolescent mental health.
This article is part of a ten week series that will focus on the development and well-being of our teens. Working together to provide opportunities for young people to access their gifts and utilise their skills are essential components of resilience development.
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Arrangements for the Baby Shower

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It's the beginning of the beginning, a glorious day for your baby, and the first event celebrating the coming little one. It's your baby shower. You'll want to have a memento, a memory of the occasion. Silk flower arrangements might be just the thing. Later, the arrangements can decorate the infant's room and one day be used to talk to your child about the time when he or she was growing in your tummy.
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One of the great things about silk flower arrangements is that the selection is broad any time of year. Variety abounds even when we hold true to the traditional colors of blue, pink, yellow and green. You'll love the effect of these flowers that are so real looking, you have to walk up and touch them to see that they're not.
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It's a girl! Pink is abundant in flowers being one of Mother Nature's favorites. You'll find a terrific selection of pink roses, orchids, and hydrangeas in real looking silk flower arrangements. Also look for carnations, lilacs and daisies for that fun summery look. A burst of pink dogwood is a bit different, light, and festive. Even multi-colored dogwood is a good choice due to its light "baby" colors including baby girl pink.
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It's a boy! Blues are more limited. (Have you noticed the same is true with baby clothes?) Many blue silk flower arrangements include blue hydrangeas. Gardeners turn their hydrangeas blue by increasing acidity in the soil. Organic matter such as citrus peels, coffee grounds and egg shells can be added to the soil for increased acidity. Blue hydrangeas have become quite the rage with that special shade of blue that is so difficult to describe. These make amazing flower models when replicated. Other lovely blue flowers are hyacinths, lavenders and African lilies. Hyacinths are about one foot high while the others can be found large and small.
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We don't know! For gender nonspecific, gorgeous varieties of yellow and green abound. Lovely varieties of yellow roses, carnations and orchids can pop any room. Elegant calla lilies and sunflowers add explosions of color. Fill your shower with fun bursts of light airy yellows by using cosmos, delphiniums or forsythias. All of these are appropriate for baby to be.
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Also for gender nonspecific, use blooming green orchids. For variations in shapes, sizes, and forms, add any of the wide selections of succulents and grasses.
Use silk flower arrangements either exclusively, mixed in with the "reals" for variety, or just so you can have long lasting mementos. They will burst the room with baby shower joy.
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Pancreatic Cancer

 Cancer
One of the hardest things to do in life is to live once you've been told you are going to die. It's as if life speeds up after you receive knowledge that your days are ticking away on a finite clock that you have no control over. One important thing that I learned while experiencing the devastating affects of Pancreatic Cancer with my mother as she fought this distressing disease is that it is crucial to focus on the time that you have rather than on the time you don't have. To me this article is a condensed version of the Diary of Cancer Patient's Daughter as I explain what living with Pancreatic Cancer is like from diagnosis to death as I framed the picture of my mother's experience in my mind.
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I hope and pray that you receive something out of these words birthed out of pain that will bring you peace and help you or your loved one with a Cancer diagnosis live a little longer and happier in spite of the sad reality you are facing. There are 7 D's in this Cancer Diary that can help you manage the physical and mental aspects of this awful disease. Remember that what you don't do in the Cancer Crisis is just as important as what you do.
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Entry # 1: The Diagnosis:
My mother Joyce was 66 years old when she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer during the summer of 2008. Though all Cancer is bad, Pancreatic Cancer is considered one of the worst because it is the most difficult to diagnose. The reason is that the symptoms mirror digestive problems as the disease hides in the depths of the digestive system. My mother had chronic pain in her stomach and though she went to the emergency room several times receiving numerous tests and ultra sounds the doctors kept telling her nothing was wrong with her and sent her home every time. Initially they thought it was a problem with her gal bladder which is a common misdiagnoses in the case of Pancreatic Cancer.
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Her Father Boyce whom she was named after died of Pancreatic Cancer 20 years earlier, but the chance that she could have that very same thing never occurred to her or anyone else in our family. If Cancer runs in your family, especially Pancreatic Cancer, I would advise you to have regular screenings for this disease as early diagnosis is a key to survival. One of the most deadly things about Pancreatic Cancer is that because it is so hard to diagnose most patients don't receive their diagnosis until they are already in Stage 4 of the Cancer when there is practically no hope.
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The symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer include: abdominal pain and pressure, jaundice, nausea, loss of appetite, depression, weight loss and weakness. My mother had all symptoms except for jaundice. Just because a person is missing a common symptom doesn't mean they don't have Pancreatic Cancer. The most common procedures used to diagnosis this brutal disease are: Ultrasonography, CT Scanning, Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancretography, Endoscopic Ultrasound, MRI, and Cholangiogram Percutaneous Transhepatic. I'm pretty sure my mother had all of these tests done and it can be very draining to endure such experiences, however it is vital in obtaining a diagnosis.
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The results of her diagnosis showed that there was a tumor on her pancreas blocking the flow of bile from her liver, as well as, the flow of enzymes from her pancreas. In her case the tumor was wrapped around a blood vessel and surgery to remove the tumor was not really an option. Very few surgeons in the country would have been able to successfully perform the surgery and her chances of survival would have been slim to none. Even if she had of had the surgery her quality of life following it was questionable. This surgery is commonly known as the Whipple Operation and removes a large part of the pancreas, the duodenum and a portion of the bile duct
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What do you do in this situation? You make the choice to live the best life in the time that you have which is undetermined and different for everyone. Suck every drop of joy out of life you can as quickly as possible. If we could turn back the clock and do it all over again the one thing we would do differently is have annual screenings for the disease conducted because had we done that my mother might still be alive today. What you do in time can determine the time you have on this earth.
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Many people allow the hands of time to cover their eyes to what they don't want to see. Open your eyes today and if you have not been diagnosed with this disease begin to use preventative measures such as a healthy diet, exercise, and regular checkups with your doctor.
Entry # 2: Denial:
We were in such disbelief after receiving the diagnosis we failed to take immediate action locked in the paralysis of our new found reality. One thing Cancer does not give you is time.
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That big devil called denial must be dealt with. I can still hear my mother saying, "I can't have this...not me!" You must come to grips with what you have in order to get a grip on the situation. Sometimes I think of Cancer being more of an accident of health rather than a mistake of nature. All you can do with a mistake is wish that it never happened but accidents can be prevented. Maybe this is a little optimistic since Cancer tends to creep in like an unexpected thief to steal your most prized possessions. Even so, optimism is always stronger than pessimism and it merely means that our powerful spirits encased in a fragile frame of flesh chooses to live.
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Even people with diseases such as drug addiction and alcoholism must come out of denial before they recover. I know Cancer survivors and they are the same people that came out of denial and dealt with the disease. You will never take action in regards to something you don't believe.
Entry # 3: Drugs:
We live in a pill popping nation where there is a drug for every situation. One of the main problems with drugs is that they mask symptoms but fail to provide a cure. Drugs do their best to cover up the Cancer until the victim is covered with earth in a coffin. I keep hearing rumors that there is a cure for Cancer but the medical and funeral industries are making too much money off of the disease to release the cure. I don't know if that is true but it sure makes sense.
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Though drugs were diagnosed to help my mother one of the first things we did which is extremely important for Pancreatic Cancer patients was to have a stint put in. Stints were inserted into the tubes leading from her liver and pancreas to help them function and this helped her to live a better life. In some cases, depending on the size of the tumor, it is very difficult to insert stints but there are several alternative methods and procedures to accomplish the same effect. If you have a good doctor he will inform you of all options. If you have a doctor that doesn't tell you all the options; get another doctor.
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My experience with a mother with Pancreatic Cancer perfected a hatred in me for Morphine which is the pain medication my mother was put on. Since the pain caused by the Cancer is so intense our options were limited and we wanted my mother to be able to live out her days as pain free as possible as I think anyone would. The Morphine altered her mind, changed her personality, and caused aggression and paranoia. The effects of the Morphine put the family in pain while relieving my mother's pain.
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At times it was as if she was out of her mind and it nearly drove us out of ours. She no longer trusted the people that loved her and many times would forget what she was saying in the middle of a sentence. The family told her many things over and over again and she wouldn't do them and always forgot what we told her. To me Morphine kills a person before they die. It kills their ability to convey the essence of who they truly are. There are alternatives for pain relief drugs but I don't know how much better they are since we only dealt with Morphine.
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It amazes me how Patrick Swayze filmed a television series with Pancreatic Cancer refusing to take pain medications so he could concentrate on and accomplish his work. I remember hearing him speak about preparing hours in advance of his shoots to be mentally and physically prepared to accomplish every task in pain. I think drugs such as Morphine make a person die faster because it arrests their mind. In the movie the Matrix if you've ever seen it, Neo is doing the jump program with Morpheus and falls. When he comes out of it he is bleeding and makes a statement to the fact that he thought it wasn't real and Morpheus tells him that the mind makes it real and that the body cannot live without the mind. If you are mentally incapacitated, how can you make a conscious decision to fight for your life?
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A glimmer of hope came to us while dealing with the madness of the Morphine which is an alternative pain treatment that Cancer patients can receive that deals with injecting alcohol around certain nerves to block the feelings of pain. My mother had this procedure done but said that it didn't work. To this day I don't know if the treatment really didn't work or if by the time she had it she was
already addicted to the Morphine and the pain she felt were the pangs of withdraw.
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Unfortunately Morphine was only one wave in the ocean of drugs we had to deal with. There were digestive enzymes that had to be taken prior to eating, beta blockers, heart medication, anxiety medication, insulin for the diabetes caused by the shut down of the pancreas, medication for indigestion, vitamins, blood thinners for blood clots and so many medications we had to make an Excel spreadsheet just to keep track of them.
One of the effects of the disease that had to be dealt with was extreme swelling of the abdomen and feet to the point where diuretics were prescribed, fluid draw procedures had to be performed by using a needle to draw the fluid from the abdomen and as for the feet; only house shoes could be worn. I found out that the swelling was caused by the Cancer mainly due to the body's reaction to the tumor and to the lack of protein in the blood disabling the bloods ability to hold fluid.
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The things that a person goes through with Cancer are almost endless. Every part of the body is affected; especially the mind, the will, and the emotions. Based upon the experience I encountered with my mother a couple of other crises we had to press through was the C Diph infection causing chronic diarrhea causing contact isolation that is almost like quarantine to be implemented. My mother could barely eat and we had to put on hospital gowns and gloves to be in the room with her or even come in contact with her.
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An episode we faced with internal bleeding caused by the rupturing of blood vessels was very traumatic and hospitalized my mother after she passed out from weakness with her eyes rolling back in her head due to the extreme blood loss. Blood was in her bowels and blood transfusions had to be issued in order to get her blood count back up to normal which is usually 14 and hers was almost half that. Had we not sought medical attention for her at that time she could have died. So that you can recognize this, the symptoms are usually extreme weakness and black loose bowels. I experienced the same thing when I was four years old and diagnosed with acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis.
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We tried chemotherapy which is extremely hard on the body, killing the good cells along with the bad. Chemotherapy is like infusing your body with a poison in order to get rid of another poison. For some people it works but sadly to say in the cases of Pancreatic Cancer it is rarely effective. I am not a doctor and therefore give no medical recommendations as to how to treat Cancer of the Pancreas but in my own personal opinion and experience through observation I would say if possible, find a better way.
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There are alternative treatments, natural remedies, and experimental treatments. A Cancer patient can seek studies that are being conducted for the type of Cancer they have and in many cases when they become a part of the study they can receive free or very low cost experimental treatments. One day one of these experimental treatments might be the answer. My mother used an experimental chemotherapy that was available but it was too hard on her heart. One of her smaller tumors did disappear but that wasn't enough to save her.
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Chemotherapy can carry such side effects as nausea, vomiting, and decreased white blood cell counts. Historically, Chemotherapy has not been effective in the treatment of Pancreatic Cancer, but there are more up to date treatments that use an FDA approved agent called gemcitabine which has helped to shrink some tumors for Carcinoma of the pancreas.
At one point we went to see a naturalpathic doctor specializing in alternative Cancer treatments that knew of a treatment that had proved to be effective for Pancreatic Cancer. The name of the treatment is Intravenous - Lipoic Acid/Low-Dose Naltrexone Protocol. There are various articles and information on this treatment for you to research and intelligently consider.
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Our problem with the treatment was that one of the drugs prescribed for it that could only be filled at a compound pharmacy blocks the affects of opiates and since my mother was on Morphine for pain a known opiate she plunged into a chronic pain episode that caused her to lose coherency from the pain and go to the emergency room where the only thing they could do to relieve her pain was to give her a drug strong enough to sedate her and completely knock her out. It was a tremendous setback in her treatment. The opiate blocking drug was supposed to be a very low dosage that should not have negatively affected her so if this particular treatment is chosen I would do extensive research and make ample preparations before trying it.
When you are personally dealing with Cancer or know someone close to you that is, you will find out quickly that everyone has a product to sell you that they claim has cured someone from Cancer.
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Maybe they have and maybe they haven't. Again, I remember watching an interview with Barbara Walters and Patrick Swayze when he said something to the effect of, "If you had a miracle cure for Cancer you would be rich and everyone would know you so just shut up." We tried several products and ordered everything we thought could make a difference or be a cure. I'm going to share with you two things that you can buy on your own that we didn't get a chance to try because we found out about them too late. I don't know it they work, but its worth a try as anything is when you or someone you love is dying.
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You can search YouTube and find videos on the banking soda Cancer treatment and you can search the Internet to find articles that specifically discuss the use of asparagus to treat Cancer. There is so much more I could say about different treatments and drugs but instead of going on and on about this subject I will instead give you a few helpful hints.
Helpful Hint #1: If you are strong enough to do it, aerobic exercise helps Chemotherapy patients by ridding the toxins in their system from Chemotherapy through sweat. I read an article once about a lady with Cancer that felt too sick to do aerobics when her coworkers kept inviting her to class because they didn't know she had Cancer. She started the classes eventually and felt sick at first and then started feeling better. She sweated the toxins out and one year later was teaching the class Cancer Free.
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Helpful Hint #2: When a Cancer patient's veins are to the point where it is extremely difficult to draw blood or administer IV medication a Central Line which is a port for IV and medication inserted into the jugular vein by ultrasound can be good. I witnessed the pain of my mother as she was poked multiple times with attempts to draw blood and insert IV's. Save yourself this pain with a Central Line.
Helpful Hint #3: Keep a positive attitude and laugh as often as possible. The Bible says that laughter doeth the heart good like a medicine. Sometimes simple laughter will do more for a Cancer patient than any drug. Laughter heals and it makes a person's time on this earth more enjoyable. Talk about funny memories from the past with family and friends and laugh, laugh, laugh! You deserve it! Mental support is important. 
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Encourage, speak positive things, and most of all be there for the person that you know that has Cancer. Cancer and all the things a person goes through with it are scary. I coached my mom and encouraged her and told her she could make it when she didn't think she could. Encouragement in love can add time to a Cancer patient's life. Ask lots of questions and gain as much knowledge as possible. If a drug or treatment you or a Cancer patient you know is on doesn't seem right; talk to the doctor about it because there is always an alternative.
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Entry # 4: Disappointment:
Normally in life there are disappointments. When you already have a disappointing disease, disappointment can be magnified. What do you do when the Chemo doesn't work? How do you react when the miracle cure you found out about doesn't cure? How do you deal with setbacks that surface along the way? What you do is keep going, keep trying, and don't give up. It is important to express disappointment and acknowledge it as long as it doesn't take you captive. Just having the disease is disappointing, not to mention all of the obstacles encountered while dealing with the disease. Disappointment is not only experienced by the Cancer victim but by the family and friends that love that person so much.
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I was working on my MBA when my mother was diagnosed with Cancer. Since she was already in Stage 4 of Cancer when she was diagnosed we found out shortly after the diagnosis that the Cancer had spread to her lungs and other areas of her body. I can remember the day I found out about that. I started crying at work and couldn't stop and had to leave the office. I know what it feels like to try and hold tears in and there is nothing you can do to keep them held in your eyes. I know what it is to cry until your stomach jerks in and out and snot comes out of your nose and you feel like throwing up. My mother was my best friend and because of that I am well acquainted with disappointment.
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I always wondered how the people with these miracle stories that publish these books about overcoming Cancer did it. Their methods worked for them with no doubt but my mother was in such a bad state she couldn't even do most of the things these books said to do and that was so disappointing. I wished I could speak with these people personally just to ask them...HOW? How did you do it?
One of the greatest challenges faced was that my mother was a Minister and Pastor and she had a lot of people praying for her as she even believed for her own healing. Father Yah (God) is a healer but He doesn't always heal and there is always a question of why for those that are not healed. Dottie Olsteen the wife of the late Pastor John Olsteen of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas now pastured by Joel Olsteen at one time had terminal Liver Cancer. 
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Dottie gathered together the healing scriptures from the Bible and began to speak them over herself three times a day like a medicine prescription and was totally and completely healed.
Why her and not my mother? I don't know. Maybe Yah (the name for almighty God the Creator in Hebrew) was ready for my mom to come home with Him. All I can tell you is that disappoint can and will come in many forms. The best cure for disappointment is to overcome with an attitude of thankfulness, accepting that you don't know the reason for all things but you do know that there is a reason and a purpose for all things. Stay positive while keeping your mind and spirit open to whatever might happen. Disappointment comes when something other than what you expect or anticipate happens. With Cancer you have to be prepared for the success or failure of anything and everything. Be encouraged; you are stronger than disappointment. Don't let it catch you off guard but be prepared for it. Know that for every disappointment there is a triumph on the other side.
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Entry # 5: Diet:
Anyone with Cancer should reconstruct their diet to contain the foods that fight against and can even cure Cancer. Eat and drink substances that are non-acidic, alkaline, and highly concentrated with antioxidants. Research to find Cancer healing foods.
One of the most important things to do is to drink a lot of water. Water is the source of life and the human body is mostly composed of water. There is an author that wrote a book called, "You Aren't Sick You're Just Thirsty" talking about the importance of water and its affects on the body.
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Diet is a rough subject with Pancreatic Cancer because you can know all the right things to eat and not be able to consume them. The affects of the disease on the digestive system makes it very hard to eat and drink. The patient may lose their appetite and even if they do have an appetite, once they eat it can make them feel sick. Pancreatic Cancer sabotages the digestive system.
One thing that helped us was some information we found on dill pickles that assists in the digestion of food. In many instances when someone with Pancreatic Cancer or other digestive problems eats a dill pickle with each meal it helps to counteract the digestive problems so they can eat in comfort and keep the food down for nutrition to the body.
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There are also drugs available to enhance the appetite, but if dill pickles can also be eaten with every meal that should help greatly as well. Since Pancreatic Cancer patients have difficulties in eating and tend to lose a lot of weight, dietary supplements such as protein shakes are suggested which are ingested easier with the use of a straw. Peanut butter can be added to the shakes to increase the calorie content and nutritional value of the shake. Another suggestion is to eat very small meals all throughout the day. The Cancer patient may not feel like eating but in order to live they must FORCE themselves to eat. Lack of food and liquid can kill quicker.
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Vitamin D fights Cancer and freshly juiced vegetable juices containing the juice from green leafy vegetables can be extremely helpful especially when drank right after juicing when vitamin content and living substance is at a high level. The external diet is also important which consists of Epson salt baths that help to heal and release toxins from the body.
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We all know the saying, "You are what you eat." Eat what is alive and it will help you stay alive. The first 3 letters of the word diet is the word die. Don't let what you are eating kill you. Since Cancer patients many times have to give up foods they love in order to live, it is great if the family can conform to their diet in support of their dietary efforts. Some foods make Cancer grow like simple sugars. Cut the sugar out of your diet and use a natural alternative like Stevia to sweeten foods. Stevia is a naturally sweet leaf that is available in powder and liquid form to sweeten foods and use in recipes. I am a big Bible reader so I love that Stevia is a leaf because the Bible says that the leaves shall be used for the healing of the nations. Other well-known artificial sweeteners can actually be poisonous to the body so be careful with them and avoid them if possible.
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Entry #6: Death:
Even when you know someone is going to die, nothing really prepares you for the affects, effects, and real life reactions to that death. Everyone's experience is different, and I will share my personal experience with you hoping it will help you in some way. I can remember my mom looking at me one night and saying to me, "I'm dying!" I didn't know what to say back because even though I knew she had Cancer and death seemed inevitable, I refused to accept the fact the she was actually going to die.
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We took her to the hospital on a Thursday and the very next day they wanted to send her to hospice. Hospice is a great and awful place all at the same time. Great due to the care and support and painless exit for the patient from this world they provide. Awful because you know that it is the last place you will be with the one you love. Hospice facilities are very comfortable and they give you a chance to say goodbye even if you don't want to. No one does. Please know that you aren't the only one going through this; neither are you the only one that has ever gone through this.
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Counselors are provided, as well as, chaplains for spiritual support and prayer. You will receive a booklet explaining the death process which helps you know when death is near. During this process, give the Cancer patient a lot of love, comfort and support, and make sure you yourself get ample food and rest. Speak to your loved one while they are responsive and even after they are in a drug induced comma because they can still hear you. Be sure not to be selfish and release them to pass on so they won't linger on in suffering. That is all I will say about the hospice experience as you will learn more as you are actually in it. This is the time to meet with the funeral home and make preparations for the funeral and burial. You won't want to do this, but it is necessary and will help smooth out the process. Overall, hospice is a place to say your final goodbyes.
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Entry # 7: Debt:
My dad only had enough life insurance to cover my mom's funeral, and this is not recommended. The moment a Cancer diagnosis is in place get as much checkup free insurance as you can get. For some reason the bill collectors don't understand the word death, and you can be stuck with bills that increase your sorrow after your loved one is gone. You will need a living will for your patient to be able to make medical decisions for them and you also need a power of attorney to deal with their accounts way before a death experience is upon you. You may have to handle business matters that they can't deal with while they are still alive and after they have passed on.Also make sure a will is in place so you don't have to deal with probate. Some accounts are easily closed after death simply by submitting a copy of the death certificate to the creditor and it is important to see if insurance is in place to pay off accounts upon death such as mortgages.
Cancer
I have shared my heart, soul, and intimate personal experience with you in this article to the best of my ability. It should not take a crisis such as Cancer for us to become mortgage and debt free but if something such as Cancer arises I know that being mortgage and debt free can be one less worry. Work to reduce or delete your debts as much as possible. My dad would have more freedom and options today had his house been paid off when my mother passed. In addition to medical bills there were some prescriptions that cost $800 for a 10-day supply after our prescription benefits ran out. Death and sickness know nothing of the extra financial burdens that can increase and extend sorrow.
Cancer
You will feel the pain of your loss for awhile and it will be absolutely unbelievable for a very long time, but you will get through it. Remember the good times, look at pictures of life, and hear the voice of your loved one live on in your mind and spirit forever. I wish you abundant peace. If you would like to find out how to get a copy of the book I've written in hopes of helping people deal with the loss of a loved one, please call or email me.
I have shared my heart, soul and intimate personal experience with you in this article and I want to share something else that can benefit you greatly which is a way to pay off your mortgage in one third to one half the time allowing you to own your home outright and become debt free.
Cancer
It should not take a crisis such as Cancer for us to become mortgage and debt free but if something such as Cancer arises I know that being mortgage and debt free can be one less worry. My dad would have more freedom and options today had his house been paid off when my mother passed. There are still medical bills to deal with and even some prescriptions that cost $800 for a 10 days supply after our prescription benefits ran out.
Please fell free to contact me anytime for any information or support I can offer you in what you are going through. I wish you all the best and I encourage you to be stronger than you've ever been. You will feel the pain of your loss for awhile and it will be absolutely unbelievable for a very long time but you will get through it. Remember the good times, look at pictures of life and hear the voice of your loved one live on in your mind and spirit forever.
Cancer

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