People are often surprised to learn that most patients with cancer actually don’t die from the disease itself. Far more often, they die from the complications associated with cancer and its treatments. Therefore, it follows that taking steps to prevent or mitigate these complications can literally be a life-saving strategy. This approach to treatment is … Continued

Biopsies are a medical procedure most often used to diagnose and stage cancer. They also play a critical role in helping physicians determine the best treatment options for a patient’s specific disease. Yet many patients are reluctant to do a biopsy and, in some cases, are refusing to do them. In this article, we’ll take … Continued

For people touched by cancer, the term “hope” can mean different things. At a basic level, of course you hope to get rid of your cancer and then stay free of the disease. In this context, hope is simply a form of wish fulfillment: You desire, and to some degree, expect, a full-fledged recovery. Implicit … Continued

“You have cancer.” Three of the most dreaded and frightening words someone will ever hear. As the process of becoming “a patient” begins, a new fear often begins to take over: the fear of chemotherapy. In fact, we frequently hear from patients that their fear of treatment is greater than the fear of the disease … Continued

For people touched by cancer, the term “hope” can mean different things. At a basic level, of course you hope to get rid of your cancer and then stay free of the disease. In this context, hope is simply a form of wish fulfillment: You desire, and to some degree, expect, a full-fledged recovery. Implicit … Continued

Ingredients – Makes 2 Servings 1/2 cup Buckwheat Groats (dry) 2 cups Water 3/4 cup Frozen Cherries 2 tbsps Unsweetened Coconut Yogurt 2 tbsps Chopped Walnuts   Directions: Add the buckwheat groats and water to a medium pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover, cooking for 15-20 minutes or until … Continued

  Ingredients: 2 cups Frozen Peas (thawed) 2 Garlic (cloves, skin removed) 1/4 Sunflower Seeds 1/2 cup Mint Leaves 3 tbsps Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 tbsps Lemon Juice 1/2 tsp Sea Salt Directions: Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend for two to five minutes, or until desired consistency. Makes 4 Servings. … Continued

Last February, Dr. Block was one of 6 participants in an extended version of Robin Daly’s Yes To Life (yestolife.org) radio show on UK Health Radio. In our last blog, we posted part 1 of his answer to Robin’s question: “Chemotherapy in particular may be considered to harm more people than it helps. Can we … Continued

“You have cancer.” Three of the most dreaded and frightening words one can ever hear. And as the process of becoming “a patient” begins, a new fear often begins to take over: the fear of chemotherapy. In fact, we frequently hear from patients that their fear of treatment is greater than the fear of the … Continued

Advanced cancer patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatments often report suffering from insomnia, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and depression. In fact, experts estimate that as many as 50% of patients dealing with lung and other cancers experience fatigue syndrome (a combination of physical exhaustion, mental weariness, and reduced emotional stamina.) Many factors in cancer and treatment … Continued