Tag Archives: Cancer Treatment

Cancer Caregivers, Uncategorized

Tips on How to Prepare to Be a Cancer Caregiver

When a loved one has cancer, becoming their caregiver can help ensure that they have support and assistance from someone they trust. As a cancer caregiver, you might help them with daily tasks, accompany them to cancer treatment appointments, and offer emotional support. Stepping into this role can be challenging, especially if it’s new for you. The following tips can help you prepare to be a cancer caregiver for your loved one.

Set Realistic Expectations

No matter how much you want to help your loved one, you won’t be able to do everything for them. Set realistic expectations on what you can handle based on your schedule and abilities. Being realistic about the care you provide can help prevent you from becoming frustrated or burned out in your new role.

Ask for Help with Caregiving

Don’t be afraid to reach out to others for help with cancer caregiving. Make a list of other people you can turn to when you’re having trouble handling caregiving tasks, such as another family member. This can help alleviate the amount of stress you’re under, so you can avoid becoming overwhelmed.

Set Aside Time for Yourself

Taking care of yourself while being a cancer caregiver is highly important. Make time in your schedule to do something you enjoy or focus on relaxation. This can help ease stress and allow you to recharge, so you’ll have more energy and better mental focus.

Take Care of Your Own Health

Making sure you stay in good health can make it easier to handle caregiving tasks. Eat healthy foods, get plenty of sleep, and get some exercise each day.

If you need more information on cancer treatment for your loved one, please contact Issels®. We can discuss our immunotherapy therapies and provide additional details on our approach to treatment.

Immunotherapy for Cancer, Uncategorized

Understanding How Cancer is Diagnosed

Healthcare professionals agree that early diagnosis improves the chances for successful cancer treatment. If you experience symptoms or a screening test calls for a closer look, these are the tests most frequently used to make a diagnosis of cancer.

1. Blood chemistry test

Our organs routinely release enzymes, electrolytes and other substances into the bloodstream. Abnormally high or low levels could be a sign that kidneys, liver or other organs are not working properly, which could be due to cancer.

2. Complete blood count (CBC)

A CBC, which is a detailed analysis of the bloodstream, is often conducted during routine physicals. Factors include the number of red and white blood cells and platelets, as well as the amount of hemoglobin, which is the protein that carries oxygen. CBCs are particularly useful in diagnosing cancers in the blood stream, known as leukemia.

3. Liquid biopsy

Liquid biopsies are used to find out if cancer cells or DNA from tumor cells are present in the blood. This test can be also part of determining appropriate cancer treatment and follow-ups to see if the treatment is working.

4. CT scans and MRIs

Both CT scans and MRIs involve taking detailed pictures of your body’s interior. A CT scan uses an x-ray machine, while an MRI involves a magnet and radio waves.

5. Biopsy

A biopsy is most often used to diagnose cancer, but it can also help diagnose other health problems, such as cirrhosis. When lesions, lumps or other tissue abnormalities are detected, a doctor will remove a sample so the cells can be studied more closely.

Cancer Treatment for Advanced Cases

At Issels®, our non-toxic programs have helped to achieve long-term remission in patients, even if they are already in Stage IV. Visit our website to read and hear their testimonials.

Cancer Caregivers, Uncategorized

Four Real World Cancer Patient Support Tips

When a loved one is going through cancer treatment, they’ll need support from friends and family. Knowing how to help them can be tough to do, especially if you’ve never been in this situation before. The following tips can give you some ideas on how to support cancer patients.

Offer to Do Errands

Some types of treatments, such as chemotherapy, can take a toll on your loved one’s energy levels. They might find it difficult to take care of errands, especially if they involve leaving their home and going out and about. Offer to handle grocery shopping, do loads of laundry, or run other errands for your loved one. These simple gestures can go a long way toward easing their stress.

Go to Appointments with Your Loved One

Some treatment approaches can cause brain fog or other cognitive problems for your loved one. This can make it harder for them to process information and make decisions during cancer care appointments. Offer to go with your loved one to these appointments and take notes for them.

Prepare a Bunch of Meals

Eating well is important for people who are being treated for cancer. However, cooking can be difficult to do when they have low energy levels and a poor appetite. Prepare nutritious meals for your loved one ahead of time, so they’ll have plenty to eat without having to do any cooking.

Spend Quality Time with Your Loved One

Helping someone with cancer involves more than handling practical tasks. Spend time talking with your loved one, watching movies together, or doing other activities they enjoy.

If you’re exploring cancer treatment options with your loved one, please contact Issels® for more information on immunotherapy. We can give you more details on this type of treatment approach and our immunotherapy clinics.

Cancer Research, Uncategorized

Study Suggests Cancer Can ‘Hijack’ Blood Vessels

The medical community has long believed that cancer cells support their growth by generating blood vessels. A study suggests that blood vessels may actually begin the cycle of tumor development.

“Hijacking” Blood Vessels for Tumor Development

According to cancer biologist Dr. Lan Ko, one of the authors of the study, the team found evidence that blood vessels can create tumors. In turn, the cancer cells then produce blood vessels to further sustain their growth.

Researchers focused on GT198, a gene generally found in low levels within the body. It has a natural ability to repair DNA and regulate stem cells, but in mutated form it creates cancer cells.

Pericytes, found in the outer layer of blood vessels, resemble stem cells in the way they can form different types of tissue. During the study, researchers found abnormally high levels of GT198 in pericytes supporting a number of human tumors.

Even more surprising was that the GT198 was located in the pericytes’ cytoplasm instead of the nucleus. This enabled malignant pericytes to multiply into cancer cells and detach from blood vessels to promote spread of the tumors.

Application for Cancer Treatment

As Dr. Ko explained, these results indicate that GT198 is a viable target for immunotherapy for cancer treatments. Further testing will explore use of existing cancer drugs and development of new ones.

Issels® Leads the Way in Immunotherapy for Cancer

While immunotherapy for cancer has become a hot topic among scientists, Issels® has been successfully using our integrative, non-toxic treatments for decades. Contact us for more information about our individually tailored programs.

Cancer Caregivers, Uncategorized

5 Tips on How to Offer Support to Someone With Cancer

When a friend or family member is coping with a serious illness, it can be difficult to find the right way to communicate. Members of our staff at Issels® share five simple and practical tips to express support for a loved one who is undergoing cancer treatment.

1. Schedule personal visits.

*Be considerate of your friend’s needs. Always call first and don’t take it personally if they can’t see you.

*Begin and end the visit with a hug, handshake or other warm physical contact.

*Visit during “off-hours,” such as weekday mornings, rather than weekends or holidays when others are likely to visit.

2. Call and send notes.

*Return any calls or messages from your friend as soon as possible.

*Frequency is more important than length.

3. Engage in conversation.

*Ask questions to keep the focus on your friend’s thoughts and feelings.

*Discuss sports, books or other topics that bring pleasure to your friend.

*Allow your loved one to express their feelings honestly, without trying to change the tone of the conversation.

4. Handle errands and projects.

*Offer to take over one or more regular errands, such as mowing the lawn, that will help ease the load.

*Don’t forget to ask the caregiver if you can run any errands for them as well.

5. Give gifts.

*Bigger isn’t always better. Choose small gifts that will be immediately useful, and give them often.

*A gift to the caretaker will be equally appreciated by the one who is undergoing cancer treatment.

*If your loved one has financial obstacles, consider seeking donations or organizing fundraisers.

Cancer Treatment for Therapy-Resistant Cases

Immunotherapy at Issels® has an outstanding record of success, even with patients in Stage IV. Contact us to learn more about our state-of-the-art programs that are tailored to a patient’s specific needs.

 

 

Cancer Treatment, Uncategorized

Know Your Cancer Fighting Options Before You Choose Your Treatment

When you’re diagnosed with cancer, your thoughts might turn to getting treatment as soon as possible. However, rushing into cancer treatment can lead to ineffective care, adverse side effects, and other issues. Taking time to go over your options means you’ll be able to choose the best kind of treatment.

Factors That Affect Cancer Treatment

When you discuss treatment options with your healthcare team, they’ll provide you with options based on different factors. Keep in mind that not all treatments are considered suitable for every cancer case. Your healthcare team will consider the type of cancer you have, the stage of this cancer, and your health in general in order to determine treatment options. Other factors they’ll consider include additional testing, such as blood tests or genetic testing, as well as any other medical conditions you have.

Types of Treatment

Several types of treatment are available for cancer. In some cases, surgery might be recommended to remove cancerous tumors and prevent them from spreading. Other conventional forms of treatment for cancer include radiation therapy and chemotherapy, although these can have adverse side effects. Immunotherapy offers a treatment option for cancer that uses a more holistic approach and doesn’t produce side effects.

Understanding Treatment Options

Talking to your healthcare team about your options is important. Ask questions about anything you don’t understand, such as how specific treatments work or what the chances of success are in your case. You can also get a second opinion, look into clinical trials, and research treatment options on your own before making your decision.

If you’re looking for more details on immunotherapy cancer treatment, please contact Issels®. We can help you learn more about this type of treatment, so you can determine if it’s right for you.