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Living with Cancer

Tips for Moving Beyond Cancer Treatment

Moving Beyond Cancer
Moving Beyond Cancer

Change is difficult. Even change for the better can be unsettling and spark feelings of anxiety. But we must change to our adapting situations or we will lose control of our lives and our future. It is important to understand that as you begin moving beyond cancer treatment. This is why Issels® Integrative Immuno-Oncology uses individualized immunotherapy treatment protocols. How you respond to treatment and transition to a new normal depends largely on your diagnosis and predisposition.

The National Cancer Institute has a very helpful 36 page booklet to help anyone adjust to the effects of cancer treatment and the changes in lifestyle. It also has some very helpful information for caregivers who will need to prepare themselves for how their level of involvement will change.

Those TV shows that always solve the mystery by the episode conclusion and wrap up all loose ends are written that way for a reason. People want things to have a predictable and logical outcome. But as cancer survivor, you will not be able to resume your previous level of activity right away. Do not try to make up for lost time or take on too much. Keep the following tips in mind:

  • Be open and honest about your feelings and capabilities
  • Be realistic with the goals your set for yourself
  • Talk to your doctor about feelings of anxiety or depression
  • Schedule time for yourself to appreciate the life you have
  • Find ways that friends and family can help you and let them know they are appreciated

Contact Issels® for more information on your treatment options and how we help patients get the most out of life.

 

Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, Immunotherapy

Keeping a Healthy Weight While in Cancer Treatment

Eating During Cancer Treatment
Eating During Cancer Treatment

You may be thinking to yourself, “isn’t going through cancer treatment enough without the need to worry about my weight?” While this is a legitimate complaint, following your doctor’s instructions is vital in order to remain strong throughout the treatment.

Going through cancer treatment takes its toll physically and emotionally but you have a hand in controlling how much. Treatment can have a decided affect on your appetite which impacts your eating habits. If both are in a negative mode of operation, the end result is weight loss, plain and simple.

Weight loss and weight gain can be a significant side effect of cancer treatment. For those losing weight, this may be caused due to a lack of appetite. Nothing seems tantalizing and while you do eat something, you may not eat as much as before taking in less calories. This will cause a loss in weight and also impacts the amount of nutrients your body needs.

For other patients, especially those who are obese, weight loss may be recommended while treatments are ongoing. A nutritionist or dietitian are good options for helping determine healthy menus that provide the calories, nutrients, vitamins, and protein to help maintain a healthy weight.

Dietary supplements are also an option for getting the fuel your body needs to handle the rigors of cancer treatment.

Learn more about integrative immunotherapy and holistic treatments at the Issels® blog. The informative articles can help answer questions and concerns you may have about the best approach to cancer treatment.

Living with Cancer

New Regulators That Impact Cell Growth Are Discovered and May Impact Cancer Growth

Regulated Cell Growth
Regulated Cell Growth

A new discovery made at the Center for RNA Research at IBS could provide some insight into how cancerous tumors are formed in the body and how their growth can be repressed. This could be very big news for those undergoing treatment with Issels Integrative Immuno-Oncology.

For the first time, researchers have discovered that the enzyme PKR is activated during cellular mitosis. PKR was previously known as a trigger of immune response during a viral infection. It is believed that the disruption of PKR activation causes a delay in mitotic progression and defects in cell division that ultimately results in cancer growth.

Researchers also discovered that PKR activation is closely regulated by TAR RNA Binding Protein, or TRBP. TRBP inhibits PKR activation and otherwise helps control the cell cycle.

It isn’t yet known what this new research means for cancer treatment, but this new discovery could lead to revolutionary new cancer treatments that prevent cancer cells from dividing. Given time, there could be a treatment that safely affects tumors before they have time to spread.

Issels® and Cancer Treatment

We at Issels® focus closely on the tumor and the tumor microenvironment in our cancer treatment and research, so this discovery is very exciting and could change the way we look at cancer treatment. For more information about Issels® and our alternative cancer treatments, visit us online at http://issels.com.

Living with Cancer

The Tough Questions – Can I Live with Cancer?

Can I Live With Cancer?
Can I Live With Cancer?

Cancer statistics can seem encouraging when talking about advancements made in early detection and new treatments. The same statistics are devastating when you or a loved one has been diagnosed and you are reading about the number of lives lost to various types of cancer. At Issels® Integrative Immuno-Oncology, we understand that each person’s cancer is due to different causes and conditions. Treatment should be highly personalized and recovery depends on many factors.

Living with cancer

The American Cancer Society says that cancers like ovarian cancer, leukemia, and some types of lymphoma often don’t go completely away. The same is true of cancers that spread to other parts of the body, such as prostate cancer and breast cancer. These cancers can be treated and reduced, but the treatment is an ongoing maintenance treatment prevent spreading and stopping the cancer from growing. It is not accurate to say the cancer is cured.

Disease management and emotional growth

Living with this disease is often the biggest challenge most people will ever face. Treatment schedules disrupt your routines and take both a financial and physical toll. Many people suddenly find themselves no longer in the roll of caregiver, but instead, needing the care, support, and understanding of others. It is important to seek out others going through similar circumstances. Living with cancer has a way of building strong bonds among people who hardly know one another. It can also make it easier to express affection and appreciation for people close to you.

Contact Issels® Integrative Immuno-Oncology to see all of your available treatment options. We combine treatment with improving the quality of life for our patients.

Living with Cancer, Stage Four Cancer Treatment

The Tough Questions – Should I Travel for Cancer Treatment?

To Travel For Treatment
To Travel For Treatment

Perhaps you’ve just received a cancer diagnosis, and you can’t help but wonder if getting cancer treatment close to home is really the best choice for you. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many of the patients we serve here at Issels® will tell you that they understand how you feel. The fact is that this is a decision that only you can make. Still, we would like to offer you some information that will help you make the choice that’s right for you.

Treatment Options

The fact is that many oncologists and cancer centers depend on traditional treatment methods when they treat cancer patients. You’ll probably hear words like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, because these treatment options are the most popular ones being used. Even so, coming to a treatment center like Issels® gives you many more options that just aren’t available everywhere. Cancer vaccines and immunotherapy are just two of the treatments we offer, but your treatment plan will be tailored according to your needs.

Excellent Results

It’s also a good idea to choose a treatment center that has a good reputation for excellent results and remission rates. Remission rates are a good indicator of what you can expect for your cancer treatment, although not all results are typical for every patient’s case.

No matter where you decide to have your cancer treatments, at Issels®, we want you to know that we’re there for you. Our caring staff of professionals is willing to work with you to determine a treatment plan that will work best for you. If you’d like more information about how we can help you, please contact us today.

Cancer Research, Living with Cancer, Testimonials

New Research Tackles Chemotherapy Side Effects

Tackling The Side Effects
Tackling The Side Effects

Researches at Wichita State University are delving into nanotechnology in an effort to decrease the negative side effects cancer drugs have on patients. The technology will be a huge boon to patients suffering the many side effects of cancer treatment: nausea, bowel issues, hair loss, infections, pain, anemia, and more, preventing patients’ bodies from being further weakened by the treatment of the disease.

Technology 100,000 times smaller than a strand of hair
The mighty but miniscule technology has been developed to magnetically target drugs with the goal of localizing treatment effects specifically to tumor sites, thus decreasing the spread and negative effects of the drugs throughout the body.

Positive results have researchers hopeful
Targeted for patients with skin and breast cancer, “in vitro” (petri dish/test tube) studies as well as “in vivo,” studies involving mice, have shown positive results. The group, including WSU professors Ramazan Asmatulu, Paul Wooley, Shang-You Yang, and several graduate students, is in the final stages of receiving a patent from the study, which will later be tried on humans.

How it works
Nanocomposite, magnetic microspheres were created which are capable of carrying protein-based chemotherapy drugs. The spheres are later incorporated with an albumin and biodegradable polymer and injected into the body. With the help of a magnetic field, the accumulation of drugs can be increased at targeted cancer sites.

Looking for cancer treatment options that help build your body without the weakening effects of traditional therapies? Issels® can help. Learn more about our individualized, comprehensive immunotherapy treatments today.