From the category archives:

Alternative Therapies

Xeros Dry Mouth Pump Aids Cancer Survivors

by admin on July 2, 2010

Hi. I’m Al Toman, and I am a cancer survivor.

I live in eastern North Carolina so all y’all are welcome to stop by anytime and share stories or just talk about things! If you like the beach we’re just 6 miles up the road from the white sands and blue water. If travel is out of the question, please drop by our site and leave us your story. Your story will help the next person who’s about to go through what you already did, and they will thank you for it.

The kind people of Knowcancer.com invited me to tell you my story, and see  how we can help each other. So, let’s hear a big round of applause for TheKnowme and the great folks here at Know Cancer who are making this happen.

Back in 2007 I decided to take on T4 Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Actually, it broke my upper palate right side in mid August of 2006, eventually taking out my wisdom tooth. I decided I better do something about it. Through several local appointments I was directed to Carol Shores, MD, PhD. Within the first 30 seconds of meeting Dr. Shores, I decided that she was the one who was going to get rid of Mr. Nasty T4. At the time she was based at UNC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina -which is a good 3-1/2 hour drive from the shore.Let’s just say we put a lot of miles on the car.

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Medical Marijuana now being grown in America’s Garden (State)!

Alternative Therapies

On Monday, The New Jersey Legislature approved a measure that will legalize marijuana for medical use by those with chronic illnesses like cancer, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gherig’s Disease and AIDS. This move makes New Jersey one of the few east coast states to take such action, and only the 14th state to pass such legislation.Within 9 months, the state plans to have 6 dispensaries in which cancer patients can receive prescribed doses of medical marijuana from their doctors. It will be interesting to see the reaction from Oncologists in New Jersey over the next few weeks as opponents of the bill voice their opinion.


The benefits of medical marijuana for cancer patients (and the side effects associated with treatment) include:

  • helping with appetite loss
  • suppressing nausea & vomitting
  • pain relief

You can also check the American Cancer Society’s page on Marijuana Use in Supportive Care for Cancer Patients for more detailed info.

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The IsoFlow Catheter: Giving Tumors a Taste of Their Own Medicine

Alternative Therapies

I came across an article the other day regarding a new medical device that just obtained marketing clearance from the FDA.  It’s called the IsoFlow Infusion Catheter and is designed by Vascular Designs, a company founded by Robert Goldman.  Mr. Goldman had no prior experience inventing medical equipment and had already made his money selling intellectual property in the late 1990’s. It was his sister’s cancer diagnosis that inspired him to start researching various cancer treatments, which spawned the idea of the IsoFlow Catheter.  This device allows direct delivery of drugs to a targeted area such as delivering chemotherapy straight to a tumor, rather than through the entire body.  It also has a distinctive design which allows medication to be pushed sideways reaching areas that physicians were unable to directly treat before.  Unfortunately, Robert’s sister lost her battle with cancer before she could benefit from this device, but will be the reason that many others will win it!

Check out this cool video animation to learn how the IsoFlow Catheter System works.  I have to say, this device has me excited and I hope that it can provide people with an alternative treatment when all others have failed.

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Shambhala Mountain Center hosts “The Courageous Women and Fearless Living Retreat”

Alternative Therapies

Shambhala Mountain Center, the name alone brings an air of peace and tranquility; a welcoming place where Buddhist spirituality is brought to our modern lives in hopes of conscious awakening and ultimate enlightenment.  For close to forty years, this 600 acre Colorado mountain valley center has represented one of the basic truths of Buddhism: that people can be profoundly open to the wisdom of the present moment. In accordance with ancient tradition, Shambhala Mountain Center seeks to create an enlightened society where it is understood that humans inherently possess wisdom, compassion and goodness. The Center also boasts hundreds of expert led programs on Buddhist meditation, yoga, and contemplative disciplines.

Each year, Shambhala Mountain Center reaches out to a very special and beautiful group of people, women who have been touched by cancer. On August 26, 2009, women around the world are invited to the inspiring and life changing fourth annual Courageous Women and Fearless Living Retreat.

Shambhala Mountain Center’s team understands the burdens and hardships of cancer; it is an experience that can take the mind and body captive, leaving the victim feeling helpless. They know this invasive disease can be traumatic for earth’s nurturing life givers, so much so that it leads them to question their uniqueness as a woman and who they once knew to be.

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Anti-Up! A Quick View into Antioxidants, Free Radicals, and Your Body

Alternative Therapies

Recently there has been a ton of build up about antioxidants: drink green tea, eat pomegranates, try acai juice! All the hype is not totally overrated, evidence has been shown that antioxidants slow or reduce cancer and other diseases by fighting free radicals. Most of us already know that antioxidants are good cancer fighting agents, and free radicals are bad cancer causing molecules. What most of us don’t understand is what these guys actually do for… or to the body, and the science of it all. Let’s take a look and comprehend how antioxidants and free radicals work.

Antioxidants & Free Radicals

Antioxidants & Free Radicals

Free radicals (aka oxidants) are naturally found in our body as the by-product of cells that react with oxygen, called oxidation reactions. They are highly unstable and reactive. Before I get scientific, let’s kick it back to high school chemistry and see what we can remember through the note passing and drooling. Atoms have protons and neutrons which stay in the nucleus, and electrons which surround the atom in shells. Electrons are involved in chemical reactions and are the substance that bonds atoms together. The bonding and reactions occur when the outer shell of electrons is not full, causing the atom to be unstable. All atoms want out of life is to be stable, so they bond with fellow unstable atoms by giving, taking, or sharing an electron.

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