It was the month of July 2017, the day before Independence Day, when my home phone rang very early. It was my endocrinologist calling to inform me that I had cancer!
My first thought was: Could it be someone else’s results? I am healthy! How could I get cancer?
At that point I began my own journey through the illness; my struggle to achieve remission of my disease and my decision to act and overcome my emotional reaction of hopelessness every day!
According to the American Cancer Society, cancer affects 1 of 3 people in the United States.
CDC’s National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) reported that in 2020, COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the US. Heart disease was the first cause of death and cancer was the second
Statistics according to The National Cancer Institute says: “Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide”. “By 2040, the number of new cancer cases per year is expected to rise to 29.5 million and the number of cancer-related deaths to 16.4 million”.
What does Cancer mean?
Cancer refers to the accelerated reproduction of abnormal cells and the persistence of old or abnormal cells that do not die when they should. This uncontrolled cell growth and division results in the sudden growth of abnormal tissue.
Who can get Cancer?
Basically, all human beings have the potential capacity to suffer from some type of cancer since we have proto-oncogenes in our genetics that can suffer errors in their function.
A proto-oncogene is a gene in the cell responsible for producing a protein involved in the growth, division, and regulation of cell life. Sometimes these proto-oncogenes go wrong, make a mistake, mutate, and create a malfunctioning gene (oncogene), so cells start to grow out of control.
Some triggers can help create a malfunctioning gene, such as:
Genetic heritage
Family predisposition (more susceptibility to mutations in their proto-oncogenes)
Infectious disease (chronic hepatitis, human papillomavirus (HPV), helicobacter pylori, etc.)
Cigarette
Obesity, overweight and poor eating habits (diets rich in fats)
Environmental pollution, toxic substances (pesticides-for example)
Hormonal therapy
Radiation
Trauma
Emotional distress
What are the most common types of cancer?
The most common cancers are breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, colon-rectum cancer, cervical cancer. Skin cancer (melanoma), leukemias and lymphomas are also very common
Mammography for the detection of breast cancer, HPV test and Pap test for the detection of cervical cancer, fecal guaiac occult blood test (g FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy for the detection of colorectal cancer (CRC), low-dose CT scan for lung cancer screening and prostate cancer screening with prostate specific antigen (PSA) are tests for early detection of the most common cancers
Early detection, integrated care, and a multidisciplinary approach to treatment can significantly improve a person’s prognosis.
Can Cancer be cured?
There is currently no cure for cancer. Once a diagnosis is obtained, the goal is to achieve remission of the disease, which means the disappearance of all signs of the disease.
Dealing with the disease…
The person who suffers from cancer in addition to his diagnosis of disease will have to face emotional and psychosocial adjustments.
Therefore, care must take into account the particular situation of each patient, their socio-family situation, their emotional and psychological state, as well as other possible concomitant physical illnesses that require attention and treatment.
The holistic medicine and specifically homeopathy, is essential since it establishes an individualized treatment according to the characteristics of the patient, enhancing the immune system and helping with possible adverse effects such as nausea, diarrhea, weakness, etc. secondary to chemotherapy or radiation.
When remission is not possible…
The objective is to achieve the best possible quality of life for the patient suffering from the disease through palliative care.
Homeopathy offers:
** Constitutional remedies -Based on the mental and particular characteristics of each patient whose purpose is to stimulate the immune system and improve the quality of life in general.
** Pathological remedies: considering the type of cancer and the affected organs.
** Supportive remedies: to reduce adverse effects secondary to chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy
Nancy Dutto MD
6/01/21