After our terminal prognosis

(First draft only - read with extra caution. Version 04-12-00- www.PatientsNCI.org)

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PATIENT PROTOCOL STEP 1

RE- SELECT A WINNING TEAM

AFTER OUR "TERMINAL " PROGNOSIS

Part 3 of 4

WHAT TO DO ABOUT A "TERMINAL" PROGNOSIS?

For many of us it turned out that "terminal" meant the current doctors were just admitting that they were at the end of their options. We are grateful to them for their courage to admit this and not to continue to pour on useless and damaging chemotherapy or radiation once they knew it wouldn't help. This spared what health and dignity we had left to prepare to say our good-byes, or to move on to alternative therapy.

Just among us patients, we had to think about some difficult questions:

Am I about to pass on from old age anyway?

Does it really make much difference if I let cancer advance my schedule a little bit?

Have I already had a full-enough life?

Would I be wasting the time I do have left, if I spend it in a hospital instead of, say, a vacation with loved ones?

What about my loved ones when I'm gone?

Are they ready for what might happen?

It was helpful when we could discuss these points with at least one of those loved ones, and also with one or two outsiders we respected as well. Some of us turned to that psychologist or counselor we had, to get different perspectives. But in the final analysis, we probably knew the answers as well as anyone.
Here's what we learned so far: If there is still some business you want to finish, if you still have some good anger left, or a sense of humor, then the prognosis is too good to be considered terminal. Then there definitely is hope, and hope is the most powerful cancer medicine known.

If you decide it's not your time yet, it becomes urgent that you move quickly to find more second opinions, more treatment options. But don't get desperate. Especially look for M.D.'s who know both conventional and alternative therapy. Many are found in the books listed in Part 4. Other leads might include local health food stores, support groups, etc.

Your ombudsman can try for immediate telephone or email consultations. Go directly to the factual questions such as

Have you had any cases like this before?

What were the results?

What are my chances? ( The doctor probably will want to see some medical records before becoming very specific.)

What do you recommend that we do next?

Can we speak with some recovered patients or see their testimonials?

We repeat - don't get desperate, get efficient

One terminal patient received 3 different options from 3 different alternative M.D.'s. All of them offered low success rates well under 50%. But they were compatible treatments and so the patient decided to combine all 3. Yes, it was a huge challenge in logistics and coordination. The American and the international doctors cooperated generously. The combined treatments turned out to be synergistic, reversing the cancer in about 90 days.

END OF Part 3 of STEP 1

To see PATIENTS' PROTOCOL STEP 1, Part 4, Guide Books to alternative doctors and hospitals, please click on "Next Page" below.

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