Blog - Hope Never Dies

Compelling “Pearls of Wisdom” from Hope Never Dies Cancer “Survivors”

November 10, 2017 by Rick Shapiro

Elizabeth, MD, Ph.D: Diagnosed in 1999, Ovarian and Uterine Cancer.
She was told: “You don’t understand. You must face this. You are dying and you don’t have more than a few weeks, maybe 2 months. We don’t think you will make it until Christmas.” Elizabeth is retired and enjoying life.

Elizabeth: “In the beginning of this journey, I felt disbelief and anger. Since my successful treatments, I came to accept ‘what is’ and enjoy the moments in life. It is sad, but I find that some cancer patients are not sure if they want to live. You must want to live. I find that cancer patients who do the best are those who become advocates for themselves, who direct their own therapies versus patients who just go along with their doctors. People should not lose hope. Keep on searching; follow your heart.”

Can Food Choices Influence the Prevention and Progression of Cancer

June 29, 2017 by Rick Shapiro

To decrease cancer risk, select fruit like blueberries that have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Blueberries are a great food selection to decrease cancer risk.

SHORT ANSWER: ABSOLUTELY YES. This is a deep and exhaustive cancer subject and has been a topic of debate for centuries. The so-called “Father of Modern Medicine”, Hippocrates, born approximately 2,500 years ago, is well known for his famous quote:

Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Let Medicine Be Thy Food.

Is a Biopsy-Proven, Terminal Cancer Diagnosis Equivalent to a Death Sentence?

April 3, 2017 by Rick Shapiro

Is a Biopsy-Proven, Terminal Cancer Diagnosis Equivalent to a Death Sentence?

SHORT ANSWER: UNEQUIVOCALLY NO, TERMINAL CANCER IS NOT EQUIVALENT TO A DEATH SENTENCE.

FACT: There are many people who have been given a terminal cancer diagnosis who are thriving today, many years later. More people have “beaten the odds” than you think. I have personally met hundreds who were given short “time frames,” such as: 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year to live. They have been afflicted with all kinds of cancer including brain cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, kidney cancer and others. I personally know many cancer doctors, in the integrative and alternative worlds, whose clinical work and recommendations have engendered extraordinary long-term outcomes for patients after receiving veritable “death sentences” from their prior cancer doctors.

Dangerous Words – “You Are Cancer Free”

March 27, 2017 by Rick Shapiro

“You Are in Remission.” “You are Cancer Free.” Let’s explore.

“You Are in Remission.” “You are Cancer Free.”

These seem to be wonderful, comforting words, spoken by our trusted cancer doctors. They tell us that their diagnostic tools cannot see or detect the presence of any cancer cells or tumor(s). Sometimes they will utter these words after a patient is 5 years into remission, hoping the cancer will not recur again.

This provides patients with some form of “peace of mind” regarding the stress, high anxiety, and fears they may harbor about a cancer recurrence. The doctor may say words like: Go home and enjoy your life; do whatever you want …

What is the Difference Between Conventional, Integrative, and Alternative Cancer Care?

March 20, 2017 by Rick Shapiro

In today’s world, the standard of care is generally defined as: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

CONVENTIONAL

Most conventional cancer therapies, which are prescribed and directed by mainstream doctors, are comprised of what is known as the “standard of care.” In today’s world, the standard of care is generally defined as: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. These are the primary modalities used in conventional cancer therapy, however, there are others, including hormonal and, more recently, novel immunotherapies. We are at the dawn of the immunotherapeutic age and this is not a perfected therapy, but there appears to be new hope and progress in this treatment realm. In fact, there is “no perfect therapy” for all cancers and cancer patients. But, there are many therapeutic paths that can provide great benefit, and that includes therapies that “are not” strictly standard of care therapies.

Proof of Evidence-Based Cancer Treatments and Drugs: The FDA “Gold Standard”—versus—Evidence for Integrative and Alternative Therapies

March 17, 2017 by Rick Shapiro

Cancer may respond to integrative and/or alternative therapies (and healing agents) that are not formally "evidence-based".

Evidence-based cancer treatments, integrative and/or alternative therapies, and healing agents may be considered.

Evidence-based cancer care is a scientific discussion.

In the conventional cancer world, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) testing procedure generally known as – “the gold standard” – prevails as the barometer to prove the safety and effectiveness of drugs, treatments, and therapies. In brief, this standard revolves around: large, randomized, placebo-based, double-blind, evidence-based research studies. They often take 10-15 years to complete, from start to finish. They assess and evaluate drugs and therapies beginning with the evaluation of cancer cell lines, then proceeding to preclinical studies (animal studies, frequently mice). Animal studies are followed by phase 1 trials consisting of small groups of people (approximately, 20 to 80), then phase 2 (approximately, several dozens to 300), followed by phase 3 trials which are comprised of even larger groups of people (approximately several hundred to 3,000). Each succeeding phase continues, subject to safe and effective results being demonstrated in the preceding phase.