CHOICE
By P. Henry
Choice for cancer sufferers is limited.
Cancers are complex multifaceted diseases characterised by uncontrolled cell division and pathogenic cell growth[1]. There are hundreds of types, claiming over 10 million lives annually[2].
It has long been known that 70 to 90% of cancers are environmental, 93% non-hereditary[3]. Western treatments have efficiency, especially in the short term, although cases & deaths are increasing. With haematological cancers, on which this paper is focused, there are further subcategories and heterogeneity. Their treatments are mainly to eradicate mitosis using toxins, as part of a faulted biochemical & suppressed immune system[4]. These all have adverse side effects and outcome variations[5].
Western medicine emphasises a first aid efficiency, expecting patient passivity and resignation[6]. Despite the significance of environmental factors, patient reaction is noted but not their participation -much less their choice. To have choice, patients require understanding, coherence and comprehension of what the illness is, as well as what resistance[7] & misdirection limits any resource use.
The varied chemo treatments, pushed by western medicine, are based on proofs usually created by pharmaceutical companies’ own research trials. These often have a manufacturer’s bias and are sometimes notably faulted[8]. They focus on a type of patient that lies in the middle of their statistical (bell) curve and ignore the fewer, but remarkable people, that improve by other means[9]. The prognosis[10] created in their faulted circularity excludes individual participation and comprehensive plans[11] diminishing successful treatments.
Individual volition contests the market medicine of the dominating socio-economic modes. If initial support groups included psychoeducation with exploration, participation could be supported. Developing intentionality[12] would encourage a personalised mental state having physical matter. Difficult as this appears it is realisable.
In the following sections: I will describe how participation by groups and individuals using their resources (while emphasising their authenticity, autonomy and acceptance) can help patients outlive a cancer prognosis and have a better QoL. Various mental and physical interventions are described along with validating research.
- 1. Apoptosis in cancer: from pathogenesis to treatment. (26 Sept11) R SY Wong. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 30(1)
2. CRI Exploring the Different Types of Cancer and Treatment Options. Worldwide cancer statistics | Cancer Research UK
3. Environmental causes of cancer. (2024) Priya Wadgaonkar. Cancer Epigenetics and Nanomedicine.
Substantial contribution of extrinsic risk factors to cancer development. (Jan16)
Song Wu et al. Nature 529. Environmental Factors Inducing Human Cancers. (1Nov2012) N Parsa. Iran J Pub Health. 41(11).
4. Improving Outcomes in Haematological Cancers. (2003) NHS: Nat Institute for Clinical Excellence.
5. Cancer Chemotherapy. (2023) M T Amjad et al. Stat Pearls Pub./ NIH
6. Contemporary Western Medicine has its pitfalls. (1Jan19) D English. Ann Neurosci.26(1). A systematic review of the effectiveness …. (Jun12) C L W Chan, et al. Support Care Cancer. 20(6). – N.B. needs update
7. Health, Stress, and Coping (1979) A. Antonfosky. Jossey-Bass
8. Various books by Dr Ben Goldacre MD. Including Bad Science (2008) & Bad Pharma (2012). Testing Treatments…. (2011) I Evans et al.
9. Cured: The Power of Our Immune System and the Mind-Body Connection. (2021) Dr J Redigger. Penguin. How Psychological Therapy May Prolong Survival in Cancer Patients. (2004) Dr A Cunningham. Integrative Can. Therapies.
10. Managing the risks of making the wrong diagnosis…. (May2021) P Olliaro et al. Int J Infect Dis.106. What contributes to diagnostic error or delay? …. (1Jun21) Dr. A Barwise et al. J Patient Saf.
11. The state of the art: clinical implications for cancer patients and directions for future research (2002) A Cunningham. in C Lewis ed. The Psychoimmunology of Cancer.
12. Having intent is a crucial part of a positive outcome. It is interconnected in a psycho-social web that includes issues of being conscious, having awareness, the phenomenology of perception/ apprehension, our ability to re-socialise ourselves, being body and mind- allowing us to simultaneously experience the body/mind as both object and subject.
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