[AKA_Monet]

Given that my Sorority's chapter in my location JUST gave a "health forum" on several issues, including colorectal/prostate/breast cancer this past Saturday; I have come to realize that I HATE CANCER as a disease to study and as a disease in people... It is unbearable to watch those that suffer with little options for survival...

Key things to consider:

The American Cancer Society, The Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the National Lung Institute have several guidelines as to how to "predict the survival outcomes" in patients that undergo some kind of treatment options.

The main idea from my own Sorority chapter's event--of which I chaired this committee that put it on--"the early caught, the better the outcome".

Now some cancers are just too invasive and it won't matter what treatment you give, it just won't respond...

However some cancers are completely avoidable with constant monitoring and check ups by healthcare professionals. Considerations of familial histories are important as well as poor environmental factors, i.e. smoking, abestoes [sp?], eating a high-fat diet and obesity...

Carnation, I have no idea about your FIL's case and I cannot comment, legally...

However, I am interested in how and why chemotherapeutics cause heart failure in some cancer patients... There are numerous underlying genetic factors that play a role in the response pattern to a drug from various organs...

The other issue is, no matter what, if you get old, you will have a problem--i.e. pick your poison--either you die from cancer or chronic disease (heart, renal, hypertension complications, stroke, etc.)... The onset varies from early exposures to environmental toxins or genetic components. But getting checked on a consistent basis is of the utmost importance. As well as, educating yourself immediately upon diagnoses to cooperate with your healthcare provider for the best treatment option...

There are drugs out there that are NOT FDA approved, but are still in clinical trials... This may be a last ditched effort, but could be a saving grace for some patients... One has to be persistent in getting onto a trial... And they also do "hospice treatment" when someone is on their last leg...

However, the interesting thing is "stem treatment" with "suicidal vectors attached to a drug bomb" and HAART therapy might work as a future to destroy cancer cells...

We will beat this cancer thing... In the meanwhile, keep the Spirit and Hope alive--participate in the Cancer society activities--they are for research...