10.12 Say You Get Cancer? What to do?

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12. Cancer, an Obstacle to Longevity (Update 22 Septr 2021)

 Introductory column of contents to guide readers

Agents that cause cancer by mutation or by otherwise damaging the DNA 

Other Preventives of Cancer

Screening for Pre & Early Curable Cancer

Cancer Treatment principles

You must remember this! Agents that cause cancer by mutation or by otherwise damaging the DNA should be eliminated by intelligent, efficient, non-neurotic avoidance especially reduction of radiation; i.e. UV from sunlight and tanning lamps; X-ray, radioactivity, natural and cosmic rays.

   Radiation avoidance relates to age, body location and amount. The younger one is, the more cancer-causing is the radiation. A c.20-year lag exists between radiation and cancer so at age 80, low radiation poses little risk; but, at the opposite extreme, your baby should get as little radiation as can be controlled. And keep aware of the radiation you may get passing at airport check, or watching TV too close to a screen. In a pregnant person, even small amount may give cancer to or deform her baby.

  Consider natural radiation, e.g., radon gas in private home. It is highest at lowest height; A lifetime lived in basement risks cancer more than in a high-rise. Flying in jet, you get extra cosmic rays. So put it all together and come up with age-focused, non-neurotic policy starting with parent supervising child. Do seminar on its avoidance.

   In case of medical x-ray do not blindly accept routine x-ray. And CT scan is x-ray with highest radiation exposure but MRI or ultrasound exam has no x-ray and no other damaging radiation. Podiatrist (foot doctor) x-ray should be an absolute No. Dental x ray only after dentist checks your teeth and determines a risk from dental caries.

Other Preventives of Cancer: No smoking includes Marijuana.

   About food in cancer prevention, use Body Mass Index. Do not allow your BMI 25 or higher and strive for a BMI down to 20 or even a little lower as you get older. Make habit to eat fresh vegetable and fruit every day and to drink much water and prevent habitual too hot water (Allow a brief cooling off before; tap to run at least 20 seconds before collecting for drink) like drinking (tea, coffee) because it risks esophageal cancer.

Screening for  Curable Cancer: In women, Pap smear screening reduces cancer. Other screens are more problematic because you have to balance the cost of screening when done repeatedly and its risk. I favor upper and lower GI tract endoscopy in 5-year routine starting age 40 and stopping after 3 negative screens and also an MRI of brain age 65 to 70. An ultrasound scan of abdomen with purpose of visualizing liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas and kidneys is useful, economic and harmless. Good for tumor and cyst. Such screen may start age 40 and done as much as needed as long as needed.

Cancer Treatment principles are: one should, at start, seek world-beater medical opinion. And do not be deterred by insurance lack. Spend money for your good life. (Of course, if you do not have the money, you cannot; but check for help of friends and relatives.)  Obtain copy of your medical record. Bring previous test reports. The consultation to get opinion should be well prepared. You will have time to get other opinion. Do not panic into unwise decision: at the start it is more important to take time in order to get good handle on treatment rather than to rush into wrong or inefficient treatment and die badly because of it. Once you decide treatment, do it: devote your life to it.

  Even when you decide on the best opinion, spend time with your expert on all questions and get objective answer to each. And do not tie your expert's hands by phobia against a treatment, like against a particular surgery, or radiation, or chemotherapy or combinations.
  And keep in mind: cure is not the only reason for seeking good cancer care. Another, as important reason, is to prevent your bad dying.
   END OF CHAPTER. To read next click 10.13 Cancer Full On