The Feldenkrais Method was started by a Russian-born Israeli physicist named Moshe Feldenkrais, who expressed that humans use only a limited amount of their bodies' ability to move. He used his education in science and the martial arts to develop a way to get the most therapeutic benefits from certain stretches, reaches, and changes in posture using specific patterns. At times, the Feldenkrais Method also uses massage. Basically, it provides supportive therapy or physical rehabilitation for individuals who have sustained an injury. The Feldenkrais Method can be used to improve quality of life and reduce anxiety for someone suffering from a chronic condition such as cancer. This method is quite new and has not been fully researched by scientists, yet. However, I am sure we will be hearing more in the way of the benefits of using this exciting new method.

She fought a good fight and got what she wanted: Ms. Clark of Bridgewater, Somerset, was willing to take her case to the European Court of Human Rights in order to obtain the new breast cancer drug Herceptin. However, she didn't have to go to such extremes, as the Somerset Primary Care Trust stepped in to fund her treatment last October. She is now in remission and going to go for three monthly check-ups, and continues on the remission path. Barbara Clark's relentless battle to make Herceptin's benefits available to more women will not go unnoticed as she has won the Mum of the Year award from Tesco Magazine. Congratulations, Barbara!

Research from Augusta and Palo Alto, California has shown 88.5 percent of patients at the Veterans Hospitals with transitional cell bladder cancer had or have a history of smoking marijuana. Dr. Terris, senior author on the study in the January issue of Urology looked at 52 male patients aged 44-60 years. Older patients 60 years and older have a common risk factor of smoking cigarettes.

It was noticed by Dr. Terris that 31 percent of cancer patients still smoked marijuana, compared to 20 percent in the age-matched control group. These findings have prompted physicians at the VA hospitals along with Standford University Medical Center to look at other carcinogens, in their patients. Tobacco, radiation, Agent Orange, smoked or processed meats and synthetic dyes from textiles were found in all men in the study.  Controls in the study were patients seeking urology care only not bladder cancer.

A large study providing significant evidence towards the fact that blacks are more likely to get lung cancer from cigarettes has been brought to my attention. It is apparent after an eight year study that race does play a role in different health risks, and these differences must be addressed.

183,000 people were researched and the results are in, with findings that Hawaiians and blacks are 55% percent more likely to develop lung cancer than whites. Japanese Americans and Latinos are 50% less likely of developing skin cancer than whites. The study being published today in the New England Journal of Medicine is large and convincing. It is the best reference to date, that states a varying difference of risk of  people from different ethnic and racial make-up, who smoke cigarettes regularly.

The study brings up certain emotional debates about race. How important it is to tailor treatments, screening, and prevention for the individual races of the world. Genetic variations are an element to risk factors and percentages. It highlights questions about other drugs, and how they are metabolized. Is this going to spur yet another racial debate?

I have often wondered about the benefits of living in a large city. I remember being so happy that both of my sons were born in a moderately sized city, opposed to a small town, with a state-of-the-art hospital to facilitate their complicated births.

Drawing a correlation, cancer treatment is somewhat the same - if you live in London, rather than some remote area in England you have a much better chance of survival. The mortality rates are still very different across England, even after the government launched its Cancer Plan to tackle the disease. There are many variations in the ability to receive vital drugs, screening, and survival rates. Nearly 90 percent of eligible women in certain areas are obtaining the wonder drug Herceptin for breast cancer, compared to 10 percent in other areas. This is a striking difference, I am happy it is being revised.

The creator of this blog is Yvonne Foong, she has a debilitating disease called neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), and has started this website in order to establish support for others, in Malaysia, and around the world. She has a fundraising campaign, and help with writing. I am so happy to introduce her to our blog. I hope you visit her blog and buy a t-shirt.

Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder causing benign tumors to develop throughout the body. There are three types of this disease which Yvonne has clearly described in her blog. NF1, NF2, and NFSchwannomatosis. I wish her luck, good will and good fortune. I am tickled to learn about her, I feel her sunshine all the way from Malaysia on my face in the United States. She has done a wonderful thing.

Dr. Dale Phelps has retired from his job as an Orthopedic Surgeon. He is fighting cancer and creating wonderful pieces of artwork. He is mostly printing, therefore he needs his carving knives in order to make wood cuts for printing. His prints are often colorful and comedic. He has started showing them at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. "Visions from within" is a series of prints focusing on his ongoing battle with prostate cancer. Dr. Phelps has been battling cancer since 1993, and uses guided imagery and meditation as a complimentary therapy to traditional medicine.

His work is done five days out of the week in his basement. He enjoys adding a little humor into his artwork, as he was once told by a radiologist that attitude has a lot to play in how one battles cancer and the outcome of the battle. Art and meditation help him keep his attitude how he wants it.  He has other projects in the works, some farm equipment in the barn he would like to turn into sculptures, and he has been thinking about getting a kiln. I am excited to see what he comes up with next.

It is thousands of years old. The word "prana" comes from Hinduism, meaning the infinite matter of which energy is born. Also known as the vital life-sustaining force within the body and the universe.  So therefore Pranic healing is the use of prana to heal. It uses energy sweeping techniques to remove unwanted or negative energies from the body.

Kevin Higgins, is a trained Pranic healer from Connecticut, speaker and husband of  Colleen Higgins, who has received the benefits of combined traditional medicine and alternative holistic treatments. The tumors in her lungs have shrunk, they are gone from her lungs, her stage 4 breast cancer is in remission. She attributes her remission status to a combination of Pranic healing and being treated by Dr. Joseph Cardinale who is the medical director at the McGilvney Cancer Center at the Hospital of St. Raphael. He is open to alternative medicines.

An ancient form of Japanese healing being used in conjunction with modern medicine has shown remarkable results. Reiki is a holistic, natural, healing system that addresses the body, mind and spirit of a person. It uses life energy and pulls in positive energy. In a typical session a patient rests, yet is fully aware of their surroundings,and is encouraged to focus on the universal life energy flowing into their bodies. It is noted that reiki has helped with cardiovascular health, cancer, wound healing, fibromyalgia, and AIDS. Reiki is used in more than 50 major hospitals and clinics throughout the United States. As with anything there are skeptics, and simply need to be mentioned. Look only for a licensed practioner or Reiki Master when considering a Reiki treatment.