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Posts with tag therapeutic
Posted Oct 9th 2006 9:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Cancer Survivors, Survivor Spotlight
Kara Dawson is a breast cancer survivor. She has not been diagnosed herself -- although the fear of diagnosis is her constant companion. She instead lived as a child with the disease her mother battled. And she now lives in the aftermath of breast cancer following the death of her mom.
Kara was just 12 years old when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer -- the disease that would take her life just a few years later. For 22 years, Kara has been surviving the loss of her mom. For 22 years, Kara has been surviving breast cancer.
Now 37 years old, Kara has become a busy mom herself. She shares her world with two wonderful sons -- ages five and three -- and an amazing husband, a Great Dane, a love of athletics and the out-of-doors, and a career as a professor at the University of Florida.
Kara is a woman of great strength, courage, faith, and inspiration. She has helped power me through my own breast cancer journey -- and I believe her own personal brush with the disease is what makes her such a supportive, attentive, encouraging friend. She helps me fight for my life -- as she fights the curse of family history for her own life.
Continue reading Survivor Spotlight: Kara Dawson survives loss of mom
Posted Aug 31st 2006 1:30PM by Kristina Collins
Filed under: Alternative Therapies, Animal, All Cancers, Opinion, Cancer Survivors
Cancer survivors can have a lot of support when going through treatment. After all the surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy the survivors are usually stuck in a weird place. We are done treatment but sometimes at that point the fear can really kick in. During treatment and doctor visits we are busy fighting the cancer but after that period is over we are left with just the hope that we will not have a recurrence.
Animals can be very therapeutic. I didn't plan on buying a dog after my treatment ended. It just happened. My husband and I were shopping for clothes and wandered into the pet shop. We saw the cutest dog in the world. We took him home that day in October of 2002. I had just finished up my chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer. I never had a dog before. I looked at him on my lap and thought "what did we just do?" Well, we did the best thing ever!
Steve will be four this month. It's been four years since my treatment ended and Steve has been with me to help me through the hard days. One look at his cute face and I feel better and worry less. I see how he lives for the moment and enjoys his life. He is such a good friend!
"The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a child" - Will Rogers
Posted Jun 14th 2006 7:25PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Drug, Lung Cancer, Clinical Trials, Research
As we begin to see cancer vaccines come to market meant to prevent cancer, drug makers such as GlaxoSmithKline are experimenting with cancer vaccines for patients already diagnosed with cancer. One experimental vaccine,
MAGE-3, is showing some promise in clinical trials to prevent a recurrence of lung cancer is set to enter Phase III clinical trials early next year.
According to GlaxoSmithKline, the liver cancer vaccine designed to help liver cancer patients from experiencing a recurrence of their cancer, is based on priming the immune system to attack tumors. Called a
therapeutic vaccine, the drug maker is optimistic they are onto something that might prove to have a significant benefit to lung cancer patients and estimate the vaccine might be available in a couple of years.
