While I did receive conventional medicine from my oncology and radiology Drs., I was not given any direction from either on adding complimentary medicine, or guided imagery... I found the complimentary medicine avenue on my own because I felt 'lost' with what limited response there was to the needs I had to feel in touch, and in some kind of control over what would happen to me.

I used a nutritionist, and an acupuncturist, as well as a support group in my area. I used your tapes on cancer, fighting cancer, radiation, chemo, general wellness, and prep for surgery ... also brought your tape to hospital and had it played for myself in o.r. I had healing statements attached to my gown to be read to me as I went under and before coming to also.

I wish that there wasn't this kind of flip-flopping on what the outcome though from Drs. Like, before surgery, one thing, after surgery, another thing, after-after surgery, a different thing again is said regarding treatment, on how winable your cancer is, etc. With this wavering, it can affect your determination and even your hope that you will overcome this situation ~ which is available for many of us. This is missing, I feel. *The sense among Drs. that we can win over cancer ~ especially those of us who change our lifestyles, add alternative/complimentary modalities, rely on cancer-fighting nutriceuticals, and who seek support and the positive reinforcement that health is within our grasp again.

How many people do not know where to turn, or are to sick and need a helping hand to receive the support we may not see in our conventional settings?

I wish that Drs. knew how much guided imagery and alternatives truly did help us over the hump of these strong medications, surgeries, and radiation procedures... the side effects, some of which can be devastating if we are left alone to go appt. to appt. without the educational and hands on techniques that complimentary medicine seems to provide many of us, to relieve symptoms and pain, and provide support and relief, through tapes, massage, acupuncture, nutritional guidance, qi gong, exercise, and the release of both laughter and tears in a supportive environment.

Why can't we hear tapes during chemo infusions ~ or have the choice, I mean? Same with radiation?
Why don't some Drs. call back our acupuncturists and acknowledge our care with them? Or why not have a support nurse or PhD. give patients a support group?

Maybe some do... I did not have that experience. As a matter of fact, I brought pass-outs of a local movement class and the schedule at this studio working with cancer patients, for free, doing qi gong and other healing movements and meditation, so it would be known to other patients at this office looking for support and wanting to learn another way of coping and aiding their healing... hope I see them displayed next time I go there. That would be great!

Thanks for asking! I'm sure many have ideas for you to bring on our behalf.

And thank you for what you do ~ you have a beautiful voice, and one that helps tremendously on this healing path!

Peace and Gratitude,
Joni

I found some complementary care on my own, but it wasn't covered by my health insurance so I had to drop it when it got too expensive. Other than that, there was only the chemo. I had a staph infection in my incision that kept recurring during chemo, so my doctor put me on antibiotics for the duration. Then, 6 weeks after the last treatment, the staph came roaring back. Since my oncologist had seemed concerned about it and said "call at the slightest sign of infection" I did call. Three times. Got put off. After five days, during which time the infection broke through the incision, he sent a message (never would actually talk to me) through the nurse to call my surgeon--it was a postoperative problem. When I called her office, they were all over it, and I was on IV antibiotics for a week, oral antibiotics ever since. Going on 5 weeks now. It's still draining. My problem is, who should be "in charge" of problems that crop up later. My oncologist basically kicked me to the curb. I would have liked advice and counseling about nutrition, post-treatment care, who to call, alternative methods to handle chemo, etc. I used your chemo meditation during treatments, and it helped.

Another thing I would have liked to be different is that the nurse would not listen to me when I told her not to try those particular veins, they never worked. She always tried them. After 3-4 unsuccessful attempts, she would mutter "should have listened to you" and go for for the vein I had told her would work. Once I had to leave, have lunch, calm down, and come back later. The nurses were so used to using ports (I didn't have one, didn't want one) they were unskilled at starting a simple IV. Once my surgeon told me to bring the paraphernalia to her and SHE'D start it for me! I would have, but didn't want to insult the nurse. Now I wish I had.

Thank you for the chemo meditation--it helped me so much.

Hi, I am a yoga and meditation teacher living in Montreal and I currently teach an 8 week course to breast cancer patients. The course touches on themes like the effect of stress on the body and the immune system, the power of positive thinking and of living in the present moment, acceptance, the importance of conscience breathing etc. The women really appreciate the information and gain many personal insights from it. So I think this type of yoga class or even a lecture series would be very helpful.

I am currently reading the book Anti-Cancer by David Servan-Schreiber. It is an amazing, must read book in terms of understanding the causes of cancer and the importance of our diet (including sugar consumption), getting enough exercise, daily meditation and having a positive attitude or something to live for.
Reading this book has led me to believe that a missing link in terms of having an active and healthy immune system to prevent or fight off cancer relates to having found one's life purpose or a way to contribute to society. Dr. Servan-Schreiber refers to the fact that immune cells work better if they are in service of a worthwhile cause. To this end, I think that some sort of life purpose counselling would be very beneficial to help cancer patients. Here are some thoughts from my life purpose coach Tim Kelley: 'If they find their purpose and don't live a minute longer, they will probably be more at peace when they die, having spent their remaining time doing something truly meaningful.
Finding your purpose puts your past in perspective, showing them that they have been doing it all along. This could bring greater peace if they are not cured.' His website is: knowyourpurpose.com

I want to thank you for taking on this wonderful initiative and please keep us posted as I may like to approach the Canadian Health Care System with a similar proposal.

Namaste,
Jackie
514-931-9670
www.peacefullife.ca

Hello, I was diagnosed with P.M.P,rare abdominal cancer 5 years ago. I have had 2 major surgeries, one In Washington D.C., by the foremost expert in the United States, Dr. Sugarbaker, and one by another National recognized surgeon who specializes in this cancer,Dr. Ryan Holbrook CancerCare Northwest, Spokane Wa. What I would like to say, is that my family and I were truly blessed to have been treated firstly at CancerCare Northwest for these reasons.Firstly, the day we met with Dr. Holbrook and he explained what would need to be done, he also suggested that I see their in house therapist, my angel on earth, TESS TAFT. That very day we were fortunate to beable to meet her and get our first appt. set. What Tess brought to the table for us, was guided imagining (which I had your c.d. taped to my arm, and was replayed throught both surgeries, one 7 hours, second 9 hours. She also continues to work with me with techniques of relaxation, breathing techniques. She encouraged my husband and I to take Jon Kabat-Zin's class which introduced us to Meditation and the support that the group brought during those terrible months. I have many friends with Cancer currently, and sadly we are all in our 50's--not what any of us planned for at such an early age. I have seen what they have been through at different medical facilities, and none of them had the experience that I was blessed to have with these caring Physicians, and therapist. They are trying to provide these alternative approach to help with PAIN, FEAR, GRIEF, and just trying to come to some form of acceptance! I truly do not know how or WHO I would be today ---SERIOUSLY--without the enlightment that came with learning how to deal with our mindsets!! please know, that my husband and I have been surrounded by very close caring friends who are the specialist in the medical field, highly educated people, lawyers, C.E.O.'s---and my WITNESSING of these new ideas, made some profound effects on many of them---but to point is, they did not know or really get many of the ideas. I have not let up--today, being very lucky and healthy at this moment, living 6 months to 6 months with Scans-----I have encouraged people from Calif-Tn-to look into this gifts. I have sent guided imaging C.D.'s to people who have lost children, loaned books on MIND CONTROL to help with unbareable pain---to talking through a friend, and ex-football player, who had a stem-cell transplant, who hit a wall with anxiety and ripped out all his I.V.'s and tried to leave the hospital in a state of panic. I helped him create a mental visual on going to Football practice, and starting with getting in his car and driving to the field. This I owe to all of you who have learned this techniques and are determined to get the information our there. Please do not stop-----we are still , it seems to me, in a pre-school phase with our care for the critically ill. I have been blessed with the most amazing care, but that is not the norm. They have offered seminars, that I have gone, sat wiht patients in wheelchairs too sick to walk on their own. Trust me---my surgery has a nickname in the medical field , it is called M.O.A.S., Mother of all surgeries--I can talk pain and suffering with a month stay each time in a hospital, then chemo in between. I would encourage Cancer specialist to offer counseling with people who have been trained as my angel, TESS TAFT. I know that she is a unique person who is highly knowledged in these areas, but the basics would get people something to hold on to. I am sorry, being a Christian, sometimes just praying is not enough!! I hope I have not gone on too much, but this is a major subject--and one that I feel very strongly about. Tess teaches at our local University, people who will be coming into this field, she has had several us as a panel so that they can hear what it is like, and exactly what you asked, they want to know WHAT DID NOT HELP AND WHAT DID HELP. God bless you all! Sincerely, Melody Coombs

Hi Bellaruth: As an oncology social worker, I always introducted the idea of complementary medicine and have given away many of your tapes/cd's. The reason so many tx facilities lack complimentary medicine is two fold - one the lack of good clinical evidence (the docs need this) and second reimbursement. I think that reimbursement is the more critical aspect. As you know, many oncology social workers are trained and can offer many complimentary therapies : groups, classes, meditation, imagery, journal classes etc. However, the clinics cannot get reimbursement for those services and either cannot afford or are not willing to take on the expense of a practicioner. If one thing could change, I would advocate for reimbursement for oncology social worker services by medicare, medicaid and insurance. Then pts could have access to both concrete servcies and resources (financial, access to care, counseling and the like) as well as complimentary therapies that we know help pt's cope better with the journey they are on.

I can speak from "both sides now" as Judy Collins said...I am a Nurse Practitioner, former Professor @ UCSF and I recently had 2 unrelated cancers in 2 years! I have taught the CAM content to our NP students at the School of Nursing for many years.

I was treated with conventional medicine only through my oncologist at a large and well-known HMO. She was not educated in any CAM modalities. The pharmacist available to me during chemo was quite willing to look up herbs and supplements in combo with my chemo regimen, but was again not really educated in CAM.

Thankfully, I had already incorporated many modalities into my life and they certainly made healing that much easier. After a 12 hour surgery with major abdominal reconstruction,I left the hospital 5 days earlier than expected and used hardly any morphine. Every time the nurses came into the room at shift change they remarked on how little was gone. I used both your's and Marty Rossman's tapes during chemo sessions. I am certified in Integrative Imagery and had many sessions prior to and during my 8 months of therapy and healing. I also used meditation, Sufi heart healing, acupuncture, Healing Touch and EFT(Emotional Freedom Techniques)

I could not be where I am today--Healthy, happy and retired---without these modalities. I often thought while going through this journey, that pts need a "cancer doula" (sp?) to help them through the system and make them aware of what can be available to them. I am thinking of perhaps writing a book about this and would love to bring a program to my HMO.

Minimally, patients need things that make them feel some control, and need help with symptoms. So at the very least Imagery should be available to all pts. Added to that nutrtion counseling, integrative medical consultation around herbs, supplements that are safe with other drugs/chemo. Acupuncture and Healing Touch are great for symptom control and relaxation/balance. EFT can help with symptom control and can allow pts to identify, feel and release daily rollercoaster of emotions.

Thank you for asking about this issue and I so appreciate and value the work you do and your passion for the subject!

gratefully and with true joy,
catherine

Your guided imagery CDs were one of my most solids anchors during treatment, my first lifeline and I added a lot later. The resource center at my clinic recommended them. Yet otherwise I'd say that I felt very much on my own in terms of my complementary therapies - the clinic was too research based to go there quite yet (even though research supports CAP).

I frankly let go of the doctors being my all-in-one help people. This is the biggest thing I think they need to think about - whether or not they think they can really meet the whole needs of a patient or if they think of themselves as part of a team of all sorts of healers. Other therapists/healers in my life helped me tremendously and I think my doctors majorly missed out by not asking me what was going on with those other areas of healing work. If there had been more of a health coach at the clinic I might have been interested.

I brought in my iPod to listen to mediation music for my port removal and was surprised that half the nurses hadn't seen such a thing before. I used my own private guided imagery during radiation treatments but I would have loved it if the technicians had offered it to me. I would spend hours at the clinic and was surprised to find it short on beautiful healing spaces. When I had one moment of needing some major emotional support while at the clinic the chaplain met me with exquisite grace. This was great. But I have to say the nurses, while very high quality, were often rather perfunctory and didn't take time for the healing relationship.

I had a serious unusual cancer. That I'm doing well now is stupendous. I think it's a shame that the doctors aren't more interested in all that went into my healing.

Thank you for all that you do.
emily

I feel much like Joni in the first comment. My oncologist had no idea of nor was interested in hearing about anything complementary or alternative. He poo pooed everthing I brought up about mind/body, alternative and complementary medicine and diet. As soon as I got my diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer (never smoked) I started searching. I set up my acupuncture visits for before each chemo. I bought as many books as I could find about surviving cancer. In one book "Remarkable Recoveries " it was interesting to see that all those people who had those remarkable recoveries had many things in common, an incredible will to live, willingness to change, and some spiritual or mental realization. I vowed from the first day to embrace the beast and get past this. I went to a hypnotherapist and had her make me a personalized tape about relaxation and targeting my particular cancer. I downloaded your peaceful perspective and loved it so much I also got the chemo, general well being and Dr. Miller's chemo and played them not only when I was having chemo but when I was finished as well, and I pictured that chemo flowing thru my body into those cells for days afterward.

I just kept pursuing it with my oncologist ( I think he must have dreaded my appointments) and told him all that I was doing. I think he could obviously see the difference in how I was taking chemo compared to other patients and how good I felt mentally and physically, because he began to ask me at each appt. if I was still using guided imagery and acupuncture. By my 6th chemo, he told me I had changed his mind about a lot of things and to keep doing exactly as I was. He even bought the book "Anti Cancer, A New Way of Life", because I told him he should. He liked it and thanked me. I think they simply have tunnel vision about their own particular speciality which is encouraged by western medicine.

What I loved about my personal tape is that the therapist spent a little more time on having me picture the future and how I would look and feel and encouraged me to imagine myself healthy and much older, being with everyone I love.

I feel what is needed is a CD that addresses post chemo, this is a frightening time for me, turned loose, with little advice and told see you at your next scan. I guess I would like a CD that would relax me and then suggest all that my mind and body can do to keep my cancer stable or push it toward remission,something to remind those Killer cells to keep working for me.

I tell everyone I know with and without cancer, how much guided imagery has helped me, I direct them to your websight. Whether I live or die, I am peaceful, serene and hopeful.

Thank you, Jean Graf

I am now having to have my left kidney removed on Thur Jan 8, 2008. This is my fifth battle with cancer. In 1984, I had to have exploratory surgery - they just sewed me back up and started chemo. It wasn't until three years later that they diagnosed my case as non-Hodgkin lymphoma Ki-1. At that time there was not much on how to help cancer patients. I was instrumental in starting the first cancer support group in my city.

I was told by the ministers that assisted the support group and many of the cancer patients themselves that I was not facing the fact that I had cancer. I tried to convince them that I knew what I had but I was not willing to give in to it. I found that I could not be part of that group. I have assisted other patients but it has been on a one on one basis. Many patients don't want to hear what I have to say - they want the doctors to be in charge.

I found a book called "Getting Well Again" by Carl and Stephanie Simonton that soon became my getting well again bible. I took it with me to the hospital, reread passages before my chemo treatments. I have given copies of this book to anyone that I know is going thru cancer. I used imagery and meditation. I had a friend that was a nurse that took photo slides of my family and my surroundings and made a personal guided imagery for me. I had my Dr provide a photo copy of my good cells vs my cancerous cells so that I could use imagery to see the chemo killing off the bad cells.

But not once did any of my DR point me in the direction that I could help myself and not fully rely on them. I can remember going in for chemo with a big screen tv turned on full blast with the most depressing news on, with all the chemo patients in their overstuffed chairs listening to the garbage. I suggested investing in earphones with soft music or something relaxing. I don't think it ever happened.
I was treated with chemo and when the bleo damaged my lungs to the extent that my Dr had to take me off of it, they switched to radiation.

Then in 1994, it reoccurred. That was the first time I had heard of you. In fact, I don't remember how I received your tape. (no cd's back then). I listened to it daily. I went thru chemo again and my doctor got me ready for a bone marrow transplant, which I did not need.

While visiting my sister this summer, I found one of your cd's and started listening to it. When I got home I ordered two, one for a friend of mine going thru a back surgery that went bad. She is now on morphine full time. The other CD was for myself. At that time, I did not know that my left kidney had a cancerous tumor in it. I just found it relaxing to listen to the CD and was trying to keep myself healthy.

Then the week end before Thanksgiving, I started seeing blood in my urine -- .

I have been listening to your CD at least once a day in preparation for the surgery. I was also going in for acupuncture and will continue to do so after my surgery.

I do everything my DR tells me to do as far as tests, blood work, etc. but I have had enough experience to know that I am in charge of my life and my health. There needs to be someone to help with patients that are told they have cancer. Those are very devastating words. Patients need to know that they can help themselves along with their DRS.

I hope this can help you get word to DRS that there is something more that they can do for patients. Teach them to help themselves.

I think your radiation tape saved me as I was soooo distraught during this treatment. I think this CD must
be offered to patients during this treatment. It really was the only thing that got me through it. I now listen to your panic attacks, healthful sleep and fatique CD's on a rotating basis. They help me calm down and sleep. Anxiety and sleep are the biggest issues for me and can't really be addressed with Western medicine. I especially like the music on the fatigue CD and wish it was about 10 minutes longer. I am working on breathing better-this is essesential to teach to cancer patients as cancer loves anaerobic envrironments. I can't imagine going to a sterile cancer clinic. I was very lucky in my treatment as they embraced mind body connections. The one downside in my treatment was that the surgeon dropped the ball in post op. home care (double masectomy aftermath is difficult to deal with at home)and my poor husband had a difficult time. Also, he needed (and continues to need) more support in general-spouse support should be mandatory somehow.

I am a family practice physician, diagnosed one year ago with stage IV ovarian cancer. I survived extensive surgery, and very toxic chemo better than most due to enhanced nutrition and many supplements. After a four-month remission, was found to have a fast-growing recurrence that is resistant to just about everything. I have since changed my diet to mostly raw vegan, exercise daily, take lots of supplements and cancer-fighting herbs, listen to the "Fight Cancer" CD twice daily, and have just joined a women's cancer support group. None of this information was available from my oncologist. One thing he is doing is allowing me to control my own therapy. I've been recently trained in a technique, originating in Mexico, that uses very low dose chemo mixed with insulin. My bone marrow is so damaged from the first go-around, that standard treatment now would probably kill me. I'll know in a few days whether or not it is working. In the meantime, I feel very well, and have started writing a book to tell others about all the modalities available, so they will not have to spend weeks and months doing "hit or miss" research on their own.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer (Stage 1 almost Stage 2), I had a strong support system in place. At that time I had been working on managing my Hepatitis C and a congenital kidney problem, and had been seeing a healer, accupuncturist, psychologist, and listening to meditation tapes. Still, I was not prepared for the effect the chemotherapy would have on my memory, and the changes that occurred in my writing style and my general use of language .

I had done an Interferon treatment five years previous to my cancer diagnosis, and my doctors at that time didn't inform me about the side effect of memory loss from that treatment, I learned about that by talking to other patients, one of whom was a doctor. It didn't occur to me to ask about it with the chemotherapy (I know it should have), but after the chemotherapy and radiation was finished, I began to notice that I had the same vanishing thought syndrome that I had had with the interferon. Of course this was heightened by the symptoms of menopause, which I had been informed about.

I began seeing a homeopath around 2 years ago, and my vanishing thought symptoms and memory loss have significantly decreased, and now, I feel for the first time that I am writing and speaking in a way that is more similar to the way I had before. (Recently my husband mentioned that he had also noticed the changes in my speech pattern.)

Most people will tell you as a cancer patient that you will return to normal about six months after your treatment. It is now six years for me, admittedly, I have a very sensitive system, and hopefully others will recover in a quicker fashion, but there are always those of us who are on either end of the spectrum.

My surgeon, oncologist, radiation technician, and nurses all thought of me as a model patient: I recovered quickly from surgery, I didn't take much time off from work, I didn't have problems with nausea, I have a high threshold of pain. But near the end of radiation, I began to feel the mental effects, and asked my radiologist for help, but he didn't understand what I was talking about, and dismissed me as someone who seemed kooky or over dramatic. I think that is where I began to be less articulate; a very foggy feeling settled in, and has taken a long time to lift significantly.

It is hard to get an overview of yourself, so i don't know if immediately after treatment if I would have been able to explain my situation. I think testing for memory loss, and other cognitive functions would be very interesting to do for patients post chemo, and radiation. (I had taken a Greek language class the summer after treatment, and then returned two years later, and my instructor was amazed at the difference, she had felt there was little chance that I could learn the language at that first session. So the impact was quite profound.)

I had not received information from my doctors about the impact on memory and cognitive functioning related to chemotherapy and radiation. Perhaps I am a highly unusual case? But my life did not return to normal after six months, and I believe the treatment had a radical effect on my life.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Nicholette Kominos

Thanks so much to everyone for these excellent comments and reminders.
I'll be incorporating all of it in my remarks and recommendations!
BR

I was diagnosed by my annual mammogram and a biopsy with Stage 1 Breast Cancer in late October 2007. I had a lumpectomy on November 13, 2007. I started radiation therapy after Christmas 2007. My final treatment was early March 2008. I also have Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and severe allergies.

My surgeon was absolutely wonderful. My initial oncology appointment with a female doctor was good. At that time, I was presented with my options for treatment. I chose not to have chemotherapy. She let me choose for myself.

However, the radiation oncologist was very pushy concerning chemo. He kept bringing it up and asking me to consider it. When I told him of the alternative things I was doing, he poo-pooed them. He was pushy about chemo thru my last radiation treatment. (The chemo was recommended because the Grade was a 3 in all three tests. The chemo would have an average of 20% overall for mortality and recurrence at the end of 10 years.)

Massage and nutrition was offered as part of our treatment. I took advantage of it. Massage is something I had used for years before the cancer due to my FM. The massage therapist was surprised by my attitude about the cancer and treatment. She stated I was very aware of my body and was doing wonderful things for myself. I gave her your website and she was able to get a catalog and bought a few CDs.

Somehow, medical doctors need to understand that each of us diagnosed with cancer is a different body. Just because "this" is the standard treatment, doesn't mean as individuals we are obligated to do "this." I think they should talk with the patient about what they are doing besides the general treatment. If they don't understand what the alternative is assisting us with, then ask about it.

I do understand that medical doctors are there to "save" us, but he was so obnoxious with his comments after I told him "no" that he made my daughter cry when she was just trying to explain to him what she had learned about chemo and FM. (She is in college and was doing research concerning cancer, its treatments and FM.) She wouldn't go back with me when I was to see him. He didn't change my mind. He was just one piece of my treatment that I didn't talk with much.

Your guided imagery is wonderful! I tell everyone I meet about it. I give your website address out often. I thank you for making me feel peaceful, confident and well. I have the FM and CFS, Radiation Therapy, Fight Cancer and Weight Loss CDs. I use the FM and CFS and the Weight Loss CDs nightly. On weekends, I still play the Fight Cancer CD. In addition, I use therapies offered at a Wellness Center here in Columbus, Indiana. One of the therapies, an IonCleanse Foot Bath, has really assisted me.

Thank you for all you do and your wonderful, calming voice. It has reminded me that I am a person of worth, in spite of my illnesses.

Sincerely,
Linda Kelsay

I had breast cancer in 2000. My docs did not support my use of supplements and made no comments on my use of guided imagery or acupunture. They offered no nutrition support or spiritual support resources. I did have chemo, surgery (lumpectomy)and radiation in that order. I could make the choice of chemo before sugery or after.
I did not like the big recliner room either. I wanted to be by myself and listen to my tapes. No doctor offered any encouragement at all about anything. That was very difficult some times. I did have huge support with friends and my acupuncturist who said to me to call anytime if I needed to get in to see him.
It helped tremendously with nausea and headaches during chemo. Your imagery before surgery was awesome! I was so relaxed going in that day. Surgery went well and I healed well after.
I think if doctors specialize in working with people who are facing life threatening diagonosis that they should know how to talk to them. I realize they have to spell things out but... Even when they do their exam the did not say this is good or that is good. All silence. What's with that? they were good doctors because I researched that so I went along with it. Since that time I have heard of other oncologists who even give patients a hug now and then.
Well BR, I think you are great and I appreciate all you do. Thanks for taking our messages to the meeting. ---hugss!!!!

I was diagnosed 6 years ago with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and started on a targeted therapy medication called Gleevec. My aunt sent me one of your guided imagery cds for cancer and it really helps me relax when I listen to it.

My oncologist has never once mentioned any alternative therapies to help with things like fatigue or nausea. He just ran tests for anemia and prescribed medication for the nausea. Also nothing about nutrition, exercise, spirituality or counseling on how to deal with stress. I did ask him one time about seeing a therapist and he referred me to his social worker who referred me to the local Leukemia Lymphoma Society support group.

Right now the only cure for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia is a Bone Marrow Transplant which I decided not to do. So I will stay on the medication for the rest of my life and live with having a blood cancer and also live with all the side effects from the medication. It seems like there is not much out there for people who have a chronic cancer and who have to live with it for the rest of their lives.

Also I am a spinal cord tumor survivor. I had surgery for to remove the tumor and radiation therapy 23 years ago. I would have loved to have had something like your guided imagery cds back then.

Thank you, Mary

Hi Belleruth-

My father was diagnosed five months ago with Bilateral Renal Cell Carcinoma at 82 years old. He is taking a targeted therapy called Nexavar which has shrunk his tumors quite a bit. I was an oncology counselor for eight years and had been doing guided imagery with him during this time. In the last month he's been having serious GI side effects w/out much guidance from his oncologist. Not even any recommendation to see a dietician/nutritionist. So, of course, we are doing that on our own. The Med/Oncs truly need to incorporate more of a mind/body approach in their regimen to treat the whole person. This is not rocket science as far as I am concerned. Cancer treatment in this country has a long way to go in this area. It is so surprising to me that we are not more advanced in this area.

I would like to know more about this forum where you are presenting to the docs, i.e. when and where. I recommend your website to everyone. Thank you for the work you do! I met you once at the AGI conference a few years back and have been to one of your workshops in Clearwater, FL. Brilliant work!

God Bless.

For the first three times, I had a rough time. Chemo and later radiation in sterile environments, where one lovely nurse was the bright spot, or friends would take care of me between treatments, are like an invasion. I didn't feel sick, and yet, the treatments were making me sick. When I had surgery, I was fortunate to have a room with a window view - that helped a lot. All day long, I could see the blue sky and birds flying past. When the sun would cross the sky coming into my window, I could nap like a cat in the sun across my bed. It brightened my days, and it helped me feel hopeful. With so many different doctors - Gen. Oncologist, Surgeon, Radiology doctor, Chemo doctor, needles, pills, radiation...it felt like everyone knew what was going on but me. One day, I went to see the radiology doctor about how I was doing, but there was an intern instead. He was from Britain, and when I told him that I didn't understand how everything worked together or what was happening to my body, he explained it to me. You see, in Britain, doctors must train in ALL aspects of treatment. They spend time learning about all the treatments - chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation, etc. - and know what happens from beginning to end. And he sat there for 90 minutes (bless his heart) and explained EVERYTHING about how this tumor went from my breast to invading my spine, how it had fed on estrogen and infiltrated my circulatory system so surgery couldn't remove it, how the radiation would work on some of the cells that invaded the bone, and how the shots and pills they would treat me with were going to work to stop and possibly shrink the tumours. I cry even now remembering what a relief it was to understand what was happening. It was highly probable that I would live for a long time, as long as they kept me on the meds. And he also said, though it was his personal opinion, not his professional one, that as long as "they" were dormant, I likely would still be around when they found a cure, or I found a cure.

I am so very thankful for that doctor's words. I knew that day I was still very vital. I didn't have a death sentence at all. And my panic attacks stopped and I could sleep through the night without those kind of pills. I have been smiling ever since.

And that was 13 months ago. I am in remission. I understand what I need to do - diet, vitamins, exercise, comedy films now - and keep taking my estrogen inhibitors, and I will make my goal of living past 100! Thanks to your CDs, which I listen to each day, I am no longer afraid of cancer, - I relish life.

From my heart,
S. Maddy Crawford

PS. I'm only 42 - I have a lot of life to live! ;0)

I was caregiver to my mother, who had lung cancer and a sep. kidney cancer, each requiring its own surgery. The doctors were nonchalant about 'the process' and laughed at my concerns relative to the surgeries, they said it was "nothing" to them, just in a day's work – with no consideration to my feelings. When lung cancer returned and chemo, then radiation, happened ... there was no consideration to me as caregiver. All medical pros who dealt with my mother knew she was an extremely difficult and volatile person, and yet there was no offer to assist her or me. Chemo was given at the highest doses, rather than taking into consideration her condition, and the fact that the cancer was not recurring, as each CT showed. She suffered more from the effects of the chemo and radiation than from the cancer. She wanted desperately to live, and would not listen to suggestions to taper off for awhile. I sat in waiting rooms watching patients come and go from the beginning of their treatment, with major deterioration as months went by. People walked in, in the beginning, and were bent over in wheelchairs at the end, barely conscious of their surroundings. There was never mention of diet help or alternative holistic support. I was senior age myself, CFS/FM and other diseases to deal with, that continued to get worse each year. My mother's disease started in 1990, she died in 2004 ... it was a horribly long, and hopeless road to travel ... if she had not collapsed to the point of staying in bed, unable to go for more chemo, the doctors would have continued ... it's beyond time to discuss time to live, time to die, and what "quality of life" means. As well as what types of cancer relative to age of person, and overall health, means to treatment - and how aggressive the treatment is. I truly believe the meditation and healing tapes would slow down the need for such aggressive chemical treatment … but that would cut down income for these cancer clinics, wouldn't it!? I'm now about to be 69 years old and doing all I can to salvage what's left of my life and my health. The medication CD's have helped enormously, I've recommended them, as a dear friend recommended them to me. I have other comments relative to hospice care and what Medicare pays, enormous amounts, most of which could have gone to pay for alternative and holistic care that would be less expensive and create true quality of life.