Radiation may be the only treatment, or it may be used in combination with surgery or chemotherapy. It may be done before surgery to reduce the size of a tumor to make removal easier, but radiation therapy is more often done after cancer surgery. It may also be used with chemotherapy. It depends on the type of cancer being treated

There is a lot of confusion surrounding these two common treatment options. The basic difference is that chemotherapy is the treatment of disease through chemicals (hence "chemo"), while radiation therapy is the treatment of disease through the use of concentrated, very high-energy atomic particles or waves.

Because chemotherapy and radiation therapy are so powerful, they can sometimes damage healthy cells. When this happens, your body sends a message to your brain warning it that something disruptive is in your body. This sets off a chain reaction that triggers the nausea and vomiting response. Kytril can help block the signals that cause nausea and vomiting.

The type of treatment you receive will depend on your situation. Your physician will consider the most advanced, up-to-date therapy for your diagnosis. If surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or biotherapy is necessary, your physician will consult experts in these areas. Ask your physician if you have any questions about possible treatments.

Because some drugs work better together than alone, often two or more drugs are given at the same time. This is called combination chemotherapy.

Radiation is a special kind of energy carried by waves or a stream of particles. It can come from special machines or from radioactive substances. When radiation is used at high doses (many times those used for x-ray exams), it can treat cancer and other illnesses. Special equipment is used to aim the radiation at tumors or areas of the body where there is disease. The use of high-energy rays or particles to treat disease is called radiation therapy.

The majority, ca. 90%, of our patients, are those who have exhausted conventional treatments. Even in these stages, we have seen that it is possible to achieve partial or complete tumor remissions and patients have remained cancer free for many years, some for 20, 30, and 50 years. Adjunctive/Complementary Treatment in conjunction with standard treatments to enhance their effectiveness and reduce their side effects.

Chemotherapy involves medications given by injections or pills for cancer. This type of treatment is circulated throughout the entire body and is generally prescribed by a medical oncologist. Radiation therapy is produced by a linear accelerator or a radioactive source, and is prescribed by a radiation oncologist.

Atlanta Cancer Care is dedicated to medical oncology and, therefore, only chemotherapy is administered through our sites. We work closely with many radiation oncologists, however, and will be able to refer you for radiation therapy if necessary.

West Michigan Cancer Center is one of the few facilities in the area to offer both radiation therapy and chemotherapy on-site. Not only can patients receive both treatments at the same location, our staff can coordinate sessions for convenience and effectiveness.

When cancer grows out of control the tumors can press on nerves or block airways or arteries. Radiation therapy can shrink the size of the tumor removing the nerve compression, opening the airway or the artery. RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

Metabolic physicians agree that under the above orthodox treatments metabolic therapy is not only recommended but also absolutely necessary. Orthodox doctors use chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery in an effort to get to the cancer while often times causing severe damage to the body's organs and defence mechanisms (see The 4 Optional Modes of Cancer Therapy). Cancer, by definition, is a Chronic Metabolic disease and must be treated as such.

Radiation may be used if it will prevent removal of an organ or if surgery is not an option or if surgery will result in unnecessary disfigurement. Chemotherapy travels throughout the whole body. It may be used if the patient has spread of cancer to other sites or if there is a risk of spread.

Dr. Krebs says "yes", but remember this: Vitamin B-17 metabolic therapy will go into the body to help your immune system fight the cancer without doing any harm to you. What it may not do, is correct the irreparable damage sometimes caused by excessive chemotherapy or radiation, or by the cancer itself. According to Dr. Krebs, anyone at any stage is a candidate for metabolic treatment.

Why should I come to you? You are not on my list of in-network acupuncturists covered by my insurance.

Absolutely. We recommend even more if you're already committed to standard cancer treatment procedures. If you are about to have an operation where the cancer cells are going to be disturbed, it is imperative that you take the apricot seeds to kill any of the free cells. Some benefits from eating raw apricot seeds: ? Lowers blood pressure ? Strengthens the arteries ? Targets the cancer cells

You should wait 3-6 months following chemotherapy. This allows your body time to recover from the chemotherapy before stressing it with an operation. You should wait 6 months or more following radiation therapy. This allows your chest skin to recover from the effects of radiation before your reconstruction.

Because the lesions are in Ben's brain, and because of their locations in the brain, surgery in not an option. We could access the main lesion to prevent hydrocephalus and thalamic invasion, but for the others, they are in locations too dangerous or with too great an impact to access. Radiation, especially for someone as young as Ben, is a poor option. It causes too much damage or sequelae. Ben's whole brain would be impacted.