Guide to Cancer Treatment
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Part I - Cancer Industry Overview:
  a. Historical perspective on cancer industry (Eastern vs. Western Medicine). 
  
b. Different approaches to treating cancer globally with emphasis on U.S. vs. European, particularly German Oncology, practices and paradigms.
  
c. Variation in treatment practices within the U.S.
  
d. Current trends in the cancer industry in diagnosis (chemo drug testing and molecular mutation testing) and treatment (biological therapies, targeted t
herapies, vaccine therapies, etc.)
  
e. Integrative vs. Standard Conventional cancer treatment approach.
  
f. Importance of holistic approach to cancer treatment success (mind / body / nutritional).

Part II
- Initial Diagnosis of Cancer:
Part III - Cancer Therapy Options:
Part IV - Nutrition for Cancer: 
Part V - More Cancer Resources:
Part VI - Cancer Medical Terms:
Part VII - Survivor Characteristics:

Part VIII - Self-help Approaches:
Part IX - Testimonials of Survivors:
Part X - Forum for Patients:
Part XI - What  would I do: 
Part XII - Recent Developments:
Part XIII - Other Cancer Info:

Part I - Overview of the Cancer Industry 
          a. Historical Perspective of the Cancer Industry:

There are basically two distinct histories of the global cancer industry.  The first is Eastern (China) medicine which dates back almost 5000 years.   The second is Western (Europe/U.S.) medicine,  with the U.S. being only 200+ years old.

In Eastern Medicine, there is a greater emphasis on treating cancer on a more holistic basis.  The key components of this approach typically include: 1) immune system enhancement; 2) system cleansing; 3) detoxification; and 4) mental reinforcement.  The treatment options may also include more natural substance based medicines including herbal products and a greater focus on gene therapies.

In Western Medicine, there are three basic categories of cancer treatment: 

1)   Conventional (Allopathic) medicine which is drug based and also includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.  In recent years, biological therapies have also been added which utilize the immune system to fight cancer.  See a detailed description of these biological therapies at:

University of Rochester 

Clinical trials are also ongoing, exploring gene therapy options utilizing the DNA of the patient’s cancer tissue to identify specific cellular mutations for targeted drug therapies.
National Cancer Institute

2)   The second basic category of Western Medicine is called “Integrative Cancer Care” which can include both the holistic approach described above under Eastern Medicine as well as some of the “Complementary” approaches described in point 3 below.  This is a more recent trend in cancer care in the U.S. and thus is only offered at certain medical centers.  It is more widely used in Europe, particularly in Germany where treatment options are less toxic and emphasis is more focused on protecting the immune system.

3)   The third basic category of Western Medicine is called Alternative or Complementary therapy. This includes a wide variety of treatment options most of which have not involved clinical trials or other scientific studies but rather are based on anecdotal evidence or empirical theories.  Below is a list of some of the many types of these treatment options available:

Biological/Pharmacological Therapies
Antineoplaston Therapy (Dr. Burzynski – Houston,Tx)  
Gaston Naessen’s Therapy
Revici Therapy
Hydrazine Sulfate Therapy 

Immune Therapies
Burton’s Immuno-Augmentative Therapy 
Livingston Therapy 
Coley’s Toxins and Issel’s Whole Body Therapy 
Nicholas J. Gonzalez, M.D 

Herbal Therapies
Hoxsey Therapy 
Donny Yance Herbal Therapy 
Essiac Tea 
Mistletoe (Iscador) 
Pau D’Arco 
Chaparral 

Nutritional Therapies
Macrobiotics (Dr. Kushi diet) 
Wheat grass 
Moerman’s Anti-Cancer Diet 

Metabolic Therapies
Gerson Therapy 

Kelley’s Nutritional – Metabolic Therapy 
Hans Nieper, M.D. Approach 

Adjunctive Treatments
Oxygen Therapies 
Hyperthermia Therapy 
DMSO Therapy
Chelation
Live Cell Therapy

Energy Medicine
Bioelectric Therapies
Magnetic Therapy

Homeopathic Therapies
Homeopathic Treatments 

There are websites listed above for each complementary or alternative therapy option, but there are many more websites that contain information, some more detailed or may offer different viewpoints from those listed here.  The intent of providing website links for each topic is to give some additional information on that therapy option.  A discussion of dubious alternative cancer therapies, including the characteristics of such treatments and a comprehensive list of related products, is included at the following link:
Quackwatch