Yet God promises it to those who really ask. But remember the secret of ASKing -- asking, seeking,
and knocking.
Deceitful Practices
Still other deadly sins exist within the very circles that make pretense of the most advanced type of godliness; such, for instance, as professing great compassion for the sick, conducting giant meetings for the purpose of bringing healing to them, but slyly separating the hopeless cases from those less serious and more susceptible to psychological impressions, and all the while growing rich on the miseries and pains of humanity. Some of these prophets own large estates, drive huge cars and boast of fabulous wealth tied up in equipment, while the suffering multitudes whose blood they suck hobble or crawl or are carried to meetings.
Investigation of one such man carried on by some godly pastors revealed that he had been hiring healthy persons to come up for prayer and pretend to be healed. This was done, he explained when faced with the deed, to "encourage weak faith." Thus lying and deception were deliberately made a part of the purported methods of the Holy Spirit.
Others base everything on the power of money and personality, yet testify that they are trusting wholly in the power of the Spirit. And many introduce into their religious work every gimmick known to the world, and so destroy the very thing they profess to cherish.
It is sufficient evidence of the moral insensibility of such men that they violently resent even the mention of these things; and it is further proof of the success of their methods that the very public they have betrayed will rush to defend them.
Verse
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. Second Corinthians
It is a great deliverance to lose one's self. There is no heavier millstone than self-consciousness. It is so easy to become introverted and coiled around ourselves in our spiritual consciousness. There is nothing that is so easy to fasten onto as our misery: there is nothing that is more apt to produce self-consciousness than suffering. Then it becomes almost a settled habit to hold onto our burden and pray it unceasingly into the very face of God until even our prayer saturates us with our own misery. Rather, we should ask for power to drop ourselves altogether and leave ourselves in His loving hands and know that we are free. Then we may rise into the blessed liberty of His higher thoughts and will and demonstrate His love and care for others.
The very act of letting go of ourselves lifts us into a higher place and relieves us from the thing that is hurting. This habit of prayer for others, and especially for the world, brings its own recompense and leaves upon our hearts a blessing, like the fertility which the Nile deposits upon the soil of Egypt as it flows through to its ultimate goal.
Scripture
I knew a man in Christ—2 Corinthians 12:2
Knowing God’s Will by Three Ways
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bible Verses ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rom. 12:1 I exhort you therefore, brothers, through the
compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.
(2) And do not be fashioned according to this age, but be
transformed by the renewing of the mind that you may prove
what the will of God is, that which is good and well pleasing
and perfect.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our question now is how do we know God's will. We often think
that mortals like us could never understand God's will.
However, we should have the assurance that not only do we
want to obey God's will, but God Himself also wants us to
obey His will. Not only do we seek to know His will, but God
Himself also wants us to know His will. If God wants us to
obey His will, He must first enable us to know His will.
Therefore, it is God's business to reveal His will to us.
None of God's children need to worry and say, “Since I cannot
know God's will, how can I obey it?” This concern is
unnecessary because God always has a way to show us His will
(Heb. 13:21). We have to believe that God will always show us
His will through the proper means.
What are the ways to know God's will? A Christian must pay
attention to three things in order to know God's will. If
these three things are in agreement with one another, we can
be quite sure that it is God's will. These three things are:
(1) arrangements in the environment, (2) the leading of the
Holy Spirit, and (3) the teachings of the Scripture. These
three things are not mentioned according to the order of
their importance. They do not necessarily have to be in
sequential order. We are simply stating that these three
things help us know God's will. When the testimonies of these
three things are in agreement with one another, we can be
assured that we know God's will. If one of these three things
is not in agreement with the other two, we still need to
wait. We must wait until all three agree with one another
before we go ahead.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with
regrets, so......
'Love the people who treat you right. Pray for
the ones who don't'
Making Confession to God
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bible Verses ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 John 1:8 If we say that we do not have sin, we are
deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us
our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If we are willing to be enlightened by the Lord, He will show
us many unrighteous things. Once we see that we are wrong, we
should not be afraid of confessing our wrong. When we first
become a Christian, it is inevitable that we will make
mistakes. The worst thing is being ignorant of our mistakes
or refusing to admit our mistakes once we know them. Being
ignorant of our mistakes is being in darkness. Sins can be
forgiven, but darkness cannot be forgiven. If we confess our
sins, the Lord will forgive us. But darkness makes us
ignorant of our sins; therefore, we cannot enjoy forgiveness.
If we confess our sins, He, according to His word and based
on the redemption through the blood of Jesus, forgives us
because He must be faithful in His word and righteous in the
blood of Jesus; otherwise, He would be unfaithful and
unrighteous. Our confession is needed for His forgiveness.
Such forgiveness of God, which is for the restoration of our
fellowship with Him, is conditional; it depends on our
confession. Both God's forgiveness and God's cleansing are
needed for the restoration of our broken fellowship with God,
that we may enjoy Him in uninterrupted fellowship with a good
conscience, a conscience void of offense.
If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should
restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
-- Galatians 6:1
THOUGHT:
In a day when intervening in someone's life is no longer
politically and socially correct, these verses ring out like a
gunshot on a still night. Sin is still real and is just as deadly
as ever. Yet because we fear being branded judgmental and
self-righteous, we let many who are trapped by sin go to their
spiritual deaths. The call is for nonjudgmental intervention -- we
recognize the gravity of the sin and the need of the sinner,
without feeling arrogant in our righteousness. "There but for the
grace of God go I."
Conformity and Nonconformity
Conformity is the virtue of the slave and can become the vice of the saint.
It is a gloomy lesson of history that whole populations will often enslave themselves to the will of an ambitious political leader if he can promise them security and a few pennies more wages per day. And as often as not, after they have sold their birthright to him by conformity they find that they get the few extra pennies only by long hours of toil, and that the security they need most is protection from their protector.
The dictator, whether he be a political or a religious one, must be able to distribute little favors to the faithful, and these he always manages to have at hand. These favors are like the fish tossed to the performing seal, or like the salt lick of early American days placed near the shooting blind to entice the wary deer within range of the old muzzleloader. But conformity is what the dictator must have if he is to do any dictating worth speaking of.
Now, conformity within limits is a good thing. The musician must conform to the laws of harmony, the engineer to the laws of physics and the farmer to the law of growing things. If I would learn a new language I must bow to its grammar, its vocabulary and its idiom. And civilized society is possible only because the majority of citizens conform quietly to the rules of civilized life.
When this has been said in praise of conformity, there is not much left to say about it that is good. From there on it is almost wholly evil. It is evil because it can be and often is used by the dominant few to enslave the pliable many.
In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Christ who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His purposive will. Ephesians 1:11
There is the danger of conforming to what is evil and contrary to God's will for us. However, there is also the responsibility of conforming to what is good just as God works out everything in conformity to the purpose of His will.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
remember these : happiness
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less
Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less
Cancer: why they Live?
CANCER Why They Live
by Chris K. H. Teo, Irene E. A.Teo & Ch’ng Beng Im-Teo
(Irene holds a M.Sc. in Health Psychology and is currently doing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology)
EIGHT PEOPLE HAD CANCER. They followed a healing path few dared to follow. They live to share their amazing stories of recovery and self-discovery. They spoke their minds on various issues of cancer treatments. They share with their hearts what they have learnt while on their healing journeys . May you be imbibed with their good values and use them for your own journey.
THE COMMON ATTRIBUTE SHARED among these outstanding people is the realisation that health is their own responsibility and that they must do something for themselves if they want to live. To do something means to institute changes in their lives. They traded the conventional invasive and toxic treatments recommended by their doctors for something simple and very much less harmful – a change of diet, lifestyle and taking of herbs. They lived! And they live to share their stories with you.
Preface! An
Our first book, Cancer Yet They Live was popular. It gave hope to many people and touched many lives. More than a decade has passed since that first book was written. We are now ready to write another – Cancer Why They Live, a sequel to the first.
CA Care has been around helping the helpless and often confused cancer patients since 1995. Unfortunately not everyone who came to us found what they sought. Only thirty percent of them found help and relief.
Perhaps many patients are naïve and ignorant, especially those who have not had any experience dealing with cancer before. Some people believe that their doctors can cure their cancer. They comply with whatever their doctors want them to do. Of course, some have obtained their cure – albeit temporary relief or remission. But many have found themselves worse off than when they first started. Such is the unpredictable nature of cancer cure ….
Chapter 1: Johnny
Summary: Johnny, 46-years old, was diagnosed with Stage 2B, colon cancer. He underwent a surgery in a private hospital in January 2006. Unfortunately, things did not work out well. Nine days later, Johnny had severe hiccups and he had to undergo a corrective surgery. According to the surgeon, his intestines had to be rearranged. After the second surgery, Johnny was unable to move his bowels for several days and the surgeon suggested a third operation (three operations within a month?). Johnny declined further surgery. He said: I am going to discharge myself and go to the General Hospital. Fortunately, everything worked out well this time and Johnny did not need a third surgery. Subsequently he was discharged from the hospital on 14 February 2006. Johnny was asked to go for chemotherapy. But he declined further medical treatment. He came to CA Care in March 2006, and was started on herbs.
Current Health
Q: Are you okay?
A: I am getting better and better. So far no complaints.
Q: Have you gone to see your doctor for a check-up lately?
A: I went to see an oncologist three months after I started taking the herbs. This was the last time I went to consult a doctor. Since then I have not gone to see any more doctors. The oncologist said there was nothing wrong with me but he still insists that I go for chemotherapy. I told him I have no money. Now, I am doing fine. I work eight to ten hours each day – and seven days a week. But I am okay.
Q: We are going to talk about your cancer experience. When I mention the word “cancer”, how do you feel? Does it make your heart “jump” a bit? Angry? Fearful? What’s your reaction?
A: No, I feel normal. Waah, before I first came to see you, I was stunned – thinking I would die because I had cancer. Now when you talk about cancer it does not bother me at all. When I first came to know I had cancer I was really stressed out and worried. Now having understood and found my direction on how to deal with it, I feel much better.
Q: During these seven months living with cancer, was there any time when you felt you were going to sink or lose hope?
A: No, I never had such feelings. Instead, I felt so energetic and active.
Chapter 2: Jack
Summary: Jack, a 52-year-old male, was diagnosed with Stage 2 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in December 2002. He underwent thirty-five radiation treatments but these did not cure him. He suffered a recurrence eight months later. Jack was asked to undergo a surgery to open up his face so that the tumour could be removed. He was on the verge of doing that when a friend suggested that he looked for another option. Jack consulted a doctor from Hong Kong who felt that only radiation was necessary. In April 2004, after six radiation treatments, Jack found CA Care.
Life After the Treatment
Q: After this radiation treatment, you went back to your old lifestyle?
A: After the radiation I asked my oncologist about my diet – whether I have to avoid anything. He said: You can eat anything you like. My wife was beside me. He spoke quite strongly about this, to the extent of telling me off – like why should you even ask such a question. He said: See your wife. Your wife eats the same food as you. Why doesn’t your wife get cancer? He was annoyed by my question. (Laughing). So, I was happy to eat anything I like. I did not know anything about cancer then. I took his word as gospel truth.
Q: What made you ask that question?
A: Generally I hear people with cancer cannot eat this and cannot eat that. People become vegetarians after being diagnosed with cancer. But when the doctor confirmed that I could eat anything, I was happy. But then, I got a recurrence in November 2003.
Recurrence and Radiotherapy – Round Two
Q: There was a recurrence hardly one year after you were first diagnosed. How did you know there was a recurrence?
A: I had to go for a scope which was done once every three months. The first few scopes were okay. But, it looked like I could not have another Christmas! (Laughing)
Q: When you were told of your relapse, how was your reaction? Was it as bad as the first one?
A: Not as bad as the first one. But when the oncologist said I would have to have my face cut, my feelings were like the time when I was first diagnosed with cancer. Actually, a week before I was told I had a relapse, I went for a scan and was told that it was all clear. Then a week later, I went for a scope – very confident that everything was going to be okay. The scope showed the cancer was there. The scan did not show it. I did a scan after a year but the scope every three months. That particular scope coincided with my scan. The doctor didn’t say much. It was a very small lump. So, he did a biopsy. Two days later, he called me.
Q: Was he the same doctor?
A: The same ENT doctor. When he called me, I thought to myself: Finish already, otherwise he would have just sent me the result. He said: Don’t worry. It is just a small thing. Probably you need a little radiation and it would be okay. The only thing is that it is a recurrence. A recurrence is no good. But the problem started when I went to see the oncologist. He said it was a big problem and I had to cut it out. The oncologist said: Actually the radiation didn’t work for you. And radiation won’t work for you anymore. You must go for surgery. So he recommended surgery, cutting through my face (showing cutting motion along his nose and lifting up his face), opening it up, then digging out the thing layer after layer.
Q: How did you take it after hearing the oncologist?
A: Terrible, very, very terrible. Imagine cutting up my face. I didn’t feel like wanting to live anymore. At first, I felt numb. How could this happen? But he said: If I were you, I would do it – for the sake of your family and the kids. That was what he said. I took those words very seriously. If you, as an oncologist, were prepared to go through it, I was left with no choice. When an oncologist says: for my family – these are very powerful words. I was prepared to go for this surgery because of his words. My wife and I started to calculate the costs – we were looking at hospital rates, room and board, etc. It would be a major surgery. So, we were prepared to go for it. It was really scary. You know, mentally I was finished. I couldn’t think anymore following the news. He described to me how my face would be cut through, opened up and scraped (showing scrapping motion), then put back. So there would be scars after that.
Conflicting Professional Advice
Q: After you went home, how long did you brood on whether to go through this operation or not?
A: I brooded for a few days, until the friend (who was with me, listened to everything and was not affected) found out about a Hong Kong oncologist. With some good friends who cared, he searched around and found out that this doctor used to come here. I called this Hong Kong oncologist. But there were a great deal of politics between him and the local doctors. So he said: You have to fly to Hong Kong before I can treat you. But I was very reluctant because in this state of mind, I just did not like to travel. So I said: Can you find a way to come so that you can treat me? I knew friends in a hospital who could arrange for him to come.
Q: So, it was this friend who saved the situation? Without him, you would have gone ahead with the surgery? You and your wife had decided to do it?
A: (Nodded in agreement)
Q: What made him decide to contradict the oncologist’s advice? He was there with you. He heard what the oncologist said. But unlike you, he decided against it?
A: When he heard what the oncologist said, it sounded terrible to him. He also knew many general practitioners (GPs) and specialists. These people also agreed that it sounded terrible. One of his GP friends knew this Hong Kong oncologist. So he helped make the contact.
Q: So, you had treatment from this Hong Kong oncologist?
A: Yes, he radiated me six times on that part of the nose (showing the part on his nose) – only radiation, no surgery.
Q: And he did not ask you to go for surgery? Why did the first oncologist ask you to go for surgery?
A: Personally, my reading is that for the first oncologist to admit his radiation did not work would be a loss of face. I came to this conclusion after everything was over and when I looked back at what had happened. He could not admit that he did not carry out the radiation well enough. Since he said that radiation did not work for me, I had to go for surgery. This is my personal view.
Chapter 7: Lee
Summary: Lee, male, was 53 years old when he was diagnosed with cancer of the kidney on 11 March 1997 . A CT scan showed a well defined solid mass in the right kidney. This could be an adenoma or a low grade carcinoma. Lee underwent an immediate surgery to remove his right kidney. The pathology report dated 14 March 1997 stated: Specimen of kidney: 225 gm, measuring about 11 cm x 5 cm x 4 cm. Yellowish tumour with fibrous areas seen in the middle of the kidney. The tumour measures about 4 cm in diameter. Interpretation: right kidney consistent with clear cell adenocarcinoma. After the surgery, the surgeon did not consider mop-up treatment like radiotherapy or chemotherapy necessary. There was no medication to take either. Lee came to know us through our book: Cancer Yet They Live, which was given to him by a friend. Since then he has been on our therapy.
Personal Growth With Cancer Experience
Q: Did the experience of cancer ever change you in any way or teach you anything?
A: Yes, cancer has taught me what life is all about. From my viewpoint, life tells us that there must be a reason why we are here. Many people may not understand the reason. We go to school – but some people do not understand why they go to school. To some it is just to get a certificate, that’s it. There is more to it. Life is also like that.
My mother died when I was nine years old. I had to stop schooling after Form Five (high school) because my father met with an accident and was not able to take care of us. My sister had to support my younger brother. In order to lessen my sister’s burden, I joined the navy. To me, this was my sacrifice. Indeed, my childhood days were very stressful. After I had cancer, the basic concept of my life still remained the same – sacrifice for a good cause. That is why I have devoted my life to helping cancer patients.
Cancer has changed the way I look at life. Before cancer, my life was self-centred. I went after things that made me happy. I enjoyed to satisfy myself. The main concern was me and what I wanted. In addition, I did things in style to show off or to impress.
My life after cancer was a total change. I am more humble now. Humility and gentleness do not mean weakness. These are noble values. Yes, I am more adaptable and flexible now when dealing with people around me. In past days, I wanted people to adapt to me – I said something and I expected them to obey me. Now I am more accommodating. Before my cancer, life was about what I wanted. Now, I don’t want anything anymore – I just want to be myself and make people around me happy, i.e., to create happiness around my immediate surroundings. I have learnt to appreciate everything around me – human beings or animals, etc. I am more conscious of what goes on around me. Previously, I did not realise or appreciate all these things. I was in a world of dreams of my own. I was twenty-three years in the navy. I started from the lowest rank and climbed up to the highest possible rank of a non-commissioned officer. That was my career achievement. After I had cancer, I started in a similar way. I knew nothing about cancer. Now I am learning more and more and I want to be able to help as many cancer patients as possible. It is now my calling and mission in life.
In short, cancer has nurtured within me a sense of closeness to people around me. I find life more meaningful and enjoyable. I am more humble and less arrogant. As a result of my changed attitudes and lifestyle I cultivated a new set of friends who think and behave like I do now. I lost contact with my old friends. They don’t click with me anymore because my values and thinking have changed. If I want to go to the bar, ah … then, I would end up with the group of old friends again.
Q: Following your cancer, have you found that you are more “empowered” – being able to know what is going on?
A: Definitely. My life is in my hands now. I can control its outcome. Before I had cancer, I accepted everything that came along. Now, I have fine-tuned my life and I do not accept everything and anything that come along. I know more about how to maintain the health of my own body. I am not ignorant anymore. I understand much more now about how to be healthy. Before, I knew nothing and accepted everything that people told me.
by Chris K. H. Teo, Irene E. A.Teo & Ch’ng Beng Im-Teo
(Irene holds a M.Sc. in Health Psychology and is currently doing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology)
EIGHT PEOPLE HAD CANCER. They followed a healing path few dared to follow. They live to share their amazing stories of recovery and self-discovery. They spoke their minds on various issues of cancer treatments. They share with their hearts what they have learnt while on their healing journeys . May you be imbibed with their good values and use them for your own journey.
THE COMMON ATTRIBUTE SHARED among these outstanding people is the realisation that health is their own responsibility and that they must do something for themselves if they want to live. To do something means to institute changes in their lives. They traded the conventional invasive and toxic treatments recommended by their doctors for something simple and very much less harmful – a change of diet, lifestyle and taking of herbs. They lived! And they live to share their stories with you.
Preface! An
Our first book, Cancer Yet They Live was popular. It gave hope to many people and touched many lives. More than a decade has passed since that first book was written. We are now ready to write another – Cancer Why They Live, a sequel to the first.
CA Care has been around helping the helpless and often confused cancer patients since 1995. Unfortunately not everyone who came to us found what they sought. Only thirty percent of them found help and relief.
Perhaps many patients are naïve and ignorant, especially those who have not had any experience dealing with cancer before. Some people believe that their doctors can cure their cancer. They comply with whatever their doctors want them to do. Of course, some have obtained their cure – albeit temporary relief or remission. But many have found themselves worse off than when they first started. Such is the unpredictable nature of cancer cure ….
Chapter 1: Johnny
Summary: Johnny, 46-years old, was diagnosed with Stage 2B, colon cancer. He underwent a surgery in a private hospital in January 2006. Unfortunately, things did not work out well. Nine days later, Johnny had severe hiccups and he had to undergo a corrective surgery. According to the surgeon, his intestines had to be rearranged. After the second surgery, Johnny was unable to move his bowels for several days and the surgeon suggested a third operation (three operations within a month?). Johnny declined further surgery. He said: I am going to discharge myself and go to the General Hospital. Fortunately, everything worked out well this time and Johnny did not need a third surgery. Subsequently he was discharged from the hospital on 14 February 2006. Johnny was asked to go for chemotherapy. But he declined further medical treatment. He came to CA Care in March 2006, and was started on herbs.
Current Health
Q: Are you okay?
A: I am getting better and better. So far no complaints.
Q: Have you gone to see your doctor for a check-up lately?
A: I went to see an oncologist three months after I started taking the herbs. This was the last time I went to consult a doctor. Since then I have not gone to see any more doctors. The oncologist said there was nothing wrong with me but he still insists that I go for chemotherapy. I told him I have no money. Now, I am doing fine. I work eight to ten hours each day – and seven days a week. But I am okay.
Q: We are going to talk about your cancer experience. When I mention the word “cancer”, how do you feel? Does it make your heart “jump” a bit? Angry? Fearful? What’s your reaction?
A: No, I feel normal. Waah, before I first came to see you, I was stunned – thinking I would die because I had cancer. Now when you talk about cancer it does not bother me at all. When I first came to know I had cancer I was really stressed out and worried. Now having understood and found my direction on how to deal with it, I feel much better.
Q: During these seven months living with cancer, was there any time when you felt you were going to sink or lose hope?
A: No, I never had such feelings. Instead, I felt so energetic and active.
Chapter 2: Jack
Summary: Jack, a 52-year-old male, was diagnosed with Stage 2 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in December 2002. He underwent thirty-five radiation treatments but these did not cure him. He suffered a recurrence eight months later. Jack was asked to undergo a surgery to open up his face so that the tumour could be removed. He was on the verge of doing that when a friend suggested that he looked for another option. Jack consulted a doctor from Hong Kong who felt that only radiation was necessary. In April 2004, after six radiation treatments, Jack found CA Care.
Life After the Treatment
Q: After this radiation treatment, you went back to your old lifestyle?
A: After the radiation I asked my oncologist about my diet – whether I have to avoid anything. He said: You can eat anything you like. My wife was beside me. He spoke quite strongly about this, to the extent of telling me off – like why should you even ask such a question. He said: See your wife. Your wife eats the same food as you. Why doesn’t your wife get cancer? He was annoyed by my question. (Laughing). So, I was happy to eat anything I like. I did not know anything about cancer then. I took his word as gospel truth.
Q: What made you ask that question?
A: Generally I hear people with cancer cannot eat this and cannot eat that. People become vegetarians after being diagnosed with cancer. But when the doctor confirmed that I could eat anything, I was happy. But then, I got a recurrence in November 2003.
Recurrence and Radiotherapy – Round Two
Q: There was a recurrence hardly one year after you were first diagnosed. How did you know there was a recurrence?
A: I had to go for a scope which was done once every three months. The first few scopes were okay. But, it looked like I could not have another Christmas! (Laughing)
Q: When you were told of your relapse, how was your reaction? Was it as bad as the first one?
A: Not as bad as the first one. But when the oncologist said I would have to have my face cut, my feelings were like the time when I was first diagnosed with cancer. Actually, a week before I was told I had a relapse, I went for a scan and was told that it was all clear. Then a week later, I went for a scope – very confident that everything was going to be okay. The scope showed the cancer was there. The scan did not show it. I did a scan after a year but the scope every three months. That particular scope coincided with my scan. The doctor didn’t say much. It was a very small lump. So, he did a biopsy. Two days later, he called me.
Q: Was he the same doctor?
A: The same ENT doctor. When he called me, I thought to myself: Finish already, otherwise he would have just sent me the result. He said: Don’t worry. It is just a small thing. Probably you need a little radiation and it would be okay. The only thing is that it is a recurrence. A recurrence is no good. But the problem started when I went to see the oncologist. He said it was a big problem and I had to cut it out. The oncologist said: Actually the radiation didn’t work for you. And radiation won’t work for you anymore. You must go for surgery. So he recommended surgery, cutting through my face (showing cutting motion along his nose and lifting up his face), opening it up, then digging out the thing layer after layer.
Q: How did you take it after hearing the oncologist?
A: Terrible, very, very terrible. Imagine cutting up my face. I didn’t feel like wanting to live anymore. At first, I felt numb. How could this happen? But he said: If I were you, I would do it – for the sake of your family and the kids. That was what he said. I took those words very seriously. If you, as an oncologist, were prepared to go through it, I was left with no choice. When an oncologist says: for my family – these are very powerful words. I was prepared to go for this surgery because of his words. My wife and I started to calculate the costs – we were looking at hospital rates, room and board, etc. It would be a major surgery. So, we were prepared to go for it. It was really scary. You know, mentally I was finished. I couldn’t think anymore following the news. He described to me how my face would be cut through, opened up and scraped (showing scrapping motion), then put back. So there would be scars after that.
Conflicting Professional Advice
Q: After you went home, how long did you brood on whether to go through this operation or not?
A: I brooded for a few days, until the friend (who was with me, listened to everything and was not affected) found out about a Hong Kong oncologist. With some good friends who cared, he searched around and found out that this doctor used to come here. I called this Hong Kong oncologist. But there were a great deal of politics between him and the local doctors. So he said: You have to fly to Hong Kong before I can treat you. But I was very reluctant because in this state of mind, I just did not like to travel. So I said: Can you find a way to come so that you can treat me? I knew friends in a hospital who could arrange for him to come.
Q: So, it was this friend who saved the situation? Without him, you would have gone ahead with the surgery? You and your wife had decided to do it?
A: (Nodded in agreement)
Q: What made him decide to contradict the oncologist’s advice? He was there with you. He heard what the oncologist said. But unlike you, he decided against it?
A: When he heard what the oncologist said, it sounded terrible to him. He also knew many general practitioners (GPs) and specialists. These people also agreed that it sounded terrible. One of his GP friends knew this Hong Kong oncologist. So he helped make the contact.
Q: So, you had treatment from this Hong Kong oncologist?
A: Yes, he radiated me six times on that part of the nose (showing the part on his nose) – only radiation, no surgery.
Q: And he did not ask you to go for surgery? Why did the first oncologist ask you to go for surgery?
A: Personally, my reading is that for the first oncologist to admit his radiation did not work would be a loss of face. I came to this conclusion after everything was over and when I looked back at what had happened. He could not admit that he did not carry out the radiation well enough. Since he said that radiation did not work for me, I had to go for surgery. This is my personal view.
Chapter 7: Lee
Summary: Lee, male, was 53 years old when he was diagnosed with cancer of the kidney on 11 March 1997 . A CT scan showed a well defined solid mass in the right kidney. This could be an adenoma or a low grade carcinoma. Lee underwent an immediate surgery to remove his right kidney. The pathology report dated 14 March 1997 stated: Specimen of kidney: 225 gm, measuring about 11 cm x 5 cm x 4 cm. Yellowish tumour with fibrous areas seen in the middle of the kidney. The tumour measures about 4 cm in diameter. Interpretation: right kidney consistent with clear cell adenocarcinoma. After the surgery, the surgeon did not consider mop-up treatment like radiotherapy or chemotherapy necessary. There was no medication to take either. Lee came to know us through our book: Cancer Yet They Live, which was given to him by a friend. Since then he has been on our therapy.
Personal Growth With Cancer Experience
Q: Did the experience of cancer ever change you in any way or teach you anything?
A: Yes, cancer has taught me what life is all about. From my viewpoint, life tells us that there must be a reason why we are here. Many people may not understand the reason. We go to school – but some people do not understand why they go to school. To some it is just to get a certificate, that’s it. There is more to it. Life is also like that.
My mother died when I was nine years old. I had to stop schooling after Form Five (high school) because my father met with an accident and was not able to take care of us. My sister had to support my younger brother. In order to lessen my sister’s burden, I joined the navy. To me, this was my sacrifice. Indeed, my childhood days were very stressful. After I had cancer, the basic concept of my life still remained the same – sacrifice for a good cause. That is why I have devoted my life to helping cancer patients.
Cancer has changed the way I look at life. Before cancer, my life was self-centred. I went after things that made me happy. I enjoyed to satisfy myself. The main concern was me and what I wanted. In addition, I did things in style to show off or to impress.
My life after cancer was a total change. I am more humble now. Humility and gentleness do not mean weakness. These are noble values. Yes, I am more adaptable and flexible now when dealing with people around me. In past days, I wanted people to adapt to me – I said something and I expected them to obey me. Now I am more accommodating. Before my cancer, life was about what I wanted. Now, I don’t want anything anymore – I just want to be myself and make people around me happy, i.e., to create happiness around my immediate surroundings. I have learnt to appreciate everything around me – human beings or animals, etc. I am more conscious of what goes on around me. Previously, I did not realise or appreciate all these things. I was in a world of dreams of my own. I was twenty-three years in the navy. I started from the lowest rank and climbed up to the highest possible rank of a non-commissioned officer. That was my career achievement. After I had cancer, I started in a similar way. I knew nothing about cancer. Now I am learning more and more and I want to be able to help as many cancer patients as possible. It is now my calling and mission in life.
In short, cancer has nurtured within me a sense of closeness to people around me. I find life more meaningful and enjoyable. I am more humble and less arrogant. As a result of my changed attitudes and lifestyle I cultivated a new set of friends who think and behave like I do now. I lost contact with my old friends. They don’t click with me anymore because my values and thinking have changed. If I want to go to the bar, ah … then, I would end up with the group of old friends again.
Q: Following your cancer, have you found that you are more “empowered” – being able to know what is going on?
A: Definitely. My life is in my hands now. I can control its outcome. Before I had cancer, I accepted everything that came along. Now, I have fine-tuned my life and I do not accept everything and anything that come along. I know more about how to maintain the health of my own body. I am not ignorant anymore. I understand much more now about how to be healthy. Before, I knew nothing and accepted everything that people told me.
Herbs Are Effective For Cancer
In China, the use of herbs in conjunction with chemotherapy or radiotherapy has become routine and very much accepted. In the book: Alternative Treatment for Cancer, Dai Han Zhou wrote: “Clinical practice has proved that Traditional Chinese Medicine can delay tumour growth, initiate direct inhibitory effect, improve survival, increase the effects or decrease the toxic effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.”
My Oncologist Said I Was His Fantastic Patient
In the next video, this patient received his chemotherapy in Perth, Australia. He too took our herbs and did not suffer any side effects. His oncologist told him that he was a fantastic patient – compared to other patients. Listen to his video.
It is heartening to know that in Australia, taking of herbs during chemotherapy is clearly encouraged. In Malaysia, this practice is condemned. Yes, they will “swallow Chris Teo alive” for advocating this.
Point to ponder: Why is this patient in Perth so fantastic?
Herbs Are Effective For Cancer
My third message today is: Herbs are effective for cancer.
“Effectiveness” means differently to different people – much depends on perspective. Before we discuss how effective herbs are for cancer, let us first ask this question: How effective is the present medical treatment for cancer?
click for the details here http://cacare.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=273
My Oncologist Said I Was His Fantastic Patient
In the next video, this patient received his chemotherapy in Perth, Australia. He too took our herbs and did not suffer any side effects. His oncologist told him that he was a fantastic patient – compared to other patients. Listen to his video.
It is heartening to know that in Australia, taking of herbs during chemotherapy is clearly encouraged. In Malaysia, this practice is condemned. Yes, they will “swallow Chris Teo alive” for advocating this.
Point to ponder: Why is this patient in Perth so fantastic?
Herbs Are Effective For Cancer
My third message today is: Herbs are effective for cancer.
“Effectiveness” means differently to different people – much depends on perspective. Before we discuss how effective herbs are for cancer, let us first ask this question: How effective is the present medical treatment for cancer?
click for the details here http://cacare.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=273
News from Israel.
Tel Aviv scientists pioneer food supplement
A new food supplement from Israel targets colon and rectal cancer, as well as ulcerative colitis and other bowel diseases. The product, which has yet to hit the world market, is called Coltect. It is a combination of green tea polyphenols, curcumin powder from the turmeric root and the trace mineral selenium. Its effects were described at a recent oncology meeting and it is the subject of two clinical trials.
Results were presented at the 2010 American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. The authors, from Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, tried Coltect alone or combined with a common drug, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), in cell line and animal models of colon cancer.
Depending on the dose, there was up to an 83 percent inhibition of cancer cell growth using Coltect. In the animal model, the combination of Coltect and the drug 5-ASA reduced the number of precancerous lesions from 66.5 in the control group to 20 in the group that received both agents. The authors concluded that Coltect “can be administered as a chemopreventive regimen to prevent” colorectal cancer.
While waiting for Coltect to hit the world market, one might consider taking a combination of green tea polyphenols, turmeric (with its key ingredient, curcumin) and Brazil nuts (a good source of selenium–use the kind that you have to shell yourself).
As for 5-ASA, it is not available without a prescription. But it is a derivative of salicylic acid and is chemically similar to aspirin. A 2003 journal article concluded: “Preclinical, observational, and clinical data consistently show that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—particularly aspirin—reduce colorectal carcinogenesis” (Hawk and Vine, 2003). So you might ask your doctor about taking a baby aspirin (81 mg) along with the anticancer food components.
Colon cancer afflicts over 100,000 Americans each year. Perhaps some of these cases could be prevented by the judicious use of anticancer foods, supplements and drugs, all of which are readily available. The toxicity of such agents is low and the cost of all together is less than a dollar a day.
References:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00793130
http://biopromedical.com/Coltect.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/Meetings/Abstracts?&vmview=abst_detail_view&confID=72&abstractID=1745
Hawk ET, Viner JL. Aspirin: still learning about the wonder drug. Gut. 2003;52(11):1535-1536.
A new food supplement from Israel targets colon and rectal cancer, as well as ulcerative colitis and other bowel diseases. The product, which has yet to hit the world market, is called Coltect. It is a combination of green tea polyphenols, curcumin powder from the turmeric root and the trace mineral selenium. Its effects were described at a recent oncology meeting and it is the subject of two clinical trials.
Results were presented at the 2010 American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. The authors, from Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, tried Coltect alone or combined with a common drug, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), in cell line and animal models of colon cancer.
Depending on the dose, there was up to an 83 percent inhibition of cancer cell growth using Coltect. In the animal model, the combination of Coltect and the drug 5-ASA reduced the number of precancerous lesions from 66.5 in the control group to 20 in the group that received both agents. The authors concluded that Coltect “can be administered as a chemopreventive regimen to prevent” colorectal cancer.
While waiting for Coltect to hit the world market, one might consider taking a combination of green tea polyphenols, turmeric (with its key ingredient, curcumin) and Brazil nuts (a good source of selenium–use the kind that you have to shell yourself).
As for 5-ASA, it is not available without a prescription. But it is a derivative of salicylic acid and is chemically similar to aspirin. A 2003 journal article concluded: “Preclinical, observational, and clinical data consistently show that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—particularly aspirin—reduce colorectal carcinogenesis” (Hawk and Vine, 2003). So you might ask your doctor about taking a baby aspirin (81 mg) along with the anticancer food components.
Colon cancer afflicts over 100,000 Americans each year. Perhaps some of these cases could be prevented by the judicious use of anticancer foods, supplements and drugs, all of which are readily available. The toxicity of such agents is low and the cost of all together is less than a dollar a day.
References:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00793130
http://biopromedical.com/Coltect.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/Meetings/Abstracts?&vmview=abst_detail_view&confID=72&abstractID=1745
Hawk ET, Viner JL. Aspirin: still learning about the wonder drug. Gut. 2003;52(11):1535-1536.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Chit Chat :Welcome PROBLEMS
Let us chit chat.
Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional. Pain is inevitable able, but suffering is optional.
If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?
Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don't suffer. With that experience their life becomes better not bitter.In every terms, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.
Problems are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons (to) Enhance Mental Strength. Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems. If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside, you awaken. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides insight.
Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing your road ahead. You work with the compass. Let others work with the clock. Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessings, not what you are missing. When they suffer they ask, "Why me?" When they prosper, they never ask "Why me". Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want to be on the side of the truth. Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.There are no unanswered prayers. At times the answer is NO.
Me: Thank you for this wonderful chat.
God : Well. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don't believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live. "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that took our breath away!"
Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional. Pain is inevitable able, but suffering is optional.
If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?
Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don't suffer. With that experience their life becomes better not bitter.In every terms, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.
Problems are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons (to) Enhance Mental Strength. Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems. If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside, you awaken. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides insight.
Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing your road ahead. You work with the compass. Let others work with the clock. Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessings, not what you are missing. When they suffer they ask, "Why me?" When they prosper, they never ask "Why me". Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want to be on the side of the truth. Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.There are no unanswered prayers. At times the answer is NO.
Me: Thank you for this wonderful chat.
God : Well. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don't believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live. "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that took our breath away!"
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Learn to Honour
Honour Thy Father and Mother
http://cacare.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=144&Itemid=57
See in research, one issue gives rise to more issues – one problem leads to another problem! No end to learning – i.e., of you want to learn la!
http://cacare.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=144&Itemid=57
See in research, one issue gives rise to more issues – one problem leads to another problem! No end to learning – i.e., of you want to learn la!
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