How Does the CyberKnife System Treat Prostate Cancer?

The challenge that doctors face in treating prostate tumors with radiation therapy is that the prostate moves unpredictably as air passes through the rectum and as the bladder empties and fills. Minimizing any large movements of the prostate can help reduce unnecessary irradiation of surrounding healthy tissue. The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System is able to overcome this challenge by continuously identifying the exact location of the prostate and making active corrections for any movement of the prostate throughout the course of the treatment. During treatment, a patient lays still and breathes normally while the CyberKnife zeroes in on a moving target – the prostate – and irradiates it without harming surrounding areas. As a result, the procedure is more comfortable for patients, radiation is delivered more accurately and treatments can be completed in four to five days.

Currently the CyberKnife Radiosurgery System is most frequently used by itself for patients with early stage prostate cancer confined to the prostate or in combination with another therapy, such as external beam radiation for patients with disease that extends beyond the prostate. Depending on the stage of the patient’s prostate cancer the doctor will recommend a treatment plan.

Over a dozen clinical experiences have been published to date on CyberKnife prostate SBRT. At 5 years after treatment a recurrence-free rate of 93% has been reported [45]. Recurrence-free rates of 100% at 44 months [46], 97.5% at 51 months [47], and 94% at 4 years [48] have also been reported. Toxicity has been quite low; rates of grade 2-3 toxicity at 20-60 months after treatment range from 2-10% for urinary toxicity and 0-5% for bowel toxicity [45-52]. Erectile dysfunction has ranged from 60% at 35 months for an early experience [53] to 13-40% at 1.5-3 years for more recent experiences in which the prostate gland is delineated with the aid of MRI [49, 50, 54], which typically reduces the volume of the region exposed to radiation [55].

What does a typical CyberKnife treatment entail?
Prostate cancer treatment with the CyberKnife System involves a team approach, in which several specialists participate. A team may include:

• a urologist
• a radiation oncologist
• a medical physicist
• a radiation therapist 
• medical support staff

Once the team is in place, the patient will begin preparations for CyberKnife treatment. As part of their diagnosis, doctors will have measured prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels via a blood test that will be used to help track treatment results. Prior to CyberKnife treatment, patients will be scheduled for a short outpatient procedure in which three to five tiny gold seeds – called fiducial markers – are inserted into the prostate. The fiducials are placed through a needle, which is guided via an ultrasound. Patients may be asked to clean out their rectum with an enema the day of the fiducial placement.

The CyberKnife System uses the fiducials as reference points to identify the exact location of the prostate. Doctors will wait approximately one week after insertion of the fiducials before CyberKnife treatment planning can begin to ensure that fiducial movement has stabilized.

Prior to the treatment, a special custom-fit body cradle will be made. The cradle is made of a soft material that molds to the patient’s body, ensuring that the patient is in the same position for each treatment session and is comfortable during the procedure.

While lying in the cradle, patients will undergo a CT scan. This CT data will be used by the CyberKnife team to determine the exact size, shape and location of the prostate. An MRI scan also may be necessary to fully visualize the prostate and nearby anatomy. Once the imaging is done, the body cradle will be stored and used during CyberKnife treatment.

A treatment plan will be specifically designed by a medical physicist in conjunction with the patient’s doctors. Patients will not need to be present at this time. During treatment planning, CT and/or MRI data will be downloaded into the CyberKnife System’s treatment planning software. The medical team will determine the size of the area being targeted by radiation and the radiation dose, as well as identifying critical structures – such as the bladder and rectum – where radiation should be minimized.

At this time, the CyberKnife System will be able to calculate the optimal radiation delivery plan to treat the prostate. Each patient’s unique treatment plan will take full advantage of the CyberKnife System’s extreme maneuverability, allowing for a safe and accurate prostate cancer treatment. After the treatment plan is developed, patients return to the CyberKnife center for treatment. The treatment is usually delivered in one to five sessions.

For most patients, the CyberKnife treatment is a completely pain-free experience. They may dress comfortably in street clothes, and the CyberKnife center may allow patients to bring music to listen to during the treatment. Patients also may want to bring something to read or listen to during any waiting time, and have a friend or family member with them to provide support before and after treatment.

When it is time for treatment, patients will lay on their custom body cradle. The radiation therapist will ensure the body cradle is properly adjusted and that patients are appropriately positioned on the treatment couch. When patients are ready for treatment to begin, the location of the prostate will be tracked and detected. The medical team will be watching patients every step of the way as the CyberKnife tracks the patient’s prostate as it moves, and safely and precisely delivering radiation to it.

The CyberKnife System’s computer-controlled robot will move around the patient’s body to various locations from which it will deliver radiation. At each position, the robot will stop. Then, special software will determine precisely where the radiation should be delivered. Nothing will be required of the patient during the treatment, except to relax and lay as still as possible.

Once prostate cancer treatment is complete, most patients quickly return to their daily routines with little interruption to their normal activities. If treatment is being delivered in stages, patients will need to return for additional treatments over the next several days as determined by their doctors.

Occasionally patients report temporary symptoms following treatment, which may include reduced urinary stream, burning with urination, more frequent urination, increase in frequency of stools, loose stools and more gas with bowel movements than usual. To date, prostate cancer patients have experienced low rates of moderate to severe toxicity ranging from 0-3.5% for urinary and 0-2% bowel toxicity [45-52]. Doctors will discuss all possible side effects with their patients prior to treatment. In addition, doctors may prescribe medication to control any side effects, should they occur.

After completing a CyberKnife radiosurgery treatment, it is important for patients to schedule and attend any follow-up appointments. Response to prostate cancer treatment varies from patient to patient. Clinical experience today examining treatment outcomes up to 5 years following treatment has shown that most patients respond very well to CyberKnife treatments. CyberKnife physicians will monitor the outcome in the months and years following a patient’s treatment using PSA tests and digital rectal exams.

History of the Therapy

“I see in Dr. Max Gerson one of the most eminent geniuses in the history of medicine” Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Albert Schweitzer.

Dr. Max Gerson MD

Born in Wongwritz, Germany in 1881, Max Gerson studied medicine at the University of Freiburg from 1899-1906. While a student, Max Gerson suffered from severe, debilitating migraine headaches that left him unable to function for days. With his professors of medicine unable to help him, Max Gerson set out to cure himself of his condition by making dramatic changes to his diet and adding specific natural supplements. He eliminated the heavily salted, processed, fatty foods and meat that were a major component of the standard German diet and replaced them with raw and cooked, unsalted, organic fruits and vegetables. Within a matter of weeks the migraines disappeared.

Now graduated, and practicing in Bielefeld, Germany, Dr. Gerson was successfully applying his “migraine” diet to his patients when one returned to him completely cured of his skin tuberculosis. This success caught the attention of world renowned thoracic surgeon, Ferdinand Sauerbruch and, together Gerson and Sauerbruch commenced a study of the diet on 460 terminal tuberculosis patients. Of the 460 patients treated on the Gerson therapy, 456 were completely cured making Gerson a household name throughout all of Europe.

With Hitlers rise to power, Dr. Gerson (a German Jew) fled Germany while narrowly escaping his own death in the Holocaust. After briefly fleeing to France, Dr, Gerson eventually made his way to the United States where he set up practice on Park Avenue in Manhattan. Dr. Gerson lost all of his seven siblings in the Holocaust.

While practicing in Manhattan, Dr. Gerson was approached by a woman dying of stomach and gall bladder cancer. Having heard of his famous tuberculosis treatment, she implored him to apply it in her case but Dr. Gerson refused due to the enormous political pressure he knew he would eventually face from his colleagues….after continual pleas from the woman Dr. Gerson finally agreed to treat her in secret….and she, too, was cured. From that moment on Dr. Gerson admitted that he could no longer turn his face away from this deadly scourge of cancer and began to treat people given up to die by their medical doctors… many of which he also cured.

Rapidly, Gersons name began to spread and as a consequence, on July1-3 1946, he was called to testify before the United States Senate at a hearing for the Pepper- Neely Anticancer Bill which was designed to appropriate 100 million dollars in funding for anyone who could show promise in the realm of cancer treatment. Gerson presented five of his formerly “terminal” patients before the committee and the complete records of five more. So shocked were those in the room that renowned ABC news broadcaster, Raymond Gram Swing, present at the testimony, went on his national radio broadcast that night and announced to the entire nation that a cure for cancer had been discovered. Unfortunately the dark forces of medicine were also listening and from that point on Dr. Gerson became a marked and censured man and the Pepper-Neely Anticancer Bill (document # 8947 of the United States archives) was defeated by four senators who were medical doctors.

Over the next 13 years, Dr. Gerson would lose his membership privileges to the New York State Medical Society, be prohibited from publishing his work in peer-reviewed medical journals and, ultimately, murdered by a likely medical and pharmaceutical industry more interested in preserving vast pharmaceutical profits then curing a dying and suffering humanity.

Journal of Cancer Science & Therapy

Cancer is a pathological condition, where assemblage of cells displays uncontrolled growth, invasion and sometimes metastasis. Starting from diagnosis, therapy, and post therapy procedures, cancer treatment involves various Medical, Clinical, Pathological, Psychological approaches with several implications. Cancer research hence is an ever growing literature with the advancement of new therapeutic solutions to prevent, handle and fight it effectively.

Information plays a pivotal role at every stage of the cancer treatment and prevention. The Journal of Cancer Research and therapy (JCST) is a peer reviewed journal that offers a platform that accommodates a wide range of fields in its discipline for the authors to make their contribution towards the journal where the editorial office promises a quick and value added review process for the submitted manuscripts for the quality of publishing.

JCST is an Open Access publishing journal that aims to publish most complete and reliable source of information on the discoveries and current developments in the form of original articles, review articles, case reports, short communications, etc. related to Cancer research and therapy and making them freely available through online without any restrictions or any other subscriptions to researchers worldwide.

This top best open access journal is using Editorial Manager® System for quality in review process. Editorial Manager® is an online manuscript submission, review and tracking systems. Review processing is performed by the editorial board members of the JCST or outside experts; at least two independent reviewers approval followed by editor approval is required for acceptance of any citable manuscript. Authors may submit manuscripts and track their progress through the system. Reviewers can download manuscripts and submit their opinions to the editor. Editors can manage the whole submission/review/revise/publish process.

Aims and Scope

*Unofficial 2012 Impact Factor was established by dividing the number of articles published in 2010 and 2011 with the number of times they are cited in 2012 based on Google search and the Scholar Citation Index database. If ‘X’ is the total number of articles published in 2010 and 2011, and ‘Y’ is the number of times these articles were cited in indexed journals during 2012 than, impact factor = X/Y

Cancer Is Easy To Overcome -- I'll Show You How

oin the thousands of people who have read my book and are free of cancer today as a result. I've explored the cause of their breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, brain cancer, etc. with them. Together we can always determine the cause. Has your cancer doctor discussed the cause with you? Why not? Once we've agreed on a cause, reversing the cancer becomes easy. Don't believe me? Please read on.....
Typical causes include root canal teeth or other dental problems (most cancers), emotional trauma and/or long term stress and poor diets.
The thousands who are "cancer-free" include people with all types and stages of cancer, including many "terminal" cancer patients. These people are all over the world, in 86 countries. They tend to come to me and my book as a last resort -- after their cancer doctors have given up on them and assigned them a "survival time." "Get your affairs in order -- you have two months to live."
TRASH THAT "DEATH SENTENCE"

I never give up on anyone with cancer. I've seen too many people recover completely after that "survival time" sentence from their doctors. Can you follow a simple diet and supplement regimen for 6-8 weeks? That's all that my readers have found is necessary to reverse their cancer. My mission is to help you join their ranks as a "long-term cancer survivor." I want you to live out your normal lifespan, not just "survive" for five years with a destroyed quality of life.
Would you like a method for checking your progress at overcoming the cancer? You prepare the sample at home? You send it to the lab. It costs $55. I give you the instructions in my book.
I'm not selling anything except my book and the coaching service I offer (see below). Substances, clinics, doctors, and other resources I recommend pay me nothing. That's how I keep my readers' faith in my integrity. I'm not a medical professional. However, I've studied cancer and its treatment every day for fifteen (15!) years. The information I give you is exactly "what I would do if I had your cancer." It's not a prescription. You can "take it or leave it."
BRAND NEW UPDATE
My book "Cancer-Free -- Your Guide to Gentle, Non-toxic Healing" was just updated (4th Edition) in November, 2011. This edition adds Dr. Carlos M. Garcia, M.D. as a co-author with me. Dr. Garcia has contributed lots of his knowledge from his unique experience healing lots of cancer patients at his clinic in Clearwater, Florida. Of course, the book now also includes the information in the 155 newsletters I have published beginning in 2000. To buy it now, just CLICK HERE.
THE HEALING REGIMEN
The regimen I recommend for ALL cancer patients comes at the cancer from seven different "directions." Seven different theories about how to deal with cancer cells. All of these seven forms of treatment are gentle (no dangerous, too-rapid "die off"), non-toxic and they all work together. They are, in fact, synergistic. They help each other.
They address the five characteristics of every cancer. These five conditions must be corrected before anyone can get over cancer: 1) A weak immune system; 2) A lack of oxygen uptake by the cells; 3) Excessive toxins; 4) Acidity; and 5) Specific deficiencies. Conventional cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiation and surgery) makes all of these conditions worse. In fact, it is responsible for almost all the deaths attributed to "cancer." That's right. The "treatment" causes the deaths -- not the cancer.
Why? The conventional cancer treatments are approaching the cancer tumor (or its existence in your blood, lymph system or bone marrow) as if it were the "enemy." Kill the cancer cells at all costs! Those costs may be your heart, your liver, your kidneys -- or your life.
Why do they do these things? There are literally 400 other effective ways to treat cancer. All of them are non-toxic and harmless to your other organs. Why doesn't your cancer doctor tell you about these options?
Can you spell M-O-N-E-Y?
The average cancer patient (like you) generates $1.3 million in revenue for the cancer "industry." Do you think they want you to be healed by something that costs pennies a day?
THE COST
How much would you think a regimen like mine should cost? Take a guess. $10,000 US Dollars? $2,500 US Dollars a month? Well, hold onto your chair. The cost is exactly $155 per month in U.S. Dollars. Please understand. You pay just $155 for the food and supplements. You don't pay me anything. I don't get any compensation from the sources where I recommend you buy the food and supplements. I just try to give you the cheapest and best source I can find. I have often changed my recommendations when I have found something better.
To buy the book with an unconditional money-back guarantee, just CLICK HERE.
MY CRUSADE
To get to this regimen, I have studied cancer treatment every day for the last fifteen years -- since 1998, when I first realized all the information that was available even then on the Internet. I've sifted through hundreds of "alternative" cancer "cures." I've talked to thousands of cancer survivors, cancer doctors, nutritionists, nurses, cancer experts of all kinds. I've read everything I could get my hands on. I am on a mission -- a crusade, if you will -- to help as many people as possible avoid my late wife's fate. [See "About Me" on the left of this screen.]
JUST A LIMITED TIME COMMITMENT
Now, you or your loved one can benefit from my experience. All I suggest is that you give this regimen six to eight weeks while postponing other treatment. I'm not asking for you to commit your life -- just six to eight weeks. I've found that within just a few days, 90% or more of the cancer patients who do this feel so much better that they continue with this regimen for life.
You see, I know it's not too difficult because I do it every day myself for prevention. I am 81 years old and in perfect health.
ADDITIONAL COACHING
To overcome cancer, it is important to have your loved ones "on board" with you. To make it easy to do that, just explore the Coaching service I offer at this website. The information in this Coaching service comes from the lessons I've learned from all my research, but, more importantly, from the lessons taught to me by all the thousands of coaching clients I've worked with all over the world. It is in a format now where you can easily share it with your loved ones.
A SIMPLE APPROACH
How does this work? Simple.
First, you buy my book, either in e-book (computer file) form or in paperback form. Just CLICK HERE.
Included in the book is a complete set of instructions on the "Self-Treatments That I Recommend." There is also information on locating holistic doctors, clinics and other resources. Usually you do not need a holistic doctor or clinic.
Second, you test the levels of cancer cells in your body using a test I teach you about in the book.
Third, you try my recommended regimen for 6-8 weeks.
Fourth, you take a second test. If that test shows you are not making progress (rare for people who have the discipline to follow my recommendations), you come back to this website and click on the "Coaching" link. Just follow the instructions there to get coaching from me anywhere in the world. We will discuss the causes of your cancer, how to reverse them, and then what to try next, based on your experience to that point.
Deal?
I'm committed to helping you. If you can commit to just this six to eight week program at a cost of less than $200, including the price of my book, the special food and the supplements, we have a deal.
Interested? If you think you need more information, you can click on one or more of the links below to learn more. Remember: The first step to complete and permanent healing is to buy my book "Cancer-Free." Just CLICK HERE.
FREE NEWSLETTER
You may also want to subscribe to my free "Cancer-Free" newsletter. I publish it by e-mail every month. It updates the information in the book with anything new I've discovered. Usually, I publish the story of a successful cancer survivor. Just remember, after you fill in the form and hit the "Sign Up" button, you need to come back here and read more of the free information, including the last two years of my newsletters. OK, to sign up for the newsletter, just click here.
Bill Henderson
Author, "Cure Your Cancer" and "Cancer-Free"

Alternative Cancer Treatment Information

Alternative cancer treatments heal lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, brain cancer, melanoma, lymphoma, leukemia and all other cancers.

Cancer-Free -- Your Guide to Gentle, Non-Toxic Healing

This "Cancer-Free" book is the result of ten years of research and writing by Bill Henderson. In addition to this book, he has written "Cure Your Cancer" and 123 newsletters on the same subject.

Cancer-Free -- Readers' Feedback

Readers' who are cancer-free using information in this book tell you what they think.

Cancer-Free -- About The Author

Bill Henderson, author of "Cancer-Free" has been helping cancer patients use alternative cancer treatments to get cancer-free since 1998. His mission: to help you!

Cancer Treatment Coaching

Personal coaching on your cancer treatment is available from the author of "Cancer-Free" and "Cure Your Cancer." Please be sure to read one of these books before you apply for coaching.

Cancer Treatment -- Its Nature And Options

Cancer treatment options befuddle most cancer patients. Here in "bite-sized" articles is information on both the nature of cancer and its treatment options..

Newsletter Archives

Every month Bill Henderson publishes a newsletter with the latest information on healing cancer with gentle, non-toxic methods. Access to past newsletters is free.

Links

Links to other sites with natural cancer treatment information.

Web Talk Radio Show

Bill Henderson's Web Talk Radio show covers cancer every week.

Reader's Comments and Testimonials

Readers express their opinions about the book "Cancer-Free"

Breast Cancer Treatment

Your doctor can determine the most ideal treatment methods for you depending on the type of breast cancer you have. This varies by cancer stage, grade and other factors.
There are numerous breast cancer treatment options available. It is possible to feel overwhelmed during the decision making on the best treatment for you. It is advisable to seek a second opinion on the matter from a cancer treatment specialist, and you can also talk to others who have undergone breast cancer treatment in the past.

Breast Cancer Treatment

First, watch a video for breast cancer treatments:

1. Surgery

There are several surgical procedures available. They include:

• Lumpectomy

This is also referred to as breast-sparing surgery. In this procedure, the tumor is removed as well as a few tissues that were surrounding the tumor. This is an ideal treatment method for small tumors.

• Mastectomy

This is a surgery done to remove all breast tissues in the entire breast. These tissues include lobules, fatty tissues, nipples, areolas, ducts and skin. There is also the skin sparing mastectomy which ensures the skin covering the breast is left intact for the purpose of reconstruction.

• Sentinel node biopsy

This refers to the treatment method where a few infected lymph nodes (sentinel) are removed. However, the doctor must first ascertain that some lymph nodes have been infected before the procedure is undertaken.

• Axillary lymph node dissection

This is the removal of additional lymph nodes if the sentinel lymph nodes are infected. These additional lymph nodes are mostly in the armpit.

• Removal of both breasts

If one breast is highly infected by the cancer cells, some women prefer having the other uninfected breast removed too. This reduces the risk of developing the cancer again.
Depending on the surgical procedure you choose, you may be exposed to different complications. There is risk of infection and bleeding after surgery. After the procedure, you can go for breast reconstruction. You can discuss this possibility with your surgeon.

2. Radiation Therapy

This type of treatment involves the use of energy beams under high power. These can include X-rays which kill cancer cells. This procedure can be done using an external radiation machine or you can undergo brachytherapy where the radioactive elements are placed internally.
External radiation is most effective for lumpectomy in breast cancers during the early stages. Your doctor may recommend radiation after the surgical treatment procedure if you had advanced breast cancer or cancer that has spread to lymph nodes.
The side effects from radiation therapy are the appearance of a red rash (especially on the area receiving treatment) and fatigue. The breast tissues may also look swollen and firm. In some rare cases, radiation therapy has resulted in heart and lung damage even though it is in very rare cases. There are also cases of cancer developing later in the treated parts.

3. Chemotherapy

This is a type of treatment where drugs are used for killing the cancer cells. This type of therapy is recommended on cancer cases that have a high change of spreading. Chemotherapy decreases the chances of the cancer recurring.
If you have a larger breast tumor, you may be put under chemotherapy before surgery. Chemotherapy shrinks the tumor making it easier to remove through surgery. This treatment method is also used in women with cancers that have spread.
The side effects of chemotherapy treatment greatly depend on the drugs being used. Some of the common side effects are hair loss, fatigue, vomiting and an increased risk of infections. Other rare side effects include heart and kidney damage, premature menopause, blood cell cancer as well as damage to the nerves.

4. Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy or hormone blocking therapy treats hormone sensitive breast cancers. This type of cancer is referred to as ER (estrogen receptor) positive or PR (progesterone receptor) positive cancers.
The treatment can be administered after a surgical process to reduce the chances of the cancer recurring. In case the cancer has spread to other parts, hormone therapy can shrink the cancer and control it.
Treatments used in hormone therapy include:

• Hormone blocking medication

This can include SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator). These are medications that block estrogen from attaching to cancer infected estrogen receptors. These medications also slow down tumor growths and eventually kill cancer cells. Some of these medications include raloxifene, tamoxifen as well as toremifene. These medications can have side effects like night sweats, hot flashes as well as vaginal dryness.

• Aromatase inhibitors

These are simply medications that inhibit the making of estrogen hormone. However, these medications are only useful for women who are past menopause. Examples of these medications include anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole. Some of the side effects of using these drugs include vaginal dryness, night sweats, hot flashes and muscle aches. You also run the risk of bone thinning.

• ER destruction drugs

This is a drug that blocks cancer infected estrogen receptors and signals the cells to destroy these receptors. The fulvestrant drug is this type of drug and is ideal in post-menopausal women. Some of the side effects include joint pain, nausea and hot flashes.

• Ovary hormone production inhibitors

This can be administered in form of medication or a surgical procedure. The medication is meant to inhibit the ovaries from producing estrogen. The surgical process is meant to remove the ovaries.

5. Targeted Therapies

These types of drugs attack abnormalities in cancer cells. Some of the targeted drugs ideal for treating breast cancer include:

• Trastuzumab

This is a drug that stops the production of protein by cancer cells. Without the protein, these cells cannot multiply, and they consequently die. Side effects of this drug include heart problems, diarrhea and headaches.

• Pertuzumab

This is a drug approved for use in chemotherapy and metastatic breast cancer. This is given to cancer patients who have not used any other drug for treating their breast cancer. Some of the side effects include hair loss, diarrhea and heart problems.

• Ado-trastuzumab emtansine (kadcyla)

This is simply trastuzumab blended together with a drug for killing cells. This makes the drug ideal in finding cancer cells while the cell killing drug attacks the cancer cells. This is a drug given to women who have tried the trastuzumab alone and chemo to no avail.

• Lapatinib

This is a drug given to women with advanced breast cancer or metastatic breast cancer. It can be used alongside chemotherapy as well as hormone therapy.

Family of tragic breast cancer victim call for revolutionary new treatment that could extend patients' lives to be made available in Scotland

JANE McGUIRE'S family are supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer's work to help patients with secondary cancer receive revolutionary new drugs that could give them more time with their families.

Helen Barrington

Jane's sisters Margie, left, and Catherine now take care of Ramone

WHEN Jane McGuire was broken the news that the breast cancer she had been fighting had spread to her brain, she had just one wish – to spend as much time as possible with her young son.

Jane, 42, a devoted mum to five-year-old Ramone, was deeply touched by the fundraising efforts of her family, friends and neighbours to raise enough money to allow her and her son to go on a dream holiday.

Her family say planning the holiday and even taking part in a sponsored walk to raise money for the trip helped lift her spirits and gave her something happy to look forward to, after being told she was so seriously ill.

But tragically Jane never got to take her son on holiday.

She died just weeks after her family’s fundraising efforts raised more than £6000 for the trip.

While some of the money was still used to pay for a holiday for Ramone, Jane’s family gave the rest of the cash raised to three charities including Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Now, almost two years on from Jane’s death, her family are supporting the charity’s work to help other women with secondary breast cancer receive revolutionary new drugs that can help extend the lives of those with the disease.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer say one such drug, Kadcyla, is the first and only targeted chemotherapy drug for secondary breast cancer.

While it is currently available for use in England, it has not yet been approved for patients in Scotland.

The charity are hopeful that imminent changes to the way the Scottish Medicines Consortium approve drugs will lead to the medicine being cleared for use north of the border.

And Jane’s family say they only wish their sister had been prescribed such a treatment that could have given her the chance of spending more precious months with Ramone.

Jane’s sister, Margie Duncan, 58, of Falkirk, said: “Jane was the type of person who wanted to live life to the full.

“She wanted to cram as much into life as she could and, most of all, she wanted to have as much fun as possible with Ramone.

“Jane loved to travel and the thought of going on holiday somewhere with Ramone, making special memories for him, really did give her a lift.

“To lose her so quickly and especially for Ramone to lose her when he was still so young was another cruel blow.

“It does break my heart to think that there are other women out there in exactly the same situation as Jane, who could benefit from such new drugs and who should be getting them now.

“And I know Jane would be happy that we were speaking out in her memory to make sure other people with secondary breast cancer aren’t denied the drugs they need, just because someone says they might be too expensive.”

Jane was keen to make very special memories with her son Ramone

 

Jane, a talented artist, was first diagnosed with breast cancer aged just 38 after experiencing pain in her left breast.

She initially underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a lumpectomy to remove the tumour.

When another lump appeared, she had a mastectomy to remove the breast, followed by reconstruction surgery.

Her family say she recovered well from the operation and, for the next couple of years, they believed she had put her illness behind her. But she returned to the hospital for further tests after starting to feel very breathless and suffering everything from an achy head to sore feet.

Her family were devastated when scans showed tumours in her liver, lungs and bones.

Just a few months later, the cancer had spread to her brain.

Nurse Margie said: “When Jane was told the cancer was back and had spread, we were all absolutely devastated.

“Jane was the youngest of seven siblings, our little sister, and she was also a single mum to Ramone.

“The doctors were very honest about not being able to cure the cancer but Jane was determined she was going to fight it with every breath in her body.

“She refused to talk about dying and only wanted to focus on being positive and strong. It was hard seeing her so ill.”
Margie said that as her sister’s illness progressed, she did everything she could to spend as much good quality time as possible with her son.

Margie said: “Ramone was just 18 months old when Jane first fell ill, so her illness was very much part of normal life to him.

“Jane was such a devoted mum. She really wanted to be out there making memories with him.

“She did manage to see him start school and was so proud of him but sadly her illness progressed far too fast.”

Jane died at Strathcarron Hospice in June 2012, aged just 42.

As her family continue to come to terms with her death, they have set up an annual fundraising event, the Jane McGuire Sunshine Memorial Walk, in her memory.

And they know she would be proud that they are helping other people battling cancer as part of her lasting legacy. Margie said: “Jane lives on in Ramone, who doesn’t look like his mum but is very like her in personality.

“He now lives with my sister, Catherine, and he is such a clever, funny, kind little boy – and I know he would make Jane very proud.

“But if she had known there might be drugs that could have given her an extra few quality months with her son, then I know she would have done anything she could to get them.

“I know she would want other women to get them, too.”

Pregnant Jane

 

James Jopling, director for Scotland at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “We expect the Scottish Medicines Consortium to assess Kadcyla later this year.

“Kadcyla is a very exciting, ground-breaking drug, which has been shown to give up to six extra months of life in
HER2-positive secondary breast cancer patients. It has more manageable side effects and gives a better quality of life than that provided by existing treatments.

“We urge the Scottish Medicines Consortium to give serious thought to how innovative this drug is and do everything within their powers to approve it for use in Scotland.”

He added: “Around a thousand women died from secondary breast cancer in Scotland last year, yet some medicines that would have given these women extra precious quality time with their families are not available in Scotland, leaving clinicians and patients with few options.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. Women with secondary breast cancer deserve the extra months that medicines such as Kadcyla offer.”

Run From the Cure 2 Trailer

The official Run From the Cure 2 trailer has now been released. The sequel powerfully illustrates how far the movement has come since the original film’s release. With testimony from terminal cancer survivors and leading cannabis researchers, activists, and dispensary owners, Run From the Cure 2 goes further than any other cannabis oil documentary.

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Rick Simpson and several doctors are hosting a seminar in Slovenia where many topics related to cannabis extract medicine will be discussed. This event is a major opportunity for both the public and media to be educated about the full potential of cannabis.

The Path Forward for Cannabis Medicine
There is now enough information to convince anyone that cannabis extracts are remarkably effective against disease. With the Sanjay Gupta documentary, the world now knows that cannabis extracts have proven miraculously effective for Dravet syndrome. This case opens minds to other possibilities. With Charlotte Figi’s case as the primary catalyst, The Comprehensive Report on Cannabis Extract Medicine has been formed. You can read this to more intimately understand the different pieces of this movement, as well as share with others to educate them. Furthermore, by visiting the Media Bomb Campaign page, you can participate in coordinated efforts to share this information with influential people. The time for revolution has finally come, but it will take all of us working together to change the world in the most peaceful and beneficial way possible.
You can view the document for free at first link. The second link points to Kindle, where the report can be purchased for $2.99. Both versions are identical.