Breakthroughs in Cancer Treatment Go Unreported; Houston Doctor Challenges Prevailing Dogma over Cancer Surgery!Business/Medical Writers HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2001 For over 100 years surgeons believed that radical surgery was the only cure for cancer. But, during the past ten years, careful, scientific research has been gathered from hundreds of doctors treating thousands of patients and proving that conservative or limited surgery is safe and effective for most cancer patients. The spread of cancer is now viewed in an entirely different way. "We are in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of great change -- a paradigm shift A dramatic change in methodology or practice. It often refers to a major change in thinking and planning, which ultimately changes the way projects are implemented. For example, accessing applications and data from the Web instead of from local servers is a paradigm shift. See paradigm. ," which cancer pioneer Dr. Richard A. Evans calls The Cancer Breakthrough You've Never Heard Of. For example, as recently as April of 2001, a study in 'The Oncologist' reported that hormonal therapy Hormonal therapy Use of hormone medications to inhibit menstruation and relieve the symptoms of endometriosis. Mentioned in: Endometriosis was a safe and effective treatment for men with early prostate cancer prostate cancer, cancer originating in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the leading malignancy in men in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in men. . Studies showed that no men died of cancer while under this treatment. But, most urologists still recommend radical surgery -- an operation which usually causes permanent impotence. Doctors in Canada and France have used a type of "lumpectomy Lumpectomy Definition A lumpectomy is a type of surgery used to treat breast cancer. It is considered "breast-conserving" surgery because in a lumpectomy, only the malignant tumor and a surrounding margin of normal breast tissue are " to treat cancer of the cervix. In April 2000, they wrote in CANCER that this technique is highly successful. But, most U.S. gynecologists insist on performing a radical hysterectomy radical hysterectomy n. Complete surgical removal of the uterus, upper vagina, and parametrium. . Permanent colostomies, genital mutilation, infertility and unsightly scars are common consequences of aggressive cancer surgery. Physicians in major medical centers have been slow to adapt, and are often leading proponents of overly aggressive treatment overly aggressive treatment, n the excessive use of a procedure, device, or medication intended to mitigate, cure, or halt the progression of a harmful disease; prescribed by some practitioners of both conventional and alternative medicine. -- too much surgery, too much radiation, too much chemotherapy. In his book, Dr. Evans walks readers through the cancer treatment process, using layman's English. He recommends that patients seek a "real" second opinion from an advocate of limited surgery. Many cancer specialists consider any second opinion a challenge to their authority. Dr. Evans, a Houston surgical oncologist, has been treating cancer patients since 1978 and is one of the leading proponents to limited surgery. In 1998, he founded The Texas Cancer Center (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization). Its mission is to ensure that all patients facing treatment for cancer have access to the medical information they need in order to choose the treatment which is best for them. "The Cancer Breakthrough You've Never Heard Of," (Texas Cancer Center/Murdock Publishing) is available in bookstores nationwide Sept. 2001. Review copies are available upon request. |
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