Anti-oncogene products: specific portions of D.N.A., called oncogenes, that have an important role in promoting cancer growth. Drugs that interfere with production of oncogenes may be useful for future treatment of cancer.

Gene therapy: research into use of tumour suppressant genes is highlighted in British National Cancer Plan as an important element. Essentially, bits of DNA are inserted to replace missing or damaged genes, possibly preventing development of cancer in someone who might be 'high risk'.

Vaccines: very quietly search for a general cure for cancer is being put aside in preference to finding a vaccine. The whole idea of a cure or treatment that is 'the same for everybody' breaks down in case of specific, chaotic conditions that cause cancer in an individual person. After billions spent on research for holy grail of a cancer cure, search is now on to find a vaccine.

At a recent cancer immunology conference in US top immunologists from 21 nations attended lectures on latest immunology topics such as: · cancer immunosurveillance · immunoediting · cancer antigen discovery · monitoring and analysing immunological response to human cancer · cancer vaccine development

The Cancer Vaccine Collaborative (CVC) was launched to much excitement. It is a unique research program that should improve how cancer vaccines are developed, based on a collaboration of six New York medical centres and one in Minnesota. The aim of their research is to find out how to effectively immunise against cancer using a vaccine, using 'action research'.

Vaccines made from donor blood are proving to work for some cancers. Experiments with bone marrow transplants show there are about 40,000 different tissue types making it hard to find a match. Usually a perfect match can only be found within patient's direct family. Incorrect matches can create a host of secondary dis-eases. Scientist are finding ways to train Killer T cells taken either from host or a donor, to more effectively attack cancer cells. They have noticed that donor Killer T cells that are already 'primed' for a particular cancer (e.g. donor body cells 'remember' disease) can be highly effective. It may take many years to prove validity, reliability, safety and efficacy for this treatment. Harvesting natural immunity of our own, or donor cells with aid of genetic engineering may well become a big player against modern immune attacking dis-eases.

Increased screening: this type of research looks at genetically identifying individuals who might be at high risk of certain types of cancer and is partly a preparation for possible vaccines. Genetic counselling is set to become a 21st century contributor to health care based on prevention of disease as much as cure.

Combinations: research from West Germany (Grossart-Maticek) argues that there is no single cause for cancer, similar to pattern in most chronic illness. It shows there are environmental, psychological and spiritual dimensions to disease. The implication is that treatment should be on same levels, and that no single treatment is likely to be effective because there is no single cause. This observation links with position of many Holistic practitioners who often have a wider view of health than orthodox medical practitioners.

Dr. Robert Buckman is an experienced cancer researcher, and author of informative book: 'What You Really Need to Know About Cancer'. He summarises what he sees as present position of scientific cancer research:

"We now have a very large number of ways of looking at cancer cells in laboratory. We have thousands of different types of cancer cells growing in dishes, many of which can be grown and then cured in laboratory bred mice. We also have thousands of different ways of looking at and testing those cells. We can look at cells' growth, their abilities to produce different substances, their sensitivity to some chemotherapy drugs and their resistance to others, way they respond to growth factors, their genetic material including oncogenes and substances controlled by oncogenes, their ability to effect other cells (of immune system, for example), their ability to damage membranes and invade, their structure under electron microscope and whether or not cell surface has any of hundreds of different marker molecules on it. These are just a few examples of what can be done nowadays: complete list of ways in which cancer cells can be tested would probably be longer than this entire book. But here is snag: although this accumulation of experience is wonderful and commendable, cancer in human beings is far more complicated then any laboratory system can ever be (at least in light of current knowledge)".

One antidote to cancer is information - this ebook explains some of the 'forbidden medicines'. 'Don't Get Cancer' shows why cancer is still on the increase and how you can improve your immunity. This ebook is a better bet than health insurance.

Alternative treatments for cancer are not given a fair hearing. Information is still actively repressed or marginalised from many sources. The subject of Cancer and alternative treatment must be original can of worms! Its never a good time to get cancer but there are more options than you might think or even be advised from orthodox treatment centres. For example there are many things one can do to supplement (and ease) orthodox treatments with complementary ones. It is unlikely you will be given information on this unless you seek it out yourself.

Although much research on alternatives is often suppressed there are people who can guide you through minefield of misinformation, disinformation, ignorance, applied self-interest, politics and other complexities in field of cancer, whatever choices you make. Support is a central issue in any disease and there are increasing options here with many groups 'online' helping each other with a variety of treatment forms.

An Integrated Approach to Cancer The cancer discussion needs opening towards a more integrated medicine that is centred on patient, but even this discussion is presently marginalised. People are finding each other online and comparing notes, even drug manufacturing industries are predicting that 'patient advocacy' forms a strong part of future medicine. But for true patient advocacy to happen, medical consumers presently need to be at least as, if not better informed than their medical doctors.

There are many options in cancer treatment that are not generally discussed through orthodox medicine. For example group therapy is not widely prescribed or accessible for cancer patients despite fact that studies show it can actually double survival time. There is mounting evidence of validity of herbal and nutritional regimes that support immune system and may complement sledgehammers of traditional, orthodox treatment, chemo and radiotherapy.

Sometimes complementary therapies are allowed with orthodox treatment but are still limited to only accepted medical philosophies - or that which can be measured through double-blind testing methodologies that basically view every person as same. The different philosophies of 'medicalism' and 'holism' - which puts people central to their treatment - are still far apart. This is not a situation that is in any way advantageous for those of us who become patients.

Alternative approaches are viewed at best as unproven and are unresearchable using 'quantitative research methodologies'. There are many people wanting a more integrated approach to health care than drugs and surgery promoted by orthodox allopathic medicine. This is shown by huge number of people who seek complementary and alternative medicines without knowledge of their doctors. The main research into treatments that address every aspect of disease and patient still takes place in secret because practices that fall outside of standard medical practice and physicians who offer unconventional cancer treatments may be vulnerable to civil charge of malpractice. Given modern quantum sciences and other feasible medical models such as those mentioned there are many more realistic options for treatment than we are presently being offered.

It is easy to be overwhelmed in this field, different people giving different information, which you may need to find, understand and act upon, often 'against clock'. What is needed is an overview that presents comprehensive information from wide sources in an objective manner.

Don't Get Cancer is a new ebook from holistic author Simon Mitchell.

One antidote to cancer is information - this ebook explains some of the 'forbidden medicines'. This ebook is a better bet than health insurance.