Mens Natural Health

Archive for the ‘Cancer Hospitals’ Category

Lahore is the second largest city in Pakistan and also the capital of the Punjab province. It is the fifth largest city in South Asia and the 26th largest city in the world. Lahore is a favorite tourist destination and The Guardian has ranked it as the 2nd best tourist destination in Pakistan.

In Lahore city some of the major private and government hospitals offer world class medical facilities and provide the latest medical equipments and modern technology. English speaking staff are available in many leading hospitals.

This is a short description of some of the major hospitals in the city of Lahore in Punjab Province of Pakistan.

Lahore General Hospital, situated in Lahore, is a famous hospital in the city and offers modern and comprehensive health care services to the people at an affordable cost. This is a government owned and operated hospital and the provincial government is the administrative authority. Their neurosurgery department is very famous.

Children’s Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Lahore is the most renowned children’s hospital in the city. This pioneer center was founded in 1990 and offers most effective diagnostic, clinical, preventive and surgical facilities in pediatrics and appoints eminent medical professionals. This is a famous training and research center also. The institute has established school of nursing and school of allied health sciences.

Naz Hospital is regarded as one of the best hospitals in Lahore and is situated at 6-A, Link Shadman Road, Shadman, Lahore. The full fledged general hospital was established in 1980 by a famous doctor and is now managed by an American trained administrator. The modern hospital has three operation theatres, two delivery rooms and all other medical facilities. Ph.+92-42-758 7912, +92-42-758 8711, +92-42-759 1087

Mayo Hospital is one of the oldest and biggest hospitals in the city and has been providing high quality diagnostic, medical and surgical services to the people since its foundation in 1871.This government owned tertiary care hospital is attached to the well-known King Edward Medical University. This 1799 bed hospital offers cost effective treatments in 42 out-patient departments and gives 100% free treatment to poor people.

Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), situated in Lahore, is the largest cardiac center in the country and is also the first ISO certified government hospital. This premier health institute with 292 beds and highly sophisticated equipments has been offering world class cardiac care services to the patients for the last 18 years. This tertiary care hospital carries out more than 1700 cardiac surgeries and treats over160, 000 patients annually. This is also a well known research and training center in cardiology and cardiac surgery. Ph.+92-42-9203051-60

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is another well trusted hospital in the city that has been offering modern and reliable medical services to a large number of people since its establishment in 1921. This 700 bed private multy specialty hospital is managed by a family trust, well known for their invaluable services in public health care sector. The hospital employs eminent medical professionals and offers high quality services in all major departments.

Jinnah Hospital, situated at Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani Road,Lahore, is one of the largest and most reputed hospitals and teaching schools in Pakistan. This government owned hospital with 1100 beds offers modern and effective treatments and service in all departments through a team of 65 eminent consultant physicians and surgeons. Most of the training programs offered by this famous institute are recognized by Royal college of physicians, Royal college of surgeons and Royal college of obstetrics and gynecology in UK and Ireland. The hospital treats an average of 550,000 patients every year. Ph.+92-42-9231400-23

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, located in the Lahore city at 7-A, Block R-3, Johar Town, is the most leading cancer hospital and research institute in Pakistan. This charitable institute, founded by Pakistan’s most well known cricket player Imran Khan in 1994, has established itself as a centre of excellence that offers latest, comprehensive and affordable treatments to a large number of cancer patients. This 115 bed modern hospital employs 1393 staff which includes 41 eminent consultants, Physicians and surgeons. This HACCP certified hospital has affiliation withUniversity of Bradford (UK) and has Membership of International Union against Cancer (UICC). Ph. +92 42 5945100

Nadeem clinic and maternity home is another reliable hospital in Lahore and is located at the town of Allama Iqbal. The hospital offers modern and complete treatment at reasonable cost and is particularly well known for their excellent services in gynecology and obstetrics. Ph. +92-42-445182, +92-42-445179

Being diagnosed with prostate cancer can deal a real blow to any man. Just receiving the diagnosis of prostate cancer can bring up in him uncertain feelings about what might lie ahead. Then, there are the medical bills and the possibility of surgery – all of which can be overwhelming.

If a man whom you know and care about is in recovery after prostate cancer surgery, you surely are feeling sympathetic toward his plight. You know that he is fighting his cancer bravely, and he may have to make some lifestyle changes after surgery.

A man in this situation can always use some cheering up. If you are looking for ideas for a get-well gift for prostate cancer surgery patients, here are 3 gift basket ideas you can use right away:

1. Audio Book Gift Basket:

When we think of someone who is in recovery after surgery, it is easy to imagine them happily reading a book to pass the time. After all, what could be better than taking part in a fantasy or adventure, or learning something new through the wonder of a good book?

The reality, however, is that not all people have the patience to sit and read for hours. Others – especially those recovering from prostate cancer surgery – may not feel like sitting still long enough to really get into a good book. For those folks, audio books are a great choice.

Try putting together an audio book gift basket with 2-3 or more audio books. Maybe throw in a magazine, a couple of candy bars, and a few packs of gum as well. Make it fun. He will appreciate it and it will help him to pass the time.

2. Sports Gift Basket:

Another great gift basket idea for the man in recovery after prostate surgery is one with a men’s sports theme. Most guys love sports. The next-best thing to being out there playing sports or being a live spectator at professional, college or high school games is of course to be a fan from home. In your sports gift basket, put together a mish-mash of sports magazines, a “greatest plays” video or two, and some other paraphernalia. This is sure to bring a smile to his face as he recovers back to health.

3. Magazine Assortment Gift Basket:

Sometimes, guys in recovery after surgery do not want to read a book (see above), but thumbing through great magazines filled with lots of pictures is another story. Visit the magazine rack at your favorite grocery or bookstore and pick out a 1-2 magazine each from categories like Men’s Interest, Automobiles, Computers, and Sports. He will find your gift very thoughtful.

Going through prostate cancer surgery is never fun, but the recovery time can be made to feel like it is passing by faster with a good get-well-soon gift. Try getting him a gift basket that you buy or make yourself. Let your creativity go wild and get him something he will really appreciate. He will know it is from the heart.

The primary therapy for colorectal cancer is surgery. At an early stage, surgery cures it. However, more often than not, doctors would refer patients to the oncologists after the surgery. And oncologists, from my experience living in the developing country, would invariably ask patients to undergo chemotherapy even if the cancer was “caught” at an early stage. The rational is preventive, i.e., to provide “protection” against future problems.

The cytotoxic drug, fluorouracil, commonly known as 5-FU is the gold standard agent used. This drug was discovered in 1957 by Dr. Charles Heidelberger of the University of Wisconsin. According to Joel Hardman et al. (in The Pharmaceutical basis of therapeutics), 5-FU produces a partial response in 10% to 30% of patients with metastatic cancers of the breast and gastrointestinal tract. The cytotoxic activities of 5-FU is enhanced when combined with agents like leucovorin, interferon, methotrexate, cisplatin, etc.

In 1975, Dr. Charles Moetel of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, USA, found that survival of Duke’s C colon cancer patients could be prolonged when treated with a combination of 5-FU and levamisole. Levamisole is a drug used in sheep, swine and cattle to control stomach and intestinal worms. It is also commonly used to treat nematode parasite infections.

In 1998, it was found that a combination of 5-FU and leucovorin increased the five-year survival of patients with Duke’s B and C colon cancer. Leucovorin is the active form of the B complex vitamin.

Based on the above observations, chemotherapy had been touted as the necessary adjuvant treatment after surgery for colorectal cancer. It is claimed that adjuvant chemotherapy prolonged survival of cancer patients. In addition, it is said to promote the patients’ quality of life (i.e. if you believe that undergoing chemotherapy is a pleasant experience!).

In cases where 5-FU is not effective other drugs are used. For example, Irinotecan (Camptosar, CPT-11), Oxaliplatin combined with 5-FU, etc. A recent development is the use of oral chemo-drugs like Capecitabine (Xeloda) and UFT (a combination of uracil + tegafur).

From the above, it appears that the state-of-the-art medical treatment of colorectal cancer is well grounded on solid research data. That is the perception the medical community would want the world to believe in.
I invite you to read the one of the many stories I have recorded from my ten years working with alternative and complementary cancer therapies. Give this story some serious thought. Form your own opinion as to what you would want to do in the event that you suffer from colorectal cancer.

Case Study: Colon cancer — surgery — declined further medical treatment — on herbs, nine years now and doing great.

It was some years ago that I last spoke to Joan, a lawyer friend of mine. Then one fine morning in January 2005, I had a surprised call from Joan. As we spoke she reminded me that her uncle was doing so well on the herbs after having a surgery for colon cancer. To be honest, I have totally forgotten about this case. After the conversation, I decided to write to Bob, the patient’s son to seek for more clarification. It was indeed wonderful that Bob was very co-operative and took time to reply to my enquiries. The following is our e-mail communication.

Dear Bob, for my record, may I ask you a few questions:

a) When did your dad has his cancer? What was his age then?

Bob: Sometime in the end of June 1997. He was then 67 years old.

b) What cancer? Colon or rectum?

B: Colon cancer.

c) He had an operation?

B: Had the operation in Singapore General Hospital on 4 July 1997.

d) After the surgery, did he do any chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both?

B: He did not do chemotherapy or radiotherapy as advised by myself after reading your book.

e) After he had the operation, what did the doctor say about the stage of the cancer?

B: It was in the early mid-stage. Luckily the cancer was detected early.

f) Was the cancer confined to the colon or has it spread to any other organs?

B: The cancer was confined to the colon although there was a spot in the left lung. Luckily the cancer did not spread to other organs.

g) Did the doctor ask him to go for chemotherapy or radiotherapy?

B: The doctor asked him to go for both therapies but I have discussed with my dad and we decided against it because he was rather weak.

h) I assume that when he declined all medical treatments, you (not your dad?) came to see me in Penang? Sorry, I can’t remember this case.

B: We did not get to see you in Penang because my dad was sick. We communicated by faxes and telephones most of the time. My aunt (Joan, the lawyer above) was the main coordinator during this time.

i) When did he start taking the herbs?

B: Yes! He took those herbs that were prescribed by you prior to the operation.

j) Was he taking anything or doing anything else besides my herbs?

B: No other medications or herbs were taken.

k) How is he now?

B: My father is in good health as he has changed his lifestyle. Walks regularly and practices careful food consumption.

It has been almost nine years now, since Bob’s dad was diagnosed with colon cancer. He was on herbs and changed his lifestyle and diet. It was indeed worth all the efforts. I would not venture to say that Bob’s father took a calculated risk (gamble some may want to say). This is because it has never been a gamble for patients to opt for another route to their healing. Or could we turn it the other way round? Could it be a gamble if one were to take the established, popular, established route?