Social networking has become a valuable resource for those who have been stricken with an illness, as well as their loved ones. Many are familiar with sites like MySpace or Facebook, but few people realize how similar concepts are being used to help those who find themselves suffering from various diseases.

Long gone are the days where doctors have the time to deal with each patient on a personal basis, and, unfortunately, this means patients are less likely to receive the full spectrum of what treatments, information, and support that is available to them.

Through social networking sites, patients have an incredible amount of resources available to them.  Blogs can provide up-to-date information on new treatments, breakthroughs, and clinical trials. Along with blogs these sites also include, chat rooms and discussion forums that make it easier for people to communicate with others who find themselves in similar situations. This allows patients to exchange different information, that otherwise would not have been available to them.

At the age of 41, Susannah Reid, was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer. She was told by her doctor that she wouldn’t live past two years. More bad news came when she was told that in her state, West Virginia, there weren’t any doctors who had experience with her form of cancer. Reid was eventually able to find a specialist, but her insurance company would not pay for out of state treatment.

Just when Reid thought there was nowhere left to turn, her sister, Beth Weiss, began searching the internet for information on Reid’s form of cancer. While searching, she came across ACOR, The Association of Cancer Online Resources. Through ACOR, Weiss was able to communicate with Dr. Doreen Kossove, a pediatrician who’s suffering from an advanced form of uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Over the span of a few months, Kossove was able to guide Reid and Weiss through the appeal process for the insurance denial they had previously received. Reid won her appeal and is now receiving treatment from experts on her disease at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts.

“Susannah never would have gotten the quality of care she has if not for ACOR and Dr. Kossove.” Weiss says.

To read the full article click here.

Discussing the possibility of death with a medical professional can be difficult for terminally ill patients, often leaving them with an uneasy or upsetting feeling. However, recent studies are suggesting that it may provide many benefits for not only the patient, but the patient’s loved ones as well.

In a study conducted by the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 332 terminally ill patients were studied. The patients were observed for an average of the last 4 ½ months of their life. Of the 332 patients, 123 patients had conversations with their doctor about their possible death.

These 123 patients who had an end-of-life conversation were more likely to accept care that primarily focused on their comfort, such as hospice care. In hospice care, the medical attention that patients receive is focused on their own comfort, often taking place in their own home or a similar, comfortable setting. Some suggest that hospice care offers a better quality of life, rather than taking measures to hasten or prolong death.  For instance, a patient being admitted into intensive care (ICU) may very well prolong their life, but it may come at the expense of the comfort level for not only the patient, but loved ones as well. Often times, more aggressive medical approaches, such as being placed on a ventilator to breathe, can not only be physically painful for the patient, but mentally and emotionally tasking on the patient and their family.

Along with the patients themselves, researchers assessed the mental health of family members of the deceased, typically about 6 ½ months after their loved one had passed away. Family members of those who did not die in the ICU were 3 times less likely to show signs of depression stemming from the death.

“The major findings are that end-of-life discussions have cascading benefits for patients and their loved ones.” Dr. Alexi Wright, of the Dana Farber Institute, said in a telephone interview.

If you would like to read more on the study click here.

For more information on hospice click here.

Sixteen years ago, neuroscientist and physician David Servan-Schreiber discovered during one of his own brain scanner experiments that he had brain cancer.  The diagnosis was an enormous shock, but David proceeded with chemotherapy and radiation, which he says saved his life.

When the treatment finished, he was at loss.  The chemo was was complete but David wanted to do all he could to prevent the cancer from returning.  He says, "As soon as you stop the chemo, you feel stripped, and you think, 'Wow, what do I do now?' And then everybody asks their doctor ... and this is when 99 percent of us get the standard answer, which is, 'Nothing in particular. Live your life like you always did.' "

So David investigated methods of preventing cancer from returning, and found a wealth of information his doctor had not mentioned.  "There's tremendous evidence that physical exercise helps prevent cancer, and also helps people who already have cancer prevent a recurrence," he says.

According to David, herbs and spices such as garlic, turmeric, rosemary, thyme, mint, and green tea help make the body less fertile for cancer. For instance, "When you put a little bit of garlic extract on cancer cells, they die."

He says vegetables and fruits such as brussel sprouts, asparagus and raspberries can target specific cancers, at least in test tubes.

"Your body knows how to fight cancer," David advises. "Help it with the right nutrition, with physical exercise, with managing stress better, and avoiding contaminants that feed cancer. And if you do these things, which are very simple, you're greatly increasing your chance of beating the odds."

David recently authored a best-selling book, Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life, to share his story with other patients.

Every patient has a different way of coping with disease; in California, a woman suffering from abdominal mesothelioma has painted her house seafoam green to boost her spirits.  Rebekah Price was diagnosed about two years ago and has since had surgery at the National Institutes for Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.  She returns to the Institute every four months for a PET scan, but expects the disease will return within five years.

Color has added excitment and brightness to Rebekah's life. "The living room is a metallic gold, the kitchen is orange, the kitchenette is yellow,” she said. “There’s two green rooms, there’s a purple hallway, a pink wall, a blue room and a red room.”  Most striking, however, is the seafoam green exterior.  Vivid color, Rebekah said, has become a comforting, positive force in her life.  “Life’s been pretty dark for a long time,” she said. “I want color, you know?”

Unfortunately, not all of Rebekah's neighbors have found the same joy in color.   Many believe the house sticks out like a sore thumb in the neighborhood and is too glaring for their particular community.  Rebekah and her children have incurred harassment and vandalism because of the opposition to the color. But Rebekah holds her head high and faces the abuse with optimism and humor; when a racially motivated comment was made implying her house would be better fit for Mexico, Rebekah merely hosted a Mexican-themed party with a taqueria and a mariachi band.

In the face of a terminal illness, Rebekah is inspiration to all of us.  She combats her disease and the harassment with poise, logic, and strength.  And not even the dark and disheartening comments can take the color out of Rebekah's personality.

In the UK, one community has rallied around a neighbor who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma.  Stuart Smith, age 64, believes he contracted the disease when sweeping asbestos-laden buildings belonging to the air force.   To honor Stuart, local businessmen and craftspeople donated goods for an auction to benefit charities of Stuart's choice.

In just one day, the town raised over £2,600 for the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund and Macmillan Cancer nurses.  The kindness of his neighbors meant much to Stuart, who said, "I'm overwhelmed that people wanted to hold this auction for me. I feel quite emotional, to be honest. I cannot believe that people can be so generous. Some of the people who have arranged it, I have only briefly met.  It seems a lot of people around here have empathy for my problems."

Stuart's wife Wendy, age 65, echoed his sentiments: "We have lived in Horsford 11 years and I would not now move even if we won the Lottery.”

In reaching out to Stuart, the community not only affected his life, but also the lives of other mesothelioma patients.  A single event raised nearly £3,000 towards finding a cure and assisting those currently suffering from the disease.  The support Stuart encountered has armed him with the strength he needs to face the cancer: “My attitude is that I have got to be positive, and make the most of my life,” he said.

For more on Stuart, click here.