If you are familiar with health care and the way your body functions, you are already aware of the fact that free radicals can cause harmful cells to form clusters that can lead to cancer. Perhaps you are unaware of the multiple choices available in cancer treatment and prevention. The next few paragraphs serve as a simple guide to some of these methods.

Some people diagnosed with cancer choose to opt out of conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation due to the damage they can cause to the body. They turn instead to alternative treatments such as nutrition therapy and vitamin therapy among many others. Some (but not all) of these treatments have been shown to shrink tumors and prolong life. Always check with your doctor before beginning any unconventional therapies.

The first thing smokers should do when diagnosed with cancer is quit. Some smokers may think that since they have cancer, there is no reason to quit. However, the carcinogens, toxins and poisons within cigarettes drastically reduce your body’s odds of completely healing or even withstanding your cancer treatment.

You should meditate during those times when you are really struggling with cancer. It can help you to stay mentally focused and not just think about the cancer. It can give you the mental strength to fight the cancer and really take control of your life.

Insurance is important for every cancer patient to have. Insurance can cover the cost of medical bills, which can become very expensive due to doctor visits and treatments. Seek out many different insurance options, either through your employer, through your state or through local groups that may help those with cancer.

Ask your doctor plenty of questions. If you have just received a cancer diagnosis, make sure to get as much basic information as you can. Find out the type, if it can be treated, what the treatment would be, and if the cancer is spreading. The more you know the better chance you will have.

If you are a cancer survivor, make sure that you have information about your previous cancer treatments. Unfortunately, cancer comes back with a vengeance sometimes, so keep your records about what surgeries and what types of chemotherapy and radiation therapy you have undergone. This information will help you better communicate with doctors.

Switching out coffee for green tea can help you to prevent catching cancer. Coffee will not necessarily increase your risks, but if you need a caffeine boost, green tea is full of EGCG and polyphenols. These substances help prevent cancer in the colon, liver, prostate, breast, and other areas of the body.

Keep the lines of communication open! If you feel the support from your friends and family is not sufficient, speak with them directly about this subject. They may actually be relieved to have you bring it up, and they might also appreciate knowing from you what kind of support you would like and can use. Be careful, however. This can be a time of great difficulty. Use those around you that love you as support beams. Don’t have any regrets!

Learn self testing methods for detecting breast cancer. Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women of all ages, and can be identified early through regular breast exams that you can perform at home. If you are able to detect breast cancer early, you could avoid it advancing in stage to a point where your life is in danger.

Don’t take it for granted that you know everything you need to know about cancer. The more you know about any particular topic, the better your odds become of coming out ahead in the face of a dire situation. There’s no worse life problem you can deal with than a cancer diagnosis. Take in all the information in this article, and use it to help fight this horrendous disease.