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Chapter 29
Rehabilitation of the Cancer Patient

     THE TASK of rehabilitation is to restore the patient to a life comparable to that which he led prior to the appearance of symptoms of cancer and the subsequent damages. To reach such a degree of rehabilitation is possible only in beginning or medium-advanced cases. Partial rehabilitation only is possible in further-advanced cases, and no rehabilitation (for practical activity) is possible in some of the terminal cases. After a patient is more or less free of symptoms, he goes home and is confronted by some of the following problems:

     (a) Medical

1. The organization of the treatment at home.
2. Lack of help.
3. Inability and inexperience in cooking, especially of this type of diet.
4. After weeks of perfect rest at the clinic, with all conveniences and prepared foods and juices, he finds himself without help or a doctor's advice at home.
5. Difficulty in shopping and provision of necessary fresh foodstuffs.
6. Difficulties in procuring proper medication from regular drug stores (frequent offers of unsuited items or substitutes by pharmacists - such as calcium gluconate instead of potassium gluconate, which helps the cancer to regrow!).
7. Re-examination - observation.

     (b) Economic

1. Depletion of funds because of many expenses connected with previous treatments and operations.
2. Long duration of the treatment.
3. A lengthy absence from work necessary for strict cooperation.
4. More expensive preparation of the dietary food as compared to ordinary home cooking.
5. Tendency to put patients into hospitals or nursing homes, covered by insurance plans, to avoid disturbance of family life and expenses.

     (c) Psychological

1. Unfavorable environmental influences.
2. Opposing views of friends and some physicians.
3. Long period required for the restoration of the entire body.
4. Changes in the way of life for the present and the near future.

     The chief concern is the patient's will to live and to be cured.

     A small number of patient's, about ten to twelve per cent of the total, do not realize the seriousness of the disease; such realization is necessary if one is to follow such a strict treatment. These patients are quickly satisfied when they see good results in others and feel themselves relieved of pain in a matter of days. A similar percentage reject the treatment; some do not like to give up their eating habits while others will not accept food without salt; another group has different problems.

     A few had come to feel hopeless and pessimistic during the long period of previous treatments so that they could not regain enough energy for future life. One woman, who was with her mother, had the best results the first week; then the husband came, and they quarreled all night. The patient was dismissed; the mother took her to her home but could not accomplish anything. Needless to say, similar individual cases can be found in all long, drawn-out degenerative diseases.

     The mental condition of the patient and psychological cooperation of the family and the environment play important roles in the restoration of the body. Every patient needs faith, love, hope and encouragement. To accomplish this difficult task, the patient has to see progress on himself and favorable results on others.