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As with all well run projects, you need to keep proper documentations. There a list of things that you should consider tracking and filing

1) All expenses
2) Insurance claims and payout
3) Medical reports and blood test results
4) Medical appointment dates, doctor's comments
5) Scan dates and results
6) Chemo drug names and quality
7) Meeting minutes (if you run it like a project, why not?)

I have find it extremely useful to put some of these data in spreadsheets. The blood tests for example are extremely useful to Chinese Physicians to customised their herbs to help balance the body.

Run it like a project you need to deliver

If you are familiar with project management, you would agree with me that a successful project requires careful planning and execution.

The sad thing is that when something like cancer strikes and a lot of emotions is involved, we throw all that we know about project management out the window. Nobody takes charge of setting a goal, no one really plans, no one really does the budget, no one really bother about communications. It is like a mad house, bunch of indian chiefs running around.

So, if there is something that can be done. Before all of you start running all over the place to look for the miracle cures and overwhelm the patient with dozens of suggestions, all the key stakeholders (usually the family) should sit down and PLAN. Start it like a project and run it like one. Set the goals, divide tasks, set the guiding principles, make the decisions and followup.
They will be challenges along the way, more decisions to be made but the project framework still beats a few indian chiefs running their own ways.

A holistic approach to surviving cancer

Of the many people I talked to regarding my mother's condition, I must say that one particular Chinese Physician left a very strong impression. It is also from this that I came out with my Tipping Scale theory.

He explained to me this framework which I thought would be useful to many cancer patients. The approach is simple. First see cancer as a condition of the human body. In order to cure a person of cancer, the body condition need to be changed such that cells in the body do not turn cancerous anymore. In order to do so, there are 6 areas to focus on

1) Food - Eating well is important
2) Exercise - Moderate exercise can help in the overall well
3) Mind/Emotion - When the mind gives up, so will the body
4) Sleep - The body cannot be strong with not enough rest
5) Western Medication - Operation, Radiotheraphy, Chemo etc. Good for short term.
6) Tradition Medication/Supplements - Some herbs like Reshi has very strong anti-cancer properties. Good for long term.

Unfortunately, we tend to overlook or take for granted certain areas such as food and sleep but over emphasize on medications. That in turn cause a lot of stress to the patient which is not good for emotional health. In my mum's case, although she had the best chemo treatment and also chinese medicine, she didn't eat well, nor rest well and went into depression when the mind couldn't handle the stress of it all.

As such, for anyone looking for a cure for cancer, I would advise that you consider giving equal attention to all 6 areas. You would probably realised that the first 4 areas is probably the toughest to achieve because it would require plenty of support from family and friends as well as a lot of planning and changing of environment in some cases.

Operation is a good start...

Understanding that cancer is a condition and not a disease can change how we view things completely. For example, when my mother first went for her operation to remove her cancer tumor in her breast together with one breast, we thought that was it. Cancer tumor removed and what we can do is sit around and pray that it never come back again. Guess the "Scale" is still tipped all along and with time, the cancer cells regrouped again and our prayers remains unanswered.

So now, if anyone are to ask me for my opinion on operations, I would tell them this. Good that an operation is possible, because that would mean, most of the cancer cells can be removed at one time, however, treat the operation as a good start and not an end. Remember the tumor has been removed does not mean that the "condition" has changed. In many case, they have not. Try to imagine "Operation Desert Storm", that initial victory was swift, even sweet but is the battle really over?

There is more to be done and can be done. Although I cannot guarantee success, I truely believe that seeing the operation as a beginning is a good start and would already greatly improve your chances of surviving the condition.