My father was recently diagnosed with cancer, and has been pretty upset. I was looking for some good christia?

Question 1
My father was recently diagnosed with cancer, and has been pretty upset. I was looking for some good christia?...  books for him to read during his chemo, which he starts this month. He will be taking it for 8-10 months. I noticed several Chicken Soup books for cancer patients, survivors, and one that said having cancer has it's advantages, which is supposed to have humorous stories from cancer patient. My problem is, would it upset him to receive a Christmas gift like this? Would it just be reminding him of his illness at Christmas time?

Answers
1)   yes it would. i no i would be cheesed at that, treat him normally buy him a normal gift, a book that he would like to read, not something that reminds him he isnt well - ki m

2)   Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymballa


It doesnt directly have anything to do with cancer, but it's an incredible book that I'm sure would end up encouraging him. - Joe

3)   I'm sure he'll love it because you're his child. In a way, you're letting him know that you care. That you're completely there 100 percent all the way. I'm sorry to hear about your dad. Best of luck. - נσнииу

4)   First, sorry about your dad. I hope and pray that he recovers and all the best to him.

Choosing a book for him can be best discussed by the people closest to him. But if you want my opinion, I believe that giving him a book talking directly about cancer will surround him more with thoughts rather than distract him from it. Cancer survival stories should be told to him in person as he can have a discussion and even feel like there are others who are supportive. Right now some reassurance that he is and will be fine is more important as he needs to feel positive more than anything. If I were you, I'd give him a bunch of documentaries on topics he is interested in and a portable DVD player so that his sight and hearing is constantly simulated. Once again, Good Luck and God Bless. - SirBored

5)   Lance Armstrong's book "Its not about the bike" is a good read. Not specifically Christian themed, but its not blasphemous either.

Hard to say, since I'm not your father, but the last thing I'd want to read would be more books about cancer. I'd be looking for subjects as far removed as possible. - silverbullet

6)   Believe me, there is nothing funny about having cancer, nothing period. I saw those cancer books and let them go, it would be up to my wife if she wanted to read them. Swedish Cancer Center where we had treatment had a lending library sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

Find out if something like that exists in your area, I would call them. It was and is a great place to learn about cancer and without going broke doing so. I must have read at least fifty books some informative, others inspirational, and lots of personal stories about peoples struggles and triumphs in surviving the disease. Often times the stories are not so great and the patient dies. Parents of children that passed away from cancer write them, or loving spouses write them, and those are very touching. Books like the Chicken Soup Series are pretty good, they feature lots of short stories about people's struggle and how they are winning the battle against cancer.

Some cancer's are hard to find stories of so a reference library would be nice to find. I would stay away from humor books about cancer, and try to get him something that would either temporarily take his mind away from it (Suduko Puzzle Books are great in the chemotherapy ward) or keep him comfortable (like a new pair of sheep skin slippers) slippers are great to wear when you are going through chemotherapy.

A certificate for massage would be a nice touch. My wife got one from her friend and it perked her up. Cancer diagnosis is upsetting, an early diagnosis is better than a later stage one. Either case I hope your dad does great and wins his battle with cancer.

Last Christmas we were going through chemotherapy treatment. In the end we did 27 weeks of it. Wishing you and your family a great Christmas.

Dave - Dave


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Question 2
i drink way too much tea daily, but im kinda concerned about the amount of sugar i intake with the tea?...  i drink about 4-6 cups of tea daily
sometimes 2-3 each cup i put 2 teaspoons of sugar ? since we have family history of diabetes im kinda concerned wat should i do to decrees amount of sugar but still drink tea as i do

Answers
1)   An apple a day keeps the doctor away - da master of help!

2)   my wife and i did the exact same thing when we were young. we have been using artificial sweeteners for well over 40 years. don,t believe the crap that sweeteners do harm. diabetes runs in both our families, and the sweeteners have been a great way to avoid tons of sugar. - David

3)   Just stop taking sugar - tea actually has a flavour - it isn't just hot sweet stuff! - Hedge Witch

4)   I use splenda in the individual packets and it doesn't taste any different to me and I don't use alot of sugar. I was recently DX with diabetes this year. This will be better for you, and won't cause rises in your blood sugars. - lilginny

5)   So stop using sugar in your tea! How much sugar you use is YOUR choice, not mine! ONLY YOU have the ability to stop this. Try artificial sweeteners -- they are perfectly safe when used in moderation.

AND -- eating sugar does not cause diabetes. That is a myth. But eating sugar WILL make diabetes worse, and if you already have it (through family history) then you will get sicker.

YOU control how much sugar you put in your tea, and ONLY YOU can stop it. - Gary B


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Question 3
Do I have an eatting disorde?Help me please!?...  Im 13, about 5'6 (almost 5'7) and i weigh about 102.ALL my bones stick out ( ribs,hips,sholders,sholder blade,spine,wrist bones,neck and more! ) But the bone that bugs me the most is my rib bones!I can feel each bone even if im not sucking in! On the right side of my ribs there is it this bone that just pops out?And on the left side i think i have a broken rib because I can move the bottom rib and it doesn't hurts like at all!Each day I eat 2 snacks and my dinner.I know I don't each much but i don't really get hungry so I don't really eat.I know im FAT but everyone says i'm "too skinny"? I never belive them.Well I don't know, I just wanna know if theres anything I can do to make my self healthierr and skinnyer?Oh and btw... I don't have small boobs?XD

Answers
1)   you need to c a doctor. - BRAIN RESET

2)   Honey, you've got the beginnings of anorexia. Talk to a counselor.
You're not fat, you just think you are because your brain has tricked you into seeing yourself as too fat.

In order to be healthy, you HAVE to eat more than what you've described. - Nephilim

3)   you are way toooo skinny my mother is a nurse and that is abnormal my mom says if you dont eat more i could cause sericous health issues so eat more your not fat and go to mcdonalds or a fast food place and get alot of food!!!!!lol and my mom also said you could die an early age if you dont eat more ok the same thing with my 15 year old brother ok so your not alone rember that and eat some food girl ok bye good luck - Zoey C

4)   You are NOT FAT! If you have bones sticking out that means you are very, very skinny. Some people are naturally like that, but just to be sure you should see a doctor. What you need to do is eat at least a small portion of food at lunch. Even if you are not hungry, you still need some amount of energy in you. You need to eat AT LEAST a bagel or toast and bread in the morning. The bread is filling and the milk will help your bones become stronger. If you don't want to eat a form of bread try a small amount of cheese. Cheese is very filling. If I were you, id call the doctor and get an appointment for as soon as possible. - Kat


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Question 4
This is abouy diabeties. Plz only serious answers?...  Ok. First off, I am 13 and WAYYYY obease like, really. Recently my mom told me she was wirried about a cut on my leg, she said it looked like it may be a sign of diabetis , becUse it didnt go away for sooo long. I really didnt think anything ofthis. Then, i started to pee a whole heck of alot, wihlthoutel drinking really anything. Then i got on the scale today, and it says that i have lost ahout 10 pounds. And i havent even been trying to watch, specially over thanksgiving. I weighed myself about a week and a half ago BTW. I dont consume alot of sugar, but i eat alot of fast food, diet pop, and salts. Please should i be checked to have something wrong with me, i need feedback
My mom didnt make an appt. Because i just told her i have symptoms, i do eat healthy except mcdonalds once a week

Answers
1)   I've used every diet known to mankind but nothing worked as good as acai berry. I know they say that pills do not work, but they definitely worked for me, and they've been shown on CNN too. There's a free trial happening currently at http://jerels.myslimmingpro.info , why not try it, why not? - Cristal

2)   There is a chance that you could be diabetic especially if your overweight even if your just 13 yrs old. Signs of diabetes is thirst, frequent urination, weight loss or gain, extreme hunger and feeling tired. You should go to a doctor and let them check your blood sugar levels before eating so as to get a good sugar level to see if you have diabetes or not because diabetes is serious and kids your age are getting type 2 diabetes because of fast food and being overweight and not exercising so please get checked and I hope you don't have it. I'm an older person and was diagnosed in Feb 09 with type 2 diabetes. - lilginny

3)   If your mother is concerned about diabetes, why hasn't;t she taken you to the doctor? that is REALLY stupid -- when you THINK you have a disease you should ALWAYS go to the doctor to find out.

Your description show many signs of diabetes, and YOU DO NEED TO BE TESTED.

In the mean time, you need to start NOW controlling your diet. You eat junk food, which is making you obese. STOP IT! Start eating a healthy diet.

\it will be MUCH easier if you do it now,because you want to, instead of later, when the doctor says you HAVE to.

Tell you mom to MAKE A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT!!! - Gary B

4)   Miss Mari,
Please see the doctor very soon. If you are type 1 it doesn't matter how good the diet you will continue to get sicker. The sooner you recieve treatment the better you can avoid long term damage to your body like loss of eye sight, neuropathy, muscle loss, liver and kidney failure...ect.

For now though start lowering your sugar/carb intake to lower your levels and get to a healthier weight.

45-60 Carbs per meal and 15 Carbs for a snack inbetween. OneTouch.com can teach you to read nutrition labels and make healthier choices. It can give you information you may need about diabetes help. And then if it turns out you're not diabetic you will still have healthy habits for the future.

Type II Diabetic 7 years - Insulin dependent - Angela W


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Question 5
is varicose vein(vein removal)surgery considered simple surgery?...  ok so i'm 20 but i'm talking about my mother
before she even had me and my sister .
she had veracious veins and she neglected it to the point it looks really bad now
it's all around her left leg and its huge and on the whole leg
the doctor said there is no solution but to remove it (by surgery)
by making 2 cuts one at the very top and one at the bottom of the leg
and removing the whole vein,she is overweight and have asthma(very bad)
and im dead scared
is it a simple operation ??

Answers
1)   a simple operation would be a mole removal. everything else is complicated. there are many ways to treat varicose veins. i would get a 2nd opinion. - David

2)   Im not sure if its a simple surgery but my mum has them really bad on her legs and she got them removed when she was younger and they just came back even worse it probably doesnt happen for everyone tho - Rachael

3)   No vascular surgery is considered simple surgery. - Mikey


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