Trap's Cancer Story

Survivor Updates

1995
1996
Sept 1997
Oct 1997
June 2000
Sept 2000

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American Brain Tumor Association

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Mike Traphagan

I just got off the phone with Mom. She has started radiation treatments that are five days a week. Fortunately, she gets her treatments at a hospital five minutes away from her apartment. She is the last appointment of the day. I am glad because she can't stay at work after hours, which she has a tendency to do quite frequently. I can't wait until Christmas, when I can spend an extended amount of my time with my family in Denver.

I went back to teaching in August 1997, and I am really enjoying being back in the classroom. I have four classes of Algebra II and help in one of our computer labs. The Principal, Linda Richey, is super to work for. She knows my situation and takes care of me. I owe her much gratitude. I finally went and got another MRI on October 13, 1997. I had not been to a doctor since July of 1996,when I had my last MRI. The doctor was more than pleased with the results, and I don't have to go back for another year!

Back in early 1997, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), made a public statement about alternative treatments for cancer. The only one NCI supported for future studies is shark cartilage. You can get shark cartilage in any health food store. It comes in a capsule, powder, and liquid form. I still take shark cartilage as a preventative about once or twice a week.

The person who is responsible for exposing shark cartilage to the public is Dr. William Lane. His tireless work all over the world has focused the attention on shark cartilage. Some of you may remember back in 1993 when Dr. William Lane and Mike Wallace from 60 Minutes went to Cuba where they did a controlled experiment with approximately 29 terminal cancer patients. They went back ten weeks later and the results were astounding! Dr. Lane has written two books on shark cartilage. Sharks Don't Get Cancer and Sharks Still Don't Get Cancer which is the updated version and includes the Cuba study that was on 60 Minutes. You can find Dr. Lane's book in any bookstore.

With the explosion of the Internet, finding current information on alternative treatments is unlimited.

Dr. Lane has his own web page that includes 16 questions most often asked of Dr. Lane. The last time I checked, Dr. Lane's web page also had three short stories about three cancer patients who attributed their survival directly to shark cartilage. His address: Dr. I. William Lane Cartilage Consultants, Inc. P.O. Box 434 Short Hills, NJ 07675 (860) 628-6061

One more book that I highly recommend is The Cancer Conqueror by Greg Anderson. It is the true story about Greg Anderson, who was told the lung cancer, they had found four months earlier, had now spread to the lymph system. According to statistics he had thirty days to live. The book is about 150 pages, has large print, and can be read in one sitting. The book put my illness in perspective, for not only myself, but my family, too. The first cancer conqueror book I bought I highlighted what I felt were the key passages in the book.

Whenever I was feeling down, I would get out The Cancer Conqueror and read the highlighted portions.

It's one of the activities I did to keep me positive.

I have since bought about twenty cancer conqueror books and couldn't tell you where one is. I told the people to whom I gave the book to pass it on to others. Over the past three years or so, I have talked to my neurosurgeon on a number of informal occasions. I'll never forget when he asked me, "Was there anytime during your illness you thought you were going to die?" I quickly and honestly responded, "No." He responded, "I'm glad you thought that because nobody, including me, thought you would survive the rigors you would have to go through to conquer this deadly disease." That is why you can never give up on yourself, no matter how bad the situation. Have to do my grades for the second six weeks. TILL NEXT TIME...

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This is a personal account and is not intended in any way to provide medical information.
©Mike Traphagan, 2001
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