Somebody asked me what I would do if I had cancer. Would I try alternative treatments in addition to traditional therapies? Since I haven't walked a mile in those shoes, I can't say, but statistics tell me I would. The majority of people with cancer have considered complementary therapies. How do we know what works?

Thankfully, many alternative treatments are now being given the 3rd degree of well-designed studies. This week, qigong appears to have passed the test as an alternative therapy that can improve quality of life for those living with cancer.

First, what is qigong?

Qigong is a Chinese mind-body medicine practice that uses meditation, breathing control, and movement, to balance the flow of energy (qi) through the body. The theory is that if energy is flowing correctly through our bodies, healing can occur.

How did qigong help?

In the study, qigong was found to significantly improve quality of life - that is, how good someone feels on a day-to-day basis. It also improved the fatigue associated with cancer, something many people consider one of the most annoying symptoms. Mood was improved in those individuals who practiced qigong, and blood tests that look at inflammation in the body were reduced.

What stood out as extremely important to me - someone who has trained and lived in the midst of allopathic medicine or traditional medicine - is that nobody had side effects from qigong.

(It's important to note that the benefits derived from qigong in this study were related to quality of life and not survival. Qigong was not studied as a treatment for cancer, but as a therapy to improve well-being for those living with cancer.)

While most alternative treatments have not been investigated to the degree that they can be placed in the category we call "evidence-based medicine," a few have. Many cancer centers are now offering alternative therapies along with traditional therapies. Check out:

• Alternative Therapies in Lung Cancer - What Works?

Photo: istockphoto.com

_Sources:

_{American Cancer Society. Qigong. 11/01/08. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/eto/content/eto_5_3x_qigong.asp}

_{Oh, B. et al. Impact of Medical Qigong on quality of life, fatigue, mood and inflammation in cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial. Annals of Oncology. Advance Access Published Online October 30, 2009. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdp479.}

"Hey DJ! I want everybody to stop what they're doing. Now know that lung cancer is the #1 killer of women. And you're gonna take momma and grandmomma to Dr. Lunglove.
Make Some Noise!"

Who said that only breasts can attract attention? Hats off to the Lung Cancer Alliance and a new public service announcement launched today for this 2009 Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Check it out:

Dr. Lung Love "Waitin' Room Service"

And make sure to check out the video Love Harmony as well. Set to the well-known theme song for e-Harmony, Dr. Armando Lung Love, thoracic surgeon, shares what he is looking for in an ideal woman. Someone who is as passionate about curing lung cancer as he is - and of course - likes kittens. And when he finds her, well... He'll smile ear to ear and tell her that lung cancer kills twice as many women as breast cancer, but breast cancer receives 5 times as much funding. Only then will he take her to meet his parents.

What do you suppose he will say to her parents?

If you were inspired as I was, how do you plan on making noise to raise lung cancer awareness this month?

I love freebies, and this is a good one. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and, as a kickoff, the Lung Cancer Research Foundation is offering a free public symposium on lung cancer in New York City.

November 2nd is the date, and the Plaza Hotel is the place.

The morning will begin with a panel discussion, featuring experts that will discuss the latest developments in lung cancer research and treatment, as well as the psychological concerns of those living with lung cancer. This will be followed by an interactive question and answer session, in which individuals will have the opportunity to ask about lung cancer issues that are the most pressing in their own lives.

A few topics mentioned that made me want to spread the news widely to those I care about with lung cancer include:

• How to handle the stigma of lung cancer
• How to balance a full time career with lung cancer treatment
• How individuals and their families can cope with a diagnosis of lung cancer

Speakers will include:

• Thomas J. Lynch, Jr. M.D. - Director of the Yale Cancer Center,
• Jimmie C. Holland, M.D. - from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and,
• Deborah Schrag, M.D., M.P.H. - from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute

There is a ticketed luncheon following, but the discussion and question and answer sessions are completely free to the public. They only ask that you register online, since space is limited.

For details, visit the Lung Cancer Research Foundation website.

If you get a chance to attend this wonderful event, let me know about anything you feel would benefit others living with lung cancer and their families.

I'm not always in the right place at the right time. Though I love doing anything to raise awareness and support those touched by lung cancer - I can't always get there. (And I think I wore out my excuse at home that I have to build up my frequent flyer miles...) No problem. I can walk anywhere on November 7th.

The Free to Breathe ® National Run/Walk for lung cancer will be held on November 7th 2009. No matter where you live, if shortness of breath limits your activity, or if you just prefer to march (or walk or run) to your own drummer, you can join others around the country to raise awareness about lung cancer.

At this time in October, I think most of us are aware of breast cancer. But lung cancer kills more women each year than breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer, combined. Ladies -- It is time we start walking, running, paddling, scrapbooking, climbing, or whatever it takes to raise awareness about lung cancer as well!

Still, nothing can beat the camaraderie of gathering with other lung cancer survivors, families, friends, and advocates to raise awareness. Check out Free to Breathe ® to see if there is an upcoming walk or yogathon (yes, performing the Sun Salutations to support those who have been touched by lung cancer), in your town.

If you still have energy left after your walk, or are not in a knot from those yoga stances, the National Lung Cancer Partnership has some more great ideas we can use anywhere, anytime, to help raise awareness and support for our loved ones living with lung cancer. Time to run - I sense a brainstorm forming...

Photo: istockphoto.com