Fighting Cancer

Fighting Cancer was written by Annette and Richard (Dick) Bloch. Dick co-founded H&R Block, Inc. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1978 and given 90 days to live. After two years of arduous treatment, he was completely cured. Richard and Annette dedicated their lives to helping the next person diagnosed with cancer. Together, they wrote three books, Fighting Cancer, Cancer ...there's hope, and Guide for Cancer Supporters.

Fighting Cancer is written for and dedicated to the people with cancer who want to do everything in their power to help themselves and their doctor so they will have the best chance of beating their disease.

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This book is a product of Dick and Annette Bloch s own experience with cancer. The overriding message that cancer patients must utilize all available information to seek out the best possible care and do everything they can to maximize their chances for therapeutic success is a vital one. This is a strong personal statement about striving for life. It should motivate many cancer patients to obtain state-of-the-art treatment and to play an active part in increasing their own chances of being among the growing number of survivors.

-- Vincent T. DeVita, Jr., M.D., Director, National Cancer Institute, 1980-1988

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Cancer is the most curable of all chronic diseases. Today, the goal is not merely to prolong life, the best that could be hoped for in the past, but to cure the patient of the disease.

Everyone cannot beat cancer. Some people are going to succumb to it. If you try to fight it, however, you have a chance of beating it.

This book is not written to entertain or lecture. It is written as concisely as possible by a layman in layman s language to help the individual who has cancer have the best possible chance of beating it.

Be positive! Start with the assumption that everything in this book applies to you. Don t be negative. Don t assume that anything may be fine for someone else but not for you. That particular constructive suggestion is specifically for you! Don t knock it until you have tried it. After you give it a fair trial, then and only then can you honestly say it isn t for you.

You are a unique person. You have been brought up with individual standards, practicing your own set of customs based on your beliefs from the experiences to which you were exposed. Not only is no one else identical to you, but they are not even similar to you. There will be many things in this book that you can readily identify with and completely understand. Other facets will seem contrary to your nature and beyond belief or comprehension. I urge you to remember that these are generally not only my personal opinions or beliefs; they are the recommendations of outstanding scientists, physicians and other professionals who deal with cancer patients regularly.

Our only purpose in writing this book is to see that you have the best chance of beating cancer as easily as possible.

Cancer is a word, not a sentence.