Cancer and the Human Condition - A virtual book club discussion blog

We are excited to annouce our 2012 Lecture Tour Can Cancer Ever be Cured or Prevented?. Won't you please join us in the fight against Cancer!

Feb 19-21, 2012:

Monday Feb 20- 7:00pm-8:30pm Indian Rocks Public Library Indian Rocks;

Wednesday Feb 22- Noontime Grand Rounds Cleveland Clinic Weston.

Thursday, Feb 23rd- 2:30pm-4:00pm Aston Graden Parkland

6:30pm-8:00pm Parkland Library.

Various Libraries and Colleges/Universities, Hospitals and American Cancer Society.

June 18-23,2012: Maine, MA, CT, NYC. Various Libraries and Colleges/Universities.

Oct 7-13, 2012: WI, Chicago IL. NYC Various Libraies and Colleges/Universites.

Can Cancer ever be cured or prevented? Please plan on attending one of Dr Pukel's lecture series to learn more about this.

Our fall lecture tour and book signing is below with some specific dates and times

This blog is a place in which Dr Pukel's book is discussed, chapter by chapter. This special book has so much meaning for anyone who's life has been touched by this dreaded disease.

Dr Pukel will make guest appearances and talk to us about current treatments and his thoughts on Immunotherapies.

Be sure to scroll to the end of this page for Essay reviews, Book signing tours and other important information about our noted author and Prominent Physician Dr Pukel.

Update September 18, 2011- We have just added bookstores in NYC which now offer this fabulous book! See the section below on where the book is available. Also we are arranging a speaking engagement with the Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver, WA. See details in our Book signing section below.

Clifford S. Pukel,MD has written the first of a series of books that probe the medical, spiritual, and historical aspects of this dreaded disease He is a medical oncologist and hematologist with more than 35 years of experience in the study and treatment of people with cancer. The book comprises 27 essays and features over 100 fascinating images. Readers will feel as if they have “spent several hours talking with their personal physician.” Dr. Pukel has a long rich history of practice throughout the United States and is now at the Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, WA.

10 % of the sale of this book goes to various organizations ie SWMC Cancer Fooundation Vancouver.Wa, and Ribbon of Hope Green Bay, WI.

This book is on sale through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Vintage books-Vancouver; PeaceHealth Medical Center gift shop-Vancouver; Third Page books-Lake Forest WA; Readers Loft-GreenBay WI; Be Alive-Green Bay, WI

Clifford S. Pukel, MD is a physician who specializes in hematology and oncology. He is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Medicine, completed his internal medicine residency at the University of West Virginia/Charleston Area Medical Center, and subspecialty fellowship at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.

Prior to his career as a clinician, he was a scientist at MemorialSloanKetteringCancerCenter working in various areas of research studying cancer cells and the immune response to this disease. His achievements have been recognized, and he has been elected to: Who's Who in the World, America, Science and Engineering, and Medicine and Health Care. He is presently an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine.

After 35 years of both basic research and clinical medicine, this represents his first book. This wealth of experience and unique perspective towards the problem of cancer, will lead to other books. He has also created corporations, the Cancer Immunotherapy Institute, LLC and Cancer Vaccine Institute, LLC designed to disseminate his ideas and provide funds for the development of new and innovative ways to safely and effectively treat people with cancer.

Dr Pukel is currently practicing at the PeaceHealth SW Medical Center in Vancouver, WA. He is available to talk to you via the blog or through his email address DrPukel@aol.com.

2011 Tour schedule

Nov 7th: GreenBay, WI-NWTC tri level lecture hall-Lecture on "Can Cancer ever be Cured or Prevented?" 11:30-12:20pm Hosted by NWTC nursing and medical education department.

Nov 7th: Green Bay, WI- Brown County Library Main Branch 515 Pine Street-Lecture/Meet the Author and book signing. 6:30-8:00pm Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.Percentage of Proceeds to benefit the Friends of the Library and Ribbon of Hope.

Nov 8th- Green Bay WI- Luncheon "What does the furture for Cancer Research look like?" TBA.Percentage of Proceeds to Benefit Ribbon of Hope.

Nov 8th-GreenBay, WI- Readers Loft- Book Reading/Meet the Author/Book signing. 6:00-8:00pm. Percentage of Proceeds to Benefit Ribbon of Hope,

NYC welcomes Dr Clifford Pukel! Welcome Home Dr Pukel

Nov 10 and 11 Lecture/Book signing/Meet the Author

Sites TBA

Feb 2012-Tampa, Maderia Beach; Universoty of Miami and Weston FL

Look where we have been in 2011

October 30th-92nd street exit Peace Health SW Medical Center

August 26th- 92nd street exit Peace Health SW Medical Center

July -Vintage Books, PeaceHealth SW Medical Center, Mint Tea

Oct 2010- During the week of Oct 25th Dr Pukel traveled to Green Bay WI to begin his book signing tour. The premier signing was at Readers Loft in GreenBay followed by Crystal Coffee Beanery, BAlive and Seroogys

Dr Pukel's book is being sold at these businesses as well as on amazon, Dr Pukel not only inscribed each book, but he also spent time answering questions about cancer and current treatments. He has his own email address in which he will discuss cancer with all those who email him at DrPukel@aol.com

We hope that Dr Pukel will make guest appearances on the blog to engage in discussion about his most engaging and interesting book.

VITAMIN/SUPPLEMENTS THAT MAY DECREASE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING CANCER

as written in Dr Pukel’s book

Cancer and the Human Condition

Aspirin 81 mg or 325mg

Vitamin C 1000 mg (twice a day

Vitamin D (800 units)

Selenium 25 mcg (some already in mvi/minerals)

Calcium 1200-1500mg (daily)

?Coenzyme Q (daily)

Please talk to your physician or pharmacist before starting any new medication, as there may be unexpected drug interactions or side effects from even the most innocuous drugs.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Washington:

PeaceHealth SW Medical Center gift shop-Vancouver

Vintage Books-Vancouver

Third Place books-Seattle

Wisconsin:

Be-Alive-Green Bay

Readers Loft-GreenBay

New York

St Marks Book Store, Book Culture, Greenlight Book store, Seaburn Book store

E-Books also avaiable for all forms including Nook,. Kindle, I Phone etc.

Well, here we are! Our first review of Essay I of Cancer and the Human Condition . I am looking forward to comment on the first essay. All you need to do is write something in the comment section and I will respond. Dr Pukel said he would also make guest appearances on our blog. It will be nice to hear what he has to say about our perspective of his book.

Whenever we read a book we have certain expectations. I expect the first Chapter, Essay to set the "stage" for the book. Typically I do not read the Forward or Preface until after I finish a book or sometimes not at all...I always read the prologue if there is one...Now to this book. I have read every page and have re-read the book cover to cover and several times mind you. Each time I read it, I learn something new. I am sure you are wondering why I would do such reading....the answer is simple. I know the author of this book. There are certain things that I know about this author who by the way is an Oncologist/Hematologist. Who better a person to write such a book as he knows this subject intimately. I know Dr Pukel to be a scholar who reads and studies daily. He is well versed in many areas as reflected in his book. I believe his first essay does set the stage for the rest of the book. Cancer is a dreaded disease to all of us and yes we are frightened by it. It is an insidious disease that strikes and deforms, hurts and destroys. The first essay is filled with words of expectations for the rest of the book. In life if we can understand issues and happenings, then we are better equipped to do something about them. As I read through this book again, I hope I can better understand cancer.....but no matter how much I understand it, I believe I will never be able to remove my emotions from it...I hate cancer, I hate what it does, I hate how it kills. I look forward to hearing what you have to say about Essay 1 Barb

Well here I am writing the second essay about a week after my summary of Essay I. If you have not yet read this essay you need to. I am amazed at the process one needs to go through to get a drug approved. Dr Pukel has some interesting graphics of his vision of CMS headquarters, actually it is quite humorous! The process is baffling as he so eloquently describes in this essay.

On the more serious side, if you are interested in learning more about how drugs are developed, funded and finally gain CMS approval read the Cure by Geeta Anand, This book is about How a father raised $100M for the development and approval of a drug to save the lives of his children.

Essay II Barb

I have always believed that Doctors cannot know everything there is to know about medicine. I am specifically referring to information or diagnosis you may get from one Doc is of course within the realm of their knowledge and expertise, but that doesn’t mean that another Doc may not additional information. It appears that is what happened to Clifford Cook in Essay III-The Archer. We will not dwell on the late diagnosis and eventual outcome but rather the braveness of this "Archer." Pukel characterizes Cook as “an extremely courageous person who dealt with this terrible disease in an almost Biblical manner." Pukel quotes Genesis with a likening to Cook. I wonder if Clifford Cook's Mom knows the impact her son had on his Oncologist and the honor this Oncologist bestowed on her son. I believe this is one of my favorite essays

.Essay III-Barb

This is a very short 2 page essay, however; these 2 pages are filled with powerful information. Pukel discusses the real meaning of prognosis. I feel the most impressive sentences in this book are as follows. Pukel states, " The prognosis for any particular person with cancer is entirely unknown except to God Almighty," This powerful sentence is of comfort to anyone who has had cancer or for that manner any other devastating disease.

This powerful little 2 page essay is a must to read.

Essay IV- Barb 

Essays

I. Cancer and the Human Condition

II. Forget Harvard, I Want My Kid to go to MedicareUniversity!

III. The Archer

IV. The Chronicle of Death

V. Your Grandmother was Right!

VI. Let Us Now Praise Famous Dogs

VII. The Broken Clock

VIII. Bric-a-Brac

IX. The Silence of the Worms

X. The Riddle of the Sphingolipid

XI. Lewis Thomas’ Shoes

XII. Can an Aspirin a Day Keep Cancer Away?

XIII. Confessions of a Poppy Seed Bagel Eater

XIV. The Resurrection of the Dread

XV. Wilt Thou Indeed Destroy the Righteous with the Wicked?

XVI. The Other Peyton

XVII. Microtruth

XVIII. When is Breast Cancer, Which is Not Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer?

XIX. Quantum Oncology

XX. The Nude Molecular Biologist

XXI. The Leper

XXII. For Whom the Bell Curve Tolls

XXIII. How Should Cancer Patients Respond to Response Rates?

XXIV. Has Reefer Madness Struck the National Cancer Institute?

XXV. Phraseotics

XXVI. The Age of Age

XXVII. The Importance of Being Important

I am always amazed after reading something by Dr Pukel. The following was taken from Big Think. Here is yet another example of the forward thinking of this brillant man.

Are We Treating Cancer In A Safe And Effective Manner?

clifford pukel on December 16, 2008, 5:09 PM

As a practicing Oncologist, I am profoundly disappointed in the crude, toxic, and ineffective methods we treat cancer. I believe the key to treating cancer in a humane and rational fashion is to harness the immune system as we have done in preventing infectious diseases, by creating cancer vaccines. But, in order to do this and not make the same mistakes with immunotherapy we have made with chemotherapy, a tremendous effort must be made to truly understand how the immune system works and this will require scientists, clinicians, government, industry and philanthropy all committed to the same goals.

Whether this noble effort is possible in our present social and economic environment is unknown to me, but it is certainly something to work towards and engage in an honest and open dialogue. The Cancer Vaccine Collaborative is an example of the type of strategy that may be the key to really putting cancer immunotherapy on the map, as a viable method of treating cancer in the future.