Commentary
Monday, June 29,1998, Page A-4

Doctor's book is full of hope

It's a book of hope for cancer patients. It's a moving true story of a man who literally took the advice of "physician, heal thyself " and did just that.

The author of the book, just published after years of intense work, is Dr. Y.C. Chan. Dr. Chan and his wife, Dr. Rong Shiaung Yu, operate the Acupuncture Clinic Of Maryland in Rockville, Md. Both are doctors of Oriental medicine. Dr. Chan has treated over 200,000 people during the past 30 years of his distinguished career. His book is titled "Dr. Chan's Cancer Healing" with a subtitle of "Cancer prevention and self-healing."

It's a true story spotlighting his dramatic and courageous yearlong battle to lick his cancer with acupuncture, herbs and a number of other Oriental procedures.

In 1983, Dr. Chan was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph gland. He noted that this was the same cancer the killed Jacqueline Kennedy. It is usually considered terminal.

"My case is much different from that of other patients," he says. "It's the reason I am writing this book."

Dr. Chan approached my wife, Carolyn, and me a few years ago about his plans. He knew I had worked for the Times Herald. Could we help? Eventually we did the proofreading and editing. We first undertook the task in a Rockville motel room during a week Carolyn was taking treatments. Later he sent the manuscripts to our home in Olean for editorial scrutiny.

We are on the book's list of acknowledgments. The foreword of the book was written by myself.

The personal saga of Dr. Chan's struggle to regain his health will and should boost acupuncture's coexistence with mainstream Western medicine. His credentials provide an authoritative background.

In his disclaimer, Dr. Chan says, "This is an instructive book readers or patients should first consult their physicians for advice on whether or not they should embark on the physical activities and material" set forth.

His book appears more than 12 years after his own self-treatment affected a complete cure. He never felt better.

His many learned essays and other papers on the subject of Oriental medicine brought awards. This past year he was named Outstanding International Traditional Medicine Scholar of the year 1997-98. The presentation was made at ceremonies in the Singapore Embassy in Washington.

Congratulations on his achievements came from the White House, Congress, several Governors and sports star.

In 1996 Dr. Chan won recognition for his art called Chinese Calligraphy. He won a first prize gold cup at the International Contest in 1994 in Beijing, sponsored by China, Japan and Korea.

His various awards drew congratulations from President Clinton; Vice President Al Gore; the governors of Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin; as well as several congressional leaders.

From President Clinton: " you have reached an important milestone in your life and I join with you in that celebration."

From Vice President Gore: " your article on terminal cancer cured through self-treatment is truly inspirational..."

The National Institutes of Health thanked Dr. Chan for sharing his information with its Office of Alternative Medicine. The NIH offered "congratulations on your successful treatment of cancer patients and yourself."

Dr. Chan's book also contains several testimonials from patients he has helped in a series of treatments.

A woman stated that acupuncture treatments alleviated her health problems better than drugs.

Another praised Dr. Chan for providing "immediate relief after the first treatment...in fact the only relief I've had in 15 years".

A couple of patients said acupuncture overcame their compulsive habit of smoking... one said he quit after 55 years and another after 40 years of smoking.

The book has a generous spread of treatment photos and illustration of treatment exercises.

Dr. Chan's book carries a 1998 copyright. Photo credits go to his wife. The publisher is Professional Press, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27515-4371. The book costs $39.00.

Ed Hogan, New York, 1998

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