To Cruise Or Not to Cruise - The Swine Flu Question

Hurricane season is about over and prime cruising season is about to begin. But do you really want to take a cruise this season with the prevalence of the H1N1 Swine flu spreading across the world?

The cruise industry would say that they have prepared for this pandemic and to yes, book your cruise.

Executive Vice President of the Cruise Lines International Association, CLIA, Michael Cyre, explained that the cruise industry is taking proactive steps "to keep H1N1 off of cruise ships and appropriately manage and treat influenza illnesses when and if they occur".

One of the ways cruise companies are relying on to keep the H1N1 virus off the ship is through the use of mandatory pre-boarding health screening questionnaires. All passengers are required to complete and sign a written questionnaire prior to boarding. If a passenger answers affirmatively to having flu-like symptoms

including fever, cough, runny nose or sore throat a secondary screening will be conducted. A secondary screening will also be conducted if a passenger reports that they have had contact with with a confirmed H1N1 case. In either instance a fully paid passenger may be denied access to the ship.

Some cruise companies have started using thermal imaging cameras to screen passengers for elevated body temperatures. A higher than normal temperature may lead to a secondary screening and denial of boarding.

If you're planning a cruise this season you should check carefully the company's refund and insurance policy regarding this issue. You may find that the cruise portion of your fare may be fully or partially refunded if you're denied boarding but not your pre-boarding hotel and airfare.

But being denied boarding at the outset of your cruise isn't the only way your cruise vacation may be ruined. If a passenger exhibits flu like symptoms while under sail the ship may be denied docking at their port of call.

On June 10 and June 11, 2009, a Royal Caribbean vessel, the Adventure of the Seas, was denied entry to two Caribbean Islands. Both St. Lucia and Antigua did not let the Adventure of the Seas dock after the ship

reported that three people onboard exhibited flu symptoms. But, after tests came back, it was then discovered that those persons did not have the H1N1 virus.

Last May, the Pacific Dawn, a P&O Australia vessel was denied entry to all of its ports on a 10-day itinerary. This decision was based on the ship reporting flu symptoms experienced by three persons onboard. Tests later came back negative for the H1N1 virus.

Most cruise lines will provide some sort of compensation if an itinerary is severely affected but to what degree is anyone's guess. Compensation may come in monetary form, credit towards another cruise or a combination of both.

Although the cruise industry is taking rigorous action to monitor swine flu both pre-boarding and while under sail, keep an eye on the news this season to see how it will affect cruise itineraries. With cruise ships reaching the size of small cities today the chances of a passenger slipping through the screening process increases greatly.

If you do choose to take a cruise this season, be sure to thoroughly review both the insurance and refund policies of your cruise line.

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Colon Cancer: Three Cancer Attacks and He Became Cancer-free After Herbs

After years battling with cancer, Yap was declared cancer-free on 5 August 1994. I had the privilege to meet with Yap on 18 March 1999. You can view our conversation in the video section of our website: http://www.cacare.com. The following are excerpts of what Yap said.

I had three cancer attacks. One was in the colon, 15 years ago. The second one was at the rectum 10 years after my first. As a result I had to wear a colostomy bag throughout my life. And then came the third cancer attack -- behind the prostate gland. Immediately after my second chemotherapy, the cancer came back again. The doctor told me he could not do anything; he could not give me radiotherapy because the cancer was just behind the prostate gland. Also, after three operations he could not operate on me again. He could only give me chemotherapy.

I wondered and ask the doctor, "I have just finished my chemotherapy and you are asking me to take another dosage of chemotherapy. It means that the cancer cells could not be bothered with the chemotherapy?" The doctor agreed. So I went back home refusing, of course, to take the chemotherapy.

I was contemplating how to die with dignity. Cancer patients always die miserably, in pain all over the body. Also, sometimes even morphine cannot reduce the pain. In my case, I know that chemotherapy did not help especially after my second attack.

Question: You have been battling with cancer for so many years. What did your doctor say? Do you have any other avenues?

I almost gave up hope. My doctor could only give me chemotherapy again which he agreed would not have any effect on me. Knowing this, I turned to the rodent tuber, initially, not because I believe in it. In fact, my first impression was it was very repulsive. Fortunately, my wife believes in it and she would cling to any straw. I became even more sceptical after learning that it is only a plant. This friend of mine who gave me the rodent tuber, had lung cancer himself. His doctor found him to be inoperable because the cancer had spread to every part of the lung. So, they stitched him back without doing anything. He was supposed to have died after four months. He did not die.

Instead he was recommending the rodent tuber to me. He gave me the rodent tuber himself, and my wife believed in it. Since there is nothing to lose, I just drank the juice. It was not tasty. When I took the rodent tuber, somehow the cancer pain I had disappeared almost immediately. I was thinking if I were to take it everyday, I could die with dignity.

I took the rodent tuber quite reluctantly in the beginning ... until two weeks later -- I realized it had some scientific basis. I decided I had nothing to lose except to try. I went back to my doctor and ask for chemotherapy and together took the rodent tuber -- this is more as a revenge trying to kill the cancer cells before I was killed by them! And after that somehow, the cancer never appeared again.

In the beginning, I took the rodent tuber juice three times at 50 grams per day. Then, I could not even lift the "pounder". At that time, I was half my present size. My weight was about 90 pounds. Now, I am 155 pounds. I always insist and I always tell everybody: what have we got to lose?

Question: People are sceptical about this. When you take the rodent tuber, it may interfere with the chemotherapy. You said that you were taking rodent tuber at the same time you were on chemotherapy. Did that interfere with your treatment?

I took both together. At that time I could not be bothered whether it would interfere with the chemotherapy or not. Chemotherapy alone was not effective. What else could I do to keep myself alive?

Question: When you finished with the chemotherapy, did you continue with the rodent tuber?

Oh, yes. From medical perspectives -- after the surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy -- there is practically nothing else for the cancer patient. If the cancer still exists, that means we are waiting to die.

At least now, we have this rodent tuber which is relatively not so poisonous. I have been taking this for two to three years. I took the juice three times a day for a few months. After that I reduced it to twice a day -- .taking it very religiously for eight and half months. Then I went for a medical check-up and fortunately, the cancer had disappeared.

The doctor was obviously very pleased about it. I went to Australia for another medical examination -reconfirmation -- and the doctor in Australia confirmed that I was free of cancer.

After one and a half years of close combat, I was declared cancer-free on 5 August 1994. Everything was worth it. I share my victory with you.

Cancer is normally regarded not only as a disease but also as a death sentence. How can we cling on any hope when everything seems hopeless? Many people, when faced with such an agonizing experience, usually give up. They find it pointless to continue living. A quick death is more merciful. I refused to accept defeat. Life was too precious to be destroyed by the enemy within. I had to fight cancer physically, emotionally and psychologically. And I won.

Note: As of this writing Yap is still active and healthy, living a cancer-free life.

Extracted from the author's book: Cancer Yet They Live!

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