Actually, both of the original links in this thread were to articles posted on ABC News websites. It's not surprising that after four years the links no longer go to the original articles (thanks for noticing, eibren), so here's a working link to one of the articles. Still very timely. "Many hospitals offer aromatherapy, massage, meditation, yoga and acupuncture because patients want them and there is little risk of physical harm. They call this complementary or integrative medicine because it is in addition to - not in place of conventional treatments. At the other end of the spectrum are quacks selling fringe therapies and supplements through testimonials, not proof. Laetrile, "detoxifying" coffee enemas, shark cartilage - the miracle cures change but the bogus claims remain the same. "What I am noticing in the last year or two is a resurgence of these things. It's coming back," said Barrie Cassileth, integrative medicine chief at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and a longtime adviser to the American Cancer Society. The Internet fuels this trend by letting people buy direct and bypass doctors who could help them see through scams and misleading claims of scientific proof. Sadly, some Web sites are run by quacks - a "doctor" title doesn't mean the remedy is safe or effective. "A lot of these doctors prey on people's insecurities and need for hope," said Dr. Roy Herbst, lung cancer chief at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. "After they've been there some months they'll realize things are not working. But with cancer, you get one chance. By the time they get back to a reasonable hospital, they're dead. Nothing can be done for them," she said. Ways that supplements and fringe therapies can harm: Financially. Pills that seem cheap actually cost a lot if they are worthless or are bought in place of real medicine, fresh fruits and vegetables, or other things known to boost health. Medically. Trying an alternative remedy can delay the time until a patient receives an effective treatment, allowing the cancer to spread. A potentially curable cancer may become untreatable - as Leslee Flasch found out when she belatedly sought the surgery that had been recommended. Having such an advanced cancer without standard medical care must have caused excruciating pain, said one of her physicians, Dr. Lodovico Balducci at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. Physically. Supplements, even those claimed to be natural, have biological effects and can interact dangerously with a wide array of medicines. Psychologically. Futile treatment raises false hope and deprives people of the chance to prepare for the end of life and die in dignity and comfort." Here is a link that might be useful: Alt med cancer treatments - a risky business This post was edited by eric_oh on Sun, Oct 6, 13 at 14:41

I would have to disagree with the post that included "Scam beware Cancer Insurance Family Heritage"... "This cancer insurance is a scam."..."...You are much better off not buying this insurance. Put this money in a bank or invest it. You get the interest and get all the money if you can't fund your bank account after 7 years or whenever. Change your diet, exercise and minimize your risk to cancer. Even if your a compulsive smoker. work in an asbestos factory and drink out of styrofoam cups... Don't get this policy, they payout is not worth the premiums. This insurance company is all about screwing you out of your money." My mother in law who has always been pretty healthy (or so we thought), began her policy with Family Heritage in Oct 2010. She was over age 55 so her premiums were kind of high (I thought). With the highest paying cancer coverage, her monthly premium was $108/month. On Dec 17, 2010, she was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (stage IV) with metastisis. She passed away Oct 27, 2011. From December 2010 to May 2011, she had already received over $30,000 in payments from Family Heritage, and we are awaiting the final payment for the May through Oct (expecting atleast another $17,000). If you are at risk for cancer, it is a good idea! And I know that $47,000 is not much considering the bills for chemo, hospital stays, icu, doctors, etc; but, if you are lucky -as my mother in law was- you will have very good health insurance that covers all of those bills except for office co-pays after your deductible has been met each year. So all of that was hers. Also, if a person dies within the 25 years, the beneficiary receives the life insurance that goes with the policy. So if you pay on it 5 years, don't use it, then pass away, the beneficiary gets the life insurance. However, as in the case of my mother in law, since they paid her well more than the life insurance, her beneficiary did not receive the life insurance. Also, if she had been paid $3,000 from the company, the life insurance amount would have been reduced by the amount paid out. For example: 15,000 life ins -3,000 cancer ins paid to insured= 12,000 life ins payout to beneficiary. Not everyones going to have the same situation (otherwise they would go bankrupt), but I do know that this is what she benefited from her policy and her kids did as well. We got a policy for ourselves as well!

Melamine is a plastic -- it's just that there are many types of plastic. The outgassing of formaldehyde (now this isn't a plastic) is far reduced than that outgassed from, say, presswood. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Melamine resin Melamine resin or urea formaldehyde (also shortened to melamine) is a hard, thermosetting plastic material made from melamine and formaldehyde by polymerization. In its butylated form, it is dissolved in n-butanol and xylene. It is then used to cross-link with alkyd, epoxy, acrylic, and polyester resins, used in surface coatings. There are many types, varying from very slow to very fast curing. It was initially discovered by William F. Talbot,[1] who applied to patent it on December 12, 1936.[2] Construction material The principle use of melamine resin is the main constituent of high-pressure laminates, such as Formica and Arborite, and of laminate flooring. Melamine-resin tile wall panels can also be used as whiteboards.[3] Melamine formaldehyde is used in plastic laminate and overlay materials. Formaldehyde is more tightly bound in Melamine Formaldehyde than it is in urea-formaldehyde, reducing emissions. *** I commend you in doing the best you can in going green and helping your little 2-year old. I assume you are also looking into the best products for floor adhesives. You say the concrete in the basement is already poured? I'm wondering if just leaving that floor as is - except for a few area rugs -- could work for you? You could still use the laminate upstairs and save money for other purposes down the road. Laminate, if the right pattern is chosen, can look good, and will stand up to many years of use and abuse.

Wow! You are to be congratulated for all the hard work and effort you've put in to take care of Majorie, and are continuing to do to see that she's in the best position possible for the changes yet to come. I'm so glad for both of you that this is working out the way it is. Thanks for the update. I've been thinking about the both of you. I remember my Mom viewed caring for her Mom as a chore as that's all she had time and capability of doing...she was there to feed her, do dishes, clean her up, do laundry, take care of the house, etc. Once her Mom went into the nursing home, then her visits became a pleasure as she was able to chat and take her to bingo, read books together, etc. It wasn't that it was less time, but that that time was so much more meaningful for both of them.