|
Every May, this article is updated with new information
and links, in an attempt to bring together all the helpful information
and advice I can find about this dreaded disease. Are we winning or
losing the war on Cancer?
Ironically, the 2005 edition of this article was
just another intellectual exercise for me, but in September of 2005,
a CT-scan found a large tumor in my abdomen. My
odyssey is detailed here.
| This of
course suggests that no matter what we do, there are no
guarantees. It has also made me look closely to see
what went wrong with my daily regimen. But it has in
no way deterred me from my belief that we CAN
influence our health destiny. |
I feel that taking preventative measures is possibly the most
important health step we can take, and the strategies I am going to suggest have so much expert
support that I will say this:
|
Taking control
certainly beats sitting back and
just waiting for Fate to get you. |
In addition, all these suggestions lead to better
overall health for the people who follow them, and that in and of
itself is a major advance. Nine months after my diagnosis,
having refused to follow the standard medical route, due to healthy
heart, lungs and liver function, I am as well as ever, except for
the undeniable presence of a large tumor.
You may remember that in 2005, the American Cancer Society
issued a report, which suggested that 62% of the over 563 thousand
cancer deaths that we can expect this year are PREVENTABLE. This
statement did not receive much press - possibly because of the
recommendations the ACS made for preventative measure only one
involved the medical profession.
|
The point is that
all the other preventative measures recommended were lifestyle
changes - stopping smoking, improving diet, losing weight,
exercising.
Read on, as I outline a program to lower your cancer risk.
|
My position, put simply, is that one (or a combination)
of these things
must occur for cancer to develop:
Whatever affects these things (and
remember, stress affects the first 3!) affects one's risk level.
Keeping them under control is our lifelong balancing act.
The immune system is our first and most important line of
defense:
many major life situations and dietary choices
can cause cancer to challenge it. These are the warning
choices:
|
| This makes it simple to anticipate what
the most important risk-lowering steps are: |
- control Stress -
for suggestions and more detailed information,
read my article
- adjust your diet - whole grains, fresh
vegetables (particularly cruciferous) and fruits (particularly the
colorful ones like blueberries and raspberries) are the best
sources of cancer protective nutrition ... don't
barbecue or deep-fry
anything! Avoid lunch meats. Select beneficial herbs and
spices - like
turmeric and
oregano.
- sensibly (rather than fanatically) watch
your complex carbs and carefully monitor blood sugar
- identify allergens and intolerances and
eliminate them..
- add some of the superfoods, such as
spirulina, pollen, chlorella,
fermented soy.
- use whey protein.
-
Low levels of Glutathione have
been found in healthy cells when cancer is present.
-
One of the best ways to increase Glutathione
levels is to use a good
whey
protein: in animal studies, whey
protein concentrate consistently raised glutathione levels
beyond those of any other protein studied. (Bounous G. and Gold
P., Clin. Invest. Med. 1991).
-
A study has shown
that whey protein selectively interferes with the levels of
glutathione in cancer cells, while increasing levels in normal
cells. (Baruchel S. and Vaiu G., Anti Cancer Research
1996).
- If
you know you tend consistently to under-eat fruits and vegetables,
consider the
list of available powdered supplements at right.
- Select your fats carefully - eliminate
animal trans fats. Remember, however,
that fatty acids from the Omega 3 and 6
families are essential to health.
- Keep your
pH regulated.
In an unbalanced system, nutrients do not enter cells effectively,
nor can cells clear themselves of toxins,
- Drink plenty of pure water. Cut back
on or eliminate caffeine and alcohol. Eliminate pop.
Drink Green Tea.
- Take occasional
fasts
and combine with a cleansing program to support and
tone your colon. Make sure you have the proper balance of friendly
bacteria in your system. Consider a
heavy metal cleanse periodically to make sure the most
harmful toxins are evacuated.
- Support your Liver - consider regular
cleanses specific to that important organ and supplemental support.
(see
RESOURCES
at right for my article on liver health)
- Control Viruses -
many viruses have been connected with cancer.
- Regular exercise to make sure that your
weight is under control, and that stores of fat are tapped to burn
for energy. Parents, look to introduce physical exercise early into
your children's lives: while no one wants to affirm
compulsions to be thin to an adolescent, there is much to be
said for concepts of healthy moderation!
- If you are blood type A, Dr. d'Adamo
suggests adding soy to
your diet.
- Limit toxins. Consider once again the
benefits of
organic foods. (See
RESOURCES)
Remember, authentic organic foods confer benefits on the
producer, the environment, any creatures involved and the
consumer. It is not just another word attached to
nutritionally inferior food to entice you to buy!
| I am indebted for this information to the Life
Extension Foundation. They use it as part of a letter for
Cancer patients to send to their Doctors, asking for the addition of
Cox-2 inhibiting drugs to their medications.
You can access the letter here.
I include it here to indicate the importance of controlling
inflammation, and have listed two natural Cox 2 affecting
supplements at right since I am not enamoured of the use of drugs!.
According to a study in the British Journal of Cancer (1997;75 (8),
human prostate cancer cells sustain their growth by stimulating
themselves to up-regulate their production of COX-2, which
facilitates cell proliferation via several mechanisms. However,
COX-2 inhibition results in a decrease in cell replication and a
reduction in the synthesis of COX-2 and its metabolites, such as the
dangerous prostaglandin E2. The authors of this study concluded that
COX-2 is involved in the maintenance of growth and homeostasis of
human prostate cancer cells.
In the Sept 7, 1999 issue of the Wall Street Journal, an
investigative report revealed that scientists are actively
investigating COX-2 inhibitors as drugs that would be effective in
the prevention and treatment of many cancers. COX-2 inhibiting
drugs, given to small numbers of patients with colon polyps
(pre-cancerous lesions), caused the completely disappearance of the
lesions. When a group of rats were given a potent carcinogen, there
was a 90% reduction in those, who developed cancer if they were on
COX-2 inhibition therapy. In the few rats that did develop the
tumors while taking COX-2 inhibition therapy, the tumors were 80%
smaller and less numerous than the group not on COX-2 inhibition
therapy. The Wall Street Journal revealed that a handful of
physicians, knowledgeable about COX-2 and cancer, are prescribing
COX-2 inhibitors to their patients.
In a report published in JAMA (1999 Oct 6;282(13), a nearly 10 year
epidemiological study showed that COX-2 expression in colorectal
cancer was significantly related to survival. The doctors concluded
that the data add to the growing epidemiological and experimental
evidence that COX-2 may play a role in colorectal tumorigenesis".
|
- Maximize nutrient intake. Change your diet to
contain only nutrient rich foods.
|
Some confusing studies have emerged on
antioxidants and cancer recently, and here is what the A.P.John
Institute for Cancer Research has to say:
"The controversy about whether to treat cancer with
anti-oxidants is slowly resolving with the newer understanding of how
they affect the activity of genes and enzymes in cancer cells. The
prevailing data shows that the benefits, or lack of benefits, depend
upon the oxidative state the cancer cells are in. Anti-oxidants taken
when the cells are in a very high oxidative state may prevent them from
entering apoptosis or from committing suicide. When oxidative stress in
cancer cells is only slightly above normal, however, then anti-oxidants
are expected to stop their growth and reproduction."
|
In other words, if you HAVE cancer, use supplemental anti-oxidants
under the care of a health professional only. If you want to do
all you can to avoid it - well, that's another matter! Use them ad libitum.
| Dr. Ralph Moss, of the Newsletter THE MOSS REPORT at
www.cancerdecisions.com writes a carefully
structured last-word-on-the subject report. He has
a more detailed report available for purchase here:
https://webssl.cancerdecisions.com/list/optin.php?form_id=29 NEW
STUDY CLARIFIES ROLE OF ANTIOXIDANTS
DURING RADIATION TREATMENT An important paper on the interaction of antioxidants and radiation
therapy was recently published in the International
Journal of Cancer.
Interestingly, despite the significance of its findings,
this study has
received virtually zero attention from the scientific
community or the
media.
As background, in April 2005, Isabelle Bairati, MD, PhD, and her
colleagues at the Hôtel-Dieu de
Quebec Research Centre and the Universite
Laval completed a ten-year study on the interaction of
antioxidants and
radiation therapy. This was hailed as the first
placebo-controlled,
double-blind, randomized trial assessing the effect of
supplementation with
antioxidant vitamins during radiation therapy. The study
concluded that
supplements of synthetic beta-carotene (30 mg per day)
or alpha tocopherol
(400 IU per day) had a harmful effect on cancer
patients. In particular, the
authors claimed that the cancer recurrence rate was 40
percent higher among
patients who had been randomly assigned to the
supplementation arm of the
trial. They therefore called on patients and physicians
to exert caution in
using antioxidants until new evidence could be provided
by future trials.
Kedar Prasad, PhD, and other proponents of the concurrent use of
antioxidants during cancer treatment criticized the
Bairati paper. They were
disappointed that Bairati and colleagues had used
ordinary alpha tocopherol
as their choice of vitamin E when Prasad's previous work
had shown that it
was not just alpha tocopherol but alpha tocopherol
succinate that had the
anticancer efficacy. They also felt that natural forms
of the vitamin were
more effective than synthetic, drug store-type vitamins.
But, by and large,
the medical world accepted the Bairati trial as
definitive proof that
antioxidants interfered with radiation therapy. Word
spread like wildfire in
oncology circles, confirming a long-held belief that
antioxidants interfered
with standard cancer treatments such as radiation and
chemotherapy. The take
away message, as stated in a Universite Laval press
release, was that
"Supplements May Speed Up Development of Cancer."
Advocates of complementary
and alternative medicine (CAM) were confounded by this
large and impressive
study.
But now the other shoe has dropped.
In December 2007, Dr. Bairati and her
Quebec colleagues published a major
modification of their previous conclusions. Further
analysis revealed, they
said, that the danger of synthetic antioxidants was
limited to one
particular sub-population: cigarette smokers -
specifically, those who
continued to smoke during radiation treatment. The
authors analyzed the
outcome in 540 patients who had been given radiation for
head and neck
cancers. During the follow-up period, 119 patients had a
recurrence of their
disease and 179 died. Smokers were the group with the
worst prognosis.
However, astonishingly, smoking in the period leading up
to or following
radiation therapy did not modify the effects of the two
supplements. It was
only smoking during the course of radiation therapy that
led to a
statistically significant increase in the risk of a
recurrence. It was a
large enough increase to skew the statistics for the
group as a whole,
leading to the erroneous conclusion that antioxidants
interfered with
radiotherapy in the general patient population.
Statistically, increased risk is generally expressed as a "hazard ratio"
(abbreviated HR). In this study, current smokers had an
HR of 2.41 for
recurrence, in other words more than double the chance
of a recurrence
compared to the rest of the patient population. The HR
for death from any
cause was a similar 2.26. But the hazard ratio for dying
of their initial
head and neck cancer was a whopping 3.38 in patients who
got radiation,
smoked and also received a single synthetic antioxidant.
"These results could best be explained by the hypothesis that the combined
exposures reduced the efficacy of radiation therapy,"
Bairati and her
colleagues now say. "Particular attention should be
devoted to prevent
patients from both smoking and taking antioxidant
supplements during
radiation therapy" (Meyer 2007).
According to the
National Cancer Institute, 85 percent of head and
neck
cancers are linked to tobacco use. (Alcohol use further
exacerbates this
trend.) This has been widely known for years, and so it
is shocking that
there are still people so hopelessly addicted to tobacco
that they not only
continue to smoke after they've been diagnosed with head
and neck cancer but
continue to smoke right through their radiation therapy.
It was in this
subset of particularly unhealthy individuals that
antioxidants were
associated with an increased risk of disease
progression. As Bairati and
colleagues suggest, such individuals should definitely
not compound their
problems by then taking a synthetic antioxidant.
But the more important lesson for patients and practitioners is that
antioxidants do NOT generally interfere with the effects
of radiation
therapy, as was previously suggested. They do NOT
increase the risk of a
recurrence, of death from head and neck cancer, or of
overall mortality in
the average patient. In this updated study, the harmful
effect of synthetic
antioxidants was entirely limited to those relatively
few tobacco-addicted
patients who continued to smoke during their radiation
therapy. Thus, the
major premise underpinning oncologists' condemnation of
antioxidants during
radiation therapy has crumbled, although few seem to
have noticed so far. |
- Regulate your exposure to
electro-magnetic fields - more studies are coming out at least
suggestive of a link here. Even the Cancer Institute, as conservative a
group as you could find,
has this to say.
|
The foundation of your preventative program should be
a good Multi-vitamin. |
Do not expect to get what you need in one pill a day.
Choose either a formula that suggests a number of pills daily,
or a pack to take each day which contains many pills.
My recommendations:
It is difficult to find any nutrient that has not at
some point been singled out and investigated for a connection to Cancer
prevention: selenium, folic acid, beta carotene, calcium - taking
a really good multi is, in my view, Life Insurance.
Make it a your policy!
|
Case in point -
Vitamin D |
These days, we are all warned
not to let the sun shine on our skin for an instant. And it is true
that the risk of skin cancer is real. However, if you go to
www.sunarc.org, you will be fascinated, as I was, to discover the
extent that geography governs our cancer rates.
Death rates for breast, colon
and ovarian cancer clearly diminish the further South one goes. What
is the significance of this? The founder of SunArc, Dr. William Grant,
argues that exposure to sunlight and Vitamin D account for the difference.
In effect, that regular, moderate exposure to sunshine
helps protect our health.
Taking systemic enzymes on an empty stomach is a
recognized alternative cancer therapy. Adding a digestive enzyme to
mealtimes as an aid to absorption is something I recommend to anyone who
has experienced any form of digestive distress because irregularity, gas,
bloating, heartburn - whatever the symptom, they are suggestive of a
problem with the uptake of nutrients and the elimination of wastes.
Keeping the body clean of toxins and supported with nutrition is key to
health.
|
There are
many supplements that are suggested for support and defense
of the
immune
system, but I do not propose to go in to
all of them here.
|
The fact that I don't mention them doesn't
mean they are not effective: I have simply chosen the ones
that I have found most successful and that have the most
compelling science behind them.
I want to say again, however, that diet, exercise, water,
acid/alkaline balance and
proper digestion/elimination are essential first steps:
merely adding supplements to an unhealthy lifestyle is a
little like standing on the brake and the accelerator at the
same time: you probably won't go anywhere at all.
When a female mammal gives
birth, before the production of the nutritious milk comes the valuable food
known as Colostrum. Where breast milk is a source of protein (among
other nutrients), colostrum is a source of immunity. Farmers
habitually remove a calf from its mother in order to appropriate the cow's
milk production for their own use: but they soon discovered that if
they remove the calf before it has a chance to suckle for a few days, not
only does its health suffer long term, but it is more susceptible to
infection and disease as a baby.
Now that we have identified the components of Colostrum, this comes as
absolutely no surprise. Among other things, it contains:
An enzyme which
attacks bacteria in the body by releasing lysins (dissolving agents)
that weaken the cell walls of the bacteria until they collapse.
Swiss studies show it to be effective even against E. Coli, a major
childhood threat. (Wild et al., Reevaluation of the effect of lysozyme
..... Microsc. Res. Tech, 1991; 39(3):297-304) . Lactoferrin - a
protein which captures iron molecules and makes them unavailable to
bacteria and viruses, which need it for growth. Immunoglobulins,
to include IgG which attacks and attaches to bacteria, thereby making them
vulnerable to attack by the body's immune system. Glycoproteins -
natural protease inhibitors. Interferon -
which supports the immune system, and fights viruses. Oligosaccharides
- which support and encourage the growth of probiotic bacteria, IGF1 & 2, and
other growth factors important for all growth of muscle and tissue. and more ........
See Beth Ley-Jacobs book in
RESOURCES
at right.
It tops my list. I may add
that it is invaluable for many pet health problems, too.
This is an excellent source
of the molecules the cells need to stay healthy, the building blocks of our
RNA/DNA. There are many choices of whey protein that are simply that:
a protein. Then there are others that are concentrates of the
biologically active proteins that play a major role in the repair of
RNA and DNA, antioxidant production (Glutathione precursors), improved liver
function and red blood cell production, the binding and safe removal of
heavy metals, wound healing, growth of new muscle and the support of various
immune functions.
I highly recommend
the Undenatured Whey Protein Concentrate you will find in the
RESOURCES at right, because it is a
precursor (required for the production) of
Glutathione (GSH). It contains exceptionally high amounts of
undenatured Cysteine and Glutamine, the amino acids required for
intracellular GSH production.
A group of FFH Program scientists led by Dr. John Pezzuto
in the College of Pharmacy at the UIC campus have recently shown that
Resveratrol is one of a group of compounds (called phytoalexins) that are
produced in plants during times of environmental stress such as adverse
weather or insect, animal or pathogenic attack. Resveratrol has been
identified in more than 70 species of plants, including mulberries and
peanuts. Grapes, however are particularly good sources. Resveratrol is found
in the skin (not flesh) of grapes. Fresh grape skin contains about 50 to 100
micrograms of Resveratrol per gram, while red wine concentrations range from
1.5 to 3 milligrams per liter. This compound is also thought to be
responsible, in part, for the cholesterol-lowering effects of red wine and
may also explain why those consuming a Mediterranean-type diet (of which red
wine consumption is characteristic) may have a reduced risk of heart
disease.
In the current study, Pezzuto and colleagues were able to
show that Resveratrol was effective during all three phases of the cancer
process: initiation, promotion and progression. Resveratrol was found to
have antioxidant and antimutagenic activity and also increased levels of the
phase II drug-metabolizing enzyme quinone reductase, an enzyme capable of
metabolically detoxifying carcinogens, thereby ridding them from the body.
All three of these physiological effects are indicative of Resveratrol
preventing cancer initiation--the initial, irreversible stage of the cancer
process. Resveratrol also demonstrated antiinflammatory effects and
inhibited the activity of the cyclooxygenase and hydroperoxidase enzymes
(suggestive of antipromotion activity) in addition to causing the
differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells, indicating that this
compound may also depress the progression phase of cancer. Finally,
Resveratrol inhibited the development of preneoplastic lesions in mouse
mammary glands treated with a carcinogen in culture and inhibited tumor
formation in mice. No toxic effects were observed.
So, a glass of
good red wine a day, and/or a Resveratrol supplement is my next
recommendation.
The immune response has two ways of dealing
with foreign pathogens. The B-lymphocytes synthesize specific antibodies
called immunoglobulins. This is known as humoral immunity. The other system
involves T-lymphocytes, which regulate the synthesis of antibodies as well
as direct killer cell activity and the inflammatory response of delayed type
hypersensitivity. This system is known as cell-mediated immunity. Like
everything else in the body, these systems need to be in homeostasis - too
much of one, and we have immune related disorders, too little, and we are
open to inflammatory and viral diseases, as well as disregulation of cells.
Moducare has been demonstrated to balance the two branches of the immune
system which is why it appears to be effective in widely differing
situations. It is my next choice.
For more information, click here.
First, of course, is to implement all the strategies
mentioned in the sections on immunity, diet exercise, cleansing, water etc.
|
If
you want to live longer limit your carbohydrate intake,
choose any carbs you eat from those high on the
Glycemic Index
scale (sugars which enter
the blood slowly, usually because they are accompanied by protein,
fiber or fatty acids), and select supplements which will help you
balance your sugars.
|
|
For example,
AGEBlock, specifically designed to address this situation. It
contains Goat's Rue, the herbal prototype to the antidiabetic
drug, Metformin. see RESOURCES
at right.
My articles on
Diabetes and
Insulin Resistance address this subject in detail.
|
Next in line is
IP6. This supplement is derived from rice,
which may partially explain why a macrobiotic diet sometimes
has such an effect on cancer. |
IP-6 is found in highest concentrations in the bran part
of rice, and is found also in corn, sesame seeds and in all unprocessed
grains and legumes. However, it is not possible to get a therapeutic dose
this way. While ensuring that one's diet is a good source of it makes
excellent sense, since it leads to eating healthy foods, eating
enough of the source foods to get a significant supply of IP-6 also
involves large amounts of calories, carbohydrates and (gasp! did you ever
think to hear me say) too MUCH fiber.
Dr. Shamsuddin, who did the original research on IP6 and
cancer, says it plays a role in communicating to the cell what its
reaction should be to stimuli: it may regulate either the manner in
which the signal is transmitted, or even act as a censor for unacceptable
messages.
Be that as it may, the results of his studies show
unequivocally that IP-6 brings about reduction in the size of all the
tumors he monitored in rats, colon, mammary glands, lung, liver, skin -
you name it. As he says, if the mode of operation of IP-6 is as outlined
above, then it will be effective against all forms of cancer. Cancer is
the uncontrolled division of cells bringing about uncontrolled growth: a
nutrient that can cancel out the message to the cells that causes this
rogue reaction would (in Dr. Shamsuddin's words) "reduce this abnormal
growth rate of cells down to the normal growth level." Dr. S's work found
that combining IP6 with Inositol was more effective than IP6 alone, and
that is the combination he has patented.
More
information about IP6
IP6's informative website
Fats are essential to the
health of our cells. Restated, the PROPER fats are
essential to the health of our cells. The fats most
prevalent in our diets, however, are predominantly Omega 6,
which are pro-inflammatory. Corn and safflower oils, which
are in practically everything in the way of prepared foods, are
Omega 6. What we need is to redress the balance to a prevalence
of Omega 3 fatty acids.
Sources of Omega 3 are walnuts, flax and fish.
When you consider that an enzyme (deficient in many people, and
especially in disease conditions) is needed to convert flax to the
anti-inflammatory form we need, and that Flax also contains Omega 6,
the clear winner is fish, with a supplemental form being both
convenient and pure.
Answering the
Fish or Flax
Question
The two fatty acids present in high amounts in Fish Oil are EPA
and DHA, both precursors to important ANTI-inflammatory
substances in the body, and both connected in studies to a
lowered risk of cancer.
Additionally, a 2003 study at the University of Edinburgh determined
that Omega 3s can halt and reverse the weight loss and lack of
appetite (Cachexia) experienced by some cancer patients. See
RESOURCES
at right for the study report.
|
Selenium and Colon Cancer |
Evidence continues to mount
that Selenium is intimately connected with rates of colon cancer. I
have one link in Resources to a study suggesting that, and now an analysis
of 3 studies comprising more than 1500 patients showed that those with the
highest blood levels of selenium had the least risk of recurrence of colon
cancer.
The researchers were clear:
"higher selenium status may be related to decreased risk of colorectal
cancer," write the researchers in the Nov. 17 issue of the Journal of
the National Cancer Institute. (J Natl
Cancer Inst 2004;96:1645-1647,1669-1675.)
Apoptosis can be defined as "gene-directed cellular
self-destruction" or programmed cell death. Direct from the Roche site
(thank you!) I have taken the following definition: "Apoptosis
plays an important role in the homeostasis and development of all tissues
within an organism. In contrast to necrosis (cell death by accident),
apoptosis is a well regulated physiological process. Any disturbance of the
balance between cell proliferation and cell death maintained by apoptosis
can result in serious disease, in particular cancer."
| Some of the most recent research in 2004 has to
do with methods of turning on apoptosis for cancer cell, since in
the words of one of the researchers: "Cancer
has an amazing ability to shake off the shackles of ageing and
death, which is one of the reasons why it can be so hard to treat,"
comments Dr Madalena Tarsounas, who heads the study at the Cancer
Research UK London Research Institute. "Understanding how cancer
cells remain eternally young has been a key focus of research for
more than a decade, so it's particularly exciting to have made such
a striking discovery ..... evidence of a completely new mechanism
for stopping the clock on a cancer cell's timer and preventing its
lifespan from ticking down. It raises the possibility of starting
the clock again and making cancer cells susceptible to death once
more." |
Bearing this in mind, I feel I can hardly
do better than to reproduce this press release from January 2000, which
will make it easy for you to guess what my final recommendation is!
Strong Apoptosis-Inducing Activity Found in Grifron Maitake D-fraction®
|
A research
group of the Dept. of Urology, at the New York Medical College presented
the results of their "apoptosis" study using a Maitake mushroom extract,
"Grifron Pro D-fraction®
(GD)", on human prostatic cancer cells (PC-3) at the American Academy
of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) Conference held on December 11-13, 1999 in
Las Vegas.
The study demonstrated a significant cytotoxic effect
via oxidative membrane damage on prostatic cancer when treated with GD,
resulting in apoptotic cell death. This cytotoxic activity was even more
potentiated when combined with Vitamin C. Moreover, some strong
synergistic effect was seen between GD and a chemotherapeutic agent such
as carmustine (BCNU) which is used in the treatment of brain tumors. The
research group had also tested several other natural extracts (other
mushroom extracts and seaweed extracts that were already known to have
some apoptosis-inducing activity) and has confirmed that the Maitake GD is
much more potent than any other sample extracts they investigated.
The phenomenon of "Apoptosis", a form of programmed cell death (or,
the cancer cells actually committing suicide), has suddenly and
dramatically been thrust into scientific consciousness gaining keen
attention from the frontline of cancer research. Dr. Barbara Osboarne, an
associate professor at the University of Massachusetts, found an erratic
history of this "apoptosis" awareness, characterized by very little early
study activity followed by booming interest. She searched databases for
apoptosis references and found only 300 total papers by 1991 soaring to
over 3,000 papers by early 1995.
Michael Shirota, President and CEO
of Maitake Products, Inc., who has supported this study, states that this
result is very exciting since Maitake D-fraction®
is now proven not only as an immune-booster but also an apoptosis-inducer.
According to Shirota, his company has received a large amount of feedback
from health professionals and cancer patients, reporting that Maitake
D-fraction® works very well against
some prostate cancers and brain tumors. Shirota now believes that the
result of this study could be the evidence to support the above positive
testimonials.
Grifron Pro D-fraction®
has been under the FDA approved clinical study (IND #54,589) on advanced
cancer patients with prostates and breast cancer.
I do carry the Grifron product, but have found an extract made by
Mushroom Sciences which I like equally well. It is developed by the
same Dr. Nanba who originated the Grifron product, and is stronger.
TO
RECAP:-
Avoid toxins
- Eat organic
-
Improve diet
- Lower blood
sugar.
- Balance
Hormones.
- Control
stress.
- Control viruses
- Drink pure
water.
-
Exercise.
-
Improve your Immune system.
-
Restrict
Cancer's pathways in the body.
-
Have faith.
- Laugh a
lot.
- Think
positive.
- Make
friends.
- Love your
partner.
- Stay close
to your family.
|
Cancer concerns all of us - few of us have been
untouched by its ravages, whether we ourselves were the victim, or a
friend or loved one. We need to know what to do to protect against
it. I hope this article has helped guide you on the path to taking
control of your destiny. If you have any questions or comments,
please contact me. Lynn
The Vitamin Lady®
vitaminlady@vitaminlady.com
in Memoriam Nancy Morey, friend mentor personal
saint
**From "Nutrition and Cancer"
Regulation of Tumor Angiogenesis by Dietary Fatty Acids and Eicosanoids
David P. Rose and Jeanne M. Connolly, The authors are affiliated with the
Division of Nutrition and Endrocrinology, American Health Foundation,
Valhalla, NY 10595.
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a
prerequisite for tumor growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial cell
proliferation, migration, and capillary formation are stimulated by
angiogenic growth factors, which include the proteins vascular endothelial
growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and transforming growth
factor- , and eicosanoids synthesized from n-6 fatty acids. Clinical
studies have shown that angiogenesis in solid tumors relates to a poor
prognosis and, in premalignant lesions, indicates potential for cancerous
transformation. High-fat, n-6 fatty acid-rich diets were associated with a
relatively poor prognosis in breast cancer patients; in a nude mouse model
the same diet enhanced breast cancer progression, whereas n-3 fatty acids
exerted suppressive effects that were associated with impaired
angiogenesis. Lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase products of n-6 fatty acid
metabolism are angiogenic in in vitro assays. This activity is blocked by
pharmacological inhibitors of eicosanoid biosynthesis, and one,
indomethacin, suppressed n-6 fatty acid-stimulated murine mammary
carcinoma growth and metastasis and tumor vascularization. Review of the
experimental data suggests that selective inhibitors of eicosanoid-synthesizing
enzymes and dietary intervention with n-3 fatty acids merit clinical
evaluation as adjuvant therapy and chemopreventive agents. [Nutrition and
Cancer 37(2):119-127, 2000. © 2000 Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.]
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This study is important information for women since they
are the ones who are most likely to color their hair. Women who hide
their natural hair color with regular applications of permanent hair
dye may be putting themselves at increased risk for bladder cancer,
new research findings suggest.
"Our study is the first to demonstrate a
frequency- and duration-dependent association between personal use
of permanent hair-dyes and bladder cancer risk," lead study author
Dr. Manuela Gago-Dominguez, from the Keck School of Medicine at the
University of Southern California, told Reuters Health.
To
investigate the relationship between permanent hair dyes and bladder
cancer, Dr. Gago-Dominguez and colleagues analyzed more than 1500
cases of bladder cancer, 897 of which yielded information about hair
dye use. Data on a similar number of adults who did not use
permanent hair dye were used for comparison. The study findings will
be published in the February 2001 issue of the International Journal
of Cancer.
After adjusting for cigarette smoking, the authors
found that women who used permanent hair dye at least once a month
were 2 times more likely to develop bladder cancer than women who
did not use permanent hair dye. Women who reported regular long-term
use of the hair dye for at least 15 years were more than 3 times
more likely to develop bladder cancer than nonusers.
Hairstylists and barbers were 50% more likely to have bladder cancer
than those who did not have occupational exposure to hair dye. Those
who were exposed to hair dye for at least 10 years were five times
more likely than the comparison group of unexposed individuals to
develop bladder cancer.
"Our novel observations are
provocative and carry enormous public health implications," Dr. Gago-Dominguez
said. "It is [perhaps] a little premature to make any recommendation
about stopping the use of permanent hair dyes," she acknowledged.
"However, this is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies
ever conducted on the issue and we think our results should not be
ignored." |
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Now we come to the fun part! According to Dr. John Corbett, a
consultant to the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, Dr. Gago-Dominguez
and her team may have used a faulty study design.
"Their measure of
exposure is just (Lynn: my italics) frequency of use and duration
of use, which is not very good," he told Reuters Health. "The most
important factor in exposure to hair dye is the shade you use."
"All of the shades use essentially the same chemicals, but there's quite a
lot more of [the chemicals] in dark brown and black than there are in
blonde," he explained.
Also, Dr. Corbett contends that the
researchers "seem to make light of previous studies" by the National
Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society that failed to find an
association between hair dye use and cancer risk.
"The bottom line
is I don't think [the new study findings] should affect people in their
decision as to whether to use hair color or affect the hair color
industry," Dr. Corbett said. Science
News, April 29, 2000
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Soy-rich diets appear to help fight certain cancers. Tea drinking
has been linked to similar benefits. Two studies now find that the
combo offers a potent double whammy against cancer of the breast and
prostate -at least in mice. Jin-Rong
Zhou and his colleagues at Harvard Medical School in Boston injected a
million breast cancer or prostate cancer cells into mice engineered to
possess weak immune systems. Two weeks earlier, they had replaced the
drinking water of some animals with green or black tea. Others
received chow laced with isoflavones, soy's biologically active
antioxidants. Two groups of mice got both the mix of isoflavones and
one or the other tea. Some just ate their normal diet.
Two months after implantation of the cancer cells, the researchers
surveyed for tumors and found that all the experimental diets had
conferred some benefit. Compared with animals on the normal diet, mice
given isoflavones or tea had 25 to 50 percent fewer tumors, and their
tumors weighed 15 to 25 percent less. However, benefits from pairing
tea and isoflavones equaled or exceeded the sum of either alone--a
reduction of between 72 and 87.5 percent in tumor number and a
similarly large decrease in each tumor's size.
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***
Int J Cancer 2002 Mar 1;98(1):78-83
Laboratoire de Biologie des Tumeurs, Clinique
d'Oncologie-Radiotherapie, Service de Gynecologie-Obstetrique, E.A.
2103, Unite de Recherche Associee Universite-INRA, CHU, Tours, France.
Experimental studies have indicated that n-3 fatty acids,
including alpha-linolenic acid (18:3 n-3) and long-chain n-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit mammary tumor growth and
metastasis. Earlier epidemiological studies have given inconclusive
results about a potential protective effect of dietary n-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids on breast cancer risk, possibly because of
methodological issues inherent to nutritional epidemiology. To
evaluate the hypothesis that n-3 fatty acids protect against breast
cancer, we examined the fatty acid composition in adipose tissue from
241 patients with invasive, nonmetastatic breast carcinoma and from 88
patients with benign breast disease, in a case-control study in Tours,
central France. Fatty acid composition in breast adipose tissue was
used as a qualitative biomarker of past dietary intake of fatty acids.
Biopsies of adipose tissue were obtained at the time of surgery.
Individual fatty acids were measured as a percentage of total fatty
acids, using capillary gas chromatography. Unconditional logistic
regression modeling was used to obtain odds ratio estimates while
adjusting for age, height, menopausal status and body mass index. We
found inverse associations between breast cancer-risk and n-3 fatty
acid levels in breast adipose tissue. Women in the highest tertile of
alpha-linolenic acid (18:3 n-3) had an odds ratio of 0.39 (95%
confidence intervals [CI] = 0.19-0.78) compared to women in the lowest
tertile (trend p = 0.01). In a similar way, women in the highest
tertile of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3) had an odds ratio of 0.31
(95% CI = 0.13-0.75) compared to women in the lowest tertile (trend p
= 0.016). Women in the highest tertile of the long-chain n-3/total n-6
ratio had an odds ratio of 0.33 (95% confidence interval = 0.17-0.66)
compared to women in the lowest tertile (trend p = 0.0002). In
conclusion, our data based on fatty acids levels in breast adipose
tissue suggest a protective effect of n-3 fatty acids on breast cancer
risk and support the hypothesis that the balance between n-3 and n-6
fatty acids plays a role in breast cancer. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss,
Inc.
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