The War On Cancer - Who Is Winning?
Over
the past 80 years, the war on cancer was fought with 3 tools: surgery (cut),
radiation therapy (burn), and chemotherapy (poison). Over the same period,
there had been rapid improvements in technology and medical science. As such,
one would expect medical treatments and success rates for cancer to rise steadily.
But has it? The answer is an emphatic "no".Unfortunately, the overall cancer incidence has increased by 44% since 1950, with breast cancer and male colon cancer increasing by 60% and prostate cancer increasing by 100%. Furthermore, 44% of Americans are expected to develop cancer in the near future.
For many decades, the 5-year survival term has remained constant for non-localized breast cancer at 18% and lung cancer at 13%. Overall, the average cancer patient today has a 50% chance of living another 5 years, which is exactly the same odds he or she had way back in 1971.
The war on cancer seems to be a dismal failure considering the 45 billion dollars spent over the past few decades on cancer research. While the National Cancer Institute (NCI) claims that the 5 year survival rates (definition of a cure) have increased from 20% from the year 1930 to 53% in adults and 70% in children today, critics of the NCI claim that this increase has more to do with earlier diagnosis alone and not the therapeutic modalities used.
Between the years of 1973 to 1987, melanoma increased by 83%, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by 51% and lung cancer by 32%. The 30-year trend (1960-62 to 1990-92) for death resulting from lung cancer is 85% higher for men and 438% higher for women, 29% higher for prostate cancer, 4% higher for breast cancer, and 12% higher for female pancreatic cancer. However, over this same period, the rate of death has dropped for cancer of the colon and rectum by 9%, male leukemia by 9%, and ovarian cancer by 8%. Overall, the cancer death rate, after adjusting changes in the size and composition of the population with respect to age has increased by 7% between the years of 1975 and 1990.
Spokesman for conventional therapies often boost the 5-year survival rate as an indication of progress and money well spent. Let us take a closer look.
Between the years 1974 to 1976 and 1981 to 1987, the 5-year-survival rates only increased by 2%, from 49% to 51% on an overall basis. The 5-year survival rates for cancer of the liver, lung, pancreas, bone and breast has remained the same as they were in 1965. Due to advanced diagnostic modalities, survival time seems longer than in the past probably because of earlier diagnosis and not successful treatments. For example, a woman whose breast cancer is diagnosed 3 years earlier because of mammography may live for another 7 years after diagnosis. In 1985, using older diagnostic and treatment tools, this same women would have appeared to live only 4 years. We have improved on screening tools, but the majority of advances are not in curing tools.
Let us look at some additional hard statistics on common cancers.
The 5-year survival rate (all stages) using conventional treatment for bladder cancer is 80.7%, 83.2% for breast cancer, 61% for colorectal cancer, 57% for kidney cancer, 68% for leukemia, 13% for lung cancer, 86% for melanoma, 51% for non-hodgkin's lymphoma, 44% for ovarian cancer, 3.6% for pancreatic cancer, 85% for prostate cancer, and 68% for uterine cancer. Based on these statistics, you may feel pretty good. This is assuming that after 5 years, your chances of survival is the same based on a straight line curve going up.
Looking at things from a long-term aspect, the numbers become scarier. For example, the extended survival rate (beyond 5 years) for breast cancer is less then 50%. For prostate cancer, the future is not much better, with a 5-year-survival rate of about 70%, and 10-year survival rate of around 35%.
The question to ask is - Did cancer ever exist on earth before the advent of modern medicine? Of course! Then, how did people treat cancer over the past 5,000 years? Did they simply die? No, of course not. Through the centuries, natural therapies have been available and were used by emperors and kings alike to combat cancer. Unfortunately, their use has been suppressed the past century and been labeled as "quackery" by today's modern medicine.
There is no better example of the weakness of conventional medicine on its clear failure in overcoming cancer. By the same token, there is no better example of the superiority of natural medicine in the management of cancer. Optimum results are often obtained when combining conventional therapies with natural, non-toxic modalities.
Cancer According To Natural Medicine
Modern oncology (the study of tumors) was founded based on the Halstead theory of cancer developed by W.S. Halstead. Halstead lived from 1852 to 1922. His primary focus on cancer was on the tumor and not on the patient as a living organism. Under this hypothesis, the removal of the tumor should remove the disease and cure the patient. But, if this theory was true, why does the age-adjusted mortality rate for breast cancer remain unchanged for the past 50 years despite advances in surgical techniques and aggressive cancer debulking operations? Halstead's theory is incomplete because its emphasis is on the tumor and ignores the patient. He looks at the tumor as the disease in and of itself, disregarding the overall body as a contributing factor.
While conventional medicine primarily treats cancer as a focal disease with localized symptoms, naturally oriented physicians think otherwise. They view the body as a closed internal ecosystem, and believe that the dysfunction of this ecosystem leads to the development of cancer.
No treatment, conventional or otherwise, can completely eliminate all cancer cells according to the naturally oriented physician. The reason is simple. Cancer is a systemic disease, and there are simply too many cancerous or pre-cancerous cells within the ecosystem of the body. Cancer is not a localized problem but a whole-body phenomenon of metastatic growth. Its growth process is affected by biological conditions. Non-genetically based cancer forms in the body because of toxins, the lack of oxygen, poor nutrition, and other factors such as hormonal imbalance. Whether the cancer in our body continues to multiply depends to a large degree on our body's biological terrain. It is this terrain that determines how the cancer is expressed.
Naturally oriented doctors often view cancer as a chronic, systemic and metabolic dysfunction of the genetically intracellular makeup. Tumors are only the symptoms of the submicroscopic dysfunctional causes. The root of cancer therefore lies in the progress of growth and metastasis, and not the tissue in which the tumor was first detected.
The naturally oriented doctor therefore fights cancer by optimizing the internal terrain and enabling the patient's internal system to destroy the tumor. It enhances the patient's health so that cancer cells cannot grow and multiply.
What Is The Success Rate?
The use of non-toxic natural therapies has had huge success over the past few decades. Some of the examples are listed below.
Many of the alternative cancer hospitals are found in Mexico. For example, Dr Contreras of the Oasis hospital reported that his 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer is 83 percent when using natural treatment as compared to 73 percent for conventional treatment.
In advance stage broncogenic carcinoma, natural therapies resulted in an improvement in the quality of life for the patients. Stage 4 cancer patients said that their quality of life was better after using the antioxidants. The size of their tumor was reduced by half in some of the cases. Even if their tumor did not subside, the patients felt much better physically.
At the American Metabolic Institute, renounced scientist Dr Geronimo Rubio reported success rate in reversing stage 3 and 4 cancers from 65 to 75 percent. The reversal rate for stage 1 and 2 cancer is 80 percent.
The famous Gerson therapy boasted high achievements. In a study spearheaded by him, 153 patients in various stages of melanoma were examined. He was proud to report that all 153 patients who underwent the Gerson therapy survived for 5 years. Only 79 percent of patients who received conventional treatment survived this length of time. Patients with Stages 3a melanoma who underwent Gerson therapy had a 5-year survival rate of 82 percent versus 39 percent in conventional therapy. For stage 3b, the survival rate was 70 percent versus 41 percent in conventional therapy. In stage 4a, the rate was 39 percent as compared to 6 percent. These results are simply stunning.
While the 5-year survival for end-stage cancer using conventional therapy is 9 percent overall, alternative cancer hospitals reports that theirs is more than 30 percent. While 4% of terminal cancer patients show no response to alternative treatments, the other 96% can expect some benefits after a month of treatment. There is therefore no turning back for patients who have bravely embarked on the path of alternative treatments.
Today, many patients opt for combination therapy, using both conventional and alternative cancer treatment therapy. This combined therapy is becoming more and more popular as the success rates are higher than either one alone.
Patients with cancer may begin the natural therapy program as soon as the cancer is detected, if time permits. If the natural therapy is not effective, then conventional intervention should be considered. In life threatening cases where surgical de-bulking is required, conventional treatment should be used first. Then, followed by natural therapy as part of the healing process.
Integrating Natural and Conventional Therapy
Human and animal studies have shown successful results when combining chemotherapeutic agents and natural compounds.
The objectives and rationale behind combining conventional therapies with natural treatments are as follows:
A. To reduce the negative side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy so that a more effective and safer dose can be given.
High success rates have been reported in this aspect. Antioxidants such as vitamin C, melatonin, and vitamin E have protected animals from drug-induced toxicity without interfering with the drug's anti-tumor effect. It not only protects normal tissues from free radicals caused by chemotherapy but also acts as an immunity booster and produces healthier cells that need a high concentration of antioxidants to function in optimum form.
B. To help normal cells resist chemotherapy and radiotherapy or increase drug accumulation in cancer cells.
Cancer cells adapt to stress more readily than normal cells. They are much stronger after being exposed to chemotherapy. Natural compounds will destroy the heat-shock proteins that protect the cancer cell. As a result, drug resistance will be lowered.
C. Additive or synergistic cytotoxic effect with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
When natural compounds are combined with chemotherapeutic drugs, the cytotoxic effect is additive. Natural compounds and chemotherapy drugs may destroy the cancer cells through different but complementary pathways.
Selenium, a natural supplement has been proven to reduce both the adverse effects of cisplatin and multi-drug resistance induced by cisplatin. Two grams of vitamin C can enhance the effects of doxorubicin, cisplatin, and paclitaxel against breast cancer cells. In another study, mushroom polysaccharides PSK or PSP has prolonged the lives of tumor-bearing rodents and protected them from the adverse effects caused by chemotherapy.
Natural compound glutamine reduces adverse effects caused by chemotherapy in gastrointestinal-related disease.
Proteolytic enzymes help in absorption and tissue diffusion of drugs, including antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs.
Quercetin
and genistein act synergistically with many chemotherapy drugs, including cisplatin.
In addition, Green tea, emodin, and ginseng also have synergistic effects. However,
the dosage administered is often quite high.Vitamin A in the form of retinyl palmitate works synergistically with many different chemotherapy agents. Vitamin E enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy against cancer cells and protects the normal cells.
In a study conducted, Vitamin A in the form of retinyl palmitate was used with vitamin C, vitamin E, and other minerals in patients with small-cell lung cancer. The consummation of these vitamins actually prolonged the lives of these patients. Their two-year survival rate was increased to 33 percent, compared with 15 percent otherwise.
Another natural agent melatonin acts as an antioxidant and reduces the adverse effects of chemotherapy without lessening its anti-tumor actions.
Know Your Enemy
The first lesson in war is to "know thy enemy". Here are 10 cancer characteristics you must know in order to fight the cancer battle and win.
1. Mitochondria. Cancer cells prefer sugar as a source of fuel as compared to normal cells, which favor oxygen. This is an inefficient pathway of energy generation. This process drains the body of the much-needed energy at a time when the body is weak. As a result, most cancer patients are weak and tired. The mitochondria are the energy factories of the cell. Fortification of mitrochondraial function will help cellular energy generation.
2. Free Radicals. Free radicals are generated as a result of environmental toxins, stress, processed foods, and pollution. Free radicals are a direct cause of cellular mutation and cancer. An optimum blend of therapeutic antioxidants is a cornerstone for any anti-cancer program.
3. Matrix. Cancer cells are usually benign and exist throughout the human body. Such benign tumors are encapsulated by fiber and are insulated from the body and their toxic effects. Cancer cells spread locally by secreting enzymes that eats into the interstitial collagen that forms the intercellular matrix. Reinforcement of this matrix is akin to building a strong wall and preventing the cancer cells from advancing.
4. Temperature Sensitive. Cancer cells are more sensitive to heat and less able to tolerate high temperatures as compared to normal cells. Hyperthermia should be used, including metabolic hyperthermia at the cellular level, to kill cancer cells.
5. Angiogenesis. Cancer cells spread to distant sites by angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessel). Masses of cancer cells become like parasites, developing their own network of blood vessels and siphoning key nutrients from the body. Certain non-toxic compounds have proven to retard this process.
6. Toxins. Many cancers come on because of excessive toxins and an ineffective toxin clearance mechanism. Detoxification is a key to cancer control and prevention. The liver, skin, kidney, and lungs are major detoxification centers of the body.
7. Internal Terrain. Our body is an internal closed ecosystem. The proper balance of this internal terrain is to maintain optimum acid and base balance to prevent unwanted bacteria, fungus, and protein (prions) in the body.
8. Immune. Our body's first line of defense against foreign insult is our immune system. Those who are immunologically strong have a longer survival time.
9. Hormones. Most cancers have a hormonal component. Hormonal imbalance is a major cause of many cancers, including breast and prostate cancer. Modulation and correction of hormonal imbalance naturally will correct the systemic dysfunction upon which hormonal sensitive cancer is kept under control.
10. Inflammation. Infections, poor dietary habits, or high sugar and trans-fat intake are potential carcinogens that lead to mutational changes and an exaggerated inflammatory response that may be out of control. Some side effects of inflammatory response include atherosclerosis, diabetes, stroke, and hypertension.
Is Natural Medicine For Me?
There are 3 steps you should take to make this critical decision. No one should embark on a natural medicine program without understanding what it is all about. It is not an easy route to take, but it has its rewards.
Step 1: Face the Reality
Accept the fact that you have cancer. We all have cancer, to some degree. You probably just have it more than others.
Cancer can be beaten. It is not the end of the world. Do not be afraid. Death is a natural consequence of living. Everyone has to die someday. What is more important is the quality of life you live. You should pause for a moment to focus on the more important aspects of life:
· Relationships you cherish
· Your goals and missions in life
· Nature and its beauty
· Peace with God
Cleanse your heart and mind from negative thoughts. Cherish the life you have and learn to give thanks in all circumstances. The fact that you can read this is a thanksgiving item. Remember that there are many people who are less fortunate than you.
Do you wish to beat cancer? There are thousands of people beating it each day. Those who have the strongest will to live have the best odds of beating cancer. You must tell yourself "I refuse to die!" and list out the reasons why you want to live. Perhaps it is your wish to be with your loved ones, or you have an unfulfilled mission. Whatever the reasons may be, list them out. Without these reasons and objectives, you cannot conquer cancer. Until your objectives for fighting the war on cancer are clear, do not proceed.
The road to beating cancer may require a change of lifestyle. Are you prepared to change and make sacrifices? Are you prepared to admit the wrongs you have done to your body in the past and take steps to correct them?
If you have decided that you want to beat cancer, make a commitment and join a support group (perhaps your family or close friends). Make known your intentions, and you are ready to move on. Incidentally, research has shown that cancer patients who participate actively in a support group live on the average 18 months longer.
Step 2: Do Your Homework
Fighting a war requires a battle plan together with a general that you can trust. Before you can have a plan and appoint your general, you must understand your battle in detail, the desired end results, and the price you are prepared to pay.
Discuss with your doctor; get the official medical diagnosis, the staging, and any variances. Search the internet for as much information as possible, both from a conventional and alternative approach. Verify that the prognosis and treatment plan proposed by your oncologist conforms to the established protocol. Jot down the questions you may have on your cancer.
You will need a general and a good team to fight this war. Who should they be? Do you feel comfortable with your current doctor? Do you require a second opinion? Do you need other supporting health care professionals such as nutritionists and psychotherapists to assist you? There are many professionals out there who are more than willing to help you.
Step 3: Make the Decision
Does the concept of natural medicine make sense scientifically? Natural medicine is about life-style changes. It is about taking non-toxic food based supplements in quantity. It is a new perspective of medicine and will be quite different from what you have been used to.
7 Steps to Beating Cancer Naturally
Cancer can be beaten naturally if you are determined.
There are seven important things you must follow from the natural medicine's perspective to control cancer and beat it. They represent a complete approach to addressing the major cancer characteristics outlined above. All the seven steps are equally important.
Step 1: Starving Cancer cell
Cancer
is a sugar-feeder. You should learn to reduce
your intake of sugar (including grains and refined sugar) by 90% to create a
low sugar environment. Change to low-glycemic index carbohydrates.
Avoid all soda pop, most grains, rice, and potatoes. Step 2: Oxygenate your body
Cancer cells hate oxygen. They thrive in an anaerobic (oxygen free) environment. Moderate aerobic exercise is the best way to get oxygen on board. If you are too weak to exercise, simple deep breathing is a good start. Other oxygen generating modalities are ozone and hydrogen peroxide therapy.
Step 3: Avoid Malnutrition
Approximately 40% of all cancer patients die from malnutrition. It is important to maintain a good diet and nutrition. Consume healthy fats and plant based proteins to maintain nitrogen balance and muscle strength without aggravating cancer. The amount of calories we need is determined by our individual physical activity level. It is easy to consume calories. The challenge is to get nutritious and not simply empty calories into our bodies. Stay with organic whole foods, with plenty of green leafy vegetables, low-glycemic fruits, beans and legumes for plant-based proteins.
Step 4: Use nutritional supplements
Therapeutic nutritional supplementation is a cornerstone for natural medicine as our body does not get enough of them from a regular diet. A "cocktail" of nutrients is needed to:
a. Prevent further mutational damage
b. Enhance mitochondrial function to increase energy production
c. Prevent cancer growth by blocking its spread
d. Enhance immune function to fight existing cancer cell
e. Balance our hormones
Step 5: Balance Your Internal terrain
Probiotics, enzymes, green food, and fibers are the 4 key pillars to rebalancing your internal milieu and pH. Use these everyday to ensure smooth bowel transit time, proper absorption of nutrients from the food you take, and proper balance of good and bad bacteria.
Step 6: Balance your Toxin Load
Hundreds of toxic chemicals are accumulated in our bodies throughout the years. These include mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium. Detoxification is a process of cleansing our ecosystem and giving it a fresh start. The key elements are:
a. To drink plenty of pure filtered water. There are no better substitutes.
b. To enhance our liver's function, which is the main detoxification organ, with herbs.
c. To use chelating agents to bind and remove unwanted metals and minerals.
d. To flood the body with antioxidants with vegetable juices.
Step 7: Balance Your Hormones
Often misunderstood and under-appreciated, hormones have a lot more to do with cancer than we think. This is especially so with hormone related cancers such as breast, ovary, uterus, and prostate cancer.
Maintaining a balanced hormonal profile is a key to well-being and longevity as our bodies are flooded in a sea of hormones.
Addition Dietary and Lifestyle Modifications:
·
Meditation
and stress relaxation· Active participation in a cancer help group
· Reduce exposure to estrogen, environmental toxins, electromagnetic field and microwaves
· Avoid coffee, alcohol, tea, milk and all diary products
General Cancer Nutraceutical Model
When it comes to nutrition as a tool to fight cancer, protocols do not exist. Each practitioner has, from his or her own experience, arrived at a general model that has worked well.
Here is a general cancer model that serves as a base for additional components to be added depending on an individual's specific needs. It is not a "protocol", as no such protocols exist when it comes to individualized cancer therapy.
1. A good foundational formula consisting of the following:
· Vitamin A (Antioxidant) - 15,000 I.U. (300% RDA) with no more than 5,000 I.U. in Vitamin A palmitate and the rest in natural mixed beta carotene.
· Vitamin C - (Antioxidant) - 1,000 mg (2,000% RDA)
· Vitamin E - (Antioxidant) - 300 to 400 I.U. (1,333% RDA) in the form of water dispersible d-alpha tocopherol (the natural form)
· Selenium - (Antioxidant) - 200 mcg (285% RDA) in amino acid complex forms to enhance absorption.
· Magnesium - (Antioxidant) - 300 to 600 mg (125% RDA. The calcium to magnesium ratio should be between1:1 to 1:2.
· Vitamin B9 - (folic acid) - 800 mcg (200% RDA) - a non-toxic nutrient that protects our chromosome from DNA damage and cancer.
· Vitamin B12 - 100 to 1,000 mcg a day
· Chromium - 200 mcg (166% RDA)
· Zinc - 30 mg (200% RDA)
· Calcium - 300-500 mg (30-50% RDA)
· Citrus Bioflavonoids - 100 mg
2. Interstitial matrix and collagen building. This cocktail consists of ascorbic acid and mineral ascobates, l-lysine, l-proline, and ascobyl palmitate.
Begin with 1 gram 3 times a day, working up to 3 to 4 grams 3 times a day. The ultimate goal should be 12 grams of ascobates, 5 grams of lysine, 3 grams of proline and 200 to 400 mg of ascobyl palmitate. The dosage should be reduced if diarrhea occurs.
3. Take whole food nutritional supplementation to modulate the internal terrain and increase alkalinity. The key nutrients include chlorella, spirulina, green blue algae, wheat grass, and barley grass. Take 20 to 40 grams of powered supplements a day.
Add soluble fiber to your diet to ensure optimum detoxification and smooth bowel movement. Consume at least 10 to 15 grams of soluble fiber supplementation in addition to a diet rich in raw whole foods.
4. The following important anti-cancer nutrients may be required depending on the person:
· Co-enzyme Q10 at 100 to 300 mg a day
· Niacinamide at 1,000 to 2,000 mg a day
· Vitamin E at 400 to 1,200 I.U. may be added
· Fish Oil at 3,000 to 5,000 mg a day
· Calcium D Glucarate at 200 mg a day
· Proteolytic Digestive Enzymes at 2 to 8 tablets three times a day
· Quercetin at 1,000 mg to 3,000 mg a day
· Beta Carotene at 20,000 to 50,000 IU may be added
· Green tea extract (decaffeinated) at 200 mg a day
· Pantothenic acid and pantethine mixed at 500 to 1,000 mg a day
· Grape Seed Extract at 100 to 200 mg a day
