Cancer Blog

Governments throughout the world rarely tell their populations what the individual can do to prevent a disease occurring in the first instance. While all the emphasis is put on building more hospitals, better equipped hospitals and reducing waiting lists, lowering the need for hospital space by preventing diseases largely gets ignored.

Cancer is a good example of a disease where it’s strike rate can be greatly reduced by the individual taking precautionary measures. The incidence of cancer can, in some cases, be reduced by more than 50% by taking simple preventative actions.

The first preventative measure that should be taken is adequate exposure to direct sunlight.The effect of direct sunlight on the skin produces vitamin D, which is vital to good health. While some vitamin D can be obtained from food sources, the individual is unlikely to get enough from sources other than the sun. The exposure for white people need only be 10-15 minutes a day 3 or 4 times a week. However, the further you live from the equator, the more exposure you need. It should be noted that people with dark skin pigmentation require 20 times the exposure stated above to create the same amount of vitamin D. Sufficient levels of vitamin D are crucial to calcium absorbption in the intestines.

The individual can further reduce his/her susceptibility to this disease by the choice of foods eaten at meal times. Limit your intake of meat, butter, eggs and cheese.These foods contain animal fats which increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer (breast, prostate, intestine and pancreas). Eat more fish and poultry instead.

Eating a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables ( tomatoes, carrots, leeks, cabbage, broccoli and onions etc ) helps protect the body against cancer of the colon, stomach, rectum and lungs. These are also rich in vitamins A, B and C, all of which help to fight free radicals and thereby prevent cancer.

Eat wholegrain bread for its fiber content.Fiber improves intestinal functions and helps protect against colon cancer.

Get as much vitamin C as possible by eating fruits like kiwi,apple. black currant, raw turnip,sorrel, raw green pepper, raw green cabbage and citrus fruits. Also season salads with parsley which is very rich in vitamin C.

Avoid smoked, salted and barbecued foods which contain substances that are potentially carcinogenic, especially as far as stomach cancer is concerned.

Because of the variables with the nutrient value of food dependent upon where it came from, how fresh it is, how it is stored and how it is cooked, it may be prudent to take a daily food supplement to ensure that you are getting enough vitamins and minerals. The important vitamins are A, the B-complex group, C, D and E. Because vitamins are largely ineffective without minerals, it is best to take a combined multivitamin and mineral tablet or capsule to make sure there are no deficiencies. These are readily available at health food stores, and can be bought via the Internet for delivery in the mail.

Don’t let yourself get too fat: persons who are 40% or more above their normal weight stand a much higher risk of getting cancer.

The above simple measures should cut in half the likelihood of you contacting cancer in your lifetime!

Mesothelioma is the term used for a cancerous tumor, which involves the mesothelioma cells of lungs, heart or abdominal organs. Medical specialists in mesothelioma provide treatment to the patients after assessing the stage of the mesothelioma in their specific case. They analyze the location of the cancer, the level to which it is spread and the patient?s age and general health condition.

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which the malignant cells are found in the sac that lines the chest or abdomen. There are four stages of malignant mesothelioma. The first stage is localized mesothelioma and the remaining three are considered advanced stages of mesothelioma. Localized mesothelioma is the phase wherein the cancer is discovered in the lung, diaphragm or in the lining of the chest cavity. The patients in their first stage of mesothelioma get their cancer surgically removed by pleurectomy or decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy.

In the second stage, the cancer is detected to have spread beyond the lining of the chest cavity. In the third stage, the tumor growth spreads into several areas that include chest wall, center of the chest, heart, and throughout the diaphragm. The treatment in the second, third and fourth stages of mesothelium are done in tandem with supportive care. The treatment for these advanced stages focuses on providing a patient with relief from symptoms, as total cure is generally not achieved. The treatment methodology includes thoracentesis that removes fluid accumulation in the chest cavity, operations to remove the tumor and radiation therapy or chemotherapy aimed at easing symptoms.

In the fourth stage, the cancer is in the process of distant metastasis, which implies that it has spread to other organs and tissues far from its site of origin in the pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial mesothelium. Patients suffering from the fourth stage should enroll themselves in clinical trials that evaluate the newest treatment possibilities in large medical centers. Pain management is an essential aspect of the care of such patients. It is important for patients to know that medications are available to effectively treat pain due to mesothelioma. They should request pain medications or discuss pain control problems with their cancer care team.

Does the standard medical approach that encourages cancer patients to eat whatever they want, especially diets rich in meat and dairy products, actually cause many cancer patients to feel worse? Could certain foods often recommended to cancer patients actually feed their malignancies?

The answer to these important questions is a resounding “yes,” according to cancer expert and researcher Keith I. Block, MD, Scientific/Medical Director of the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care and Optimal Health in Evanston, Illinois. “Numerous studies published in peer reviewed medical journals over the past decade, including the Journal of Nutrition, the British Medical Journal and the Journal of Surgical Research have associated the saturated fats found in animal products, partially hydrogenated fats and omega-6 fatty acids with chronic inflammation,” says Dr. Block. “This can potentially contribute to cancer growth as well as the wasting syndrome known as cachexia.” Cachexia affects 8 out of 10 advanced cancer patients and can cause a massive (up to 80%) loss of both fatty tissue and skeletal muscle. In fact, it is often not a malignancy but cachexia that takes the lives of cancer patients. According to the National Cancer Institute cachexia is estimated to be the immediate cause of death in 20% to 40% of cancer patients. In addition to decreasing survival, cachexia also increases complications from all conventional treatments. Typical symptoms include weakness, fatigue, accelerated weight loss, anorexia and chronic nausea, as well as emotional distress and depression.

“Cachexia is not a case of cancer patients simply not eating enough or not feeling like taking nourishment,” says Dr. Block. “The current scientific consensus is that cancer cachexia results primarily from an underlying metabolic imbalance induced by the cancer which causes the body’s metabolism to speed up. This generates a chronic, low-grade inflammation and the breakdown of muscle and other lean tissues, as well as immune suppression. Unfortunately, general recommendations coming out of some cancer organizations encourage eating all you want of the typical American diet. The heavy consumption of fats, refined flours and sugars, can increase inflammation and contribute to more anorexia and debilitating weight loss.” The fallacy in this approach can be likened to trying to keep a leaky container full of liquid by adding more water to it. Solely adding water won’t keep the container full unless the underlying cause – the leak – is rectified. So when it comes to nutritional recommendations, simply consuming more food and calories with high calorie drinks and shakes is not a meaningful solution. More importantly addressing the underlying problem, inflammation, with inflammatory-fighting foods will better correct the underlying metabolic disorder. Then, improving caloric intake with healthy choices will provide a better potential for overcoming this common condition.

So what sort of diet can fight both cachexia as well as other causes of weight loss such as chemotherapy induced loss of appetite? Dr. Block recommends a diet replete with inflammation and cancer fighting phytochemicals, complex carbohydrates and specific, healthy fats and proteins, and individually tailored nutritional supplements; while simultaneously eliminating/reducing inflammatory foods, which may spur the growth of cancer, fuel cachexia and reduce treatment tolerance. Let’s look at these major offenders:

“Bad” dietary fats such omega 6, saturated, and trans fats

“Bad” carbohydrates such as high-glycemic foods

“Bad” cooking methods such as open flame or high-heat preparation techniques like charcoal-grilling and deep frying

To take charge of “bad” fats, one should first, keep total fat consumption under 20% of daily calories. Second, reduce or eliminate saturated fat found in milk, cheese, butter, red meat, pork, coconut, and poultry. Third, eliminate unnatural fat, called trans fat, found abundantly in margarine, hydrogenated oils, as well as many baked goods and convenience foods. And finally, strive for an optimal dietary balance of polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) known as Omega-6’s and omega-3’s. Omega-6 fats (found in certain vegetable oils including corn oil, safflower and sunflower oil) are better reduced, while Omega-3 fats, commonly found in fish oil, as well as the monosaturated fats in olive oil, should be increased.

After taking charge of your fat consumption, one needs to look at the main source of caloric energy—carbohydrates. It turns out that high-glycemcic foods, ones that cause a sudden rise in blood sugar (even in non-diabetics) accelerate the formation of arachadonic acid, a product of omega-6 fatty acid metabolism. This is the main fuel supporting the inflammatory pathway and foods increasing this should be reduced or avoided. These foods include sugar, honey, high-fructose corn syrup, concentrated sweeteners, sugary beverages, cookies, cakes, pastries; white bread, crackers, and sugar-laden or white-flour baked goods.

“This is a scientifically sensible strategy that provides cancer patients with the calories they need from dietary sources that actually support, rather than thwart, their recovery,” says Dr. Block, who, for a quarter of a century, has lived by the unrelenting conviction that no cancer patient should be given up on … there is always something more to try. “Even during chemotherapy, my clinical experience has shown that a grain, legume, fish and vegetable, fruit, nuts and seeds based diet with targeted ‘superfood’ supplementation is the optimal approach to combating cancer related anorexia and weight loss, and even cachexia.”

“It is time for those who treat cancer to put away the unhealthy ‘eat all you want’ myth and incorporate science-based nutrition strategies into their treatment plans for helping patients successfully fight cancer and improve their quality of life.”

For years the lemon has sat awkwardly amongst other fruits. As children we knew the lemon tasted bitter, and because of this, we often found ourselves drawn to its peculiar mystique.

In recent years, the lemon has been used to control the spread of the HIV virus, and has been demonstrated in research studies to kill the HIV virus.

Dr Peter Piot of UNAIDS hailed the discovery that the juice of the lemon kills HIV in the test tube, declaring: ” UNAIDS would like to give you (Professor Roger Short and your ‘LemonAIDS’ team) every encouragement to pursue this exciting new lead.”

Keeping the liver healthy is a critical step in the health and recovery of both cancer patients and those with HIV / AIDS.

According to Dr Leo Roy MD, ND [Immune Perspectives], “No disease, especially degenerative diseases including cancer and AIDS, could survive longer than a few weeks in the presence of a healthy liver.”

A recent discovery by those working with HIV / AIDS has found that combining the simple lemon with extra virgin olive oil and blending these together (with the lemon rind and seeds) and a glass and half of spring water, can and does produce amazing results, when drunk on a daily basis.

The lemon and the extra virgin olive oil, when taken together, act as a potent liver and gallbladder flush, detoxifying the liver, lowering biliruben levels, removing heavy metals, increasing the production of bile from the liver, stimulating lymphatic flow, and restoring the pH of your saliva, which in turn helps you to absorb the nutrients from the food you eat.

The liver is truly the master organ of the immune system, producing chemicals to combat viruses (including the HIV virus) and bacteria, supporting phagocytic [immune function], and producing antihistamines to neutralize substances that promote the growth of cancer. When the liver is not functioning properly – and is over-blocked by toxins – the body’s immune system is severely weakened leading to chronic illness. The lemon & extra virgin olive oil drink not only prevents chronic illness, but works to reverse it.

According to Mark Konlee from his paper How to Reverse Immune Dysfunction - “The immune system has two ‘arms’ - the TH1 and TH2 systems. They tend to be connected: when the one is strong, the other is weak, and visa versa. The Lemon / Extra Virgin Olive Oil drink has been reported to balance the two arms of the immune system. This would help in both suppressed immune system and autoimmune conditions (including HIV / AIDS and cancer).”

Restoring pH levels to normal alkaline levels of 7.0 or greater, is of tremendous importance for the cancer patient. Lemons are one of the most alkaline forming foods on the face of the planet, and when consumed on a regular daily basis (especially with the rind and seeds), cause pH levels in the body to rise and become very alkaline, to levels typically above 7.4 or greater, making it difficult for cancer cells to survive because of the amount of oxygen present. The majority of cancer patients have acidic pH levels of below 6.5, meaning that normal cells are not able to respirate or “breathe” properly. This causes cells to mutate and become cancerous. This discovery was made by Nobel Prize winner Dr. Otto Warburg, who discovered that cancer cells only thrive in a low-oxygen state. In this way, the simple lemon can help to fight cancer.

The lemon & extra virgin olive oil drink also helps to lower and restore biliruben levels in those with liver cancer and liver disease. An elevated biliruben level is a key indicator of a damaged liver. Recently a patient of mine with liver cancer, who had a consistently high biliruben level of 36 (disqualifying her from chemotherapy), took for the first time the lemon & extra virgin olive oil drink. She drank her first and only drink on Thursday. Her biliruben levels had been measured 3 days before and were at the usual 36. She was tested on Friday (one day after her first drink) and her biliruben level measured 28, then two days later it was measured, and it was at 22 (to a near normal level)! This ordinarily skeptical woman was gobsmacked!

So the next time you find yourself walking past a lemon tree, consider how the simple lemon can and is beginning to wage the war against two of the world’s most devastating diseases – cancer and HIV / AIDS.

For further information on the Lemon / Extra Virgin Olive Oil Drink and related articles and research on cancer and HIV / AIDS and beating these diseases naturally, go to www.alternative-cancer-care.com

And even when the symptoms do become evident, which can take several decades, the symptoms are so generalized and non-specific that they could be put down to any number of more common diseases. This makes it hard for even experienced doctors to make a quick and conclusive diagnosis with Mesothelioma patients. The symptoms of this disease can often be confused with pneumonia during its early stages.

Some Common Symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms of Mesothelioma of all three types are shortness of breath and chest pains. This may be accompanied by a persistent cough, and these entire symptoms stem from the build up of fluid between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity, known as pleural effusion.

Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma

In pleural effusion, an accumulation of fluid happens between the parietal pleura (the pleura covering the chest wall and diaphragm) and the visceral pleura (the pleura covering the lungs). Both of these membranes are covered with mesothelial cells which, under normal conditions, produce a small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant between the chest wall and the lung. Any excess fluid is absorbed by blood and lymph vessels maintaining a balance. When too much fluid forms, the result is an effusion.

This type of the disease starts in the chest cavity and can then spread to other parts of the body. Pleural Mesothelioma sufferers may also begin to display severe breathing difficulty, weight loss and fever as well as trouble swallowing and even swelling of the face and neck. Some patients may also develop a rasping voice and start coughing up blood. However, there are other patients that may not show any significant symptoms at all.

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The symptoms for patients who suffer from peritoneal Mesothelioma (a rarer form of the disease) are slightly different. This type of the disease starts in the abdomen and can spread form there. Patients of peritoneal Mesothelioma can display abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, loss of appetite and vomiting. They can also suffer breathing problems, and chest pain in addition to these symptoms. These symptoms result from tumors that lean against the abdominal wall. Bowel obstruction, anemia, fever and problems with blood clotting may also affect peritoneal Mesothelioma patients.

Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma

The rarest form of this disease is pericardial Mesothelioma, which starts in the cavity surrounding the heart. With pericardial Mesothelioma, the tumors grow in the tissues that surround the heart and can spread from there. Pericardial Mesothelioma sufferers may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent coughing and palpitations.

Don’t Lose Hope

Most people who have worked with asbestos in the past do not begin to show symptoms of Mesothelioma until thirty to forty years later. By this time, the disease is already spreading and with the delay in diagnosis, makes it impossible to treat in many cases before it is too late. However, the cause, effects and symptoms of Mesothelioma are now becoming more widely known by professionals and lay people. This awareness, coupled with the current clinical trials that are being carried out by a variety of organizations gives patients the hope that an effective treatment will one day be available for all stages of the disease.

Oxygen is a two-edged sword. It is both vital and detrimental to life itself. In the body, oxygen can change into what are called free radicals. These free radicals attack and destroy healthy cells in a process called oxidation. The rusting of your car is another example of oxidation. Oxidation plays a significant role in both heart disease and cancer. Free radicals speed the progression of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Free radicals also cause diabetes and are known to play a role in both arthritis and asthma.

The body makes free radicals. They also come from avoidable sources like smoking cigarettes or breathing in second-hand smoke. Air pollutants, pesticides, and exhaust fumes also cause free radical damage to cells. Another avoidable source of free radicals is eating food that has been prepared in a microwave oven.

–Microwaves–

The Nazis invented microwave ovens for mobile meal preparation and to assist with the invasion of Russia. After the war, the Russians did thorough research on the biological effects of microwaves. Their studies showed that all food heated in the microwave changed molecularly and becomes a carcinogen (cancer causing). Naturally occurring amino acids in foods are changed to a toxic form. As a result, microwaves were outlawed in the Soviet Union. The Soviets also issued an international warning on the health hazards of microwave technology.

In 1991, Dr. Hans Ulrich Hertel, a food scientist, and Dr. Blanc, a Lausanne University professor, published a research paper on the dangers of cooking in microwave ovens. Their well-controlled study showed that microwave cooking changed the nutrients in the food, which caused degenerative changes in the participants’ blood, reduced immune function, and increased cancer cells in the blood. Studies done at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, the University Institute for Biochemistry, and others had similar findings. Eating microwaved food also causes an interruption in the production of hormones and has a negative effect on the electrical impulses in the brain.

~~ “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” -Joseph Goebbel ~~

As soon as Doctors Hertel and Blanc published their results, the authorities reacted because of industry pressures. In March 1993, Dr. Hertel was convicted of “interfering with commerce” and prohibited from further publishing his results. However, Dr. Hertel stood his ground and fought this decision over the years. Eventually, this decision was reversed in a judgment delivered in Strasbourg, Austria, on August 25, 1998. The European Court of Human Rights held that there had previously been a violation of Hertel’s rights.

~~ “We occasionally stumble over the truth but most of us pick ourselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.” -Winston Churchill ~~

I know the thought of living without a microwave puts people in a panic. However, microwave technology is dangerous. I personally no longer use a microwave. My husband and son came home from Boy Scout Camp one day to find that ours had mysteriously disappeared. After significant research, I couldn’t feed my family or myself anything that had been radiated in a microwave oven. Yes, it has been an adjustment. But my family’s health makes it an adjustment worth making.

–Antioxidants–

Besides avoiding microwaved food and cigarette smoke, oxidation can be slowed or halted by nutrients called antioxidants, which have been shown to help arthritis and asthma. Antioxidants can be found in a variety of vegetables, fruits, and nuts. You want to choose produce in a variety of colors. The color of the individual fruit or vegetable is indicative of the type of antioxidant it contains. Antioxidants are also found in vitamin supplement formulas.

Cancer is not for the faint at heart….I beat it once and I’m in the throes of doing it for the second time and I’m confident that I will beat it again. Fifteen years ago I was diagnosed with cervical cancer…it was so advanced that my oncolgist could only experiment….it worked! He was a doctor of great expertise and taught all over the country and ,of course, I had great confidence in him. You must have confidence in your medical professionals and and get the very best….your life is worth it.

A good support system is also critical….my friends would come to my home (mostly men friends that were “buddies”)….they’d clean my house, run to the store and make me laugh when I really needed it. My daughter was an angel from Heaven through it all….cooking for me, caring for my cats….anything to make my life easier.

Attitude….that’s the real key to beating any disease and my mother taught me that aspect…She was quite elderly and lived 1,500 miles away but called everyday and told me I must fight to get well…it pays to listen to your mother!. I looked upon my life threatening illness as the flu and put in my head that I’d recover soon..I was diagnosed Jan 28th and was back to work by May 1st…..and back to work as a bartender which is quite physical.

This time it’s metastatic breast cancer….it has invaded my lymphnodes and left breast. I started treatment of chemo Sept. 1st….the first four chemo’s were real killers but the maintenance chemo that I get weekly are a piece of cake….by the end of this month I will have surgery and then radiation….then I plan to be brand new.

And what I think is of greatest importance in waging your war against cancer is the power of prayer….it’s power alludes me….but prayer does work. As they say “If you can dream it….you can do it” and power of prayer will help you accomplish it.

Good luck to all you “warriors” fighting to beat cancer….you can do it!

Prevention as an alternative cancer treatment

Since there is no fail-proof treatment available for most types of cancer (unless detected in very early stages), the best you can do is take preventive measures. In that sense, prevention can be called an alternative cancer treatment methodology. So, what all does this alternative cancer treatment methodology suggest.

Physical fitness as an alternative cancer treatment (prevention) methodology

Obesity is said to increase the risk of cancer. So, exercise or adequate physical activity can act as alternative cancer treatment (prevention) methodology. Just mark off some time from your schedule for daily exercise. A number of people think that exercise is synonymous to gymnasium. However, that is not the case. This alternative cancer treatment (prevention) methodology doesn’t ask you to visit gym. You can just participate in simple activities like playing tennis or brisk walking etc.

Diet control is an effective alternative cancer treatment (prevention) methodology

Your diet should consist of all essential nutrients in correct proportions. This will not only act as an alternative cancer treatment (prevention) methodology but also help you in keeping healthy as such (thus evading other diseases/ problems too). As an alternative cancer treatment (prevention) methodology, diet control suggests you to reduce fat content in your food and to include bean and Soya products in your diet. It also suggests that you must refrain from smoking and limit alcoholic drinks to the minimum.

Sun protection as an alternative cancer treatment (prevention) technique

As we know it, UV radiations from sun can cause skin cancer. So, avoidance of direct sunlight can act as an alternative cancer treatment (prevention) methodology. Use of sun tan lotions that have SPV (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15 is recommended as part of this alternative cancer treatment (prevention) technique.

Avoiding pollution – an alternative cancer treatment (prevention) technique

Some pollutants can cause cancer. So, you need to be on your guard against chemical agents/ fumes (especially if you live too close to an industrial area). . Avoiding pollution is surely an alternative cancer treatment (prevention) technique.

Go for early detection of cancer

Everyone dreads cancer. However, early detection of cancer is really an alternative cancer treatment (prevention) technique. Most cancer screening tests are quite easy to perform. Even self-screening is possible for some types of cancer. So, going for cancer screening can act as an alternative cancer treatment (prevention) technique and hence prevent threat to life that is caused by cancer.