Artificial Turf and Cancer in Young Athletes

November 28, 2014 heavy

Questions About Artificial Turf as a Cancer Reagent — Questions About Artificial Turf as a Cancer Agent

Artificial turf has been a normal part of many types of sports for years, but did you know it might not be safe? There is some speculation that the turf, which is made from synthetic fabrics and old, recycled tires could actually cause cancer. Here at Issels® we’re dedicated to exploring such theories and informing you about these types of potential dangers.

According to the article on the Washington Post website, the rubber crumbs that young athletes are constantly removing from their hair, clothes and face contain benzene, carbon black and lead, which are all cancer-causing materials. This presents a risk for anyone who plays on a rubber crumb field, but it might be even more risky for soccer goalies.

In 2009, the associate head soccer coach for Washington University, Amy Griffin, was visiting two of her female goalies in the hospital. Both of them had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. A nurse informed Amy that the number of goalies she had treated recently had risen dramatically. The coach formed a hypothesis regarding the relationship between that particular soccer position and the fields they were playing on.

For soccer goalies, their bodies are in constant contact with the ground. Not only does that lead to cuts, scrapes and abrasions, but it also means that the rubber crumbs from the turf could be entering their wounds. Her theory is further supported by the fact that blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma seem to be the common types of cancer goalies are being diagnosed with.

Perhaps you or someone you love is battling a cancer diagnosis after having played on artificial turf. Here at Issels®, we have excellent treatment options and we will design a personalized plan that can help you, even if your cancer is advanced. Please contact us today.

After Cancer, Cancer Survivors, News

Researchers Harness the HIV Virus to Fight Leukemia

November 26, 2014 heavy

The initials “HIV” are rarely associated with positive health news. In an amazing breakthrough, researchers at Penn Medicine have had success using the HIV virus to treat patients with incurable leukemia.

Dr. Carl June and his team at the University of Pennsylvania Health System have been working on the therapy for 20 years. The key to this treatment is the characteristic of the HIV virus to insert new genes into cells.

The procedure begins with billions of T-cells being removed from a patient’s body. A disabled form of HIV is then used to reprogram the T-cells, rendering them capable of recognizing, targeting and killing the cancer. At this point they are returned to the patient’s body to perform their mission.

According to Dr. June, once the cancer has been treated these “killer cells” become dormant, returning to action only if the cancer recurs. Out of 12 patients who have received the treatment, nine are in full or partial remission.

One of the successful cases is that of Marshall Jensen, a newlywed and young parent from Utah who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. So far, Dr. June’s treatment has accomplished what nearly three years of traveling the country for various surgeries and procedures could not.

What’s next for Dr. June and his team? They hope to be able to adapt this therapy to treat other forms of cancer. Trials on patients with pancreatic cancer are scheduled to begin in the summer of 2015.

Progress continues to be made in the fight against cancer nearly every day. Subscribe to our e-newsletter to get the latest information, including health and nutrition tips, delivered right to your inbox.

Cancer Research, News

Could Your Breast Implants Cause Cancer?

November 24, 2014 heavy

Find Out More About Breast Cancer Treatment

Women everywhere are turning to breast implants to improve body image, however a new study suggests there may be an unthinkable risk – a rare type of lymph cancer known as Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL). How are victims of this phenomena treating their cancer?

ALCL treatment options ALCL cancer victims have been successfully treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The lymphomas were also discovered to disappear on their own following removal of the implants and the surrounding tissue. Subtypes and outcomes include:

• Subtype 1 In this subtype, women with protein positive ALCL, where tumor cells produce an abnormal protein, were said to have better outcomes.

• Subtype 2 In this subtype, protein anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is not produced by cancer cells.

• Subtype 3 Discovered during the study and requiring further research, the tumors cells in this subtype also do not produce ALK.

How many women have been effected? ALCL has been documented in 71 women who have undergone breast augmentation. The cancer develops several years after surgery, in the scar tissue surrounding the implant.

Why are the implants causing lymphoma? Unfortunately, researchers have been unable to pinpoint the particular reason(s) for the breast implants resulting in cancer. It is theorized, however, that perhaps an abnormal immune response from the body is resulting in the emergence of this cancer.

Digging a little deeper The team that conducted the study, a research team of experts from the Medical University in Vienna, the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research, are expected to perform further studies to determine the impact of implants and dentures in other parts of the body.

Concerned about the impact implants may be having on your body? If you have developed this type of breast cancer please consider checking with Issels Integrative Oncology today.

Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, News

New Breast Cancer Medication Causes an Exceptional Response in Test Patients

November 21, 2014 heavy

New Innovative Treatments Are In The News

‘Hope springs eternal’ is a good old-fashioned saying that fits perfectly when discussing a new breast cancer medication that is sparking positive results.

The drug in the news is called, everolimus – brand name Afinitor. It has been approved for two years and used to fight against certain breast cancers and also treat tumors in the pancreas and kidneys. It is known for creating “exceptional responses” to treatment due to a recent turn of events for patient, Grace Silva, whose story was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

After taking the drug for approximately two months, the 58-year-old experienced her “exceptional response” when tumors in her lungs virtually disappeared. According Dr. Jochen Lorch, Silva’s oncologist, this type of result from drugs is nearly non-existent.

Research studies to understand why exceptional responses occur are on-going. One reason is due to a technology known as next generation sequencing. The once very expensive test to decode DNA genetics in cancer patients is now much more affordable due next-generation technology.

With this genetic technology available, doctors have additional information at hand that helps them determine mutations in tumors, such as Grace Silvas. Mutations can have several effects including increasing the size of a tumor, enabling cancer cells to resist drugs, or working toward shrinking tumors.

Another piece of good new is from the National Cancer Institute that has initiated a new program called the Exceptional Responders Initiative focused on cataloging and identifying mutation patterns. This new initiative along with upgrades by cancer researchers to the way they work with new drugs is jump-starting additional studies. With new visions on the horizon, the future for cancer patients is brighter.

If you are seeking new innovative treatments for your cancer, we invite you to evaluate the Issels Treatment programs.

Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, News

2014 Breast Cancer Findings of Special Note

November 19, 2014 heavy

Newspaper — Cancer Findings of Note in the News

Cancer can strike any of us at any age and leave us feeling helpless and uncertain of what to do in response. Issels Integrative Immuno-Oncology has been successfully treating cancer patients with individualized therapy since 1951. The Issels Foundation researches holistic treatment and educates people about their options for combating cancer. This has been a significant year for breast cancer research. New information published can help every woman.

Diabetes is linked to breast tumor size

The Huffington Post reports that high levels of insulin in the blood stream may stimulate growth of tumor cells. This is according to Dr. Caterina Fontanella, MD, who says, “We therefore believe that strict control of blood sugar levels is essential to the successful treatment of breast cancer.”

One skirt size increases breast cancer risk

We know obesity increases everyone’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease. A recent study published in the British Medical Journal finds a person who increases one skirt size every 10 years has a 33 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Some birth control pills likely increase risk

Women taking pills containing high levels of estrogen may have a 50 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who have never taken oral contraceptives, according to a recent study. The increased risk declines when they stop taking these birth control pills.

Lifestyle changes reduce breast cancer risk for all

According to two studies by the Yale Cancer Center, breast cancer survivors who eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise reduce the chance of cancer coming back and increase their likelihood of survival.

Visit our website for the latest developments in cancer research.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Immuno-Oncology

Nanoparticles: Attacking Cancer from All Angles

November 17, 2014 heavy

The second leading cause of death in the U.S., the fight against cancer needs all the weapons in its arsenal that it can get. Step-in nanoparticles, tiny but tough tools ready for battle in the war.

An enormous job for infinitesimal workers: Nanotechnology in early cancer detection
Targeted delivery of specific nanoparticles to a tumor site can induce a reaction with cancer cells, prompting the body to significantly increase the production of biomarkers necessary for cancer identification. Earlier detection and diagnosis allow less burdensome treatments, offers a faster diagnosis than biopsies, and increases chances of recovery.

Miniature mappers: Nanoparticles in imaging
Nanoparticles engineered with magnetic properties are effective imaging agents when used with MRI scans. Nanites bind particularly well with tumors, allowing a very high resolution, clear map of cancerous sites for the planning of surgical removal or treatment.

Small but mighty: Nanites in cancer therapy and drug delivery
A revolutionary new technology in the fight against cancer, nanoparticles are capable of a variety of attacks against this deadly disease. Nanites can be injected into a tumor to produce heat, allowing for the destruction of cancer cells locally with X-rays, magnetic fields, or light; They can be used to encapsulate chemotherapy drugs or genes for localized delivery and a significant reduction in quantity of drugs as well as a reduction in side effects and impact on healthy tissue; and more, including an array of up-and-coming technology (LINK TO GOOGLE ARTICLE) currently under development.

Don’t stand on the sidelines in the fight against cancer. Learn more about how technology at Issels Integrative Oncology can help you today.

The Issels News Blog

Monthly Archives: November 2014