Monthly Archives: February 2015

After Cancer, Cancer Survivors

Cancer Super-Survivors Give Us All Hope

Cancer Survivor
Cancer Survivor

Today’s array of immunotherapy  treatments are offering cancer victims something they’ve been robbed of for some time– a fighting chance. Read on to discover more about super-survivors and the treatments that are not only putting immunotherapy in the spotlight, but transforming the future of cancer treatment.

Super-survivor stats:

  • Joseph Rick
    Rick’s advanced melanoma metastasized throughout his body. Years of the side effects of chemo and radiation left a lasting impression, but did not cure his cancer. When doctors gave up hope, Rick turned to a trial vaccine immunotherapy. A year later his tumors had shrunk 50 percent, and after three years he experienced remission.
  • Tom Telford
    A tumor on Telford’s small intestine spread to his liver and kidneys following surgery and chemo, however Telford is still alive nine years later following treatment with immunotherapy.
  • Richard Logan
    Logan’s skin melanoma metastasized to his lung and liver. His cancer has been stabilized five years following treatment with checkpoint inhibitors, a form of immunotherapy.

Treating the immune system, not cancer:
Harnessing the power of the immune system, immunotherapy is charting new territory. It offers a chance at long-term survival, particularly in advanced cancers, with developments in treatment technology such as:

  • Checkpoint inhibitors
    Certain immune system components can prevent immune system warriors, T-cells, from attacking tumors. Checkpoint inhibitors block these components, putting T-cells back in the fight.
  • T-cell therapy
    This therapy involves genetically modifying certain T-cells outside the body, creating “CAR T cells”, which are then re-infused back into the body to attack targets on the surface of cancer cells.
  • And many more therapies both in use and under investigation.

Want to be a super-survivor? Contact Issels® today.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Immunotherapy

One Fight Against Cancer – A Story of Immunotherapy

Fighting Cancer With Immunotherapy
Fighting Cancer With Immunotherapy

When 36-year-old real estate agent Sue Scott’s cervical cancer was found to have not only returned, but spread to her lymph nodes just a few short months after she believed it was beaten, Scott put on her boxing gloves and turned to immunotherapy.

Limited options
Having previously received the maximum amount of radiation possible in her lifetime and with chemo unable to prevail against Sue’s metastatic cervical cancer, she turned to the surgeon who previously treated her mother’s uterine cancer with a hysterectomy.

An experimental approach
Following in the footsteps of her mother, Sue also underwent a hysterectomy, as well as the removal of cancerous lymph nodes and organs. The surgeon then proceeded to tell her about an immunotherapy trial at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda that could give her a chance.

Immunotherapy at work
In immunotherapy, the patient’s own immune system is used to attack tumors, offering hope to metastatic cancer sufferers who have little left in the way of treatment options. There are multiple forms of immunotherapy available. Sue’s treatment involved T-cell therapy in which tumor-fighting immune cells are isolated, grown in a lab, and then re-infused into the body. The tumor is then removed and a regimen of intense chemo follows.

Promising results
A month after the conclusion of Sue’s treatment, CT scans revealed significant shrinkage to the 7 tumors throughout her body. Two months following treatment she was cancer-free, and appears to be in remission nearly three years to the day of her diagnosis.

Are you looking for alternative cancer treatments that give you the chance at the same promising results Sue experienced? Contact Issels® today to learn more.

Cancer Research

Will Your Low Fat Diet Help You Beat Breast Cancer?

Woman with Basket of Food
A Low Fat Diet May Help You Beat Breast Cancer.

A study by Dr. Rowan Chlebowski, a medical oncologist at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center’s Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, shows that some women diagnosed with breast cancer who maintain a low-fat diet may reduce their risk of early death.

Research for women in the early stages of breast cancer specific to estrogen receptor-negative (ER-negative) cancer showed positive results. For this group, Dr. Chlebowski’s study showed a reduced risk of death factor of 36 percent over a 15-year study for patients who maintained a diet of low-fat food for five years after being diagnosed.

For women diagnosed with both ER-negative and progesterone-receptor negative (PR-negative) cancer, the results were even higher. Following the same five year low-fat diet regimen after initial diagnosis, patients experienced a 56 percent reduction in risk of death due to any cause.

The study included over 2,400 women ranging in age from 48 to 79 in the early stages of breast cancer. Of the 2,400 women, approximately 1,600 were diagnosed with ER-positive cancer while the remaining 800 were diagnosed with ER-negative or both ER and PR-negative cancer.

During the study, low-fat diets for half of the women was a requirement. Unannounced checks were made throughout the study. The other group was not required to maintain a low-fat diet. The study showed a lower death rate in the low-fat diet research group.

The study is the first where a low-fat diet over an extended period for cancer patients has been researched.

For information about how integrative immuno-oncology works in the treatment of breast cancer, contact Issels®. Established in 1951, Issels® has made a name for itself internationally for its success in the long-term remission of advanced tumors.

 

Alternative Cancer Treatment

Is the Price of Cancer Care Killing Patients?

Stack of Money
Is the price of cancer care too high?

Fighting cancer involves full concentration of a patient’s physical, mental and emotional resources. Keeping a positive frame of mind is one of the most effective weapons in the battle. Sadly, patients are increasingly distracted by concern over the financial toll of their survival.

It’s not unusual for a full round of chemotherapy to cost $100,000. Medication can run into the thousands just for one month’s supply. Considering the fact that these treatments are only a fraction of the total medical care required by cancer patients, it’s clear that the dollars involved go well beyond any investment undertaken by most people.

We consider life to be priceless, but cancer patients are forced to consider the literal value of gaining an extra year, month, or even week. They conduct a debate with themselves whether or not it’s worth the gamble of leaving their families with no financial resources.

Since not all treatments are covered, healthcare insurance is often only a partial solution at best. Far too many people exist in the grey area where they are above the threshold of qualifying for assistance but not well-off enough to afford the exorbitant costs of medical care.

This quandary also puts healthcare providers in a difficult situation. Not only do they have to weight the risks and benefits of potential treatments, they have to consider the economic hardship they could mean for patients.

Our caring staff at Issels® work with you every step of the way to develop a personalized course of alternative cancer treatment to fit your individual needs. Please contact us to learn more about our services.

 

Cancer Research, Cancer Survivors, Living with Cancer

February 4th is World Cancer Day

Today is World Cancer Day.
Today is World Cancer Day.

Some catastrophic events cast dark shadows long before they occur. A cancer diagnosis frequently comes like a thunderbolt on a cloudless day. It can strike any person of any station in life and at any age. At Issels® Integrative Immuno-Oncology, we have more than 60 years experience successfully treating cancer patients. Join with us by participating in World Cancer Day 2015 as we celebrate cancer treatment  successes, continue striving for further advancements in research, and educate others on the importance of healthy living and early cancer detection.

Not beyond us

This year’s tag line reminds us all that cancer is “not beyond us” and that we should remain vigilant in our fight against this deadly disease. In the United States, cancer is second only to cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of deaths. According to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), more than 50 percent of the cancer related deaths that will occur this year could have been prevented. Tobacco use is the leading cause.

What can you do?

The earlier in life you adopt a healthy lifestyle, the lower your risk of developing cancer. Protect yourself from this and other non communicable diseases by not using any form of tobacco, keeping any alcohol consumption to a minimum, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting plenty of exercise. The financial and emotional toll of treating cancer far outweighs the effort and investment required to implement preventive behaviors into your life.

To stay updated on the latest cancer screening methods and to learn more about our non-toxic immunotherapy treatments, visit the Issels® Integrative Immuno-Oncology website and sign up for our free e-Newsletter.

 

Alternative Cancer Treatment

The Importance of Cancer Pathology In Your Cancer Treatment

Sign Stop Cancer
Stopping Cancer

Getting an accurate diagnosis is crucial before making decisions on what type of cancer treatment to undergo. The treatment you’ll benefit from the most typically depends on what type of cancer you have and how advanced it is. One of the most effective ways to determine this is through pathology.

The Role of Pathologists

Pathologists provide in-depth diagnoses and might even end up changing a patient’s diagnosis depending on what they find, although this is rare. These specialists examine tumors and tissue in order to determine whether cancer is present, how serious it is and whether surrounding areas have been affected. They also run additional tests to see if the cancer will spread and study its nature.

Pathologists use advanced technology, including genetic sequencing, to provide an even more accurate diagnosis or to look for genetic mutations that could affect the type of treatment you need. In addition to performing these tests, pathologists consider several other factors, such as:

  • Family medical history
  • Personal medical history
  • Other health conditions
  • Age
  • Imaging tests

Taking all of these factors into considerations, along with test results, helps pathologists come up with the most effective ways to treat cancer. For example, if they find a slow-growing cancer, you might be able to put off treatment and have your condition monitored instead. If you have cancer that’s not likely to spread or a certain genetic mutation, pathologists might recommend targeted therapies. Once you have a diagnosis, you can start considering your treatment options.

If you need help finding the right non-toxic cancer treatment, please contact Issels®. We offer a wide range of nontoxic immunotherapy options for all types and stages of cancer.