Monthly Archives: November 2015

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Living with Cancer

Exercise Tips for Cancer Patients – When and If You Should Start an Exercise Program

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Ways to Reduce the Risk of Getting Cancer
Exercise

The benefits of daily exercise may be particularly beneficial to those undergoing cancer treatment and cancer survivors. At Issels® Center for Integrative Immuno-Oncology, we find that cancer treatments often work best when in conjunction with the overall health and wellbeing of the patient.

Dr. Colleen Doyle of the American Cancer Society recently explained the benefits of exercise to HemOnc Today. Below is a synopsis of her informative comments.

Should Cancer Patients Exercise?

Patients should discuss their condition, treatment, and previous activity levels with a physician before beginning physical activity. Those who exercised regularly before may need to place limits on exertion levels and duration. If you seldom exercised prior to diagnosis, minimal stretching and walking may be best.

Other considerations include the side effects of treatment and increased risks in those with compromised immune systems. You may need to avoid the germs at public gyms, for example. Those with weakened muscles and bones may need supervision when beginning exercise.

Benefits of Physical Activity During and After Cancer Treatment

For those dealing with cancer, exercise benefits the musculoskeletal system and may enhance one’s physical wellbeing and capabilities. Exercise also reduces stress levels, improving their mood and overall outlook in life. It can also fend off the fatigue of illness and treatment with a boost to energy levels.

Exercise can also bring a sense of normalcy and activity to life. One might consider physical activity to be a much-needed break from the rigors of undergoing treatment.

For many, exercise may be an important method of improving survivorship and quality of life. For more information about holistic and individualized cancer treatment, contact Issels® Center for Integrative Immuno-Oncology.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Living with Cancer

Cancer Treatments May Affect Nutrition – What to Know

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Food is Life
Food is Life

Food is life. You’ve heard these three simple words many times, but if you’ve been diagnosed with cancer they take on a whole deeper meaning. Ironically, the disease can interfere with nutrition at the time you need it most. Use these helpful guidelines to create a healthy eating plan with your doctor.

Why good nutrition is a valuable weapon against cancer

Food is more than just fuel to run your body’s engine. Nutrients in your diet protect and renew tissue cells, maintain your weight for maximum strength, and boost your immune system. A well-balanced diet improves quality of life and may even aid your chances of recovery.

Cancer can alter the digestive process

Certain tumors, especially those found in the stomach or intestines, produce chemicals that limit absorption of nutrients. While you might feel that you’re ingesting a sufficient amount of calories and nutrients, your body may not be able to use them fully.

Side effects of cancer and its treatment can affect appetite and eating

It’s not usual for cancer patients to experience vomiting, diarrhea, dysphagia (difficulty with swallowing), and other side effects that disrupt eating and prevent healthy snacking, particularly when undergoing treatment. Psychological effects like depression and anxiety can also reduce appetite.

Discuss any diet and nutrition concerns with your doctor

Don’t get discouraged if you have problems getting enough food and nutrients. Medicine and other therapies are available to help you meet your nutritional needs.

Our non-toxic immuno-oncology therapies are personalized to incorporate your individual lifestyle elements, including diet and nutrition, environment and genetic predisposition. Visit our website to learn more about the Issels® difference.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, News

New Advance in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Just in Time for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

New Understanding of Pancreatic Cancer
New Understanding of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer can be difficult to treat with conventional methods, such as chemotherapy. With this form of cancer on the rise, researchers have been working on developing other forms of treatment that might be more effective. Recent developments have led to a new type of treatment for pancreatic cancer that is showing promise as a highly successful way to boost survival rates.

Irreversible Electroporation

Researchers have come up with a treatment that delivers small yet strong electrical bursts that destroy pancreatic cancer cells, which is known as irreversible electroporation (IRE). These electrical bursts create holes in the cells, which leads them to die off. The use of this type of treatment has been associated with a survival rate that nearly doubles for those who also undergo a traditional form of treatment, such as chemo-radiotherapy. IRE is able to affect cancer cells while leaving noncancerous tissue around those cells unharmed, which can lower the risk of side effects and complications.

Researchers are planning on testing IRE in clinical trials to better determine its effectiveness for those with pancreatic cancer. The current study that was conducted involved 200 adults who were diagnosed with Stage III pancreatic cancer. While roughly half of those participants ended up with complications after undergoing IRE, these effects were considered minimal. Researchers found that the average survival rate for study participants was two years, although some lived for up to seven years.

If you would like more information on our non-toxic forms of treatment for pancreatic cancer, please contact the Issels® Center for Integrative Immuno-Oncology. We offer immunotherapy and other types of alternative cancer treatments.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research

Research on Polar Organisms May Shed New Light on Effective Cancer Treatment

New Research on Polar Organisms
New Research on Polar Organisms

Cryobiology is the study of how low temperatures affect living things. It has been around for thousands of years and lead to many life-saving procedures like cryopreservation of organs at low temperatures for transplant. Immunotherapy has been around for over one hundred years and is used by Issels® immuno-oncology to successfully treat many types of cancer. While transplant organs are stored at cool temperatures, blood, semen and many thin tissues can be maintained practically indefinitely via liquid nitrogen cryopreservation at sub-freezing temperatures. Many living organisms can survive long periods below freezing.

Understanding how some micro-organisms are thriving in the harsh Polar Regions may help researchers develop new cancer treatment techniques.

Arctic study of bacteria may provide new cancer treatments

Shiv Mohan Singh is a cryobiologist and senior researcher with Goa’s National Center for Antarctic and Ocean Research. As a member of India’s first expedition to the Arctic back in 2007, Singh has been studying how some organisms develop survival mechanisms to endure the harsh climate.

They have found that bacteria in Arctic glaciers survive by producing anti-freeze proteins, opening up possible applications in the cryopreservation of blood and organs. One substance that is of particular interest is thelebolan, a derivative from an Antarctic fungus, which has been shown to stall tumor cell growth and induce cell death in cancer lines.

When modern insights and innovations are applied to sciences that have been around for many years, incredible advancements are made in medical treatments. Issels® immuno-oncology uses highly personalized immunotherapy and other non-toxic alternative treatments for cancer. Visit our news blog for the latest advancements in cancer research and contact us to learn more about our integrative immunotherapy treatments.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Uncategorized

What Are Tumor Markers and Why Are They Important?

Tumor Markers
Tumor Markers

Not all cancers behave the same way or produce identical markers. Some people with the same type of cancer will have higher levels of tumor markers while others with that cancer will not have the elevated levels. At the Issels® Immuno-Oncology Centers, we understand that highly personalized immunotherapy is often the best approach to achieve long-term remission.

What are tumor markers?

These markers are substances that are produced by the actual cancer itself or other healthy cells in the body when cancer is present. They may also occur in response to some noncancerous conditions. For example, a benign tumor may result in tumor markers.

While the most commonly recognized markers are proteins found in the stool, urine, blood, or other tissue sample from the person, changes to DNA and altered gene expression are starting to be used as tumor markers. Currently, there are over 20 unique tumor markers identified and used for the detection, research and treatment of cancer.

Why they are important?

In addition to helping doctors assess the effectiveness of treatment, tumor markers are measured after treatment has ceased to see if the cancer has returned. Tumor markers may one day be useful in detecting cancer while it is still in its early stages. Because there is not one “universal” tumor marker, they sometimes occur in noncancerous conditions, and may vary based on individual factors.

You can read about the latest cancer treatment breakthroughs by following the Issels news blog. Contact Issels® Center for Integrative Immuno-Oncology to learn more about our non-toxic, personalized immunotherapy cancer treatment protocols.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, Stage Four Cancer Treatment

What to Understand about Metastatic Cancer

Understanding Stage IV
Understanding Stage IV

Have you heard reference to the term “metastatic cancer” but you’re unsure what it means? It may sound like a technical term, but it’s a relatively straightforward concept. Here are some facts to help demystify the issue.

Metastatic cancer is also called “stage IV” or “advanced”

All three terms refer to cancer that has spread from its original location to other parts of the body. Metastasis is the process by which cancer cells migrate via the blood or lymph system.

Metastatic tumors are treated the same as the original tumors

The tumors are called by the same name and treated with the same protocols as the primary cancer. If the original location cannot be determined, it’s considered to be carcinoma of unknown primary origin, or CUP. The patient undergoes a series of diagnostic tests to help doctors zero in on possible locations of the main tumor as well as appropriate courses of treatment.

Different forms of cancer are more likely to travel to particular areas

For example, breast cancer most commonly metastasizes to the lungs or bones. In addition, stage IV cancer may spread to one or several additional locations.

Metastatic cancer can be successfully treated

While the spread of tumors is a serious development, medical advances have made significant improvements in life expectancy for stage IV patients. Ongoing tests and studies continue to make breakthroughs in effective protocols.

Our state-of-the-art, non-toxic immunotherapy protocols boost your body’s own ability to fight cancer at any stage. Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive, individualized treatment programs at Issels®.