Monthly Archives: September 2016

Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, News, Uncategorized

Alcohol Use is linked to Seven Different Types of Cancers

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Alcohol Linked to Seven Different Types of Cancer
Alcohol Linked to Seven Different Types of Cancer

It’s time to acknowledge that alcohol consumption has an overall negative effect on health. Based on recent research in Addiction, alcohol has a direct causal effect on seven types of cancer.

In addition to liver cancer, frequent drinkers are more likely to develop cancer in the colon, bowel, mouth and throat, and breast cancer in women.

The Link between Alcohol and Cancer

While past analyses have concluded that the link between alcohol use and cancer may not be causal, the latest research indicates that the statistics are simply not strong enough for the link to be explained by other factors.

A report, written by New Zealand’s Jennie Connor of the University of Otago, explains the connection:

• Alcohol caused about 6% of cancer deaths in 2012.

• Women who consume 2 drinks per day have a 16% higher risk of dying from breast cancer compared to non-drinkers.

• Heavy drinkers (averaging 5 drinks per day) have a 40% increased risk of cancer.

• Mouth, throat, and esophagus cancers are more strongly linked to alcohol (the risk of colon and breast cancer are heightened, but less so).

Is Moderate Drinking Safe?

Research doesn’t rule out the safety of drinking moderately — defined as an average of 14 drinks per week or less. However, the report stresses that alcohol is linked to other cancers, besides liver cancer, and that these risks outweigh anecdotal evidence like wine being good for the heart.

Emerging Science: Immunotherapy for Cancer

Immunotherapy for cancer may help patients interested in non-toxic, forward-thinking treatment options such as cancer vaccines and immune cell therapies. Contact us at Issels® for information about our individualized cancer care.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, News

Stanford Scientists Research New Ways to Target Cancer

New Approaches to Cancer Bring New Perspectives to Potentially Solving this Disease.
New Approaches to Cancer Bring New Perspectives to Potentially Solving this Disease.

Cancer treatment has come a long way in the last 20 years. From immunotherapy for cancer to synthesized protein antibodies, cancer patients now have a variety of options to choose from when it comes to treatment in early or late stages.

Stanford Study Shows Promise

One of the major drawbacks of chemotherapy is the range of side effects that come with a dose strong enough to take care of a tumor. Stanford researchers have found a way to bind a synthetic protein to specific molecules in the lining of certain cells, allowing them to easily pass through without needing to be delivered via the blood stream.

Since particularly dense tumors are difficult to treat due to their lack of blood flow, many chemotherapy drugs need to be administered in high doses to get the desired effect.

The Importance of Synthetic Protein Antibodies

Much like a sponge, a tumor might absorb these special protein antibodies just by contact, leading to the saturation of the chemical within the tumor. This can cause the cancer cells to die off and the tumor to shrink, possibly eliminating the cancer causing cells completely.

All of this is done without the harmful effects of large doses of chemotherapy drugs. While these synthetic protein antibodies show promise, they could still be a few years away from the mass market.

It’s good to know that immunotherapy for cancer already exists even for late-stage patients, and new treatments are being developed by researchers to improve life expectancy and quality of life. If you would like to receive more information, get in touch with us today.

Living with Cancer, Stress Management

Tips on What to Eat While in Cancer Treatment

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Start Your Day and Body Off Right with a Healthy Diet!
Start Your Day and Body Off Right with a Healthy Diet!

Cancer does not exist in a vacuum. Immunotherapy for cancer takes a patient’s lifestyle, environment, and genetic tendencies into consideration in developing personalized protocols. It’s not surprising that nutrition can play an important part in successful cancer treatment.

Here are some tips from WebMD regarding healthy eating habits and dietary choices to follow during your treatment for cancer:

Healthy Eating Habits

  • Instead of waiting until you’re hungry, eat smaller meals at scheduled times of the day.
  • Eat dense, nutrient-rich foods such as avocados, nuts and beans that pack a lot of power into a small amount.
  • Make a point of plating your food using garnishes and other decorative touches to make it visually appealing.
  • During treatment, you may be more susceptible to germs. Use proper treatment methods such as washing and rinsing produce and cooking meat thoroughly.

Healthy Dietary Choices

  • At least 50 percent of each meal should come from fruits and/or vegetables, and aim for meatless meals two to three times a week.
  • Choose whole grain breads and cereals instead of so-called “white foods” made with processed and refined flour.
  • Avoid high-sugar foods that provide empty calories with no nutrition.
  • Keep items like carrot sticks, apples and berries on hand for convenient snacking.
  • Get nutrition from natural sources rather than supplements. In any case, consult your doctor before using dietary supplements, as they can interfere with treatment.

Issels®: Leading the Way in Immunotherapy Treatments

Immunotherapy for cancer is designed to boost your own immune system’s ability to identify and fight tumors. Contact us to learn more about our non-toxic treatments such as cancer vaccines and activated NK cells.

Living with Cancer

PubMed.gov: Probiotics Play a Cancer Protective Role

Eating healthy can boost your immune system!
Eating healthy can boost your immune system!

For the last few years, yogurt commercials have been touting the value of probiotics for gastrointestinal health. A growing body of evidence shows that probiotics may also play a substantial role in protecting against the development of cancer.

Probiotics: Nature’s “Good” Bacteria

Fermented dairy products like yogurt produce lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which slows down the spoilage process. As “good” bacteria, LAB releases enzymes into the intestinal tract that improve digestion and increase absorption of nutritional substances.

LAB also has a number of properties that appear to suppress cancer. It reduces mutagenic cellular activities leading to genetic changes, as well as enzymes that promote carcinogens and other tumor-related substances. Other cancer-specific benefits include:

  • Activation and modulation of the immune system’s response
  • Facilitation of pathways for cytokines, which are proteins that help to govern cell-based immune responses
  • Regulation of interleukins and other tumor necrosis factors

What Does the Future Hold?

Both in vitro and in vivo tests have shown promising results regarding the inhibitive effect of probiotics on colon, liver, and bladder cancers. Reports suggest that probiotics boost the activity of anti-oxidants which protect against cell damage, which can increase the risk of cancer.

Immunotherapy for Cancer: Aiding the Body’s Natural Defenses

Probiotics assist your body’s immune response, which is the same goal of immuno-oncology protocols such as cancer vaccines and gene-targeted therapies. Our non-toxic, personalized treatments have successfully helped patients with all forms of cancer, including breast, lung, and liver. Contact us today to learn more about how you could benefit from immunotherapy for cancer at Issels®.

Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, News

Eating Fish with Omega-3 May Cut Bowel Cancer Risk

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Omega 3's Cut Bowel Cancer Risk
Omega 3’s Cut Bowel Cancer Risk

More than 49,000 people in the U.S. will die this year from bowel cancer, making it the second leading cancer-related cause of death among people aged 40+. Exciting new findings from a British research team have shown that Omega-3 fatty acids can drastically reduce the chances of dying from bowel cancer by up to 41%.

Importance of Omega-3

Commonly found in certain fish, this fatty acid appears to have a wide variety of health benefits. Omega-3 tends to lower triglycerides, slow memory loss, reduce inflammation, and even improve symptoms of depression as well as ADHD in both children and adults.

Immunotherapy for Cancer and Other Treatments

The amount of research going into cancer treatment is great news for those at risk of developing cancer in their lifetime. Immunotherapy for cancer is experiencing multiple breakthroughs every year, and studies into Omega-3s and other natural remedies are picking up steam. A cure still seems elusive, but cancer patients have seen enormous quality of life improvements over the past two decades.

What Do Omega-3 Supplements Mean in the Long-term?

They mean that while your risk of dying from bowel cancer may go down significantly, they do not seem to help prevent cancer from forming. As you age, your body loses its ability to properly rid itself of cancerous cells before they turn into a problem. While this research is promising, there’s still a lot of work to be done in analyzing the relationship between Omega-3 fatty acids and cancer.

Issels® has been helping individuals with cancer develop personalized treatment plans for the last 60 years. Let our decades of experience work for you.

 

Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, News

National Cancer Institute: Vitamin D and the Cancer Risk Connection

Vitamin D To Reduce Risks of Cancer
Vitamin D To Reduce Risks of Cancer

Remember how Mom always told you to drink your milk so you would have strong bones? Researchers have discovered that vitamin D, found in fortified milk and other sources, may also reduce your risk of getting cancer.

Can Vitamin D Lower Your Risk of Cancer?

Vitamin D is actually a group of fat-soluble prohormones that the body uses to synthesize hormones. In addition to foods, sunshine is a valuable source of vitamin D, which is absorbed through the skin.

The possible link between vitamin D and cancer risk first arose during studies of cancer incidence and death rates based on geographic location. Numbers were found to be lower among people living in southern latitudes, where exposure to sunlight is more frequent.

Analysis of the results led researchers to consider the possibility of different vitamin D levels accounting for the incidence rates. Tests on mice have shown that vitamin D intake can slow down or prevent cancer cell growth, tumor blood vessel formation, and other processes that aid the development of cancer.

Ongoing Vitamin D Clinical Trials

At this point, most of the medical evidence has come from tests designed to study other health-related issues. Clinical researchers are now conducting tests specifically focused on the relationship between vitamin D and cancer. These studies include trials of vitamin D supplements and vitamin D analogs, which are substances that resemble the chemical but don’t have the calcium-boosting properties.

State-of-the-Art Immunotherapy for Cancer

Immunotherapy for cancer at Issels® incorporates the latest findings on non-toxic treatments that help your body’s own immune system to fight cancer. Contact us for more information.