All posts by Chris

Cancer Treatment, Uncategorized

What is Cancer and How Does it Develop?

When you or someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, learning as much as you can about this disease can be helpful. This knowledge can help you make decisions on cancer treatment and understand more about how this disease develops.

What Is Cancer?

Although you’ve probably heard about cancer for years, you might not know exactly what it is. Cancer is a disease that causes cells in your body to grow and multiply in an abnormal way. Usually, your cells normally grow when certain signals in your body tell them to. Cancer cells don’t need these signals in order to grow. Instead, they grow on their own. These cells also don’t pay attention to signals that tell them to stop growing.

In some cases, cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body, which is known as metastasis. Cancer cells typically form tumors that are able to grow and travel to other areas of your body. Certain types of cancer, such as blood cancers, do not usually have solid tumors.

Cancer Development

How does cancer develop? This disease can develop when changes in certain genes occur. These genes are responsible for controlling how cells grow and divide, so changes to them can result in abnormal growth.

These genetic changes can occur for different reasons, such as DNA damage from the sun’s ultraviolet rays or cigarette smoke. In some cases, these changes are inherited from parents. In other cases, errors during cell division can lead to these changes.

Ways to Treat Cancer

Different treatment options for cancer include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and immunotherapy. Each option treats cancer in a different way.

If you’re interested in learning more about immunotherapy for cancer, please contact Issels® today. We can help you learn more about this type of cancer treatment.

Cancer Treatment, Uncategorized

Why Some Cancers are Resistant to Traditional Therapies

Advances in cancer treatment allow for precision targeting of cells that cause damage. The flip side is that some cancers can become resistant to these traditional therapies. What are the factors behind this concerning development?

Mutations vs. Behavioral Changes

It’s well-established that cancer is a genetic disease. Changes in DNA, whether they’re random accidents or caused by carcinogens such as tobacco or UV rays, result in cancer by altering the way cells grow and multiply.

In some cases, cancer cells will mutate in such a way as to “dodge” the effects of treatment. However, in cases that doctors are observing with targeted chemotherapy, DNA remains the same and it’s the gene activity that changes. Epigenetic signals, a layer of regulators that control the activity of genes, are at the core of this new resistance.

Melamoma and Treatment Resistance

Scientists at the Systems Biology and Cancer Metabolism Lab at the University of California, Merced studied melanoma to gain some insight into this development. Melanoma is a particularly aggressive form of skin cancer that’s often caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays.

UV damage can cause mutations in a major signaling regulator known as BRAF. This protein is responsible for signaling cells regarding when to grow and divide and when to stop. Mutations triggered by UV rays cause BRAF to leave the growth signal turned on, leaving cancer cells to multiply unchecked.

Initially, targeted chemotherapy can successfully restore BRAF’s “off switch.” In some cases, rather than mutating further, cells “learn” how to bypass BRAF altogether, continuing their growth.

Personalized Cancer Treatment for Advanced Cases

At Issels®, our personalized immunotherapy programs have often achieved success after traditional methods have been exhausted. Visit our website for more information, including testimonials from patients in long-term remission after undergoing our non-toxic cancer treatment.

 

Immunotherapy, Uncategorized

Use Your Body to Fight Cancer

Conventional cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation, focuses on using external methods of destroying cancer cells. Immunotherapy focuses on using your body’s own defenses to fight cancer. Issels® Immunotherapy offers several cancer vaccines that are non-toxic and do not cause adverse effects, including the following.

Prostate Cancer Vaccine

This cancer vaccine helps the immune system find and destroy cancerous cells in the prostate. Prostate cancer vaccines contain monocytes, cytokines, and other elements of the patient’s immune system, which helps provide a more targeted immune response.

Autologous Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine

This cancer vaccine involves the use of dendritic cells, which play an important role in the immune system. These cells have a strong potential to trigger an immune response that effectively destroys tumors. This cancer vaccine contains tumor antigens, cytokines, and other elements of the patient’s immune system.

Coley’s Mixed Bacterial Vaccine

This cancer vaccine helps the patient’s body produce interleukins, interferons, and other parts of the immune system that are needed to fight disease.

Lymphokine-Activated Killer Cells

This cancer vaccine contains LAK cells and interleukin-2 that help the patient’s body fight cancer.

Activated Natural Killer Cells

This cancer vaccine contains NK cells and interleukin-2 to help the immune system fight cancer.

Uses for Cancer Vaccines

Cancer vaccines can be used for a wide range of cancer types, including cancers that are typically difficult to treat using conventional methods. Since they use the patient’s immune system to fight cancer, they don’t come with a risk of side effects or adverse reactions as other cancer treatments do. Cancer vaccines are an important part of immunotherapy and provide a highly personalized approach to fighting cancer.

To learn more about immunotherapy as cancer treatment, please contact Issels®. We can give you more detailed information on cancer vaccines and other therapies.

Cancer Caregivers, Uncategorized

Tips on How to Prepare to Be a Cancer Caregiver

When a loved one has cancer, becoming their caregiver can help ensure that they have support and assistance from someone they trust. As a cancer caregiver, you might help them with daily tasks, accompany them to cancer treatment appointments, and offer emotional support. Stepping into this role can be challenging, especially if it’s new for you. The following tips can help you prepare to be a cancer caregiver for your loved one.

Set Realistic Expectations

No matter how much you want to help your loved one, you won’t be able to do everything for them. Set realistic expectations on what you can handle based on your schedule and abilities. Being realistic about the care you provide can help prevent you from becoming frustrated or burned out in your new role.

Ask for Help with Caregiving

Don’t be afraid to reach out to others for help with cancer caregiving. Make a list of other people you can turn to when you’re having trouble handling caregiving tasks, such as another family member. This can help alleviate the amount of stress you’re under, so you can avoid becoming overwhelmed.

Set Aside Time for Yourself

Taking care of yourself while being a cancer caregiver is highly important. Make time in your schedule to do something you enjoy or focus on relaxation. This can help ease stress and allow you to recharge, so you’ll have more energy and better mental focus.

Take Care of Your Own Health

Making sure you stay in good health can make it easier to handle caregiving tasks. Eat healthy foods, get plenty of sleep, and get some exercise each day.

If you need more information on cancer treatment for your loved one, please contact Issels®. We can discuss our immunotherapy therapies and provide additional details on our approach to treatment.

Immunotherapy for Cancer, Uncategorized

Understanding How Cancer is Diagnosed

Healthcare professionals agree that early diagnosis improves the chances for successful cancer treatment. If you experience symptoms or a screening test calls for a closer look, these are the tests most frequently used to make a diagnosis of cancer.

1. Blood chemistry test

Our organs routinely release enzymes, electrolytes and other substances into the bloodstream. Abnormally high or low levels could be a sign that kidneys, liver or other organs are not working properly, which could be due to cancer.

2. Complete blood count (CBC)

A CBC, which is a detailed analysis of the bloodstream, is often conducted during routine physicals. Factors include the number of red and white blood cells and platelets, as well as the amount of hemoglobin, which is the protein that carries oxygen. CBCs are particularly useful in diagnosing cancers in the blood stream, known as leukemia.

3. Liquid biopsy

Liquid biopsies are used to find out if cancer cells or DNA from tumor cells are present in the blood. This test can be also part of determining appropriate cancer treatment and follow-ups to see if the treatment is working.

4. CT scans and MRIs

Both CT scans and MRIs involve taking detailed pictures of your body’s interior. A CT scan uses an x-ray machine, while an MRI involves a magnet and radio waves.

5. Biopsy

A biopsy is most often used to diagnose cancer, but it can also help diagnose other health problems, such as cirrhosis. When lesions, lumps or other tissue abnormalities are detected, a doctor will remove a sample so the cells can be studied more closely.

Cancer Treatment for Advanced Cases

At Issels®, our non-toxic programs have helped to achieve long-term remission in patients, even if they are already in Stage IV. Visit our website to read and hear their testimonials.

Cancer Treatment, Uncategorized

Managing Eating Issues from Cancer Treatment

Regardless of where a tumor is located, cancer treatment often interferes with a patient’s appetite and digestion to one degree or another. Here’s a look at the more common eating issues caused by surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, along with tips for relieving them.

Loss of Appetite

At a time when your body needs nourishment more than ever, you may find that you lack the desire to eat. This can result from pain, nausea or loss of taste and smell.

*Instead of eating three conventional meals, try grazing on small amounts.

*Get the most nutritional bang for your buck by focusing on peanut butter, cheese, canned tuna and other high-calorie, high-protein items.

Nausea 

A queasy stomach, accompanied by vomiting, is a well-known side effect of cancer treatment. In addition to interfering with nutrition, frequent vomiting may lead to dehydration.

*Avoid foods that are spicy, excessively sweet, fried or high in fat content.

*Get in the habit of sipping liquids throughout the day. Good choices include clear liquids such as tea, broth and ginger ale.

*Talk to your medical team about anti-nausea medication options.

Constipation

Changes in diet, lack of fluids and reduced physical activity can make it difficult to have regular bowel movements. Due to the discomfort, you are even less likely to eat well or move around.

*Add high-fiber foods, such as whole-grain breads and fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, to your daily diet. Be sure to discuss this plan with your medical team.

*Drink more fluids. Don’t use straws, as this can exacerbate the problem by causing gas.

Non-Toxic Cancer Treatment from Issels®

Our personalized immunotherapy programs allow patients to avoid many of the side effects caused by conventional treatments, so all their energies can be directed toward fighting cancer. Contact us for more information.