All posts by Chris

Cancer Experts Find New Dietary Guidelines Lacking

Where Does Red Meat Fit In?
Where Does Red Meat Fit In?

Your 10-year-old may object to the omission of candy and pizza from the U.S. government’s eating guidelines. The revised version, issued this past January, has gained more influential critics who believe the guidelines don’t go far enough to discourage consumption of foods linked to cancer.

Is there a place for red meat in a healthy diet?

Katie McMahon of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is one of the experts questioning the new guidelines, particularly the failure to recommend limiting red meats. Decades of research clearly indicates a link to development of cancer, which is one reason integrative immunotherapy considers lifestyle factors along with the disease itself.

Are industry lobbyists to blame?

The Health and Human Services Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture are the government agencies responsible for creating the guidelines. Lately they have come under fire from accusations of succumbing to pressure from meat industry lobbyists.

Dr. Walter Willett, head of the nutrition department at Harvard School of Public Health, is among those speaking out. He points out that consumption of red meat, even when it’s lean, has been shown to increase risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well as certain types of cancer.

Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell dismisses charges of catering to special interest groups. Alice Lichtenstein, a nutrition professor from Tufts University who was a member of the advisory committee, claims the guidelines were focused more on preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes than on cancer.

The integrative immunotherapy programs at Issels® address nutrition and other lifestyle factors. Visit our website for more information about our state-of-the-art non-toxic treatments.

Exercise and Improved Quality of Life for Cancer Patients

Exercise Tips For Cancer Patients
Exercise Tips For Cancer Patients

Exercise has long been considered an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Recent analysis of past studies involving cancer patients shows that physical activity can have the same benefits for patients undergoing integrative immunotherapy and other treatments.

Can exercise really help cancer patients?

The study, reported by co-authors Dr. Arnaud Vincent and Jasper Gerittsen, was recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The duo reviewed results of 16 earlier tests comparing the effects of exercise vs. inactivity in cancer patients. In general, those asked to increase their physical activity reported a greater quality of life than those in the control groups.

Improvements ranged from better overall body functioning to higher self-esteem. While exercise schedules varied from two to five times per week, there was no significant difference in results for patients with the greater frequency of sessions. One notable finding showed that patients who began exercising during treatment enjoyed both physical and mental benefits, while those who started after treatment saw only physical improvement.

Adding regular physical activity

Doctors and patients alike often believe that cancer treatment calls for more periods of rest, but this analysis may lead to a new perspective. Dr. Vincent explained that the spectrum of physical activity is wide enough to allow flexibility in adapting exercise appropriate for patients restricted to wheelchairs or beds.

Lifestyle is an important consideration in developing our personalized integrative immunotherapy programs. For decades, Issels® has been a leader in non-toxic protocols that reduce many of the serious side effects associated with traditional treatments. Contact us today to learn more about the Issels® difference.

Strategies to Improve Nutrition during Cancer Treatment

Cancer Nutrition Tips
Cancer Nutrition Tips

If you have cancer, side effects from treatment, as well as from the disease itself, can keep you from obtaining proper nutrition at a time when you need it most. While non-toxic immunotherapy reduces side effects, you may still experience difficulties eating and drinking.

Here are some of the more common problems you may encounter along with strategies to keep them from interfering with a healthy diet.

Nausea

  • Instead of three regular meals, eat smaller meals throughout the day.
  • Avoid spicy or other strong-tasting foods.
  • Stick with low-fat foods, which are easier to digest. Dry or salty foods can also minimize nausea.

Difficulty swallowing

  • Avoid foods with rough or dense textures.
  • Choose soft foods that can be eaten cold or at room temperature.

Poor appetite

  • Drink liquids at mealtime only as necessary. Consume the majority between meals.
  • Try protein drinks and other nutrient-rich commercially prepared beverages. These can also help if you struggle to meet nutritional needs through food alone.
  • “Graze” on smaller, more frequent meals.

Fatigue

  • Keep a variety of ready-to-eat items on hand.
  • Consume juices and other beverages that are high in nutritional value.
  • Ask family and loved ones to assist with buying appropriate foods and preparing meals and snacks to be stored for quick access.

Our Issels® non-toxic immunotherapy reduces side effects by stimulating your body’s natural immune responses. All treatments are personalized for best results based on your individual lifestyle, environment and genetic predisposition. Visit our website for more information about our cancer vaccines and other integrative programs.

The Link between Energy Sensing-Enzymes and Cancer

Worker in a lab
Cancer Vaccines

Part of the success of cancer vaccines lies in their ability to target the tumor microenvironment along with the tumor itself. A recent breakthrough shows similar promise as a way to cut off the energy molecules that fuel the growth of cancer cells.

A research team led by Dr. Atsuo Sasaki, an assistant professor at the University Of Cincinnati College Of Medicine, discovered that an enzyme called PI5PK4ß acts as a virtual “arrow on a fuel gauge” with regard to cancer growth. The enzyme functions by sensing available amounts of energy and communicating that information to cancer cells.

Until now, the identity of such a molecular sensor remained unknown. In fact, Dr. Sasaki and his associates initially met with skepticism regarding their study, which has since been published in Molecular Cell.

Cells are fueled by two types of energy molecules. Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, provides most of the necessary energy. Guanosine triphosphate, referred to as GTP, is used to synthesize protein and also acts as a traffic cop directing various cellular processes.

PI5PK4ß acts as a GTP sensor by recognizing and binding itself to the molecules. Dr. Sasaki’s team was able to interrupt the process by designing mutant PI5PK4ß cells that lacked the ability to detect GTP. According to Dr. Sasaki, their hope is to use this discovery to develop a means of cutting off this energy source from cancer cells.

Cancer vaccines are only one of the tools available in our Issels® integrative immunotherapy programs. Visit our website for more details about our individualized treatment protocols as well as testimonials from our patients.

Is Drinking Alcohol Linked to Cancer? – The New Guidelines

Is Drinking Alcohol Linked to Cancer
Is Drinking Alcohol Linked to Cancer

Over the last several years, you’ve heard and read about researchers touting the health benefits of moderate drinking, such as red wine’s positive effects on the cardiovascular system. More recent findings are eroding that advice as evidence shows even light drinking increases the risk of several forms of cancer.

UK changes guidelines for the first time in 20 years

This past January, based on new information the United Kingdom’s Chief Medical Officer announced an update to low-risk drinking guidelines that had been in effect since 1995. The recommended limit of 14 units of alcohol per week is for both men and women, as opposed to the previous different guidelines for each sex.

One unit of alcohol equals eight grams, or approximately two teaspoons of pure alcohol. For comparison purposes, a small glass of wine contains slightly less than two-and-a-half units, while a pint of beer includes two units.

Alcohol increases risk of several types of cancer

Studies have established a clear link between low-level drinking (defined as an average of one drink per day) and higher risk of seven types of cancer: breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, bowel, liver and larynx. Integrative immunotherapy takes into account relevant aspects of your lifestyle, such as your pattern of alcohol consumption, when forming your individual treatment program.

In addition to lifestyle factors, our Issels® integrative immunotherapy programs use detailed information from special testing methods to address your particular needs. Contact us to learn more about our non-toxic protocols and how they can allow you to maintain a higher quality of life during the treatment process.

What to Know About the Cancer Risks of CT, MRI, and PET Scans

Steps for Dealing With Cancer
Cancer Scans

Diagnostic imaging has become a valuable tool for doctors to diagnose and evaluate conditions ranging from broken bones to cardiovascular disease, as well as an effective way to monitor progress of treatments such as cancer vaccines. The widespread use of these tests has stirred debate in the medical community regarding the increased cancer risk they may create.

Radiation risk of imaging

CT (computed tomography) scans are at the center of the controversy. These tests use ionizing radiation, which is known to damage DNA and cause cancer, to create intricate 3D images of the area being scanned. As such, they are the equivalent of approximately 200 chest X-rays.

Unlike CT scans, X-rays and PET scans, MRI scans and ultrasounds involve no radiation. MRI scans use magnetic fields and ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves. Neither medium causes irreversible damage to humans.

Has diagnostic imaging become overused?

In just 20 years, diagnostic imaging has grown into a $100 billion per year business. While the tests often reduce the need for exploratory surgery, many radiologists are concerned that they are being used indiscriminately, with some specialists requiring scans before a patient’s initial visit.

Imaging frequently turns up conditions that have been dubbed “incidentalomas,” so called because they are generally harmless conditions that are discovered unexpectedly. These diagnoses can lead to expensive and unnecessary procedures that may result in complications.

Our Issels® immunotherapy programs include non-toxic treatments such as cancer vaccines to stimulate your body’s own powerful immune responses. Visit our website for more information about our personalized therapies.