All posts by Chris

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Living with Cancer

Weight Gain with Breast Cancer is Not Uncommon – What to Do

Not Everyone Looses Weight
Not Everyone Looses Weight

Weight loss is a common stereotype of cancer diagnosis and treatment. If you are dealing with breast cancer, it’s not unusual to actually gain weight. Factors such as personal and financial stress and the disruption of physical activity all play a part, but there are physiological reasons as well.

Effects of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy

Some people have a natural tendency to gain weight when treated with chemotherapy and steroids. The cause can be indirect if treatment causes you to enter menopause, which can also trigger weight gain.

An enzyme known as LPL controls the transfer of fat between cells in your body. Estrogen suppresses this LPL activity with fat cells. If your hormone levels drop due to cancer treatment, LPL is able to pull more fat into the fat cells where it is stored instead of burned.

Tips for maintaining a healthy weight

While weight control is important under any circumstances, being overweight can increase the risk of cancer recurrence, providing another vital reason. Here are some principles to consider when developing a healthy eating plan.

  • Basic mathematics still apply. If you burn more calories than you consume each day, your weight will go down.
  • However, all calories are not created equal. A 1,200-calorie-a-day diet consisting of sweets and high-fat foods is not going to do the trick. The same amount of calories consumed in fruits, vegetables and lean protein is a nutritionally sound way to lose weight.
  • Keep insulin levels steady by eating small amounts of low-carbohydrate foods throughout the day.

Our natural immuno-oncology treatment is designed with your personal needs in mind. Visit our website to learn more.

Cancer Care Tips, Testimonials

The Secret Tips on Beating Cancer from Survivors

Its Good
Beating Cancer

For cancer patients, advice and knowledge from people who have experienced the same anguish, pain, and worry that they are currently experiencing can be some of the most important medicine they receive. It can make the difference between giving in to the disease or finding the necessary strength within themselves to overcome cancer. At Issels® Integrative Immuno-Oncology, part of our mission is to empower cancer patients by providing them with the information they need to make informed choices about their treatment and to live their life to the fullest.

UPLIFT

UPLIFT: Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors is a collection of interesting and sometimes amusing anecdotes from women who have experienced and survived breast cancer. They are various ages and come from different backgrounds, but they are all part of the sisterhood that has faced a cancer diagnosis, dealt with the harsh side effects of treatment, and overcome this horrible disease. They share the same goal of empowering other women by sharing the strategies and tips that helped them find the right support groups, cope with hair loss, and manage their relationships with family and friends.

Remain positive

Well meaning friends and family often make it is easy to slide into a negative frame of mind and focus on the worst aspects of your situation. This book maintains a consistently upbeat tone. Each breast cancer survivor in UPLIFT serves up encouragement and inspiration. They know firsthand that wallowing in self-pity is a pointless waste of time and energy for every cancer patient.

View testimonials from our Issels® family of cancer survivors and contact us to learn more about our personalized immuno-oncology treatments.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research

The World Health Organization Says Your Cancer is Not Due to Bad Luck!

Gene and Cell Therapy
Differentiating Between Genetic and Other Cancers

With a recent study and headlines worldwide trumpeting that cancer is caused by bad luck, the World Health Organization just rebutted this claim in this recently published press release:

“The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), WHO’s specialized cancer agency, strongly disagrees with the conclusion of a scientific report on the causes of human cancer by Dr Cristian Tomasetti and Dr Bert Vogelstein, published in the journal “Science” on 2 January 2015 and widely reported in the mass media.

The study suggests that random mutations (or “bad luck”) are the major contributors to cancer overall, often more important than either hereditary or external environmental factors.

“We already knew that, for an individual to develop a certain cancer, there is an element of chance, yet this has little to say about the level of cancer risk in a population,” explains IARC Director Dr Christopher Wild. “Concluding that ‘bad luck’ is the major cause of cancer would be misleading and may detract from efforts to identify the causes of the disease and effectively prevent it.”

While at Issels we know that certain measures can help reduce your risk of cancer, such as wearing sunscreen and not smoking, the researches slammed by the WHO stated that roughly two-thirds of cancer types result from random DNA mutations instead of high-risk behavior or heredity. The press picked this up as cancer simply caused by your own “bad luck”.

Mutations vs. Genetics

The study that was mentioned by the WHO included 31 types of cancer, and results showed that 22 of them were associated with random DNA mutations. These included brain, pancreatic and ovarian cancer. The nine types that weren’t linked to these mutations included skin cancer, lung cancer and other cancers that are more strongly associated with risk behaviors, environmental factors and heredity.

Why Would WHO Slam This Report?

The World Health Organization states that “According to current knowledge, nearly half of all cancer cases worldwide can be prevented.”

We don’t believe, like the WHO, that cancer is your fault. Get the facts and information you need on non-toxic ways to treat cancer at Issels. We offer a wide range of safe, effective methods, including cancer immunotherapy treatment.

 

Cancer Research

Should You Abstain from Alcohol to Keep Cancer at Bay?

Abstaining From Alcohol
Abstaining From Alcohol

One of the most tragic aspects of the hundreds of thousands of cancer related deaths that occur each year is that such a large percentage of them could have been avoided. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), harmful alcohol use causes more than 351,000 cancer-related deaths every year. At Issels® Integrative Immuno-Oncology, we strive to reduce cancer deaths by using proven treatment methods. But we also want you to make informed decisions about lifestyle choices that may increase your risk of developing cancer.

Drink for a healthy heart?

Moderate drinking has been credited with lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and stroke. What is important to note about this is that alcohol consumption causes much more disease and death than it prevents. That is according to Ronald Watson, Ph.D who is a world-renowned alcohol researcher and professor at the University of Arizona.

Moderate consumption and cancer

Most people realize that alcoholics are at high risk of liver cancer. But less talked about is that moderate drinkers are likely increasing their risk for colorectal, esophagus, mouth, throat, and breast cancer. Researchers believe alcohol not only lowers the immune system’s defense of cancer, but the body’s action of metabolizing alcohol can cause cancer. For many people, the high risks associated with alcohol consumption outweigh the potential benefits of moderate drinking.

To learn more about the non-toxic cancer treatments that we have been using for more than 60 years to successfully treat patients with all forms and stages of cancer, contact Issels® Integrative Immuno-Oncology. To stay updated on the latest cancer news and research, sign up for our free e-Newsletter.

Alternative Cancer Treatment

Could Eating Eggplant Boost Cancer Fighting Immune Response?

Immune System Building Foods
Fighting Cancer With Veggies

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce your chances of developing cancer. It’s also beneficial in boosting your immune system if you do receive a cancer diagnosis. Studies have found that eggplant is full of nutrients and substances that specifically fight cancer.

A nutritional powerhouse

While eggplant is a staple in many Eastern cuisines, it’s not used often in America. Eggplant is related to the tomato, and as such is actually a fruit, not a vegetable. It comes from a variety of nightshade, which is why it was considered poisonous at one time.

Nutrients found in eggplant include vitamins K, B and C along with potassium and copper. Thanks to its rich, deep-purple skin, eggplant is loaded with antioxidants and anthocyanins which block the activity of free radicals that can cause cancer.

Eggplant is put to the test

A study published in the International Journal of Clinical Medicine examined the effects of applying eggplant extract cream in two cases of 60-year-old men suffering from basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma. In the first case, breakdown of the tumor after only two weeks reduced lesion sizes by half. The second case resulted in normal tissue replacing some of the cancerous tissue after six weeks. After another three weeks, tissue was completely normal and the lesion much smaller.

The extract penetrates more deeply through the skin, so eating eggplant may not produce the same results. But its nutritional profile still makes it a worthwhile addition to your diet.

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Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips

National Cancer Institute Is Emphasizing Spirituality in Cancer Care

Your Body Knows Best
Spirituality

After receiving a diagnosis of cancer, it’s natural to have questions that can’t be answered by your care givers or loved ones. You may wonder about life’s purpose and meaning and where you fit in the universe. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recommends making spirituality a major part of your care resources.

The role of spiritual coping

Most adults in America define themselves as a follower of a specific religion. Even those who don’t often believe in God or a higher power and live their lives based on certain doctrines.

Patients often find great comfort in reaffirming their spiritual beliefs to cope with the uncertainty and anxiety caused by their illness. Your particular beliefs and traditions can also help as you and your health care provider make important decisions about treatment.

Your spirituality offers valuable guidelines to your health care providers and other care givers as well. Spiritual and religious beliefs are intensely personal, which makes it difficult for many patients to bring up the topic. Don’t be reluctant about proactively initiating these discussions.

What is the difference between spirituality and religion?

The two terms are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. Religion usually involves a formal set of practices within an organized group. Spirituality is a more individual concept referring to your beliefs about the meaning of life and your connection with others. You can be highly spiritual without belonging to a specific religion.

Our natural immuno-oncology treatments are personalized to take into account your lifestyle and other individual factors. Contact us to learn more about our innovative program.