All posts by Nancy McCord

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.

Breast Cancer, Cancer Care Tips, Living with Cancer

Men Can Get Breast Cancer Too

Men can get breast cancer too!
Men can get breast cancer too!

Although rare, breast cancer does affect men. Roughly 1 percent of all cases occur in men, meaning a few thousand U.S. males are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. As with female breast cancer, the male form typically begins with lumps and progresses if untreated.

The way men seek diagnosis and treatment has evolved over the years. As awareness campaigns and media spotlight increased the visibility of the disease, a larger number of men are getting screened and treated for breast cancer risk factors.

The Hamilton (Ontario) Spectator recently reported a trend of men electing to undergo a double mastectomy as treatment — and as a preventive measure upon discovering genetic risk factors. A recent JAMA Surgery study found that contralateral prophylactic mastectomy surgery had risen from 3 percent to 5.6 percent among male patients with one tumor.

“A Culture of Awareness”

The increase in male patients receiving mastectomies comes on the heels of other recent reports about changes in the way breast cancer is diagnosed and treated. Some research has suggested that frequent mammograms in women had led to over-diagnosis.

The preventive double mastectomy option — highlighted by actress Angelina Jolie’s treatment due to BRCA1 gene mutation — has sparked debate about elective surgery conducted based on risk factors rather than the presence of cancer.

Authors of the JAMA Surgery have concluded that men should carefully weigh all options when facing information about breast cancer risks and cancer treatment options. Tissue removal may only be beneficial for some patients.

For more information about innovative cancer treatments, contact us at Issels®. We provide non-toxic therapies and immunotherapy, with an emphasis on personalized care.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Living with Cancer

Cancer Patient Tip: Focus on Improving Your Quality of Life

Four hands of the family, a baby, a daughter, a mother and a father. Concept of unity, support, protection and happiness.
Use Your Support Network to Care for Yourself

When you’re fighting cancer, your physical well-being can consume your focus to the exclusion of your emotional self. Improving your quality of life helps you maintain a positive frame of mind that can have a beneficial effect on your overall health. Use these tips to nurture yourself and enrich your spirit. 

Ask for support 

Despite what you may have seen in movies or read in novels, suffering in silence is not a noble attitude. Your loved ones want to help, but may not know how. Sharing your specific needs with them is a relief, not a burden.

Retain control wherever possible

Cancer creates a sense of helplessness, making you feel as though you’re at the mercy of this foreign being. Work with your doctor and caregiver to develop lifestyle modifications allowing you to maintain as much control as you are comfortable with. 

Talk to others who have been there

Even if you have a caring network of friends and family, cancer can make you feel isolated and “different.” Join support groups where you can share your deepest thoughts without fear of judgment and benefit from the wisdom of those who have shared your experience.  

Learn to relax

The idea of learning to relax may seem strange, but the stress of living with cancer can make you forget where your “off switch” is. Music, reading, meditation and light physical activity are just some of the methods you can use to decompress.

Our non-toxic immuno-oncology therapies work with your body’s own immune system, reducing side effects that can be physically and emotionally draining. Contact us to learn more about our personalized treatments.

 

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Immuno-Oncology

Issels Guide: When Should You Get Cancer Screenings?

Worker in a lab
Cancer Prevention Screening News

One of the biggest weapons against cancer is early detection. Being proactive about cancer screening tests can dramatically improve your chances of beating the disease. That is why the American Cancer Society has worked to develop cancer screening guidelines for the most common types of cancer. Simply by referring to their guidelines, you can know when and how often you should be screened. 

Age is one important factor in determining when you should start scheduling regular screenings. The older we get, the more susceptible we are to cancer. For example, women in their 20s should do a self-breast examine to detect any abnormalities, but experts recommend that women over 40 get a yearly mammogram.

The frequency of screenings also depends on your risk factors. If you have a history of certain types of cancer in your family, then you may want to consult with your doctor about a personalized approach to screening. Lifestyle choices can also increase your risk factors and make more frequent testing advisable. Typically, lung cancer screenings are only performed on those patients with clear symptoms, smokers and high risk patients.

The good news is that most screening tests are not painful or invasive. In most cases a blood test or some form of x-ray will be enough to alert doctors to any abnormalities that should be further investigated. 

At Issels®, a premier center for immuno-oncology, we take a comprehensive approach to cancer treatment, which includes early detection. If you still aren’t sure when you should begin screening or you have more questions about certain risk factors, ask your personal physician for help.

 

After Cancer, Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research

Chemotherapy and the Risk of Second Cancers

Confident doctor looking at his senior patient while speaking to her
Do you feel that you physician clearly understands your needs?

Cancer is a tough disease. The treatment options can often cause their own set of problems. This is especially true when it comes to chemotherapy. At Issels®, a center for immuno-oncology, doctors sometimes see patients develop myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Essentially, chemotherapy can expose patients to high doses of harmful chemicals that then cause further cell mutations, creating a sort of slippery slope that can be hard to climb back up.

Despite the inherent dangers of undergoing chemotherapy, it is still a popular and to a certain degree an effective treatment. The key is to understand the risks and fully discuss your options with your doctor. If you are undergoing cancer treatment and you feel like your doctor is simply telling you what the next step is, without consulting you about quality of life consequences, then you may want to seek out a second opinion from another oncologist or a whole other perspective about non-toxic treatment options from the experts at Issels®.

Through years of research and clinical experience treating patients, we have discovered that a comprehensive approach to treatment that takes into consideration the individual patient’s specific situation and his/her own input is by far the best way to fight against cancer and minimize the side effects of treatment. Short term chemotherapy can be life-saving in the case of aggressively growing tumors that endanger a vital organ, but long-term chemotherapy inevitably damages the bone marrow and suppresses the immune system. To achieve long-term remission we need to restore your body’s own healing power. A non-toxic strategy that includes boosting your immune system, so that treatment is as effective as possible, is one of our hallmarks. Combining our expertise in immuno-oncology with non-toxic treatments may also help reduce your chances of developing other complications and second cancers.

Every patient has his/her individual cancer and specific challenges. This means that every treatment plan needs to be individualized in order to produce optimal results. Contact Issels® to get more information today.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research

Popular Men’s Supplements Tied to Testicular Cancer

Illustration depicting a screen shot of an internet search bar containing a cancer treatment concept.
Popular Men’s Supplements Tied to Testicular Cancer

Men who try to improve their bodies using muscle-building supplements may ultimately cause the opposite effect. Research shows that the consumption of popular supplements like creatine and androstenedione can increase the risk of testicular cancer.

A team of scientists at Yale University conducted a series of interviews with more than 900 men regarding their workout programs and history of supplement use. They were also asked to give details of smoking and drinking habits, family history of testicular cancer and their own incidents of groin injury. More than 350 of the respondents had been previously diagnosed with testicular germ cell cancer.

Data indicated that weekly supplement use for a minimum of four consecutive weeks resulted in a 65 percent greater likelihood of having received a diagnosis of testicular cancer. Use of more than one supplement raised the risk of developing testicular cancer by 177 percent, while use for three or more years resulted in a 156 percent increase.

According to study leader Tongzhang Zheng, risks were increased by factors such as use at a younger age, use over a longer time period, and use of multiple supplements. While the study confirms the correlation between supplement use and testicular cancer, it will take more research to determine if there is an actual cause-and-effect relationship and if so, what drives it.

At Issels®, we also conduct a careful analysis of your personal lifestyle, environment and genetic background in order to develop a cancer treatment program that addresses your specific needs. Visit our website to learn more about our non-toxic integrative immuno-oncology protocols.