Category Archives: Alternative Cancer Treatment

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Uncategorized

American Society of Clinical Oncology Releases Their State of Cancer Care in America Report for 2017

Stop Cancer
Stop Cancer

Advances in immunotherapy for cancer treatment have given patients more options than ever before. This is one of the encouraging findings included in the recently-issued State of Cancer Care in America, 2017 report.

Analyzing the Current State of Cancer Care

The annual report has been issued by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) since March 2014. It offers an in-depth look at current demographic, economic and oncology practice factors impacting cancer care.

Increasingly effective immunotherapy is just one of the significant improvements in cancer care noted in this year’s report. Other highlights include:

  • Emphasis on preventive measures such as quitting smoking appears to be paying off as overall cancer incidence has declined over the last decade at a rate of 0.9 percent each year.
  • Former Vice President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative, launched in 2016, paved the way for dozens of research initiatives and cross-disciplinary partnerships focused on research for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
  • Use of big data from sources such as electronic health records (EHR) has resulted in more informed research studies and decision-making.
  • The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) and other payment programs have begun a shift away from fee-for-service in favor of high-quality, high-value cancer care. This process is expected to accelerate during 2017.

State-of-the-Art Cancer Treatment at Issels®

Issels® has long been ahead of the curve with our innovative and personally tailored cancer treatment programs. Contact us to learn more about why immunotherapy at Issels® may be the option for you, regardless of age or type of cancer.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Cancer Treatment

Where Your Body Stores Fat May Predict Where You May Get Cancer

Where You Store Fat is Important
Where You Store Fat is Important

Excess weight has long been recognized as a risk factor for developing cancer. According to a recent study published in the British Journal of Cancer, where body fat is carried can be another indicator of obesity-related cancer risk.

Body Shape Can Increase Cancer Risk

The study, conducted by scientists at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization, were the first to compare adult body measurements in a standardized way. Data was obtained from 43,000 participants, 1,600 of whom had been diagnosed with an obesity-related cancer, and who were observed over an average of 12 years.

Results showed that an additional four inches added to the waistline equated to a 13 percent increase in the risk for obesity-related cancers. More significantly, adding three inches to the hips can boost the risk of bowel cancer by 15 percent.

How Can Obesity Cause Cancer?

Obesity is the second largest preventable cause of cancer behind smoking. Excess body fat alters the level of sex hormones, triggering an increase in production of insulin, ultimately leading to inflammation. All three factors have been linked to an increased risk of cancer.

Dr. Heinz Freisling, lead author of the study, explains that further investigation is needed to explore the connection between cancer and fat carried around the midsection, but results indicate that body shape should be considered along with body mass index (BMI) when evaluating cancer risk.

Non-Toxic, Integrative Cancer Treatment for All Ages at Issels®

Our individually developed cancer treatment programs have been successful with people of all ages and all forms of cancer. Contact us for more information.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Living with Cancer, Uncategorized

Taking Care of Yourself: Stress-Reduction Techniques Help with Cancer Pain Management

Reduce Stress

Patients undergoing cancer treatment come to understand the close connection between their mental and physical well-being. Some people are turning to a 95-year-old Japanese stress-reduction technique to relieve the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

An Old Answer to a Current Problem

Reiki is a relaxation method that has been compared to “acupuncture without the needles.” While the patient lies flat, a Reiki practitioner places her hands on crucial areas of the body to improve the flow of energy and promote healing.

Many cancer patients who have undergone Reiki find that it helps them cope with anxiety, nausea and other common side effects of treatment. Some have talked about experiencing an overall feeling of calmness.

A Cancer Patient Speaks About Her Experience with Reiki

When Lewisburg, PA resident Erin Yust Brown was diagnosed with breast cancer, she recalled the comments of fellow yoga students regarding the benefits of Reiki. As Brown explains, the process treats the whole body as one, as opposed to the more limited approach of cancer treatment.

Brown’s practitioner, Nancy Giutini, refers to Reiki as “energy medicine” and uses the same methods that date back to its origin. Giutini emphasizes that Reiki is not a cure, but it’s been found to help patients by providing pain management and stress relief.

Personalized and Integrative Cancer Treatment at Issels®

Just as Reiki addresses the needs of the body as a whole, our immunotherapy cancer treatments focus on enhancing the body’s natural defenses. Contact us today to learn more about how we have helped a remarkable number of cancer patients achieve long-term remission.

 

After Cancer, Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Survivors, Living with Cancer

What Does Cancer Remission Mean?

What Does Cancer Remission Mean?
What Does Cancer Remission Mean?

This past April actress Shannon Doherty, who was diagnosed with breast cancer nearly two years ago, announced via social media that she is in remission. But is that the same thing as “cured?” An expert from the American Cancer Society (ACS) takes a look at the meaning of the term.

Does “In Remission” Mean “Cured?”

Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of ACS, recently spoke to Fox News Health about understanding the true concept of “remission.” Officially, when doctors examine a patient after cancer treatment and find no sign of the disease, he or she is declared to be in remission.

While remission is a major victory for cancer patients, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the story. Their doctors continue to conduct regular exams watching for a relapse, which occurs when cancer returns.

Remaining Vigilant After Cancer Treatment

Initially, post-treatment exams are performed every few months, and become less frequent while the patient remains cancer-free. Even so, cancer can sometimes reappear after years of remission. Doctors suspect that such cases arise due to cancer still being present, but too small to be detected.

Chances of a relapse are often affected by the type of cancer and the stage it was in at the time of diagnosis. Cancer patients can also enter partial remission when the size of the tumor decreases by at least 50 percent.

Immunotherapy Cancer Treatment at Issels®

Our personally tailored immunotherapy programs have helped numerous patients diagnosed with all forms of cancer achieve long-term remission. Contact us for more information about our special testing methods and integrative treatment protocols.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Cancer Survivors, Immunotherapy, Immunotherapy for Cancer, Uncategorized

June is Cancer Immunotherapy Month

June is Cancer Immunotherapy Awareness Month
June is Cancer Immunotherapy Awareness Month

In the fight against cancer, immunotherapy has been a game-changer. The Society of Immunotherapy for Cancer (SITC) is recognizing June as Cancer Immunotherapy Month to recognize and promote the value of these treatments.

Putting Immunotherapy in the Public Eye

The SITC observes Cancer Immunotherapy Month by promoting public awareness of immunotherapy and sponsoring educational events for both healthcare professionals and patients.

Here are a few of the programs scheduled for the upcoming month:

• “Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy” is being held as part of the annual meeting of the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies. Presentations will focus on tumor immunology and therapies such as vaccines, CAR-T cells and checkpoint inhibitors.

• “Incorporating Radiation Oncology into Immunotherapy” is a two-day workshop exploring the challenges and opportunities of combining the different methods into one integrative treatment.

• “Rational Combinations 360º” is a comprehensive examination of combining therapies as it relates to business, clinical and scientific aspects.

How Can You Participate?

Everyone has been touched by cancer in one way or another. There are a number of ways you can support Cancer Immunotherapy Month.

• Join the Cancer Immunotherapy CONNECT Open Forum and share your stories with other members.

• Purchase a SITC Cure t-shirt.

• Post your support of immunotherapy for cancer research on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms.

• Donate to the Forward Fund for immunotherapy research.

State-of-the-Art Immunotherapy for Cancer at Issels®

Our founder, Dr. Josef M. Issels, was a pioneer in the development and use of immunotherapy. Visit our website for more information about Dr. Issels and our individually tailored non-toxic immunotherapy programs.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Immunotherapy

Cancer Risk May Be Identified by the Oral Microbiome

Hold On, You're Telling Me the Bacteria in My Mouth Can Tell What Type of Cancer I Might Have?
Hold On, You’re Telling Me the Bacteria in My Mouth Can Tell What Type of Cancer I Might Have?

For years, the medical community has been telling us that proper oral hygiene is crucial for maintaining good overall health. Scientists are now finding that bacteria in your mouth may actually reveal your risk for different types of cancer.

What Does the Oral Microbiome Tell Us?

Here are some of the major links researchers have uncovered between mouth bacteria and cancer:

• Fusobacterium, which causes bleeding gums, is hundreds of times more prevalent in cancerous cells than in normal cells. This bacteria can trigger colon cancer as well as accelerate growth in any existing colon tumors.

• A study last year discovered the presence of P gingivalis, a bacteria that causes periodontal disease, in 61 percent of patients with esophageal cancer. Researchers also found that people with P gingivalis have a 60 percent higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

• Researchers at the University of Buffalo conducted a study in 2015 involving more than 73,000 postmenopausal women. Results showed that women with gum disease were 14 percent more likely to develop breast cancer.

What’s Next?

While conclusions have not been finalized, scientists suspect that the connection occurs when the bloodstream carries bacteria from the mouth to other organs. It’s hoped that further research will enable doctors to determine cancer risk simply by the type of bacteria present in the body.

Personally Tailored Cancer Treatment Based on Your Particular Needs

All cancer cases are different, so why should all cancer treatment be the same? Visit our website to learn why Issels® is the industry leader in state-of-the-art immunotherapy methods such as cancer vaccines and NK cells that are designed for your specific situation.