Category Archives: Cancer Care Tips

Cancer Care Tips, Living with Cancer

Tips to Holding a Family “Cancer Update” Meeting

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Cancer Updates for Family

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, sharing information with family members can sometimes be awkward. Loved ones want to be helpful and supportive, but they wait to take their cues from you about how to proceed. Their behavior can go to extremes as they either walk on eggshells or act overly cheerful.

Many patients have found a solution in holding “cancer update” meetings with their families. Here are tips for conducting productive meetings that keep everyone involved.

  • Make a list of the people you want at the meetings. Include only those who are truly close to you, such as your cancer caregivers. Don’t be driven by a sense of obligation.
  • Decide what you want to share and what you’re uncomfortable with discussing. If you have certain hot buttons that trigger your emotions, plan neutral and non-judgmental responses to keep the meeting on topic.
  • Honest discussions are likely to inspire questions from you as well as your family members and cancer caregivers. Write them down so you can consult your medical team for advice.
  • Don’t try to be noble by refusing offers of help or maintaining a cheerfulness you don’t feel. It helps both you and your family if you give them specific ways they can assist you while allowing them to see your true feelings.

Immuno-oncology programs at Issels® are administered by experienced physicians with a history of treating all forms and stages of the disease. Our personalized approach includes addressing any questions and concerns you may have along the way. Visit our website to read and hear testimonials from patients who have benefited from our specialized treatment protocols.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research

Theranostic Agent and Infrared Light Allow for Improved Cancer Surgery

Future Medical Treatment
Future Medical Treatment

One of the biggest challenges facing surgeons operating on cancer patients is making sure the entire tumor is removed. Thanks to recent cancer research at Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis, advancements in phototherapy could lead to major improvements in surgery and treatment.

Phototherapy is a field holding promise as a valuable adjunct to current primary cancer treatments of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Its unique nature can help surmount the hurdles presented by forms of cancer that have developed a resistance to drug therapy.

The study at OSU involved a single-agent system using silicon napthalocyanine, a substance considered to be “theranostic” because it has both therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The compound causes cancer cells to glow under near-infrared light, allowing a surgeon to have a clearer view of the tumor. In addition, the heat generated by the substance kills any remaining cancer cells.

Associate professor Olena Taratula, lead author of the study, compared the system to “an extra pair of eyes” assisting a surgeon. Other benefits include its relatively low cost as well as biodegradability and ease of reproduction.

Tests were performed on laboratory animals suffering from ovarian cancers. After treatment, the tumors were eliminated without any side effects and never returned. Continuing cancer research will be performed on dogs with cancerous tumors, with an eventual goal of progressing to trials with human cancer patients.

If your cancer has not responded to standard treatments, even new tactics, our non-toxic immunotherapy programs at Issels® may be the answer. Our protocols incorporate innovative, state-of-the-art methods for personalized treatment with fewer side effects. Visit our website to learn more about these immune boosting treatments and read real-life testimonials from our patients.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, Immuno-Oncology, News

Using the Power of a Dendritic Cell Vaccine

Using Cells To Fight Cancer
Using Cells To Fight Cancer

The term “vaccine” is often associated with the prevention of diseases such as measles, mumps and whooping cough, many of which are contagious and usually occur in childhood. A non-toxic cancer vaccine that proactively combats existing tumors has been an effective part of our immuno-oncology protocols at Issels®.

Our vaccine therapies derive their power from a patient’s own immune system. The vaccines themselves are autologous, meaning they are prepared using the patient’s blood to incorporate potent dendritic cells.

The power of dendritic cells

Dendritic cells act as coordinators between the innate immune system, which provides the initial response to pathogens, and the adaptive immune system, which offers a long-lasting defense against the invading cells. When foreign organisms are detected, dendritic cells capture their markers, or antigens, for presentation to T-lymphocyte cells, triggering the attack on the pathogens.

What is extracorporeal photopheresis?

FDA-approved for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, this process involves passing blood through a chamber featuring ultraviolet light, which boosts immune properties. White blood cells comprised of monocytes and lymphocytes are then extracted before the blood is returned to the body. The separated cells are cultured to become active dendritic cells and injected back into the patient, where they initiate an immune response against the tumor.

Our immuno-oncology treatment programs are personalized based on the needs of each individual patient. Specific protocols may include a non-toxic cancer vaccine, gene therapies, and other integrative treatments designed to stimulate the body’s natural immune responses. Visit our website to learn more about the effectiveness and benefits of our non-toxic, state-of-the-art immunotherapy protocols.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, News

Vitamin C is Now Called Non-Toxic Chemo

Healthy Living With Cancer
Non Toxic Chemo

Late in his career, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Linus Pauling became an advocate for the use of vitamin C in treatment and prevention of colds, heart disease and cancer. At the time, his theories were largely debunked by the medical community. Today, Pauling’s ideas are gaining new life as recent cancer research suggests that vitamin C may indeed be effective against cancer cells.

Vitamin C vs. cancer-causing cells

A study published in Science magazine examined the effects of high doses of vitamin C in tumor-afflicted mice. Researchers discovered that the vitamin selectively killed certain mutant cells that are known to cause cancer. The specific mutations, KRAS and BRAF, are found in more than half of human colorectal cancers.

Why did the results of this study vary from the earlier cancer research? According to the authors, vitamin C must be administered intravenously to reach the levels required to kill the mutant cells, while earlier studies focused exclusively on oral ingestion.

“Non-toxic chemo”

The Vitamin C Foundation, which has carried on with Pauling’s advocacy, has dubbed the nutrient the “non-toxic chemo.” Among their publications is a study from 2012 suggesting that long-term use of vitamin C supplements may help prevent breast cancer.

According to Science, the newer study provides evidence for further cancer research involving vitamin C as a treatment for colorectal cancer.

For decades, Issels® has been a leader in the use of integrative, non-toxic immuno-oncology treatments tailored to a patient’s specific needs. If you or a loved one is dealing with a cancer diagnosis, contact us to learn more about our innovative programs.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research

Cancer and the Link to Inactivity

mid section view of a man sitting on a bench in a park --- Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis
Obesity Is Linked To Cancer

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States, affecting both children and adults. If you need any more motivation to lose those extra pounds, consider the fact that increasing evidence suggests excess weight creates a risk for developing certain types of cancer.

Cancer and obesity by the numbers

  • Studies show that being overweight or obese is a likely risk for developing at least 13 types of cancer.

Why obesity increases cancer risk

Excess weight has a negative impact on hormone and protein levels as well as the body’s process of cell division and growth. Your immune system can become compromised, reducing its ability to fight cancer and other diseases. A non-toxic cancer vaccine can stimulate your immune system and prompt it to take action against tumors.

What can you do?

The safest and most effective formula for weight loss is decreasing the number of calories taken in while increasing the number of calories burned through physical activity.

  • Skip “supersized” portions and get at least half of your calories from fruits and non-starchy vegetables.
  • Limit the amount of sugar and processed foods in your diet.
  • Get a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity five times a week.

A non-toxic cancer vaccine is just one of the tools in our innovative Issels® immuno-oncology treatment programs. Contact us for more information about our personalized therapies.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Caregivers

Caregiving: Your Role in Their Recovery Makes a Difference

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Let Others Help You While You Battle Cancer

If you are a caregiver for a patient who is in treatment for cancer, it can literally be a full-time job. The American Cancer Society quotes a study that shows more than 50 percent of cancer caregivers spend upwards of eight hours a day tending to the needs of their loved one.

Caretaking is most effective when you are at your best mentally and physically, but it’s easy to neglect your own needs in an effort to meet those of the patient. Use these helpful tips to maintain your own health and quality of life.

Schedule time for yourself

What activities relax you and renew your spirit? Whether it is exercise, reading, painting or any other pastime, plan time to enjoy simple pleasures in your schedule just like an appointment. Include activities that involve contact with others so you don’t feel isolated.

Seek individual and group support

No matter what emotions you are feeling, others have been through it as well. Contact the American Cancer Society or talk to healthcare workers about joining a support group for cancer caregivers. If you have outside employment, check your benefits to see if they include an Employee Assistance Plan or other provisions for individual counseling.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

You’re not weak if you can’t do it all on your own. The demands placed on cancer caregivers are a challenge for even the strongest person. Keep your family and loved ones in the loop and ask for help when you need it.

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