Category Archives: Cancer Care Tips

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

Could It Be True that Pot Kills Cancer Cells?

Marijuana Tests Positive For Fighting Cancer Cells
Marijuana Tests Positive For Fighting Cancer Cells

Information about pot and its medicinal powers regarding cancer is a hot topic, especially with some states easing up on the sale of medical marijuana. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with cancer and you have questions about options, at Issels®, you can learn everything you need to know from specialists providing cancer treatment programs.

Does Cannabis really help treat cancer?

According to a publication by The National Institute on Drug Abuse, the answer is yes. The publication states “Recent animal studies have shown that marijuana extracts may help kill certain cancer cells and reduce the size of others.”

The  publication goes on to say, “Research from one animal study suggests that extracts from whole-plant marijuana can slow the growth of cancer cells from one of the most serious types of brain tumors.”

Marijuana does not have the approval of being a true medicine by the US Food And Drug Administration. Further studies indicate particular cannabinoids (chemicals) found in the plant are medically inclined. Based on this information, the FDA has however, approved two medications containing the two chemicals – THC and CBD.

THC is the cannabinoid that impacts patients positively. The chemical helps decrease pain and inflammation, help with muscle control, and alleviate the aggravation and stress of an upset stomach. It also increases the appetite which aids patients who don’t feel like eating.

Studies are also underway to determine the effect of marijuana on:

  • Mental disorders
  • Seizures
  • Pain and inflammation
  • Disorders from substance use
  • HIV, Alzheimer’s disease, AIDS and multiple sclerosis

Please contact us in the US, Canada, or abroad at the numbers listed on our website or fill out the convenient form for more information on alternative cancer treatment.

Cancer Care Tips

Don’t Say These Things When Your Loved One is Going Through Chemo

When a Caregiver Gets Cancer
Tips For Talking To Cancer Patients

Having a hard time taking part in an unconstrained conversation with a loved one who is undergoing chemotherapy cancer treatment? Issels® wants to help you avoid opening your mouth and inserting your foot.

Are you making these chemo conversational faux pas?

  • “You look great!”
    Patients puffy from steroids, sporting bald spots and raccoon eyes know this is phony baloney. Try for a, “Good to see you!” or a specific compliment pertaining to an outfit or piece of jewelry instead.
  • “When my friend So-and-so went through chemo…”
    You may be looking for a way to connect, but bringing up the chemo experiences of others is not a comfort. Your loved one may feel their feelings have been disregarded. Worse, they may experience anxiety regarding their much different chemo experience. Unless your comment involves a friend who is now living a happy, healthy life, keep it to yourself.
  • “I don’t know why you’re doing _______ anymore.”
    Negative thoughts can take a toll on your loved one’s immune system. Don’t make assumptions on what they can handle or put a timeline on activities. This can spotlight limitations and death. Encourage loved ones to develop new interests and friends instead, which puts the emphasis on survival.
  • “I’m so worried about you!”
    Anxiety is contagious. Keep stress-inducing thoughts to yourself.
  • “Chemo must be so hard! Do you feel sick?”
    Your loved one is already feeling down. Offer upbeat comments instead: “I’m so thankful the chemo is helping you get better.”

Are you or a loved one looking cancer treatment in the eye? We know how to handle it. Contact Issels®  today to learn more about alternative treatment options available to you.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips

Guard Your Bones While in Cancer Treatment

Thyroid Cancer
Guard Your Bones

Traditional cancer treatment is brutal on the human body and weakens the immune system. Patients often accept it as a lessor evil that is necessary to combat cancer. They may not know specifically how their cancer can spread or the importance of taking steps to strengthen and protect their bones after a cancer diagnosis. That is why at Issels® Integrative Immuno-Oncology, we provide individualized immunotherapy protocols and all the information you need to make informed treatment decisions.

Watch for bone metastases symptoms

Contact your doctor if you develop any new symptoms like bone pain, numbness, or weakness.

Prevent falls

Many cancer medications can make you weaker and light-headed, increasing the risk of you falling and fracturing a bone. Always use handrails on stairs; consider using a walker and getting a professionally installed handrail for your shower.

Exercise

Talk to your doctor about how much exercise you can and should being doing. Low impact exercises like walking or swimming can build strength and improve your balance and coordination to help you prevent falls.

Bone medications

Discuss available bone medications with your doctor. Medications can strengthen bones, decrease or delay fractures of people with bone metastases, and relieve pain associated with bone cancer.

Supplements

Be sure your doctor is aware of any dietary supplements you take. This is especially important when you are treated for bone metastases. Some risky interactions can occur when supplements are combined with bone strengthening medications.

For more information on our non-toxic cancer treatments, contact Issels® Integrative Immuno-Oncology. You can receive the latest news on cancer research and advancements in treatment methods directly to your inbox by signing up for our free e-Newsletter.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips

5 Nutrition Tips for Cancer Patients

Eat Healthy And Avoid Metabolic Stress
Nutrition and Cancer

Caring for yourself is an important part of coping with cancer. When you eat the right foods, your body gets the nutrients and energy it needs. Some types of cancer treatments can make it hard for you to eat as you normally would, though. The following cancer care tips can help ensure that you’re able to eat healthy during treatment.

Limit Certain Kinds of Fruits

Eat smaller amounts of fruits with high levels of fructose, such as apples and melons, since your small intestine might have trouble digesting these. Focus on eating fruits with lower levels of fructose, such as berries and bananas.

Cook or Blend Vegetables

Raw vegetables with fiber can be hard to digest. Don’t limit these vegetables, but make sure you either blend them to make a smoothie or cook them. Cooking or blending them makes it easier for your body to digest them.

Be Cautious With Dairy

Some cancer treatments can make you lactose intolerant, although this doesn’t last. Eat small amounts of dairy at a time, and watch for signs of intolerance, such as bloating and gas.

Add Ginger

Ginger can help soothe an upset stomach in those undergoing cancer treatments. Ask your doctor about taking a ginger supplement, or put a small amount of ground ginger in tea.

Avoid Fried Foods

Fried foods that contain a lot of fat can be difficult for your digestive system to handle. Fill up on cooked vegetables and whole grains instead.

Nutrition is just one part of caring for yourself while dealing with cancer. For more help with feeling healthier, contact Issels® for information on personalized non-toxic cancer treatments, such as immunotherapy.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research

Vitamin D Plays a Role in Pancreatic Cancer Unlocking New Potential Treatments

Vitamin D To Reduce Risks of Cancer
Vitamin D is Essential

At our Issels® clinics, our focus is providing treatment programs that work with the patient’s immune system and defense mechanism to naturally eliminate cancer cells.

New treatments on the forefront in the fight against cancer are always good news and when a vitamin is found to be playing a significant role in the treatment of difficult tumors, that makes the news even better.

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with a very low estimated survival rate of five years. A big part of the problem in treating the tumor has been the lack of a complete understanding of a pancreatic tumor’s resistance to current standard treatment.

It is understood that the tumor has the ability to send signals to surrounding cells, called tumor microenvironment. When the cells receive a signal from the tumor, a “shield” surrounds the pancreatic tumor protecting it from drugs and healthy immune cells. With the barrier in place, the tumor can continue to grow.

A study by the Salk Institute has found that a derivative from vitamin D weakens and collapses the shield protecting the tumor. The findings from the study have resulted in both human and animal clinical trials.

The outlook for vitamin D as a positive influence on weakening protective cells surrounding tumors may also mean other difficult tumors, such as those found in the liver, kidney, and lungs, will also be susceptible to treatment.

At Issels®, we are dedicated to providing quality programs and treatments for our patients. If you would like more information about our clinics and our locations in the U.S. and abroad, please contact us by phone or use our convenient online form.

After Cancer, Cancer Care Tips

Tips for Beating Fatigue Triggered by Cancer Treatment

Talk to Your Care Team About Fatigue
Talk to Your Care Team About Fatigue

Fighting cancer is a full-time job that consumes every available bit of your energy. While your treatment is designed to assist you, it can intensify your feelings of fatigue. Lack of energy seeps into your emotional state, making it difficult to maintain a positive attitude.

You don’t have to resign yourself to feeling tired. Enlist the help of your support network in following these suggestions to rebuild your stores of energy.

• Let your healthcare provider know about your fatigue. He has experience dealing with the situation so he can offer ideas that have successfully helped other patients.

• Exercise may sound counterintuitive, but it’s a great way to boost your energy along with your strength and emotional state of mind. It doesn’t have to be a formal workout. A short walk or any other physical activity is beneficial.

• Follow a nutritional diet to keep your system in balance and build your strength.

• If you are having difficulty sleeping at night, spend time relaxing before you go to bed. Make your room as comfortable as possible and follow a regular sleeping schedule so your body adapts.

• Cancer treatment can make you feel isolated and alone. If you haven’t already, join a support group. Knowing that others have experienced similar fatigue is comforting.

• Sometimes you just have to accommodate your tiredness and take a rest. After a while you’ll find a balance and know when to keep going and when to relax.

Our healthcare providers consider fatigue and other factors of your individual case to personalize your course of treatment. Contact us to learn more about the resources we offer to help you win your fight.