Category Archives: Living with Cancer

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 Research, Living with Cancer

Doorway in Blood Vessels Allows Breast Cancer to Spread Via the Blood

Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon
Breast Cancer Can Be Spread Through The Blood

What if you could literally close the door on metastasizing cancer? A recent U.S. study has discovered this doorway, and Issels® wants to let you in on the latest findings and how they might benefit your cancer treatment goals…

Escape artists
When three specific types of cells work together, cancer can escape into the blood stream. Their plan?

  • Cancer cells near blood vessels interact with macrophages, a type of white blood cell.
  • The macrophages release a protein, called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which increases the permeability or leakiness of endothelial cells in the blood vessel wall.
  • A doorway is temporarily created, through which cancer cells escape and spread into the bloodstream.

The right environment
Previously, what regulated the permeability of blood vessel walls at the escape site wasn’t clear. However thanks to the new imaging studies, the mechanism has been identified: macrophages at the tumor microenvironment of metastasis (TMEM), or TMEM macrophages.

Closing the door
While the VGEF protein produced by macrophages in the aforementioned escape process is already the target of existing cancer drugs, the recent study shows how this leakiness – cancer’s escape hatch – can be switched on and off by TMEM macrophages – the specific immune cells playing accomplice to the great escape.

A new frontier
The work performed on mice and building on previous findings from the Albert Einstein Cancer Center and Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, could lead to new drugs for preventing the spread of cancer.

Are your ready to close the door on cancer treatment? Kick cancer out for good and throw away the key with the help of Issels® today!

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Living with Cancer, Uncategorized

New Research: Melanoma Drug Causes Decrease in Lung Cancer Tumors

Lung Cancer On The Decline
Fighting Lung Cancer With Skin Cancer Drugs

At our Issels® Integrative Immuno-Oncology centers, we treat a wide variety of cancers including lung cancer. As previously mentioned, we offer this blog to give patients, caregivers, doctors, researchers, educators and students as much information as possible about new, beneficial immunotherapy advances that we feel can help patients.

As reported in May in the New England Journal of Medicine, a recent study found that nivolumab (Opdivo), a new immune checkpoint inhibitor drug that reveals cancer cells that pretend to be healthy cells to help push the immune system to destroy the cancer, is stopping the spread of melanoma and lung cancers almost two times better than ipilimumab (Yervoy).

Side Effects

Side effects with all immunotherapy drug treatments continue to be a problem for as many as 70 to 80 percent of patients. These two drugs were no different. Both caused side effects and the effects increased when the drugs were tested in combination.

Positive Outcomes

Researchers believe the outstanding results outweigh any side effects given there were no deaths during a trial that focused on 945 patients who had advanced and untreated melanoma. Best yet:

  • Patients who received nivolumab experienced a 7-month disease slowdown and a 34 percent tumor reduction versus a 3-month ipilimumab slowdown and 6 percent tumor reduction.
  • Combining both drugs resulted in a 11.5-month slowdown and a 52-percent reduction.

We believe at Issels® that the discovery of nivolumab (Opdivo) as a lung cancer treatment option, and the discovery of the higher effectiveness of the drug when used in combination with ipilimumab (Yervoy), represent incredible breakthroughs in immunotherapy and non-toxic treatment solutions. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Living with Cancer, Uncategorized

Immunotherapy: What It Is and How It Works to Fight Cancer

T Cells
Building Your Immune System

Immunotherapy represents a real breakthrough in cancer treatment. It activates the body’s own immune system so that it can identify and eliminate cancer cells. This approach to stage four cancer treatment has reduced the side effects of treatment and yielded impressive results.

Supercharge your Immune System

The great part about the human body is that is comes fully equipped with a protective system meant to fight outside invaders. The trick is to tap into that power and be able to target tumors and cell mutations. New clinical trials have been successful in achieving those goals. In fact, more and more immunotherapy drugs are being fast-tracked for FDA approval.

Fighting Sneaky Cancer Cells

Typically, the immune system has trouble recognizing cancer cells because they are very similar to normal cells. This allows cancer cells to sneak by the body’s natural defenses and spread. New drugs have been proven to boost the immune system and help it seek out and destroy mutated cells without putting you through radiation and chemotherapy treatments, which can come with a whole host of harmful side effects.

So far, immunotherapy drugs have been used to treat different types of blood and bone cancer, including Leukemia. The results have been so promising, that scientists feel confident that they will be able to tackle a wider range of cancers in the near future.

Issels® doctors’ expertise in integrating personalized vaccines into a comprehensive immunotherapy program has already benefited many patients. They are working hard to also advance new treatment methods. We believe in boosting the immune system and improving overall health and quality life during treatment. A comprehensive and personalized treatment plan is the best approach to beating cancer. Find out how we can help you in your fight against cancer today by asking about our immuno-oncology programs.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, Living with Cancer, Uncategorized

New Breast Cancer Gene Plaguing Polish and French Canadians Discovered

Cancer Gene
The Breast Cancer Gene

One of the biggest challenges associated with preventing and curing breast cancer is that there appears to be several genes that are associated with the mutations that cause this cancer. Scientists and researchers have been working to identify all the potential causes and have recently made a real breakthrough. At the University of Toronto, researchers discovered that the gene RECQL is responsible for mutations in both Polish and French Canadian women.

Hereditary Breast Cancer

This research study has been focused on types of breast cancer that are inherited, which represent about 10% of all cases. By looking closely at over 20,000 cases, scientists were able to find a strong pattern of occurrence in these two populations. This information provides valuable insight into the behavior or cancer and the role of genetics. In fact, the study revealed that Polish women with the mutation are five times more likely to get breast cancer and the risk for French Canadian women is multiplied 50 times.

Targeted Treatment

While this information has yet to be used to change treatment methods, it does provide hope for future innovations. Not only can women be tested for the gene, in order to identify the likelihood that they will get breast cancer, but scientists anticipate being able to design targeted treatments around each specific genetic mutation.

This individualized approach to creating a treatment plan falls in line with Issels® philosophy about patient care. Not every woman acquires cancer through the same route, so why would everyone receive the same type of treatment? Continued research on the role of genetics in specific populations of people could lead to more effective treatment methods in the future, so stay tuned.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Living with Cancer, Uncategorized

Not Letting Cancer Get You Down: Living a Dream

Living a Dream
Living a Dream

A cancer diagnosis is a life changing event, but it doesn’t have to mean that you stop living your life and pursuing your dreams. Surrounding yourself with a support system and working with organizations like Issels® can help your quality of life that involves living out your dreams. Actress Rita Wilson, recently proved this point through her own approach to dealing with breast cancer.

Despite being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing a double mastectomy, Wilson continues to work and perform on Broadway. Instead of completely abandoning her role on stage, she simply took a month off to have the surgery and recover. Just four weeks later, she was back starring in “Fish in the Dark.” Performing every night on Broadway can be a grueling challenge even for those in the best of health. After her return, Wilson struggled with energy levels and wasn’t feeling up to 100%, but that did not stop her from continuing her work.

For some people, including Wilson, a cancer diagnosis actually makes them more aware of their bodies. While you may not feel up to par, you can still pursue your dreams and favorite activities as long as you listen to your body and trust your gut. Don’t push your limits too hard and make sure that you are taking steps to improve your nutrition, get enough sleep and reduce stress. All this will help boost your immunity and overall energy levels.

Taking a thoughtful approach to dealing with cancer and handling your health will allow you to continue to live out your dreams. Wilson is just one inspiring example of how life goes on even after a cancer diagnosis.