Tag Archives: Fighting Cancer

Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research

Is Drinking Alcohol Linked to Cancer? – The New Guidelines

Is Drinking Alcohol Linked to Cancer
Is Drinking Alcohol Linked to Cancer

Over the last several years, you’ve heard and read about researchers touting the health benefits of moderate drinking, such as red wine’s positive effects on the cardiovascular system. More recent findings are eroding that advice as evidence shows even light drinking increases the risk of several forms of cancer.

UK changes guidelines for the first time in 20 years

This past January, based on new information the United Kingdom’s Chief Medical Officer announced an update to low-risk drinking guidelines that had been in effect since 1995. The recommended limit of 14 units of alcohol per week is for both men and women, as opposed to the previous different guidelines for each sex.

One unit of alcohol equals eight grams, or approximately two teaspoons of pure alcohol. For comparison purposes, a small glass of wine contains slightly less than two-and-a-half units, while a pint of beer includes two units.

Alcohol increases risk of several types of cancer

Studies have established a clear link between low-level drinking (defined as an average of one drink per day) and higher risk of seven types of cancer: breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, bowel, liver and larynx. Integrative immunotherapy takes into account relevant aspects of your lifestyle, such as your pattern of alcohol consumption, when forming your individual treatment program.

In addition to lifestyle factors, our Issels® integrative immunotherapy programs use detailed information from special testing methods to address your particular needs. Contact us to learn more about our non-toxic protocols and how they can allow you to maintain a higher quality of life during the treatment process.

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

What to Know About the Cancer Risks of CT, MRI, and PET Scans

Steps for Dealing With Cancer
Cancer Scans

Diagnostic imaging has become a valuable tool for doctors to diagnose and evaluate conditions ranging from broken bones to cardiovascular disease, as well as an effective way to monitor progress of treatments such as cancer vaccines. The widespread use of these tests has stirred debate in the medical community regarding the increased cancer risk they may create.

Radiation risk of imaging

CT (computed tomography) scans are at the center of the controversy. These tests use ionizing radiation, which is known to damage DNA and cause cancer, to create intricate 3D images of the area being scanned. As such, they are the equivalent of approximately 200 chest X-rays.

Unlike CT scans, X-rays and PET scans, MRI scans and ultrasounds involve no radiation. MRI scans use magnetic fields and ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves. Neither medium causes irreversible damage to humans.

Has diagnostic imaging become overused?

In just 20 years, diagnostic imaging has grown into a $100 billion per year business. While the tests often reduce the need for exploratory surgery, many radiologists are concerned that they are being used indiscriminately, with some specialists requiring scans before a patient’s initial visit.

Imaging frequently turns up conditions that have been dubbed “incidentalomas,” so called because they are generally harmless conditions that are discovered unexpectedly. These diagnoses can lead to expensive and unnecessary procedures that may result in complications.

Our Issels® immunotherapy programs include non-toxic treatments such as cancer vaccines to stimulate your body’s own powerful immune responses. Visit our website for more information about our personalized therapies.

Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, Living with Cancer

Should You Undergo Cancer Screening?

Cancer Testing
Cancer Testing

Some patients at our Issels® immuno-oncology centers arrive as a result of cancer screening, which can find the disease early before it has spread. While testing has benefited many people, researchers are now questioning whether a widespread use of these procedures is beneficial.

Challenging the definition of “life-saving”

Oncologist Vinay Prasad, journalist Jeanne Lenzer and physician David Newman collaborated on a recent analysis published in The BMJ, one of the world’s oldest and most respected medical journals. They contend that the life-saving statistics for cancer screening are misleading because they are based on the concept of “disease-specific mortality.”

The authors argue that disease-specific mortality, which estimates the chances of a person dying from a particular disease within a particular window, is too narrowly defined. A more accurate measure of the value of screening is the number of extra years a patient gains from it, and at this point the data is unclear.

In addition, cancer screening sometimes leads to over-diagnosis. In these cases, treatment is given for tumors that are benign or non-life-threatening, which can result in more serious negative effects than the tumors themselves cause.

Changing standards for cancer screenings

Due to concerns over these issues, the American Cancer Society has revised recommendations for some of the more common screenings. For instance, the age for women to begin receiving mammograms has been raised to 45, and they suggest that men bypass prostate cancer screenings completely unless they are experiencing symptoms.

Should you find out that you have cancer, even Stage Three, the integrative therapies at our Issels® immuno-oncology centers may be right for you. They are personalized to meet your individual needs and minimize negative side effects of cancer treatment. Contact us for more information.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, News

VP Staff Meets with Cancer Experts as a Push towards a Cure

The Cure is Out There
The Cure is Out There

It’s nearly impossible to find anyone whose life has not been touched by cancer. If you have not been affected by the disease yourself, you have at least one family member or friend who has. Vice President Joe Biden has channeled grief over his eldest son’s death into a personal campaign to find a cure.

Turning tragedy into hope

In May 2015, 46-year-old Beau Biden passed away from brain cancer. The following October, his father announced that he would not be running for president in order to devote time toward a “moon shot in this country to cure cancer.”

Since that time, Biden has followed through on his commitment to ramp up government’s role in the search for a cure. He and his staff members have participated in dozens of meetings to become fully educated in the current progress, seeking the most promising opportunities to accelerate the fight. This past January, Biden and his advisors sat down with 15 members of the American Association for Cancer Research.

During the same month, the Vice President’s office issued a statement saying Biden saw “great promise in genomics, immunotherapy and combined therapies,” all of which are part of our Issels immuno-oncology treatments. Biden also showed support by lobbying for a proposed multi-million dollar boost in funding for the National Institutes of Health.

The power of immunotherapy

The staff at our Issels immuno-oncology clinic has long shared the Vice President’s enthusiasm for personalized, non-toxic cancer treatments. Contact us to learn why our state-of-the-art programs may be the right choice for you or your loved one.

Breast Cancer, Cancer Research, Immuno-Oncology, Immunotherapy, News

In 21 States Cancer Tops the List as the Cause of Death

We Haven't Defeated Cancer Yet
We Haven’t Defeated Cancer Yet

Thanks to increasingly successful developments in treatment, such as the state-of-the-art programs at our Issels immuno-oncology clinics, the number of cancer deaths has dropped significantly over the past 20 years. Sadly, though, it has become the leading cause of death in 21 states, emphasizing the need for continuing urgency in research.

Cancer by the numbers

Projections recently released by the American Cancer Society reveal that more than 1.68 million people will be diagnosed with the disease in the upcoming year, while nearly 600,000 will die from it. In terms of overall numbers, 23 percent of deaths are a result of cancer, second only to 24 percent from heart disease.

While lung cancer is still the most deadly form, the 23 percent drop in cancer death rates between 1991 and 2012 is largely due to a steep reduction in smoking. Only 16.8 percent of Americans are smokers, compared to just fewer than 21 percent in 2009.

Continued optimism in the search for a cure

The American Society for Clinical Oncology issued a statement hailing “our nation’s investment in cancer research,” which has led to major breakthroughs in effective treatment. In particular, advancements in innovative programs such as immunotherapy and molecular targeted treatments have led to a consistent decline in death rates from the four major types: lung, breast, prostate and colon/rectum.

For years, our Issels immuno-oncology clinic has been a leader in the use of non-toxic immunotherapy protocols. Visit our website for more information about our programs as well as testimonials from the many patients of all ages who have been helped by our personalized treatment programs.

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

Five Life Changing Tips for Cancer Caregivers

Tips For Cancer Caregivers
Tips For Cancer Caregivers

Being a caregiver for a loved one with cancer is one of the more stressful, yet also one of the more rewarding roles you will ever perform. You are called on to provide both physical and emotional assistance, but at the same time it’s important that you maintain your own strength and positive frame of mind.

Using these five valuable tips can change your life and that of your loved one.

  1. Don’t be afraid to talk about the future.

You may be reluctant to look ahead, but talking about the future takes your minds off present difficulties and helps maintain an atmosphere of hope.

  1. Be present and interact during clinic visits.

Whether your loved one is receiving non-toxic immunotherapy or more conventional treatment, education and knowledge makes you better equipped to give meaningful support.

  1. Encourage your loved one to follow an everyday routine.

Cancer patients can easily feel isolated, so engaging in regular activities as much as possible gives them a degree of comfort and stability.

  1. Enlist help from friends and family.

No matter how strong you are, you can’t do it alone. Talk to others about help with specific tasks or even taking over for a day to give you a break.

  1. Make time for yourself.

Plan regular outlets for stress such as exercise, yoga and meditation, or dinner with friends. Caregiver support groups can also be immensely helpful.

As you help your loved one to seek out cancer treatment options consider that our Issels® non-toxic immunotherapy protocols have fewer side effects, allowing patients to have a greater quality of life during treatment. Contact us to learn more about our individualized immune-oncology programs.