surviveCANCER
Foundation  |
| ||||
| .: health | |||||
.: health.natural support for conventional medical treatments Discuss this page!
Introduction One of the things that I have been repeatedly asked about is how to support surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation with supplements. The vast majority of people with cancer choose to use conventional medical wisdom to treat their cancer issues. I whole heartedly support that choice for them. Cancer is not a one-size-fits-all disease. Cancer is a very private disease. It is not contagious. It cannot be spread from person to person through physical contact or for that matter having them breathe upon you. Your body malfunctions; cells mutate and cancer grows. It is that simple. The why's and wherefore's at this point really do not matter. The cause of virtually any form of cancer is still unknown today. Lots of things contribute the development of cancer in anyone. There are 117 types of cancer, but every year there are over 4,000,000 varieties found worldwide. Each and every person who contracts one form or another creates a unique situation because of their emotional, mental, and physical makeup. How cancer is treated successfully becomes a personal, one on one thing. What works for me will not necessarily work for you or anyone else in the whole wide world. Chances are that many people will respond to similar treatment regimens, but not everything works all the time for everyone; that is reality. My original quest was not to replace conventional medical treatment regimens for my own cancer. It was to simply find a way to offset the terrible consequences of two major surgeries (the removal of both kidneys) and ensuing dialysis. However, as the course of events unfolded, these actions never occurred and I ended up using only natural products to treat myself. NOTE HERE: You are the only one who is responsible for dealing with your cancer. Your doctor can diagnose and provide methods to deal with it, but you are the one who makes the decisions and ultimately it is you who will live or die based upon what you choose to do. As I worked over the last year fighting my own personal cancer battle, I learned a lot, way beyond what was needed to help me. Part of what I studied and worked on were contingency plans in case what I was doing did not work. I wanted a fall-back position, a second chance at life. Part of that program included the use of surgery and follow-up treatments with chemotherapy and radiation. For the time being, I have forestalled the need for any of this, but that does not mean that others cannot benefit from it. Under normal circumstances, I strongly and fervently believe the best course of action for most people is to remove as much tumor burden as possible as quickly as possible. But again, that is your choice, not mine to make. If you choose to undergo surgery or if it appears chemotherapy and/or radiation are in your future, then what will be found on this page is of vital importance to you. Every single time your body undergoes a crisis, your immune system takes a big hit. A simple transfusion for instance can shut your immune system down for up to 2 months. Think about that for just a moment. The simple act of adding blood, even your own blood that has been stored in a blood bank, can all but shut your basic immune system down. That leaves you open to infections, but more importantly it gives any residual cancer the opportunity to grow at will, no restrictions, no road blocks, nothing to even try and keep it in check. Because there is so much at stake, the most logical course of action is to
search for every possible thing you can do to help support your body through any
major crisis. Surgical intervention, chemotherapy, and radiation all constitute
major disruptions to your immune system, to your very being in general. With the
use of a proper choice of supplements and dietary considerations, you can go a
long way toward lessening the negative impact of these occurrences. In addition, I have added some other things for you to consider. Any conventional medical intervention will potentially have side effects. These sometimes are as bad or worse than the symptoms of the disease itself. Much can be done here also to help offset the discomfort you would normally face. Cachexia - The Wasting Disease Cachexia - The Wasting Disease Cachexia is a frequent and devastating complication of advanced cancer. Current understanding of this syndrome seems to imply that tumor induced metabolic changes and immune responses cause loss of appetite and weight loss. Typically the results of cachexia can be classed as anorexia, chronic nausea, asthenia, and change in body image. As noted in the paragraph above, nearly as many people probably die of chronic wasting disease as from cancer itself. Hydrazine sulfate was a drug developed in 1973 by Joseph Gold, MD. Hydrazine sulfate is an anti-cachexia drug which acts to reverse the metabolic processes of debilitation and weight loss in cancer and secondarily acts to stabilize or regress tumors. Every informed-consent, controlled clinical trial performed in accordance with internationally accepted standards of scientific conduct—without exception—has indicated efficacy and safety of the drug. The only contrary results, have been the National Cancer Institute-sponsored studies, in which incompatible agents (medications) were used with the test drug. (The use of incompatible agents, in violation of the foregoing standards, acts to cause a negative study.) The U.S. National Cancer Institute-published studies of hydrazine sulfate (Journal of Clinical Oncology, June 1994), which were reported as negative, denied the concurrent use of tranquilizers in general. However, under pressure of an investigation of the NCI-sponsored studies by the U.S. General Accounting Office ordered by Congress, the NCI admitted to the widespread use of both phenothiazine and the more powerful benzodiazepine tranquilizers—in 94% of all patients tested (Journal of Clinical Oncology, June 1995). Approximately half of these patients were administered these tranquilizers on a long-term basis, and some on a continual basis. It was further stated by the NCI that concomitant drug use—tranquilizers, alcohol, barbiturates, etc.—was not computerized and patient records of such drug use were “incomplete.” In short, the studies were flawed and erroneously reported which resulted in negative tests. Hydrazine sulfate is a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor and is incompatible with tranquilizers, barbiturates, alcohol and other central nervous system depressants. Foods high in tyramine, such as aged cheese and fermented products, are also incompatible with MAO inhibitors. The use of tranquilizers, barbiturates and/or alcoholic beverages with hydrazine sulfate destroys the efficacy of this drug and represents a clear clinical hazard. Literally thousands of patients have used this successfully for more than 30 years. It is cheap and works. Hydrazine sulfate has been demonstrated to produce only few and transient side effects. There have been no instances of bone-marrow depression or of heart, lung or immune system toxicity. Hydrazine sulfate has never been shown to be carcinogenic—i.e., cause cancer—in humans. The mechanism whereby this works is the blocking of glucose being sent to the tumor(s). This in turn literally starves the cancer. At the same time because it is preventing the tumor usage of glucose, it ups the body's depletion of glucose which in turn effectively increases the caloric intake allowing weight gain and the halting of cachexia. This protocol should not be done unless under the supervision of a medical professional. Typically I do not recommend anyone consider the use of man-made (synthetic) drugs. This and Naltrexone are two exceptions. The following protocol is what was designed and is recommended by Dr. Gold. It is for people who weigh in excess of 100 pounds. For those under 100 pounds, the starting dosage should be with 30 mg caps. For days 1 - 3: Take one 60 mg capsule with or before breakfast. Pre And Post Surgical Recovery Protocols For Natural Support And Healing Obviously in the case of an emergency, it is not possible to do the following routine. However, when surgery can be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance, there is much that can be done to help the body through the trauma. This is a mildly complicated protocol to follow, but it is highly effective in reducing post surgical issues, especially the risk of hospital acquired infections such as staph or strep. Of course there are many considerations when discussing surgery such as type and reason(s) for, age, sex, physical and mental health, etc… But once the decision is made, much can be done to help the body not only through the surgery but also to recover successfully. Realistically, the goals for this activity should be to minimize the trauma and shock to your body. You should also look to reduce inflammation, speed the healing, reduce the risk of bleeding during and post surgery, reduce the chance of clotting or uncontrolled bleeding, and also boost the immune system. It is important to note that any procedure, even something as simple as just giving or receiving a pint of blood, can reduce the immune system capability for up to 2 months. In addition, your diet is a crucial factor in how well you will make it through surgery. Nutrition is crucial to your overall wellbeing. Drop all sugar, processed flours, etc… from the diet. All processed foods including margarine, bleached flour, table sugar, etc… are a very heavy stress on the immune system and you do not need this. Even whole wheat and rye flours contain gluten which requires the immune system to break it down. So, do not eat them! Try to refrain from all dairy. Focus on fresh vegetables, no more than 10% meat of the daily dietary mix, roughly 5% fats (olive or coconut oils only). Small portions of fruit in the morning only. It is important to be aware that eating the proper vegetables will provide an array of natural biflavinoids to help with the healing process. This is done in conjunction with the following regimen of supplements which aid as a booster. It should be noted that simply taking supplements is helpful, but should not be done in lieu of proper nutritional considerations. Even though the supplements are natural products, the body’s ability to make use of their properties differs greatly from what fresh vegetables (and vegetable juices) have to offer. Pre-surgery
NOTE: The medical community at large uses the information and test results that were derived from synthetically formulated vitamins and minerals rather than naturally occurring substances such as from soy or other plant sources. As a result, many doctors insist that vitamin E should not be taken for at least a month prior to surgery as part of its actions are to work as a blood thinner. This does not appear to be the case with natural products, but to set your mind at ease, please discuss with your surgeon.
Post Surgery Start the day after surgery, continue 2–3 weeks:
Because surgery anywhere is a trauma to the entire body, it should be imperative that you support all organs and body functions. In order to do this the best, you should consider using something from each group. Dosage on container should be satisfactory. NOTE: Some things could potentially cause allergic reactions such as Aloe. Please be aware if symptoms arise such as topical inflammation, itching, swelling, etc…
It should be noted here that the juicing of green vegetables will do much for the recuperative powers of the body in general. A good mixture would include just about everything green you can think of: Romaine lettuce, Kale, Broccoli, Watercress, Spinach, Celery to name a few. Drink 8 to 10 oz of juice per day. You should also throw in radish juice to support the thyroid, tomato for extra liver assistance, beet juice to cleanse the blood, and watermelon juice for increased ph levels and general speedy recovery from anything that pulls the immune system down. Drink at least 4 oz of each of these additional juices per day. A Theory On Supplement Usage To Support Chemotherapy And Radiation Treatments One of the things to remember about cancer is that free radicals cause issues and yet every single body function creates them. For instance, normal respiration (breathing) converts roughly 5% of the oxygen we breathe into free radicals that are distributed to each and every cell in the body during cellular respiration. It is a complex set of chemical exchanges taking place, but in the long run, the production of what is called a hydroxyl radical (OH) occurs. This radical is the most toxic oxygen-based free radical our bodies produce. The very thing you need to do to stay alive (breathe) is also a contributor to what potentially can kill you. All free radicals play a roll in creating gene mutations and what is known as oncogene over expression. So, what does this mean? Mutation of genes can lead to a whole list of malfunctioning events such as abnormal signal transduction (cells talking to other cells) which in turn add to the events causing tumor suppressor gene underexpression (the gene that keeps cancer from forming is effectively turned off). When this happens the chances for cancer growth increases. Changes to the DNA structure of cells occurs through several means including the free radical action as noted previously. Normally our bodies have a DNA repair mechanism built in that corrects these defects. However, you should understand that a typical day will result in over 10,000 individual oxidative attacks to each and every cell DNA in the entire body. The repair mechanism is an entire fleet of special enzymes that correct this antioxidant damage. But when cells and groups of cells are not repaired, they will do one of two things; either die OR begin the mutation process toward neoplasia (the formation of cancer cells). Because of this continual attack, it is crucial that we maintain a high level of antioxidant supplies through diet. This is why so many studies point to the fact that when diets are lacking in fresh fruits and vegetables, the incidence of cancer, heart disease, and other degenerative ailments occur more frequently. When diet is not sufficient, supplements are needed TEMPORARILY to bring the body back in line. Supplements should never be considered a proper substitute for adequate diet. The normal function of a gene inside a cellular structure is to make specific
proteins. This process is known as gene expression. Some genes when stimulated
(expressed) produce proteins that prevent cancer progression and other genes
when expressed produce proteins that promote cancer. In the cancerous cells,
abnormal expression creates an imbalance of too many cancer promoting proteins
and too few cancer fighting proteins. Although there are dozens of different transcription factors that control all kinds of gene expression, we are really only concerned with 3 specific ones; p53, NF-kB, and AP-1. These 3 control the growth and proliferation of cancer cells including invasion of local areas and distant metastasis. Part of the activity these 3 transcription factors also control are processes such as angiogenesis (the feeding process using blood capillaries), inflammation, and apoptosis (programmed cell death). Oxidants are, from a chemical standpoint, compounds that accept one or more electrons. The opposite compound is known as a reductant which will loose one or more electrons. The technical name for this activity is REDOX REACTION or reduction-oxidation reaction. When two compounds meet and one looses electrons and the other gains them, this a redox reaction. Antioxidants are simply compounds that inhibit the oxidation process. There are dozens of different ways this is done, depending on the compounds involved. The type we are concerned with is, for lack of a better description, a compound that has an extra electron to give up, to replace that which was stolen by an oxidant. Therefore, by having a sufficient supply of antioxidants available, electrons stolen by oxidation from DNA and essential fatty acids inside each cell can be replaced and cellular structure brought back to a normal state. Antioxidants also offer their spare electrons to free radicals thereby neutralizing them and preventing the stealing of electrons from vital cellular components in the first place. The reality of the situation is that the actual process is much more complex than this, but broken into its simplest components, this is a realistic thumbnail sketch of what is going on. A short while ago I mentioned a protein (transcription factor) called P53. This specific gene is the actual protector or guardian of all DNA. When a DNA strand is damaged, this gene does 3 specific things: (1) it attempts to halt the cellular growth cycle; (2) it attempts to initiate DNA repair; (3) if the DNA cannot be repaired, it attempts to initiate apoptosis (programmed cellular death). Cancerous cells develop a survival advantage because they either produce too little P53 protein or they produce a version of P53 that does not function, along with producing excessive NF-kB and AP-1 proteins which ultimately propagate the deformed cells. Excessive oxidant activity can overwhelm the P53 gene and render it ineffective. To understand what is happening inside a tumor, it is necessary to realize that there are two distinct types of cells present. First are those that are cancerous but have an intact P53 gene that can be stimulated to cause apoptosis. The other cell type has excessive amounts of both NF-kB and AP-1 proteins that cause uncontrolled proliferation by allowing inflammation which in turn greatly enhances angiogenesis and ultimately tumor growth and metastasis. This second type of cell has the ability to "hide" from normal immune system functions because of the additional protein coating on the cells derived from the over – activity of the NF-kB and AP-1 proteins. For a moment let’s consider what is happening with either chemotherapy or radiation when used to fight cancer. Both of these treatment regimens ultimately create free radicals. The basic theory is that the massive quantity of free radical activity will kill the already damaged cancer cells and rid the body of the disease. Nice theory. In the 50 + years chemo has been used and the 100 years radiation has been used, the numbers as relating to successful treatment of cancer have not really changed a whole lot. Overall there is still not better than a 30 – 40% success ratio. Now if you are diagnosed early in the cancer cycle with the modern testing techniques, you stand a very good chance of having a successful remission occur. However, by the time cancer gets to stage 3 or 4 of any type, the results are effectively no better than they have been for decades. Why? That is the $64,000 question, as they used to say in the early days of television. What it comes back to is the two types of cells found in tumors. Just about any form of protocol can kill cancer cells, initially. However, cancer can and does readily mutate which by definition is really what cancer is all about. When you subject your body to chemo or radiation, there is a quick die-off of cancer cells along with a lot of other cells in your body. In reality with chemo, any fast growing cell is attacked such as the hair follicles on your scalp and the mucous lining in your stomach and throat. This is why so many people end up with baldness and stomach/throat disorders. If the tumor has been around long enough to reach a stage 3 or 4 growth, it has functionally developed the second form of tumor cell that is highly resistant to attack because of the protein coating it now has. Cancers such as this, that do not readily respond to treatment, are known as refractive. By continuing to administer chemo and/or radiation to a refractive cancer, you can actually damage the normal cells surrounding the tumor. That readily creates a place for the tumor to expand into which in reality reduces the time necessary for tumor growth to occur as it does not have to go out an destroy surrounding tissues. Bummer. Hence it can appear that chemo actually "grows" the tumor at a faster rate. It really is not growing the tumor, but it is making the tumor growth easier. Caspases is an enzyme that mediates the final stage of apoptosis. This is an immune cytokine of interleukin – 1, one of the common things to synthesize for chemo. (Cytokines are a varied group of soluble proteins made by cells in our body.) TNF (tumor necrosis factor) is an immune cytokine also. Its purpose is to promote angiogenesis. But it has been learned that in high concentrations, it is toxic to cancer cells. This is another commonly synthesized form used for chemotherapy. This is all well and good. However, if they are over done or mis-applied such as to a refractive cancer, these proteins stimulate NF-kB and/or AP-1 activity which in turn stimulates gene transcription and gene transcription leads to additional inflammation, proliferation, and cell migration. The cancer grows and spreads. So, what to do? Because you are using either chemo or radiation to create a super abundance of free radicals that can induce cell death, you need to be concerned that they only try to kill the cells that are cancerous. Part of that consideration is to also protect all the surrounding good cells so as to inhibit cellular damage that would allow the cancerous cells to more readily spread. Natural compounds can conceivably increase the effectiveness of conventional treatments. In order to fully understand the possibilities here, please consider that there are a number of possible goals to design a treatment program around. The proper choice of natural supplements can be used to break down the additional protective coating found on many forms of cancer cells, especially those considered refractive in nature. Natural supplements can be used to further stimulate the immune system as a support for conventional treatments. Natural supplements can restore the body’s ability to fight disease once the basic onslaught of chemotherapy and/or radiation has been used. It is well documented that both of these types of treatment greatly suppress the natural immune system which can in turn lead to ancillary infections or recurrence of tumor growth. Natural supplements can enhance the body’s ability to withstand the effects of medical treatments allowing for patients to be able to complete treatment regimens more effectively. Generally speaking chemo and radiation induce necrosis or apoptosis in cancer cells by creating massive amounts of free radicals. Unfortunately, the side effect of this is that the prooxidant mechanisms also attack normal cells especially in the immediate vicinity of the tumor(s). By applying antioxidants such as melatonin, Vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene, curcumin, catechin, feverfew, and N-Acetyl-Cysteine, the oxidative damage to non-cancerous cells can be limited. Of course, the first thing that is said by most of the medical community to counter this is that the antioxidant activity also prevents the effective action of free radicals to kill the cancer cells. Is this a true evaluation of the situation in hand? (note: many of these substances have multiple rolls and are not simply antioxidants) The problem here is that there are studies on both sides of the fence. Unfortunately, many early studies showed that antioxidants did in fact prevent or at least retard the free radical effect of conventional treatments. However, with most studies conducted within the past several years, this is turning out to be an invalid conclusion as the original text parameters were faulty. What appears to be happening is that there is a shift in the manner of how cells are actually killed. Cells die from either apoptosis or necrosis. Typically medical treatment
kills cells by necrosis. This can become a problem in that necrotic cells
"explode" in the extracellular space. This rupturing of the cell can release
iron stores as well as other compounds found inside the cells that in turn can
trigger inflammation and another round of free radical damage to neighboring
healthy cells. Apoptosis, on the other hand is a much more controlled cellular
death wherein the immune system microphages ingest the vast majority, if not all
of the dead cell particulate rendering it harmless to the body in general.
First on the list is what has already been mentioned; the ability of cancer cells to mutate to the point that the cells themselves are no longer sensitive to the drug’s reactions. Now this is basically the same type of action that occurs when taking an antibiotic to treat an illness where the illness does not completely disappear. The next time the antibiotic is used against it, the results are decreasingly worse and each time thereafter the cycle repeats itself to the point at which the drug has no effect whatsoever because the disease has the opportunity to adapt itself to the attacker’s methods and mutate to something that is not affected. Cancer cells can boost their ability to resist treatment by their ability to literally detoxify the very drugs sent to destroy them. Inside of all cells is a special protein called the MRP (multi-drug resistance protein). It is, for all intent and purpose the same chemical configuration as the glutathione-xenobiotic pump (GSH-X). When combined with another protein called P-glycoprotein, it is able to force, by pumping action, many things from inside cell structures. This activity is one of the very well documented things associated with many kinds of drugs. This is a normal defense mechanism of cell structures that helps repel unwanted compounds. But in the case of cancer, it also repels the very drugs used to kill the cancer cell. When this happens, the cancer has become refractive or non-treatable with conventional medications. Drug resistance can also occur when some forms of cancer cells are able to increase their ability to repair the DNA of the mutated cells. The repair, however, is not to original state, but the mutated state. Sometimes this happens because the P-53 gene that controls DNA repair is over-stimulated by the cancer cells. Because of the way that the medical community at large and the FDA tend to approach testing, getting a handle on what is occurring has been difficult, to say the least. A classic example of this comes when looking at how drug resistance is handled by leukemia. More than a dozen authors have written papers on this subject, yet the medical community is mired in bureaucratic dogma and for the most part ignores substantiated findings on this subject. Classic example: Leukemia oriented drug resistance does not have any single protein stand out as a major contributor. Because of this, most research quits right there. However, when a correlation to drug resistance was found, it was in groups of two or more proteins that were analyzed together. This demonstrates that a number of chemical events occur simultaneously to create drug resistance. Like many other things with cancer, you need to consider attacking this problem from more than one direction at a time in order to be successful. Cells have the ability to "pump" or remove unwanted elements from inside the cell structure. In the case of cancer cells, the trick is to keep things INSIDE the cell so that drugs can act and kill off the cell. Part of the pumping action involves P-glycoprotein, Because it needs this compound in excess, one of the ways to significantly reduce or stop the excessive pump action is to control this specific protein. There are two distinct characteristics that make it controllable with natural compounds thereby reining in the GSH-X pump. Protein kinase C (PKC) is a key factor in relaying chemical signals through the cell structure. One of the key components to battling cancer is the ability to reduce this signal strength because in cancers, PKC is abnormally "loud". The over expression (stimulation) of this protein makes cancer communication literally drown out the other normal cell communication signals thereby in effect reprogramming the cell to respond only to cancer signals. Note: there are actually 12 different but related lipid –dependent enzymes in the PKC family. By subjecting them to natural compounds that counteract this over-expression, it is possible to control their output and significantly reduce the influence of cancer reproduction. The compounds that are successful in this area are CAPE, curcumin, assorted flavinoids (including but not limited to: luteolin, quercetin, ECGC, and apigenin), Omega 3 fatty acids, Selenium, Hypericin (active ingredient in St. John’s Wort), and vitamin E. Another form of inhibiting P-glycoproteins is by controlling the NF-kB expression. In many forms of cancer, activation of the MDR gene is closely tied to increases in NF-kB activity. In order to control this output, Melatonin, vitamin E succinate, vitamin E, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin C, N acetyl cysteine (NAC), Aapigenin, curcumin, CAPE, ECGC, Emodin, Genistein, Hypericin, Quercetin, and Resveratrol are key compounds. Fibrin forms around developing tumors. Fibrin deposits are believed to assist tumor growth by providing physical support, promoting metastasis, and providing a shield for the tumor from both immune system and medical attacks with chemotherapy and/or radiation. One of the problems with agents that attack fibrin when used in an injectable form is that the concentration of the agent will inhibit tumor growth but quite possibly at the price of increasing angiogenesis by producing a plethora of fibrin fragments. It has been discovered however, that orally administered fibrin attacking agents are at a lower dilution and are much less likely to increase angiogenesis while still inhibiting tumor metastasis. The key supplements that do attack fibrin coating on tumors are bromelain, garlic, and serrapeptase (an enzyme found in silk worms). Radiation, like chemotherapy, creates a large quantity of free radicals that kill both the tumor and unfortunately surrounding tissues. There are so few studies actually performed, that although the protective mechanisms as described previously will in all likelihood be accurate, there is very little evidence that will truly substantiate those statements. Radiation differs from chemotherapy in that the destructive effects continue for a prolonged period after administration, possibly lasting for a number of months. In addition, ulceration and fibrosis are common side effects. The continued use of antioxidants after the treatment cycle can significantly reduce these undesirable side effects. There is a great deal of early information that says natural compounds will be of great benefit to those utilizing chemotherapy and/or radiation. Unfortunately, the amount of actual data collected is still infinitesimal in comparison to other protocols and procedures already studied. There is need to do much additional work in this field to be able to provide the best possible combination and dosage of supplements. All things considered, if it were me, I would strongly consider taking the following supplements in roughly the dosages noted. These should be taken as a complete regimen for overlap in treatment and for synergistic effect. If I have a brand preference, it is listed with the item.
NOTE: Please understand that the above list of supplements does not deal with ANY of the common side effects such as diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, loss of appetite, neuropathy, yeast infections, hemorrhaging, dry mouth, low platelet count, anemia, lymphedema, etc… Each of these additional conditions may or may not occur when enduring conventional medical treatment. Each of these conditions requires additional substances to offset their effects. In the following sections are some natural helps that can reduce the side effects most commonly suffered because of radiation or toxic chemical treatment of cancerous conditions. Like anything else associated with cancer or illness in general, not everything will work the same way for everyone. But in most cases, these "folk remedies" for lack of a better term, have helped literally hundreds of thousands of people. Many of these things have been used for literally centuries. In and of itself, that is no guarantee as to their efficacy, but the solutions presented have not lasted this long without having great merit. As I have noted elsewhere, very, very few man made (synthetic) drugs are not poisonous in their own rights. Only a handful of things manufactured by the modern pharmaceutical industry are not capable of severe side effects including death if done to excess. In contrast, very few natural supplements carry the same types of risk with the possible exception due to allergic reactions. That still is not license to overdo anything. Common sense should rule. What is presented here are viable choices for helping with specific conditions caused as side effects of chemotherapy and/or radiation. You are most strongly urged to consult with your local health care practitioner before undertaking anything including such common things as aspirin when dealing with cytotoxic drugs or radiation therapy. These are starting points for consideration, not the last word nor possibly the best choice for you. Please consider carefully and discuss fully with your health care professional before embarking on any course of action. I cannot stress enough the importance of proper dietary considerations throughout your battle with cancer, and for the rest of your life. Much of the body's ability to heal itself and maintain that condition will be tied directly to how well you learn to eat the proper things that promote a natural healthy condition. If you choose not to make changes in your diet, you are destined to fail. It is that simple. Either you wish to live and are willing to do what it takes or you are on the wrong side of the life lottery. Spend some time looking through our nutrition page and pay close attention to the juicing of vegetables to obtain the maximum nutrients available. These are simple things to do, but among the most important that you will undertake. Loss of Weight / Body Wasting / Loss of Appetite As presented in the very first section of this page is a short rundown on Hydrazine Sulfate as an anti-cachexia solution. This discussion goes further on that subject and deals only with natural substances as related to the causes and effects associated with cancer. Cancer does, among other things, alter the metabolic rate because of cytokine activity. What that amounts to is an increase in tumor necrosis factor. It also causes malabsorption which goes hand in hand with diarrhea. The other issue with the loss of appetite is simply the reduction in the amount of food necessary to maintain energy levels. A number of different cancers including gallbladder and pancreatic are characterized by progressive weight loss and an overall nutritional deterioration. Because there is frequently stomach upset also involved, the use of smoothies may be just the ticket to get the proper nutrients back into the body to help reverse the metabolic upset. Lets begin with nausea. One of the very most effective things to do for this is simply take a #0 capsule or 2 of ginger about 15 minutes prior to eating. Cold Pressed Whey Protein will help to reduce diarrhea and improve amino acid
balance. It also slows down the catabolic breakdown of foods, helps to promote
proper gut bacteria, enhances glutathione, and promotes the growth of muscle
mass (something frequently lost when cachexia sets in. Typically you want to
take between 1 and 4 tablespoons spread throughout the day, mixed with either
yogurt or a favorite fruit juice. Digestive enzymes such as acidophilus or papin (from papaya) are very important to rebuilding the proper enzyme base in the gut. In order for food to be digested and nutrients absorbed, you must have a wide variety of enzymes that can break down both acid and alkali foodstuffs. Garden of Life makes an excellent enzyme mixture that is in powdered form (take just before eating along with pancreatin). Other things such as hydrochloric acid tablets (necessary for digesting meat based proteins and minerals), and lipase for fat assimilation. Coconut milk can work wonders for weight gain. Fresh is always best, but
canned will help. What you are seeking is the medium chain triglyceride (fat)
that is an excellent antimicrobial fatty acid. Along with that is lauric acid
which helps with general digestion and absorption of nutrients. This is a
wonderful antibacterial for helping keep general infections at bay which account
for many, many deaths in advanced stages of cancer. Part of the problem with chemo and radiation is the all too frequent nausea
and vomiting that accompany the treatments. As tough as it is to say this, some
nausea probably is not a bad thing. Chemo is very, very toxic (cytotoxic) to
both cancer cells and good cells in your body. Part of the process of getting
rid of these cells killed by the chemo is to vomit them up, when the amount
builds up to where the body cannot deal with it in a normal fashion. Simply
removing all nausea might actually add to the problem by helping to contain
dead/decaying matter inside your body. You do not need more toxic buildup. That
is not to say that you should not have relief, simply that you should not try to
make it ALL go away. As noted previously, ginger is good for stomach upset. Other things such as the following herbal teas can also help: alfalfa, chamomile, fennel, ginger, peppermint, and slippery elm. This is another of those things that happens to many people who has chemo or radiation. Also quite commonly cancer victims are subjected to massive dosages of antibiotics because with a weakened immune system, infections of all kinds are not only possible but prevalent and antibiotics kill off the good bacteria in the stomach as well as the diseases they were sent in to fight resulting in diarrhea. There are a number of things to try, although the list is not very long. Before any discussion on what to eat or take, it is critical to understand that diarrhea can kill you simply from dehydration and loss of electrolytes. DRINK FLUIDS - LOTS OF FLUIDS. You need to take in at least 64 ounces (2 quarts) of liquid per day. More is better. Failure to keep adequate fluid levels in your body will kill you. Lets look at dietary considerations first. ALL dairy products need to be stopped for 24 to 48 hours along with fatty and fried foods permanently stopped. Eat small meals, high in fiber. Strongly consider doing a short juice fast for 24 hours to help clean out the bowels that are loaded with harmful bacteria. I would, were it me, be using the green vegetable juices as mentioned on our nutrition page. I would follow this up with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in hot water with honey 3 times a day for 3 days. In addition, I would do 2 tsp carob powder in applesauce with 1 tsp cinnamon morning and evening. NOTE: make the applesauce from tart apples such as granny smith and do not use sugar to sweeten; Stevia only. Next we need to focus on normalizing the good bacteria in the stomach. Lactobacillus Acidophilus is needed to start the gut back in the right direction. Use directions on the bottle. Note: this needs to be live culture and should be stored as a refrigerated product. Take 2 or 3 caps, 3 times daily and maintain that level for at least 30 days. Low Temperature Whey Protein is another of those products that has multiple benefits. As noted earlier in discussions concerning cachexia, whey is used as a bulking agent for adding muscle. It does also go a long way to helping restore proper flora balance in the gut, especially when combined with yogurt. You should consider a minimum of 3 tbs daily. The third product is Saccharomyces Boulardii (SB). This is a non-pathogenic yeast originally taken from the surface of Lichee nuts. It has become one of the "darlings" of the AIDS world for combating diarrhea. It works not only for that, but also for drug induced (antibiotic) diarrhea as it appears to be pretty much resistant to attack from most kinds of antibiotics. It also resists gastric acids and unlike other probiotics, it seems to work well in any ph range. For cancer, this is a very big positive in that most cancers cause severe ph reduction. The other extreme bowel condition is constipation. Like diarrhea, this must be dealt with as soon as possible. Many forms of medication such as narcotic pain killers have the effect of constipating the person using them. When dealing with cancer, part of the healing process is being able to eliminate the toxic materials as quickly as possible from the body. Constipation causes problems throughout the digestive system ranging from poor absorption of nutrients to re-absorption of toxic waste that just lays in the gut and does not move. Once again, diet is a major consideration in helping to keep your bowels moving freely on a regular basis. DO NOT TAKE COMMERCIAL LAXATIVES!!! Laxatives kill good intestinal bacteria and contribute to mal-absorption of food. You need all the nutrients you can get in your body. You need all the good bacteria in your gut. A reasonable goal is 2 minimum and preferably 3 bowel movements daily. To begin with, consume a lot of fluids. Hot drinks such as teas and broths are better. Same as with diarrhea, drink a minimum of 64 ounces of liquid per day. Eat high-fiber foods: fruits and vegetables are best; whole grains are better than not any fiber. Avoid ALL dairy products with the exception of yogurt, especially cheese. Avoid all refined carbohydrates such as bleached flour, white rice, and table sugar. Menu considerations: Morning (One of the following):
Mid-morning:
Lunch:
Afternoon:
Dinner:
Bedtime (One of the following):
The key here is to significantly up the insoluble fiber and liquids. This will naturally flush your body. Again, commercial laxatives are the worst possible choice of things to do to correct constipation. The supplement list is short but important:
One of the pervasive problems of today is yeast infections. Candida overgrowth is a common problem that takes on many guises. Vaginal, intestinal, or throat (thrush) yeast infections are frequently Candida. They commonly occur with people who have undergone surgery, chemo, and/or radiation because of heavy antibiotic usage that kills off the good flora in the intestines. Many of the supplements that work for diarrhea will restore the proper balance of friendly bacteria in the body. SB and lactobacillus acidophilus are right at the top of the list to do this correctly. There are also a number of commercially prepared treatments that deal with Candida. One of the better ones out there is called THREELAC. It is a combination of several different "friendly flora" that kill the Candida and re-establish good gut health. I would suggest you take a short Candida quiz to see if you suffer from some of the common problems associated with Candida. It can easily take several months to completely stop a yeast infection and re-establish good bacteria. Do not get impatient. Another great source of pain and discomfort is mouth sores caused by chemotherapy and radiation. In essence, chemotherapy attacks any fast growing cell structure in the body. Among those are the mucus linings of the throat, stomach and mouth. These can be extremely painful, causing severe discomfort and making eating a difficult thing to do. Once again, dietary considerations are extremely important. Body pH balance is critical. See our section on pH balancing under physical health. Eat a mineral-rich diet - salads, vegetables, steamed potatoes and broccoli will be very helpful. Grape juice, black or green teas, apples, apple juice, and strawberries are good choices. Avoid all high arginine foods such as coffee, chocolate, peanut butter, nuts, seeds, etc... Avoid nightshade plants (peppers and eggplant). Also avoid red meats and all forms of fried foods, processed sugars, and sweet fruits. The most satisfactory prescription relief for this will be some form of allopurinol mouth rinse. See your doctor. However, if you would prefer a natural solution, might I recommend you consider the following choices? Mouth wash to normalize pH level (every half hour to one hour):
Topical (several times per day -- choose one or more):
Morphine and/or opiate derivatives, are the drug(s) of choice for pain relating to cancer, can in many instances, be replaced with things far more friendly to the body. Morphine has some real issues. It is a major source of constipation, reduces circulation and as a result body temperature, and it depletes your basic life force. Although no longer manufactured in the US, the product SPES was considered one of the great morphine substitute pain killers available. It had a documented success rate over 70% which is truly remarkable. Even more exciting was the fact that it did not have the normal opiate side effects. (NOTATION: ALTHOUGH I FOUND THIS STUDY PUBLISHED IN SEVERAL PLACES, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTACT DR. LAI AS OF THIS DATE FOR HIS PERMISSION TO PRESENT IT HERE. IT IS PRESENTED IN ITS UNCUT ENTIRETY WITH FULL CREDITS. I LOCATED MORE THAN 120 OTHER STUDIES THAT SHOWED SIMILAR RESULTS. IT WAS A VERY VIABLE PRODUCT THAT SHOWED MUCH PROMISE. IF ANYONE KNOWS THE WHEREABOUTS OF DR. LAI, PLEASE HAVE HIM CONTACT OUR FOUNDATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.) SPES is the first clinical trial document that dealt with what it was tested on and its success rate(s). In all there were more than 120 trials run on this product, but each test had limited numbers of patients involved. The conclusions were that it significantly helped with pain control in all tests run. There are many articles dealing with this issue on the internet, but very few references are made to the components and/or quantities used. It is well worth researching this particular product. It should be discussed with your local health care practitioner as a possible substitute for narcotic pain control. It is reported that this compound had the following components that made up a 300 mg capsule. Dosage rate was 2 to 6 caps morning and evening. SPES was manufactured by BOTANIC LABS in the U.S. It was discontinued because it was reported that they also included 2 controlled substances for shrinking tumors that went beyond the original pain formula. That claim was later repudiated in further research papers. What is presented below is, to the best of my knowledge, the original pain formula. NOTE: I have never made nor used this particular formula. It is presented here as a starting point for your own research into pain control. I believe it has merit for research purposes, but make no claims as to whether or not it is a viable pain control formulation. As with anything, please consult with your health care practitioner about the viability of any drug, herb, or formula for your specific condition. 1 capsule (300 mg) contained:
Other things to control pain include:
Neuropathy is typically seen as damage to peripheral nerves characterized by
numbness, tingling, pain, and cramping in hands and feet. Once again, dietary
considerations are crucial in helping to overcome these problems. It will be
best if you can follow closely to a vegetarian diet as recommended in our
nutrition page information. Keep all meat consumption under 10% of total intake
with fish being the preferable protein source.
NOTE: many people recommend B complex or multivitamins with extra vitamin B available. There is quite a raging debate at this point in time as to the use of vitamin B with cancer in general. For that purpose, it is not mentioned here until I can find sufficient evidence that significant additional quantities of vitamin B does not create problems. Radiation to the head and neck (throat) areas can bring on a condition known as xerostomia or dry mouth. The condition can be a temporary side effect or in severe cases, it can become a permanent condition. Conventional medical doctors often times use the herbal extract pilocarpine as a treatment to limit the effects of this condition. Two to four drops from 3 to 6 times daily under the tongue. You can substitute prickly ash extract in the amount of 15 - 20 drops in a small glass of water, 3 to 6 times daily. In addition you may find that using Evening Primrose oil 4000 mgs per day will help. Note: other GLA rich oils can be substituted. Slippery elm tea sipped throughout the day or aloe vera juice (4 to 8 ounces) per day will help. Gout is typically thought of as a form of arthritis that afflicts 1% of the population over the age of 40. It is a metabolic disorder where tiny, needly-like crystals of uric acid in the blood and bodily fluids come to lodge in joints and can create potentially devastating pain. In cancer victims, many people undergoing chemotherapy develop gout because of the negative effect that cytotoxic drugs have on the kidneys. Gout is very successfully treated with natural means beginning with dietary changes as that is most commonly the cause of it to begin with under normal circumstances. Overloading the kidneys with purine rich foods causes the kidneys to malfunction. In the case of chemotherapy, the same type of malfunction occurs and the result is gout. Caffeine, bleached flours, table sugar, fried foods, and fatty foods including red meats must be eliminated. Avoid rich gravies, broths, sweetbreads, organ meats, mushrooms, asparagus, legumes (especially peanuts) spinach, rhubarb, sardines, anchovies, nutritional yeast, lobster, oysters, and clams. Avoid high levels of fructose in any food or drink. Eliminate all alcohol as it inhibits uric acid secretion from the kidneys. Barley grass juice is one of the very best things that can be had for gout; 8 oz per day for 1 week minimum. Eat a diet with a minimum of 90% fresh vegetable content. Drink 4 glasses of tart cherry juice and 6 glasses of water per day. Eat potassium rich foods such as bananas, cherries, strawberries, celery, broccoli, potatoes, green and sea vegetables. Potassium will put the uric acid crystals in solution in the blood so they can be filtered out of the body. If you are taking high blood pressure medicines, check the pharmacy printouts to see if they contribute to inorganic sediment formation. Avoid taking aspirin as it can raise uric acid levels. Gout causes inflammation that results in pain. To reduce inflammation:
To reduce the uric acid buildup:
One of the first places many cancers metastasize to is the lymph system. Tumors attract sodium and repel potassium. This action can exacerbate lymphatic swelling. Removal of localized lymph glands such as with organ surgery, breast surgery, etc. can also cause edema, especially in the legs and with breast cancer, in the arms. Horse chestnut extract and butcher's broom are long standing remedies for helping promote cell wall integrity to resist edema issues. 3 caps, 3 x daily for 2 weeks and then possibly reduction to 2 caps 2 or 3 x daily (depending on response). These can be used long term with no side effects whatsoever. NOTE: horse chestnut extract is typically standardized to 20% aescin extract In conjunction with the horse chestnut extract, use 500 mgs bromelain with 500 mgs quercetin 3 x daily. Be sure this is 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating. Also, OPC's 400 mg caps (1 or 2) 3 x daily. Anemia comes in many forms. Unfortunately most doctors treat all forms of anemia as iron deficiency and that is just not the case. Iron when reacted with oxygen in the body creates a hydroxal radical which is one of the most deadly of all free radicals. Frequently the problem is not a deficiency but rather the body's inability to "tap" into the iron already present. Anemia symptoms vary greatly. Great fatigue, characteristically shown by apathy, dizziness, fainting; shortness of breath often accompanied by heart palpitations; bleeding gastric ulcers; heavy menstruation; low libido; slow healing, headaches which frequently are accompanied by radical mood swings and irritability, brittle nails, hair loss, dark urine, and yellowish skin pallor similar to jaundice. Anemia is commonly associated with increased infection issues and ties directly to autoimmune disorders. The use of a homeopathic iron dose is frequently all that is needed to get your system started in assimilating available iron. A local homeopathic or naturopathic doctor can easily take care of this issue. From a nutrition standpoint, low iron and low iron availability is almost always tied to lack of green leafy vegetable intake. It is quite typical for vegetarians to show higher iron levels than meat eaters. Vegetable and herbal iron sources are best for absorbability. B-12/folic acid mix in the form of a tincture with 200 mcg per drop - 10 to 20 drops sublingually on a daily basis is sufficient. Nutritional yeast, molasses, wheatgerm, bee pollen granules or sesame seeds all work when used at the rate of 2 tablespoons daily sprinkled over food for about 2 months. Iron rich foods such as figs, raisins, seafood, molasses, beets, tofu, brown rice, dark greens, whole grains, poultry, eggs, grapes, yams, almonds and dry beans do well. Ten ounces of Beet juice combined with 2 oz of carrot juice for a month will supply all necessary iron. Note that it is important to also take vitamin C and manganese food sources to help with iron absorption. Many of the things previously listed also have these essential elements included in them. Green vegetables, nuts, pineapple, eggs, citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetables, tomatoes, and peppers. Potassium rich foods also improve red blood cell counts. Cruciferous vegetables, bananas, sunflower seeds, artichokes, whole grains, kiwi, and dried fruits. AVOID: Soda pop, caffeine, chocolate, red meats, milk, alcohol. NOTE: dairy products in general promote the loss of iron in stools. You can also try the following herbals:
Thrombocytopenia is the official medical term for a low platelet count; something that most cancer victims face. A number of chemotherapy regimens tend to worsen this condition significantly. There appears to be a direct link between idiopathic thrombocytopenia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, in which hepatitis - C virus is found even though there is no clinical or biochemical sign of hepatitis. There are several adequate ways to deal with this through natural supplements.
NOTICE: Under no circumstance is there any claim of any kind being made or implied that what I have chosen to do for myself has any merit to anyone other than me. This website or any printed matter I generate as a result of this website is not to be intended or in any way considered a substitute for the services of a medical professional. I am not to be considered in any way responsible for any consequences incurred by those who choose to employ the remedies or treatments I have reported. I make no claim that cancer is curable, least of all by me. I make no claim as to being able to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure any disease or infirmity of any type. It is strongly recommended and encouraged that everyone visiting this sight devote time to researching all possible treatment options that make sense to them and that they avail themselves of the expertise of those who are experienced in the treatment and “cure” of cancer; and that they seek whatever additional help and support their conditions warrant.
| |||||