Bad Manners or Good Etiquette?

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Well, at least it’s not c-a-n-c-e-r! 

 

So many times I hear this pronouncement when someone shares the travails in their life or that of a person close to them.  What does this self-assuring phrase mean to the utterer? What does it mean to the hearer?

It harkens me back to the victorian age when C-A-N-C-E-R was hissed in hushed tones, as if saying it in polite conversation was unseemly, bad-form, or worse – made the disease communicable.

To the one sighing in relief, “well…at least it’s not cancer”, it is comforting as if this means the sufferer in question has somehow dodged a terminal bullet.

To the recipient of this sighed utterance, it can mean further isolation – especially if you yourself has C-A-N-C-E-R. Those of us with C-A-N-C-E-R do not have a red letter on our chests (or a pink, or a purple…but I digress).

It may mean that in the minds of the speaker anything is still better than c-a-n-c-e-r … that O-T-H-E-R disease. It may mean that C-A-N-C-E-R is still the feared death-sentence that it has historically been. It may mean that subconsciously people do not b-e-l-i-e-v-e the propaganda perpetuated by the C-A-N-C-E-R   I-N-D-U-S-T-R-Y. They may not believe the rhetoric that “awareness” is somehow a cure. They would accept anything but c-a-n-c-e-r.

I don’t buy into the billboards, TV commercials, print ads, direct-mail advertising, pop-up ads, runs, walks, retail-awareness. I do, however, understand the fear and the loneliness C-A-N-C-E-R can engender in a person. I would not wish C-A-N-C-E-R on my worst nemesis. Yet, I will not be hushed when I say C-A-N-C-E-R when speaking about myself, because it is part of life and reality.

What do I say in return when I am privy to the sighed utterance, well at least it’s not….     ?

Nothing.

I nod.

It would be unseemly and bad-form to do otherwise. One social faux-pas in a conversation is quite enough.

"Beauty Secrets" Revealed...Just Read the Label!

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From: www.pronature.com

DANGEROUS BEAUTY: Scientists Warn of Harmful Ingredients In Our Shampoos and Cosmetics
~ by David Lowell Kern

Sodium Laurel Sulfate and Eye Damage in Young Children
The greatest concern of many scientists is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a detergent found in about 90 percent of commercial shampoos. Also known as sodium dodecyl, sodium laureth sulfate (SLFS) this chemical has been shown to damage protein formation in eye tissue in young animals, raising serious concerns about the possibility of ocular tissue malformation, blindness in infants and young children. In animal studies, Sodium Laurel Sulfate penetration and uptake is much greater in neonatal and young animal eye tissue, compared to adult animals, showing "penetration into the eye, as well as systemic tissues (brain, heart, liver, etc.)" SLS also showed long-term retention in tissues, up to 5 days after a single drop.1

Researcher Keith Green, Ph.D., D. Sc., of the Medical College of Georgia, also reports that Sodium Laurel Sulfate extends the healing of corneal tissue by a factor of 5, from 2 days (normal) to more than 10 days. He also has concerns about cataract formation from Sodium Laurel Sulfate. Writing for Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., Dr. Green states in part: There is an immediate concern relating to the penetration of these chemicals into the eye and other tissues. This is especially important in infants...exposure to SLS results in accumulation in eye tissues, a process that could retard healing and possibly have long-term effects. Dr. Green concludes that exposure to Sodium Laurel Sulfate sulfate causes improper eye development in children and that since Sodium Laurel Sulfate is absorbed systemically through the skin, it doesn't have to enter the eye directly.

Our own research found that SLS is present as a main ingredient in most commercial shampoos for adults or children.

Sodium Laurel Sulfate Toxicity and Cancer - Another serious health concern with SLS is its tendency to react with other ingredients to form NDELA, a nitrosamine and potent carcinogen. According to a 1978 FDA report, shampooing the hair with a product contaminated with this nitrosamine can lead to its absorption into the body at levels much higher than eating nitrate- contaminated foods. (Researchers estimate the nitrate absorption from one shampoo is equal to eating a pound of bacon.) The FDA has recently warned shampoo manufacturers of unacceptable levels of dioxin formation in products containing SLFS (dioxins are also dangerous carcinogenic compounds). Only laboratory testing can determine if a shampoo is contaminated with these powerful carcinogenic compounds.

Damage To Your Skin - Researchers have known for years that Sodium Laurel Sulfate is a skin irritant.

Sodium Laurel Sulfate is implicated in premature hair loss in men and women, and may be one reason for wide-spread incidence of thinning hair.

Sodium Laurel Sulfate is also implicated in scalp irritation, eczema, dandruff, and other scalp conditions. Many shampoos designed to alleviate dandruff, itching, and other scalp disorders may actually be causing the toxicity of Sodium Laurel Sulfate-containing formulas to the skin and scalp. Avoiding contact with this cytotoxic (cell- killing) chemical is all that many people require to completely alleviate scalp disorders.

Natural Brands Offer No Protection - Ingredient reviews of shampoos sold in health food stores under natural brands and labels have turned up many formulas containing Sodium Laurel Sulfate. The cost, reputation, or market position of a shampoo apparently has little to do with its contents. Some of the most reputable and exclusive brands contain Sodium Laurel Sulfate. Don't be fooled by high prices or marketing hype. You must check the ingredients on each product if you want to avoid the harmful effects of Sodium Laurel Sulfate.

References:

1. Clayton et. al., Ed. Chem. Tox., 1985
2. Br J Dermatol 1992 Sep
3. Contact Dermatitis 1992 Jul
4. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 1991
5. Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh) 1992
6. The Lancet, Feb 3, 1990
7. Contact Dermatitis 1993 Sep
8. Contact Dermatitis 1993 Mar and 1993 Feb
9. Contact Dermatitis 1992 Sep
10. Journal of Toxicology, Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 1992
11. Toxicology Letters, Vol 26, 1985
12. Toxicol Pathol 1992
13. Govt Reports Announcements & Index, 1993
14. Acta Derma Venereol (Stockh) 1992
15. Department of Dermatology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen

Here is list of ingredients to steer away from in our cosmetics and beauty products,and why. Unfortunately, due to the lax regulation in the U.S. the majority of these ingredients can be found in most of the products we use daily.

Alkylphenol Ethoxylates

Found to reduce sperm count

Benzene/Benzoic Acid/Benzyl Benzoate

Considered a carcinogen, is an endocrine disruptor, and is suspected to cause birth defects

Coal Tar

Known human carcinogen. Prohibited for us in cosmetics in the European Union. May contian harmful impurities or breakdown products. Found in dandruff shampoos, anti-itch creams and hair dyes.

Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl Paraben

Used as inhibitors of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. Have caused many allergic reactions and skin rashes. Studies have shown that they are weakly estrogenic and can be absorbed by the body through the skin. Widely used even though they are known to be toxic.

Dibutyl Phthalate

Prohibited for us in cosmetics in the European Union. Possoble human reproductive or developmental toxin. Endocrine disruptor. Found in some nail polish, perfume and hair spray.

Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA)

Often used in cosmetics as emulsifiers and/or foaming agents. They can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation and dryness of hair and skin. DEA and TEA are "amines" (ammonia compounds) and can form cancer-causing nitrosamines when they come in contact with nitrates. Toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time. This chemical interferes with the body's ability to absorb choline which is needed for proper fetal brain development.

Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea

These are widely used preservatives. The American Academy of Dermatology has found them to be a primary cause of contact dermatitis. Two trade names for these chemicals are Germall II and Germall 115. Neither of the Germall chemicals contains a good antifungal agent, and they must be combined with other preservatives. Both these chemicals release formaldehyde, which can be toxic.

Formaldehyde

This is an extreme irritant to the mucous membranes with often destructive effects. It is also considered to be a neurotoxin and carcinogen.

Fragrances

The label of "Fragrances" can mask a multitude of toxic, synthetic chemicals, many of which suppress the immune system, are endocrine disruptors, and cause cancer. When looking for scented products, make sure it's scented by essential oils -- which are expensive; therefore, companies usually list what essential oils are contained in the product without reverting to the generic term "Fragrances".

Isopropanol/Isopropyl Alcohol

This is a skin irritant that causes flushing, pulse rate fluctuations, dizziness, headaches, and nausea.

Lead Acetate

Known human reproductive and developmental toxin. Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union. Found in some hair dyes and cleanser.

Mercury

Possible human carcinogen. Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin. Found in some eye drops and ointment.

Methylisothiazoline, or MIT

This can cause skin and eye irritation and is known to cause neurological damage.

Parabens (Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben)

Increases a person's risk of breast cancer. These class of chemicals are also endocrine disruptors and have been linked to fertility problems.

Petrolatum

Also known as petroleum jelly, this mineral oil derivative is used for its emollient properties in cosmetics. It has no nutrient value for the skin and can interfere with the body's own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dryness and chapping. It often creates the very conditions it claims to alleviate. Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is unbelievably cheap.

Petroleum Distillates

Possible human carcinogen. May contain harmful impurities or breakdown products. Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union. Found in some mascara, perfume, foundation, lipstick and lip balm.

Phthalates

This has been linked to damage of the organs -- kidneys, lungs, and liver -- as well as the reproductive system.

Propylene Glycol

Ideally this is a vegetable glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural. Usually it is a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant. It has been known to cause allergic reactions, hives and eczema. When you see PEG (polyethylene glycol) or PPG (polypropylene glycol) on labels, beware—these are related synthetics. Although exposure to high levels of Propylene Glycol is known to cause serious and potentially irreversible health conditions, the chemical industry tell us that "small" quantities or low level exposure of Propylene Glycol is "safe" to use on the skin and in food. According to the safety data sheets of industrial chemical manufacturers, chemicals such as Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol will cause serious health conditions, including liver and heart damage and damage to the central nervous system if sufficient is absorbed by the body.

PVP/VA Copolymer

A petroleum-derived chemical used in hairsprays, styling aids and other cosmetics. It can be considered toxic, since inhaled particles can damage the lungs of sensitive persons.

Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate

A cheap, harsh detergent used in shampoos for its cleansing and foam-building properties. Often derived from petroleum, it is frequently disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the phrase "comes from coconuts." It causes eye irritation, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, skin rashes and other allergic reactions. (See detailed report, above.)

Stearalkonium Chloride

A quaternary ammonium compound used in hair conditioners and creams. Developed by the fabric industry as a fabric softener, it is a lot cheaper and easier to use in hair conditioning formulas than proteins or herbals, which are beneficial to the hair. Causes allergic reactions. Toxic.

Synthetic Colors

Used to make cosmetics "pretty," synthetic colors, along with synthetic hair dyes, should be avoided at all costs. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6 / D&C Green No. 6. Many synthetic colors can be carcinogenic. If a cosmetic contains them, don't use it.

Synthetic Fragrances

The synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since on the label it will simply read "fragrance." Some problems caused by these chemicals include headaches, dizziness, rash, hyperpigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, skin irritation—the list goes on. Advice: Don't buy a cosmetic that has the word "fragrance" on the ingredients label.

Hannah's Mommy Kicks Butt

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Dear Cancer,

I am well aware that you now consider yourself a part of our world. You are a miserable house guest, leaving your garbage everywhere, making us take you around to places we had not planned on going, acting like you are one of the family and hanging out with us everywhere.

You bully my daughter. You have taken her hair, her freedom,her health, her sports --you pick at her until the pain is unbearable. Don't you realize that everyone sees you for what you are? No one takes your side, they are too busy protecting Hannah's spirit---she will kick your butt when you least expect it.

We have ways of making you go. Chemo is a great ally but Chemo's power comes at a price. With no immunity, even a flu bug means a few days in the hospital. But the chemo will work--we have references:) We should be getting good news from the front lines today.

We have an army of family and friends that is unstoppable.You are no match for the love and prayer in our arsenal.

I get it cancer. you're here. You make you presence known every minute. But you can go now---like it or not, you are not welcome in our home, in our lives. Consider this an eviction notice. We will continue to use every tactic possible to get you out of Hannah's life. When you are gone, we will change all the locks and never let you near us again.

And I hope the door hits you(hard) on the way out.

Hannah's Mommy

Hannah is a lovely teenager whom I have known since birth. She was the rambunctious toddler with the corkscrew mane of wild honey-colored hair that you could pinpoint in the crowded shul on Shabbos. Hannah, like her hair, was inclined to "Tigger-bounce". She has grown into a lovely, kind, intelligent, articulate young woman (she takes after her mommy!).

On March 6, 2012, Hannah was diagnosed with stage 4b Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Opportunity to become Aware...More on BigPharma

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My alma mater is hosting another important conference. You can register and attend online. These types of forums and discussion fosters true "awareness." ~

PharmedOut
Missing The Target:

When Practitioners Harm More Than Heal
June 14-15

PharmedOut, a Georgetown University-based research project, will host its third annual conference focusing on the misinformation and patient harm that can occur from pharmaceutical and medical device marketing. PharmedOut 2012 will offer 10 CME credits and feature expert speakers including:

• Rita Redberg, M.D., M.Sc., Archives of Internal Medicine editor-in-chief; professor of medicine at UC San Francisco
• Carl Elliott, M.D. Ph.D., author of White Coat, Black Hat; professor at the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics
• Kay Dickersin, Ph.D., director of the Center for Clinical Trials at the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health
• Susan Wood, Ph.D., professor at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services
• Julie Taitsman, M.D., J.D., chief medical officer of the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Sharon Treat, J.D., executive director of the National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices
• Jack Mitchell, chief of investigations for the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

The conference will be held on Thursday, June 14, and Friday, June 15, in the Lohrfink Auditorium at Georgetown University.

This conference will address radiation risks of CT scans, antipsychotic use in children, adverse effects of marketing, risks of other medical devices, prescription tracking, physician payment disclosure laws, and many other topics. Speakers include Rita Redberg MD, Editor-in-chief of the Archives of Internal Medicine, and Carl Elliott MD PhD, Author of White Coat, Black Hat.

Agenda:
Thursday morning: Marketing of antipsychotic medications and other drugs
Thursday afternoon: Potential health risks of CT scans and other medical devices
Friday morning: Legislative and regulatory updates and solutions
Friday afternoon: The role of industry, media and payers in informing and protecting patients

For more information and to register for the conference, please visit the PharmedOut website.

The "Cancer" Conversation

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The "cancer conversation" can be a focal point of stress for me, personally. It is not that I don't or won't converse. When specific, non-judgmental inquiry is initiated I do not have any qualms about answering. The open-ended "how are you feeling"? Or the blatant, expectation for me to "dish" - I can feel my emotional protective wall envelope me. Not because I am protecting myself from the inquiring person, but because I am protecting myself, from myself.  More so when family "expects" me to be the one to initiate the discussion. I also, selfishly, (and I do use that description quite a bit when trying to express how I am dealing with my chronic illness. Not because I am being self-deprecating, but because cancer is a "selfish" state of being) squirm at the thought of having to deal with the inquiring persons reactions.

Then there is the discomfort of the unknown. When presented with the open-ended query of: "how are you feeling [or doing]"; I am not sure just how much the inquisitor really wants to know. We live in a society where the perfunctory start to every conversation, whether it be with the SB Barrista, a client, an adversary, or a BFF, starts with "how are you"

In short, its complicated

The below synopsis, of a study conducted by The University of Texas' study on cancer communication, delves into the complexity of this "conversation."

Reprinted from "Navigating Cancer" - October 12, 2011

Some people choose to discuss their health concerns with those who are closest to them. Others prefer professional counselors, support group members, other survivors, or acquaintances made through the Internet. Not everyone finds the connection they need from the same source, and the depth of the conversation will vary as well.

Communication about an illness was the focus of a study conducted at The University of Texas which provided interesting results. Researchers specifically looked at patients asserting control over how they chose to discuss their illness, or chose not to discuss it. The overall findings suggest when patients assert control over communication it helps to overcome feelings of helplessness. In this way patients can determine an aspect of how they want to face the challenges of their diagnosis.
Erin Donovan-Kicken, assistant professor of communication, led the research to examine the strategies people with cancer use to communicate with family, friends, and colleagues. Donovan-Kicken and her team interviewed cancer survivors on how they approached the topic of their diagnosis with various audiences. The team gathered data regarding the advice patients received, the challenges they faced, and the recommendations they would make when talking about a disease. The participants were also asked to evaluate existing patient literature and how they managed information about their illness.

The study results indicate that asserting control over communication is an important factor for patients coping with the stress of cancer. Yet despite best efforts to control that communication, patients can’t control other people’s reaction. Patients will benefit from setting boundaries with family and friends when they need space to be ill or feel emotional in private. They should be allowed to focus on themselves without needing to support others, and to avoid people who are overly solicitous. Choosing not to engage in social discussions about an illness can prove to be an empowering decision for some patients.


Ultimately Donovan-Kicken’s research defined the difference between asking –
“Are you opening up to people?” and
“Do you have people you can talk to if you want to open up?”

The distinction is note-worthy for oncologists and survivor advocacy groups who counsel and provide support to patients. Patient literature could also be refined to emphasize what is meaningful about communication from patients’ perspectives. It could include suggestions on how to manage or withhold from personal health discussions, and establish boundaries allowing patients to experience their illness in a way that best suits them.

Understanding Lymphatic Metastases ... A Beginner's Primer

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Spread of Cancer through the Lymphatic System

(Summer 2011 - Reprinted from Cancer Quest / Emory University / Winship Cancer Institute  http://www.cancerquest.org )

The Lymphatic System


The lymphatic system plays an important role in controlling the movement of fluid throughout the body. Specifically the lymphatic system controls the flow of lymph, a colorless fluid containing oxygen, proteins, sugar (glucose) and lymphocytes (cyte=cell). Once they are formed in the bone marrow, lymphocytes circulate in the body and reside in lymphatic tissue including lymph nodes and the spleen, where they search for and await contact with their target proteins. The lymphatic system is a system of vessels (tubes) that is present all throughout the body. Like the more familiar circulatory system, the lymphatic system carries fluid, proteins and cells of the immune system.

Red blood cells are not found in the lymphatic system. The two systems (lymphatic and circulatory) are connected. The lymphatic system picks up fluid and cells from around the body and returns them to the circulatory system via ducts located in the neck/shoulder area. The fluid within the vessels is known as lymph. There are some similarities and differences between the (more well known) circulatory system and the lymphatic system.

Small lymphatic vessels merge into larger ones and these large vessels eventually empty into lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are kidney bean shaped tissues that are found in grape-like clusters in several locations around the body. Lymph nodes are sites of immune system activation and immune cell proliferation (growth). The fluid in this extensive network flows throughout the body, much like the blood supply. It is the movement of cancer cells into the lymphatic system, specifically the lymph nodes, that is used in the detection of metastatic disease.

Spread of Cancer Through the Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is of great importance in cancer for several reasons:

• Cancer cells can spread (metastasize) by getting into the lymphatic system.
• Many cancer types are classified or staged by whether or not cancer cells can be found in lymph nodes close to the site of the original tumor. The logic is this: The lymphatic system is found all over the body so if cancer cells from a tumor have made it that far, they may also have traveled to distant locations.

When a cancer cell has moved through the blood or lymphatic systems or via direct contact to another location, it may divide and form a tumor at the new site. Metastatic tumors often interfere with the functions of the organs involved and lead to the morbidity and mortality seen in cancer.
The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in the metastasis of certain cancers. Lymphatic vessels are designed for entry and exit of immune cells, and are therefore easy for tumor cells to enter. In addition, the flow of lymph is quite slow, so there is little stress to harm cells.⁽¹⁾ Researchers originally believed tumor cells invaded the lymphatic system by eroding the vessel walls as the tumor advanced and metastasis would then occur by passive drainage. However, current evidence suggests the interactions between metastasizing cells and lymph vessels are much more active and complex, and specific interactions between the two are required.

The presence of metastases in lymph nodes near the primary tumor often indicates metastasis to distant organs, and is a significant prognostic indicator in many cancers. To assess the presence of metastasis to surrounding lymph nodes, physicians perform a lymph node biopsy. In this procedure, the lymph nodes are removed by surgery and are checked for the presence of cancer cells. Nodes are determined either positive or negative for cancer.

Because lymph drainage pathways from a tumor vary greatly between patients, even for the same area, up to 30% of tumors cannot be accurately predicted to migrate to specific lymph nodes. Improvement in lymphatic imaging and mapping are needed to ensure that metastasizing cancers are not accidentally missed. ⁽²⁾


The diagram below shows the lymphatic system


  

1. Kopfstein, L., and G. Christofori. 2006. Metastasis: cell-autonomous mechanisms versus contributions by the tumor microenvironment. Cell Mol Life Sci. 63:449-68. [PUBMED]
2. Shayan, R., M.G. Achen, and S.A. Stacker. 2006. Lymphatic vessels in cancer metastasis: bridging the gaps. Carcinogenesis. 27:1729-38. [PUBMED]

Routes of Metastasis

There are three primary ways tumors can spread to distant organs:

1. Through the circulatory (blood) system (hematogenous)
2. Through the lymphatic system
3. Through the body wall into the abdominal and chest cavities (transcoelomic).

The circulatory system is the primary route of spread to distant organs, while lymphatic vessels provide a route to local lymph nodes, after which metastases often travel through the blood ⁽¹⁾ While the circulatory system appears to be the most common route, the extent of lymphatic versus hematogenous spread appears to depend on the origin and location of the primary tumor.⁽²⁾ For example, bone and soft tissue tumors (sarcomas) spread primarily through the blood, while melanoma, breast, lung and gastrointestinal tumors spread through the lymphatic system.⁽³⁾ Transcoelomic spread is fairly uncommon, and appears to be restricted to mesotheliomas and ovarian carcinomas.⁽⁴⁾

In order for tumor cells to gain access to lymphatic or blood vessels, tumors need to promote the growth of these vessels into and around the tumor. Growth of blood vessels is called angiogenesis, and growth of lymphatic vessels is lymphangiogenesis.

1. Bacac, M., and I. Stamenkovic. 2008. Metastatic cancer cell. Annu Rev Pathol. 3:221-47. [PUBMED]
2. Gerhardt, H., and H. Semb. 2008. Pericytes: gatekeepers in tumour cell metastasis? J Mol Med. 86:135-44. [PUBMED]
3. Kopfstein, L., and G. Christofori. 2006. Metastasis: cell-autonomous mechanisms versus contributions by the tumor microenvironment. Cell Mol Life Sci. 63:449-68. [PUBMED]
4. Tan DS, Agarwal R, Kaye SB. Mechanisms of transcoelomic metastasis in ovarian cancer. Lancet Oncol. 2006 Nov;7(11):925-34. [PUBMED]

Treatments that Target Metastasis

Metastatic Suppressors

Recent work has uncovered a group of molecules that act to induce or suppress metastasis without affecting the growth of the primary tumor. Many molecules, termed Metastatic Suppressors, have been identified. These molecules are critical for different stages of metastasis, and may function to inhibit cell death upon loss of cell adhesion, or enhance the ability of cells to migrate through the stroma. Researchers are hopeful that these molecules may prove valuable as anti-cancer/anti-metastasis targets.⁽¹⁾
It is important to realize that the majority of current anti-cancer drug studies are conducted using primary or cultured tumor cells, and the efficacy of each drug is measured by its ability to reduce the size of primary tumors or kill cells being grown in laboratories. However, because metastatic suppressors do not affect growth of the primary tumor, it is likely like many potentially useful anti-metastatic drugs have been overlooked. New methods of analyzing the ability of drugs to inhibit metastasis, rather than primary tumor growth, are being developed, and should lead to a useful new class of therapeutic compounds.⁽²⁾

Anti-angiogenesis Therapy

Because metastasis relies on the growth of new blood vessels in both the primary and secondary tumors, drugs that inhibit angiogenesis may inhibit metastasis. Currently, the combination of anti-angiogenesis drugs with chemotherapy/radiation is the most effect treatment. Unfortunately, many tumors become resistant to the anti-angiogenesis treatment, so this is generally not a longterm solution. ⁽³⁾

Current research into inhibiting metastasis is focusing on understanding which step of metastasis is the most amenable to therapy. The identification of metastatic suppressor genes has opened up many exciting new potential targets for preventing and inhibiting this deadly event.

1. Stafford, L.J., K.S. Vaidya, and D.R. Welch. 2008. Metastasis suppressors genes in cancer. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 40:874-91. [PUBMED]
2. Steeg, P.S. 2006. Tumor metastasis: mechanistic insights and clinical challenges. Nat Med. 12:895-904. [PUBMED]
3. Gupta, G.P., and J. Massague. 2006. Cancer metastasis: building a framework. Cell. 127:679-95. [PUBMED]

Environmental Toxins and Cancer Risk

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Heavy Metal Toxicity & Testing


In Maricopa County (Arizona) we are in the 90th to 100th percentile for cancer risk meaning our county is one of the most toxic counties in the United States - Scorecard*. Our biggest cancer risk comes from Cadmium a potent xenobiotic shown to do irreparable harm to nearly all organ systems. Heavy metals have been linked to a multitude of conditions including cancer, heart, kidney, infertility, neurological disease and much more.

Heavy metals are depurated through chelators including but not limited to DMPS, CaEDTA, and DMSA. Chelation is the only effective way to remove heavy metals due to the fact they are bioaccumulative and build up in the body with each exposure and have very long half lives.



*In Maricopa County . . . . . .from 1988 to 2002, total cancer risk scores have increased 681%.

Chemical Name / Cancer Risk Scores Pounds of benzene-equivalents

CADMIUM COMPOUNDS 6,500,000
CHROMIUM 62,000
TETRACHLOROETHYLENE 46,000
LEAD 18,000
LEAD COMPOUNDS 13,000
CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS 5,900
DICHLOROMETHANE 4,300
BENZENE 2,300
NICKEL 1,400
NICKEL COMPOUNDS 740
TRICHLOROETHYLENE 420
FORMALDEHYDE 220
METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER 82

Note: These rankings do not cover all chemical releases reported to TRI (Toxic Release Inventory) - they only include chemicals that possess risk scores. As a result of data gaps or modeling problems, not all TRI chemicals possess the information required to weight their mass release by toxicity and exposure potential. Dioxin compounds, for example, are not included in these rankings. TRI chemicals that lack risk scores should not be assumed to be safe.

http://scorecard.goodguide.com/env-releases/county.tcl?fips_county_code=04013#major_chemical_releases

A Little Sunday Reflection

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When you read Alice in Wonderland, you will find yourself trying to make sense of an illogical story. Alice, the key character, also experiences similar frustrations. But in the end, she emerges wiser with the learning involved in each situation. Everyone faces absurd choices in life. If you shrug off these choices as anomalies to your perfect life, you gain nothing. But if you try to learn from these absurdities, you will gain a lot of wisdom.

By Simran Khurana


Cancer, whether it be breast, prostrate, pancreatic, lung, brain, uterine, cervical, esophageal, skin, et. al., is a rude anomaly introduced into our individualistic lives. This rude awakening, however, gives us the opportunity to search out knowledge and make choices that reveal so much of who we really are - not just who we thought we were.

Coley's Controversial "Cancer / Fever" Connection

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As a result of my month-long battle with flu, pneumonia, bacterial infections and high fevers (102.5+), my partner reminded me of an interesting theory regarding the benefits of high fevers in combatting cancer cells. I started to dig around to find a reader-friendly summary and history of the "cancer/fever theory" and found the following two articles. They are a good introduction to the controversial hypothesis. The url for the source website is listed at the end.

Fever can save lives and heal cancer. Here is a possibly life-saving article detailing the vital importance of non-interference with the body’s self-healing in the case of fevers healing the body, especially in virus (lung) infections, together with articles on the strong connection between fever or induced hyperthermia and cancer healing (including spontaneous remissions).

Fever and Cancer Healing
Fever, Cancer Incidence and Spontaneous Remissions
Kleef R, Jonas WB, Knogler W, Stenzinger W., Office of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Summary: [T]he occurrence of fever in childhood or adulthood may protect against the later onset of malignant disease; spontaneous remissions are often preceded by feverish infections.

OBJECTIVE: Accumulating evidence exists for (1) an inverse correlation between the incidence of infectious diseases and cancer risk and (2) an inverse correlation between febrile infections and remissions of malignancies. This review is part of an effort of the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health to examine this evidence.

METHODS: A review of the literature to a key word search was undertaken, using the following key words: fever, infectious diseases, neoplasm, cancer incidence and spontaneous remission.

RESULTS: The data reviewed in this article support earlier observations on the topic, i.e. that the occurrence of fever in childhood or adulthood may protect against the later onset of malignant disease and that spontaneous remissions are often preceded by feverish infections.

CONCLUSION: Pyrogenic substances and the more recent use of whole-body hyperthermia to mimic the physiologic response to fever have successfully been administered in palliative and curative treatment protocols for metastatic cancer. Further research in this area is warranted.

Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel Dec 22 2003

Compare Terminal Colon Cancer Patient Healed Via Complete Budwig Protocol, Healthy Today. His healing journey involved multiple fever spells, both spontaneous and self-induced by epsom salt baths, each of which left him feeling better. Also see the powerful confirming observations reported in Homeopathy, Carcinosinum and Cancer: Cancer patients are regularly recorded as stating: "I cannot remember that I ever had fever." As their bodily defenses are rekindled (such as by homeopathic [= energetic] treatment), RESTORATION OF REACTIVITY, from the tumoral stage back to the infectious stage, takes place: "A process of cleaning out at all levels takes place, poisonous relationships are broken off or corrected, ... and a marked influenza or inflammation with high fever for the first time in twenty years cleans the poison from his body. All this means that the reactivity is increasing. ... Also the suppression of fever, a defense mechanism par excellence, the use of antibiotics and corticosteroids can lower the defense mechanisms.”

Microbially Induced Fever and Spontaneous Cancer Remissions (“Coley's toxins”) -- excerpted from The Promise of William B. Coley

by Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D., September 2002

NOTE: Readers can find out more about this program by calling Gar Hildenbrand of the Issels Treatment Center at 858-759-2966.

Last week I spoke about the promise represented by the phenomenon of "spontaneous remissions." These are cures of cancer that occur without medical intervention. While rare, they are well documented. For centuries, doctors have dreamed of harnessing this phenomenon to create a natural cure for cancer.

In the 1890s, a young New York surgeon, fresh out of Yale University and Harvard Medical School, made a fascinating discovery. Desperate to find a cure for bone cancer, he searched the records of New York Hospital to see if anyone had ever been cured of the advanced form of that disease. He discovered that one man with advanced sarcoma had contracted an infectious skin disease called erysipelas in the hospital. He not only survived the infection but his cancer went into a "spontaneous" remission.

Most doctors would have shrugged their shoulders and moved on to the next case. But William B. Coley was no ordinary doctor. He was the Sherlock Holmes of cancer. He went to the address listed on the man's records, but the man had moved. And so he tracked him from tenement to tenement until finally in 1888 he found the man alive, well, and cancer-free seven years after the spontaneous cure.

This was an event that changed the course of Coley's life. In 1891, he began treating patients with the same organism that caused erysipelas, a germ called Streptococcus pyogenes. His first patient developed a raging fever, and then the "miracle" occurred: the tumors of his tonsils and neck completely disappeared, and only a scar remained. This man, who could only swallow liquids and whisper when Coley started the treatment, made a complete recovery. (Ten years later he was still free of cancer.) Coley inoculated nine more patients with live erysipelas microbes and discovered that physicians in Germany, such as Dr. Busch, were doing the same thing independently of his own discovery. In 1893, he tabulated the first results and published his first article on the method. Out of seventeen cases of advanced cancer, four were permanently cured, ten showed improvement, while three showed no improvement at all.

While some people saw their cancers regress with the use of live bacteria, others died. In addition to its risks for the patient being treated, using live bacteria was dangerous to other patients and to the staff. So Coley conceived the idea of using killed bacterial byproducts. He added a nonpathogenic organism called Serratia marcescens to the "soup" and started treating patients with this mixture.

The world quickly dubbed this combination "Coley's toxins," since they represented the toxic byproducts of the bacteria without the bacteria themselves. However, the word "toxins" was an unfortunate choice. (A more acceptable name for the treatment is "mixed bacterial vaccine.") The bacteria deliberately caused side effects, such as fever and malaise. But they were not toxic in the sense that radiation or chemotherapy is toxic. They did not destroy the immune system but put it through a rigorous drill that often resulted in the shrinkage or disappearance of the tumor.

Over the years Coley published dozens of articles in the best medical journals. These recorded his success (and sometimes his failure) in applying the mixed bacterial vaccine to people with advanced cancer. In sarcomas, he claimed 41 percent complete cures. In other kinds of cancer there were many astounding remissions.

There were drawbacks to the treatment, however. Having frequent fevers is trying on the patient. The preparations (mostly made for Coley by Parke-Davis) were variable in their potency. This led to much confusion and disappointment. Some doctors, initially enthusiastic about the treatment, became disillusioned when they used less effective preparations. Oftentimes, doctors did not use the toxins aggressively enough. It took a tremendous belief to persevere with this treatment. Nevertheless, despite the difficulties and drawbacks, there is no doubt in my mind that Coley's toxins represented one practical application of the idea of spontaneous remission to treatment.

The subsequent history of Coley's toxins is rather sad. Coley died in 1936. He never wrote a book about his amazing life experience, and his journal articles began to gather dust in medical libraries. His son, Bradley Coley, MD, continued to use the vaccine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering into the 1950s, but in an increasingly hostile environment. First radiation and then chemotherapy became directly competitive with this more natural approach. Coley's daughter, Helen Coley Nauts, founded the Cancer Research Institute of New York to save and promote his work. She was an amazing presence in the cancer field for many decades. But although she got her father removed from the American Cancer Society "quack list" in the mid-1970s, she was never able to get his treatment used widely.

I first heard of Coley from his Memorial colleague, Kanematsu Sugiura, DSc, who compared his own problems with laetrile to those experienced by Coley in the 1920s and 1930s. Through Lloyd Old, MD, then vice president of Sloan-Kettering Institute, I interviewed Mrs. Nauts at her home on Park Avenue in 1975. This was an eye-opener, to say the least. Mrs. Nauts remained a good friend for many years. She had a vast influence on cancer, befriending and supporting many young researchers. She died on January 2, 2001, at the age of 93.

At the present time, there are few clinics that use Coley's toxins as part of a comprehensive treatment protocol. One that interests me very much is an inpatient program in Tijuana, Mexico, that combines Coley's toxins with the Gerson diet [also compare Juicing & Juicers] and other forms of immunotherapy.

Copyright © Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D. CancerDecisions®

Compare Terminal Colon Cancer Patient Healed Via Complete Budwig Protocol, Healthy Today. His healing journey involved multiple fever spells, both spontaneous and self-induced by epsom salt baths, each of which left him feeling better.

Also see the powerful confirming observations reported in Homeopathy, Carcinosinum and Cancer: Cancer patients are regularly recorded as stating: "I cannot remember that I ever had fever." As their bodily defenses are rekindled (such as by homeopathic treatment), RESTORATION OF REACTIVITY, from the tumoral stage back to the infectious stage, takes place: "A process of cleaning out at all levels takes place, poisonous relationships are broken off or corrected, ... and a marked influenza or inflammation with high fever for the first time in twenty years cleans the poison from his body. All this means that the reactivity is increasing.”

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