One of the common comments I get from friends and family about living with cancer is "I don't know how you do it!". I assume that this comment is made in relation to moving on with life while living with a terminal disease. I really have no explanation on how it's done other than to say that I've found a 'new normal'. Like everybody else I detest cliches like that that seem so simple but don't come with instructions. 'Live every day like it's your last' is one of my favourites. It sounds great but how the hell do you implement it? As for finding a 'new normal' the only comparison I can come up with is that it must be like having boobs. See at first having boobs must be fun and exciting. But, after a very, very long time, the novelty wears off (so I'm told). And so it is with cancer, albeit cancer is never as fun as boobs. At first cancer is overwhelming and scary and life altering. But after a while normalcy creeps back in. Bills have to be paid, kids fed and friendships maintained. It's just life catching up with the diagnosis. Like a good bra, you hold it all together somehow and make it look good.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Cancer and a Good Bra
It's been about a month now that I've been off chemotherapy. Physically I feel great. I find my body is feeling pretty much normal. Other than a little fatigue I have no complaints. How is it possible that I've been diagnosed with a terminal disease yet I feel fine? This fact haunts me on a daily basis. My life largely proceeds like usual but I get the occasional short burst of sheer terror when I realize that the mean survival rate for people like me will be over at Christmas.
Friday, May 13, 2011
A Cure From U of A?
The University of Alberta Discovery
March 15, 2007
DCA is an odourless, colourless, inexpensive, relatively non-toxic, small molecule. And researchers at the University of Alberta believe it may soon be used as an effective treatment for many forms of cancer.
Dr. Evangelos Michelakis, a professor at the U of A Department of Medicine, has shown that dichloroacetate (DCA) causes regression in several cancers, including lung, breast, and brain tumors.
Michelakis and his colleagues, including post-doctoral fellow Dr. Sebastien Bonnet, have published the results of their research in the journal Cancer Cell.
Scientists and doctors have used DCA for decades to treat children with inborn errors of metabolism due to mitochondrial diseases. Mitochondria, the energy producing units in cells, have been connected with cancer since the 1930s, when researchers first noticed that these organelles dysfunction when cancer is present.
Until recently, researchers believed that cancer-affected mitochondria are permanently damaged and that this damage is the result, not the cause, of the cancer. But Michelakis, a cardiologist, questioned this belief and began testing DCA, which activates a critical mitochondrial enzyme, as a way to "revive" cancer-affected mitochondria.
The results astounded him.
Michelakis and his colleagues found that DCA normalized the mitochondrial function in many cancers, showing that their function was actively suppressed by the cancer but was not permanently damaged by it.
More importantly, they found that the normalization of mitochondrial function resulted in a significant decrease in tumor growth both in test tubes and in animal models. Also, they noted that DCA, unlike most currently used chemotherapies, did not have any effects on normal, non-cancerous tissues.
"I think DCA can be selective for cancer because it attacks a fundamental process in cancer development that is unique to cancer cells," Michelakis said. "One of the really exciting things about this compound is that it might be able to treat many different forms of cancer".
Another encouraging thing about DCA is that, being so small, it is easily absorbed in the body, and, after oral intake, it can reach areas in the body that other drugs cannot, making it possible to treat brain cancers, for example.
Also, because DCA has been used in both healthy people and sick patients with mitochondrial diseases, researchers already know that it is a relatively non-toxic molecule that can be immediately tested patients with cancer.
"The results are intriguing because they point to the critical role that mitochondria play: they impart a unique trait to cancer cells that can be exploited for cancer therapy"
Dario Alteri
Director University of Massachusetts Cancer Center
Investing in Research
The DCA compound is not patented and not owned by any pharmaceutical company, and, therefore, would likely be an inexpensive drug to administer, says Michelakis, the Canada Research Chair in Pulmonary Hypertension and Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program with Capital Health, one of Canada's largest health authorities.
However, as DCA is not patented, Michelakis is concerned that it may be difficult to find funding from private investors to test DCA in clinical trials. He is grateful for the support he has already received from publicly funded agencies, such as the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), and he is hopeful such support will continue and allow him to conduct clinical trials of DCA on cancer patients.
Michelakis' research is currently funded by the CIHR, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canada Research Chairs program, and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.
"This preliminary research is encouraging and offers hope to thousands of Canadians and all others around the world who are afflicted by cancer, as it accelerates our understanding of and action around targeted cancer treatments," said Dr. Philip Branton, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Cancer.
DCA and Cancer Patients
The University of Alberta's DCA Research Team is set to launch clinical trials on humans in the spring of 2007 pending government approval. Knowing that thousands of cancer patients die weekly while waiting for a cure, Dr. Michelakis and his team are working at accelerated speed, condensing research that usually takes years into months. Fundraisers at the University of Alberta are determined to raise the money to allow this next phase of research to begin. Once Health Canada grants formal approval, the University of Alberta's Research Team will begin testing DCA on patients living with cancer. Results with regards to the safety and efficacy of treatment should be known late this year.
Interesting "Alternative" Cancer Cancer Care Suggestions From A Celebrated Hospital
Updated: This is apparently just another viral email that has no association whatsoever with Johns Hopkins. My skepticism as evidenced by my use of the word 'apparently' below turned out to be true. That said, I believe it is good advice none-the-less. Thanks for the comment anonymous!
http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/cancerupdate.asp
AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY (TRY, BEING THE KEY WORD) TO ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY .
Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins:
1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.
2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a persons lifetime.
3. When the persons immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.
4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, but also to environmental, food and lifestyle factors.
5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies,changing diet to eat more adequately and healthy, 4-5 times/day and by including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.
7.. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.
8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.
9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.
10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy.Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.
11. CANCER CELLS FEED ON:
a. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses, but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color Better alternative is Braggs aminos or sea salt.
b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.
c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little other meat, like chicken. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.
d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including be an sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C)..
e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.
12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.
13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the bodys killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.
14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the bodies own killer cells to destroy cancer cells.. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.
15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Is Sugar Toxic?
As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, my family and I have switched to an anti-cancer diet. We actually switched in November and with a few missteps in Germany (they have great cheese and breads!) we have stuck to it pretty well. Of course the anti cancer diet involves eating more of the 'good stuff' and eating less or none (if possible) of the 'bad stuff'. After years of mum harrasing you to "eat your vegetables" it turns out she was actually right all along.
The 'good stuff' in the anti cancer diet consists of lots of vegetables and fruits, organic when possible. All of which have great anti-cancer properties. Specifically broccoli, green leafy vegetables like cabbage, cale and spinach, carrots, cauliflower, beans, pepers, soy, sweet potatoes, tomatoes (cooked or roasted is better than raw), blueberries, raspberries, grapefriut, mangoes, olives, avocado and apples are best. In the protein department fish, soy and lean fowl is best. Nuts and whole grain based bars or cookies make a great snack.
The 'bad stuff' in the anti-cancer diet falls into four groups:
1) Red and/or fatty meats like beef dark turkey, and bacon can cause inflamation which increases blood flow to tumor sites and speed up tumor growth. Use lean white mean, fish or soy based proteins instead.
2) Any milk products. Human are the only species that uses milk from other animals in our diet. It is s a growth enableing nutritional supplement for young mamals that can't have solid food yet. As such it contains natural growth hormones that can cause or speed up tumor growth in humans. All natural milks and products are equally bad (cow, sheep etc.) so avoiding them all is best. Replace with unsweetened soy milk or almond milk.
3) Refined grains including white rice and white bread flour. Although they break down in the body to form just glucose (not glucose and fructose like refined sugars or high fructose corn syrop) they still encourage cancer cell growth. Choose whole grains, brown rice or whole wheat pastas instead.
4) Refined sugar. This is probably themost important one to avoid. Since both refined sugar and high fructose corn syrop both contain sucrose they are evil. Sucrose is about 50% fructose and 50% glucose. The glucose is metabolized by all the cells in the body as a source of energy but fructose is metabolized in the liver where it is generally converted into fat. Increased sugar requires increased insulin to metabolized the sugar and when insulin is released by the body so is insulin growth hormone which promotes tumor growth. There was a lengthy and well researched piece published this week in the NY Times online which expands on the evils of refined sugar further. You can find the article here (thanks for the heads up on that one Ben). The following quotes are from that article:
Now most researchers will agree that the link between Western diet or lifestyle and cancer manifests itself through this association with obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome — i.e., insulin resistance. Cancer researchers now consider that the problem with insulin resistance is that it leads us to secrete more insulin, and insulin (as well as a related hormone known as insulin-like growth factor) actually promotes tumor growth.
It very well may be true that sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, because of the unique way in which we metabolize fructose and at the levels we now consume it, cause fat to accumulate in our livers followed by insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, and so trigger the process that leads to heart disease, diabetes and obesity. They could indeed be toxic, but they take years to do their damage. It doesn’t happen overnight. Until long-term studies are done, we won’t know for sure.
There's lots more about the negative impacts of refined sugars on our health in the article. It's worth the read if you have 15 minutes to spare. It will change the way you eat...
The 'good stuff' in the anti cancer diet consists of lots of vegetables and fruits, organic when possible. All of which have great anti-cancer properties. Specifically broccoli, green leafy vegetables like cabbage, cale and spinach, carrots, cauliflower, beans, pepers, soy, sweet potatoes, tomatoes (cooked or roasted is better than raw), blueberries, raspberries, grapefriut, mangoes, olives, avocado and apples are best. In the protein department fish, soy and lean fowl is best. Nuts and whole grain based bars or cookies make a great snack.
The 'bad stuff' in the anti-cancer diet falls into four groups:
1) Red and/or fatty meats like beef dark turkey, and bacon can cause inflamation which increases blood flow to tumor sites and speed up tumor growth. Use lean white mean, fish or soy based proteins instead.
2) Any milk products. Human are the only species that uses milk from other animals in our diet. It is s a growth enableing nutritional supplement for young mamals that can't have solid food yet. As such it contains natural growth hormones that can cause or speed up tumor growth in humans. All natural milks and products are equally bad (cow, sheep etc.) so avoiding them all is best. Replace with unsweetened soy milk or almond milk.
3) Refined grains including white rice and white bread flour. Although they break down in the body to form just glucose (not glucose and fructose like refined sugars or high fructose corn syrop) they still encourage cancer cell growth. Choose whole grains, brown rice or whole wheat pastas instead.
4) Refined sugar. This is probably themost important one to avoid. Since both refined sugar and high fructose corn syrop both contain sucrose they are evil. Sucrose is about 50% fructose and 50% glucose. The glucose is metabolized by all the cells in the body as a source of energy but fructose is metabolized in the liver where it is generally converted into fat. Increased sugar requires increased insulin to metabolized the sugar and when insulin is released by the body so is insulin growth hormone which promotes tumor growth. There was a lengthy and well researched piece published this week in the NY Times online which expands on the evils of refined sugar further. You can find the article here (thanks for the heads up on that one Ben). The following quotes are from that article:
Now most researchers will agree that the link between Western diet or lifestyle and cancer manifests itself through this association with obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome — i.e., insulin resistance. Cancer researchers now consider that the problem with insulin resistance is that it leads us to secrete more insulin, and insulin (as well as a related hormone known as insulin-like growth factor) actually promotes tumor growth.
It very well may be true that sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, because of the unique way in which we metabolize fructose and at the levels we now consume it, cause fat to accumulate in our livers followed by insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, and so trigger the process that leads to heart disease, diabetes and obesity. They could indeed be toxic, but they take years to do their damage. It doesn’t happen overnight. Until long-term studies are done, we won’t know for sure.
There's lots more about the negative impacts of refined sugars on our health in the article. It's worth the read if you have 15 minutes to spare. It will change the way you eat...
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