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Posts Tagged ‘Survive and Live Well’

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Best Steps for Vital Health in 2015

In Uncategorized on January 2, 2015 at 9:18 am

7 Genechanger Resolutions for Body, Mind, and Soul

The following is reprinted with the permission of Dr Mitch Gaynor.  I hope these tips help you attain blessed wellness throughout this and every year.

Best Steps for Vital Health in 2015, by Dr Mitch Gaynor

gaynor GTPThe Gene Therapy Plan: Taking Control of Your Genetic Destiny with Diet and Lifestyle (Available April 2015-Preorder Now)

So here we are in a brand new year, one, I hope, that will bring you vibrancy and joy and a renewed commitment to your health. When you’re strong, everyone around you benefits. When you’re joyful, everyone nearby wants to respond in kind. I’ve always marveled at how a simple smile can change the mood of those around us. I’ve seen a smile switch the energy in hospitals, and I’ve seen that happen every time I greet one of my patients. Nothing is so dire that a smile, or a friendly hello, won’t redirect.

Here in our brand new year, the Genechanger approach to health is particularly viable. Genechanger modalities – healthy food, being present, exercise, positive attitude, toxic-free environments, nutrients, and gratitude – not only increase health for you, but for those around you. Their benefits also work far into the future, for your children and future generations, because they directly modify your DNA for the better.

In this first newsletter of 2015, I’ve broken down epigenetic steps to better health in 7 simple categories. Think of them as resolutions for the body, mind, and soul. If you can do them every day, you’ll have maximum success. If you waver from time to time, please don’t worry about it. We want to decrease stress, not add it.

So, welcome to a brand new year and the simple ways that you can change your future to one of health and poise. Please remember: Destiny is not fixed, the body is not static, and it’s never too late to bring back balance. Happy 2015 to you and yours!
Best 7 Genechanger Tips for Health Throughout 2015Even if you don’t practice all of these suggestions every single day, remember that incorporating them  – even for a few minutes or on most days – builds up the habit of doing them, which, in turn, makes their practice easier.  Practicing also enhances your sense of self-esteem and self-care.1. Being Positive

In my work as an oncologist for more than 30 years, I have incorporated meditation and sounds (mantras, guided meditation, Tibetan singing bowls, crystal sonic therapy) to enhance the health of my patients.  As scientific research reveals time and time again, a mind that is calm has less chance of being disposed to disease and helps lessen disease that might already be present.  I encourage my patients to meditate and to pray, whatever is most comfortable for them.

In The News

One recent reminder of the efficacy of positive thinking came on NBC’s “Evening News with Brian Williams” a few days before Christmas. Two consecutive nights included segments about the impact of prayer on the brain. Andrew Newberg of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, and his research team documented that contemplating a loving God reduces stress and that intense prayer and meditation can permanently alter functions and structures in the brain, including increased activity in the brain’s frontal lobes, home to consciousness and decision making. (Newberg is also author of “How God Changes the Brain.”)

A recent study from the University of California looked at the effects of meditation on the same person using two different techniques and found that there were “strong correlations between depth of meditation and neural activity in the left inferior forebrain.”  We can’t claim definitively that positive thoughts cure disease, or that negative thoughts cause disease, but we can say that positive thoughts, prayer, and meditation release neurotransmitters like serotonin (which decreases stress) and enhance brain function which, in turn, augments better health.

2. Best Fresh Foods

I can’t say it enough: Eat healthy food because, in fact, you are what you eat.  The choice for natural organic foods, especially fruits and vegetables that are free of preservatives, artificial coloring, and hundreds of other chemicals, assures that you are feeding your body with the healthiest nutrition available and avoiding environmental toxins like pesticides and man-made preservatives.  Please skip the boxed, canned, and plastic-sealed foods. Keep salt, trans-fats, fast foods, saturated fats, white sugar, artificial chemical sweeteners, and refined grains to an absolute minimum. Avoid meats that have been fried and breaded.  Eat more salmon and grilled chicken.  If this means you must shop every couple of days, plan to do that.

Foods And Genes

Nutritional genomics analyzes the effects of foods on the genes. I have been studying and practicing the application of better nutrition for my patients throughout my career and seen verifiable, positive, medical effects for patients who change their diets and lifestyles.  Like other good habits, you’ll learn to shop more frequently for fresh food, and, most likely, you’ll wind up with fewer items at checkout.  You will avoid those “impulse” items that offer a quick fix, but can also help promote chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

BBC News recently reported that eating seven or more portions of fruit and vegetables each day is even healthier than the recommended five portions per day. Researchers from the University College London confirmed better health benefits through an analysis of 65,226 men and women in surveys conducted over seven years.

Juicing

Juicing is one of my top recommendations to patients simply because it’s fast, easy, and provides a sure way to consume several recommended portions in one morning drink.  In my new book, “The Gene Therapy Plan: Taking Control of Your Genetic Destiny with Diet and Lifestyle,” due in April from Viking, you’ll find many recipes that focus on the healthiest foods for our bodies, including an abundance of easy juicing recipes to kick-start your day.  One piece of good news:  According to researchers at the University of North Carolina, purchase of ready-to-eat, grain-based desserts (pies, cakes, cookies) decreased by 24% between 2005 and 2012.

3. Best Nutrients Personalized for You

Many of my patients are stunned the first time I hand them a few pages circled with my recommended nutrients and supplements for their particular stage of recovery from cancer.  There are a total of 10 pages of such supplements from which I choose for each patient – everything from chaga mushrooms, curcumin, and turmeric to B-4, lycopene, and blackseed cumin. Most patients are taking less than 20 daily supplements.  But the moral here is that while nutrients and supplements are definitely a boon to building up the immune system, reducing inflammation, turning on tumor suppressant genes, etc. – choosing which supplements is something you definitely need to pursue under the guidance of a well informed physician or other health care professional.

Research Confirms

Just two research examples of their efficacy: Vitamin D, selenium, and calcium have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing colectoral and breast cancer as reported in the “European Journal of Cancer.” Another study confirmed the effectiveness of dietary components that targeted breast cancer and its prevention.

Supplements, like drugs, may have adverse effects when taken together, and only a nutritional professional knows which are appropriate, which work best together, and which work with your current medications. We have a number of blogs on the genechanger website about the efficacy of various nutrients.  What’s most important is that you take supplements as recommended for your particular set of medical needs.  Just going out and buying the latest thing you heard about on TV is not healthy.

4. Body Care Through Exercise

Every single one of us, I’d venture to say, already knows that frequent exercise is good for us.  We know that regular exercise helps us lose weight, combat disease, boost our energy, and uplift our mood.   According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise can also boost sexual energy, promote better sleep, and provide some fun.  From an epigenetic point of view, there are direct benefits to our genes, as well.  That means the positive effects of exercise are long standing, for ourselves and for our future offspring.  According to the CDC, less than 50% of American adults use aerobic exercise, only 24% participate in muscle-strengthening activity, and a very disappointing 20% meet guidelines for participating in both.

Exercise Your Brain

What we know from the genechanger perspective:  According to research cited by the Mayo Clinic, for instance, there is solid scientific evidence to support the use of DHEA, a brain hormone that leads to the production of androgens and estrogens, to increase bone density, another good case for supplementing your exercise when appropriate.

There’s also a study from the Harvard School of Public Health just released in December that found that for older people, adding weight training to your exercise routine is the key to losing belly fat. Their study reviewed habits of more than 10,000 men over the age of 40 between 1996 and 2008.  Conclusion:  Aerobics can take off the pounds, and weight training can take off the inches.

Be Consistent

The best exercise, of course, is done several times a week, if not every day.  You must pace yourself, check with your physician if you have any chronic diseases, and evidence, anecdotal and scientific, supports the idea of exercising with another, or at least in a gym setting, to keep you motivated.

I recommend 20-30 minutes a day of weight-bearing exercises (walking is probably the easiest to pull off) at least five days a week.

5. Beautiful Toxic-Free Environments

The environment I want to talk about is not just the sky, ocean, lakes, rivers, and forests that we must do all we can to protect for future generations.  In addition to having fewer toxins in our exterior environment, we need to focus on how to create toxic-free environments, particularly in our homes. Entire books have been written about the dangers of environmental toxins, including my own, “Nurture Nature Nurture Health: Your Health and the Environment.”

Unseen, these toxins are ubiquitous and buried in the chemicals that dye upholstery, drapes, carpets, pillows, bedding, and bath products.  They’re in our microwaves and televisions. Harmful toxins also account for how furniture is manufactured and line the cans that hold food products.  They’re likely to be in baby bottles. PVC, the third most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer, is everywhere – plastic containers, plastic wrap, your credit cards, etc. PVC is a plastic that makes us think it is the only way to store (and heaven forbid) heat food.  It is not.

Avoid Plastic

Do not use plastic in microwaves. A Dartmouth study found that when heating plastic wrap with olive oil in a microwave, the concentration of xenoestrogens (cancer-producing estrogens that act like natural estrogens) was 500,000 times greater than the minimum amount of estrogen required to produce cancer cells in a test tube.

Briefly, be mindful of the following:

  • Look for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) label for low-emitting formaldehyde furnishings.
  • Choose all wood products.
  • Chose carpeting made fro jute, cotton or wool.
  • Dry clean textiles as infrequently as possible.
  • Never use plastic wrap, plastic containers in a microwave. [okay so maybe skip the micro when at all possible]
  • Use non-chlorine bleach.
  • Make sure there is no lead paint in your home.
  • Read labels on cosmetics and skin care labels to avoid excessive chemicals.
  • Have your home tested by a certified hygienist for the presence of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), carbon dioxide, and asbestos.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of ways that chemicals pervade our environment, including our homes and offices.  Just be mindful that toxic chemicals have been linked to almost every kind of cancer, emphysema, COPD, heart disease, children’s asthma, ADHD, the list goes on.  Each of us can use our time in stores to say no to those products that rely on chemicals to preserve, color, or manufacture.

6. Being Present

In recent years, the mindfulness movement has become almost as popular as yoga in this country.  Both are Eastern-sourced techniques that restore the mind and body to its natural state of being.  In America, meditation’s benefits have been adapted for Western practitioners. More than 700 hospitals in America, alone, have staffs that have been formally trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), which originated with Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Be Where You Are

A simple way to think of mindfulness is being present.  Hundreds of studies have confirmed that being present helps reduce stress, contribute to healthier relationships, aid self-regulation, decrease stress and aggressive behaviors, help alleviate depression, lower blood pressure, and more.  Sharon Salzberg is one of this country’s earliest teachers of mindfulness meditation.  She, along with Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield, are credited with bringing mindfulness practice to the west more than 30 years ago.  Salzberg says, “Mindfulness meditation quiets the mind and refines our awareness so we can directly experience the truth of our lives with a minimum of distraction and obscuration. Simplicity, stillness and attention are its qualities.”

Every Day

Try each day to simply stop, bring your mind to the present, and take a deep breath and experience the peace that is naturally a part of us.  Most of us are mind-occupied in two other dimensions – the past, which has already happened and irretrievable, and the future, which has not yet manifested.  Being in the present means you are fully in your life right now, right here.  You’ll find peace, and not stress, if you are truly in the present moment.

7. Being Appreciative (in every situation)

No matter what is happening, bless it.  The surest way out of anger, disappointment, resentment, and any other negative emotion, is to accept the situation for exactly as it is.  My patients always ask me, “Why?  Why did I get cancer?  I don’t understand.”  I tell them, we would use our time better to treat their reality and ensure a healthy and long future by, first, accepting what the truth is.  “You may have cancer, but that does not mean a death sentence – or – that you caused it,” I tell them. Ancient masters of every faith have told us that once we can accept and let go of what we think the reality should be, the closer, in fact, we come to our true nature.

Our true nature is naturally one of harmony.  The spirit within, I believe, is stronger than material events – in our lives or in our bodies. When we tap acceptance, we let go of resentment. When we let go of resentment, we find our true nature.  And when we find our true nature, we find beauty, peace and harmony.

The next thing we find is gratitude.

Acceptance

Patients frequently report to me, that over time when they have meditated, changed their lifestyle and been willing to accept their disease as simply that – a chronic disease that needs their attention and care – they wind up being more peaceful, more vibrant.  In fact, they wind up, usually within months, being able to accept their disease.  Some say they are even grateful that cancer came into their lives: They, themselves, are stronger, more peaceful, which means that their family members, friends, and business associates are also more peaceful around them.

“I would never have discovered who I really am without the cancer,” one patient told me. “I am much more engaged in my life these days,” another said.

What does gratitude have to do with your genes?  Quite simply, a peaceful nature, a thankful nature, corresponds to less stress and less inflammation in the body. Behavioral epigenetics looks at how behaviors affect our genes, and the evidence is in: A calm body and a grateful mind let our body do what it was designed to do – function at optimum capacity.

Write About It

In one study, people were asked to deliver a gratitude letter to someone who had helped them, and, on average, their happiness scores rose 10 percent and depression scores fell.  Other research has pinpointed health benefits such as lower blood pressure and calmer brain activity during or after practicing gratitude.  A notable study in 2008 connected the dots between gratitude and better sleep: “The study is also the first to show that trait gratitude is related to sleep and to explain why this occurs, suggesting future directions for research, and novel clinical implications.”

As the new year unfolds, I hope you feel the peace that “passes all understanding.” We may not be able to explain it, but we do know that it exists and that each of us can take steps that lead to a life of heath, peace, and love.  And for that I am very, very grateful.

Dr. Mitchell Gaynor’s latest book, ‘The Gene Therapy Plan: Taking Control of Your Genetic Destiny Through Diet and Lifestyle” will be released in April from Viking and is already listed in Amazon’s Top Sellers.

Preorder Dr Gaynor’s The Gene Therapy Plan: Taking Control of Your Genetic Destiny with Diet and Lifestyle (Available April 2015-Preorder Now)

Replay my interview with Dr Gaynor on Survive and Live Well: Getting to the Root Cause of Cancer

Elyn~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

Mitchell Gaynor, M.D. is founder and president of Gaynor Integrative Oncology and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Weill College, affiliated with Cornell University and New York Hospital. He has served on the Executive Review Panel at the Department of Defense – Alternative Medicine for Breast Cancer Sector and the Smithsonian Institute’s Symposium on New Frontier in Breast Cancer and the Environment. He is a frequent speaker and lecturer at hospitals, conferences, and universities throughout America and abroad. Learn more:http://www.gaynoroncology.com/about.html
Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer strategist, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and well-being. Elyn has been featured on CNN Money, Talk About Health, and Breast Cancer Answers and has written for the Pink Paper, Breast Cancer Wellness, Integrative Oncology Essentials, Surviving Beautifully, Body Local and more, and writes the Options for Life column for the Natural Healing-Natural Wellness Magazine. Elyn hosts the Survive and Live Well Radio Show on the Cancer Support Network. She is on the Medical Advisory Board for BeatCancer.Org and is on the Advisory Board to the Radical Remission Project. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. https://elynjacobs.com/about/Tune in to the Survive and Live Well ShowReplay the Survive and Live Well Radio Show ArchivesRead Elyn’s BlogFollow Elyn on FacebookFollow Survive and Live Well on Twitter

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Healing Paths for Cancer

In Uncategorized on June 13, 2014 at 3:53 pm

We refer to cancer as a disease, yet it is really a symptom.  The development of cancer is the result of  imbalances, excesses and deficiencies that deplete and overwhelm our immune system and allow cancer to form.  We may be estrogen dominant or otherwise hormonally imbalanced, we may have a heavy accumulation of toxins within the body or too much chronic emotional stress, and perhaps we don’t get enough nutrients to protect us.  Perhaps we are lacking emotional attachment and love. There are many theories on what causes cancer, but the reality is each cancer has its own origin.  The trick to ridding oneself of cancer is to uncover the root cause of our own individual cancer, and to address it, not put a band-aid on it.  Hence, because there are many triggers for cancer, there are also many paths for healing.

pathwaysFood as Medicine

Even with the best medical care, we cannot ignore that which creates the symptom of cancer.  While the current standard of care offers surgery, chemo and radiation, these treatments are not curative on their own—one must still change the cancer environment (and these “treatments” also encourage more cancer); we must fix what is broken.   We also must do everything possible to boost the efficacy and mitigate the damages of conventional treatments or explore other options.  How do we do this?  We make dietary changes that boost immunity and cut off the pathways of cancer,we  reduce and manage stress, get proper sleep and manage estrogen—in other words, we take control of our health.  And again, we explore all options. I highly recommend consulting with an integrative oncologist, a naturopathic doctor who specializes in cancer or a cancer coach.  https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/integrative-oncologists-and-naturopathic-doctors/

If we decline conventional treatment or follow up pharmaceutical therapies, we still need a comprehensive plan to heal our body so we can heal our cancer. In the alternative world, there are many protocols, many theories.  Again, it comes down to knowing the options and finding the best path for you and your cancer.  For more information and resources on alternative and complementary care, please visit https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/alternative-and-complementary-therapies/ as well as the recommended reading list below.

And while each cancer is unique in many ways, and many paths to take, there are some common factors involved in the healing of cancer—even cancers considered terminal.   An excellent book I recommend on paths to healing is Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds, by Dr Kelly Turner, PhD. Turner has done extensive research on radical remission and has uncovered the nine key factors that can make a difference, the subtitle of her book.  If you haven’t heard Dr. Turner talk about her research and book, you may want to replay my conversation with her on Survive and Live Well.  You can replay it free here.

Regardless of the path one chooses, the biggest mistake anyone can make is not asking the right questions and not knowing all the options.  Tune in weekly to the Survive and Live Well Radio Show, visit my website for the replays and for resources, and read as much as you can; become an educated patient.   And remember, there is always hope.

Recommended Reading:

Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds

Waking the Warrior Goddess, Third Edition: Dr. Christine Horner’s Program to Protect Against & Fight Breast Cancer

Anticancer-a New Way of Life

Life Over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Treatment

The Iodine Crisis: What You Don’t Know About Iodine Can Wreck Your Life

Salvestrols: Nature’s Defence Against Cancer: Linking Diet and Cancer

Salvestrols: Journeys to Wellness

Elyn

~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer strategist, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and well-being. Elyn has been featured on CNN Money, Talk About Health, and Breast Cancer Answers and has written for the Pink Paper, Breast Cancer Wellness, Integrative Oncology Essentials, Surviving Beautifully, Body Local and more, and writes the Options for Life column for the Natural Healing-Natural Wellness Newsletter. Elyn hosts the Survive and Live Well Radio Show on the Cancer Support Network. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/about/

Tune in to the Survive and Live Well Show

Replay the Survive and Live Well Radio Show Archives

Read Elyn’s Blog

Follow Elyn on Facebook

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Healing Lung Cancer, Naturally

In Uncategorized on March 24, 2014 at 7:09 pm

Last July I interviewed Dr Carl O. Helvie on my radio show, Survive and Live Well. I also had the pleasure of meeting him at the Annie Appleseed Conference in March 2013.  Dr. Helvie holds an M.P.H. and Dr. P.H. from John Hopkins University and has 58 years’ experience as a nurse practitioner, educator and researcher. The author of seven books, he is host of the Holistic Health Show on BBS Radio. Thirty-eight years ago, he developed lung cancer and was given six months to live by a conventional physician. He is now among the longest living survivors of lung cancer. http://www.BeatLungCancer.net

His latest book is You Can Beat Lung Cancer: Using Alternative/Integrative Interventions 

The following is an interview Francine Silverman did with Carl.  Fran is the editor of Book Promotion Newsletter is an on-line publicist, compiler of 16 ebooks of talk radio shows and host of a weekly radio show, Fraternizing with Fran – where interesting people come to chat. http://www.talkradioadvocate.com and http://talkradioadvocate.blogpot.com.  Thank you Fran!

I hope you will find this information helpful as you heal from your cancer.

Q – How devastating is lung cancer in the United States?

 A  – Lung Cancer kills more people in the U.S. than any other type of cancer-more than breast, prostate and colon all together-the success rate for chemo and surgery for lung cancer is very low – around 2% survival for 5 years for stage 4.  So I wanted the public to know about alternative non-tonic ways to deal with it if needed

Q – Why did you write this book You Can Beat Lung Cancer Using Alternative/Integrative Interventions?  

 A – A search of the Internet showed most people surviving with lung cancer were excited with 10 to 12 years. One woman, Anne Gambles, said her grandfather died in 2010 after surviving lung cancer for 40 years, and another who was identified as the longest survivor died in England in 2010 after 38 years. A cancer survivor site asked who was the longest survivor and the longest was 20 years.

Q – Lung cancer has few symptoms before it becomes advanced and difficult to treat. Why did you seek medical attention? 

A – I had a dream that told me to go for a chest x-ray. I have learned to pay attention to my dreams and believe that is one-way God speaks with me—through dreams, intuition, and other people. But can you imagine asking your traditional doctor for a referral for an x-ray when you don’t have symptoms.

 My doctor called and said they found a spot on my lungs that had not been there on previous x-rays and they wanted to admit me to the hospital for further testing. After additional x-rays, lab and a biopsy they confirmed that it was lung cancer.

Q  – What happened after you saw the doctor?

 A  – My doctor gave me 6 months to live without surgery/chemo and I decided if I only had a short time to live I was going to be comfortable during that period. Alternative natural interventions offered me that opportunity. A friend made herself available at all times as a support and also told me of a physician who had successfully treated others with cancer in the northern part of the state where I live.

Q – How did your family and nursing/medical colleagues react to your decision?

 A – The response of my mother who I knew loved me very much was “Why don’t you do what the doctor wants and have surgery and then do the other things.” My colleagues avoided talking about my decision and often avoided me completely.

Q – What was your medical regime?

 A -The alternative doctor I visited had worked for the National Cancer Institute until the drug companies closed him down. He had had so much success with laetrile or vitamin B 17 that he continued using it under the table-so I had to sign forms that I would not disclose my treatment. He confirmed that it was lung cancer and in addition to laetrile, I used supplements, vitamins and minerals, enzymes including digestive and pancreatic, a special diet of 75% raw fruit and vegetables with some additional vegetables and fruit, grains, and nuts (except peanuts-a high source of protein. No protein, dairy or simple sugar was allowed.

In addition, I added prayer, church prayer lists, meditation, affirmations, visualization, continuing my service to others, walking and exercise and continued working as a University Professor. I also quit smoking, checked my house for radon and did other appropriate interventions. Eventually I added political action to my interventions because I believe holism requires attention to physical, mental, spiritual, relationships, the environment, and politics.

 Q – Were there side effects that interfered with your daily life?

 A – No, unlike chemo where there is nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, loss of appetite, hair loss and other side effects, I had no effects and continued all of my usual daily activities with no problems.

Q -What was the outcome of your interventions?

A  – There were two outcomes of my interventions 1) was the actual resolution of the lung cancer. I continued my interventions and saw my primary physician every three months but did not tell him I was doing anything. He thought we were in a wait and see mode. The alternative physician did not ask me to return and I did not. After 2 years my primary doctor told me the spot was gone and he thought he had made a wrong diagnoses. At that time, a physician friend who had taught at a large well known medical school in another state and who now was medical director of Blue Cross/Blue Shield in that state wanted to see the biopsy, x-rays and all other reports and confirmed that it had been lung cancer.

The second outcome of my interventions was good health for the next 36 years to age 80 as a result of continuing many of the same interventions, as appropriate, and adding to them as knowledge evolved. Although the average for a 75 year old is 3 chronic illnesses and 5 prescribed medications I am now 81 with no chronic illnesses and no prescribed medications.

Q – What are some outcomes of alternative interventions by medical contributors in your book?

A – Dr James Forsythe has researched Paw Paw and then Poly MVA with stage 4 cancer patients. He had 28% 3 year survival for the first group and 30% 6 year survival for the second group. Then he developed the Forsythe formula adding some homeopathic plant based substances and has had 46% 5 year survival for all cancers and 39%  5 year survival for lung cancer patients. This is compared to 2% to 5% survival for stage 4 cancer patients using contemporary cancer treatment. Dr Forsythe discusses his treatments in my book.

Dr Francisco Contreras used High Dose IV vitamin C (breaks down into H2O2 when interacting with liquid around cancer cells but now around normal cells. Also Ozone Therapy.  Selenium, Silymarin, Green Tea Extract, Melatonin, and others.  Uses Stage 4 patients. Dr Contreras survival percentages vs contemporary survival at 1 year:82% vs 20%; 2 years  50% vs 6$;  3 years 27% vs 3%l 4 years 23% vs 2%, and 4 years 9% vs 1.9%.

Q – If alternative/integrative interventions are so successful, why are they not used by mainstream conventional medicine?

A – Cancer treatment is a multimillion dollar industry in which drug companies make lots of money, hospitals have wings donated, the American Cancer Society stays in existence, there is lots of research money available, doctors make money and on and on. So there is not much incentive to disturb the status quo and find a cure.  Alternative doctors have offered successful treatments for over 80 years but when one practitioner gets too successful the anti quack law is pulled out and there are attempts to put them out of business. Many such cases are documented.

Q – You say more people are moving toward alternative/integrative treatments for cancer. Why is that?

A – Contemporary medicine has gotten too expensive, people are finding it is not very effective, many do not have access to health care, there are more naturopathic and homeopathic doctors than previously, more people are surviving using alternative treatments, more books and other educational resources about alternatives to contemporary cancer care are available, more research on natural alternative treatments is available, and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the federal government carries out research and offers legitimacy to the movement.

Q – You are 80 years old and have no chronic illnesses or prescribed medications. What have you done to prevent a recurrence of cancer and to maintain your good health?

A – I have continued much of my holistic approach used when I had cancer. I continue all of the mental and spiritual activities of prayer, meditation, affirmations, visualization, strengthening faith, patience and other spiritual activities, service to others, replacing all negative thoughts and feeling with positive ones and other similar activities. . I continue to walk and exercise daily, to eat primarily fruit and vegetables with a raw salad one meal a day. I have added chicken or seafood one meal daily and a protein drink or beans or cheese the others. I now mainly eat organic, or locally grown when I know the practices of the farmer.  I never eat beef and rarely eat pork. I drink filtered water and I take a variety of supplements that research shows keeps one healthy.

I avoid drugs prescribed by medicine and find natural ways to deal with minor problems that arise. I use all the resources that God provides including medical Intuitives and Psychics to maintain my health. I also talk with angels and others in other realms that offer guidance on staying well.

I also keep busy helping others.  My activities include working on my radio show on holistic health, marketing my latest book on lung cancer on television, radio, or magazine, acting as a resource to cancer patients who contact me, working on my Foundation for Holistic Cancer, writing a monthly newsletter, .and reviewing the latest research on natural interventions weekly. I am thankful to God for the opportunity to learn and serve my fellow man.

carl o helvieReplay my show with Carl:

http://hipcast.com/podcast/HZwM88Ts  Carl O. Helvie–You Can Beat Lung Cancer: Using Alternative/Integrative Interventions 

 

Elyn

             ~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer strategist, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and well-being. Elyn has been featured on CNN Money, Breast Cancer Answers, Courage and Grace, and Talk About Health, and has written for the Pink Paper, Breast Cancer Wellness, Integrative Oncology Essentials, Surviving Beautifully, Body Local and more, and writes the Options for Life column for the Natural Healing-Natural Wellness Newsletter.  Elyn hosts the Survive and Live Well Radio Show on the Cancer Support Network. She lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/about/

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Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients, Part III

In Uncategorized on February 15, 2014 at 3:01 pm

On Tuesday Dr Michael Schachter joined me for Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients, Part III.  In part I, Dr Schachter presented a critical analysis of current conventional cancer standard of care practices. In Part II, Dr Schachter discussed his concerns about integrative oncology and its tendency to accept conventional treatment as a given, critiqued various diets for cancer patients, and shared what he believes to be important areas for the cancer clinician and the cancer patient to consider as part of a total program including the incorporation of vitamins D, K2 (MK4), A and iodine into the program.

In Part III Dr Schachter and I discussed ways of improving the results of conventional cancer treatment–specifically the various tests which help clinicians determine which therapies might be most helpful for a particular patient, as examined in Ralph Moss’ book “Customized Cancer Treatment”.  We also critiqued Brian Schaefer’s “Salvestrols: Journeys to Wellness”.

Improving the Results of Conventional Cancer Treatment

Tests have been developed to help clinicians determine which chemotherapy agents may be most helpful in a particular patient. The tests are done on samples from the patient. In one type of test, a fresh sample of cancer cells removed from the patient (for example, a portion of the cancer removed from the tumor that has been removed) is sent by overnight mail to a laboratory that conducts tests on the sample. Arrangements for this must be made prior to the surgery by the surgeon contacting the laboratory and finding out how the specimen is to be sent immediately after surgery.  Two laboratories that are doing this work are both run by competent and conscientious oncologists.  They are:

1)  Robert A Nagourney MD/Rational Therapeutics:

http://www.rational-t.com/default.aspx

2) Larry Weisenthal MD/Cytometric Testing for Cancer:

http://weisenthalcancer.com/Home.html

Ralph Moss, who has written many important books about cancer for patients has authored the book “Customized Cancer Treatment” in which he discusses these tests in detail, using published studies that suggest that using these tests BEFORE beginning a chemotherapy cancer protocol and using the results to help set up a treatment protocol, can vastly improve the results. To do one of these tests requires the cooperation of the surgeon and certain things must be done prior to the surgery.

The test is something like a culture and sensitivity test that is done with bacteria, when an attempt to grow particular isolated bacteria from the patient (as for example from a urine culture). The bacteria are grown in separate dishes in a culture medium. To each of these dishes, a different antibiotic is  added. The antibiotic (s) that inhibit the growth the most would be the most likely to be most effective for that particular infection.

Other tests are being used, but are not as well documented as the tests just described. One of these tests, the CTC (Circulating Tumor Cells) requires a blood sample, rather than a surgical specimen. Circulating cancer cells are analyzed to determine likely success in using various chemotherapy agents.  Laboratories using this procedure are located in Greece and in Texas, as well as Germany and possibly a few other locations.

One integrative oncologist that claims good results from the Texas Laboratory is James Forsythe MD from Reno, Nevada. He has presented survival statistics for advanced cancer patients and these survival statistics for various advanced cancer patients do compare favorably with published survival studies of advanced cancer patients using only conventional treatments. It is a little difficult to assess just how much the testing in Texas is responsible for these good results, but Dr. Forsythe thinks the testing is helpful.

Another type of test that is sometimes used requires a cell block specimen that can be taken from the surgical specimen that is preserved after the surgery. This does not require a fresh specimen and the specimen can be sent even months after the surgery. In this test, the cancer cells are analyzed for the presence of various enzymes. The enzymes that are found (expressed) in greatest quantity can be targeted with either chemotherapeutic agents or with targeted therapies. Dr Schachter mentioned that he has never used this test, but has been told by a few oncologists that have used it that the computerized explanation that goes with it is not very good. The laboratory that does this type of testing is: Caris Life Sciences: http://www.carislifesciences.com.

More information on these tests can be found in Ralph Moss’s book “Customized Cancer Treatments” and from the websites of these laboratories.  Keep in mind that generally  these tests are NOT covered by insurance and can cost thousands of dollars. However, sometimes they may be covered if this is negotiated with the insurance company in advance.

For more info on CTC testing, check out Ralph Moss’s book “Customized Cancer Treatment” or explore the following links::

www.rgcc-genlab.com

http://www.bestanswerforcancer.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Townsend2013.pdf.

Salvestrols

In previous interviews, Dr Schachter and I have discussed Salvestrols, natural substances that may have a role in preventing cancer and helping the body to manage it.  In this interview Dr Schachter gave a short summary of the benefits and limitations of Salvestrols.  To replay the June 2013 podcast on Salvestrols, Click Here.  To replay the December 2012 podcast, Click Here.

To read more: Salvestrols: Does Nature Hold the Answer to Cancer  and Salvestrols: Nature’s Rescue Mechanism from Cancer and Salvestrols: An Important Piece in the Cancer Fighting Puzzle.

Asked if there were any controlled, randomized trials carried out to prove that Salvestrols worked, Dr Schachter responded:

“No, the developers concluded that for many reasons, it would be best to make Salvestrols available as a nutritional supplement since they were natural substances and not synthetic drugs. If they had taken the path of trying to market these substances as drugs, the onerous process could take 20 years or more and cost millions or even billions of dollars. Instead a few papers were authored, primarily by Brian Schaefer, discussing the experiences of some people with cancer who took Salvestrols. Many of these people seemed to benefit and the author of these articles, Brian Schaefer went on to write a book entitled “Salvestrols: Nature’s Defense Against Cancer”, which we discussed during our previous interviews and which you wrote about on your blog. “

Brian Schaefer has since then authored a second book on Salvestrols titled “Salvestrols: Journeys to Wellness”.   Whereas the first book went into some detail about how the Salvestrol theory developed and just had a few brief case histories, this book was primarily based on follow-ups of the patients that Brian presented in his 3 papers published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine In 2007, 2010 and 2012. A few of these cases were also discussed briefly in his first book. Dr. Schaefer attempted to analyze the cases and come up with some general principles about people taking Salvestrols. He also discussed in more detail than in the first book tests that are being developed for diagnosing cancer and monitoring the course of treatment.

The developers of Salvestrols are in the process of developing tests for cancer based on the presence of CYP1B1 in the bloodstream or metabolites of Salvestrols when a fixed amount is administered. These tests would be of tremendous value because they may allow for diagnosing the presence of cancer cells in the body long before they would be diagnosed on clinical ground or with scans. When using natural, non-toxic substances and lifestyle changes, the earlier a patient is treated, the better the results will be.

One of the biggest problems with regard to cancer is assessing whether or not a treatment is working. Conventional oncologists often use frequent CT (with or without PET) scans and/or MRI’s with Gadolinium contrast. As we mentioned during a previous interview, these procedures may actually harm the patient and really offer very little when it comes to assessing patients, especially for long-term effects. Diagnostic tests using blood samples seem to me to offer a great potential benefit, but unfortunately, they are not yet ready for prime time.

What are some of the most important principles that Brian Schaefer comes up with for patients taking Salvestrols?

The supposition is that people whose Salvestrol intake is low are probably suffering from a Salvestrol deficiency and that the sooner and more completely this is corrected, the better a person will do. So, here are a few principles suggested by Dr. Schaefer:

  • Once there is a demonstrated deficiency of Salvestrols (evidence of cancer or precancerous lesions), the patient should start on sufficient doses of Salvestrols through diet and supplements and if there is a good response, should remain on a program that could include supplements INDEFINITELY. Several of Brian’s cases got into trouble when the patient was told by his physician that “he/she was cancer-free”. There is no such thing. When patients seem to have a good outcome in terms of natural cancer treatments, are told they are cancer-free and go back to old habits, the chances of a cancer recurrence is very high.
  • Use of Salvestrols should also be accompanied by healthy changes in lifestyle with sufficient rest and sleep, exercise, a healthy diet and improved response to stressful situations.
  • Attempts should be made to make sure that nutrients that are necessary for optimal response to Salvestrols are present, including biotin, vitamin C, niacin or niacinamide, magnesium and selenium.

What are the limitations of Brian Schaefer’s latest book?

There are several limitations to Brian’s book and I am sure he would be the first to acknowledge them. Brian had few if any medical records available to him. Reports are based on what patients told him that doctors told them.  Here are some specific weaknesses of the book:

  • In many of the cases, patient received other treatments in addition to Salvestrols. This was a particularly important criticism for all of the prostate cancer patients discussed, as treatments, such as the blockage or diminution of testosterone (androgen), can frequently cause a lowering of PSA and sometimes dramatic clinical effects without Salvestrols.
  • Follow-up was incomplete in some cases. Here I think particularly of the breast cancer patient in her 30’s. She had a dramatic response to Salvestrols and appeared to be doing very well after stopping chemotherapy. However, when the family was contacted, it was learned that she had died. No information was available as to how this occurred, except that Dr. Schaefer was able to find out that this patient stopped taking Salvestrols.
  • Knowledge about the long-term effects of Salvestrols was unclear in several of the cases because they stopped taking them. One case that comes to mind is the man with lung cancer who appeared to have a dramatic effect to Salvestrols in a relatively short period of time after at first being told that he was inoperable. He developed a recurrence of his lung cancer 5 years later, after being off Salvestrols for several years. Because of circumstances, he decided to do conventional treatment rather than Salvestrols when the cancer recurred.
  • We really don’t get much of a chance to see how well the Salvestrols help when patients have been harmed by the negative effects of conventional treatment (radiation and chemotherapy).
  • My own personal experience is clearly that Salvestrols are not a panacea in any sense of the word but should be considered an important element for some patients.
  • My sense is that both of Brian Schaefer’s books are worth-while reading, especially for anyone trying to understand and/or deal with cancer.

Replay Parts I, II and III via the following links or via iHeart RadioTalk under the heading Spreakers or Health.

Dr Michael Schachter: Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients, Part I:

December 10th, 2013– http://hipcast.com/podcast/H1tlrkJs

Dr Michael Schachter: Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients, Part II:

January 21st, 2014– http://hipcast.com/podcast/HZ2hF9js

Dr Michael Schachter: Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients, Part III:

February 11th, 2014– http://hipcast.com/podcast/HBxnqhps

Dr Michael Schachter: Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients, Part IV--the Wrap Up

March 25th, 2014– http://hipcast.com/podcast/HVNGyq2s

To read the summary of Part I, Click Here

To read the summary of Part II, Click Here

Elyn

             ~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

 MEDICAL DISCLAIMER:  Reading the information in this post does not constitute a physician-patient relationship. The information included in this post is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider regarding a medical condition or any treatments.

Dr. Michael B. Schachter MD, CNS, FACAM is a magna cum laude graduate of Columbia College and Columbia P&S Medical School in NYC. He is also a Board Certified Psychiatrist and a Certified Nutrition Specialist. Dr. Schachter has been involved with nutritional and integrative health care for 35 years. A leader in alternative cancer therapies, EDTA chelation and orthomolecular psychiatry, he is a past president of the American College of Advancement in Medicine (ACAM). He has authored numerous articles and was a major contributor to the large chapter about him in Burton Goldberg’s classic “Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide to Cancer”. His published 2010 paper “Integrative Oncology for Clinicians and Cancer Patients” helps to guide patients in developing a cancer treatment program. His latest article published in 2013 entitled “Integrating Nutrition and Selected Controversial Nutritional Supplements into a Cancer Treatment” is an abridged and updated version of his 2010 article. In 2010, Dr. Schachter received the Humanitarian Award from the Cancer Control Society in California. He has a special interest in the role of iodine in health and disease. Dr. Schachter is the director of the Schachter Center for Complementary Medicine in Suffern, NY.

 More information about Dr. Schachter and the Center are available at the website:  www.schachtercenter.com.  Many articles by Dr Schachter can be accessed from this site, including the two articles mentioned above.

 Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer strategist, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and well-being. Elyn has been featured on CNN Money, Breast Cancer Answers, Courage and Grace, and Talk About Health, and has written for the Pink Paper, Breast Cancer Wellness, Integrative Oncology Essentials, Surviving Beautifully, Body Local and more, and writes the Options for Life column for the Natural Healing-Natural Wellness Newsletter.  Elyn hosts the Survive and Live Well Radio Show on the Cancer Support Network. She lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/about/

Follow Elyn on Linkedin

Tune in to the Survive and Live Well Show

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Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients-Part 1

In Uncategorized on February 3, 2014 at 1:03 pm

Last week I once again had the pleasure of chatting with Dr Michael Schachter on my radio show Survive and Live Well. Our topic–Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients, a three part discussion starting with a critique of the current standard of care all the way to the latest therapies that alternative medicine has to offer.  In part one on December 10th, Dr Schachter presented a critical analysis of current conventional cancer standard of care practices. In part two, Dr Schachter critiqued varies diets for cancer patients, and discussed what he believes to be important areas for the cancer clinician and the cancer patient to consider as part of a total program. Below is a synopsis of Part I (Part II to follow).

Part I, December 10th, 2013 –Know Your Options: Never Operate Out of Fear

The current standard of care (SOC) recommends/mandates the use of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and targeted therapies as the first line of defense against cancer.  Dr Schachter presented a critical analysis of why this might not always be the best answer for cancer–and certainly should not be the only options considered by the cancer patient. He explained that patients are often bullied into accepting treatment and may even be misled into thinking that they are being offered a cure; but that sadly this is often a gross exaggeration of the ability of conventional medicine to cure the cancer patient.  He also pointed out that the SOC might actually be contributing to more cancer and in some cases worsens the prognosis of patients with cancer in a significant number of cases. Additionally, conventional cancer treatment may result in life-threatening side effects and a reduced quality of life. (Integrative oncology has made significant strides in improving survival from cancer and its treatment, but we are still not winning the war.)

Although Dr. Schachter applauds the efforts of practitioners who have begun to make nutritional recommendations, including dietary suggestions and nutritional supplements, to cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment, he is concerned that integrative oncology practitioners tend to accept conventional treatment as a given. As an example, he cited the excellent work of Keith Block MD, who is regarded by many as the most respected integrative oncologist in the United States. His 2009 published book, “Life over Cancer” is regarded by such respected integrative physicians and scientists as Andrew Weil MD, Leo Galland MD, James Gordon MD and Ralph Moss as the definitive work in integrative oncology. Dr. Schachter points out that much of the material in this book is geared to helping patients tolerate the adverse effects of conventional treatment, such as radiation and chemotherapy. Dr. Schachter’s position is that it may be time to question the entire approach of accepting conventional treatment as a given. Many cancer patients may be better off just ignoring recommendations for conventional treatment and focusing on alternative non-toxic treatment modalities. (Note that this section on Dr. Block was discussed in Part 2, but its placement seemed more appropriate here.)

Chemotherapy interferes with rapidly growing cells and is non-specific: normal cells are killed with cancer cells.  Currently there seems to be a movement toward what are called targeted therapies as an adjunct to surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.  Targeted therapies block the growth of cancer cells by interfering with specific targeted   enzymes needed for carcinogenesis and tumor growth.  Dr Schachter explained that targeted therapies mostly show modest benefits of a few months more survival in the clinical trials that have been conducted with advanced stage 4 cancer patients. Also, these treatments still have adverse side effects because the enzymes that are inhibited are also needed by normal cells and their inhibition may result in a long list of adverse effects. Nevertheless, the adverse effects of the targeted therapies are somewhat less than classical chemotherapy, which kills many normal cells along with the cancer cells they are designed to kill.

At a recent conference I  attended, the speakers asserted that chemotherapy has not been effective for many cancers. Consequently, immunotherapies and targeted therapies have been added to the chemotherapy protocols. However, one of the presenters, Dr Coit, MD, FACS, was quick to point out that when immunotherapy and targeted therapies are used alone, neither therapy was effective.  Immunotherapies sometimes afford a dramatic effect immediately, but unfortunately these results are unsustainable.   They take the brakes off the immune system so it can fight the cancer, but the effects don’t last.  Targeted therapies are then introduced to focus on specific gene mutations that are present in the cancer cells.  Ideally, according to Dr Coit, immunotherapy and targeted therapies should be used together, but that the two together at the same time would be too toxic to the patient.   Therefore most often they are used consecutively, rather than at the same time. Elyn Jacobs

Dr Schachter also challenged the excessive use of CT and PET scans.  I have often wondered why doctors order such scans so freely when it is no secret that they contribute to more cancer. Dr. Schachter pointed out that the radiation from one CT scan was equivalent to about 100 chest x-rays while the radiation from a PET scan was equivalent to 500 chest x-rays and the two together were equivalent to about 600 chest x-rays. Cancer patients are often asked to do these studies every few months, which exposes their already fragile bodies to a huge amount of diagnostic radiation. Dr. Schachter emphasized that radiation is carcinogenic and weakens the cancer patients already weakened immune system. Although these imaging studies are believed by conventional oncologists to help assess the cancer patient’s status and help to determine whether or not a particular treatment is working, there is little evidence that they really contribute to improving the survival time or the quality of life of the cancer patient.

A patient’s clinical status can often be assessed by careful physical examinations, careful questioning of the patient with regard to symptoms and sense of well-being and a whole barrage of blood tests to assess the patient’s blood count, liver and kidney functions, inflammatory markers, blood sugar levels and cancer markers. Clinically, this approach may be quite helpful and can be done without risk to the patient.

We discussed clinical trials and that usually it is only those conducting the trials who benefit—not the patients themselves; another downside is that often the patient is told that in order to participate in the clinical trial, he/she must cease any alternative treatments that are being done. It seems to Dr. Schachter that the people conducting clinical trials seem to be more interested in the clinical trial than in the welfare of the patient.

Dr Schachter presented some thoughtful questions to ask one’s doctor:

  • What is the likelihood my survival time will be increased?  (In Dr. Schachter’s opinion, this question is more important than a question about the likelihood of a clinical response. The clinical response, which is defined by the shrinkage of a tumor is not so important because it is often not associated with either an increase in survival time or improvement in quality of life.)
  • What is the likelihood that my quality of life will be improved?
  • What are the risks associated with the treatment with regard to morbidity (adverse effects from the treatment), mortality and the risks of developing another cancer?

To read the summary of Part II, Click Here

Replay Part I and II via the following links:

Dr Michael Schachter: Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients, Part I

December 10th, 2013–  http://hipcast.com/podcast/H1tlrkJs

Dr Michael Schachter: Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients, Part II

January 21st, 2014–  http://hipcast.com/podcast/HZ2hF9js

Join us Tuesday February 11th for Part III of this series.

Elyn

             ~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

 MEDICAL DISCLAIMER:  Reading the information in this post does not constitute a physician-patient relationship. The information included in this post is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider regarding a medical condition or any treatments.

Dr. Michael B. Schachter is a magna cum laude graduate of Columbia College and Columbia P&S Medical School in NYC. He is also a Board Certified Psychiatrist and a Certified Nutrition Specialist. Dr. Schachter has been involved with nutritional and integrative health care for 35 years. A leader in alternative cancer therapies, EDTA chelation and orthomolecular psychiatry, he is a past president of the American College of Advancement in Medicine (ACAM). He has authored numerous articles and was a major contributor to the large chapter about him in Burton Goldberg’s classic “Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide to Cancer”. His published 2010 paper “Integrative Oncology for Clinicians and Cancer Patients” helps to guide patients in developing a cancer treatment program. His latest article published in 2013 entitled “Integrating Nutrition and Selected Controversial Nutritional Supplements into a Cancer Treatment” is an abridged and updated version of his 2010 article. In 2010, Dr. Schachter received the Humanitarian Award from the Cancer Control Society in California. He has a special interest in the role of iodine in health and disease. Dr. Schachter is the director of the Schachter Center for Complementary Medicine in Suffern, NY.

 More information about Dr. Schachter and the Center are available at the website:  www.schachtercenter.com.  Many articles by Dr Schachter can be accessed from this site, including the two articles mentioned above

  Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer strategist, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and well-being. Elyn has been featured on CNN Money, Talk About Health, and Breast Cancer Answers and has written for the Pink Paper, Breast Cancer Wellness, Integrative Oncology Essentials, Surviving Beautifully, Body Local and more, and writes the Options for Life column for the Natural Healing-Natural Wellness Newsletter.  Elyn hosts the Survive and Live Well Radio Show on the Cancer Support Network. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/about/

Follow Elyn on Linkedin

Replay the Survive and Live Well Radio Show archives

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Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients, Part II

In Uncategorized on February 3, 2014 at 1:02 pm

Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients is a three-part discussion starting with a critique of the current standard of care, all the way to the latest therapies that alternative medicine has to offer.  In part I, Dr Schachter presented a critical analysis of current conventional cancer standard of care practices. In part two, Dr Schachter discussed his concerns about integrative oncology and its tendency to accept conventional treatment as a given, critiqued various diets for cancer patients, and discussed what he believes to be important areas for the cancer clinician and the cancer patient to consider as part of a total program. (Note that although Dr. Schachter discusses integrative oncology in the part 2 radio program, this discussion is included in the written summary of Part I, as the topic seemed more relevant to his discussion about conventional oncology, which was discussed in Part I.)

There are many different opinions on the best diet for cancer patients, but actually there is no one diet that works for all.  Every cancer is different and every individual is different and has his or her own needs. However, there are some general principles to which most alternative practitioners and nutritionally oriented clinicians agree.  These principles are not shared by most oncologists, who have little training or knowledge about nutrition as it relates to cancer patients.

  • Eliminate processed, refined foods which contain refined sugars and carbohydrates as much as possible
  • Eliminate hydrogenated fats that contain trans fatty acids (labels should be checked carefully)
  • Eat whole foods that are not genetically modified and use organic foods as much as possible
  • Avoid foods containing artificial sweeteners, preservatives, pesticides and other chemicals
  • Drink water free of chlorine, fluoride and other chemicals
  • Diets should contain a wide variety of vegetables of different colors and textures.

Where there is considerable disagreement is what the relative amounts of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the diet should be.

While Dr Schachter had previously suggested that the ketogenic diet, which consists of a diet very low in carbohydrates, moderate in protein and high in healthy fats, may be beneficial for most cancer patients, he has not seen a lot of evidence to maintain this recommendation.  For example, Dr. Thomas Seyfried, a strong advocate for the ketogenic diet for all cancer patients, has only 2 case histories in his recently published book “Cancer as a Metabolic Disease”, and these 2 case histories are not that convincing in Dr. Schachter’s opinion. The diet tends to ignore issues related to the importance of carbohydrates and their possible role in helping the body to fight cancer. Glycoproteins are proteins that contain carbohydrates and roughly 50% of the proteins in our body are glycoproteins. These glycoproteins are very important with regard to the immune system and the body’s ability to fight cancers. By focusing on a ketogenic diet, which emphasizes fats and proteins, Dr. Schachter is concerned that the importance of high quality carbohydrates is being ignored. He mentioned that there were reported long-term survivors with stage 4 cancers that were not on a ketogenic diet, and have thrived quite well using the Gerson, Kelly and other diets, which contain more carbohydrates than recommended in ketogenic diets.  However, he does suggest that cancer patients on the ketogenic diet will generally do much better than those on the Standard American Diet (SAD).

tip steaksWhile a low fat-high grain diet was once thought to be beneficial, that notion seems to be fading fast, as evidenced by Dr David Perlmutter’s book “Grain Brain”, which has been on the NY Times Best Seller list since being released in September 2013.  Dr. Perlmutter’s thesis is that diets that are high in carbohydrates and foods containing gluten predispose to the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative diseases, including cancer. Using many studies from peer-reviewed medical journals, Dr. Perlmutter explains how diets high in carbohydrates tend to increase blood sugar, which leads to the glycation of proteins (sugar combining with proteins in the body). This process tends to increase inflammation and the formation of free radicals, all of which contributes to the formation of degenerative diseases, including cancer. This book would be a good read for cancer patients as it explains how the high fat diet may turn out to be helpful for cancer patients as well as patients with other degenerative diseases. As mentioned previously, Dr Schachter suggests that it is best to concentrate on a whole foods diet, reducing or eliminating refined and processed foods, including foods containing added sugar and white flour and that one should eat many vegetables (including at least some raw vegetables and fresh vegetable juices), include some low sugar fruits, high quality organic eggs and other high quality animal products with an emphasis on grass fed animals.

Moving on we got into what other strategies cancer patients should be focusing on, Dr Schachter suggested we get a good dose of intelligent sun exposure to sunlight directly on skin without it being blocked by sunscreen. The problem here is that for many of us, especially those living in northern latitudes in the USA (e.g. New York, Boston, Chicago areas), we make vitamin D when exposed to sunlight only 6 months of the year. We do not make any vitamin D from November to May. So, we have to rely on other sources of vitamin D, such as supplements.

D3Ingestion of fat-soluble vitamins (especially vitamins D, K2 and A) should be considered in the prevention and management of cancer. In his view, this extremely important area is totally ignored by conventional physicians and mostly ignored by practitioners doing integrative oncology. However, fat soluble vitamins have the potential for being toxic and must be taken with knowledge and clinical monitoring. Dr. Schachter believes that optimal serum levels of vitamin D status, as measured by the blood serum test for 25 hydroxy vitamin D [abbreviated 25(OH)D], constitutes one of the most important factors in keeping one healthy and protecting against the development of cancer. He further believes that levels of this  test recommended by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine (above 20 to 30 nanograms/deciliter or 50 to 75 nanomoles/Liter) are entirely too low for optimal health. Furthermore, he believes that the recommended daily intake of 600 IU of vitamin D3 is also much too low for optimal health. These view are supported by many physicians and scientists who are members of the Vitamin D Council (www.vitamindcouncil.org).

Fat soluble vitamins, such as vitamins K2, A and E, all work synergistically for optimal health and are necessary for optimal use of Vitamin D. Dr. Schachter dispelled the confusion regarding vitamin K.  K1 is what is found in green leafy vegetables; it primarily activates enzymes involved in blood clotting.  Vitamin K2 functions mainly to activate enzymes that move calcium around the body into the bone (osteocalcin) and out of the arteries and joints (matrix GLA). K2 is essential if one is taking high doses of D3, which increases calcium in the body. In addition to these functions, vitamin K2, according to some preliminary studies plays a role as an anti-cancer nutrient as well. Preliminary studies indicate that it does this by activating another set of enzymes in the body. Dr Schachter also advises other supplements that supply high quality minerals in a balanced form that promotes healing.

Iodine may be needed in individualized dose to improve thyroid function, immune function and the optimal functioning of all the cells in the body; several associated nutrients need to be given including vitamin C, selenium, magnesium, unrefined salt, and sufficient water; these help to prevent strong detoxification reactions as a result of the release of bromine from the tissues when iodine is given in milligram quantities. These higher milligram doses rather than microgram doses help to enhance anti-cancer functions in most if not all cancers, but certainly in cancers of the thyroid, breast, ovary and prostate. Dr. Schachter says that some of the most famous alternative cancer specialists like Dr. Max Gerson, who used Lugol’s solution and Harry Hoxsey, who used potassium iodide, believed that milligram doses of iodine/iodide were crucial to their anti-cancer programs. Dr Schachter said that in testing his patients using a random urine iodine test, iodine is deficient or at least suboptimal in most cancer patients.

He reminded us to avoid exposure to toxic substances, including toxic minerals like lead, mercury and cadmium, but also organic toxins like pesticides. Detoxification to help remove toxic substances from the body with the use of chelation, saunas, exercise and possibly even coffee enemas and other procedures that help with detoxification.

The main thing is to work out a program where all the elements work as a team to prevent and/or manage cancer with the patient not being overwhelmed by the program.

Join us Tuesday February 11th for Part III of this series. For the written summary of Part I Click Here

In part III we will talk about why vitamin D affects so many symptoms and systems in the body, Brian Schaefer’s new book on Salvestrols, and ways of improving the results of conventional cancer treatment as discussed in Ralph Moss’ book “Customized Cancer Treatment”.  

Replay Part I and II via the following links or via iHeart RadioTalk under the heading Spreakers.

Dr Michael Schachter: Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients, Part I

December 10th, 2013–  http://hipcast.com/podcast/H1tlrkJs

Dr Michael Schachter: Searching for Answers for Cancer Patients, Part II

January 21st, 2014–  http://hipcast.com/podcast/HZ2hF9js

Elyn

             ~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

 MEDICAL DISCLAIMER:  Reading the information in this post does not constitute a physician-patient relationship. The information included in this post is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider regarding a medical condition or any treatments.

Dr. Michael B. Schachter is a magna cum laude graduate of Columbia College and Columbia P&S Medical School in NYC. He is also a Board Certified Psychiatrist and a Certified Nutrition Specialist. Dr. Schachter has been involved with nutritional and integrative health care for 35 years. A leader in alternative cancer therapies, EDTA chelation and orthomolecular psychiatry, he is a past president of the American College of Advancement in Medicine (ACAM). He has authored numerous articles and was a major contributor to the large chapter about him in Burton Goldberg’s classic “Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide to Cancer”. His published 2010 paper “Integrative Oncology for Clinicians and Cancer Patients” helps to guide patients in developing a cancer treatment program. His latest article published in 2013 entitled “Integrating Nutrition and Selected Controversial Nutritional Supplements into a Cancer Treatment” is an abridged and updated version of his 2010 article. In 2010, Dr. Schachter received the Humanitarian Award from the Cancer Control Society in California. He has a special interest in the role of iodine in health and disease. Dr. Schachter is the director of the Schachter Center for Complementary Medicine in Suffern, NY.

 More information about Dr. Schachter and the Center are available at the website:  www.schachtercenter.com.  Many articles by Dr Schachter can be accessed from this site, including the two articles mentioned above.

 Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer strategist, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and well-being. Elyn has been featured on CNN Money, Talk About Health, and Breast Cancer Answers and has written for the Pink Paper, Breast Cancer Wellness, Integrative Oncology Essentials, Surviving Beautifully, Body Local and more, and writes the Options for Life column for the Natural Healing-Natural Wellness Newsletter.  Elyn hosts the Survive and Live Well Radio Show on the Cancer Support Network. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/about/

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The Clean Truth about the Dirty Dozen

In Uncategorized on February 6, 2013 at 9:46 pm

Clean or dirty produce; is it really that simple? Should that be the sole consideration for eating organic produce?  No, beyond the obvious that organics contain fewer pesticides than conventional, there is also the integrity of our food to consider.

peas and cornThe Environmental Working Group (EWG) maintains lists of the twelve worst (the dirty dozen) and the 15 cleanest (clean 15).  These are great lists, they help us navigate the produce world to know when should consider organic whenever possible and when we can make do with conventional.  However, the lists don’t tell the whole story.  Corn and peas, for example, are part of the clean 15, but they are amongst the list of the top ten genetically modified foods; do you really want to consume GMO’s?  Remember too, that the lists of dirty and clean produce were compiled after the USDA washed the produce using the high-power pressure water systems most of us will never have in our kitchens.

watermelonWatermelon; they are part of the clean 15, but are they safe? You can wash the rind, but what do they absorb?  Consider farming practices in Eastern China; some of the farmers there used the growth hormone Forchlorfenuron to speed up growth and boost yield. However, they used too much of the hormone and the fruit began exploding. The visual for my stomach is not good.  Forchlorfenuron is a legal hormone in China and in the US; here it is used on grapes and kiwi– Forchlorfenuron has been implicated in cancers and neurological disorders.  Remember, just because the FDA says a certain amount of a particular chemical is safe, this isn’t always the case, and for children and those of us who consume copious amounts of produce, there is a cumulative effect.

And what about nutrients?  There seems to be much controversy on whether or not organics contain more nutrients than non-organics—and one recent study has fueled the fire.  But I challenge that study and question the motives and the funding. Regardless, the fact is that it doesn’t mean that organic food is not healthier. Good read: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/09/organic-food-isnt-more-nutritious-but-that-isnt-the-point/261929/

Further, if you remember from my post on Salvestrols, clearly organic is best. Salvestrols are plant derived compounds that produce anticancer agents. These agents cause cancer cells to commit suicide; I like that.  Salvestrols are also part of the plant’s immune system.  Plants are subject to attack by various pathogens, primarily fungi.  These pathogens usually attack the skin of the fruit and or the roots of the plant.  Salvestrols are produced by plants to protect themselves from pests and disease. However, the use of fungicides and crop protection chemicals means that plants which are not organically grown will not express high concentrations of Salvestrols because they are not exposed to the attacks which cause the plant to produce them. Plus, the Salvestrols will enter any fungi that they encounter in the human body and act as natural antifungal agents in the same way as they do in the plants from which they were obtained. In these situations, it appears that what is good for the plant is good for the gardener-or consumer.

salvestrolsLastly, Salvestrols are generally produced late in the ripening phase as this is when the plant is most vulnerable to attack, but produce is typically picked and shipped well before ripe.

Purchasing locally produced organic produce or having your own garden are excellent ways of ensuring that the produce has had a chance to ripen on the vine and is not poisoned during growth…..and, that it has predators. So, the moral of the story is….buy organic or grow your own when you can, and if you can’t, try to avoid the worst offenders, avoid GMOs and never, ever trust the FDA; your health depends on it. When all else fails, consider supplementation; the purest you can find. I guess I should have titled this post the dirty truth about the clean 15….but I prefer to stay in the positive.

For more information:

http://www.naturalnews.com/035734_GMOs_foods_dangers.html

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/health/the-dirty-dozen-and-clean-15-of-produce/616/

http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/2012-dirty-dozen-plus-clean-15-buying-organic-000700620.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-17/chinese-watermelons-explode-maybe-from-growth-chemical-xinhua-says.html

http://technorati.com/lifestyle/article/watermelons-in-china-exploding-due-to/

http://www.amazon.com/Salvestrols-Natures-Defence-Against-ebook/dp/B008H9LXF2

To listen to Dr Michael Schachter speak on cancer prevention, treatment and Salvestrols, please click here and scroll down to December 4th, 2012.

Elyn

www.elynjacobs.wordpress.com

~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. She is also on the peer review board of the Natural Standard Database. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She mentors women who are coping with issues of well-being associated with breast cancer and its aftermath; she is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn has been featured on CNN Money, Talk About Health and more and has contributed to Breast Cancer Answers as well as written for the Pink Paper, Breast Cancer Wellness, Natural Healing-Natural Wellness, Integrative Oncology Essentials, and other publications. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys.

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Hope and the Cancer Patient

In Uncategorized on January 12, 2013 at 2:07 am

Hope, it gives us the opportunity to do what we must do to heal from our cancer. “Hope is the miracle medicine of the mind.  It inspires the will to live.  Hope is the physician’s strongest ally.” Hope is our strongest ally.  A physician is in a powerful position to influence the outcome of disease.  Even in the face of the most advanced of cancers, there is usually room for some words of encouragement and support, which can make all the difference in the patient’s attitude towards their disease and their treatment.  Yet, physicians don’t always offer hope.  Many patients are told to go home and get their affairs in order, there is nothing we can do, or are given a grim prognosis. Many hear these words upon their initial diagnosis, as the cancer has already progressed.

“While there is life there is hope, has deeper meaning in reverse. While there is hope there is life. Hope comes first, life follows. Hope gives power to life. Hope rouses life to continue to expand, to grow, to reach out, to go on. Hope sees a light where there isn’t any. Hope lights candles in millions of despairing hearts. Where would I be without hope?” ~ Wilferd A. Peterson May 23, 1933

Putting hope in the proper context is important, and false hope is not always beneficial. However, there are countless stories of patients who were offered little chance of survival or a cure, yet who are here years later to tell their tale, so “false hopelessness” is clearly not beneficial either.  Early state or late stage— Hope, it gives us the opportunity to do what we must do to heal from our cancer.  No matter what path we choose for our healing, hope shall be ever present, for while there is hope, there is life. We can hope for a cure. We can hope for peace, comfort and relief from pain as we live each day we are given.  We can hope for a long life, living with our cancer.  While there is hope, there is life.

Want to learn more? Join us for Survive and Live Well, Tuesday at 1pm, EST when I talk with Dr Keith Block on Survival Statistics– what they mean to us; and you won’t want to miss our discussion on Hope: false hope and false hopelessness. You can listen live on www.W4Cs.com or by steaming the show on iTunes.

I also had the opportunity to chat about hope and survival with Dr Deanna Attai. You can replay that show here.

hope and light   While there is Hope there is life
The well-known maxim, “While there is life there is hope,” has a deeper meaning in reverse: “While there is… hope there is life.”Hope comes first, life follows. Hope gives power to life. Hope rouses life to continue, to expand, to grow, to reach out, to go on.Hope sees a light where there isn’t any.Hope lights candles in millions of despairing hearts.Hope is the miracle medicine of the mind. It inspires the will to live. Hope is the physician’s strongest ally.Hope is our shield and buckler against defeat. “Hope,” wrote Alexander Pope, “springs eternal in the human breast.” And as long as it does we will triumph and move forward.Hope never sounds retreat. Hope keeps the banners flying.Hope revives ideals, renews dreams, revitalizes visions.Hope scales the peak, wrestles with the impossible, achieves the highest aim.”The word which God has written on the brow of every person,” wrote Victor Hugo, “is Hope.” As long as we have hope no situation is hopeless.   Wilferd A Peterson

You may also like: Hope: The Miracle Medicine, my article on hope written for my Options for Life column in the Natural Healing, Natural Wellness E-Zine.

Elyn

~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn is on the peer review board of the Natural Standard Database. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys.

www.elynjacobs.wordpress.com

Twitter@survivelivewell

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LinkedIn @Elyn Jacobs

 

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Healing Cancer Naturally, Dental Toxins and More!

In Uncategorized on July 4, 2012 at 12:21 am

Choosing the best path for treatment is a very individual process.  Many people choose conventional treatment for their cancer, and many do not.  It’s all about finding and choosing the right treatment for you, for your body and your cancer.  Knowing your options is key, but equally as important is knowing the pros and cons of each treatment.  While there are no guarantees, we need to know –what are the chances the protocol will treat the cancer? And will it come with temporary or life threatening side effects?  I don’t like that word, side effect.  If treatment can cause serious damage, I am not so sure the damage can be referred to as a side effect.  But anyway, can these so called side effects be avoided? What are the chances for recurrence?  Will the treatment encourage or discourage the return of the cancer or new cancer? The recent news about Robin Roberts only brings awareness to the subject; sadly, she is hardly alone in her plight. Last week we spoke about a potential vaccine for cancer, but until we have that, we still have to treat our cancer. So today on the show, my guest, Bill Henderson, talked about healing cancer naturally, by means of a gentle, non-toxic therapy with no side effects (other than improved health and less cancer.)

Cancer is not a symptom, a random tumor that must simply be removed.  It is an imbalance in the body, a cry for help, if you will, that we need to take care of ourselves; that our body and soul require attention.  If we do not fix the imbalance or the reason for the cancer, the cancer will likely recur and/or spread, and certainly will not go away. 

I loved Bill’s answer to “If your wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, what would you recommend she do?” First, he would send her to the dentist. Routine dental work, such as root canals, tooth extractions (especially the removal of wisdom teeth), etc. can cause massive infections in the mouth that spread throughout the lymph system and contribute to cancer, especially breast cancer. To learn more about dental concerns and cancer, please view: http://www.cancertutor.com/Other/Breast_Cancer.html.  He also spoke at length about choosing the right dentist, one who is trained in the safe correction of dental culprits. “In the U.S., there are 160,000 dentists in the American Dental Association and another 7,400 dentist who are oral surgeons.  Of those, there are less than 50 I would trust.”  For a list of dentists that Bill recommends, please email me. 

Second, he would address her stress issues, as often times repressed stress can lead to and fuel cancer. This stress-reaction can stem from an event that took place years prior to our diagnosis. He strongly recommends that we read Dr Brad Nelson’s The Emotional Code, to uncover and resolve stress issues or events that are causing our cancer, and preventing us from healing.

Lastly, he would change her diet, although he avoids that word “diet” as it implies something temporary. Eating well is a lifelong commitment, not something we do for just a few weeks.

 All of these actions are important in our quest for wellness.

What he stressed was the importance of addressing the cause of the cancer as a means to cure it. What he didn’t do was suggest that his wife head off to a cancer clinic.  For some people, some cancers, this may be the way to go.  However, no matter what treatment we choose, if we don’t change the environment in which our cancer was permitted to grow, it will be very difficult to cure it. Bill’s argument for treating cancer naturally is a compelling one.  To learn more about it, please visit Bill’s website or read his book, Cancer-Free. To replay this show: http://hipcast.com/podcast/HDQvbCgQ.

The best thing we can do is to consider the origin of our cancer, address it, and choose the best possible treatment for our cancer, our body, our needs.

To read more on changing the cancer environment, please visit: https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/changing-the-cancer-environment/. For more information, or to schedule an appointment for coaching, please email me or send me a message.

Please join me next week on Survive and Live Well as I talk with my guests about two important topics: mesothelioma and early detection of lung cancer.  

Have a happy 4th and see you next week!

Elyn

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs.  She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. To learn more about Elyn’s coaching services, please visit:  https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com.  To tune into the Survive and Live Well radio show, please visit www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm (est).