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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/

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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/

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2013 Blog Highlights; Top Five Articles

In Uncategorized on January 2, 2014 at 2:01 pm

WordpressIt is a new year, a time to reflect on all that you have done and to focus on the long healthy life you intend to live. Hold to your heart the affirmation that you are and will be a survivor. Today is the first day of the rest of your life; go for it. Smile, live, laugh and love. Wishing you a healthy and happy New Year–may your dreams come true. (Photo credit to WordPress)

According to WordPress, the Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. My blog was viewed about 73,000 times in 2013. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 3 days for that many people to see it. Still, I think it is pretty cool.  My busiest day of the year was July 15th with 2,145views.  Thank you WordPress  for compiling the reports.  Thank you to all of my followers for your support. I look forward to serving you in 2014. 

Blog Highlights 2013

These are the posts that got the most views in 2013:

1 Natural Alternatives to Tamoxifen

2 Natural Alternatives to Aromatase Inhibitors

3 Why We Are Not Winning the War on Cancer

4 Are Your Headphones An EMF Health Risk?

5 Salvestrols: Does Nature Hold the Answer to Cancer?

Where are my visitors from?  156 countries in all! Most are from The United States. Canada & The United Kingdom were not far behind.

TheCancerSupport W4WNJoin me on the Survive and Live Well Radio Show, on W4CS, The Cancer Support Network. 1pm (ET) Tuesdays, live on http://www.W4CS.com. Find the best options for you– for your cancer.  

To view the show schedule for Survive and Live Well, please click here.  To replay past shows, please click here or visit Survive and Live Well on  iHeartRadio Talk.

iheartVisit Survive and Live Well or iHeartRadio Talk for free-replays for the Survive and Live Well Radio Show.  Visit my webisite for more articles, resources, one on one cancer coaching and the information you need to beat cancer.

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

ej portrait 150resElyn 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

Tune in to the Survive and Live Well Show

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The Mind-Body Connection to Beating Breast Cancer

In Uncategorized on September 27, 2012 at 8:47 pm

Much has been written about the importance of the mind-body connection as it relates to a patient with cancer. Unfortunately, many physicians still don’t understand or appreciate the importance. And in fact, many of us patients struggle with it too.  We want to take care of ourselves, but often we focus most on the urgent task at hand, our cancer.

Tuesday, on Survive and Live Well, Dr Deanna Attai and I spoke about the mind-body connection to breast cancer.  We spoke about hope; “A physician is in a powerful position to influence the outcome of disease”, says Dr Attai. “Even in the face of the most advanced of cancers, there is usually room for some words of encouragement, which can make all the difference in the patient’s attitude towards their disease and its treatment”. If a patient is told, “there is no hope; there’s nothing I can do for you”, likely the patient will give up or certainly would not agree to a potentially life-saving, but grueling surgery or treatment, or for that matter, might not investigate alternative options and second opinions.

We spoke about healing the patient with the cancer instead of just the disease of the patient; that in addition to needing hope, “Disease does not happen in a vacuum, you need to understand the whole person before you can even begin to focus on the disease, a patient’s entire situation – diet, lifestyle, feelings about complementary/alternative versus traditional medicine all come into play.”

We shared some thoughts on how words such as the infamous “positive attitude” and ”you’re going to be fine”  mean different things to everyone and how they can often be painful to the breast cancer patient; small words, big impact.

Thank you Dr Attai for sharing your wisdom and experience to help us understand that treating cancer involves the whole person. Cancer is a complex situation….but it gets better when we connect the head bone to the neck bone… …all the way to the ankle bone.  To replay this conversation please visit:  http://hipcast.com/podcast/H1J8NTpQ.

Join us Tuesday, October 2nd, when I will chat with Dr Kathleen Ruddy as she clarifies the efficacy and potential of the first ever breast cancer vaccine and talks about the three different types of breast cancer, the genetic profiles that appear to distinguish them, and how this information can be used to tailor treatment for those currently battling breast cancer.

You can listen live, Tuesday, October 2nd at 1pm EST, on www.W4CS.com.  Have questions or want to join in the conversation?  Join us in the chat room!

For a show schedule and archives, please visit:  https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/survive-and-live-well-schedule/.

Elyn

www.elynjacobs.wordpress.com

 

Words are a hot topic these days. Rachel Pappas and I also had a great conversation about words, tone and social graces in Cancer Etiquette 101.  Check it out if you haven’t read it.

 

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. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. To learn about Elyn’s coaching services, please visit:  https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com.  To tune into the Survive and Live Well radio show, please visit http://www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm (EST). To view info on upcoming topics and guests, please visit: https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/elyns-blog/.

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The End of Breast Cancer

In Uncategorized on September 8, 2012 at 3:23 pm

The End of Breast Cancer; ending all cancers would be an amazing thing.  Is it possible? President Nixon declared war on cancer in 1971, and little has happened towards this goal. Forty-one years and billions of dollars later, we have yet to win the war. In fact, mortality rates have declined by less than 5% in the last 60 years. Billions are raised each year to research treatments for cancer; billions are spent on the treatment of cancer. Clearly treatment does not offer a cure. Prevention is the answer, but is a hard ticket to sell.  A preventive vaccine, one that is effective and safe, may well be what it takes. In the scheme of things, the $6 million needed to fund a breast cancer vaccine seems like small potatoes.  Why, you ask is this vaccine not funded?  I wish I knew.  Ever heard of Pink Ribbons? If you haven’t seen the trailer, check it out…the movie is out this month. It’s an eye-opener.  Think before you Pink. 

What I do know is that getting a vaccine in the hands of doctors does not happen overnight.   There are many who are investigating potential vaccines, but why, I ask, why not fund one that is ready to go through the trial phase now; what are we waiting for?  If it works for breast cancer, doors may open for vaccines to be developed for other cancers.  If it doesn’t work, we learn from it, and that too will speed up the process. Time is not on our side; we need the collaboration of clinicians and researchers; we need funding. Oddly, those who rally endlessly for donations for the breast cancer cause choose not to fund the vaccine, yet they offer no explanation other than to say they agree we need collaboration, to have barriers removed…well then, let’s see collaboration, let’s remove the barriers and make this vaccine we have now become a reality; let’s see the end of breast cancer…while we are all still alive.

Want to know more?  Check out this post by Cindy Sullivan. The following is an excerpt:

Breast Cancer PREVENTION Is Knocking On Our Door. Who will answer?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is just around the corner and while we are encouraged to run, walk and wave our pink ribbon, The Pink Vaccine, the world’s first PREVENTIVE breast cancer vaccine awaits funding. This vaccine could potentially save more than $86.44 Billion in healthcare costs in this country, per year.

A preventive vaccine, developed by Dr. Vincent Tuohy of the Cleveland Clinic was found to be 100% effective in preventing breast cancer in mice. Even mice bred for a high incidence of breast cancer failed to develop it when the vaccine was administered. Further, researchers found that mice already infected with breast cancer saw a marked reduction in tumors after being given this vaccine.

Funding for The Pink Vaccine would have a tremendous affect on millions of lives as well as on spiraling health care costs in our country. The $6 Million needed to move forward….read more.

Want to donate now?

Elyn Jacobs

Twitter@elynjacobs

Facebook @Elyn Jacobs and @Elyn Jacobs Consulting

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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. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. To learn more about Elyn’s coaching services and radio show, 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).

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What You Need to Know Now: Does a Virus Cause Breast Cancer in Women?

In Uncategorized on June 27, 2012 at 8:33 pm

Yesterday on my show, Survive and Live Well, on W4CS, Dr Kathleen Ruddy spoke about a breast cancer virus that might be involved with 40-75% of breast cancer.  She also discussed a preventive vaccine developed at the Cleveland Clinic by Professor Vincent Tuohy that is ready for safety testing in women and may also be effective against the viral form of breast cancer.  Unfortunately, both the virus and the vaccine have received little attention and scant funding.

The virus in itself is not news to me or others; Kathleen and I spoke about this a year ago, and it received national attention via a video Dr. Ruddy made that was nominated best short film of the Breast Fest Breast Cancer Film Festival 2010. However, what amazes me is that in addition to the paucity of attention about the virus, there is equal disregard for the first preventive breast cancer vaccine that Professor Tuohy developed, for he has yet to get the funding for clinical trials to test its efficacy in women.  So why is it that there is not funding for trials?  If not for lack of awareness, what is it?

Many people are not aware that this vaccine is at the trial phase; it just needs the funding and we could likely prevent and possibly cure millions of breast cancers.  It saddens and infuriates me that greed and ignorance may be getting in the way.  In fact, there is a prominent member of the breast cancer world who likely has the power to garner the funds needed, but instead seems to want to wait until 2020 for the magical end.  Shame on those who are holding us back; how can they say they are out to make change, to end breast cancer. Let’s end breast cancer now; why wait?  If you would like to be part of this initiative, please contact Dr Ruddy.  If you have something to say regarding this topic, please let me know, you just might be invited to share your thoughts on the show.

I posted on this subject back in July of 2011…to read this post and a repost on Dr Ruddy’s site:

http://elynjacobs.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-race-is-going-in-wrong-direction.html

http://breastcancerbydrruddy.com/?p=2899

The following is a plea written by IBC survivor Cindy Sullivan.  Thank you Cindy, for helping to get the word out on the need for funding; we need to get this vaccine to trial.

To read another great post on the subject by Susan Beausang:

http://www.lymphomainfo.net/blog/syndicated/dreaming-the-breast-cancer-vaccine

“His vaccine is ready to be tested for safety in humans, but guess what. Komen has turned him down for funding 3 times and Avon has refused to even consider it. Hmmmm…. Maybe Mr. Tuohy scared the queens of pinkwashing when he said, ‘If it works in humans the way it works in mice, this will be monumental. We could eliminate breast cancer.”

I would now add that the NBCC is looking to end breast cancer in 2020; the rest of us are in a bigger hurry.  Likely they could be added to the list of “queens of pinkwashing”, but that is my opinion. Why is it that they are not supporting a vaccine ready to go to trial now?

For more information on Professor Tuohy’s vaccine:

http://www.cancernetwork.com/display/article/10165/59788http://www.autoimmune.com/HMTVGen.html

http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/search/search-single-view/virus-may-trigger-many-cases-of-breast-cancer/6de036f7be.html

http://journals.lww.com/oncology-times/Fulltext/2008/03100/Closing_in_on_Elusive_Link_between_Virus___Human.8.aspx

Elyn Jacobs

www.elynjacobs.com

elyn@elynjacobs.com

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:  http://elynjacobs.com.