Category: Cancer News

Radiation as a cancer treatment has been used for decades. It is promoted to cancer patients as either a primary or secondary treatment of necessity for killing malignant tumors. One must be educated on the possible negative effects of radiation and the increase risk of death from radiation-induced causes so that a properly informed decision can be made.

From an Oxford University study dealing with breast cancer, it was found that women who received radiation had an increased risk of death from heart attacks because their hearts had been weakened by the therapy. Radiation also weakens the immune system and can lead to death from secondary causes like pneumonia. Many patients die from their cancer treatment, but have the side effects, such as heart failure or pneumonia, being the recorded cause of death. This is why cancer statistics can be misleading. From the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Project, it was stated that from the data available, post-operative irradiation has provided no advantage to patients.

Radiation therapy to the abdominal/pelvis may cause nausea, diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Blood counts can be decreased by radiation therapy, especially white blood cells and platelets. Lymphedema or swelling may also occur in the legs. Bowel obstructions or ulcers can also occur due to radiation.

The rectum is the area most affected by pelvic irradiation for treatment of the prostate, cervical and colon cancer. Acute symptoms are evident with diarrhea, urinary urgency, hemorrhoids or rectal bleeding and fatigue. Pelvic irradiation can also cause ulceration, severe bleeding, stricture or narrowing of the rectum, severe incontinence and fistula. A fistula is an opening between the rectum and the skin, forming an alternative pathway for the excretion of fecal material. Fistulas also can form between the rectum and the vagina causing fecal material to enter into the vagina.

In a study following 6,428 women that were diagnosed with pelvic malignancies, researchers compared women who did and did not receive radiation therapy. Women who underwent radiation therapy were more likely to have a pelvic fracture than women who did not undergo radiation therapy. Researchers concluded up to a 200% increase in hip fracture rates following radiation treatment for pelvic cancers. Fracturing a hip leads to death in approximately 20% of those affected.

The lung is one of the most radiosensitive organs, yet is often radiated due to cancer of the esophagus, breast or lymphatic system. Common radiation effects in the lung become evident about three months after radiotherapy, with congestion, cough and shortness of breath, fever and chest pain caused by inflammation of the lungs. This inflammation can lead to scarring of the lung tissue and permanently decreased lung function.

One of the most important factors to consider before choosing radiation therapy is to understand the basis of how cancer grows. Cancer is formed from a base cell called the cancer stem cell. These cancer stem cells make up approximately 2% of any malignant tumor. These cancer stem cells produce all the other cancer cells so in essence they are likened to the queen bee in the beehive. Radiation does not kill cancer stem cells. Whatever non-stem cancer cells the radiation does kill, these cells will be replaced by the cancer stem cell. This means at most the radiation therapy will temporarily shrink a tumor but it inevitably will grow back as the cancer stem cells replace the non-cancer stem cells that were destroyed from the radiation. This is an important fact to consider knowing that radiation and chemotherapy do not “cure” cancer but instead they temporarily slow down its growth. This is when other non-toxic natural therapies can be done in conjunction with the chemotherapy and radiation to increase the rate of healing.

Another option is to have alternative cancer treatment in conjunction with chemotherapy to decrease the need for additional radiation therapy. Natural alternative cancer treatment enables the body to heal from the toxic effects of the chemotherapy, while boosting the immune system’s ability to kill cancer cells.

As observed, there are many possible side effects that can be associated with radiation therapy. Most side effects have a major impact on the patients’ day to day activities and can impede their daily functions. Knowing that radiation can cause debilitating side effects, permanent tissue damage and can induce an increased risk of death, a cancer patient should decide if the potential benefits outweigh the risk.

For quite some time many have heard of the dangers of microwave ovens. Specifically, that the use of microwave ovens may be linked to an increased risk for cancer. Understandably, this has caused a fair bit of consternation amongst people who are trying to live healthily, and who actively take steps to protect themselves from possible cancer causing agents.

As with any controversy, there has been a lot of pushing and pulling between people ‘in the know”, with health advocates arguing against the use of microwave ovens and corporate defenders arguing for their safety. So, what is the real story, and what is the truth about microwave cooking and your health?

Microwave Cooking in a Nutshell

Most of us have a general idea of how microwave ovens work, even if we do not understand the subtle mechanics of the process. In essence, microwaves agitate the molecules within our food, thereby heating it from the inside out and reducing cooking time by as much as 80%.

Microwave cooking is based on the principles of alternating currents, with the atoms and molecules within food being forced to reverse polarity up to 100 billion times a second. This friction is what produces the “heat” of microwave cooking.

Unfortunately, while the process makes cooking convenient, it has a definite downside. This violent molecular agitation results in what is called ‘structural isomerism’, where molecules are forcefully deformed or destroyed.

Traditional cooking methods, on the other hand, rely on good old thermal dynamics – the natural transfer of heat to cold. With traditional cooking methods, food is heated slowly from the outside in.

Now, microwave defenders will argue that traditional cooking methods also damage the inherent cellular structure of foods, and they are right to some degree.

That is why raw food advocates have a leg up when it comes to health and nutrition, particularly where cancer prevention is concerned. But not everyone has adopted a raw food diet, and for those people the manner in which they cook their food needs to be addressed.

Microwave Cooking and Nutrition

Most of the arguments defending microwave ovens focus on the safety of the devices themselves. They insist that the low levels of radiation used in microwave cooking pose no health risk. That may, or may not, be true.

But, even setting aside this more technical aspect of microwave cooking, there are further health concerns that deserve our attention. If good nutrition is the secret to good health, than what does microwave cooking actually do to our food? Well, therein lies the problem. Remember the ‘structural isomerism’ that we mentioned?

This violent cell damage destroys much of the inherent nutrition in foods. Cells are deformed or destroyed, and nutrients lost. Moreover, the process of microwave cooking actually creates carcinogenic compounds. When organic matter is penetrated by microwaves, radiolytic compounds are created.

The combination of these radiolytic compounds and the damaged/deformed cells in the food forces the body’s healthy cells to abandon their normal process of cellular oxidation for an anaerobic energy production based on glucose fermentation.

Anaerobic glucose fermentation actually helps cancerous cells to thrive. So, when you microwave that meal, you are not only destroying its life giving nutrients, you are also creating compounds that encourage the survival and proliferation of cancer cells.

Defenders of microwave cooking are quick to point out that traditional cooking methods also damage cells, and that, regardless of cooking method, overcooked or burnt food will be stripped of its nutritional value. This is true.

However, in the fight against cancer it is imperative to minimize any potential cancer risk. That is why raw fruits and vegetables should always form the basis of your healthy eating and your cancer fighting diet. That being said, when foods must be cooked, slow and steady wins the day. Research has proven that boiling or slow cooker methods produce the least amount of damage to the food.

Whereas microwave, charbroiling and high heat cooking do the most damage. Microwave cooking may be quick and easy, but the results may be equally hazardous to your health and well-being. When it comes to nutrition and cancer prevention, it is always advisable to choose tradition over convenience every time.

It’s no secret that the natural world holds many surprises, and this has never been more true than in the ongoing fight against cancer. As scientists and researchers study the underlying causes of cancer, searching for treatments and cures for this dreaded disease, they often find themselves turning to the very foundation of life itself – nature.

The plants and herbs that are part of God’s design often hold the key to many advances in the fight against cancer. Embarrassingly, many of these plants and herbs were well known to our ancestors, and they formed the basis of many natural healing techniques.

Over the centuries, as science and progress marched ever faster into the future, these healing herbs were ignored and forgotten and drugs with many side effects took their place. It is only recently that research into cancer treatments and cures have rediscovered the healing power of these herbs and plants.

The latest of these recent rediscoveries is Sweet Wormwood, an herb used by the ancients to treat malaria. But recent studies are showing that Sweet Wormwood may be an even more effective treatment for a variety of different cancers.

What is Sweet Wormwood?

Sweet Wormwood, or to give it its Latin name – Artemisia Annua, is a plant that is native to Asia and Eastern Europe. The Chinese have used it as a healing herb going back as far as the 2nd century AD.

In fact, in the 1970’s archaeologists excavating the tomb of a Han Dynasty prince found a stone tablet describing the use of Sweet Wormwood as a treatment for malaria. This sparked interest in the herb, and in its use in natural healing.

Researchers found that the extract from Sweet Wormwood, Artemisinin, was indeed a successful treatment for Malaria. This prompted scientists to explore further, and to investigate Sweet Wormwood’s other healing properties. What they found was surprising, to say the least.

Cancer, Iron, and Artemisinin

All cells within the body require the presence of iron for division and replication. To attract the necessary iron, cells have what are called ‘transferrin receptors’.

Now, one of the fundamental characteristics of cancer is its abnormal process of cell division and replication. Cancerous cells typically divide and replicate at greater speeds than healthy cells.

To accomplish this, cancer cells need greater stores of iron, and so develop a greater number of ‘transferrin receptors’. For example, breast cancer cells have 5 to 15 times more ‘transferrin receptors’ than normal healthy breast cells, and thus accumulate greater stores of iron.

Researchers into the effects of Sweet Wormwood on cancer cells found that they could increase the amount of iron in cancerous cells by using a compound known as ‘Holotransferrin’.

Now, this is where it gets interesting.

The Artemisinin extract of the Sweet Wormwood plant is a natural enemy of iron rich cells, which is why it is such a successful treatment for Malaria. Boosting the iron levels in cancer cells causes the Artemisinin to bind with the cell, halting its division and replication, and forcing it to self-destruct.

The research proved that Artemisinin killed more than ¾ of the cancer cells, while leaving the healthy cells untouched.

What this Means for Cancer Patients

Studies into the effectiveness of Sweet Wormwood as a cancer treatment are ongoing, but the outlook is good. The research indicates that this treatment may be particularly effective for more aggressive forms of cancer, where cell division and replication is more rapid and the cancer cells will be more dependent on iron to survive and thrive.

While the current research is concentrating on breast cancer, all indications point to Sweet Wormwood therapy being effective against a wider range of cancers, including pancreatic cancer and leukemia.

Once again it seems that the natural world holds the answers to restoring, and maintaining, our total health. Sweet Wormwood is just the latest rediscovery that illustrates how much we have forgotten about the nature of natural healing.

The plants and herbs that form the garden of God’s creation hold the secrets we need to remain healthy and cancer free.

Now that spring is here, we are all looking forward to getting back out in the new sunshine. But the sun, in all it’s glory, can pose health risks for some people. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting people in the United States, with more than one million Americans being diagnosed with some form of the disease each year. Fortunately, when caught early, most skin cancers can be effectively treated, and patients can experience a full remission. However, the key to treating any cancer is in early detection. So, as we move into the spring and summer months it seems an appropriate time to talk about the warning signs of skin cancer and the attendant early symptoms. It is often said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If that is true, than early detection of skin cancer must be worth at least a good ¾ of a pound.

Skin Cancer and Self Examinations

Skin cancers most commonly develop on the parts of the body that are routinely exposed to the sun and the elements. The hands and arms, legs and upper torso, and face and scalp, are the most vulnerable areas of the body when it comes to skin cancer. There are three primary types of skin cancer – basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Each has distinctly different symptoms and warning signs. Regular self-examination is the key to detecting skin cancer early, so that treatment can begin and healing and recovery can ensue. Self-examinations should be performed regularly, at least once a month. A typical self-examination should take no more than ten minutes or so, and should be performed after you get out of the bath or shower. Look for changes in the texture or appearance of the skin. Suspicious spots, or changes in moles or freckles, should be closely monitored. These may signal the early signs of one or more of the most common forms of skin cancer.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, and generally presents on the areas of the body that have been overexposed to sunlight or UV radiation including tanning beds. Early signs of the disease appear as flat and scaly reddish patches, often with a brownish border. They may also present as hard scar-like lesions on the skin. In some cases, Basal Cell Carcinomas may appear as waxy bumps on the skin, often presenting with visible blood vessels throughout the tumor. Basal Cell Carcinomas are often itchy, and in some cases may bleed or become ulcerous.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The second most common form of skin cancer, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, typically occurs in skin damaged by sun, radiation, toxins, or injury. Early signs of Squamous Cell Carcinoma may present as rough, scaly, patches on the skin. Squamous Cell Carcinomas may also appear as crusty red nodules, or as flat, crusted, skin abrasions. In some cases, Squamous Cell Carcinomas may take the appearance of small volcano shaped blisters surrounding a hard inner core. In advanced cases, these lesions may become itchy, and may bleed and become ulcerous.

Melanoma

Melanomas can occur anywhere on the body, though they tend to present most frequently on the upper torso, head, neck, and lower extremities. Melanomas may also develop on the palms and soles of the feet, and around the fingernails and toenails. Melanomas typically present as pigmented posts or streaks on the skin, usually with an irregular border. They may also take the form of moles that change, over time, in shape, color and size. Melanomas may also take the form of brownish spots, or bluish streaks or lesions. Amelanotic Melanomas are rarer, but no less dangerous, and often take the form of pinkish or flesh toned lesions. These are much harder to identify and diagnose, as they often go unnoticed in a typical self-examination.

One of the keys to successful cancer treatment is early detection. Skin cancer remains the most common form of cancer in the West, and the number of diagnosis grows every year. While it is highly treatable, and recovery rates are good, much depends on early detection. Make it a point to begin regular monthly routine of self-examination. Know your body and learn to identify any changes in skin tone, texture, and blemishes. Catching skin cancer early is the best way to ensure a total recovery.

The most important aspect of preventing skin cancer is being healthy. If you have chemicals and toxins stored in the tissues including the skin then when the sun hits the skin this causes the chemicals and toxins to react in the skin and can trigger a potential skin cancer. Remember native people who live their whole life in the sun but eat natural, raw food that do not get skin cancer. Skin is a reflection of what is going on inside the body. If the body is unhealthy so is the skin and more prone to cancer. Keep your body healthy and the chances for skin cancer are greatly decreased.

We all know, or should know by now, that high blood sugar is one of the most significant enemies of good health. It can lead to a number of chronic and debilitating health disorders, including kidney disease, heart disease and diabetes. But ongoing research in the United States and Europe is showing that elevated blood sugar levels in both men and women may pose an even greater health risk, and may be linked to an increased risk for a number of different types of cancer. The latest research, focusing on men and women between the ages of 18 and 50, has drawn a direct link between high blood sugar and the increased risk for colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and brain cancer.

Blood Glucose Levels and Cancer

Healthy cells convert glucose in the cellular cytoplasm into pyruvate, which is then passed to the mitochondria to be used as energy. This process is called glycolysis, and is a normal function of the body. Cancer cells also rely on glucose for fuel. However, because the cells are damaged or mutated, the mitochondria are removed from the equation, and the cancer cells use the glucose induced energy to survive and grow. This is called anaerobic glycolysis. Moreover, the waste product of anaerobic glycolysis is a type of lactic acid that is passed to the liver where it is broken down and turned into glucose, which then returns to the blood stream to further feed the cancerous cells. It becomes a vicious cycle that allows cancers to grow and thrive within the body.

High Blood Sugar and Cancer

As we begin to better understand how elevated blood sugar levels affect cancer cells, it becomes increasingly obvious that we must learn to lower and control our blood glucose levels. By denying cancer the food it needs to grow and to take root within the body, we can greatly reduce our risk for developing a wide variety of different types of cancer. The latest research is pointing the way, and it is up to us to follow.

Lowering Your Blood Sugar Naturally

There are many all natural techniques for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, and they should be a standard part of every person’s anti-cancer lifestyle. These are proven techniques that get results, and that do not rely on the use of unwanted prescription drugs.

• Diet – The first step to lowering your blood sugar is by changing your diet. This means more than simply eliminating sweets. Sugars and complex carbohydrates can hide a wide variety of processed foods, so it is important to make the transition to a predominantly organic, vegan diet. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, and cabbage, are good for your heart, and will help you maintain healthy blood glucose levels. Seeds, nuts, garlic, and artichokes are also good for lowering blood sugar levels.
• Eat more raw plant fats – One of the best ways to balance your blood sugar is to turn on a fat burning metabolism. This can be done by eating raw plant fats like avocados, seeds, nuts and olive oil. These all have the most energy units and have zero sugar.
• Exercise – Studies have shown that regular exercise helps to lower blood sugar levels and prevent diabetes and heart disease. Thirty minutes a day, at least four days a week can have a significant effect on both your blood sugar levels and your overall health. It will also help you to maintain a healthy weight, which has been proven to help keep blood sugar levels in check.
• Supplements – Some all natural supplements can help to reduce and control blood sugar levels. Magnesium, Zinc, and Chromium have all been shown to have a positive effect on blood sugar levels. Optimally, these should be obtained through a healthy diet, but when necessary they can be taken as dietary supplements.

People have long understood that high blood sugar poses a significant health risk, but new studies are showing that the risk goes far beyond diabetes and heart disease. The links between high blood sugar and cancer are becoming more clear, and to remain cancer free it is important to keep your blood glucose levels under control.

Lymphocytic leukemia, more commonly referred to simply as leukemia, is a cancer that attacks the blood and the bone marrow. While the direct causes of leukemia are still unclear, what is known is that it occurs because of a genetic mutation of the blood producing cells within the body. This mutation leads to the production of abnormal white blood cells, or lymphocytes, whose job it is to fight infections and maintain the body’s total health. Lymphocytic leukemia is one of the most difficult cancers to treat, and patients face many challenges when coping with the disease. Because it attacks the blood itself, leukemia is often accompanied by fatigue and a variety of secondary infections that sap the patient’s strength and impede their ability to recover. Fortunately, there are some all natural techniques that leukemia patients can employ to help restore their health and their strength, and give them the energy they need to combat the cancer that is invading their body.

Avoiding Infections

Because lymphocytic leukemia attacks the bone marrow and the white blood cells, people diagnosed with the disease are often prone to frequent infections. These infections are often more troublesome for leukemia sufferers than for otherwise healthy individuals. They tend to linger, and to rob the body of the energy it needs to fight the existing cancer. People with chronic lymphocytic leukemia need to take proactive steps to keep themselves healthy, and to stave off infections. The first step is to eat a healthy diet, rich in fresh organic vegetables, seeds, nuts, avocados and olive oil. An essentially vegan diet is one of the primary building blocks of total health, and it can help people suffering with leukemia improve their immune system’s function and avoid infections. Regular exercise is also an important part of avoiding infections. Taking regular exercise helps to increase lung capacity, improve circulation and oxygenate the blood. Since cancer can not survive in a highly oxygenated environment, regular exercise will not only help to protect against common infections, it well help to fight the cancer itself. It is also advisable that leukemia patients avoid contact with people who have the flu or other infectious diseases, and that they wash their hands thoroughly after any necessary contact.

Avoiding Secondary Cancers

People suffering with lymphocytic leukemia are also often prone to developing secondary cancers. Again, because the health of the body has been compromised, it is more susceptible to a variety of diseases over and above common infections. Certain lifestyle changes can help to reduce the risk of developing these secondary cancers. First, and foremost, it is important to eliminate any habits that may increase the cancer risk. If you are a smoker, now is the time to quit. The consumption of alcohol should also be eliminated. Exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides, should also be restricted or eliminated whenever possible.

Fighting Chronic Fatigue

One of the major problems leukemia sufferers face is chronic fatigue. This is not only debilitating in general, it can inhibit the body’s ability to stave off infections and other diseases. Battling the fatigue that accompanies lymphocytic leukemia may be the most important part of coping with the disorder. Again, the first step is to transition to a wholly vegan diet, with an emphasis on organically grown vegetables, seeds, nuts and avocados. Remember, because the immune system is compromised it is vital to avoid possible cancer causing chemicals like pesticides and herbicides. A vegan diet will also help to boost the body’s energy levels, providing the fuel it needs to remain active. Regular cellular exercise is also important. It moves lymph fluid which is where two thirds of your immune cells are located and it also helps detoxify the body because the lymph system is like the sewer system of the body. If you boost the immune system and eliminate toxins and chemicals it helps to keep the body’s energy levels regulated. Chronic fatigue is often caused by ineffectual sleep patterns, and these can be rectified by adopting a regular exercise routine that will help to expend latent energy and reduce stress, allowing the body to rest more effectively come bed time.

Leukemia sufferers face a unique set of challenges. The cancer they are fighting often leaves them susceptible to a wider range of common disorders. But by taking a few all natural proactive steps, it is possible for leukemia patients to reduce their risk for developing infections and secondary cancers, and to overcome the chronic fatigue that so often accompanies the disease.

Nearly 18,000 new cases of esophageal cancer are diagnosed each year, and while those numbers have remained relatively stable over the last few decades cancer of the esophagus remains one of the most difficult cancers to treat. It is estimated that 1 in 125 men, and 1 in every 435 women, in the United States will develop esophageal cancer at sometime in their lives. Obviously, statistics favor women when it comes to esophageal cancer, although the gap between men and women appears to be slowly closing. There are two basic types of esophageal cancer. The first, and most common, is squamous cell carcinoma, which affects the cells that line the entirety of the esophagus. The second type of esophageal cancer develops in the glands, and is called adenocarcinoma. This is the more dangerous of the two, and is more likely to metastasize and spread to other parts of the body. As with any type of cancer, the best medicine is prevention, and there are steps everyone can take to greatly reduce their risk for developing this life threatening disease.

Risk Factors and Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer

Like many cancers, the risk of developing esophageal cancer increases with age, with more than 85% of cases occurring in people over the age of 55. While the direct cause of esophageal cancer remains unknown, scientists have discovered several key risk factors. Smoking and alcohol abuse are two of the main contributing factors, followed closely by obesity and a poor diet. Those people with a history of acid reflux disease and achalasia (in which the muscle at the lower end of the esophagus fails to relax properly making it difficult for food to pass into the stomach) are also at a higher risk for developing cancer of the esophagus.

The most common symptoms of esophageal cancer include:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Unexpected weight loss
• Pain in the chest
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Coughing
• Chronic hoarseness

Using Diet to Prevent Esophageal Cancer

One of the most effective ways to prevent esophageal cancer is through a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables. A predominantly vegan diet supplies many of the anti-cancer compounds the body needs to ward off esophageal cancer. Cruciferous vegetables, such as kale, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, and Brussels sprouts should be added to the diet as a preventative measure against a variety of different types of cancer. These vegetables should, of course, be organically grown and harvested to avoid exposure to potentially carcinogenic pesticides and herbicides. Leafy greens like spinach, collard greens and dandelion are also a very powerful addition to a anti-cancer diet because of their high phytochemical (plant bound natural chemicals) that help fight cancerous cells in the esophagus.

Foods to Exclude from Your Cancer Fighting Diet

If diet is a key tool in the prevention of esophageal cancer, there are some foods that should be limited or eliminated completely. This is particularly true for those people with a family history of esophageal cancer, or with a personal history of acid reflux disease or achalasia. Fatty foods, and fried foods and acidic foods should be eliminated as a matter of course, as these contribute to a number of diseases including esophageal cancer. The most acidic foods are animal products while the least acidic are vegetables. Fish has a net acid load of 14.6 mEq, meat is 12.4 mEq and eggs are 7.3 mEq whereas nuts are -1.1mEq (negative means alkaline not acid so the higher the negative number the better), root vegetables are -5.4 mEqand leafy greens are -23.4 mEq.

All cancer prevention begins with diet and lifestyle, and preventing esophageal cancer is no different. By adopting a predominantly vegan diet, rich in cancer fighting foods, it is possible to greatly reduce the risk for developing esophageal cancer later in life. Of course, it is also important to avoid tobacco and alcohol use, and to be careful of exposure to potentially toxic chemicals at home or in the workplace. Esophageal cancer is difficult to treat successfully, but through an all natural approach to prevention it is possible to maintain your total health and live cancer free.

Epigenetics control is a new field of scientific research to explore in order to stop the growth, spread and relapse of cancer.

Epigenetics means “above the gene” and the ability of something above or outside of the gene itself to turn the gene on or off. The researchers found that epigenetic changes control the development of cancer precursor cells. These cells represent the early stage of cancer cell development and can grow rapidly to become mature cancer. According to the researchers, progression of different cancer stages and development of metastatic potential requires differentiation of these cancer progenitor cells.

Mutated cells are more vulnerable to the environment. Some of these mutations may alter epigenetic regulation in addition to epigenetic changes occurring by external and internal influences, which impacts gene expression and regulates cell behavior, playing a profound role when normal cells develop into progenitor cancer cells.

The researchers believe that epigenetic mechanisms are involved in this process of turning cancer cell growth on or off. Once a degree of metastatic form of cancer is achieved, the genes, which cause the change, become inactive and the genes causing rapid growth are again turned on.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, ScienceDaily

Dr. Keith & Laurie Nemec comments on Epigenetics Controls Cancer Formation, Growth and Spread:

The field of epigenetics in its simplest form means that when you change the internal environment around the cells, those cells adapt to that environment by either turning on genes that cause cancer to develop, grow and spread or by turning off genes that cause cancer. The key term is ENVIRONMENT! If you make a health promoting environment around your cells with the proper amount of oxygen, sufficient water, food that promotes health and healing, proper sleep so the cells can maintain and repair, proper exercise to promote movement of fluids bring the oxygen and food to the cells and removing waste products from the cells, then the cells will remain in a state of health and the epigenetic control will not turn on the cancer genes. The most exciting part of epigenetics is that YOU CONTROL YOUR ENVIROMENT so YOU CONTROL YOUR DESTINY.
With alternative cancer treatments and to prevent cancer in the first place, you must always focus on your ability to control your environment and this begins with 7 Basic Steps to Total Health

Some important points to remember about you changing your internal environment:

• Cancer cells cannot grow in highly oxygenated environments.
• If you do not drink enough water then you will not be able to get oxygen and food to the cells, and waste products away from the cells.
• Cancer grows well in sugar so decrease your sugar and starches and increase your vegetables, salads, seeds, nuts and avocados.
• Your cells repair and heal mostly with premidnight sleep. So try to get to bed as close to 8PM as possible. For each hour of premidnight sleep you get it is twice as important that postmidnight sleep.
• You must move to make a healthy environment around your cells. Walk, go up and down stairs. Exercise increases the oxygen and food going into the cells and waste products leaving the cells.

Develop a regular routine of prayer and living more fully in the moment not focusing so much on the future or the past. People spend so much time in tomorrow or yesterday that they forget to live today. Live like today is the only day you have so live it to the full and make it count in the lives of the people you love and care about.
Mental and emotional stress not properly controlled is by far more harmful to producing a negative internal environment around your cells than any physical stressor. “Be still and know that I AM GOD”

Skin cancer is the single most common form of cancer in the United States today, affecting one out of every five people in the country. In fact, this cancer has become so prevalent in the United States that there are more cases of skin cancer being diagnosed each year than breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer combined. It is an ongoing epidemic, and one that shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. The steady increase in the incidents of skin cancer over the last few decades has created a separate industry solely devoted to the prevention and treatment of this all too common cancer. But is shunning the sun and covering one’s self with sun screen really the answer? The short answer is – “No”.

What Causes Skin Cancer

Skin cancer manifests itself when the DNA of skin cells becomes damaged due to oxidative stress, and begins to mutate. This cancer typically begins at the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis), working its way to the squamous and basal cells that lay beneath the surface. Most cases of skin cancer are thought to be caused by over exposure to ultra-violet light, either from sunlight or tanning lamps, this is usually not the case. Skin cancer is actually caused by exposure to toxic materials such as pesticides, herbicides, and industrial cleaning chemicals. As with any disease, prevention is the key, and there is an all-natural path to reducing your risk for skin cancer.

Shunning the Sun

Many people mistakenly believe that protecting themselves from skin cancer means avoiding the sun all together. But the body needs natural sunlight to thrive, and time spent in the sunshine boosts the body’s production of vitamin D3, which is essential to good health. It is recommended that people spend approximately 20 minutes, three or four times a week, outside soaking up the sunshine. This should be sufficient for most people’s vitamin D3 needs.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants play a big role in keeping the skin healthy, and in preventing the possible development of skin cancer. Antioxidants help to eliminate free radicals, and to minimize the damage that they can do to otherwise healthy tissue. As always, the best source of antioxidants is a healthy diet. The best source of protective antioxidants is fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables. It is important to stress that these fruits and vegetables should be organically grown, as pesticides and herbicides have been linked to a number of different types of cancer.

Supplements

In addition to a healthy diet, there are a number of supplements that can be taken to help prevent skin cancer. Vitamin E and Zinc are essential for healthy skin, and many people are sadly deficient in these crucial nutrients. Both can be taken as dietary supplements to augment a healthy diet. Omega-3 Fatty Acids are also important to maintaining a healthy epidermis, and in fighting off a variety of different cancers. Again, Omega-3 can be taken as a supplement to support a healthy diet.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen and topical moisturizers have become big business. While it is important to protect the skin from prolonged exposure to the sun and its ultra-violet rays, it is equally important to be careful about the type of sun block you use. Remember, like most cosmetics, sunscreens often contain chemicals and preservatives that are carcinogenic in themselves. If you have a particularly fair complexion, and feel that you need to use a topical sun block or moisturizer, be sure that it is wholly organic and that it does not contain any potentially hazardous chemicals. As always, read the labels carefully, and make an informed purchase.

As the incidents of skin cancer continue to rise, it is important for people to take preventative measures to protect themselves and their families. By adopting an all-natural approach to cancer prevention, it is possible to greatly reduce your risk for developing skin cancer.

The Lord designed the human body to heal itself, and when we are able to return our bodies to their natural balance they have the innate ability to ward off, and to eliminate, disease. That balance is exemplified by the body’s natural pH levels, or, in other words, it’s tendency toward acidity or alkalinity. Recent studies have linked an elevated level of acidity in the human body to increased instances of disease, and it has become clear that maintaining the body’s optimal pH levels is a powerful weapon in the prevention of many diseases, including cancer. Moreover, by maintaining the body’s optimal pH level we can help to slow sown the overall effects of aging.

Understanding pH Levels

pH stands for “potential of hydrogen”, and is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. pH levels are represented on a scale of 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH level of 0 to 6 is on the acidic side, while a pH level of 8 to 14 is alkaline. The optimal pH level for the human body (excluding the stomach and digestive tract, which requires a higher acidity for digestion) is 7.35 to 7.45, leaning towards a higher than neutral alkalinity. When the body’s pH level deviates from this median, it becomes prone to illness and disease.

Maintaining optimal pH levels in the body is vital to its total health, and creates an environment that prevents cancerous cells from surviving and multiplying. If pH levels becomes too acidic, either through stress, toxins, or poor diet, it can inhibit the body’s ability to absorb and distribute the minerals and nutrients cells need to replicate and repair themselves. Higher acidity levels also deprive the body’s cells of oxygen, and limits their ability to dispose of harmful heavy metals and environmental toxins. This can lead to an increased risk for the development of cancerous cells, and the growth of cancerous tumors.

Maintaining Optimal pH Levels in the Body

The best way to maintain the body’s optimal pH level is through diet. Unfortunately, the typical American diet consists of food stuffs that tend to increase the acidity of the human body. Meats, alcohol, sugars, and highly processed foods all become acidic when consumed, lowering the body’s pH level. Vegetables, such as spinach, watercress, Brussels sprouts and peppers become alkaline when eaten, raising the body’s pH level. Consequently, transitioning to a predominantly vegetarian diet is recommended to promote a healthy balance between alkaline and acid.

• Alkaline producing foods include: alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, mushrooms, eggplant, almonds, ginger, cucumbers to name a few. Basically most all vegetables are alkaline.
• Acid producing foods include: meat, chicken, fish, dairy products, corn, barley, rice, chick peas, beans, rye and wheat flour. Most grains are acidic.
• To be at a high level of health you want as many alkaline producing foods as possible. This alkalinity will help to keep pH levels at an optimal level, making the body an inhospitable playground for cancer and cancer causing toxins.

Stress and pH

Probable the biggest factor that acidifies the body is mental and emotional stress. When the body is under stress it produced high amounts of a hormone called cortisol. When cortisol is high the pH is affected in an acidic direction. What you do to your mind you do to your body. Stress perceived become acid in the body and will predispose you to all types of symptoms, conditions and diseases including cancer. What you do to your mind you do to your body and what you do to your body you do to your mind.

The body has been designed to maintain and repair itself, but only if we are prepared to treat it with the respect it deserves. By keeping the body’s pH levels in balance, it is possible to create an environment that is inhospitable to cancer and other chronic diseases.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men and women around the world. It is also one of the most life-threatening. More than 200,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States alone, and that figure does not appear to show any signs of diminishing. In a way, lung cancer patients are seen as somehow deserving of their disease. Because lung cancer is so closely associated with the use of tobacco it is often viewed as the inevitable result of the individual’s own poor lifestyle choices. But not everyone diagnosed with lung cancer is a smoker, and even the ones who are don’t deserve this life-threatening disease. Survival rates for lung cancer aren’t promising, and the best medicine is still prevention.

Smokers Take Notice

While smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer, it is one of the most common, and it accounts for a large percentage of lung cancer diagnoses. Quitting smoking now can greatly reduce your risk for developing lung cancer. Whether you are a young smoker or have been smoking for years now is the time to quit. Recent studies have indicated that Inositol, a nutrient found in various foods, may help to reverse the damaging effects of tobacco smoking.

Inositol occurs naturally in wide variety of foods, including chickpeas, rice, nuts, beans, wheat germ and most citrus fruits. It is also available as a supplement in both capsule and powdered form. Now, having said all this, Inositol is not an excuse to continue with a bad habit. If you are a smoker, quit now. Another possible source of damage to the lungs comes from the radioactive gas that is emitted from the ground called radon. Everyone should have their house tested for radon levels because radon has been implicated and the second leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.

Lung Cancer and Diet and Nutrition

Diet and nutrition are vital to maintaining the body’s total health under all circumstances. A healthy, all natural, diet can help the body ward off any number of diseases, including cancers. Transitioning to a broadly vegetarian diet, with an emphasis on organically grown fruits, vegetables seeds and nuts, can help reduce the risks of developing lung cancer.

It is also important to restrict, or eliminate, the intake of red meats, sugar, salt, and highly processed food stuffs. Adopting a sensible vegetarian based diet also helps to maintain a healthy weight, and recent research has shown a direct connection between instances of cancer and excess body weight. A healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, will help to you to reach and maintain your optimal body weight.

Lung Cancer and Nutritional Supplements

Vitamins and other nutritional supplements can be taken to help support a healthy diet. Recent research has shown that vitamin D helps to prevent cancer by keeping cell growth under control. The studies also indicate that vitamin D is instrumental in promoting cell regeneration, thereby reducing the chances for malignant cells to survive and reproduce. B vitamins have also been shown to help reduce the risk of lung cancer by up to 50%.

A recent European study showed that people with elevated levels of B vitamins in their blood were less likely to develop lung cancer. The study was quick to point out, however, that those vitamins are best obtained through a healthy diet and simple supplements are not enough to ward of the disease.

Coenzyme Q10, a nutritional supplement, has been shown to reduce the risks of cancer because of its high antioxidant level, which ward off the free radicals that can damage cells at the DNA level.

Exercise

In addition to adopting a healthy diet, exercise plays a key role in the prevention of all diseases including lung cancer. Regular exercise, 30 to 60 minutes four times a week, not only helps the body’s immune system ward off disease, it helps to oxygenate the blood stream keeping internal organs and tissues healthy and operating at their peak. Regular exercise also helps to maintain optimal weight and body mass, which have been proven to help reduce the risks of developing cancer as well as many other diseases.

Mental Stress

Stress can trigger cancer by weakening the immune system response. There are two major categories of stress: acute or traumatic and chronic. A possible traumatic stimulant of lung cancer is a sudden emotional shock within two years of the cancer onset. The answer to the stress is found in the words “be still and know that I AM God.” When you still your racing mind and learn to listen to the Truth God is speaking to your heart you will realize that when you seek Him you will find Him when you seek Him with all of your heart.

Quitting smoking and adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle are only part of the cancer prevention equation. It is also important to avoid environmental toxins and pollutants as much as possible. Alcohol consumption should also be curbed, if not totally eliminated. While there can be no guarantees when it comes to preventing any type of cancer, making certain lifestyle changes can greatly reduce an individual’s overall risk for developing the disease. As with any disease, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. These lifestyle changes are easy to adopt, and the results can be a longer and healthier life.

If you have Type 2 Diabetes, you know how important it is to keep your blood sugar levels under control. Kidney damage or failure, damaged blood vessels resulting in amputation of limbs, blindness, heart attack and stroke are some of the complications that can arise from too much sugar in the blood. New studies have also shown that people with Type 2 Diabetes are at a higher risk for certain types of cancer such as liver, pancreas, colon, uterus, breast, and bladder; and the risk is even higher for thyroid, esophagus, kidneys, and cancers of the nervous system and small intestine.

The good news is that by arming yourself with this knowledge, you CAN make healthy lifestyle choices that put you in control of your diabetes. Here are some ways you can maintain healthy blood sugar levels naturally and strengthen your immune system to lower your risk for cancer.

Reduce Your Risk for Cancer

According to the latest research, you can help reduce your risk for diabetes-related cancer by doing the following:

• Lose as little as 7% of your body weight.
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes, 5 days per week.
• Stop smoking.
• Eat a balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Practice portion control.
• Get regular cancer screenings as recommended by your doctor.

Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels Naturally

In addition to eating a healthy, balanced diet, introducing certain foods into your diet may help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels:

• Adding lemon to foods can help lower glycemic index.
• Chillies have vitamins and antioxidants that may help regulate insulin.
• Fiber in nuts and beans regulate blood sugar and provide slow burning energy.
• Foods that contain chromium help regulate insulin and blood sugar. Try broccoli, garlic, onions, and tomatoes.
• Newer studies have found sprinkling cinnamon on your food may help regulate blood sugar.

Tips for Strengthening Your Immune System

Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting adequate sleep all contribute to a strong immune system. Additionally, supplementing your diet with Vitamins A, B2, B6, C, D and E have been shown to have a positive effect on the immune system, as does taking Zinc and Selenium. By strengthening your immune system naturally, you will fortify your body’s natural ability to ward off disease.

The Importance of the Mind, Body, Spirit Connection

Optimal health is a balance of a calm mind, healthy body, and peaceful spirit. Take time for exercise and relaxation, as well as quiet time in prayer and meditation. Practice deep breathing or go on a nature walk to let go of the day’s stresses. Remembering that we are never alone, we can do all things through Him who give us strength. God has a perfect plan and purpose for everything that enters our life, what the world meant for evil God meant for good. Our life journey is at times challenging, but only in the challenge is the victory attained- and the victory brings freedom from the fear and doubt that try to hold us captive. You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.

Chronic stress may increase the risk of skin cancer in those at high risk for the disease, according to a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

The study found that mice exposed to stress and to cancer-causing excessive ultraviolet (UV) light developed skin cancer in less than half the time as mice that weren’t stressed.

The researchers subjected 40 mice to stress by exposing them to the scent of fox urine. The mice also received large amounts of UV light. One of the mice developed a skin tumor within eight weeks of testing. Non-stressed mice exposed to UV light began developing tumors 13 weeks later.

After 21 weeks of testing, 14 of the 40 stressed mice had at least one tumor, compared with two of the non-stressed mice.

“There’s a lot of evidence pointing to the negative effects of chronic stress, which dampens our immune system and impacts various aspects of our health,” study director Dr. Francisco Tausk, an associate professor of dermatology, said.
-Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology/Johns Hopkins    Medical Institutions, news release

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that higher fasting blood glucose levels were associated with an increase in cancer incidence and cancer deaths.

“In the long run, the implication is that as the world becomes heavier and blood sugar rises, that could contribute to an increasing burden of cancer,” said study co-author Dr. Jonathan Samet, chairman of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Fasting blood glucose levels are used to measure the amount of sugar in your blood after you haven’t had anything to eat or drink for at least eight hours. A reading under 110 mg/dl is considered normal, 110-125 mg/dl is impaired, and a fasting blood glucose level over 126 mg/dl indicates diabetes.

The current study looked at 10 years of data from nearly 1.3 million Korean men and women. People in Korea tend to be thinner and have a lower incidence of diabetes than people in the United States.

There were 829,770 men and 468,615 women included in the research. All were between the ages of 30 and 95. During a biennial physical, each person was surveyed about their lifestyle habits, such as smoking and alcohol consumption. They also had their blood sugar levels measured.

During the study period, almost 26,000 people died from cancer. Death rates were highest for those with higher levels of fasting glucose. Overall, those with fasting glucose levels above 140 mg/dl had a 29 percent higher risk of dying from cancer. For pancreatic cancer, the risk of dying was doubled for those with the highest fasting glucose levels. Only 848 of the cancer deaths occurred in people with fasting glucose levels of less than 90 mg/dl.

More than 56,000 people were diagnosed with cancer during the study. Cancer incidence rates also went up as glucose levels rose. Overall, the risk of developing cancer was 13 percent higher for someone with a fasting glucose level between 110 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl, compared to those who had readings under 90 mg/dl. For someone with fasting glucose above 140 mg/dl, the risk rose to 29 percent higher than someone under 90 mg/dl.

Once blood sugar levels rose over 110 mg/dl, cancer incidence rose for leukemia and cancers of the esophagus, larynx, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, bile duct, pancreas, lung, prostate, kidney, bladder and brain, the study found.
–Journal of the American Medical Association

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec comments on Blood Sugars and Cancer Rates:
Sugar in all forms causes a weakened immune system which causes cancer. Sugar in all forms causes inflammation which causes cancer. What is the greatest source of sugar in the American diet? Well the average American eats: 150 lbs. of refined sugar a year, and over 150 lbs. of bakery goods, pastas, starches per year.

The greatest source of sugar is cooked and refined food. Bread/pasta and cooked potatoes all cause blood sugar to rise, maybe not as high as refined sugars do but still high enough to cause the immune system to go out of balance and lead to disease.

The answer is simple—learn how to eat a living/raw plant diet of sprouts, seeds, nuts, legumes, vegetables, sea vegetables and avocados.

These foods do not cause sugar levels to go way up and do not cause inflammation and disease.

Cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading killer of Americans under the age of 85, according to the American Cancer Society.

In addition, the report projects that there will be 1,372,910 new cases of cancer in the United States this year, and 570,280 deaths.

Rates of cancers linked to too much weight are increasing, reflecting the obesity epidemic spreading throughout America.

About one-third of new cases this year will be due to tobacco use and one-third to poor nutrition, physical inactivity or overweight and obesity.

Lung cancer remains the leading killer, accounting for 31 percent of cancer deaths in men and 27 percent of cancer deaths in women. In men, the top killers are lung, prostate, then colorectal cancer, in that order. For women, breast cancer ranks second for mortality, followed by colorectal.

For women, the most commonly diagnosed is breast cancer, followed by lung and bronchus cancers and then colorectal cancer. For men, the most commonly diagnosed cancers are lung, prostate and colorectal, in that order.
Rates of prostate, breast and thyroid cancer and melanoma are on the rise. Increases in thyroid cancer may be due to improvement in diagnoses or an increase in exposure to medical radiation, such as X-rays
Obese men run a 50 percent greater risk of developing cancer overall, particularly of the liver, pancreas, stomach and esophagus. Obese women face a 70 percent greater risk, particularly cancer of the uterus, kidney, cervix and pancreas.

-CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

 

Dr. Keith & Laurie Comments on Cancer Now the Leading Killer of Americans:

This was inevitable because of what we are doing to our environment and our food. The air we breathe is toxic. The water we drink is toxic. The food we eat is toxic if it is animal products which has concentrated the toxins of the environment in their tissues and fat cells. When you eat animal products, you are eating 16 – 1,000x more toxins than eating plant products and organic plant products.

What causes cancer?

Many things but at the top of the list are

• Toxic air
• Toxic water
• Toxic animal products
• Cooked food
• Electromagnetic fields radiation and x-ray radiation
• Sugar in all forms
• Toxic stored emotions

How can you prevent cancer? Become whole in Spirit, Mind and Body.

The body becomes whole when you live the 7 basic steps to Total Health everyday.

The mind becomes whole when you still the conscious thinking/racing mind, put to death the old lie-filled mind, and when you reprogram the conscious mind with nothing but Truth.

It is critical to overcome the nine strongholds of the old mind to become whole in mind. They are:

• World
• False beliefs
• Religion
• Flesh
• Personality
• Ego
• 5 senses
• Time
• Physicality

The Spirit becomes whole when you enter the covenant relationship with the Living God and when you follow what He puts in your heart every moment. Never quitting, stopping or giving up on what He placed in your heart no matter what the cost, even if it be your very life.

That age old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, was never more apt than when applied to cancer. A diagnosis of cancer can have devastating effects on a patient and their loved ones. Not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. Conventional treatments are often invasive, expensive and in themselves toxic to the human body. With the constant rise in environmental toxins, chemically modified foods and unhealthy lifestyles cancer prevention has never been more important. But how can otherwise healthy individuals guard against this life threatening disease?

Fortunately, there are all natural steps that can be taken to prevent the occurrence of cancer. These techniques are easy to implement, wholly natural, and offer a wide range of health benefits beyond simply the prevention of disease.

Lifestyle and Cancer Prevention

The lifestyle choices we make play a large part in our overall health, including our ability to ward of the development of cancer. Our home and work environment, diet and day to day stress levels all affect our total health. Through specific lifestyle modifications like stress reduction, sleep, diet and exercise, we can greatly reduce the risk for cancer in otherwise healthy body.

Cancer Prevention by Removing Environmental Toxins

It may not be possible to totally eliminate our exposure to all environmental toxins. Unfortunately we live in an age where pollution, chemicals and radioactive toxins permeate nearly every aspect of our day to day lives. But there are certain steps that can be taken to minimize regular exposure. Household cleaning agents, paints and soaps should all be verified as organic and produced from all natural ingredients. Smoking, and the abuse of alcohol, should be totally eliminated from our day to day routines. These are relatively obvious changes that can be made to make our personal environments more health supportive.

Regular detoxification of the body is also a prime ingredient in the prevention of cancer. While we cannot totally eliminate all of the toxins we come into contact with, we can make a concerted effort to cleanse them from the body on a regular basis. Detoxification helps to reduce the level of toxins that accumulate in our tissues and organs, allowing the body to heal itself and maintain a healthy immune system. By strengthening the immune system with regular detox procedures, we restore the body’s natural ability to ward of all diseases, including cancer.

Nutrition and Cancer Prevention

Good nutrition is the best defense against all disease. Recent studies have shown that transitioning to a wholly vegan diet can have a dramatic effect on our overall health. This means the elimination of all animal byproducts from the diet. Not only meat, but milk, cheese, eggs and foods that rely on animal byproducts for stabilizers and flavor enhancers. A healthy vegan diet should include organic fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes. A doctor that is learned in nutrition should be consulted to help devise a balanced diet that provides the appropriate levels of nutrients needed to maintain total health.

As we transition to a vegan diet, the emphasis should be on wholly organic foods. Organic foods, free of chemicals, pesticides and genetic manipulation, offer many cancer fighting properties. A diet rich in organic fruits, vegetables seeds, nuts and avocados helps to optimize the functioning of the immune system, and increases the body’s ability to prevent any unregulated growth of potentially cancerous cells. It also supports the body’s ability to maintain, and repair, itself at the cellular level.

Emotional and Spiritual Well Being

Day to day stresses take their toll on the human body physically, emotionally and spiritually. The buildup of stress robs the body of much of its God given healing power, and the management of stress, anxiety and depression should be paramount in any cancer prevention routine.

Regular meditation on the Word of God gives us release from the day to day strife that can so adversely affect our minds and bodies. By giving our hearts and minds over to His plan and purpose for our lives, we find the inner peace and tranquility that allows our body’s to heal and thrive according to His will. Through spiritual health, we can promote our own mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.

At the heart of all disease prevention lies an innate respect for our own bodies (which are the temple of His Spirit), minds and spirits. By giving the body the nutrition it needs to thrive, we give it the power to heal and avert cancer and other diseases. When we feed our spiritual needs as well as we feed our bodies, we embrace the potential for total health.

Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise are more effective than drug treatment in preventing metabolic syndrome, which is made up of high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity and can lead to diabetes and heart disease, according to a new study.

Dr. Trevor J. Orchard, at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, and colleagues followed 3234 people who had not yet developed outright diabetes but who had high blood glucose levels.

The subjects were enrolled in the Diabetes Prevention Program, and were randomly assigned to take the anti-diabetes drug metformin, or an inactive placebo pill, or to undertake an intensive lifestyle intervention — designed to achieve and maintain a 7 percent weight loss and 150 minutes of exercise per week.

Metabolic syndrome — which is a combination of obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels — was diagnosed in 53 percent of the participants overall when they were enrolled in the study.

After an average 3-year follow-up, the rate of metabolic syndrome decreased from 51 percent to 43 percent in the lifestyle group. However, it increased from 55 percent to 61 percent in the placebo group, and from 54 percent to 55 percent in the metformin group.

These findings highlight the value of lifestyle interventions in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome, Orchard’s group notes.

– Annals of Internal Medicine.

 Dr. Keith & Laurie Nemec comments on Diet and Exercise – Better Than Medication in Preventing Disease:

As has been shown once again, God’s natural way to health exceeds man’s unnatural way to health with drug therapies. Drugs are chemicals and chemicals make the body overwork and become toxic which opens the door to all disease. Foods are not chemicals and toxins and they open the door to higher levels of health. Of course, exercise always has been a part of the formula for good health. Drugs must be kept in the domain where they belong—in emergency medical care such as life threatening situations and also when organs have been damaged and they no longer function correctly. Although there are times when even this might not be necessary if one learned how to heal themselves and how to keep themselves in total health of body, mind and spirit.As has been shown once again, God’s natural way to health exceeds man’s unnatural way to health with drug therapies. Drugs are chemicals and chemicals make the body overwork and become toxic which opens the door to all disease. Foods are not chemicals and toxins and they open the door to higher levels of health. Of course, exercise always has been a part of the formula for good health. Drugs must be kept in the domain where they belong—in emergency medical care such as life threatening situations and also when organs have been damaged and they no longer function correctly. Although there are times when even this might not be necessary if one learned how to heal themselves and how to keep themselves in total health of body, mind and spirit.As this study confirmed, the rate of metabolic syndrome decreased from 51 to 43 percent in the diet and lifestyle group where it increased in both the medication and placebo group.

As has been shown once again, God’s natural way to health exceeds man’s unnatural way to health with drug therapies. Drugs are chemicals and chemicals make the body overwork and become toxic which opens the door to all disease. Foods are not chemicals and toxins and they open the door to higher levels of health. Of course, exercise always has been a part of the formula for good health. Drugs must be kept in the domain where they belong—in emergency medical care such as life threatening situations and also when organs have been damaged and they no longer function correctly. Although there are times when even this might not be necessary if one learned how to heal themselves and how to keep themselves in total health of body, mind and spirit.As this study confirmed, the rate of metabolic syndrome decreased from 51 to 43 percent in the diet and lifestyle group where it increased in both the medication and placebo group.

A diet high in red meat appears to raise the risk developing pancreatic cancer, according to researchers.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, due, in large part, because it is seldom detected at an early, curable stage. Surgical removal offers the only chance for a cure, but only a small percentage of patients are candidates for this therapy. In many cases, removal is not possible when surgery reveals that the cancer has actually spread outside the pancreas.
“Findings from our study,” according to lead investigator Dr. Susanna C. Larsson “suggest that high consumption of red meat is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.”
Larsson of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and colleagues conducted a study of more than 61,000 women. The investigators were interested in the possible effects of meat consumption. During 17 years of follow-up, 172 of these women were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Long-term consumption of red meat was associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
“These findings,” Larsson concluded, “raise the possibility that individuals may lower their risk of pancreatic cancer by reducing red meat consumption.”
– International Journal of Cancer

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec’s comments on red meat associated with pancreatic cancer.

This study published in the International Journal of Cancer, showed that as red meat increases in the diet, the risk of developing one of the most deadly cancers, pancreatic cancer, increases also. Other studies have confirmed the red meat and colon cancer connection.  This should not come as a surprise to us because all studies have shown that the consumption of red meat and animal products in general, increase disease risk. Red meat being one of the highest risks of all. So as the United States population adopts more and more of a plant based diet of raw vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, avocados and when we eat these more and more we will see our levels of health increase and levels of disease decrease. An important alternative cancer treatment is eating a plant based diet. And as we follow the Seven Basic Steps to Total Health™ We will see our body, our mind and our emotions balance as one as God created them to be.

Thirty years after their diagnosis, 40 percent of cancer survivors have a serious health problem and a third have multiple problems, including stroke, heart disease and kidney failure, according to the largest study ever done on cancer survivors who have entered adulthood.

Only about one in three remain healthy.

“This is the dark side to being cured of cancer as a young person,” said Philip Rosoff of the Duke University School of Medicine in a commentary in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The findings are a stark counterpoint to the stunning success of treating many childhood tumors. About 20,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year and while most died 50 years ago, the cure rate is now greater than 75 percent.

Doctors have known for years that cancer treatment can spark new tumors later in life.

“It is now clear that damage to the organ systems of children caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy may not become clinically evident for many years,” said the research team, led by Kevin Oeffinger of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

The new Childhood Cancer Survivor Study is based on data from 26 medical centers and marks the first large-scale attempt to assess other, long-term health problems.
Comparing 10,397 survivors to 3,034 of their siblings, the researchers found that “cancer survivors were eight times as likely as their siblings to have severe or life-threatening chronic health conditions.”

Survivors of bone tumors, nerve and brain cancer, and Hodgkin’s disease, a cancer of the immune system, faced the highest risk.
“By any criteria, these results are alarming,” said Rosoff.

The survivors were 54 times more likely to have required a major joint replacement, 15 times more likely to have congestive heart failure or develop a second malignant tumor, 10 times more likely to have heart disease or thinking problems, and nine times more likely to have suffered a stroke or kidney failure.
The problems “run the gamut of affected organ systems, hinting that even more problems may cloud the future as this population ages,” Rosoff said. Traditional age-related problems may hit this group even earlier than normal.

The source of the health problems varies.

Kidney failure, for example, may come from damage caused directly by chemotherapy or radiation, or from the multiple infections children can develop when cancer treatments hamper their immune system, Oeffinger said.

Drugs used to treat those infections may also play a role.

The risk of stroke may become higher because head and chest radiation may cause premature thickening of the neck arteries, or changes in the heart valves can increase the risk that a clot will form, said Oeffinger.
– NBC News, Reuters Health

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec’s comments on child cancer survivors have poor health as adults.
The point of this study was very simply: things that you do at one point in your life can have wide ranging effects at a later point. So unfortunately in the medical system the only thing they know for treating cancer is chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. The problem as this study shows, is in these childhood cancer survivors from these medical treatments, 40% of them have serious health problems later on in life and only one in about three remain healthy. One of the biggest point that we want to comment on this which we made bold in the article, doctor’s have known for years that cancer treatments can spark new tumors later in life.

What that means is, when you drop the atom bomb in the body of the chemotherapy and the radiation to destroy cells, they are not specific, they also destroy the immune system. Once you destroy the immune system you open yourself up to all disease including new tumor growth later in life along with the damage organ systems, which affect many other health issues later in life. That’s why as the article showed, cancer survivors were eight times more likely than their siblings to have severe or life threatening chronic health conditions. They also went through the list of all the things that they were more likely to have. It’s important to understand this. There is another way.

The way is the total health lifestyle. When we lead a lifestyle, a God designed total health lifestyle, and we lead this lifestyle day in and day out, what happens is we give the body the best natural chance to boost the immune system to fight off cancer and any other disease. But when we are not proactive, when we decide to just do the easy route, just take a pill, take a drug, take a chemotherapy or radiation, what happens in just this, it can shrink tumors, it can reverse cancer in certain cases, and by the way the only statistically positive results, long term for cancer has been in children, in young children, with certain types of childhood cancers. But as this study even shows long term negative effects later on in life.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to just live a healthy lifestyle and boost the system up so it could fight off the diseases, rather than trying to do a quick fix which has a long term blowout later on in life? We do not want the quick fix, we want the long term correction by leading the lifestyle, The Seven Basic Steps to Total Health lifestyle.

A new study in rats suggests a link between personality and cancer susceptibility.

Researchers at the University of Chicago say timid rats were more likely to develop cancer and to die sooner than more “adventuresome” rats. The findings suggest the need to examine the links between behavior traits and cancer in humans, the team said.

For this study, the Chicago group used a breed of rats prone to breast and pituitary tumors. Female rats that appeared apprehensive of new experiences as infants remained that way as they grew older. They also died earlier of breast and pituitary tumors than their braver sisters.

The more timid rats were also more likely to have irregular reproductive cycles than the tougher rats — 52 percent vs. 22 percent. This disruption may account for hormonal differences associated with the development of cancer at an earlier age, the researchers speculated.

By the time they were 390 days old (middle age for rats), 80 percent of the timid rats had developed mammary cancer, compared with 38 percent of the bolder rats. The timid rats had an average life span of 573 days, compared to 850 for the more adventuresome rodents.
– University of Chicago
 

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemecs comments on Personality influence on cancer risk.
What this study showed was timid rats developed mammary cancer 80% of the time when they were bred for this type of cancer. Where bolder rats, only 38%. The timid rats had an average life span of 573 days, where as the more bolder, more adventuresome rats had a life span of 850 days. So, what this means to you is, you can’t change your personality, but what you can do is live fully in the moment and take the gifts of your personality and live them fully. So, if a person is more quiet, more restrained personality, more Type C personality, doesn’t want to make waves, wants to please everybody, studies have shown that person has a higher cancer risk. But, this does not have to be if first they stop living from their personality, but use the gifts in their personality to touch those around them and second that they don’t live from the ego side of the personality.

When a person doesn’t want to make waves and doesn’t want to upset anyone, and doesn’t want to have anyone think any negativity, or think lowly upon that person. That’s just another byproduct of ego, which means you are on the throne of your life, instead of God being on the throne. So, when we still our mind, when we walk in this total health journey, when we decide to go forward and break free from the bondage of the old nature, the old mind, the old will, the old emotions, and this ego that binds us and keeps us so tightly under our control, then we will follow what the Spirit of God has put into our heart. When someone is walking in that, even if they are a Type C personality, they’ll know when to speak up because the Spirit of God will prompt them to speak up, to speak the right word at the right time in the right situation. This brings health and healing to the body. This will not cause an increase of cancer because a person will be not storing up negativity but instead they will be releasing what the Spirit of God has put in them.

Yes, they will still be a Type C personality, yes they’ll still be more quiet than the average stronger more dominant Type A personality, but they should have no more increase of any disease when they are walking fully, obeying what God has put into their heart and always remembering that whether you eat or you drink or whatever you do, you do it all to the glory of God, and this includes your personality. Your personality can glorify God as long as it’s opened up to the leading of the God’s Spirit in each and every situation. The way to balance the personality so that the Spirit of God can flow through you powerfully is to balance your whole being and that is what is done with the 7 Basic Steps to Total Health.