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Cancer Victors News

January 27, 2010

Treating The Cause Not the Symptom

Source: Alive and Well, Dr Philip E Binzel p133-139

The problem with many (not all) Doctors and Oncologists in todays society is that they have been trained to be "tumor orientated". They are lump and bump doctors with no training or understanding of how nutrition relates to disease. For example, when a patient is found to have tumor, all that is discussed seems to be what is going to be done about reducing the tumor. The emphasis is always on; how is the tumor doing? Rather than; "how is the patient doing?" When they administer chemo and radio therapy to the body aimed at reducing the tumor, it has been seen that as the tumor gets smaller and smaller the patient gets sicker and sicker. At an autopsy you would hear "Isn't it marvelous we have killed the tumor" - yes, but you also killed the patient in the process of killing the tumor. When will modern medicine accept that they are treating the wrong thing?

In primary cancer, with only a few exceptions the tumor is neither health endangering nor life threatening. What is health endangering and life threatening is THE SPREAD of cancer through the rest of the body. There is nothing in surgery today that will prevent the spread of cancer. There is nothing in chemotherapy or radiation that will prevent the spread of cancer. How do we know? Just look at the statistics.The survival time of a cancer patient today is no different to what it was 50 years ago. The only advancement in the last 50 years has been the improvement on ways to kill tumors via chemo and radio therapy.

The only thing known to mankind today that will prevent the spread of cancer within the body, is for that body's own defense mechanism to once again function normally. Thats what Nutritional Therapy does. It treats the defense mechanism, not the tumor. The tumor is simply a symptom not a cause. You need to treat the cause. If you take care of the body the body will take care of the tumor and the cancer.

The ultimate question then is, "Does nutritional therapy work?" The answer to this depends on how you define "work". If you are tumor orientated like most oncologists and doctors and are looking for something to make the tumor disappear, then No nutritional therapy does not work. If you are looking for something that will prevent the cancer from spreading and/or saving the life of a patient, then Yes, it does. A tumor is normally made up 10% cancer cells and the other 90% made from body tissue, so its common for the body not to attack it which is why you can rid yourself of cancer and stop its spread but still have a tumor for many years. Dr Binzel suggests if the tumor is easily accessible its normally ok to have it removed, but if its remote and not causing the patient any problem then he prefers to leave it alone.

The medical profession needs to realise they have been treating the wrong thing. They have been treating the symptom rather than the cause. They need to realise that as long as they continue to treat just the tumor alone they are going to get the same poor results they always have. We are just scratching the surface of our understanding of nutritional therapy, and over the last 30 years we have been able to see that nutritional therapy works in its treatment of cancer.

A word from Philip Binzel............

.....After all is said and done, the true measurement of a good physician is not necessarily how much he knows. It is instead, how willing he is to search for, find and use whatever forms of treatment, which in his opinion, will give his patients the very best chance to remain ALIVE AND WELL.

Posted 1/27/2010 10:44:00 AM

January 25, 2010

Chlorella Superfood Fights Body Fat and Diabetes

(NaturalNews) A superfood known as chlorella has caught on like wildfire in the United Kingdom, and studies continue to emerge linking the algae to improvement in symptoms of people with everything from diabetes and high blood pressure to digestive or immune problems.

Chlorella is a single-celled algae that naturally occurs in freshwater rivers and ponds in East Asia, tinting those bodies of water green. It is gathered from these natural sources, dried, crushed into a powder, and then packed into tablet form for sale as a dietary supplement. It has twice the protein density of spinach, 38 times that of soy beans and 55 times that of rice, providing nine essential amino acids along with a number of vitamins and minerals.

The algae has shown effectiveness at improving the symptoms of metabolic syndrome -- a collection of symptoms linked with cardiovascular disease and diabetes, including high fasting blood sugar, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and central obesity. Studies have found chlorella supplements to reduce blood pressure in 50 percent of hypertension patients, as well as significantly reduce body fat, blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

"It seems that chlorella turns on the genes that control the way insulin is normally used by the cells in the body," said researcher Randall Merchant of Virginia Commonwealth University. "This research shows that chlorella could in theory help correct the problems of metabolic syndrome. It is not a magic bullet, but taking it is one other preventive thing you can do, like exercise or watching your diet."

Other studies have shown that chlorella encourages the growth of "good bacteria," absorbs toxins from the intestines, improves digestion, and eases the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and fibromyalgia. Chlorella supporters claim that it also increases energy levels and fights depression.

After studies showed that chlorella boosts the immune system, preventing secondary infections in people with brain tumors, some British doctors have started using it to complement cancer treatments.

Because chlorella is high in vitamin K1, it can interfere with the effects of blood thinning medications.

Sources for this story include: www.telegraph.co.uk.

Posted 1/25/2010 12:27:00 PM

January 7, 2010

Common Pain Medication Accelerates Growth of Cancer Tumors

(NaturalNews) Two recent studies analyzing the side effects of morphine have revealed that the chronic pain drug and other opiate-based pain medications contribute to the growth and spread of cancer cells. Dr. Patrick Singleton, Ph.D., author of the studies and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago Medical Center, emphasized that the discovery could change the way cancer patients are treated for pain.

Morphine is a highly potent, highly addictive opiate analgesic that works by crossing the protective blood-brain barrier to get to the central nervous system where it alleviates a person's pain symptoms. Laboratory studies have revealed that a side effect to relieving pain is the prompting of cancer cells to replicate and proliferate throughout the body. Morphine also obstructs the body's immune response by decreasing the barrier function that protects the body from foreign invaders.

The late pharmacologist Leon Goldberg of the University of Chicago developed a solution drug called methylnaltrexone (MNTX) in the 1980s that blocks the negative side effects of morphine while preserving its pain relieving capabilities. Current research indicates that MNTX works in some way to preserve the "mu" opiate receptor functionality which blocks tumor growth. Morphine alone disrupts the mu receptor, instigating the spread of cancer.

If confirmed clinically, study authors believe the many findings concerning morphine and opiate-related cancer proliferation will significantly alter how morphine is used in cancer patients.

The inherent dangers of morphine and other opiate drugs was not mentioned in the studies. Even if the mechanism that encourages cancer growth can somehow be disabled, morphine is still an incredibly powerful, addictive drug that if misused even slightly can cause serious injury or death. Withdrawal symptoms from discontinuing its use can be difficult as is the detoxification period following its usage.

During the time when morphine is administered, the patient's brain slows or halts it production of endorphins which are no longer needed to establish well-being and happiness. When the drug ceases to be administered, severe depression can occur as the patient's brain needs time to readjust endorphin levels back to the proper amount.

No mention was made in the studies about any alternative methods of preventing and treating cancer. The use of harsh treatments like chemotherapy and radiation cause severe pain in which a person needs harsh painkillers in order to function somewhat normally. Alternative approaches that avoid harsh procedures and dangerous drugs should be considered as viable options.

Posted 1/7/2010 9:18:00 AM

January 6, 2010

Preparing Yourself for the Flu Season Naturally

Each winter the influenza virus wreaks havoc on our ability to work and play. Symptoms of the flu include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, runny nose, cough and stomach symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes a flu virus can come on slowly or it can hit suddenly without much notice. Each year this leads people to wonder how they can prevent themselves and their family from getting the flu. Naturopathic prevention and treatment of the flu virus includes vitamins and minerals, botanical medicine and lifestyle recommendations.

Vitamins and Minerals:

Vitamin C- Vitamin C can greatly enhance the immune system’s ability to fight infections of many kinds. In controlled trials Vitamin C has been shown to aid in the prevention of influenza, as well as shortening the duration and reducing the severity of infections already contracted.
Zinc- Zinc plays an important role in maintaining healthy immune function. Low levels of zinc are associated with a decrease in T cell function, a vital white blood cell that helps fight infections.
Vitamin A- Vitamin A is also associated with T cell function, making it a vital component of a healthy immune system. Vitamin A maintains the integrity of mucus membranes, which are at the front line of our defenses against viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections.

Botanical Medicine:

Elderberry- Research demonstrates that elderberry extract has particular immune-modulating and antioxidant properties that neutralize the activity of viruses so they can no longer enter the cell and replicate. The berries also contain vitamins A and C, and the flavonoids quercetin, anthocyanin and rutin, all of which boost immune function.
Larch arbinogalactans- Larch arabinogalactans are polysaccharides derived from the wood of the Western larch tree. These polysaccharides stimulate the immune system to fend off infections. Larch arabinogalactans have been studied and shown effective in adults, as well as children, which makes it a great choice for keeping the whole family healthy through the flu season.
Echinacea- Echinacea also has the immune stimulating polysaccharides that give it an important role in naturopathic antiviral treatments. These polysaccharides naturally enhance the body’s resistance to infection.

Lifestyle tips for the prevention and treatment of the flu:

Sleep- Maintaining a balanced sleep routine is one way to keep our immune system healthy. Adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night to rejuvenate for the next day. Consistent inadequate sleep lowers the body’s defenses needed for fighting viral infections.
Stress- While stress is a part of everyday life; excessive stress can decrease immune function and make it easier to come down with the flu. Establishing stress management techniques like deep breathing, exercise, yoga or meditation can help ensure that every day stress won’t leave you vulnerable to the flu.
Diet- A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and quality proteins is a foundation for a healthy immune system. Studies have shown that eating a sugary snack or meal can depress the immune system for several hours, creating a window of time during which it is easier to get the flu. Avoiding excessive sugar can keep the immune system working at the level needed to fend off viral infections, like the flu.

Most over-the-counter medications only treat the symptoms of the cold or flu virus. Naturopathic treatments include nutritional supplementation, lifestyle recommendations and immune-stimulating and antiviral botanicals that can support the body’s natural defenses. Talk to your naturopathic doctor today about the best choices to keep you and your family healthy through flu season.

Posted 1/6/2010 9:40:00 AM

January 6, 2010

Find a Naturopath physician near you!

http://www.naturopathic.org/

Posted 1/6/2010 9:31:00 AM