cancer treatment Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Researchers Admit: Chemo Worsens Quality of Life with No Benefit of Overall Survival in Advanced Stage Cancer

The AHA! Team — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 05:22:16 +0000

Dena Schmidt via NaturalHealth365 – Chemo, as a treatment for cancer, has always been controversial with many patients and healthcare providers doubting its efficacy and safety as a cancer treatment. Bottom line: chemotherapy does trigger more harmful effects than beneficial ones, in many cases. Now, researchers admit that chemotherapy can actually accelerate deterioration in cases of late-stage cancer who still have the mobility and energy for daily activities. Another study published in JAMA Oncology also showed that cancer patients with limited or moderate functioning ability feel worse when undergoing chemotherapy. Is chemo worth the effort? The risks and side effects exposed In the words of the study author and lead researcher, Dr. Holly Prigerson, cancer patients who feel good have “the most to lose and the least to gain” through undergoing chemotherapy. Prigerson is a palliative care researcher at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York and Weill Cornell Medical College. The side effects of chemotherapy are numerous and include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, constipation, bladder issues, bleeding, bruising, edema, hair loss, fatigue, infections, neutropenia, lymphedema, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, throat and mouth issues, nerve issues, pain, sexual and fertility issues, insomnia, and more. Other medical professionals have expressed similar concerns regarding chemotherapy administered near a patient’s death. Doctors have long debated whether the strong, toxic chemicals used in chemotherapy bring enough positive effects to justify the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy. Some have referred to this practice of administering chemo to clients with late-stage cancers as harmful at worst and wasteful at best. Cancer patient warning: Chemotherapy hazards outweigh gains and benefits The above study monitored the chemotherapy effects that 312 cancer patients experienced in their final week of life at six oncology clinics in the United States. Within this group, chemotherapy tended to be administered most often to those who were younger, more educated, receiving treatment at a university medical facility, had pancreatic or breast tumors, and presented additional issues besides cancer. They also were able to engage in their normal daily activities. To assess chemotherapy’s impact, caregivers were interviewed shortly after these patients died. Among those who had high functionality in their last week of life, chemotherapy was shown to reduce their quality of life dramatically, even beyond the impact of being in intensive care or on a ventilator. A lower quality of life was reported versus similar patients who didn’t receive chemo. Sound the alarm: Quality of life should be considered in end-stage cancer cases At the very least, clinical guidelines should be reviewed and revised to adjust for this potential harm from chemotherapy near the end of life. After all, quality of life matters in all cancer cases, and areas like pain control, addressing insomnia, and boosting mood, as well as the potential side effects of chemotherapy, should be given greater consideration. Clearly, chemotherapy isn’t helping patients feel better or live longer in many cases. While the objective is often to fight cancer and tumors with every option, terrible side effects and erosion of quality of life are a heavy price to pay. We would hope that medical professionals take a more cautious approach to prescribing chemotherapy, especially in late-stage cases. Editor’s note: Discover the best ways to avoid cancer cell growth naturally, own the Stop Cancer Docu-Class created by NaturalHealth365 Programs. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov Jamanetwork.com Cancer.gov Reuters.com To read the original article click here.

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Green Warriors: 14 Overlooked Plants Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment & Prevention

The AHA! Team — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 05:36:04 +0000

Patrick Tims via NaturalHealth365 – The plants around us are more than mere greenery. Traditional healers have recognized the powerful medicinal properties of various herbs and botanicals for centuries. Now, modern science is catching up, revealing the profound potential of these natural remedies in combating one of our most difficult health challenges: cancer. A new study published in Pharmaceuticals in April 2024 sheds light on how specific medicinal plants may help prevent and even treat various types of cancer. From familiar herbs to exotic species, researchers have identified plant-based compounds with promising anti-tumorigenic properties. Cultivating health: Medicinal plants with cancer-fighting potential While not all these plants can be easily grown at home, understanding their benefits can inform your choices in herbal supplements and traditional remedies. Here are some of the medicinal plants highlighted in the study for their potential to combat abnormal cell growth: 1. Hibiscus Hibiscus, a flowering plant, contains chemical components, including phenolic compounds. The dried extract of hibiscus is packed with phenols and saponins that inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells. Hibiscus also contains anthocyanin, which helps decrease the growth of cervical cancer cells. Aside from treating cancer, the plant also helps treat severe illness, neurological problems, and diabetes. 2. Moringa oleifera This plant’s leaves, flowers, and pods are consumed raw or cooked. Moringa oleifera leaves contain minerals, vitamins, and essential amino acids. The plant’s chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, niacin, and other components help prevent the formation and spread of cancerous tumors. 3. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Kalanchoes are colorful houseplants that make stunning additions to dinner tables while also playing an important role in improving human health. Kalanchoe extract has cytotoxic potential that prevents the spread of ovarian cancer. The flower’s extract stops the cancer cell cycle with an exceptionally potent ability to treat metastatic lung cancer. 4. Silybum marianum L. This tree plant is commonly used as an herbal remedy in other parts of the world. Derived from milk thistle, Silybum marianum L. is loaded with polyphenolic compounds and more that prevent the formation of cancerous tumors. The plant’s components are potent against prostate cancer. 5. Curcuma longa This perennial plant hails from the same family as ginger. Curcuma longa is chock-full of several hundreds of active components you’ve undoubtedly tasted in curcumin. Curcumin triggers apoptosis, meaning the death of cancer cells. Moreover, curcumin decreases the growth of tumor cells. 6. Withania somnifera This immunological superstar, also called Indian ginseng, hails from the rugged mountainous terrain of Punjab. The plant’s derivative, Withaferin-A, helps defeat breast cancer. This economical plant is also effective in the fight against a wide variety of oral cancers. 7. Glycyrrhiza glabra Also known as licorice, glycyrrhiza glabra is commonly used by those who practice Ayurvedic medicine. This herbaceous plant contains hundreds of compounds, some of which prevent the expansion of carcinogenesis through cell cycle stimulation and additional processes. Glycyrrhiza glabra is especially effective in the battle against breast cancer. 8. Nerium oleander As a member of the Apocynaceae family, Nerium oleander is an ornamental plant with surprising medicinal utility. The plant has anticancer, anti-diabetes, and anti-inflammatory capabilities. The plant’s extract is particularly potent in preventing the expansion of cancer cells, thwarting the growth of nearly all tested forms of carcinomas. 9. Catharanthus roseus Also known as Madagascar periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus contains chemical constituents ranging from alkaloids to flavonoids. The plant also contains many other compounds that make it quite the potent cancer-prevention powerhouse. To be more specific, the plant helps inhibit the spread of an inflammatory enzyme dubbed “sPLA2,” which is a common biomarker for breast cancer. 10. Arum palaestinum This lovely flowering plant is laden with flavonols, C-glycosides, alkaloids, and more. Though often used for ornamental purposes in home gardens, the plant also provides utility for treating chronic illness, diabetes, stomach issues, and cancer. The use of Arum palaestenium to treat hepatocellular carcinoma reveals the plant prevents cancerous cells from proliferating. 11. Soursop This tropical plant is used to treat cancer and other illnesses. Soursop has bioactive substances, including phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and acetogenins, with inherent antioxidant properties that help in the battle against cancer. 12. Burdock Burdock, a nearly ubiquitous plant, has medicinal components within its leaves, roots, and seeds. The plant contains B vitamins, minerals, amino acids, lignans, sterols, and phenols. Burdock’s natural lignan lappaol F is a formidable cancer-fighting agent that thwarts the growth of cancerous tumor cells through the cessation of cell cycles. In particular, burdock is valuable for its inherent ability to inhibit the advancement of tumors including cancerous pancreatic tumors. Moreover, burdock has excelled in the battle against cancer cells that have resisted multiple drugs. 13. Stinging Nettle Nettle is a medicinal plant that tastes surprisingly good. Add some homegrown nettles to your salad or soup, and you’ll receive an infusion of vitamins C, B, and A, along with beta-carotene, protein, magnesium, potassium, and iron that help fight cancer. This medicinal plant’s anticancer qualities have proven effective against three cancer cell lines, including breast cancer. 14. Dandelion Commonly used for medicinal purposes by various cultures, dandelion is loaded with vitamins D, A, B, and C. Moreover, dandelion’s zinc, manganese, magnesium and iron are also beneficial. Data from Korean researchers reveals dandelion flavonoids and phenols help thwart the growth of cancer. Dandelion extract has proven especially helpful in combating the spread of breast cancer. Tap into nature’s medicine cabinet by including these plants in your diet The medicinal plants highlighted in this study offer intriguing possibilities for enhancing health and reducing cancer risk. While not all of these plants are common garden varieties or suitable for home cultivation, there are ways to incorporate their benefits into your life: Explore traditional herbal remedies: Many plants studied, such as Curcuma longa (turmeric) and Moringa oleifera, have long histories in traditional medicine. Consider incorporating these into your diet or exploring herbal supplements under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Embrace culinary herbs: Some cancer-fighting plants, like Curcuma longa (turmeric), can be easily included in your cooking. These add both flavor and potential health benefits to your meals. Seek out specialized products: For plants like Annona muricata (soursop) or Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle), look for teas, extracts, or supplements from reputable sources. Grow what you can: While not all medicinal plants are suitable for home gardens, some, like Hibiscus, can be grown in pots or gardens, adding beauty and potential health benefits to your space. Remember, while these plants show promise in cancer research, they’re not a substitute for professional medical care. Always consult with a holistic healthcare provider before making significant changes to your diet or starting new supplements, especially if you have existing health conditions or are undergoing cancer treatment. Sources for this article include: MDPI.com Planet-today.com To read the original article click here.

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Study Reveals Higher Breast Cancer Mortality Risk for Black Women Across All Tumor Types

The AHA! Team — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 08:15:48 +0000

Mass General Brigham via News-Medical – Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among U.S. women and the second leading cause of cancer death. Black women who develop breast cancer are around 40% more likely to die of the disease than white women, but it was unclear until now whether this disparity exists across all types of breast cancer. Now, a meta-analysis led by Mass General Brigham researchers shows that Black women have a higher risk of dying from breast cancer for all tumor subtypes, and the size of this disparity varies from 17-50% depending on the type of breast cancer. These findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, demonstrate that higher mortality rates among Black women with breast cancer are at least partially attributable to factors that are independent of tumor biology-;for example, socioeconomic inequality, delays in diagnosis, and inadequate access to timely quality cancer treatment resulting from systemic racism. “Our findings demonstrate that multiple, interacting factors contribute to disparities in breast cancer survival between Black and white women. To achieve equity, intervention is necessary at multiple levels-;from community to healthcare systems and individual healthcare providers, to patients themselves learning about their disease and what their expectations should be for their care.” Erica Warner, ScD, MPH, senior author, cancer epidemiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system Though it is often discussed as a single disease, breast cancer has multiple subtypes that differ in risk factors, treatment, and prognosis. These subtypes are defined based on whether the cancer cells carry hormone receptors for estrogen or progesterone, which can be targeted for treatment, and whether they carry HER2 (human epidermal growth receptor 2), a protein associated with cancer aggressiveness and another potential treatment target. Breast cancer has multiple subtypes that differ in risk factors, treatment, and prognosis “There had been an anecdotal sense in the research community that differences in survival between Black and white women were greater for the most treatable forms of the disease-;tumors that carry hormone receptors-;and smaller for the historically less-treatable, hormone-negative tumors,” said Warner. To investigate whether these anecdotes were supported by the evidence, Warner’s team combined data from 18 studies that were published between 2009 and 2022. Altogether, these studies analyzed 228,885 breast cancer cases, 34,262 of which were in Black women. They found that survival was worse for Black women for all breast cancer subtypes, though the size of these disparities varied between breast cancer subtypes. There was a larger racial disparity for hormone-positive tumors, which were associated with a 34-50% higher risk of death for Black women, compared to hormone-negative tumors, which were associated with a 17-20% higher risk of death for Black women. “These findings underscore a stark reality in our healthcare system: Black women are facing higher risks of death from breast cancer compared to their white counterparts, across all types of the disease. This disparity isn’t just about biology,” said co-author Paulette Chandler, MD, MPH, associate epidemiologist in the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system. “It’s a call to action for healthcare providers, policymakers, and communities alike to confront these inequities head-on and strive for meaningful change in breast cancer outcomes.” Because hormone-negative tumors are less common, Warner says that racial disparities in breast cancer survival for hormone-negative subtypes were likely not observed previously because individual studies lacked statistical power due to the small number of cases. “There may also be differences in the biological characteristics of some tumor subtypes between racial groups that our therapies are not attuned to, potentially because of underrepresentation of Black women in clinical trials,” said Warner. The researchers point to several existing multilevel intervention programs However, these racial disparities are not inevitable, and the researchers point to several existing multilevel intervention programs that have successfully reduced disparities in cancer survival. These programs leverage multiple strategies, including helping patients navigate the healthcare system, proactively identifying social needs and connecting patients with resources to address those needs, and by implementing systems that alert healthcare workers of missed appointments or unmet care milestones. At the national level, interventions like ACCURE and Equal Hope aim to close gaps in mortality and survival between Black and white women. Locally, MGH is collaborating with Boston Medical Center on a virtual Equity Hub for Cancer Treatment with the goal of enhancing partnerships and improving cancer care for underserved patients at community-based mental health centers. Source: Mass General Brigham Journal reference: Torres, J. M., et al. (2024) Racial Differences in Breast Cancer Survival Between Black and White Women According to Tumor Subtype: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Clinical Oncology. doi.org/10.1200/JCO.23.02311. To read the original article click here.

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Cancer Immunotherapy Pill Could Be On the Horizon

AHA Publisher — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 07:00:04 +0000

Brian Blum via Israel21c – Immunotherapy — activating the immune system to fight cancer — has been one of the most significant developments in the world of cancer treatment. But it still isn’t a cure-all, and scientists have been working to improve its delivery and efficacy. A recent breakthrough by Israeli and Portuguese scientists could result in cancer immunotherapy in a pill form that wouldn’t require a hospital stay or intravenous injection, would be less expensive, and may offer other benefits as well. Researchers at Tel Aviv University and the University of Lisbon, led in Israel by Prof. Ronit Satchi-Fainaro, head of the center for cancer biology research and the laboratory for cancer research and nanomedicine at TAU’s medical school, developed a synthetic molecule that is many magnitudes smaller than even the most advanced immunotherapy antibodies. The small size allows the molecule to penetrate and reach less accessible and less exposed areas of solid tumors. Moreover, unlike traditional immunotherapy antibodies, which have a hard time surviving the harsh acidity of the intestinal tract, the new molecules “have been designed especially to be resilient and not degrade in the gut, which opens up the exciting possibility of giving them orally,” explains Satchi-Fainaro. Most immunotherapy medications must travel through blood vessels to reach the tumor. The new tiny molecules can find their way to the target by diffusion without needing the “road” of blood vessels. The small synthetic molecules also would be much less expensive to produce at large scale than are today’s biological-based immunotherapy drugs, potentially enabling many more people to access immunotherapy. “We have already synthesized the small molecule with simple equipment, in a short time and at a fraction of the cost,” Satchi-Fainaro notes. Allowing patients to take the drug orally at home will also bring down the price by eliminating hospital costs. As described in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, the team has tested the molecule in vitro as well as on a human tumor in a special lab model, but not yet with actual patients. A commercial product is still years away, as further development and human testing is needed. ISRAEL21c has written about Satchi-Fainaro’s research on numerous occasions. She was featured in our article on bio-convergence. More recently, she has identified ways to treat melanoma and glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. The current research was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (FCT-MCTES), the Israeli Ministry of Health, La Caixa Foundation, Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro, the ERC, the Israel Science Foundation, the Melanoma Research Alliance, the Israel Cancer Research Fund Professorship Award and the Morris Kahn Foundation. To read the original article click here.

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Aloe Is Put to the Test Against Cancer

AHA Publisher — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 07:00:18 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – From a case report to a randomized controlled trial, aloe is put to the test against cancer. For a half century, aloe vera “gel processors and distributors armed with biblical quotes and anecdotal testimonials…[have sought] recognition for their products”—too often, however, “accompanied by misinformation,” none more elaborate than promoting aloe vera for the treatment of cancer. As I discuss in my video Can Aloe Cure Cancer?, there was a recent case report involving a 64-year-old Hispanic woman with a tumor on her eyeball, which, as you can see below and at 0:31 in my video, looked like a classic case of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN), a type of eye cancer. Surgery was recommended to remove it, “but the patient declined it, and instead initiated the use of concentrated A. vera eye drops 3 times daily based on a friend’s suggestion.” She just used an off-the-shelf aloe vera gel product, and, to the doctor’s surprise, the “lesion showed significant improvement from only 1 month before….At the follow-up 2 months later, the patient’s lesion was noted to have dramatically regressed.” When the case report was written, “6 years since her initial presentation,” it appeared the cancer was gone and had stayed gone, as you can see below and at 1:04 in my video. Normally, you’d go in and cut out the cancer with wide margins to make sure you got it all, because “despite the best efforts of the ocular surgeon…recurrence rates as high as 56% have been reported because of the presence of microscopic disease that is not clinically evident at the time of surgical excision.” In other words, little bits of cancer may be missed on surgery. In this case, though, a tumor disappeared without any surgery at all. Are we sure it was cancerous? The patient had refused a biopsy, so we don’t know for certain. However, it did have all the defining characteristics. So, to see the tumor disappear without any side effects and stay gone is pretty extraordinary. “Surgical resection still remains a very reasonable treatment option for many cases of OSSN,” but at least there’s an option for patients to try if they don’t want to go down that route. Of course, this was just a single case report without a control group. It isn’t as though she had tumors in both eyes and tried the aloe on only one. There was a controlled study that I present at 2:08 in my video that suggested aloe could prolong survival in those with advanced untreatable cancer, but it wasn’t a randomized controlled study. A decade later, we got just that. Hundreds of patients with metastatic cancer were randomized to receive chemotherapy with or without aloe, and, as you can see below and at 2:28 in my video, the aloe group had three times the number of complete responses and significantly greater objective tumor responses, and two-thirds had some level of disease control compared to only half in the non-aloe group. But, does that translate out into improved survival? Yes. For example, at one year, 70 percent of the aloe group were still alive, whereas most in the non-aloe group had died. As a bonus, the “chemotherapy was substantially better tolerated” in the aloe group, with less fatigue, for example, and better maintenance of their immune system, as you can see below and at 2:59 in my video. So, given the better disease control and the better survival, “this study seems to suggest that Aloe may be successfully associated with chemotherapy [as an add-on therapy] to increase its efficacy in terms of both tumor regression rate and survival time.” As I mentioned, this was a randomized controlled study, but it wasn’t a randomized placebo-controlled study. It’s not as though the control group got a fake aloe drink, so some of the tumor response may have been a mind-over-matter placebo effect. There are potential downsides to aloe, though. As I explained in my video Is Aloe Vera Gel the Best Treatment for Lichen Planus?, in rare cases, swallowing aloe can trigger liver inflammation and cause electrolyte imbalances due to diarrhea or vomiting. For example, there was a case reported of aloe-induced low potassium in a patient with breast cancer, which rapidly resolved once she stopped the aloe, thought to be due to the laxative effect aloe can have. If you want to talk to your doctor about giving it a try, note this was not aloe vera, but aloe arborescens, a tree-like aloe that can grow to be ten feet tall, as you can see below and at 4:08 in my video. The concoction the researchers made was a mixture of about two thirds of a pound of fresh aloe leaves to a pound of honey, plus about three tablespoons of 40 percent alcohol, and it was given orally at a dose of two teaspoons three times a day starting six days prior to the onset of chemotherapy. Key Takeaways Aloe vera has been promoted as a cancer treatment for decades. In one case report, a 64-year-old woman declined surgery to remove a tumor on her eyeball that looked cancerous and instead used an off-the-shelf aloe gel product three times a day. The lesion regressed dramatically and appeared to go—and stay—away. Biopsy was refused, so it isn’t known whether the tumor was in fact cancerous, but it appeared so. When hundreds of patients with metastatic cancer were randomized to receive chemo with or without aloe, the aloe group experienced significantly greater objective tumor responses, more disease control, and improved survival, compared with the non-aloe group. As well, chemo was better tolerated in the aloe group, so researchers found that aloe may be an effective add-on therapy to chemo “to increase its efficacy in terms of both tumor regression rate and survival time.” If you’re interested in talking with your physician about this, please note that aloe arborescens, a tree-like aloe that can grow to be ten feet tall, was used, not aloe vera. The researchers used a mixture of about two thirds of a pound of fresh aloe leaves to a pound of honey, plus about three tablespoons of 40 percent alcohol, and it was given orally at a dose of two teaspoons three times a day starting six days prior to the onset of chemotherapy. Swallowing aloe can trigger liver inflammation and cause electrolyte imbalances due to diarrhea or vomiting, and aloe may have a laxative effect. To read the original article click here.

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First Trial to Prove a Diet Supplement Can Prevent Hereditary Cancer

AHA Publisher — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 07:00:57 +0000

Newcastle University via Newswise – A trial in people with high hereditary risk of a wide range of cancers has shown a major preventive effect from resistant starch, found in a wide range of foods such as oats, breakfast cereal, cooked and cooled pasta or rice, peas and beans and slightly green bananas. An international trial – known as CAPP2 – involved almost 1000 patients with Lynch syndrome from around the world and revealed that a regular dose of resistant starch, also known as fermentable fibre, taken for an average of two years, did not affect cancers in the bowel but did reduce cancers in other parts of the body by more than half. This effect was particularly pronounced for upper gastrointestinal cancers including oesophageal, gastric, biliary tract, pancreatic and duodenum cancers. The astonishing effect was seen to last for 10 years after stopping taking the supplement. The study, led by experts at the Universities of Newcastle and Leeds, published today in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, is a planned double blind 10 year follow–up, supplemented with comprehensive national cancer registry data for up to 20 years in 369 of the participants. Previous research published as part of the same trial, revealed that aspirin reduced cancer of the large bowel by 50%. “We found that resistant starch reduces a range of cancers by over 60%. The effect was most obvious in the upper part of the gut,” explained Professor John Mathers, professor of Human Nutrition at Newcastle University. “This is important as cancers of the upper GI tract are difficult to diagnose and often are not caught early on. “Resistant starch can be taken as a powder supplement and is found naturally in peas, beans, oats and other starchy foods. The dose used in the trial is equivalent to eating a daily banana; before they become too ripe and soft, the starch in bananas resists breakdown and reaches the bowel where it can change the type of bacteria that live there. “Resistant starch is a type of carbohydrate that isn’t digested in your small intestine, instead it ferments in your large intestine, feeding beneficial gut bacteria – it acts in effect, like dietary fibre in your digestive system. This type of starch has several health benefits and fewer calories than regular starch. We think that resistant starch may reduce cancer development by changing the bacterial metabolism of bile acids and to reduce those types of bile acids that can damage our DNA and eventually cause cancer. However, this needs further research.” Professor Sir John Burn, from Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust who ran the trial with Professor Mathers, said: “When we started the studies over 20 years ago, we thought that people with a genetic predisposition to colon cancer could help us to test whether we could reduce the risk of cancer with either aspirin or resistant starch. “Patients with Lynch syndrome are high risk as they are more likely to develop cancers so finding that aspirin can reduce the risk of large bowel cancers and resistant starch other cancers by half is vitally important. “Based on our trial, NICE now recommend Aspirin for people at high genetic risk of cancer, the benefits are clear – aspirin and resistant starch work.” Long Term Study Between 1999 and 2005, nearly 1000 participants began either taking resistant starch in a powder form every day for two years or aspirin or a placebo. At the end of the treatment stage, there was no overall difference between those who had taken resistant starch or aspirin and those who had not. However, the research team anticipated a longer-term effect and designed the study for further follow-up. In the period of follow-up, there were just 5 new cases of upper GI cancers among the 463 participants who had taken the resistant starch compared with 21 among the 455 who were on the placebo. The team are now leading the international trial, CaPP3, with more than 1,800 people with Lynch syndrome enrolled to look at whether smaller, safer doses of aspirin can be used to help reduce the cancer risk. The research is funded by Cancer Research UK, the European Commission, Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health Research. To read the original article click here.

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How Effective Is Chemotherapy for Colon, Lung, Breast, and Prostate Cancers?

AHA Publisher — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 07:00:01 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts– How effective is chemotherapy for colon, lung, breast, and prostate cancers? “Over the last several decades…medicine has waged a major war against cancer, concentrating on earlier diagnosis and improved therapy. The war is not being won. Nevertheless, medicine shows few signs of admitting that its strategy may be flawed. In this it resembles a World War I general who stated: ‘Casualties: huge. Ground gained: negligible. Conclusion: press on.’” If you look at the contribution of cancer-killing chemotherapy to five-year survival in cancer patients, it’s on the order of only about 2 percent. As you can see below and at 0:50 in my video How to Win the War on Cancer, we’ve gotten pretty good at treating some pediatric cancers, testicular cancer, and Hodgkin’s disease. But, if you look at our most common cancers—that is, of the colon, lung, breast, and prostate—the success rate is only about 1 percent. That means out of nearly 14,000 colon cancer patients, for example, only 146 lived out five years, thanks to chemotherapy. The chance of survival benefit of chemo is about one in a hundred, but doctors don’t tell patients that. “Any new chemotherapy drug is still promoted as a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer, only to be quietly rejected without the fanfare that accompanied its arrival.” Indeed, the “minimal impact on survival in the more common cancers conflicts with the perceptions of many patients who feel they are receiving a treatment that will significantly enhance their chances of cure…In view of the minimal impact of cytotoxic chemotherapy on 5-year survival, and the lack of any major progress over the last 20 years, it follows that the main role of cytotoxic chemotherapy is in palliation.” It can shrink tumors, relieving pain and pressure, but that doesn’t tend to translate into living any longer. “The failure of therapy, coupled with the realization that the overwhelming majority of cancer is related to environmental, particularly lifestyle factors, dictates that prevention should be our foremost aim.” Cancer is largely a preventable disease, but it does require major lifestyle changes. Of the millions of cancer diagnoses every year, as many as 90 to 95 percent of the cancers are caused by lifestyle factors, with only 5 to 10 percent caused by bad genes. We know this because of “enormous differences in the incidence of particular forms of cancer in differing geographical and socio-economic situations” around the world, which then change when people move from one place to another. For example, as you can see below and at 2:40 in my video, breast cancer rates differ by an order of magnitude, with the lowest rates in parts of Africa and Asia, until those Africans and Asians move and start eating and living like Americans, Argentinians, Europeans, or Australians. So, “there is need for a major reappraisal of how the problem of cancer is approached.” The key to winning the war on cancer is prevention, which not only works better, but “has the great advantage that it entails nothing worse than nicotine [or jellybean] withdrawal symptoms. On the other hand, cancer treatment, even when successful, often exposes the patient to much suffering, both physical and psychological. Indeed, some cancer treatments are considered worse than the disease.” Most importantly, a healthy lifestyle can nip cancer in the bud, whereas, by definition, early diagnosis and treatment don’t change the cancer rate or the number of people getting cancer in the first place. In terms of cancer prevention and treatment with nutrition, the “consumption of nutrients of animal-based foods were associated with increased cancer risk while nutrients of plant-based food were associated with decreasing risk.” It’s not enough just to avoid the bad stuff, though. Eating is pretty much “a zero-sum game.” Everything we put in our mouth is a lost opportunity to put something even more healthful in our mouth. It’s not just about avoiding foods with cancer-promoting properties. We need to eat foods with active cancer-suppressing mechanisms. By “wholistic nutrition,” we’re talking about whole foods, and we should get their nutrients not from extracts or pills, but from the whole foods themselves. Ultimately, “cancer development is primarily a nutrition-responsive disease rather than a genetic disease,” but, again, we aren’t talking about nutritional supplements; we’re talking about “whole, intact food.” I’m very excited to share some of Professor Emeritus Colin Cambell’s six new papers on redefining the role of nutrition in medicine. For an overview on the power of diet, see my How Not to Die from Cancer and The Best Advice on Diet and Cancer videos. I’ve produced hundreds of videos about the role of different foods and food consumption patterns on different cancers. Browse all of the titles through the search bar on my website NutritionFacts.org. Key Takeaways Despite a “major war against cancer,” chemotherapy only contributes about 2 percent to five-year survival in cancer patients. Although chemotherapy treatment is fairly effective for some pediatric cancers, testicular cancer, and Hodgkin’s disease, our most common cancers (of the colon, lung, breast, and prostate) only have about a 1 percent success rate, which means, for example, out of about 14,000 colon cancer patients, only 146 live for five years, thanks to chemo. Chemotherapy can shrink tumors and relieve pain and pressure, but does not tend to result in longer life. Up to 90 to 95 percent of cancers are caused by lifestyle factors, and bad genes are responsible for only 5 to 10 percent. The key to actually winning the war on cancer is prevention, not treatment. A healthy lifestyle can prevent cancer, whereas early diagnosis and treatment—by definition—do not change the cancer rate or number of people getting cancer to begin with. Animal-based foods are associated with increased cancer risk, while plant-based foods are associated with decreased risk. We should get our nutrients from whole, intact plant foods rather than extracts, pills, or supplements. To read the original article click here.

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Sulforaphane Benefits: The Secret to Broccoli’s Superfood Status

AHA Publisher — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 07:00:08 +0000

Jillian Levy, CHHC via Dr. Axe – Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower, are well-known for their disease-preventive effects, but have you ever wondered why exactly that is? One reason is because of the compound called sulforaphane, which you’ll find in certain vegetables and other also in extract form. What does sulforaphane do for the body? Studies show it can help fight cancer, diabetes, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, brain and liver damage, and more. What Is Sulforaphane? Sulforaphane (SFN) is a phytochemical compound that’s naturally found in some vegetables, specifically those in the Brassica (or cruciferous) plant family. This includes veggies like broccoli, cabbage, Brussel sprouts and cauliflower. You can obtain sulforaphane from eating these vegetables, plus from supplements (such as those made from broccoli sprouts) that contain concentrated extract forms of SFN. Technically, SFN is a type of aliphatic isothiocyanate. It’s thought to have high bioavailabilitycompared to other phytonutrients, making it very useful for potentially helping prevent and treat diseases, especially cancer. SFN is produced by the conversion of glucoraphanin through the enzyme called myrosinase. Benefits Is sulforaphane anti-inflammatory? Yes — it’s been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-like effects and help fight oxidative stress. Here’s more about how SFN can benefit various aspects of your health: 1. Helps Reduce Inflammation A number of studies have found that sulforaphane can help reduce biomarkers of inflammation, including among both overweight and otherwise healthy adults. This suggests that SFN can help manage inflammation-related conditions, including arthritis, cardiovascular disease and others. One way in which SFN suppresses inflammation and oxidative stress is by impacting NF-κB, a key regulator of inflammatory responses. It can also down-regulate proinflammatory enzymes, such as cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and NO synthase (iNOS), giving SFN cancer-fighting and anti-carcinogenic effects. SFN also supports a strong immune system by enhancing natural killer cell activities and other markers of enhanced immune function. Therefore, it’s thought to have the ability help prevent both chronic and acute/infectious diseases. 2. Can Help Prevent Diabetes SFN works as an indirect antioxidant in a way that reduces the risk for type 2 diabetes and its complications, such as neuropathy (nerve damage). It can help prevent oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, which are thought to be important factors in the pathogenesis of diabetes complications. It may also help reduce LDL “bad cholesterol” and generally support cardiovascular health. 3. May Help in Treatment of Some Cancers Because SFN can kill cancer cells and suppress tumor growth in their early stages, it’s used in extract form to treat certain types of cancer, such as prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer. Sulforaphane has been shown to induce apoptosis (death of cancer cells), suppress cancerous cell cycles so their progression is limited, inhibit angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels that allow tumors to grow) and anti-inflammatory activities, and inhibit metastasis (spreading of cancer to other locations in the body). 4. Supports Liver Function and Detoxification Why is sulforaphane good for the liver? Due to its ability to boost antioxidant effects in the body and support phase 2 detoxification enzymes, it can help prevent the liver becoming damaged and dysfunctional. Some of the ways it supports detoxification and liver function include: Inhibiting detoxification enzymes that activate chemical carcinogens. Reducing the level of toxic intermediates with carcinogenic potential. Increasing activity of phase 2 detoxification enzymes. Sulforaphane is actually considered the most potent of the phase 2 inducing substances. According to the National Cancer Institute, this is “a process in which the liver uses one of two major enzyme pathways to change a toxic substance, such as an anticancer drug, into a less toxic substance that is easier for the body to excrete.” Limiting the effect of aflatoxin on liver cells. Providing significant protection against environmental and food-borne pollutants. 5. Increases Synthesis of Glutathione (a “Master Antioxidant”) Sulforaphane itself is not an actual antioxidant, but instead it exerts antioxidant effectsprimarily by induing glutathione and other antioxidant compounds. Therefore, it’s considered an “indirect antioxidant.” This means that SFN can decrease oxidative stress, which is a major contributor to many age-related diseases. SFN supports glutathione in promoting detoxification and protecting us against toxicity and disease. It can also provides DNA protection against harmful mutations. 6. Defends Against Lung Damage Sulforaphane limits pro-inflammatory effects and harmful effects of chemicals that can contribute to various lung diseases. It improves the body’s ability to remove toxins related to respiratory diseases, and it’s a potent inducer of HO-1 (haemoxygenase-1), which plays an important role in modulating the effects of oxidants in the lungs. 7. Supports Gastrointestinal Function By blocking growth of the harmful bacteria known as Helicobacter pyloris, SFN can help decrease the risk for gastric tumor and ulcer formation. It may also possibly protect against stomach cancer. Because it can promote healthy microflora in the colon, SFN also potentially offers protection against colorectal cancer. 8. Protects the Brain From Damage SFN is thought to have a positive impact on dopaminergic neurons in the brain, which are associated with Parkinson’s disease. Research shows that SFN helps prevent dopaminergic cells in the brain from experiencing cytotoxicity and neuronal death, which can contribute to Parkinson’s. It may also help defend against other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, in part by protecting mitochondria. Risks and Side Effects Sulforaphane from food sources is thought to be very safe overall. Of course, if someone has a sensitivity or allergy to cruciferous vegetables, that person should avoid consuming them. Sulforaphane is also available in broccoli extract products. These are generally safe when used in recommended amounts for up to six months. It’s important not to overuse sulforaphane supplements, which can potential cause side effects, such as stomach upset, gastrointestinal discomfort and weight gain. Who should not take sulforaphane? Are there any interactions with other drugs? Sulforaphane can affect how quickly the liver breaks down substances, including some medications. If you take medications, especially the types listed below, don’t start supplementing with this compound unless you speak with your health care provider first about possible interactions. This is particularly important if you have liver disease, heart disease or diabetes, or if you take anticonvulsant medications. Use caution if you take any of these medications (Note: other medications not listed here may also interact with SFN): clozapine (Clozaril) cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) fluvoxamine (Luvox) haloperidol (Haldol) imipramine (Tofranil) mexiletine (Mexitil) olanzapine (Zyprexa) pentazocine (Talwin) propranolol (Inderal) tacrine (Cognex) theophylline zileuton (Zyflo) zolmitriptan (Zomig) and others Food Sources Broccoli, especially young broccoli sprouts, has been shown to be the most significant dietary source of sulforaphane. Other cruciferous vegetables also have a high sulforaphane content, including: kale cauliflower Brussels sprouts cabbage (red, white or green) watercress collard greens mustard greens bok choy It’s best to lightly cook cruciferous veggies or eat them raw if you can tolerate them to absorb the most SFN. Overheating and cooking these veggies can deplete some SFN, so try not to roast or grill them until they’re burnt. Supplements and Dosage Currently there is no daily recommended intake recommendations for sulforaphane. Dosage recommendations vary depending on someone’s overall health and goals. Supplement brands also vary widely in terms of how concentrated their products are — therefore always read the label carefully. When SFN has been studied, including in human and animal studies, dosages tend to range between 3–10 µmo per kilogram of body weight. SFN can be toxic when take in very dosages between 150–300 mg/kg body weight, so never take a higher amount than recommended. Look for sulforaphane supplements in capsule or extract form. (Always check the active ingredient name.) Sulforaphane is sometimes also called sulforafan, or 1-Isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfinyl) butane. Conclusion Sulforaphane is a phytochemical found in cruciferous/Brassica vegetables that has many protective effects. It can potentially help prevent cancer, diabetes, and liver, lung and brain damage. You can obtain it from eating veggies, like broccoli, kale, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussel sprouts, or taking it in supplement form (capsule or extract). If you take medications, speak with your doctor before beginning to take this compound as a supplement. To read the original article click here.

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New Cancer Treatment Fools the Immune System to Attack

AHA Publisher — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 07:00:48 +0000

Brian Blum via Israel21c – Immunotherapy holds perhaps the greatest promise for fighting cancer in the 21st century. Rather than bombarding the body with toxic chemicals, as in chemotherapy, immunotherapy utilizes the immune system to neutralize malignant tumors. The only problem: It only works in about 20 percent of patients with solid tumors. The reason is straightforward, but still represents a vexing roadblock for cancer researchers: Tumors are not an infection coming from outside but an internal malfunction of the body’s own cells, which begin to replicate out of control. “Cancer looks like us. It’s hard for the immune system to identify,” explains Dr. Asher Nathan, CEO of NeoTX, a Rehovot-based startup developing a novel way of knocking out tumors – by coating them in bacteria. “Unlike with cancer, our bodies are finely tuned to attack bacteria,” Nathan says. “Bacteria is a billion years old. Our immune systems have had a long time to figure out how to effectively neutralize bacterial infections. That’s why you don’t wake up in the morning with a cold and think, ‘I’m going to die.’” Cancer, of course, is a very different story. Compared with bacteria, “cancerous tumors are like the new kid on the block,” Nathan notes. NeoTX is not Nathan’s first foray into medical technology; after immigrating to Israel 40 years ago from Chicago, he founded IntelliGene and EvoRX, two biotech companies formed around technologies he invented. For NeoTX, Nathan identified and licensed a drug developed by the Swedish company Active Biotech called naptumomab estafenatox (NAP). NAP is composed of two proteins: a genetically modified “superantigen” and an antibody that latches onto a tumor via a molecule called 5T4 found primarily on tumors. A superantigen is a bacterial derivative that elicits a strong antibacterial immune response. NeoTX calls its technology “Tumor-Targeted Superantigen” or TTS. Once NAP’s 5T4 antibody has attached itself to a tumor, the superantigen “reprograms” the immune system to mount an antibacterial response against the bacteria as well as the tumor. “The concept behind this drug is, let’s coat the tumor with a bacterial molecule so that the immune system will go into ‘Defcon 1’ and attack the tumor as if it’s bacteria,” Nathan says. The Secret Weapon Once the immune system knows what to look for, it sends in the body’s secret weapon: killer T-cells. The T-cells identify the bacteria-coated tumors, then start to create an army of cells primed to attack any superantigens they find. Nathan recommends the video below to see how T-cells work; they “grope around like a blind robot” and after hitting a superantigen, punch a hole in the cell … then insert a molecule that causes the cell to explode.” It’s a fine balance. When fighting a bacterial infection, “the body can go crazy,” Nathan notes. “You can get a high fever that exhausts the immune system. That’s how the bacteria continue to fight. We genetically engineered our superantigen to be safer. It doesn’t generate as strong a response, but it still creates a very powerful immune reaction.” Targeting bacteria is smart for another reason: Part of how tumors succeed in evading the body’s defenses is by releasing chemicals that weaken the immune response. “Anything we do nearby the tumor becomes problematic,” Nathan says. But with NAP, “the tumor-killing T-cells are created far from the immune-suppressed tumor site.” Only then do they begin their journey to seek out and destroy the tumors. Moreover, when the immune system encounters a superantigen bound to a tumor, it modifies the suppressive micro-environment around the tumor so that the body’s natural defenses are better able to kill it. “This creates a natural, holistic and profound immune response,” Nathan says. Reboots the Immune System But the best may be yet to come. “When we’ve tested this drug in animals, we find that even when you try to reintroduce cancers into, say, a mouse that’s been cured by the technology, it doesn’t stick,” Nathan says. “None of the mice that were ‘rechallenged’ got cancer again. The drug ‘wakes up’ the immune system – at least in mice – and we don’t need any more drug.” Nathan likens it to the reboot function on a computer. “The drug reboots the immune system so it can do what it natively needs to do – remove the suppressive environment and kill as many tumor cells as possible. Then, the T-cells can go after more targets.” NeoTX’s bacterial coating approach is currently in a Phase I trial in Israel and, based on encouraging results, has begun a Phase 2 trial in the United States with 30 patients. One patient has non-small cell lung cancer that had metastasized to the liver. “That’s a death sentence, usually within four months,” Nathan says. The patient received NeoTX’s drug over a decade ago (prior to it being licensed from Active Biotech). “She lived for 11 years and died of something else, not her cancer.” NAP plays particularly well with checkpoint inhibitors, another type of cancer treatment that aims to tamp down “checkpoints” created by the cancer that essentially trick the T-cells into thinking the tumor is a friend. “It’s like a secret handshake in a college fraternity,” Nathan quips. If the handshake were inhibited, so to speak, the T-cells would see the tumor for what it is – very much not a friend – and could attack. Combining NAP with a checkpoint inhibitor “allows our drug to kill more tumor cells,” Nathan says. AstraZeneca Collaboration Pharma giant AstraZeneca is collaborating with NeoTX on the former’s own checkpoint inhibitor technology. The hope is that patients who don’t normally respond will have greater success in beating back their cancers. Developing and commercializing any new drug can take up to 15 years and many millions of dollars. NeoTX has raised around $80 million so far. Nathan is optimistic that if NAP passes Phase 2 and 3 trials, it could hit the market as early as 2027. While the technology has so far been tested on solid lung, esophageal and urethral cancer tumors, patients with blood cancer such as lymphoma and leukemia could benefit, too – in particular those who are candidates for CAR-T, a promising treatment that involves removing T-cells from a patient, engineering them for maximum killing ability in a lab, then reinjecting them. CAR-T, a form of immunotherapy, tends to work well for blood cancers but poorly for solid tumors. That’s another aim for NeoTX – to provide a pharmaceutical complement that will allow CAR-T to be effective outside the blood cancer domain. Immunotherapy has become a crowded field. “If you look at all the companies that are trying to elicit an immune system response, there are probably 1,000 out there. But for the specific mechanism we’re trying, it’s zero,” Nathan notes. “One of our investors said to us, ‘You’re either geniuses or you’re crazy.’ I replied, ‘What makes you think it’s one or the other?’” NeoTX has no shortage of geniuses. Roger Kornberg, the 2006 winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry, is the company’s chief scientist (as well as a long-time collaborator with Nathan in his previous endeavors). Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel, who shared a Nobel in chemistry in 2013, are advisers. Dr. Marcel Rozencweig, a medical oncologist and 18-year veteran of pharma company Bristol Myers Squibb, where he was head of global oncology, is NeoTX’s president. Recently, the head of global clinical oncology at Bayer pharmaceuticals, Dr. Scott Fields, joined NeoTX as chief medical officer. “It is extremely rare that someone as high up as Scott Fields would leave pharma to work in such a small company,” Nathan tells ISRAEL21c. “It is even more rare that he would come to a company based in Israel.” Cancer, sadly, isn’t going away anytime soon. “The average person develops around five cancerous or pre-cancerous cells a day,” Nathan notes. “Our bodies are very efficient at killing, such that most people don’t get a new cancer every day. Our drug could level the playing field so the body can do what it’s meant to.” For more information, click here To read the original article click here.

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