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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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Swap Out Hazardous Household Cleaning Products for These 8 Nontoxic Alternatives

AHA Publisher — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 07:00:16 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – Every day we use products to clean our homes, sanitize surfaces, and freshen the air, all in the name of creating a healthy living environment. And why not? Ads we see on the TV, internet, and in magazines, placed by companies that claim to have not only our best interest at heart but our families as well, promise a clean, healthy, safe home. Why wouldn’t we believe them? Unfortunately, too many people are taught to trust those in power, the ones with the money, larger than life because “they know what’s best for us.” And those same people follow without question, allowing these entities to introduce toxic substances into our food, water, and the products used to supposedly clean our homes and create a healthy, safe environment. But researchers are uncovering startling information that tells a different story. The majority of common, popular household cleaning products are devastatingly harmful to humans and pets. Common Household Cleaning Products May Be More Harmful Than Previously Thought It is well documented that the only way to get past a tainted food supply is to buy local, organic, and fresh – and even that is questionable. Unsafe water is another concern that is finally coming onto the public’s radar. Toxic household cleaners are not necessarily a new conversation, but it is gaining more traction as research reveals just how hazardous they are. An alarming body of research recently published by the University of Bergen in Norway found that long-term use of cleaning products (once a week for twenty years) could have the same effect on the human body as smoking 20 cigarettes a day over a ten to twenty-year period. Researchers believe that this damage could occur due to the irritation of the mucous membranes that line the lungs caused by exposure to the chemicals in the cleaning products. Inhaling these chemicals frequently (at least once a week) over a long period of time (around twenty years) can result in airway changes that are destructive and extremely harmful. After all, the particles that are contained in the cleaning products are intended to clean surfaces, not enter the human body or be inhaled into the lungs. The containers have strong warnings about ingesting the products, but the truth is, the mucous membranes aren’t the only vulnerability; the eyes and skin are also significant conduits by which toxins can enter the body. This includes exposure to toxins during application or use and any airborne contamination lingering after the product has been used. This endangers others who may not have had direct contact with the products due to use but are present in the living environment and touch the surfaces or breathe in the fumes – even long after the product was used. The research concluded that household cleaning products create as much air pollution as cars. Exposure to Household Cleaning Products Can Lead to Severe Adverse Health Effects Chronic or long-term exposure to household disinfectants, sanitizers, and cleaners has been linked to several serious health conditions, including: Increased asthma symptoms and complications Increased risk of conditions associated with asthma such as COPD, scarred lung tissue, and lung infections Low sperm count Increased risk of developing COPD Miscarriage Damage to the nervous system Headaches or migraines Menstruation irregularities in women Symptoms of airway irritation or inflammation, including wheezing, chest pain, and shortness of breath Increased risk of pneumonia caused by exposure via inhalation Products that top the list as most hazardous include those that contain corrosive chemicals, such as drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and toilet bowl cleaners. Ammonia and chlorine are also harmful chemicals that many cleaning products proudly advertise right there on their labels. Laundry detergents, dryer sheets, and fragrance products are also laden with harmful chemicals. Many fragrances that are added to cleaning solutions can also cause serious health problems. Ditch Harmful Products and Try THESE Nontoxic Alternatives Cleaning your home should be to rid your living environment of harmful toxins, not introduce more of them. Harsh chemicals may remove dirt and germs from surfaces, but the damage they do to the human body is a steep price to pay. Even products that carry an “organic,” “green,” or “natural” label or certification can still emit air pollutants that can be harmful. Using nontoxic, truly natural cleaners will significantly reduce your risk of exposure to harmful chemicals while keeping your home healthy, clean, and sanitized. The good news is all you need are eight staples that are probably in your pantry right now: Baking soda Gentle, non-scratch scrub Oven cleaner Drain cleaner Carpet deodorizer Litter box deodorizer Castile soap Laundry soap Bath soap All-purpose cleaner for home Shower cleaner Coconut oil Antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal cleaning solutions Clean wood furniture Sanitize wood cutting boards Use instead of WD-40 to lubricate squeaky hinges, etc. Moisturize leather goods (instead of leather conditioner) Essential oils (citrus is a good choice but eucalyptus, frankincense, peppermint, and tea tree oil are nice too) General cleaner (added to water) Insect repellant or “bug spray” (add a few drops of citrus, eucalyptus, frankincense, peppermint, or tea tree oil to water and put in a spray bottle) Room freshener Put in a diffuser during illness (frankincense cleans the air, eucalyptus helps relieve stuffy heads) Use in homemade laundry soap Hydrogen peroxide General cleaning solution Antibacterial cleaner Clean food prep areas Lemons (peel and juice) Clean and freshen refrigerator Clean and freshen garbage disposal Room freshener Clean cutting boards Clean coffee maker Furniture polish Rubbing alcohol (vodka also works) Countertop cleaners Sanitize surfaces White vinegar Disinfectant (follow with hydrogen peroxide for deeper disinfecting) Window cleaner Clean tile floors and bathtub (mix with baking soda) All-purpose cleaner for countertops (except stone, marble, or granite countertops) Bathroom grout Using truly natural, nontoxic cleaning substances will help keep a healthier, cleaner home. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org Thoracic.org OEM.BMJ.com To read the original article click here.

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Study Reveals SHOCKING Link Between Forever Chemicals and Liver Cancer

AHA Publisher — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 07:00:36 +0000

News Staff via NaturalHealth365 – Your liver is a vital organ with hundreds of important functions. For instance, your liver works hard to cleanse your blood of poisons and toxins. Now, a recent study published in JHEP Reports shows a disturbing link between a synthetic “forever chemical” and deadly liver cancer. The report suggests that the higher the exposure to forever chemicals, the higher the chance of developing liver cancer. Man-Made Forever Chemicals Linked to Deadly Form of Liver Cancer Forever chemicals are synthetic chemicals commonly used in consumer and industrial products. There are many types of these chemicals, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Perfluooctane sulfate (PFOS) is just one type of PFAS. For the JHEP study, researchers analyzed human blood and tissue samples previously collected for an epidemiological study. Researchers looked at the samples of people who did or did not develop liver cancer. They evaluated samples taken before cancer diagnosis, comparing them to samples from those who didn’t develop cancer. Researchers found that study participants with high levels of PFOS in their blood were four and a half times as likely to develop liver cancer. The participants who developed cancer all had high levels of multiple types of PFAS in their blood. But the strongest link was between PFOS and liver cancer. Although other studies involving animals have suggested correlations between PFAS and cancer, this is the first human study to prove it. Here Is Why PFAS Are Bad News for Your Health Forever chemicals earned their nickname because they are extremely long-lasting. They take a long time to break down, accumulating in our environment and our bodily tissues over time. Unfortunately, the use of these dangerous chemicals is still widespread, although some manufacturers have stopped using them altogether amid growing health concerns. PFAS are present in drinking water, food, food packaging, and even cosmetics. This is bad news for your health. Besides being carcinogenic, PFAS are associated with liver damage, kidney disease, neurological damage, and autoimmune problems. And once these toxic chemicals get into your bloodstream, they’re there for the long haul. How Does PFOS Lead to Liver Cancer? Researchers speculate that forever chemicals impede natural liver function. For instance, PFOS may interfere with glucose metabolism, bile acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. When the liver can’t function normally because of metabolic disruption, fat buildup can occur within the liver. This results in a condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Those with NAFLD have a much higher risk of liver cancer. Shockingly, there has been a global uptick in the number of people diagnosed with NAFLD – with scientists estimating that a whopping 30% of the global population will have NAFLD by the year 2030. How to Minimize Intake of PFAS What can you do to keep your liver healthy and reduce your PFAS exposure? It may be hard to avoid PFAS altogether. But you may be able to minimize exposure by minimizing packaged and processed foods. Choose organic, whole, or locally grown foods whenever possible. This will ensure you’re avoiding as many harmful chemicals as possible and help you feel your best. Sources for this article include: Medical Press Johns Hopkins Medicine To read the original article click here.

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Homemade Makeup Remover

AHA Publisher — Wed, 18 May 2022 07:00:46 +0000

Kyra Oliver via Dr. Axe – Sometimes it’s easy to get lazy about removing makeup. Research shows that using natural remedies on the face can help slow down the aging process. While it’s best to use herb-based makeup as part of a natural skin care routine, making sure that you remove any makeup you choose to use is important to having healthy, youthful skin due to the free radicals that attach themselves to our exposed skin daily. Free radicals cause the breakdown of healthy collagen, which is a huge factor in aging. If that’s not enough, makeup can clog the pores while you sleep, which can develop into acne. And acne can be unsightly, annoying and cause scarring. Because of this, it is really critical to make sure the skin is clear of these damaging free radicals before you head off to bed! Now that I have helped you understand why this important, let’s delve into making a homemade makeup remover that will both save you money and save years off your age! How to Make Your Own Makeup Remover This may be one of the easiest recipes you will create since it contains just four ingredients. This can be used before going to bed, followed by a great evening moisturizer for dry skin. This homemade makeup remover helps prevent the signs of aging, too! For this recipe, it’s best to make it right in the container that you want to use, such as small glass bottles and jars. Let’s start by putting the witch hazel into the container. Look for witch hazel without alcohol since alcohol dries the skin. Witch hazel is very gentle to the skin, operates as a strong antioxidant and prevents cellular damage, and works as an astringent and kills bacteria that lives within the pores of the skin. Next, add the jojoba oil and olive oil. Jojoba oil is a great oil to use on your face and is great for your skin. Not only can it remove your makeup, it’s hypoallergenic and removes any bacteria from your face as you use it. This powerful little oil also stimulates collagen synthesis, which will naturally slow down the aging process. Olive oil does way more than make a salad dressing. Olive oil is rich in vitamin E and helps keep your skin feeling supple while calming irritation. It eliminates dryness and is really beneficial in removing mascara, dissolving it so that it easily slides right off your eyelashes without irritation. It is a perfect choice as part of your daily beauty routine in this makeup remover. Now, add the water to the container, place the lid on it and shake it to blend it well. You now have the best homemade makeup remover within your reach! To use, shake the container each time prior to application. Then, using a cotton ball or pad, wipe the face, gently using the makeup remover until all makeup has been removed. You want to avoid getting it in the eyes. Follow up with my homemade anti-aging serum that will awaken you with a glowing, youthful face the next morning. This DIY makeup remover should last two to three months on the shelf. Place in the refrigerator to further extend its shelf life. DIY Makeup Remover Recipe This may be one of the easiest DIY recipes you will create since it contains just four ingredients. You can use it to clean your skin at night before going to bed (followed by a great evening moisturizer). INGREDIENTS 4 tablespoons witch hazel 2 tablespoons of pure jojoba oil 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons purified water INSTRUCTIONS Use a small glass bottle and jar. Let’s start by putting the witch hazel into the container. Next, add the jojoba and olive oil. Now, add the water to the container, place the lid on it and shake it to blend it well. To use, shake the container each time prior to application. Then, using a cotton ball or pad, wipe the face gently using the makeup remover until all makeup has been removed. NOTES In humid environments, you may not need to follow with a moisturizer. But if your environment is dry and/or your skin is too (!), then use a good moisturizer afterwards. You may want to try our moisturizer for dry skin or moisturizer for oily skin.

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WARNING: Study Shows Exposure to Household Cleaning Products May Be as Harmful as Car Exhaust

AHA Publisher — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 07:00:18 +0000

Karen Sanders via NaturalHealth365 – Inherent in the phrase “cleaning product” is the idea that, upon using it, your space will become free of dirt, grime, and toxins. Unfortunately, in the latter case, that may not always be true. With COVID-19 bringing what we might call the “age of cleaning” into our homes, workplaces, and schools, we now coexist with a bunch of unwanted chemicals. Ironically, given that COVID is a respiratory disease, all this cleaning might actually be worse for our airways than doing nothing. A recent study found that commercial disinfectants can decrease indoor air quality and increase pollutants in both gas and aerosol form. Scientists Find Most Cleaning Products May Do More Harm Than Good Anyone who has ever stepped into a commercial building after the cleaning staff finished their work is then left with no doubt: that chemical smell is a very unhealthy feeling. With the use of strong disinfectants, that sharp smell is quite intense and, in many cases, sickening. Make no mistake about it: those synthetic scents are meant to cover up the cancer-causing chemicals within those products. The study’s authors carefully mimicked the indoor conditions of cleaners while taking measurements in real-time. What they discovered should shock all of us! Household Cleaning Aerosols May Emit More Harmful VOCs Than Cars, According to New Study Researchers discovered that commercial cleaning agents were detected in the air within minutes of their application to a surface. This was also noted to be in well-ventilated areas that convincingly duplicated those of a large office building. They measured a variety of pollutants, including oxidants, radicals, and aerosols, among others. In some cases, chemical concentrations were more than double that of normal outdoor amounts – without the same room to disperse. Why does that matter? In the study, researchers found that all those chemicals got sucked into human lungs. In fact, they deposited at rates comparable to or worse than that of aerosols inhaled from cars. Who Is at Risk of Developing Adverse Health Effects From Exposure to Cleaning Products? The short answer is that everyone is at risk with ubiquitous chemicals such as these. The longer answer is that we should be most concerned about people working with them routinely – cleaning staff, for example. Some of them spend all day, every day, using chemicals to disinfect common touchpoints throughout the office. They may also spend extra time disinfecting bathrooms and eating areas. In addition, let’s remember that due to the persistent COVID fear-mongering campaign, millions developed cleaning paranoia over the past two years – despite learning early in the pandemic that SARS-CoV-2 spreads by aerosolized droplets, not by touching surface areas. This means that attacking every office space as though COVID or other diseases are lurking on its surfaces may actually be counterproductive to our wellbeing. Redefine “Clean” by Saying NO to Toxic Chemicals That’s not to say cleaning is bad. We all intuitively understand the benefits of a clean home or workspace for mental health, and it turns out to be good for your immune system. But, be advised, take time to read product labels and opt for safer alternatives when purchasing cleaning products to be used in your home. We also need to follow science’s cues about which cleaning methods do and do not matter. Hopefully, this can be our wake-up call that adding toxic chemicals to indoor spaces won’t help fight a disease whose transmission isn’t affected by the use of these chemicals at all. Sources for this article include: Science.org DailyMail.co.uk DailyMail.co.uk To read the original article click here.

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It’s Time to Get Off the “Pesticide Treadmill” and Here Is Why

AHA Publisher — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 08:00:20 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – For decades we’ve known that pesticides and agriculture are a deadly combination. Over the years, the government has passed regulations that make it look like they are making an earnest effort to “clean up” our food when, in fact, they are simply exchanging one pesticide that has come onto our radar and garnered a lot of attention for another that is more obscure. The less you know, the more you will accept. Your government is riding on the hope, the assumption, that the people are largely uninformed – and they’re absolutely correct. The truth is, pesticides have made their way into not only the crops but also the animal herds. And the effects are long-lasting as well as devastating. The pesticide treadmill is real, and it is detrimental to your health. What Is the “Pesticide Treadmill” and Why Is it Detrimental to Your Health? The pesticide treadmill is a trap that gets farmers caught up in a vicious cycle of pesticide use. They begin innocently enough with minimal product. That doesn’t last long, though. As weeds and insects develop resistance to pesticides, the farmers must use a higher quantity and more toxic chemicals to maintain control. The resistance that insects and weeds develop due to pesticide use breeds superbugs and superweeds which do not respond to the chemicals being used. When this happens, and farmers begin seeing it in their crops, they use more potent chemicals like 2,4-D, linked to reproductive problems, brain damage, and several types of cancer. To put this into perspective, farmers in the United States in the 1940s lost 7% of their crops to pests. Today, that number has increased to 13% despite the increased use of pesticides. It is estimated that since 1945 as many as 1,000 weed and insect species have developed a resistance to pesticides. The sad truth is that this is entirely unnecessary. There are several alternatives available for managing garden, lawn, and home pests without harmful, toxic pesticides. But Wait, the Damage Does Not Stop There! Pesticide Use Leads to MANY Serious Problems Several serious problems can emerge from this pesticide use. As the farmer must use stronger and more toxic chemicals, those chemicals are transferred to the people who eat the crops. But they are also transferred to the animals that graze on the lands and are fed either from food grown on the farm or stored in close proximity to the pesticide use or storage. These chemicals have been linked to a number of health problems, an increased risk of death, and birth defects. These chemicals are seeping into our water, soil, and food chain. There isn’t much that pesticides haven’t touched. And that’s a problem. The U.S. Geological Survey conducted tests on rural waterways and found that pesticides contaminated more than 61% at high enough levels that it was harmful to the aquatic life there. In the soil, pesticides decrease microbial diversity, which destroys the organic matter that holds water in the soil, increasing the farmland’s resiliency to drought. And if that isn’t enough, this pesticide problem is not only confined to the farms using the chemicals. The chemicals can also find their way onto other farms via water runoff and other ways. So even farms that are not caught up in the pesticide treadmill are still affected. Here Is how to Reduce Your Exposure to Toxic Chemicals in Your Food One of the best ways to escape the effects of the pesticide treadmill is to turn to small, local farms instead of massive commercial farms. These farms use cottage gardening, a small-scale plan that uses smaller plots of land for farming. As a result, it is easier to manage, and pesticide use, if any, is on a much smaller scale. While there are companies out there developing alternatives and products that may help break that cycle, they still have a way to go. Today, your best bet is to look to the small, local farmers to get your food. You have a better chance of staying pesticide-free that way. Sources for this article include: Panna.org ChildrensHealthDefense.org Panna.org Enviropaedia.com To read the original article click here.

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Top 5 Toxic Laundry Detergents That Wreak Havoc on Your Health

AHA Publisher — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 08:00:56 +0000

Wendy Miller via NaturalHealth365 – Laundry detergent is a must if we want our clothes to be clean and fresh. But, if we take a closer look at the liquid laundry detergent we use regularly; we will more than likely find a toxic soup that is gradually eroding our health and polluting our environment. Let’s take a look at the top five most popular offenders. If one of these happens to be your favorite, we have options to help you find safer alternatives. Ultra Purex Regular Detergent, Original “Fresh” Ultra Purex Regular Detergent, Original Fresh contains many of the most corrosive ingredients. Some of the more active ingredients don’t even appear on the label. Disodium diaminostilbene disulfonate and sodium polyacrylate are just two of the most toxic ingredients included in Ultra Purex. Prolonged exposure to these non-biodegradable substances can lead to skin irritation, neurological issues, allergies, and upper respiratory problems. Woolite Everyday Laundry Detergent, Sparkling Falls Woolite Everyday Laundry Detergent, Sparkling Falls contains hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde and triethanolamine. These toxic chemicals are known to cause allergies, upper respiratory issues, and even cancer. What makes this detergent particularly damaging is that it also harms everything in the environment, including aquatic life. It will not degrade once it is in the environment and can remain toxic for years. It will also damage the fabrics you are trying to protect. The toxic ingredients contained in Woolite are also harmful to our organs and body systems. Xtra Detergent with the Softness of Escape Softener (Lavender & Vanilla) Xtra Detergent with the Softness of Escape Softener has been listed as the 23rd worst laundry soap for a reason. It contains two of the most toxic chemicals included in most laundry soaps: Sodium Borate and quaternium-15. They are known to cause cancer, a variety of hormone disruptions, and cancer. When introduced into the environment, it has been proven to be quite destructive. It is poisonous to aquatic life and poses several different environmental hazards. In addition, it can damage your fabrics and will not break down once it is introduced into the environment. Tide Plus a Touch of Downy Liquid Detergent Tide Plus a Touch of Downy Liquid Detergent includes as many as 29 toxic chemicals. The chemical concoction used to produce the detergent can damage our ecosystems and destroy wildlife habitats, not to mention the many health concerns it is responsible for in humans. Tide is one of several companies that does not include a full list of its ingredients on the label. While some of the chemical components are biodegradable, it doesn’t alter the fact that they are toxic and harmful to most forms of wildlife. Fragrance-Free Babyganics 3x Laundry Detergent Fragrance-Free Babyganics is meant to be used on our infants’ clothing and blankets but contains toxic chemicals that can seriously damage their developing organs. Sodium Borate and Methylisothiazolinone are extremely toxic and known to have damaging effects, including allergies, respiratory problems, and skin irritation. These chemicals can also disrupt our ecosystems and poison aquatic life. Instead of relying on these toxic mashups of chemical compounds, look for safer, less toxic alternatives. Mrs. Meyers and Seventh Generation are just two brand names that provide naturally safe cleaning solutions for almost every type of detergent and soap in your home. Most quality brands contain plant-based soaps and cleaning agents that are truly safe for both your children and the environment. Sources used for this article: TheSpruce.com Housely.com To read the original article click here.

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New Drug Candidate Could Boost Potential of Immunotherapy

AHA Publisher — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 07:00:24 +0000

Abigail Klein Leichman via Israel21c – One of the biggest breakthroughs in cancer treatment today is immunotherapy. Rather than flooding the body with toxic chemicals and radiation, this method recruits the patient’s own system to fight the cancer. While the immune system’s job is to detect and destroy intruders, cancer cells have various ways to disable it. Immunotherapy, therefore, aims to help immune cells recover their natural function. Although a powerful class of immunotherapy drugs, PD-1 inhibitors, was approved by the FDA in 2014, only 20-30 percent of cancer patients respond well to them. Even among those who initially respond, often the therapy stops working once cancer cells learn how to evade PD-1 inhibitors. “The reason seems to be that like cars in a traffic jam, the cancer cells find an alternative route to bypass the treatment, engage the immune cell [and shut it down],” explains Dr. Gavin Samuels, executive director of Jerusalem-based Nectin Therapeutics. The company is named after the nectin family of proteins, whose pathways are a common alternate route for cancer cells to evade immunotherapy. Established in 2017 based on a collaboration between scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Rijeka, Croatia, Nectin Therapeutics’ drugs set up a roadblock in the nectin pathways. Used alone or in conjunction with PD-1 inhibitors, this treatment could be a strong contender in the quest to boost the success of immunotherapy for cancer patients. Like a Key in a Lock “There are probably many cells in our bodies that are constantly moving on a spectrum from normal cells to cancer cells, and an active immune system constantly surveys the situation,” explains Samuels, a physician. “As soon as the immune system detects these abnormal cells, it attacks them.” To protect themselves and take root as tumors, cancer cells develop anchors to reach specific receptors on the immune cell, fit into it like a key in a lock, switch it off and inactivate it. By breaking that locking mechanism, immuno-oncology drugs reactivate the immune response and provide a safer treatment with fewer side effects than traditional chemo or radiation therapy. “You have horrific side effects with chemotherapy because it’s essentially a poison that is more toxic to cancer cells — because they are rapidly dividing — than to normal cells,” Samuels explains. “We’ve developed a series of monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates – an antibody with a toxin attached, sent directly to the cancer cell.” Nectin Therapeutics’ drugs have been shown in preclinical studies to effectively restore the function of immune cells when used alone, and even more when combined with a PD-1 drug, he says. The company’s lead candidate is expected to go into human clinical trials early next year. Other Nectin Therapeutics drugs could get to clinical trials about a year later, depending on FDA consideration, based on preclinical studies taking place in the US, Israel and Europe. Unique to Nectin Therapeutics Keren Paz, Nectin’s chief development officer, based in New York, explains that many research groups have sought alternative pathways to PD-1. Most have been unsuccessful. “We’re trying to find a common denominator among a lot of patients who did not respond well enough or long enough to that first family of immunotherapy drugs,” she says. “We see tumors that express the nectin proteins from the beginning and others that become dependent on these proteins only when the patient’s immune cells are already exhausted following treatment.” Nectin’s drugs use several different mechanisms of action to help restore the power of the immune system and shrink existing tumors. Immunology researcher Pini Tsukerman, Nectin Therapeutics’ cofounder and chief scientific officer, says the company has gained an in-depth understanding of the evasion mechanisms of cancerous cells from the immune system. “This comprehensive understanding, together with our track record in drug discovery and development, allowed us to select unique molecules as a target for the antibodies we develop,” says Tsukerman. Paz emphasizes that the antibodies demonstrated a favorable safety profile in preclinical studies and are expected to be effective in patients with many different types of cancer and at different stages of the disease. “Even targeted therapy has some side effects, but we’re not expecting any. We’re simply turning on an existing mechanism of the human body that was turned off,” Paz tells ISRAEL21c. Raising Funds Nectin Therapeutics’ investors include Integra Holdings, an investment company focused on life-science innovations emerging from the Hebrew University; aMoon Velocity, the early-stage fund of Israel’s largest health-tech and life-sciences venture fund aMoon; and Peregrine Ventures. The company closed a Series B round that raised about $15 million in May. “We believe that new immune checkpoint inhibitors will significantly enrich the toolbox of immunotherapy treatments and enable a more effective fight against cancer, whether as an independent treatment or in combination with existing approved drugs,” said Yaron Daniely, partner and head of aMoon Alpha. For more information, click here To read the original article click here.

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NEW Report Reveals That Bottled Water Contains More Toxic Chemicals Than You Can Imagine

AHA Publisher — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 08:00:05 +0000

Damon Hines via NaturalHealth365 – Americans drink more bottled water than any other beverage, including coffee, tea, milk, and soft drinks. According to Statista, in 2019, per capita consumption of bottled water amounted to roughly 43.7 gallons in the United States, up from 16.2 gallons in 1999. Of course, there are many people that say the consumption of water in plastic bottles can put a strain on the environment. But, what might be even harder to swallow is the fact that some popular bottled water brands are bad for your health, too. Consumer Reports tested 47 different brands of bottled water (35 carbonated, 12 carbonated) and found levels of toxic PFAS chemicals (poly and perfluoroalkyl substances) that are above the limit recommended by experts. In addition, a 2019 study published in Frontiers in Chemistry analyzed samples from 259 bottled water brands sold in several countries around the world and found that 93% of them contained microplastic synthetic polymer particles. In other words, the health qualities of bottled water might not be so healthy after all. Popular Bottled Water Brands Contain Shocking Levels of PFAS Prevailing standards and government regulations have not caught up to the toxic threat of PFAS, a group of industrial chemicals that have been linked to liver damage, thyroid disease, pregnancy risks, and other adverse health conditions. As of January 2021, the Environmental Working Group states that 2,337 locations in 49 states are known to have PFAS contamination in their water systems. In pursuit of healthier, purer, safer water, many Americans turn off the tap and reach for bottled water. It appears that bottled water, however, isn’t any cleaner. Consumer Reports found that popular bottled water brands, including products from the Perrier and Poland Springs lines, as well as canned carbonated waters like Bubly and LaCroix, contained concerning levels of PFAS. To learn more about the shocking (and disturbing) history of PFAS, listen to this incredible NaturalHealth365 podcastwith Jonathan Landsman and Robert. A Bilott, an American environmental attorney from Cincinnati, Ohio. Bottled Water Is Cleaner Than Tap Water, Right? Not Really! Bottled water is marketed as though it’s “cleaner” than tap water, but in reality, according to the study in Frontiers in Chemistry, bottled water has twice as much plastic in it as tap water. According to researchers, the majority of the microplastics lurking in bottled water are introduced in the industrial bottling process. Nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene, which are used to make bottle caps, are the plastic debris most commonly found. The study published in Frontiers of Chemistry tested 11 bottled water brands and found that the average brand contained 325 microplastic particles per liter of bottled water. Nestle Pure Life had the largest concentration of plastic particles, containing more than 10,000 microplastics per liter. Replace Your Bottled Water With These Safer Alternatives There are countless reasons to give up your plastic water bottle habit. PFAS and microplastics are just another toxic strand in a tangled web of health, economics, and environmental crisis. So what can you do? Buy a good water filter or home filtration system Carry your to-go water in an insulated stainless steel or glass bottle instead of plastic Advocate for clean, pure, safe water and help to support stricter PFAS and microplastic regulations By the way, there is one company that has tested “clean” for its plastic bottled spring water and that’s Tourmaline Spring. And, no, we at NaturalHealth365 do not earn a dime for talking about this brand. We just thought you might want to know. Sources for this article include: Consumerreports.org Livescience.com Time.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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