Integrative Oncology

The information that follows summarizes our complementary approach to cancer. These forms of intervention are fully compatible with conventional treatments. It has now been many years since the art of marrying the two approaches was well established. Please keep in mind the fact that conventional cancer education does not touch on any of this. The all-too-common response of a conventional oncologist is one of fear that these modalities will sabotage the effectiveness of conventional treatments. Not only is that absolutely false, but these forms of intervention will likely have the effects of improving both patient tolerance of conventional treatments, as well as actual patient outcomes.

A major principle to understand, and one which likely explains most of the observed lack of success in our current treatment of cancer, is that cancer is always in relationship with the general condition of the mind-body environment. That means that to attempt to destroy cancer, as if we were going after an infection with antibiotics, will often fail due to the neglect of addressing the mind-body environment. In every case of cancer, that environment has been allowing, if not promoting, the advance of the cancer.

There are basic ways in which all cancer cells differ from healthy cells. By working to make the general environment difficult specifically for the cancer cells, we can greatly contribute to the conventional approaches of simply killing the unwanted cells. In cases where the current cancer has been successfully eradicated, the hope of preventing recurrence rests entirely on creating an environment different from the one that coexisted with the prior cancer.

One of the most important distinctions between cancer cells and healthy cells is their metabolic rates. Cancer cells maintain a much higher metabolic rate. Because of this, they remain vulnerable to high rates of aging, which in biochemical terms, means oxidation. Cancer cells require antioxidants to protect themselves from their own rapid oxidation process. This is why caution must be exercised when considering the use of antioxidant supplements. The compromise in the immune system did not arise from a lack of health-promoting elements; it arose from an excess of immune-burdening factors.

Chemotherapy Assistance Protocols (CAPs)

Conventional, or Mainstream, oncology services are simply not the entire picture of an effective approach to cancer. This is true for at least two reasons. One is the presence of cancer stem cells. Yet the larger and more comprehensive reason is the issue of the integrity of the entire immune system.

As a foundation for this essential understanding, we must begin with the root cause of the great majority of cancers. Cancer cells are a natural, not unnatural, part of biology. They are the result of healthy cells, upon reaching the end of their typical lifespan, finding a way to convert their metabolism into ones that can continue to survive. Those are cancer cells, and within a healthy mind-body setting, they are immediately eradicated by a normally functioning immune system.

So at the root of the great majority of cancers is an inability of the immune system to play its role of protecting the organism from such potentially destructive cells. It follows, then, that if all we do to address cancer is to attack the cancer cells, it is no different from treating, for example, a case of bacterial infection from a spider bite. And yet, the two have almost nothing in common. One came from without, the other from within. One can be easily eradicated in a week or two with a simple course of antibiotics. The other requires a restoring of the integrity of the immune system.

The lack of a comprehensive approach to such a complex illness easily explains both failures in addressing initial cancers as well as the all-too-common recurrences.

The best possibility, upon the discovery of a new case of cancer, is that it both has not spread beyond its original location and is surgically removable. For at that point the logical and best approach is surgery followed by the means to address aspects of immune functioning that were in need of repair. Yet many cancers are not discovered until they have spread beyond their original site. In many of these cases it is proven that there is a role for chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is a major focus of the education received by conventional oncologists and its role is well-established. If that were a complete approach, we would be seeing far less in the ways of not only side effects, but also failures and recurrences. In truth, as is well-established in complementary approaches, there is a large body of well-researched information and experience in the use of natural interventions to accompany the use of chemotherapy. These interventions may serve in three ways.

1- They may greatly reduce the side effects from chemotherapy, thus rendering protection to the healthy aspects of the system as well as greatly reducing suffering.
2- They may enhance the effectiveness of the drugs used in chemotherapy, thus improving the chances of a successful outcome.
3- As substances that “speak the same language as our own physiology”, they may contribute to the overall health of a system trying to regain its original health.

As might be expected, Chemotherapy Assistance Protocols vary widely with each chemotherapy drug regimen. In fact, a substance that is helpful in one regimen might actually compromise the effectiveness of another. This is precisely why mainstream oncologists, lacking any education beyond their conventional approach, routinely advise their patients to avoid taking any other medicines, as do the “Integrative” departments associated with them.

Lastly, there are also assistance protocols for both surgery and radiation treatments. These generally do not vary, as those two forms of treatment will present the same two types of physiological challenges in all cases.

Dietary Changes

Dietary Considerations begin with the understanding that human physiology is most specifically designed to utilize plant foods over those of animal origin. This is especially true in modern society since animals are highest in the food chain and would concentrate more toxicity, just as do the large ocean fish. In optimizing our health these days, the one exception to the advice to eliminate animal products is a good quality fish oil supplement. Given its wide range of impressive benefits, it fits well into our current environment of so much stress and depleted food. 

We generally recommend a low-glycemic diet, primarily of organic, unrefined plant foods. In a few cases we might advise adding some wild-caught fish, and in rarer cases, some organic, pasture-raised eggs. Of those plant foods, we recommend avoiding wheat, corn, peanut, and soy products. Two soy products that are not only allowable but quite beneficial are miso and edamame. Cashews are not among the best nuts, though they are acceptable in limited quantities. All other nuts, seeds, legumes, and grains are good. 

The link below is to an article on the problems of animal protein consumption.

https://www.vibrantbeat.com/animal-protein-adverse-effects-beyond-fat-and-cholesterol/

Repurposed Prescription Drugs

Repurposed Drugs are a valuable tool in treating cancer. Over the past decade or so, research experiments performed in so many different laboratories around the world have demonstrated that many of the well-tolerated drugs in use for decades have the capacities to selectively starve cancer cells. Certain drugs that have been used for diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation, high cholesterol, bacterial infections, parasites, and other conditions have all shown anti-cancer effects. Each class of drug targets a different aspect of the cancer cells’ efforts to feed themselves. These medications are effective precisely because they impact our metabolism, our general body chemistry. As mentioned above, the key to effectively treating cancer is seeing it not as genetic, but as metabolic, in origin. By clicking on this title, Tripping Over The Truth by Travis Christofferson, you can read a review of this excellent book that elucidates this essential wisdom.

While there are so many repurposed drugs currently in use, three of particular interest are discussed as follows.

Naltrexone is a drug that has been used for decades to treat those addicted to opiates, such as morphine, hydrocodone, heroin, and others. It was later discovered that when used in very small amounts, known specifically as Low-Dose Naltrexone, or LDN, it causes the brain to produce endorphins, the substances that have a relaxing and balancing effect. That effect is also felt by the immune system, which then becomes more balanced and more effective. It has been demonstrated that LDN has anti-inflammatory effects. It specifically targets cells in the brain called microglia, which are scavenger cells. So it may turn out that the reduction in inflammation is through scavenging toxic elements that are at the root of inflammation in the central nervous system. Not surprisingly, LDN is helpful not only in cancer but also in autoimmune illness. Below is a link to a preliminary study of LDN.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3962576/

Ivermectin was discovered after the brilliant researcher Satoshi Ōmura found an unusual bacteria on the coast of Japan. He sent it to William Campbell, who found that the bacteria cured mice of a parasite and then identified the curative substance in the bacteria. The two researchers shared in the Nobel Prize in medicine in 2015 for the discovery. Ivermectin has been in widespread use since 1981 and has since been found to have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer properties. Below is a link to a study of this exemplary drug.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7505114/

Hydroxychloroquine, abbreviated as HCQ here, is a well known drug used in malaria and autoimmune illness. Its anti-inflammatory effect is achieved through modulating the immune system. It also prevents unwanted blood clotting within veins and arteries, and it reduces total and LDL cholesterol levels. As stated in the first article linked below, HCQ, like Ivermectin, is a “low-cost and widely available medication, whose safety profile is well known and acceptable.” The second article linked below is an extensive review of mechanisms by which HCQ acts. Two of those mechanisms are the blocking of iron’s entry into cells and the facilitating of zinc’s entry into them. Zinc has known benefits to immune system function, while iron is known to be a promoter of cancer.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7282202/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7959684/

Genetics is a relatively insignificant factor in the great majority of cancers. This applies to all chronic diseases, not just cancer. The key discovery is that in the great majority of us, the likelihood of a serious chronic illness is primarily dependent not upon which genes we have, but upon which genes are expressed. Dormant genes that code for serious illnesses are harmless. In contrast, and much to our potential for self-empowerment is the fact that it is the environment around our cells that determines which genes are expressed. All factors relating to the health of the mind and body contribute to determining which genes are expressed.

Non-Physical Aspects are generally not taken into consideration often enough. Emotional stress stems not only from knowing you have cancer but much more importantly from deeper psychological issues that have remained unresolved for decades. The negative impact of such issues on our physiology and their compromising effect on the immune system is well established. To learn about a particularly potent form of intervention to either complement or substitute for the various forms of interactive psychotherapy, please see the final page of this Treatment section: Vibrational Flow Therapy. 

To our great good fortune, there are also well-established forms of intervention for this essential part of getting well. In addition to the value of talk therapy with a professionally trained therapist, there are the techniques of Brain Spotting and EMDR, both of which help to locate sources of stress that remain hidden in the mind. 

Below is a link to a review of Scared Sick, an excellent book by authors Meredith S. Wiley and Robin Karr-Morse. It extensively discusses how our childhood challenges, if left unaddressed, may set us up for chronic illness later on.

https://www.thepermanentejournal.org/files/Spring2012/ScaredSick.pdf

If you or a loved one are interested to learn more about Integrative Oncology with Dr. Stephen Reisman M.D., please call our office at (615) 373-0555.