Category Archives: Integrative Cancer Treatment

Enzyme Therapy and Cancer

August 7, 2014

Enzyme Therapy As Used In Cancer Treatment

EnzymeCancer treatments are known for quite severe side effects on the patients. Known treatment like chemotherapy and radiation therapy not only kill the cancerous cells I the cancer patient but also kill the healthy cells. This will lead to the patient’s getting more deteriorated as time goes by and may eventually lead to loss of weight, skin becoming darker and even hair loss. Pain associated with these methods of treatments cannot be underestimated.  Researchers and doctors have been involved in lots of research work in a bid to get the best cancer treatment that is devoid of the disadvantages the conventional cancer treatment methods are known for.

Today, there are various ways through which cancer patients can be treated but your doctor may be helpful in identifying the best treatment you can get depending on whether the cancer is prostate, breast, mouth or even lung cancer. The doctor may also monitor your reaction to a specific treatment and decide whether to continue with it or adopt a better treatment for the disease. These discoveries are a breakthrough not only to cancer doctors but also to cancer patients have been seeking alternative treatment to the disease and the enzymatic therapy is one of the alternatives that the patients are trying their hands on.

Enzyme therapy as an alternative cancer treatment involves the patient taking supplements of enzymes. Enzymes are natural proteins which are very important as they stimulate and accelerate most biological reactions in the body. Digestive enzymes, which are mostly produced by the pancreas help in digestion as they break down food and help with the absorption of nutrients into the blood. Metabolic enzymes build new cells and repair damaged ones in the blood, tissues, and organs. The metabolic enzymes so are important for optimum cellular functions.

The history behind the enzyme therapy

Enzyme therapy is synonymous to John Beard. John Beard, who was a Scottish scientist, was the first person to use the pancreatic enzymes in cancer treatment in 1902. After this discovery the enzyme therapy was used by doctors in treatment of other diseases. Doctors in Germany are said to have used the enzyme therapy in treatment of such diseases as multiple sclerosis, cancer, and viral infections. The use of enzyme therapy has not stopped as some enzyme mixtures are still being used in other European countries.

The enzyme therapy was introduced in the United States in the 1920s by Dr. Edward Howell. Dr. Howell opined that by eating raw meat, people created an enzyme surplus in the body, which resulted in better health and increased resistance to disease. The doctor reasoned that the more the enzymes a person has in his body the efficient the normal bodily functions as well as the stronger immunity. Since the enzyme therapy was introduced in the United States, very many doctors have advocated its use especially as a part of the broader metabolic therapy regimen. Today there is an enzyme preparation that is being studied in the United States for possibility of being used alongside chemotherapy drugs in treating cancer patients.

Despite the fact that the enzyme therapy is widely used in treatment of cancer and other diseases, any well-designed studies showing that enzyme supplements are effective in treating cancer is not yet available. The major question that everybody asks and has kept enzyme therapy as an alternative cancer treatment quite controversial is that; enzymes when taken by mouth are broken down to amino acids before they are absorbed into the bloodstream, so how do they reach the tumors when taken by mouth?

The studies that have been done to verify the effects of the enzyme therapy on the cancer patients have borne different results. A study that was done in India found that taking enzymes helped to mitigate the side effects of the radiation therapy. Researchers however argue that the patients were not blinded, they knew they were taking enzyme supplements and so the results could have been achieved as a result of the patients’ expectations. Another study was done in Germany, in this study the patients were blinded as they did not know that they were taking enzyme supplements. This study did not show any positive effect of the enzyme therapy on the cancer patients.

There are other researchers in Eastern Europe who have tried to find out if this therapy is effective in cancer treatment. The general finding of these research works have showed that enzyme supplements may improve the quality of life and may generally have other benefits. Most of these studies sought to find out if enzyme therapy could be used in mainstream cancer treatments. These findings however were disputed on the basis that the patients were not blinded.

EnzymeDr. Nicholas Gonzalez did another study that involved pancreatic cancer patients. The findings of this research were published in Nutrition and Cancer in 1999. The study found that patients who were treated with pancreatic enzymes survived longer than patients with pancreatic cancer who were not under enzyme therapy. However an expert oncologist recently disapproved of the findings.”The study was small and obviously prone to several biases. Not only is the comparison with national averages unadjusted for confounders, but the principal results are based on patient selection; twelve patients who did not comply with treatment were excluded from analysis.”  The expert oncologist’s review stated.

Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an experienced integrative cancer doctor that has helped many cancer patients in their fight against the disease. She has worked hard not only in treating the disease but also in availing informational support to cancer patients at Awaremed which has become a place called home for many cancer patients. Call on her now and get help on cancer.

Enzyme Therapy As Used In Cancer Treatment

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Curcumin and triple negative cancer

August 7, 2014

   Curcumin Is a Triple Negative Cancer Treatment Compound

curcuminCancer doctors and researchers have always done a great job in trying to find us the best treatment to this disease. This is not because there are no cancer treatments that work but because some of the most common conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy radiation therapy and surgery have left some loophole that needs to be filled for cancer treatment to be effective and safe for all cancer patients. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been used for a long time in cancer treatment. However they focus on killing of cancerous by poisoning them. When done the chemotherapy drugs not only kill the cancerous cells but also kill the healthy body cells that are vital for optimum body functioning . This leads to many side effects that make cancer treatments a very painful ordeal. Several cancer patients have died after chemotherapy because of the severe side effects that it is associated with.

Today we have very many alternative cancer treatments thanks to the tireless researchers and cancer doctors who have continued to do research on better cancer treatment alternatives. The researchers have availed varied cancer treatments alternatives ranging from dietary manipulations to natural cancer treatments. Use of natural cures of cancer treatments have since gained popularity due to their availability and cost effectiveness. Another reason that has seen cancer patients seeking natural cancer treatment alternatives is because of the facts that they are devoid of the life threatening side effects that most conventional cancer treatment methods are always associated with. Use of fruits and vegetables are popular today and are sought after as some of the most effective cancer treatment methods worldwide. Some of the diets that have been proposed to work best in cancer treatment involve the use of these fruits and vegetables. The Gerson’s therapy is one of the most famous alternative cancer treatments that have been used in cancer treatment. Researchers have also been able to discover compounds that are effective in fighting cancer in some of these fruits and vegetables. Recently researchers found that a compound in the peach fruit helped in fighting cancer. However peaches are not the only fruits that have been promoted as effective alternatives to cancer treatment. Berries among other fruits are part of the long list. One of these naturally occurring compounds that help in fighting cancer is curcumin. Curcumin is an effective component in turmeric.

Curcumin

Curcumin is a compound in Turmeric. Turmeric is a member of the ginger family, turmeric has been highly valued for its many medicinal abilities, among most of its medicinal abilities is that it is very effective in reducing inflammations. Turmeric is a common spice to Indians who value it for its health benefits. Curcumin is the most active component of turmeric.  Curcumin is effective in reducing inflammations. It exerts its anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the enzymes and prostaglandins that are essential for inflammation. Curcumin has not only been promoted as an anti-inflammation agent but several studies have proved that it helps in cancer treatment.

Not long ago researchers at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas conducted a research that involved dividing 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis into three groups. One group received curcumin, the second group was given a standard rheumatoid arthritis drug and the third group was given both. After eight weeks, both the group who took curcumin alone and the group that got both the drug and the spice had a greater reduction in symptoms such as joint swelling and pain compared with those who only took the drug devoid of curcumin. It was also noted that those who were on the curcumin did not suffer any side effect as was the case with those who were under the standard drugs. The findings of this research is pointer that curcumin can help in cancer treatment as inflammation is a feature in cancer.

A new research study done by researchers from Zheijian Provincial People’s Hospital in Zheijiang, China shows that a compound in turmeric known as curcumin, which gives the spice its characteristic saffron-like color, has the ability of inducing  cell death, also known as apoptosis within triple negative breast cancer cells.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most difficult cancer to treat as these cancer cells are very resistant to drugs. These cancer cells do not have the characteristic receptors for estrogen, progesterone and Her2/neu. This makes it very hard to treat a patient with Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) as most treatments especially the conventional cancer treatments target these receptors that are missing in the cells. Without these receptors such treatments do not work. For example Tamoxifen targets estrogen receptors, in absence of estrogen receptors Tamoxifen cannot work in cancer treatment. For this reason, TNBC is considered the most aggressive, the most likely to be treated with less-targeted (and therefore more toxic) forms of chemotherapy, and the soonest to return when treatment fails. For Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) target therapies are not the best options for treatment.

Today it is approximated that between 15-25% of all breast cancer cases are triple negative. This statistics remind us of other treatments that can best work in cancer treatment. Unfortunately those bodies that are known to create awareness on Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) are only focused on raising money for a pharmaceutical cure that is yet to be made. Curcumin can effectively be used in treatment of Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) as it works better here than any other target therapies.

CurcuminTriple negative breast cancer (TNBC) can be treated best in integrative cancer centers such as AWAREmed where all the possible cures will be put to use to ensure that the disease is fought and won.

Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an experienced integrative cancer doctor that has helped many cancer patients in their fight against the disease. She has worked hard not only in treating the disease but also in availing informational support to cancer patients at Awaremed which has become a place called home for many cancer patients. Call on her now and get help on cancer.

   Curcumin Is a Triple Negative Cancer Treatment Compound

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Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors

August 6, 2014

Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors Are Gaining Popularity In Cancer Treatment

Cancer cells just like the healthy normal body cells have specific process that have to be accomplished in order for them to survive. Cancer doctors have known this for a long time and most of the alternative cancer treatments that we have today are best on the understanding of certain survival mechanisms. There are certain cancer treatment alternatives that are geared towards making them more vulnerable to chemotherapy drugs and are hence used alongside the chemotherapy as well as other conventional cancer treatment medications like radiation therapy. There are other more effective cancer treatment alternatives that aim at interfering with the cancer cell metabolism mechanisms hence starve them by denying them the ATP energy that they need to accomplish some of their cellular functions like growth and division to give rise to new cancer cell. The use of alternative cancer treatment are gaining popularity not because the conventional cancer treatment medications do not work but to find better ways of treating cancer patients by targeting the cancer cells while safeguarding the healthy body cells. This is a loophole that has to be filled. In conventional medicine the treatment targets killing of the cancer cell but the healthy body cells are also affected by the chemotherapy drugs and they die as well leaving the patient with lots of side effects that are very life threatening. The cancer doctors and researchers are trying to treat cancer strategically so that the patient is not put through the pain of going for repeated chemotherapy. Due to these different alternatives to cancer treatments that work effectively in different cases to combat cancer, the new breed of cancer doctors; the integrative doctors have become a favorite for cancer patients. This is because they are very knowledgeable in oncology and puts in use all the alternative cancer treatments (naturopathic) and the conventional cancer treatment in a bid to achieve a whole person healing of the cancer patient.

One of the best ways of treating cancer is to use inhibitors. These inhibitors affect the normal functioning of the cancer cells and hence a slow their growth and survival rates. Some of these inhibitors are also strong enough to induce apoptosis of the cancer cells. Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors are some of the inhibitors that help in strategic fighting of cancer.

Matrix metalloproteinases, often known as MMPs are a group of enzymes that are involved in a number of normal cellular processes, such as regulation of endometrial growth and menstruation, and abnormal processes, such as tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Matrix metalloproteinases play a major role in angiogenesis. This is because they degrade the basement membrane and stromal tissue which is an important process for migration of endothelial cells needed to form new blood vessels. They also play an important role in the entry and exit of tumor cells into the blood vessels hence foster metastasis. Due to their critical contributions in angiogenesis and metastasis they can be strategically targeted in cancer treatment by utilizing Matrix metalloproteinases inhibitors that will main all their activities.

Matrix metalloproteinases can be produced in two ways; either the tumor cells produce them themselves or they tissues surrounding the cancer cell produce them. Because of their role in cancer etiology they are highly regulated especially through gene expression. They are secreted in inactive forms and must be cleaved to be active. Moreover they activities are also controlled by the Matrix metalloproteinases inhibitors that surround the tumor cell.

Researchers have done lots of work in trying to investigate if the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors can be used to maim the functions of the Matrix metalloproteinases and help in cancer treatment. Their research are based on the logic that Matrix metalloproteinases are crucial enzymes for tumor invasion and metastasis and is targeted the spread of cancer can be curbed. This treatment however does address the formation of primary tumors but again it can work in controlling the spread of tumor hence important.

Doxycycline as a Matrix metalloproteinases inhibitor

Doxycycline is a semisynthetic, chemically modified tetracycline compound that is rapidly absorbed and exerts biological effects courtesy of its antimicrobial activity. It has been used in the past in wound treatment and is also one of the most effective Matrix metalloproteinases inhibitor.

Clinical as well as lab tests have been one to show the effectiveness of Doxycycline in inhibiting Matrix metalloproteinases activities. As all these activities were done with a view of finding a possibility of using it in curbing metastasis. The study pointed out that an enzyme; MMP-2 is needed for the cancer cells to dig in or other to penetrate the normal tissues. Doxycycline has an inhibitory effect on the MMP-2 expression. This was verified by a lab test on smooth muscle cells and human aortic aneurysm tissue explants. The test revealed that Doxycycline inhibited the activities of MMP-2 on these tissues. However for effectiveness the concentration of the Doxycycline matters in its activity against the MMP-2. In the normal serum concentration just 5ml of Doxycycline affects the production of MMP-2 greatly.

By use of Matrix metalloproteinases inhibitors like Doxycycline, the cancer treatment becomes more effective and strategic as the cancer cells become targeted. With controlled metastasis and growth of cancer cells the patient can have a longer life and possibly the disease will be managed done with completely by an integrative cancer doctor who will combine other therapies to make the treatment more effective.

Dr. Dalal Akoury is an experienced integrative cancer doctor who has seen very many cancer patients journey to victory in their fight against cancer. She is available for consultations. Just call her now and begin your journey to victory against cancer.

Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors Are Gaining Popularity In Cancer Treatment

 

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Genetic Predisposition

August 5, 2014

 

Genetic and Viral Predisposition To Cancer Is A Crucial Subject In Cancer Treatment

Cancer has caused serious threat to the world’s population and has still continued to affect the people of all continents. It is among the leading causes of death in the world today. Despite the many alternative cancer treatments, the disease is not yet conquered as it is still causing pain to us every day after grabbing our loved ones away from us. According to a world health report of 2002, close 7.1 million deaths are caused by cancer each and every year. With the most prevalent of these cancers being lung, stomach, colon, liver, breast and esophagus cancer, in that order of occurrence. Conclusively, these cancers are responsible for over 4.2 million deaths. Additionally, another World Cancer Report of 2003 (IARC 2003) predicts that deaths caused by cancer will increase by 50% in the next 20 years. In the past cancer was thought of as diseases of the developed countries but as years passed by even the third world countries became infested with this disease. The cases of cancer in the third world countries are attributed to the demographic changes as well as changes in lifestyle. The way of life has changed even in these third world countries and this may even increase the percentages of cancer infection.

Cancer is a disease that has many causes and of the many cause are very complex gene interactions. A person may not be born with cancer but he may have higher chances of getting cancer. This is what is known as genetic predisposition. Genetic predisposition maybe caused by a presence of one or more gene mutations and this may happen even if the allele’s combination is normal.

Genetic predispositisions is a subject that has made researchers as well as health organizations like World Health Organization to do lot of research work to find out how far genetic predisposition can lead to the disease. Apparently the researches done were not only done in relation to cancer but other non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and some mental illnesses.

In cancer, a person may be born with genes whose compositions were altered by lifestyle habits or exposure to harmful chemicals that goes along way in changing the DNA composition of the body cells. The body has tumor suppressors that help it in fighting and preventing tumors but when these tumor suppressors become weak which may be caused by exposure to harmful chemicals then a person becomes more vulnerable to cancer infection. Carcinomas are the most probable result of failure of the tumor suppressors.

It is important to understand how genetic predisposition affects a person. Cancer is not a disease that should be toyed with and so it calls for early examination to show whether a person has genetic predispositions that can play a role in making them to have cancer. Doctors advice that by knowing if a person has these genetic predispositions, it can help them to adopt lifestyles that will help them evade the formation of cancer cells in them. It is good to note that not all people who are born with genetic predispositions to cancer eventually get the disease; the choice of lifestyle will either make him evade the disease or will even hasten the formation of the cancerous cells in them. Those who are born with genetic predispositions to cancer can avoid the disease by avoiding such behaviors that may increase their risk to cancer such as smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol and engaging in sexual activities with many sexual partners. There are lifestyle modifications that will help a person who is born with genetic predispositions to cancer live longer without being affected by the disease. These may involve healthy eating and detoxifying the body naturally by eating those vegetables and fruits that are rich in antioxidants. It is also advisable for such a person to seek help from an integrative cancer centre where the doctors may offer guidance on how to live a life that is cancer free despite the genetic predisposition to cancer he was born with.

Promotes cancer cell formation

As known, cancer cell forms when there is mutation in the genes that play a major role in cell multiplication and repair. When these mutated genes are passed over to an offspring, the offspring becomes highly vulnerable to cancer. However the process through which these genes may turn cancerous may take time probably beyond 20 years. The mutation of vital genes such as suppressor genes, oncogenesis and genes involved in DNA repair leads to genetic instability and to progressive loss of differentiation. Tumors grow because cancer cells lack the ability to balance cell division by cell death and by angiogenesis. The transformed cells lose their ability to interact with each other and exhibit uncontrolled cell growth. They will eventually invade the tissues that surround them and spread into the blood stream after which they can reach very organ in the body.

GeneticGenetic predisposition to cancer undeniably has a role in cancer formation. One of the mostly inherited mutations of BRCA 1 gene is known to cause breast cancer in women. Those who have this gene mutation have higher chances of getting a breast cancer as well as ovarian cancer. Earlier identification of the germline mutations can be achieved through genetic testing. This will allow the person to adopt cancer preventive measures by seeking help from integrative cancer centers that will give natural means of suppressing the mutated gene expression.

Dr. Dalal Akoury is an experienced integrative cancer doctor who has seen very many cancer patients journey to victory in their fight against cancer. She is available for consultations. Just call her now and begin your journey to victory against cancer.

Genetic and Viral Predisposition To Cancer Is A Crucial Subject In Cancer Treatment

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Glycolysis Inhibitors Help in Fighting Cancer

August 4, 2014

 

The Role of Glycolysis Inhibitors In Fighting Cancer

The best way of killing cancer cells is to starve them. This is the safest way of killing cancer cell as the normal healthy cells are not affected by this way of killing the cancerous cells. In the past it was a big problem finding a way of killing the cancerous cells without affecting the healthy body cells. This is because all the cancer cells as well as the healthy body cells depend on glucose as their energy source that they need to survive. However very many researchers have done work on the subject of cancer cell metabolism and the discovery by Otto Warburg that the cancer cells depended entirely on glucose for source of energy unlike the healthy body cells that can adapt to other sources of energy like fats helps a lot in selective killing of cancer cells without hurting the healthy body cells. The cancerous cells undergo increased glycolysis and rely on this pathway for generation of ATP energy as their sole source of energy for growth and survival.

Basing arguments on the Warburg effect, doctors have come up with different cancer therapies to help in killing the cancer cells effectively without hurting the healthy body cells. The cancer cell overdependence on the glycolitic pathway for generation of ATP energy as the sole source of survival has provided a great loophole through which the cancer cells can be selectively killed without affecting any other healthy cell by inhibiting glycolysis.

There are Glycolytic inhibitors that can be used in maiming the cancer cells by denying them their source of livelihood. By inhibiting glycolysis they exert an anticancer effect on the cancer cells hence help in killing the cancer cells.

Glycolytic inhibitors can be used mostly in fighting cancer cells that have mitochondrial defects or in hypoxic conditions. These cells often become resistant to conventional medication such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. However increased glycolysis is a common characteristic of all tumor cells and glycolysis inhibition can be used in wide range in treating cancer patients.

Though it may be difficult to understand the molecular and biochemical mechanisms that lead to increased aerobic glycolysis in the cancer cells, the metabolic repercussions of this increased glycolysis is very clear. The malignant cells become dependent or other addicted to the glycolysis pathway as the sole source of ATP energy. Researchers opine that the increased glycolysis in cancer cells may be caused by such factors as; hypoxia, oncogenic signals as well as mitochondrial dysfunction.

The cancer cells have to access a reliable supply of glucose in order to live. Unlike oxidative phosphorylation which generates more ATP energy per glucose the ATP generation of ATP through glycolysis is too little. Typically oxidative phosphorylation produces 36 ATP per glucose while glycolysis produces 2 ATP per glucose. This therefore forces the cancer cells to eat more glucose for effective metabolism as well as to accomplish other activities. The cancer cells therefore need to maintain glycolitic activities in order to grow and live on.

This metabolic characteristic of the cancer cells has availed a better way of killing cancer cells. Researchers have now proved that by inhibiting glycolysis the cancer cell will stop production of the ATP energy that they depend on and so they will die out of starvation.

When there is glycolysis inhibition the normal body cells will be able to adapt to other metabolic pathways to generate the ATP energy through the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria. The cancer cells however cannot adapt to other sources of ATP as they have defects hence will die as they will not be able to live without another source of ATP energy. The healthy body cells will be able to adapt to new sources of energy like fatty acids and amino acids to produce metabolic intermediates channeled to the TCA cycle for ATP production through respiration. Glycolysis inhibition is therefore a clever way of killing the cancer cells without harm on the healthy body cells.

DCA as a Glycolysis inhibitor

The way DCA works as a glycolysis inhibitor is very interesting; it forces the cancer cells to generate ATP through glucose oxidation but the cancer cells are not able to do this and they get starved and die. The healthy body cells can adapt to metabolic changes unlike the cancerous cells. The first way through which the body cells get energy is through glucose oxidation which happens in the mitochondria of every cell in the body and requires oxygen. Glucose respiration is the mostly utilized form of metabolism in the healthy cells. However in absence of oxygen the cells turn to glycolysis which takes place in the cell cytoplasm for energy generation. Glycolysis does not avail adequate ATP energy for normal cells; however it is the best for cancer cells. Glycolysis depends on sugar. This gives the healthy cell advantage as they have a backup plan in case the oxygen supply is interrupted. However to oxidize glucose there must be pyruvate. Pyruvate entry into the mitochondria is inhibited by an enzyme known as pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK). In case the PDK is strong then it will limit the transportation of pyruvate into the mitochondria and the healthy cells will have to depend on glycolysis even in presence of oxygen but incase its weak the pyruvate will be transported with ease to mitochondria even when the oxygen is low.

Cancer cells have the most active PDK than the healthy cells and they are adapted to glycolysis. When PDK is weak then the cancer cells are disadvantaged and this is what the DCA does. It weakens PDK forcing the cancer cells to rely on glucose oxidation which does not favor them. Hence they will starve and die.

Dr. Dalal Akoury is an experienced integrative cancer doctor who has seen very many cancer patients journey to victory in their fight against cancer. She is available for consultations. Just call her now and begin your journey to victory against cancer.

The Role of Glycolysis Inhibitors In Fighting Cancer

 

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