Posts Tagged breast cancer

… points to the popularity and need of adding complementary therapies to the medical therapy during breast cancer treatment.(Summary by Kasia Kines, MS, CN, CNS, LDN. Kasia is a licensed nutritionist …

The Breakthrough Discovery

Back in the early nineteen sixties, a navy surgeon, by the name of Dr. Judah Folkman, happened upon a discovery that would revolutionize the way that we view cancer development in the human body. While testing the impact of preserved blood on fast growing tumor cells (a model used to mimic fast growing tissues of wounds) he noticed that cancer cells that would normally ravage the body of a living mouse, could only seem to grow to the size of the tip of a ball point pen in a Petri dish. He wondered why the same tumor cells didn’t replicate with the same level of aggression in a Petri dish as they did in a living creature. After all, he had taken great care to mimic the conditions of living tissue.

After dissecting the large tumors from the living creatures and comparing them to the tiny tumors from his Petri dish experiment, he noticed only one difference between the two tumors; the large tumors from the mice were filled with thousands of tiny networks of blood vessels while the tumor cells from the Petri dish experiment had no such blood supply. From this experiment, he hypothesized that the cancer cells could not develop into a large tumor mass unless and until it had developed a network of small blood vessels called capillaries to feed the cells.  This process of blood vessel development was named “angiogenesis”.  Said another way, if we could prevent cancer cells from developing a blood supply of their own, we could stop cancer growth in its tracks and even cause existing tumors to regress! Furthermore, if tumor cells could not develop a blood supply, they would not be able to metastasize.

Dr. Folkman’s hypothesis and experiment was met with ridicule and rejection from the medical community. In fact, after discussing with a colleague his worry that his research would get picked up and stolen by other researchers, his colleague replied, “You are totally protected against intellectual theft. Nobody will believe you!”

Dr. Folkman continued his experiments, and over the years, his hypothesis went on to be accepted.  His research led to the development of a new class of medication called anti-angiogenesis drugs. Since then, other anti-angiogenesis medications had come to market. Unfortunately, the clinical results were somewhat disappointing; some tumors responded quite well, while others responded partially or not at all.

William Li, founder of The Angiogenesis Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of anti-angiogenesis therapies and lifestyles, believes that the main reason that the medications are not living up to their potential is because we are getting to people too late in the game, after the cancer is fully developed and situated.  He believes that if we can use non-toxic tactics to prevent the small cluster of cancerous cells from forming a blood flow in the first place, we can prevent tumors from developing altogether. This would be what Dr. Folkman calls, “Cancer without disease”.

We All Have Cancer

It is a well-known fact that we all have these microscopic cancer cells throughout our bodies. In fact, research that looked at healthy men and women who had died in car accidents, discovered that 40% of women between the ages of 40-50 have these microscopic tumors within their breasts and 50% of men, between the ages of 50-60, have these micro-tumors in their prostates. It is even more disturbing that virtually 100% of men and women in their 70s have micro-tumors in their thyroid! The only thing preventing these people from developing the disease of cancer is the fact that the tumor cells had not developed a blood flow yet. The question is, “what can we do to prevent those harmless micro-tumors from ever developing a blood flow?” Dr. William Li believes that he has the answer…

Eat to Starve Cancer

The anti-angiogenesis medications, used to treat existing tumors, do not come without side effects. These side effects, although fewer than conventional chemotherapy, would make them inappropriate tools for preventing angiogenesis in micro-tumors. There is good news, however, researchers discovered that nature offers an abundance of natural compounds with potent anti-angiogenesis activity. Best of all, rather than blocking angiogenesis altogether, they normalize it. Disease begins when the growth of blood vessels occur unimpeded by the natural systems of checks and balances within the body. These natural anti-angiogenesis compounds appear to regulate and normalize the angiogenic balance within the body.

Angiogenesis is Essential to Health

Once we reach adulthood, it is generally accepted that blood vessels stop growing. There are three situations, however, that seem to defy this rule: menstruation, pregnancy and injury/wounds. During menstruation, pregnancy, and injury, the body produces protein chemicals that act as fertilizer for blood vessels; this stimulates the growth of new capillaries. When we injure ourselves, blood vessels grow beneath the scab to bring nutrients and oxygen to the damaged area in order to repair the damage. After the wound has healed, the body produces anti-angiogenesis compounds that stop the growth and prune back the blood vessels if needed. This process is tightly controlled; when angiogenesis is not well controlled, many diseases can arise.

Angiogenesis Gone Haywire

There are two ways that angiogenesis can become problematic; you can either have too few or too many blood vessels growing in a particular area of the body. In the case where there is too little angiogenesis, you see diseases such as:

• Wounds that won’t heal
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Neuropathy
• Hair loss
• Erectile Dysfunction

In cases where there is too much angiogenesis, you see diseases such as:

• Cancer
• Blindness
• Psoriasis
• Endometriosis
• Obesity
• Rosacea
• Alzheimers

Cancer – The Ultimate Disease of Excess Angiogenesis

Although there are many diseases that can be connected to angiogenesis, abnormal blood vessel growth is a hallmark of all solid tumors. It is an accepted theory that one key to controlling cancer growth, especially metastatic and aggressive cancer, is to shut down the process of angiogenesis within the diseased tissue without affecting the healthy tissue.

Cancer’s Weakness

Generally speaking, blood vessels are stable and resilient tissues. Blood vessels found in tumors, however, appear to be built in a hurry. Their structure and architecture is disorganized and fragile, which makes them more susceptible to anti-angiogenesis therapies than normal tissues. This weakness may prove to be one of the greatest advantages that we have over this deadly foe.

Nature’s Advantage

When the scientists discovered the presence of proteins that promote angiogenesis, they realized that nature, with all of its systems of checks and balances, must also make proteins that inhibit angiogenesis. They first discovered these compounds in the urine of mice, which were resistant to cancer; they named this compound angiostatin. They then began to find compounds with similar activity in the foods that we eat, such as fruits, vegetables and tealeaves. Researchers have made great strides in defining which foods appear to have the most potent anti-angiogenesis activity. A non-exaustive list is provide below:

1. Green Tea
2. Strawberries
3. Blackberries
4. Blueberries
5. Raspberries
6. Oranges
7. Grapefruits
8. Lemons
9. Apples
10. Pineapples
11. Cherries
12. Red grapes
13. Red wine
14. Bok Choy
15. Soybean
16. Ginseng
17. Maitake
18. Licorice
19. Turmeric
20. Nutmeg
21. Artichoke
22. Lavender
23. Pumpkin
24. Sea Cucumber
25. Tuna
26. Parsley
27. Garlic
28. Tomato
29. Olive Oil
30. Grape Seed
31. Dark Chocolate

Of these foods, the ones that appear to have the most potent anti-angiogenesis activity include (in order of potency):

1. Soy extract
2. Artichoke
3. Parsley
4. Berries
5. Soy
6. Garlic
7. Red grapes
8. Brassica
9. Citrus
10. Lavender
11. Green tea
12. Glucosamine
13. Turmeric
14. Tea

(Lists taken from a lecture by Dr. Li during a TED conference)

Power Resides in the Synergy

According to Dictionary.com, “Synergy” is defined as “The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.” In a study on the anti-angiogenesis activity of tea, researchers tested the ability of three different types of tea to inhibit blood vessel growth. In this study, they determined that they all had anti-angiogenesis activity, however, of the three, Earl Grey appeared to be the most potent. The researchers then decided to combine the two weaker teas and test the anti-angiogenesis activity of the mixture. They discovered that the combination of the two weaker teas resulted in more inhibition of blood vessel growth than the stronger Earl Grey tea. According to Dr. Li, this shows the presence of what is called “Nutritional Synergy” meaning, smaller quantities of many different nutrients and phytochemicals is likely superior to high quantities of fewer nutrients.

Future of Anti-Angiogenesis Studies

Currently, there is mounting laboratory and animal research that is confirming the anti-angiogenesis activity of foods. Using a special test tube model of blood vessel growth, Dr. Li and his organization is working to map the anti-angiogenic activity of common fruits, vegetables, herbs and teas. The ultimate goal is to form a menu of foods that are likely to inhibit this key step in the growth of abnormal cells into metastatic tumor masses.

One study, published by Harvard Medical School, tested the effect of dietary lycopene (a red pigment found in foods such as tomatoes, berries, etc) on the risk of prostate cancer. They determined that men, who consumed the most lycopene-containing foods, enjoyed the lowest incidence of prostate cancer. The researchers then tested the tumor biopsies for the presence of blood vessels. They discovered that of the men who went on to develop prostate cancer, the more lycopene they consumed, the lower the density of blood vessels in the tumor. This finding suggests that even when lycopene fails to completely inhibit angiogenesis, is appears to slow the growth and potentially decrease the virility of the existing tumor mass.

Obviously, more research needs to be performed to confirm the legitimacy of the laboratory and animal findings. I believe that there is sufficient data, in combination with epidemiological research showing an inverse relationship between fruit/vegetable intake and cancer risk, to start to incorporate larger quantities of the foods, which have anti-angiogenesis activity.

Using These Findings

The rules are simple:

1. Consume many servings of vegetables, fruits, and spices
2. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables; choose them based on color and spectrum
3. Choose fruits that are lower on the glycemic index (lower sugar content)
4. Drink a variety of teas including: green tea, Earl Grey, jasmine and white tea.

Supplements for Prevention of Angiogenesis

Many people have been asking me about herbs and nutritional supplements that may give them a leg up on this issue. Although we do not have research on specific supplements, as they pertain to angiogenesis, I suspect that whole-food, freeze-dried extracts of fruits, vegetables and herbs will provide a spectrum of concentrated anti-angiogenesis compounds. I personally use a variety of whole food fruit, vegetable, mushroom and nutritional extracts for their broad benefits. This research has solidified these products as part of my long-term supplement plan. Below I list the supplements that I feel would provide the greatest anti-angiogenic activity; it should be noted that every one of these food-products offer multiple health benefits, in addition to being great means of protecting against angiogenesis:

1. Berry Greens by New Chapter – There are many whole food formulas on the market, I chose this formula because it is highly concentrated, has a good number of plants with certified anti-angiogenic activity, can be found in either capsules or powder and is readily available. I recommend 6 capsules per day or one tablespoon per day as a supplement to a healthy diet. If you get few fruits and vegetables in the diet, or you have a history or high risk of cancer, I would recommend doubling this dose.
2. PolyResveratrol-SR by Thorne Research – This formula combines resveratrol, pterostilbene, a highly absorbed curcumin, a highly absorbed green tea extract and quercetin. These compounds have anti-aging, anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic activity. The recommended dose is one capsule twice daily (although higher doses may be even more effective).
3. Vitamin D – Aside from vitamin Ds other anti-cancer qualities, it also appears to inhibit angiogenesis. Recommended doses are 2,000-4,000 iu per day.

Conclusion:

Normalizing angiogenesis within the body appears to be a critical step in the maintenance of healthy cells. After listening to a 20-minute lecture by Dr. William Li of the Angiogenesis Foundation, and researching the topic in depth, I am convinced that this may be one of the most important findings in medical history. I look forward to the results of Dr. Li’s research on the anti-angiogenesis activity of various foods and will continue to keep you updated as new research is published on the subject. 

Before I get into this discussion, however, I want to discuss the connection between fibrocystic breast disease and breast cancer. Due to conflicting research, conventional medicine does not acknowledge a connection. I feel that this is a grave mistake, let me explain why.

In many ways, our body works like a vehicle. When anything goes wrong, a little “Check Engine” light pops on. Although the check engine light is not the cause of the dysfunction, ignoring it can cause a breakdown. Fibrocystic breast disease is like the “Check Engine” light flashing. Covering it up with symptomatic treatment and/or surgical treatment could be the sin of omission that could ultimately allow breast cancer to develop.

So what would the fibroids tell us about what is wrong? We simply do not have all of the answers to this question; although, we have found certain correlations, such as iodine deficiency.

You can read the full article Here.

The Health Clinic has lots of resources in this topic, including professional Iodine supplement product comparisons and great deals at the store.

You can also post your questions or comments to this topic here.

In this study, which was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers evaluated the effect of a lon- term (5 years or longer) adult dose (greater than or equal to 325 mg daily) of aspirin on risk of cancer. The study, involving over 150,000 older men and women, found a 32% lower risk of colorectal cancer, a 19% lower risk of prostate cancer and a 17% decrease in the risk of breast cancer which could be attributed to chance.

Those who know me, know that I am not a fan of regular aspirin use for prevention of any disease. In my opinion, the risks simply do not outweigh the benefits. Daily aspirin is most popular for its use in prevention of heart disease, however, it is a little known fact that aspirin has never been shown to prolong anyone’s life! But you say, “Aspirin prevents heart attacks!” According to the research this is technically true, heart attack rates appear to be less for those who take a baby aspirin daily. The problem is, funeral rates are exactly the same! In fact, senior citizens who take aspirin daily have higher funeral rates meaning they die sooner! Let’s follow the logic, the fatal side effects of low dose aspirin cancel out the protective effect of aspirin on the nation’s number one killer – heart disease. Higher dose aspirin will most certainly have a higher risk of side effect, and cancer does not kill nearly as many people annually as heart disease. My belief is that the fatal side effects of daily, adult-dose aspirin will far outweigh the benefits. This doesn’t mean that we cannot make use of the information from this study!

Wherever there is chronic inflammation you have a significantly increased risk of cancer. We see this in the colon when people have chronic autoimmune conditions of the colon, with liver cancer in those with hepatitis, with cervical cancer with HPV infection and with esophageal cancer in those with chronic heartburn. We have a very fundamental understanding of the negative effects of inflammation on the DNA that may lead to mutations in cells which can result in a tumor over time. It then makes sense that if we can decrease inflammation, there should be a decrease in cancer risk and this is what we see. There are certain herbs and plant chemicals that have known anti-inflammatory effects without the potential side effects of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen, naproxen and Celebrex. These herbs include ginger, turmeric, boswellia and rosemary, just to name a few. These compounds are commonly used for everyday aches and pains and seem to have significant anti-cancer benefit. A formula that we use which combines potent forms of these and other herbs can be found on www.illnessisoptional.com by clicking Here. Otherwise, use herbal formulas and cooking spices that contain more of these anti-cancer compounds. One other extremely important natural anti-inflammatory that we discuss often is omega-3 fish oil. The essential fatty acids found in fish oil are well known for their benefits in correcting inflammation. These essential fatty acids are also important for regulating cell division in addition to their anti-inflammatory effect. A suggested dose is at least 1800 mg of EPA and 1200 mg of DHA daily. Click here to get a product suggestion.

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According to the results of this study, the subjects who had the highest fruit and vegetable intake were 24% less likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer and 16% less likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
(Am J Clin Nutr, 2009; 89(5): 1441-52.)

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
We briefly discussed the link between fruit and vegetable intake and cancer in our radio program last week, this study seems to confirm our findings and the findings of numerous studies to date. The data is nearly indisputable that fruit and vegetable intake is extremely important in the prevention of cancer. The question that we have yet to answer is just how much is enough to provide optimal benefits. A book called “The Enzyme Factor”, written by Dr. Shinya – the father of the colonoscopy – hypothesizes that these raw foods contain a “mother enzyme” that is responsible for health and vitality of our cells. Having performed thousands of colonoscopies he found that he could determine the relative health of the person simply by seeing the health of the patient’s colon. He then determined that the health of the colon was almost entirely related to the amount of fruits, vegetables and live food in the diet. In a nut shell, EAT TONS OF RAW HEALTHY FOODS!

The study included over a thousand men and women who had polyps removed during colonoscopy. Polyps are small benign growths in the colon which, when left untreated, can end up becoming cancerous. This means that the people who were included in this study had sick colons.

The subjects were randomly assigned to receive either folic acid or sugar-pill as placebo. In addition, the patients were randomly assigned to take low dose aspirin, regular dose aspirin or placebo. At the end of the study, scientists were disappointed to find that folic acid had no effect on risk of colon cancer. At this point the study should have been completed and published with the final result being “in this study, folic acid did not appear to decrease colon cancer risk in people with sick colons”. This result, however, does not make headline news…The researchers then continued looking and crunching numbers and found a non-statistically significant increase in prostate cancer risk. What this means is that the finding can not be proven to be anything more than bad luck rather than a cause-effect relationship. Of course, this non-significant finding became what the press caught onto even though most researchers would throw the finding away as just chance occurrence.

What does all this mean? The final conclusion is disappointing but not unexpected. When polyps are found in the colon, this means that you have a sick colon. The fact that the polyps were removed simply covers up the symptom of a sick colon. To expect one synthesized vitamin to make an impact on a complicated condition simply speaks to the ignorance of conventional medicine to natural approaches to health. Is it possible that folic acid plays a role in cancer prevention? We know it does. We know that folic acid deficiency results in significant damage to DNA which can certainly play a part in the development of cancer. However, if folic acid deficiency is not present then adding more folate to the biochemical soup of our bodies will not make a significant difference.

Does folic acid increase cancer risk? Most likely not, this study certainly does not convince me otherwise. However, let me take a devil’s advocate position. We know that folic acid exists as both an active form and an inactive form. The folic acid used in the study is in the “inactive” form and could potentially block the active form from doing its job. It would make more sense to supplement with an activated form of folic acid called methyltetrahydrofolate. This would negate the blocking effect of standard folic acid and provide more benefit. The take-home messages are:

1. Folic acid likely does not increase cancer risk. This study showed a possible trend which could be due to chance alone.
2. Many studies have found that folic acid may protect against certain cancers.
3. Folic acid is best taken in the activated form.
4. Eating foods high in natural folate is safe and beneficial to the body.

I recommend a fascinating book written by the doctor who developed the modern day colonoscopy. The book is called The Enzyme Factor and explains how a high enzyme diet, such as a diet high in raw fruits and vegetables, can reverse the damage to the colon and turn your overall health around.