757 Anti-Cancer

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 (stage 3). I completely refused chemo and radiation. I instead did the Hoxsey treatment which historically started on animals in 1840 and humans in 1924. I have been 10 years cancer free. Everything that Dr. David Servan-Schreiber has said is part of the Hoxsey diet which has a 80% to 90% cancer survival rate for any type of cancer.

I just wished that the AMA had not driven my treatment out of the USA to Mexico and that I still could just go here in Dallas for my treatment.

Thanks,
Constanza G.

This is so much false information - you should not give people the impression that if you do all this that you will not get CANSER. My wife (age 43) is currently suffering from a relapse of her AML Leukemia. It does not matter how healthy a life style you have or how good your diet is. YOU can still get cancer. My wife was in the best shape of her life just before she came down with her cancer. She was eating all the "right" foods. She was biking 40 0 60 miles a week and running 5-10 miles a week. I on the other hand have a horrible diet, she is always trying to get me to eat better. I do exercise in fact I am preparing for a 100 mile ride this may for the Leukemia Society.

The only thing I can say is that her life style has made her treatments go much easier, however, none of it prevented cancer and none of it kept it from coming back.

This show is very informative, as the topics you all discuss certainly are relevant to health-conscious people, and to people who should be more health-conscious. I have subscribed to health bulletins and magazines for years and know most of the basic info about nutritional eating, but I definitely learned a few things today, especially in regard to taking vitamins, turmeric, and soy. In fact, I'm going to purchase this doctor's book so that I can read his ideas more closely. Thanks again for a great and beneficial show!

I was diagnosed with Adenoid cystic carcinoma in July of 2008, which had started in my left lung, lucky for me! This cancer usually starts in the lymphatic system and ends in the lungs, needless to say at that point you are usually terminal. My case was the 17th case of it's kind. Anyway, a comment was made by the Graedons that "with oncology today, they may give you chemo, radiation, radio therapy,or surgery, then tell you come back in 6 months and we'll see how it's going and you're on you're own."

My experience was nothing like that and I'm sorry for anyone who is treated like that. The Marshfield/ Sacred Heart Hospital Cancer Research Center in Eau Claire Wisconsin was exactly the opposite. These people are dedicated not only for healing the body, but to the nourishment of the soul. You are greeted at the door by name, after treatments they call you at home to check up on you, and are always smiling and keep a very POSITIVE attitude towards beating, and surviving cancer.

I could not have kept my positive attitude without them, and my friends an families support. My advice to any cancer patient: If your caregiver and staff make you feel that you're just a number and when your treatments or surgery are over they will be there every few months to check on you but your on your own, keep checking until you are comfortable.

My opinion is this, doctors, family and friends who are there supporting you and helping you fight to win is 80% of the battle. The science to beating it won't do it alone and is just small part of a recovery. Thank you, Thad D. B.

My husband and I both wished your interview was done at a slower, more deliberate pace, with phrase-pausing. Many times it was difficult to understand words on our Bose radio. Not usually a problem.

I wished the question of which produce would be best to buy organic was more fully explored beyond Dr. Sevan-Schreiber's response about his daily apple-at-breakfast.

I wonder what Dr. S-S might have said about the diet recommended in The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell (basically vegan). This book reports, as a result of population studies, that the risk of incurring or promoting a human chronic disease is directly related to the extent of animal protein ingested, while vegetable protein does not affect the risk. The book is about the largest study of human nutrition and its relation to human chronic disease (heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and cancer) ever done. As it was, Dr. S-S was not asked, nor did I hear him comment on, protein consumption and its relationship to cancer at all!

How ironic, that when Dr. S-S was asked about a resource for disease-related supplements, he answered that the material was available, but difficult to find and generally unavailable to the public!! I wondered why, and what the difficult route might be.

The assumption that cancer is either being treated or was treated, as the context for the cancer discussion, is not the whole picture. I live with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A watch and wait "strategy" is the medical treatment for perhaps many years. So to have hope, I look to my diet, exercise, volunteering for a cause and social life to have a positive impact on my illness.

Thanks much for bringing Dr. S-S's work to people's attention. I'll read his book. Dr. Zorba Pastor, whose show precedes yours in our area, does not seem aware of much of the material discussed and might welcome a copy of Dr. S-S's book. Dr. Pastor focuses on food and its relationship to illness.

my homeopathic/alternative doc also believes that americans sugar consumption aggravates the cancer gene. i plan to check out the book at mt local library. i appreciate your show. thank you for all your information.

The anger of JLR is understandable, and I commiserate in his distress over his wife's recurrence of AML Leukemia, a horrible disease. As a para-transit driver, who almost daily transports Alzheimer's, diabetic, blind, and other patients, I regularly see the pain and frustration their spouses, children, or care-givers display.

What is striking is that the spouses are usually much stronger and healthier than the ailing partner. One would not logically expect this dichotomy, because the partners can reasonably be presumed to have shared similar, if not identical, diets and major life styles. Granted, one of the partners may have smoked, but both would have been affected by the smoke, and the non-smoker may be the debilitated partner.

The point is that every human being is different, and genetics have long been known to play a critical role in at least some aspects of health, disease, and longevity. In his anger and frustration, JLR has extrapolated from the program a conclusion or opinion that was not voiced or implied. Throughout the discussion, and in all studies I have read, there are no assertions that Dr. Servan-Schreiber's recommendations, or the diets and life-styles studied, will prevent cancer. They repeatedly state that the research shows lower rates of cancer, meaning reduced probabilities of developing cancer.

The program touched on the matter of cellular phones, and their potential for causing brain cancer. Dr. Servan-Schrieber correctly noted that the "inconclusive" or "neutral" surveys are short, only two years or so. Surveys that investigated cellular-phone usage for 10 to 12 years, or longer, show a definite statistical correlation between cellular-phone use and cancer or tumors on the side of the head exposed to the phones.

Forty-five years ago, while I was in college, I read a research article on, and saw photomicrographs of, the effects of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation on living cells. The photos were dramatic: the cells changed shape and alignment, depending on the frequency and power of the radiation to which they were exposed.

Although I do not own a cellular phone, I am required to operate one on my para-transit job. I use it sparingly, but after about three years of daily usage, I noticed that the muscles and tendons in my left hand, in which I always held the phone, had become hard and very tender. Neither a doctor nor a neurologist could determine a cause. Both were extremely skeptical when I told them about my college experience, and because there were no similar symptoms in my right hand, I suspected the cellular phone was the cause.

I discontinued holding the phone in my left hand, either using a head-set, while the phone sat on the console, a safe distance away, or holding the phone in my right hand, so it was not wrapped around the back of the phone, where the transmitter and antenna are located. Within six months of beginning this procedure, the hardness and tenderness had diminished considerably. Now, after about 1 1/2 years, they are gone or undetectable.

I predict that there will someday be massive, anti-tobacco style, class-action lawsuits against the cellular-phone industry and manufacturers.

Finally, the Graedons should look into the emerging specter of "full-body" scanners. In effect, they are highly specialized X-ray machines. Patients being X-rayed are often shielded with lead "aprons," and the operators always duck behind lead-lined shields when operating the machines.

The manufacturers and the government assure us the "full-body" scanners are harmless. They are definitely not neutral parties in the debate. For the radiation to reflect back from the subjects' bodies, it must interact with the body's surface -- its cells (see http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/24331/ ).

We are introducing many more pollutants into our environments than just CO2, methane, and fertilizer run-off.

Hi! That was a great program! I am a breast cancer survivor-19yrs. Couldn't take tamoxofin-very allergic-so I've taken grape-seed extract & for 13 yrs. taken tumeric-bosweila-bromelain combo along with glucosamine & chrondroitin sulfates for arthritis & I know it works & apparently it's had other good effects because the cancer hasn't returned yet.

My family history is not a good one with breast cancer on both sides, but mine was caught early because of mammograms since 40 yrs. It was against the chest wall & only scattered cells & the Dr. did one of the first lumpectomies & had 35 radiation treatments as follow-up.

More recently I am experiencing difficulty with that shoulder, arm, chest wall tightness. The Docs & techs tell me that I have scar tissue build-up from the radiation; so I've been doing therapy to regain the use which is working, but it's hard work. Also, have been careful about diet-use olive oil, garlic, onions & eat the crucifers all the time, fish & chicken & very little red meat, possibly once a month. Always wonder what the Docs will find when I go for the annual checkups, but so far all is well.

Thanks for your wealth of info. It's a great show!!!!

Regarding the doctor's comment about pitted fruits and anti-cancer properties.

Does anyone know if you are using these fruits in a smoothie, should you blend the pits? IOW, is the anti-cancer property in the fruit AND in the pits??

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: JUST THE FRUIT.

I have always truly believed that we are what we eat and studied how we function and how my body reacts to different foods and food combinations.

Lately a very good friend was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I have been shopping and cooking for him, cutting out polyaminates, which help the reproduction of our cells (including cancer cells!), giving him anti-inflammatory foods and spices as well as immune boosting foods.

It is not proven that it works, but he is not affected by his heavy chemo treatments, is putting weight back on, and has lots of energy.

I am not a professional, but I would love to contact Dr. David Servan-Shreiber because I want to write a cook book for cancer patients. Thank you for your help.

Sybil

Hi,

Thanks for posting about Dr. Servan-Schreiber and the Anticancer cause. I am the web developer & digital strategist for Dr. Servan-Schreiber and Anticancer. I just wanted to let you know that Dr. Servan-Schreiber will be posting his latest insight and research through his official Facebook page: http://www.Facebook.com/Anticancer and his new website: http://www.Anticancerbook.com

Most recently, Dr. Servan-Schreiber and 40 renowned physicians & scientists presented new groundbreaking research regarding Vitamin D, while launching an international appeal and calling for new standard recommendations. http://www.anticancerbook.com/post/Vitamin-D-is-essential-for-the-prevention-of-cancer-heart-disease-osteoporosis.html

Please let me know if you have any questions or need related Anticancer content.

Thanks
Haysam

More information to this topic you can find on my Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer blog.

Haysam, I went to DR. S-S site and I was concerned that the recommendation there for vitamin D to prevent cancer was way too low, imho.

Here are YOUR recommendations:

" * For most people suffering from cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, chronic kidney disease, or other conditions associated with a vitamin D deficiency, people older than 60 years, and people of dark skin to seek appropriate serum testing of 25-OH vitamin D from their health care practitioners. On the basis of this testing, we further recommend adequate supplementation or appropriate sun exposure to maintain a year-round level of 25-OH vitamin D between 75 and 150 nmol/L (30–60 ng/mL).

* For the population at large, an urgent reflection of the appropriate health authorities of each country on the importance of recommending supplementation of 1000–2000 IU of vitamin D per day, especially during the fall and winter months."

How do you square your recommendation of 1000-2000 IU/day with the fact that the body needs 4000 IU/day (and for many, significantly more) to maintain 80 nmol/L? (See: "Whats a Vitamin D Deficiency?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emjCzaHtSrg&feature=channel .

Since we're talking about the prevention of cancer, we should be looking at 150 nmol/L (60ng/mL) anyway, imho; see: "How Vitamin D Reduces Incidence of Cancer: DINOMIT Model" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GM0CnO6-ds and "Dose-Response of Vitamin D and a Mechanism for Cancer Prevention" http://www.ucsd.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=15767 .
The recommentation of Dr. Reinhold Vieth of 10,000 IU/day makes more sense to me; see: "Vitamin D and Cancer Mini-Symposium:
The Risk of Additional Vitamin D": http://www.grassrootshealth.net/media/download/vieth_sip_vitd_cancer_symp_2009.pdf .

And for those who are interested in another similar book on cancer prevention, I recommend "Foods That Fight Cancer: Preventing Cancer through Diet".

Sincerely, Russ

Hi Sybil,

You would probably find the anti-cancer cookbook "Cooking with Foods That Fight Cancer" by Richard Béliveau of interest. An expanded version would be useful. In any case, it is a great starting place.

Sincerely, Russ