| Cancer:
Awareness, Prevention & Natural Therapies
By
Thomas A. Kruzel, ND
Cancer
Statistics:
Cancer accounts for nearly one-quarter of deaths
in the United States, exceeded only by that
due to heart diseases. In 2005, there were 559,312
cancer deaths in the United States. Currently
it is estimated that about 1.4 million new cases
of cancer will be diagnosed in 2008. Overall,
cancer death rates are higher in men than women
in every racial and ethnic group. African American
men and women have higher rates of cancer mortality
than their counterparts in every other racial
and ethnic group. Asian American and Pacific
Islander men and women have the lowest cancer
death rates, about half the rate of African
American men and women, respectively.
Cancers of the prostate and breast will be the
most frequently diagnosed cancers in men and
women, followed by lung and colorectal cancers
in both men and in women. Lung cancer is currently
the most common cause of cancer death in women,
with the death rate more than two times what
it was 27 years ago. In comparison, breast cancer
death rates were virtually unchanged between
1930 and 1990, but decreased about 27% between
1990 to 2004. The death rates for stomach and
uterine cancers have decreased steadily since
1930. Colorectal cancer death rates have been
decreasing for the past 50 years due in large
part to screening procedures.
Despite a continuing decline in the cancer death
rate from 2004 to 2005, the recorded number
of cancer deaths increased by 3,592 in men and
1,832 in women, resulting in a total increase
of 5,424 cancer deaths. The incidence of cancer
among children ages 0-14 years has been increasing
slightly, by about 0.6% per year, since 1975.
Cancer-related mortality in children ages 0-14
has been stable since 1998 after decreasing
steadily from 1975 to 1998 by 2.9% per year.
Awareness:
Awareness of ones risk factors for development
of cancer is important from a prevention standpoint.
A risk factor is defined as anything that increases
a person's chance of getting a disease. Some
risk factors such as diet, nutrition and exposures
to toxic materials can be changed, and others
such as genetic predispositions to developing
cancer cannot. Risk factors for cancer can include
a person's age, sex, and family medical history.
Growing older increases ones risk of cancer
because of environmental and age related factors.
Use of tobacco significantly increases the risk
of cancer, not only for lung cancer but others
as well. Exposure to excessive amounts of sunlight
without proper skin care, also increases the
risk. Ionizing radiation, a variety of chemicals,
certain hormones, and some viruses and bacteria
round out the list of common risk factors. Excess
alcohol intake, poor diet and a lack of exercise
also contribute. One or more risk factors may
be needed to develop cancer. High levels of
stress, while not directly identified as a risk
factor, certainly plays a role in lowering immune
system function, which also contributes.
Having a risk factor for cancer means that a
person is more likely to develop the disease
at some point in their lives. However, having
one or more risk factors does not necessarily
mean that a person will get cancer. Some people
with one or more risk factors never develop
the disease, while other people who do develop
cancer have no apparent risk factors. Additionally,
even when a person who has a risk factor or
factors is diagnosed with cancer, it is often
difficult to prove that the risk factor actually
caused the cancer. Statistically however, persons
who develop cancer have the corresponding risk
factors more often than not. Regardless of whether
someone has or does not have the necessary risk
factors, screening for cancer should be an on-going
process as its development poses a significant
social, familial and economic burden.
Warning Signs:
There are a number of cancer warning signs that
everyone should be aware of. These are also
known as the 7 warning signs of cancer.
1. Any unusual bleeding or discharge such as
blood in the urine or stool or a discharge from
the breast or penis.
2. A sore which does not heal or doesn’t
seem to be getting better over time. A sore
that becomes more painful, is starting to bleed
or becomes bigger.
3. Any change in bowel or bladder habits such
as becoming constipated or looser than normal
stools. If there is a change in color, consistency,
shape of the stool or if blood is noted, these
should be brought to the attention of your physician.
4. A lump or growth noted in the breast or
other part of the body such as the scrotum,
axilla, inguinal region, or neck.
5. A nagging or persistent cough or a change
in ones voice or development of hoarseness
6.
An obvious change in a mole. The ABCD rule will
help you determine if changes have occurred.
• Asymmetry: Does the mole look the same
in all parts or are there differences?
• Border: Are the borders sharp or ragged?
• Color: What are the colors seen in the
mole?
• Diameter: Is the mole bigger than a
pencil eraser (6 mm)?
7. Difficulty in swallowing. Is there a feeling
of pressure in throat or chest which makes swallowing
uncomfortable or feeling a fullness without
food or with a small amount of food.
While not considered a “Warning Sign”
patients often will present with a sense of
unease or be worried about the presence of cancer.
These feelings should never be dismissed by
the physician but addressed as excessive worry
and stress can lead to a lower immune system
function that may allow cancer or other illnesses
to develop.
Prevention:
Prevention of cancer begins with recognizing
ones risk factors and addressing them before
they become problematic. While there is a plethora
of information regarding cancer, its risk factors
and prevention available, it is often difficult
for patients to develop and implement a prevention
plan. In part this is because there is so much
information available that it is often difficult
to sort out. Therefore, developing a prevention
plan with a knowledgeable health care worker
can be immensely beneficial.
Some of the areas that naturopathic medicine
focuses on are diet and nutrition, exercise,
and proper use of antioxidant therapy to lower
ones risk. The link between diet and nutrition
and cancer development is well known. People
who consume high calorie and fat diets have
higher rates of cancer compared to those who
do not. Statistical evidence shows that those
who consume fresh fruits and vegetables, eat
a low fat and moderate carbohydrate and adequate
protein diet, and are not excessively over weight,
have lower cancer rates.
The American Cancer Society recommends that
individuals eat five or more servings of vegetables
and fruits a day for cancer prevention. Fruit
and vegetable consumption have been linked to
lower rates of cancers of the mouth and pharynx,
esophagus, lung, stomach, and colon and rectum.
Nationally however, there has been little improvement
in consumption of these beneficial foods since
the mid-1990s, and less than one in four adults
was consuming the recommended servings in 2005.
Exercise also has been shown in numerous studies
to be of benefit in the prevention and treatment
of most diseases. Participation in physical
activity has been consistently associated with
a reduced risk of developing cancer, particularly
breast and colon cancer. In general, cancer
rates are lower in people who exercise on a
regular basis, and clinically seem to be beneficial
in those undergoing cancer therapy. Even though
the exact mechanism of how exercise reduces
cancer risk isn't known, researchers believe
that physical activity's effects on factors
including hormone levels, immune function, and
body weight may play an important role. Additionally
it is thought that the benefits of higher oxygen
delivery to the body also plays a role as cancer
cells have difficulty living in high oxygen
environments.
Addressing ones level of stress also helps to
prevent cancer. High stress levels affect cortisol
levels which in turn affect immune system function.
Patients who are chronically maladapted to stressors
are found to suffer from more frequent illnesses.
Natural
Therapies:
There are a wide variety of natural treatments
for cancer available, each reporting varying
degrees of success. Many patients with cancer
choose to pursue natural therapies in conjunction
with conventional treatments. It has been our
experience that patients undergoing conventional
treatments such as chemotherapy and/or radiation
fare better when natural therapies are employed
at the same time.
For certain types of cancers, natural therapies
have been shown to be effective whereas for
others, it hasn’t fared much better than
conventional methods. This is because despite
the type of cancer, the individual who is afflicted
reacts differently than someone else with the
same diagnosis. Therefore, treatments must be
highly individualized in order for them to be
more effective.
Natural
Medicine As Adjunctive Therapy:
In patients undergoing standard regimens of
chemotherapy and/or radiation, natural medicines
used concurrently provide relief from the side
effects of conventional treatments. While in
theory chemotherapy and radiation affect the
cancer cells more than healthy cells, healthy
cells are affected in much the same manner.
The use of antioxidants, high dose Vitamin C
infusions, constitutional hydrotherapy, and
homeopathic prescriptions to combat nausea and
vomiting has been shown to be beneficial.
A number of studies have shown that patient’s
who undergo natural therapies while having chemotherapy
and/or radiation, have better outcomes. Not
only do they handle the side effects of the
therapy better, but also patient response to
them is much improved. In other words, the likelihood
of a successful response to conventional treatments
increases.
Once conventional cancer therapies have been
completed, the patient’s immune system
is also compromised. Left on its own to recuperate,
it often takes a considerable period of time
to make a recovery, and then it is often an
incomplete one. The most critical period following
cancer therapy that allows for the possibility
of its recurrence is within the first 5 years.
Therefore, a rapid recovery of immune function
is highly desirable in order to catch any cancer
cells that have escaped previous therapies.
There are a number of natural medicine protocols
to restore immune system function which have
been shown clinically to be beneficial. Redevelopment
of the battered immune system must occur before
any further immune therapy is undertaken in
order to prevent recurrence of the cancer. Immune
therapy targets cancer cells but must have a
healthy immune system to do so. Clinically,
patients’ who undergo treatment to restore
their immune system fare better with 5-year
survival rates than those who do not. In addition
to the immune system, restorative therapies
also benefit other organ systems such as the
liver, kidneys, thyroid, and the gastrointestinal
tract.
Natural
Medicine As Primary Cancer Therapy:
A number of patients choose to utilize natural
therapies in the treatment of cancer over conventional
ones. The decision to do so should not be taken
lightly and consultation with an experienced
naturopathic physician should be pursued so
that all options can be weighed. Unfortunately
some patients choose to begin natural therapies
on their own based upon a recommendation or
what they have read on the Internet.
There are overabundances of natural therapies
available to choose from. The problem with this
is that not all of the therapies are beneficial
for the type of cancer being treated, and, utilizing
many different therapies at the same time can
actually be detrimental. Some natural therapies
can actually be suppressive while others may,
after a time, become ineffectual or feed the
cancer.
A person’s response to the development
of cancer, their response to therapy, and their
ability to recover are highly individual. Therefore,
the therapy undertaken must be designed for
the individual patient and not for the type
of cancer encountered. As we are unique individuals,
a particular therapy may not be good for everyone
despite the testimonials as to its effectiveness.
Therefore, consultation with an experienced
naturopathic physician can help sort through
the many options so that those chosen can provide
maximum benefit.
Our experience with cancer therapy, be it adjunct
or primary, is that it must constantly be monitored
and readjusted as the patient progresses through
it. The growth of cancer cells is often chaotic
and unpredictable and therefore the treatments
should constantly be monitored and adjusted.
This is one of the reasons we vary our prescriptions
so that we can keep the cancer on edge, never
allowing it to adapt.
As with any therapy, the most important aspect
of it is; is the patient responding appropriately
in a manner that is beneficial? Pursuing a single
therapeutic protocol over a long period of time
may not be beneficial in the long term. Certainly
with any cancer therapy this is extremely important
as things can change quickly which necessitates
a change in the therapeutic protocol. Therefore,
it is important that patients and their physicians
maintain communication as to how therapy is
progressing and make the necessary changes when
needed.
Rockwood Natural Medicine Clinic (RNMC) is a
naturopathic family practice facility. RNMC
was founded in 1991 as a primary care/family
practice clinic with a mission to provide safe,
sensible and effective natural medicine for
the entire family. Dr. Thomas Kruzel and Dr.
Robyn Conte are dedicated to educating and training
the next generation of healthcare providers.
For more information about RNMC, please visit
www.rockwoodnaturalmedicine.com.
# # #
If you'd like more information about this topic,
or to schedule an interview with Dr.
Conte or Dr. Kruzel, please call Jeanne at (480)
767-7119 or e-mail her at RNMC9755@yahoo.com.
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