Nutrition Archives - Hope Never Dies

Many Paths to Wellness – 2023 CAM for Cancer Conference

January 31, 2023 by Rick Shapiro Leave a Comment

The Annie Appleseed Project was founded in 2000 by Ann Fonfa, a 25 year breast cancer survivor and warrior, whose journey was chronicled in Hope Never Dies.

The goal was to bring complementary and alternative therapies to the mainstream, while also serving as a place where all ideas are scrutinized.

From its inception, the Annie Appleseed Project sought to …

Challenge the existing treatment paradigm
Question the existing research methods and subjects
Propose new directions for both, ending with true Integrative Oncology

The first Annie Appleseed Conference took place in 2005.

2023 Conference: CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) for Cancer

The theme of this year’s conference is Many Paths to Wellness. A robust agenda includes presentations from medical doctors, PhDs, researchers, experts, Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) and practitioners, as well as survivors, including Ann Fonfa herself.

Many Paths to Wellness

Within this year’s packed agenda are the following renowned speakers and their topics:

Keith Block, MD: Known to many as the patriarch of Integrative Cancer Medicine, Dr. Block will discuss Cancer Recovery: Importance of Overcoming a Disrupted Terrain
Kelly Turner, PhD: Kelly will share a documentary screening of Personalizing Herbal Supplements
Charles Bens, PhD: A topic sure to resonate with all attendees, Dr. Bens will discuss Optimizing Cancer Prevention and Recovery
Isaac Eliaz, MD, MS will examine The Survival Paradox: Targeting the Root Cause of Cancer and Chronic Diseases

Conference Details, Registration & Logistics

15th Annual Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Cancer Therapies Conference

Feb 23-25, 2023 in West Palm Beach, FL

The conference begins on Thursday, February 23 at 2PM (arrive a bit early to pick up badge and giveaway bag). The conference ends Saturday, February 25 at 5PM.

Full Conference – Up to 13 hours CEU’s (Continuing Education Credits) or CNE’s
One day (Thursday, Friday or Saturday) or two day registrations are also available

Conference link

Registration

Testimonials from past conferences

Background and history – Annie Appleseed Project

The Annie Appleseed Project hosts a yearly CAM Conference for Cancer: Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies. It is an opportunity for practitioners and laypeople to learn more about options in the treatment of cancer. Each year, speakers report on developments and changes in the world of cancer.

The Annie Appleseed Project offers information, survival strategies and support for individuals dealing with cancer, including …

Nutrition
Mind/Body
Detoxification
Dietary supplements
Physical activity/exercise
Natural therapies/substances
Lifestyle issues

I look forward to seeing you at the CAM for Cancer conference!

Finding Your Best Anti-Cancer Nutrition Plan

April 8, 2021 by Rick Shapiro Leave a Comment

Anti-Cancer Nutrition

Dr. Jeanne Wallace, Ph.D., C.N.C. is widely regarded as a prominent international expert in nutritional oncology. She is the founder and director of Nutritional Solutions, which provides cancer patients across the U.S. and abroad evidence-based dietary, nutritional and botanical support and cancer consulting services, to complement conventional care.

“Cancer cells do not exist in isolation; they are influenced by the environment within the body.”

– Dr. Jeanne Wallace, Ph.D, C.N.C.

Dr. Wallace is deeply involved in cutting-edge translational research, providing innovative cancer nutrition guidance to people with cancer, their families, oncologists, naturopaths and others. She, and her colleague, Michelle Gerencser, M.S., have served thousands of clients around the world, consulting by phone and Skype.

The deeply-focused efforts of Dr. Wallace and Michelle Gerencser are grounded in the evolving understanding of the interrelationship between nutritional and metabolic factors, and the hallmark characteristics of cancer cells.

Harness the Oncometabolic Advantage

Dr. Wallace states, “Cancer cells do not exist in isolation; they are influenced by the environment within the body. Our goal is to teach our clients dietary and lifestyle strategies to modulate this environment, so that it is a less favorable host for tumor growth and progression. This approach is particularly well suited as a complement to conventional medical treatments for cancer, and allows our clients to optimize their care by integrating the best of both worlds.”

I am pleased to share a five-minute video that explains Dr. Wallace’s approach to finding the best anti-cancer diet and nutrition plan for you. Take the time to review this very informative presentation.

Read my in-depth interview with Jeanne Wallace in my book, Hope Never Dies.

Curcumin: A Powerful Anti-Cancer Agent

February 25, 2021 by Rick Shapiro Leave a Comment

Curcumin is a component of the spice turmeric, which can be found in many people’s spice cabinets. Commonly consumed in many Asian countries as a culinary ingredient, it gives curry and mustard their yellow color. Turmeric has also been used for medicinal purposes for centuries.

Curcumin is the biologically active agent in turmeric. Approximately 2% to 5% of turmeric is composed of Curcumin. Many studies and clinical evidence confirm that curcumin delivers myriad benefits to cancer patients. One of its primary proven benefits is its anti-inflammatory effect.

Inflammation fighter

An abundance of evidence from numerous studies (preclinical, animal and clinical) strongly suggest curcumin exerts potent anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities.

It is well-known that chronic inflammation is an underlying problem and driver of many diseases, including cancer. And, cancer further drives and spreads internal-chronic inflammation. The NF-kB (nuclear factor kappa beta) protein, a proinflammatory signaling pathway (aka – transcription factor), is essentially the “master-switch” for inflammation. It is one of the most important molecules linking chronic inflammation to cancer problems, including cell proliferation, angiogenesis, tumor promotion and metastasis.

Inhibiting and suppressing NF-kB signaling is a therapeutic objective when fighting cancer, and the natural agent curcumin has been shown to be effective in achieving this goal. An abundance of evidence from numerous studies (preclinical, animal and clinical) strongly suggest curcumin exerts potent anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. In addition to its role in fighting cancer, curcumin plays a multifaceted role in cancer prevention. Due to its many anti-inflammatory benefits, it also delivers a cascade of other benefits for other inflammatory conditions, including arthritis.

Personally (and not for cancer reasons), I have found curcumin to be very effective, and I incorporate it into my daily supplementation regimen to alleviate sundry aches and pains, by mitigating that gnarly instigator: inflammation. For me, it works wonders!

Curcumin dosage and interactions

Dosage always matters, whether a patient is using pharmaceutical drugs or evidence-based supplements. Thus, an individual patient’s issues will dictate appropriate dosing. Curcumin has been used, up to 12 grams per day, for up to three months without any significant side-effects, although most cancer patients take a lesser amount of approximately 3.0 to 8.0 grams per day, for longer time periods.

Also, drug interactions need to be assessed with any supplement or pharmaceutical agent. It has been suggested that curcumin may have an anticoagulant effect, thus if a patient is already taking anticoagulant agents (such as blood thinners), caution would be advised.

Absorption

One challenge with curcumin is the notion that it is not bioavailable — in other words, it doesn’t absorb well into one’s system. Thus, it is advisable to take curcumin (if a capsule or tablet) with bioperine or piperine (derived from black pepper) which, purportedly, helps enhance absorption. Many curcumin supplements include this component in their ingredients.

Of course, effective cancer protocols require a sophisticated multifaceted approach. I strongly recommend you explore curcumin as a strong anti-inflammatory agent, to be included in the toolbox of comprehensive and effective interventions.

Finally, prior to embarking on any medical or healthcare protocol, intervention or regimen, always seek the counsel of a qualified doctor or healthcare professional.

Learn more about curcumin, and the power of other integrative therapies, in my book, Hope Never Dies.

Buy the Book

Broccoli Sprouts – Cancer Fighters

January 14, 2021 by Rick Shapiro Leave a Comment

When mom said, “Eat your broccoli” you should’ve listened. The good news is, it’s never too late to start. Why should you? Because there’s an abundance of evidence and studies (cellular, animal, clinical) that prove broccoli and broccoli sprouts are comprised of potent cancer-fighting properties.

Jed W. Fahey, ScD., MS, is a professor and researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Director of the Cullman Chemoprotection Center. He has an extensive background in plant physiology, human nutrition, phytochemistry and nutritional biochemistry. Since the 1990’s he has been involved in researching the potent anti-cancer effect of an activated phytonutrient known as sulforaphane, which is derived from cruciferous vegetables, especially broccoli. Fahey strongly asserts that sulforaphane is a potent inducer of key cytoprotective enzymes that promote detoxification of carcinogens and other anti-cancer effects in humans.

There’s an abundance of evidence and studies that prove broccoli and broccoli sprouts are comprised of potent cancer-fighting properties.

A study published by the late Paul Talalay (MD and professor of pharmacology at Johns Hopkins University) found that 3-day-old broccoli sprouts consistently contain 20-50 times the amount of the chemo-protective compound glucorophanin, the precursor of sulforaphane, that is found in mature broccoli heads. His discoveries helped reveal that these anti-cancer compounds actually reduce cancer risk, in addition providing greater protective properties and cancer-fighting efficacy than mature broccoli.

Studies reveal sulforaphane antioxidant and anti-tumor properties

In a study of brain cancer cells (glioblastoma) cells, sulforaphane demonstrated apoptotic effects and cellular invasion inhibition, thus helping regulate cancer cell death and mitigating cancer cell migration and invasion into other tissues.
A recent mouse model study published in the peer-reviewed Cancer Prevention Research Journal also engendered preventative effects, inhibiting breast cancer development. The results suggest exposure to epigenetic modulating dietary agents, such as cruciferous vegetables with sulforaphane (including broccoli sprouts), could be a key factor for maximizing chemo-preventive effects. In other words, the study supports the use of drugs or natural agents to try to reduce the risk of, or delay the development or recurrence of, human breast cancer.
In the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, another study exhibited the impact of sulforaphane from broccoli on the interaction between immune and colon cancer cells, thus underscoring its capacity for cancer prevention and cancer development.

A plethora of other studies confirm that sulforaphane, which is heavily concentrated in broccoli sprouts, can play a significant role in helping prevent and fight cancer.

Remember what Momma said: “Eat your broccoli” … and today we know it’s advisable to eat your broccoli sprouts, several times per week.

Of course, effective cancer protocols require a sophisticated multifaceted approach. However, I strongly recommend you include broccoli sprouts as a strong preventative and anti-cancer agent, in your toolbox of comprehensive and effective interventions.

Finally, prior to embarking on any medical or healthcare protocol, intervention or regimen, I recommend you seek the counsel of a qualified doctor or healthcare professional.

Read more nutrition-related posts

Or, learn more in my book, Hope Never Dies.

Can Food Choices Influence the Prevention and Progression of Cancer

June 29, 2017 by Rick Shapiro Leave a Comment

Can food choices influence the prevention and progression of cancer?

SHORT ANSWER: ABSOLUTELY YES. This is a deep and exhaustive cancer subject and has been a topic of debate for centuries. The so-called “Father of Modern Medicine” Hippocrates, born approximately 2,500 years ago, is well known for his famous quote:

Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Let Medicine Be Thy Food

His prescient understanding of how food impacts our health was remarkable, given the lack of analytical testing mechanisms (blood work and other medical-diagnostic tools) at his disposal. He was at the forefront of in-depth clinical observation and documentation. Today, an abundance of evidence strongly suggests that the inclusion of certain foods and the exclusion of other foods can have a major effect upon cancer. I will keep this article brief and expand upon it in future articles, but provide you, herein, with some “food for thought.”

Jeanne Wallace, Ph.D.

Jeanne wrote a compelling chapter in Hope Never Dies. She is a world-renowned specialist in the dietary and nutritional cancer world.

In speaking with Jeanne, I pointed out that there are many so-called anti-cancer diets, including the gluten-free, macrobiotic, Gerson, Ludwig, ketogenic, paleo, raw, vegan, vegetarian, and other diets. She takes a non-dogmatic approach:

“There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these diet approaches. While some of our clients might thrive on a vegetarian diet, others will be healthier eating some humanely raised, pasture-fed/finished meat. While a Gerson-type diet (organic plant-based) will provide ample phytonutrients for modifying gene expression, it can be disastrous to one’s blood sugar control.

Ditto macrobiotic approaches, which can be very healing for individuals whose genetic predisposition suits them to such an eating plan, but will worsen insulin resistance in others. A raw foods diet often works well as a short-term intervention to increase one’s connectedness to food vibrancy, but carotenoids and other flavonoids have low bioavailability in their raw state and are optimized when cooked and eaten with healthy fats.”

Jeanne and her staff engage in global translational research. They educate and counsel clients (and doctors) about evidence-based nutrition, which is tailored to patients based upon numerous factors. These factors comprise an individual’s biochemical criteria, including a client’s specific cancer type, stage and other related issues.

Jeanne also asserts:

A diet that fosters systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, excess blood viscosity, nutrient imbalances and immune suppression will have a permissive effect with malignant cells. So, contrarily, our primary goal is to lessen these factors and create an internal environment that is not conducive to cancer growth and progression. Most exciting is the discovery that our diet has direct effects on cancer genes.

We’ve learned that genes are more plastic than originally thought. Gene expression is not written in stone; we’re not stuck with the genetic luck-of-the-draw with which we’re born. While we can’t change the actual gene, we do have significant influence over which genes are expressed and which are kept dormant. Research in nutritional epigenetics is revealing how—at the molecular and genetic level—various anti-cancer foods repress the expression of oncogenes (genes that foster the growth and promotion of cancer) and up-regulate the expression of tumor suppressor genes.

Keith Block, M.D.

Dr. Keith Block is a world-renowned integrative cancer doctor. He has also written a compelling chapter in Hope Never Dies.

He states:

Regarding the impact of diet, it is clear that the typical Western diet can drive the onset of malignancy. For example, according to several studies, red meat can increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 25 to 75 percent. Also, high milk and calcium consumption are associated with a 15 to 200 percent increase in prostate cancer. And one randomized controlled trial showed that when breast cancer patients reduced their fat intake to 20 percent or lower, they reduced their risk of recurrence by an average of 24 percent! This is on par with Tamoxifen, which has shown a 25 percent reduction in recurrence rates after taking it for five years.

Another example: 25 grams of flax per day will cut your Ki67, a proliferation marker for cancer, by 34 percent. There is also evidence to suggest that 25 grams of flaxseed per day can induce apoptosis (the normal, genetically-regulated process of cell death) by 30 percent.

Yet, we don’t talk about nutrition specificity as medical culture. There is also impressive data showing that if you shift to a whole grain, legume-based, vegetable and fruit diet, you cut back cancer risks dramatically, yet there is less than a three percent chance that your cancer specialist will bring up a discussion about diet with you!

Keith treats his patients with a multi-interventional, systemic and comprehensive integrative regimen, based upon objective diagnostic criteria tailored to the individual, and not based upon the strict “standard of care,” alone.

What are the best foods to eat to avoid cancer?

I’m often asked for lists of what to eat and avoid. There is no perfect list of anti-cancer foods because everyone is an individual with different needs, but there are some common sense choices, based upon numerous research studies that certain foods and food categories should be avoided and, on the contrary, others included.

Anti-cancer food suggestions from Jeanne Wallace, Ph.D.

Cruciferous vegetables (including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collards, brussel sprouts, radishes, and mustard)
Carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables (known for their deep orange, red and yellow hues)
Leafy greens
Berries
Spices
Green tea

Foods generally deemed deleterious to cancer prevention

Refined, processed and packaged foods with excessive sugar
GMOs and artificial ingredients
Pesticide or hormone-laden factory-farm-raised meats/poultry/dairy/eggs
Preserved meats and fish with nitrates
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Refined vegetable oils
Hydrogenated and trans fats

Intelligent food choices that are adhered to and implemented every day can play a major role in preventing cancer and impacting its progression.

Be aware of what you eat at every meal and understand that food or food products can have a direct effect on your body, especially if you have been diagnosed with cancer and are attempting to thwart its progression or keep it in remission.

Have a Wonderful Healthy Day and Keep the Hope!

Rick Shapiro, Author

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Is a Biopsy-Proven, Terminal Cancer Diagnosis Equivalent to a Death Sentence?

April 3, 2017 by Rick Shapiro Leave a Comment

Is a Biopsy-Proven, Terminal Cancer Diagnosis Equivalent to a Death Sentence?

Short Answer:

Unequivocally NO, terminal cancer is not equivalent to a death sentence.

Fact:

There are many people who have been given a terminal cancer diagnosis who are thriving today, many years later. More people have “beaten the odds” than you think. I have personally met hundreds who were given short “time frames,” such as: 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year to live. They have been afflicted with all kinds of cancer including brain cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, kidney cancer and others. I personally know many cancer doctors, in the integrative and alternative worlds, whose clinical work and recommendations have engendered extraordinary long-term outcomes for patients after receiving veritable “death sentences” from their prior cancer doctors.

Beating Terminal Diagnoses And Prognoses

The people whom I refer to above are real. No exaggerations, no hyperbole.

Most of them embarked upon “roads less traveled” and implemented various treatment strategies comprising integrative and complementary therapies from reputable practitioners. They were fortunate to find sophisticated and deeply knowledgeable cancer specialists. Not all doctors and healthcare practitioners are reputable and knowledgeable

Of course, there are no guarantees in life, and the challenge of fighting terminal and stage 4 cancer is a complex and nuanced endeavor. Everyone’s internal biochemistry and health are different, and people respond differently to various therapies and challenges. Some people find treatments and protocols outside of the strict “standard of care”, after receiving a dire prognosis, which may alter the path and stop the progression of life-threatening metastatic cancer. There are innumerable factors and issues to consider. However, I will say it again, make no mistake – a terminal cancer diagnosis is not necessarily a death sentence, in the short term or long term. But transformational-systemic medical regimens need to be introduced and monitored closely in a precise-personalized manner, whether they are novel-standard of care, non-standard of care, or combined-integrative interventions. Many conventional doctors are unaware of the medical benefits and power of other treatments and therapies that may extend lives, save lives and, simultaneously, enhance quality of life.

Common Theme: The Strong Will To Live And The Desire To Find A Way

When given a dire diagnosis, a death sentence or an expiration date, people generally become numb and shocked. This kind of sobering-fatalistic news from one’s trusted doctor can be emotionally paralyzing. Many retreat into depression while some are galvanized to fight. Based on my interviews and discussions with hundreds of people, I have concluded that those who have a “fighting spirit” and proactively seek out other therapies, have a better chance to beat the lifespan predictions of their doctors, compared with those who descend into an emotional abyss. I am not stating that the will to live, combined with the implementation of alternative or new integrative therapies guarantees a longer lifespan. However, an indomitable spirit, a purpose that keeps them going or a specific objective they want to enjoy, seems to be prevalent among extraordinary thrivers.

What Does Beating The Odds Or Defying A Terminal Cancer Diagnosis Mean?

Does it mean you are “cancer free“? Does it mean the tumor or metastatic condition is completely eradicated? Does it mean the cancer challenges are under control and “not” progressing? Does it mean the progression has slowed to a snail’s pace? It can mean any of these things, but it certainly means the patient is living far beyond the doctor’s dire prediction, generally with a good quality of life.

So, again, there are no guarantees, but if you want to do “whatever it takes” to live, I encourage you to engage in deep research and find sophisticated, reputable cancer practitioners who are involved in safe, evidence-based, conventional, integrative or alternative treatments and therapies. Science is constantly evolving and there are always other multi-faceted therapies and approaches to try. If you have difficulty finding a highly reputable, hopeful, progressive cancer doctor, or practitioner, whether conventional, integrative or alternative, retain someone knowledgeable to help you in your search. Along these lines, there are several doctors in my book – Hope Never Dies – whom you may want to consider, and other practitioners exist, nationwide, who may be helpful in your ultimate quest to find peace, enduring health and a greater quality of life.