Hope Never Dies

by Rick Shapiro

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Can Food Choices Influence the Prevention and Progression of Cancer

June 29, 2017 by Rick Shapiro Leave a Comment

To decrease cancer risk, select fruit like blueberries that have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

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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Filed Under: Blog, Nutrition Tagged With: anticancer, berries, cancer, cancercure, cancersurvivor, curecancer, diet, food, HopeNeverDies, medicine, NewBook, NewBooks, RickShapiroAuthor

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? NO. Hope Never Dies

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.

Have a Wonderful Healthy Day and Keep the Hope!

Rick Shapiro, Author 

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Dangerous Words – “You Are Cancer Free”

March 27, 2017 by Rick Shapiro Leave a Comment

Dangerous Words – “You Are Cancer Free” Hope Never Dies

“You Are in Remission.” “You are Cancer Free.” Let’s explore.

“You Are in Remission.” “You are Cancer Free.” 

These seem to be wonderful, comforting words, spoken by our trusted cancer doctors. They tell us that their diagnostic tools cannot see or detect the presence of any cancer cells or tumor(s). Sometimes they will utter these words after a patient is 5 years into remission, hoping the cancer will not recur again.

This provides patients with some form of “peace of mind” regarding the stress, high anxiety, and fears they may harbor about a cancer recurrence. The doctor may say words like: Go home and enjoy your life; do whatever you want … 

BUT – COMPLACENCY allows or permits old habits to become part of our daily routine, once again. Patients may erroneously perceive they are now healthy and out of the danger zone. Is it a good decision to go back to old habits and routines?  Is it possible that the old habits were part of the reason why cancer reared its ugly head in the first place?   

Cancer Causes

In general, it is surmised that hereditary factors cause only 5% to 15% of cancer. Conversely, 85% to 95% of cancer is caused by other factors. It is assumed that these factors emanate from various carcinogens and sources, including, but not limited to: exposure to environmental toxins (and chemicals in the food supply and environment) which number in the thousands, smoking, exposure to the sun, alcohol, the ingestion of harmful, factory processed food products (i.e., poor dietary choices and poor nutrition), a sedentary lifestyle, high stress toxic relationships, a deficiency in important nutrients, and other related reasons. Lifestyle factors, many of our old habits developed over time can create a “permissive” (versus an inhospitable) environment for cancer.

After your body has become compromised due to a cancer issue, it is critical that you attempt to correct the imbalances and remove the “root causes” that may have engendered the cancer in the first place. Moderation, in general, is recognized as a sensible concept, but once you have been afflicted with a cancer issue, a compromised immune system, a disease whereby there may be undetectable but life-threatening micro-metastases in your body, moderation is no longer a wise option. It is time to make SERIOUS TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGES to enhance the probability that you will not experience a dangerous cancer recurrence, which may cause more severe health problems in the future. In other words, change the old habits.

I have heard of concepts and food products that advertise as – sugar-free, gluten free, caffeine free, dairy free, even Pepsi free, where I assume the manufacturers of these products can remove certain ingredients or produce products without the inclusion of these ingredients. They can assure us that the product is actually “free” of certain substances, BUT, can the doctor really say YOU ARE CANCER FREE??

Perhaps your doctor has said your status is NED, also known as “no evidence of disease”, however, NED is not tantamount to “cancer free”. Think about it – If we are truly free from cancer, why does the oncologist tell you to come back for scans and tests every 3 or 6 months? Does he (or she) think cancer may be lurking in hidden places within your body? Does he think it might come back?

As we all know, there is much recurrent disease regarding all tumor types that come back even after the magical 5-year mark. Honestly, there is no magical line in the sand, no prohibitive time frame, when cancer cannot rear its ugly head once again. My point? Make intelligent, health-enhancing, transformational changes in your life.

I urge you to implement (or seek expert advice to help you implement) focused cancer strategies to change your health regarding: dietary/nutrition strategies, exercise regimens, mind-body therapies, evidence-based supplementation, social support, and other on-going treatments and strategies, to enhance, strengthen and build your immune system and health, every day. Essentially, formulate (or seek expert advice regarding) a remission maintenance program.

I strongly encourage you to become proactive with daily healthy routines that are progressive and not regressive, to revitalize your health, so that this insidious unwelcome intruder does not come back for a return visit.

Have a Wonderful Healthy Day and Keep the Hope!

Rick Shapiro, Author 

 

 

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What is the Difference Between Conventional, Integrative, and Alternative Cancer Care?

March 20, 2017 by Rick Shapiro Leave a Comment

Differences between conventional, alternative, and integrative therapies. Hope Never Dies

In today’s world, the standard of care is generally defined as: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Conventional Cancer Therapies

Most conventional cancer therapies, which are prescribed and directed by mainstream doctors, are comprised of what is known as the “standard of care.” In today’s world, the standard of care is generally defined as: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. These are the primary modalities used in conventional cancer therapy, however, there are others, including hormonal and, more recently, novel immunotherapies. We are at the dawn of the immunotherapeutic age and this is not a perfected therapy, but there appears to be new hope and progress in this treatment realm. In fact, there is “no perfect therapy” for all cancers and cancer patients. But, there are many therapeutic paths that can provide great benefit, and that includes therapies that “are not” strictly standard of care therapies.

Integrative Cancer Therapies

Integrative cancer therapy combines therapies from both the widely recognized, mainstream standard of care world, which is conventional medicine, and non-standard of care medicine, which is frequently called alternative or complementary medicine which “complements” the conventional therapies. Therefore, we have conventional and alternative therapies combined, working simultaneously, thus they are working integratively. The goal of integrative medicine is for the doctors and/or respective medical teams to bring the best of both worlds together.

Alternative Cancer Therapies

Alternative cancer therapy is comprised of individual treatments or multi-faceted therapeutic regimens which do not include conventional cancer therapy. Hundreds of types of treatments are known as alternative cancer therapy. As an example, more well-known, supportive alternative therapies may include: various focused-nutritional strategies, different kinds of exercise regimens, a variety of mind-body protocols, and prescribed supplementation – which may include certain types of vitamins, botanicals and/or other extracts. Again, there are many other types of alternative treatments and therapies. Some are supported by strong evidence of efficacy and safety, others are of questionable value.

There are millions of people who have beaten cancer and transformed their health by implementing one (or a combination) of the three approaches, above, in their encounter with early-stage cancer, late-stage cancer, and cancer patients who have been given terminal cancer prognoses (see – Hope Never Dies – for 20 compelling stories).

 

Have a Wonderful Healthy Day and Keep the Hope!

Rick Shapiro, Author 

 

 

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Proof of Evidence-Based Cancer Treatments and Drugs: The FDA “Gold Standard”—versus—Evidence for Integrative and Alternative Therapies

March 17, 2017 by Rick Shapiro Leave a Comment

Cancer may respond to integrative and/or alternative therapies (and healing agents) that are not formally "evidence-based".

Evidence-based cancer treatments, integrative and/or alternative therapies, and healing agents may be considered.

Evidence-based cancer care is a scientific discussion.

In the conventional cancer world, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) testing procedure (generally known as “the gold standard”) prevails as the barometer to prove the safety and effectiveness of drugs, treatments, and therapies. In brief, this standard revolves around large, randomized, placebo-based, double-blind, evidence-based research studies.

FDA’s evidence-based cancer research studies

These studies often take 10-15 years to complete, from start to finish. They assess and evaluate drugs and therapies beginning with the evaluation of cancer cell lines, then proceeding to preclinical studies (animal studies, frequently mice). Animal studies are followed by phase 1 trials consisting of small groups of people (approximately 20 to 80), then phase 2 (approximately several dozens to 300), followed by phase 3 trials, which are comprised of even larger groups of people (approximately several hundred to 3,000). Each succeeding phase continues upon demonstration of safe and effective results  from the preceding phase.

These studies come with exorbitant costs over the course of their protracted time period. According to the Tufts University Medical School – Study of Drug Development (November 18, 2014), the average pre-tax cost per new prescription drug approval is approximately $2.5 billion dollars. Yes, that’s billion with a “B.”

Why do companies engage in these long-term, obscenely expensive studies? Because the reward comes in the form of patents, assuming a successful study and drug approval by the FDA. If deemed successful, a protected patent can bring the pharmaceutical company many billions of dollars during its patent-protected time frame. Quite a nice return on investment. Without the likelihood of large profits, pharmaceutical companies will not move forward with these studies to bring effective healing agents or products to market.

Pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceuticals

Let me make one thing clear: I am NOT, I repeat, I am NOT against the use of effective cancer drugs and, in fact, very effective drugs are sometimes used in cancer treatments, including appropriate chemotherapeutic protocols. But we should not discard the notion that there are other highly beneficial medical tools, that are “outside the box” of the standard of care, i.e., outside the toolbox of pharmaceutical drugs, that can be significantly beneficial in the fight against cancer.

Logically speaking, who would choose to incur $2.5 billion of expense (and who can afford to do so), without any possibility of procuring a protected patent which promises the real possibility of billions of dollars as a return on investment? Honestly, probably no one. The real shame, is many non-pharmaceutical agents which have proven to be effective and safe, without harsh side effects, do not garner credibility or attention for their medical-healing capacity by most of the conventional medical establishment.

Proving the efficacy of integrative and alternative therapies

The FDA “gold standard” testing procedure does not apply for non-pharmaceutical agents. However, there are other methods of determining whether there is evidence-based data that indicates whether integrative and/or alternative therapies (and healing agents) may be effective in helping support a cancer patient’s immune system — and/or cytotoxically attacking or debulking cancer tumors and malignancies.

These are in the form of observational studies, other epidemiological studies, cohort studies, case-control studies, case reports, other clinical evidence, and the opinions of highly respected scientists and medical practitioners, based on their independent research and patient-centric clinical experience.

In fact, in 2012, I interviewed the CEO of a major cancer center and he admitted that there are numerous natural agents and non-evidence-based therapies that can be very beneficial to cancer patients, but his institution could not prescribe or recommend these therapies, because his cancer center was a conventional institution, and could not deviate far from its “standard of care” protocols.

Big picture: The bottom line

I can state unequivocally, based on my extensive research and experience, there are excellent integrative and alternative therapies, treatments and medical options that can have a major impact on your cancer status, your longevity, your quality of life, and your medical outcome, despite the fact they don’t have a supportive FDA study as evidence of efficacy and safety.

Read exclusive interviews with renowned cancer specialists who embrace integrative and alternative therapies and treatment.

Hope Never Dies overview

Have a Wonderful Healthy Day and Keep the Hope!

Rick Shapiro, Author 

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Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: cancer, cancertreatment, evidence, gold, goldstandard, healing, healthcare, HopeNeverDies, malignancy, preclinical, RickShapiroAuthor, standardofcare, therapy, tumor

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