Dear Marty,
Thank you for your words of support, but it should be me saying thanks to
everyone at mol-cancer. I have learned so much reading your messages; I so
look forward to meeting with my friends every day.
My Acupuncturist sent me an article, which I'd like to share with everyone.
It's a bit long, but well worth reading.
The following article appeared in the January 1998 edition of Self Healing.
I have reproduced it for you here but I do not necessary endorse all the
information contained in it. I just thought it was interesting and wanted
to share it with y'all.
Barbara S.
Complementary Care for Cancer
Fifteen years ago, while visiting the Beijing Institute of Materia Medica,
I first learned about the therapeutic properties of a mushroom called zhu
ling (Polyporus umbellatus). There Chinese researchers described how an
extract of this mushroom dramatically improved the health of lung cancer
patients receiving radiations and chemotherapy. Studies had shown that zhu
ling stimulates an immune response against tumors and reduces the toxicity
of conventional treatments.
Unbeknownst to most Americans, doctors in China, Japan and some European
countries have been routinely prescribing herbs, dietary measures, and
other natural therapies to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or
radiation. And for good reason: There is growing evidence that these
adjunctive therapies can enhance immunity as well as increase effectiveness
of the conventional treatments and minimize their side effects. Research
in China has even documented increased survival in patients receiving both
herbal and Western therapies.
The positive effect of herbs, support groups, and other adjunctive
therapies on immune function is particularly important. Both chemotherapy
and radiation have the unintended effect of damaging the immune system,
which plays a key role in fighting cancer. Indeed, one of the newest
frontiers of cancer treatment is immunotherapy, which involves methods that
take advantage of natural healing mechanisms to recognize and destroy
malignant cells without harming normal ones. Some forms of immunotherapy
are now available (particularly for melanoma) but most are still
experimental.
In the meantime, here are several measures that can help cancer patients
undergoing chemotherapy or radiation to mobilize their own healing
resources and play a more active role in controlling the disease. Keep in
mind that cancer is a systemic disease that needs to be approached from all
levels; physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual. If your doctor is
hostile toward your use of complementary approaches, consider finding a
qualified practitioner who is more accepting of your choices.
Build a support system. Numerous studies demonstrate the positive effect
of social support on health and immunity in general. I strongly recommend
that you build a support community for yourself. Ask friends and relatives
for help with research, transportation to medical appointments, etc. and
learn to be a gracious recipient of their help. If you are so inclined, as
others to pray for you.
Support groups can also be very helpful to cancer patients. A landmark
1989 study by Standford University psychiatrist David Spiegel, M.D., found
that women with advanced breast cancer who attended weekly support groups
lived an average of 18 months longer than those who did not participate in
such groups.
I suggest asking your doctor or hospital help in finding a good support
group. You can also find information on support groups at a Web side
called OncoLink. Ideally, you want a group run by a professional who can
provide accurate medical information and keep the group on track.
Improve your diet. A healthy diet can help your body’s healing system
operate more efficiently, so I recommend that cancer patients eat a
low-fat, high-fiber diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables and
little in the way of animal protein. I also suggest eating particular
foods perhaps three or four time a week. Soy products - such as tofu,
tempeh, and soy milk - have several cancer-fighting compounds. Certain
varieties of seaweek, including kombu and wakame, contain a compound called
sodium alginate that helps the body eliminate radioactive particles left
from radiation therapy. And onions and garlic can help detoxify the blood
of patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.
Patients using these conventional therapies should also drink plenty of
liquids to protect the kidneys and eliminate the waste products of cell
death.
Exercise regularly. Exercise offers a number of benefits to people
undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, including improved resistance, mood,
digestion, and sleep. A German study published last year in the journal
“Cancer” found that patients who engaged in regular aerobic exercise after
finishing their course of high-dose chemotherapy recovered their energy
faster than those who rested instead.
I ask cancer patients to maintain a regular program of aerobic exercise,
such as walking, swimming, or bicycling. If your aerobic capacity is
limited by your illness, you can start with some type of nonaerobic
exercise - such as joga, tai chi, or qigong - and add more aerobic activity
as your get stronger. I also advise patients to wait 24 hours after a
chemotherapy infusion before exercising.
Manage stress. Living with cancer is surly one of life’s most stressful
circumstances, so I urge you to incorporate some method of relaxation, and
listening to relaxing music. All of these techniques are portable and can
be used to easy anxiety or discomfort during medical tests or
administration of chemotherapy or radiation. In addition, the forms of
nonaerobic exercise mentioned above - yoga, tai chi and qigong - are also
excellent promoters of relaxation.
Take tonic mushrooms. Tonics are herbs that increase general resilience
and resistance, and I frequently prescribe them to people with depressed
immunity. I recommend that cancer patients take one or more of the
following tonic mushrooms, in extract form: maitake, reishi, shiitake, and
zhu ling (follow package directions). They are completely safe and will
not interfere with conventional therapies.
Besides their effects on immunity, these mushrooms have other benefits for
cancer patients. In Japanese studies, maitake enhanced the effects of
chemotherapy drugs, making it possible for patients to reduce their dosage
and therefore the drugs’ toxicity. A maitake extract called maitake
d-fraction has shown powerful anticancer activity in animal tests. Reishi
also appears to inhibit the growth of some malignant tumors, and shiitake
contains at least two compounds with antitumor activity, called lentinan
and LEM. As noted above, zhu ling has shown promise in the treatment of
lung cancer.
Another useful tonic for cancer patients is astragalus. In contemporary
Chinese medicine this herb is a chief component of fu zheng therapy, a
combination herbal treatment to restore immune function in cancer patients
undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Follow package directions for
dosage.
For chemotherapy, take coenzyme Q-10 and milk thistle. Coenzyme Q-10 is a
nontoxic natual substance that reduces damage done to the heart by the
chemotherapy agent Adriamycin and may increase its antitumor activity.
Do-Q-10 also protects the liver from the toxic effects of various
chemotherapy drugs. I recommend that people undergoing chemotherapy take
300 mg of Co-Q-10 daily. A good source for Co-Q-10 supplements is the
Vitaline Corporation (800-648-4755).
Patients undergoing chemotherapy should also take milk thistle regularly.
The seeds of this plan (Silybum marianum) contain compounds that protect
the liver and kidneys from damage by chemotherapy drugs. My preference is
to use standardized extracts in tablet or capsule form. Follow the
suggested dosage on the product you buy, or take tablets or capsules twice
a day.
Discontinue use of antioxidant supplements. The daily antioxidant formula
that I recommend to most of my patients (incorporating vitamin C, vitamin
E, selenium, and mixed carotenes) may reduce the effectiveness of
chemotherapy and radiation. Both of these treatments kill dividing cells
by generating free radicals, while antioxidants protect cells from damage
by free radicals. I advise discontinuing the antioxidants one week before
the start of radiation or chemotherapy and staying off them throughout the
treatment. Once the treatment ends, you can resume the supplements.
That being said, I am keeping an open mind on this issue: Some laboratory
studies now suggest that vitamin C and vitamin E may actually increase the
effectiveness of some chemotherapy agents. If clinical evidence bears this
out, I will revise my commendations in the future.
Use imagery. Visualization and guided imagery are widely used as
adjunctive therapies for cancer, and I recommend them for this purpose. In
my experience, these mind-body therapies can enhance the effectiveness of
chemotherapy and radiation while reducing the side effects, and they are
powerful means of mobilizing the body’s healing resources. In some
individuals, they may even induce shrinkage of the cancer. My preference
would be to work with a trained professional who can help you develop
personal imagery that would be most effective for you. For referrals,
contact the Academy for Guided Imagery, (800-726-2070 or 415-389-9324).
There are also a number of imagery audiotapes designed for cancer patients.
A good source for such tapes is The Healing Path catalogue, which also
includes books for cancer patients (800-888-5236).
Explore Chinese Medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine has a great deal to
offer cancer patients. Treatments include herbal formulas specifically
designed to restore immune functions in patients undergoing chemotherapy
and radiation and to reduce their side effects. An NIH panel recently
concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for
chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. I suggest that you seek out a
practitioner of the traditional Chinese medicine who is experienced in
working with cancer patients. For referrals, contact the American
Foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 415-776-0502.
Receive Healing Energy. Therapeutic Touch and other forms of energy
healing are useful ways to promote relaxation, relieve pain, and enhance
the healing process. I would encourage anyone with cancer to consider
working with an energy healer. Therapeutic Touch is practiced primarily by
nurses and now offered in at least 200 US hospitals. Other forms of energy
healing with which I’ve been impressed are Jin Shin Jyutsu (an oriental
system) and Barbara Brennan Healing Science (developed by a one-time NASA
physicist); both of these modalities use hands-on techniques. For
referrals, contact the Nurse Healers - Professional Associates
215-545-8079; Jin Shin Jyutsu, Inc 602-998-9331; or the Barbara Brennan
School of Healing 516-329-0951.
See your illness as an opportunity. While a confrontation with cancer is
certainly difficult, it may also provide the stimulus for life changes that
put you back on track to a more fulfilling life. An excellent volume to
stimulate your thinking on these matters is Cancer as a Turning Point, by
psycholtherapost Lawrence LeShan, Ph.D. (Plume, 1994)
Resources
• Choices in Healing: Integrating the Best of Conventional and
Complementary Approaches to Cancer by Michael Lerner (MIT Press, 1994).
This clearheaded and compassionate volume is by the founder of the
Commonweal Cancer Help Program. The complete test of this book is also
available online at Commonweal’s Web site, www.commonwealhealth.org.
• OncoLink (http://oncolink.upenn.edu) Sponsored by the University of
Pennsylvania Cancer Center, this Web site has pages on specific cancers,
psychosocial support, personal experiences, and clinical trials of new
treatments.
The following appears in side boxes in the article:
Herbs to Ease Side Effects
Herbs can be useful in reducing side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
I recommend the following herbal remedies, all of which are quite safe, to
cancer patients undergoing these treatments.
Aloe. Topical application of aloe (Aloe Vera) gel can help soothe
radiation burns. You can buy pure aloe vera gel at health-food stores or
harvest your own by snapping a leaf off your aloe plan.
DGL. To ease gastritis due to chemotherapy, chew two tablets of
deglycrhizinated licorice (DGL) or swallow ½ teaspoon DGL powder before or
between meals. DGL helps build up the mucous lining of the stomach.
Ginger. You may be able to ward off nausea from chemotherapy by sipping
ginger tea or eating a piece of crystallized ginger before or after your
treatment.
Slippery elm. To soothe irritation of the esophagus due to chemotherapy,
drink a thin gruel made from slippery elm powder. Mix one teaspoon of the
powder with one teaspoon of sugar and add two cups of boiling water.
Flavor with cinnamon if you like and drink one or two cups twice a day.
Two Promising Programs
Here are two excellent programs - one focusing on treatment, the other on
education - that make use of adjunctive therapies for cancer.
Block Medical Center - Directed by Keith Block, M.D., the Evanston,
Illinois-based treatment center blends orthodox and alternative approaches
to cancer in order to marshal the patient’s resources in fighting the
disease. In addition to using standard diagnostic techniques, Dr. Block
and his staff assess the patient’s nutritional and immunological status,
physchological needs, stress level, learning style, eating habits, and
fitness level. Working with the patient, the staff then design an
individualized treatment program that combines conventional therapies with
complementary approaches such as diet (mostly vegetarian), herbs and other
supplements, exercise, bodywork techniques, stress management and
psychological support. 1800 Sherman Avenue, Suite 515, Evanston, Il 60201;
847-492-3040.
Commonweal Cancer Help Program - Based in Bolinas, California, this program
offers six weeklong retreats each year for cancer patients and/or support
people. The retreats - intended to reduce the stress of cancer and to help
participants explore lifestyle and treatment options - include experiences
with yoga, meditation, imagery, progressive relaxation message, vegetarian
diet, poetry, classes on informed choice in cancer therapy, and daily
support group meetings. Each retreat is limited to nine participants, and
the fee is $1,480. Commonweal staff can also refer you to similar programs
elsewhere. PO Box 316, Bolinas, CA 94924; 415-868-0970; Web site
www.commonwealhealth.org.
----------
> From: Martin Auslander <fitecancer@earthlink.net>
> To: mol-cancer@lists.meds.com
> Subject: Re: [MOL] Squamous cell carcinoma in lower part of lung
> Date: Friday, January 09, 1998 6:45 AM
>
> Dear Barbara,
>
> Couldn't help read your message here and as usual I am awe struck by the
> great courage and inpspiration so many here have. The ability for one to
> take charge and wish to progress in a path of wellness by researching
> into other methods that will help support and heal is very courageous
> and rewarding. The additional ability to question and learn about their
> disease is essential to the assistance and understanding of which
> direction to proceed on in beating the disease. You and many of my
> friends here do..do that. We have learned much by the exchanges and
> diaglogue of ideas and thoughts and sharing. Thank you for your
> contribution as I thank the so many here for theirs. Keep up the great
> work. It will be rewarding for you in your recovery.
>
> God Bless
> marty Auslander
>
>
> Barbara Silverman wrote:
> >
> > Dear Claire, Carla, Torie & all,
> >
> > Thanks much for the info. Well, I had my appointment with an
oncologist at
> > Sloan yesterday. He recommended no further followup treatments of
chemo or
> > radiation - just keep an eye on it with bone scans, cat scans and a
brain
> > MRI. He told me they normally give chemo and/or radiation before
surgury
> > to see which drugs the tumor responds to. (Of course, I already had
> > surgury so that was not an option.) He told me that clinical trials
are
> > being done on the chemo combination I was given; i.e. taxotere and
> > navelbine, and they are showing some promise. However, he also said
the
> > side effects I experienced are common - one man almost died from the
chemo
> > - and if I had continued treatment, I would have gone through the same
> > reaction as I did the first time.
> >
> > A point of interest - he told me that they are finding out
inadvertantly
> > from their clinical trials that those individuals who had an infection
in
> > their lung following surgury seem to be less likely to have a
recurrance of
> > the cancer. They feel that the infection stimulates the immune system,
> > which kills off cancer cells while fighting the infection. And here I
> > thought what bad luck it was that I had come down with an infection
right
> > before surgury!!
> >
> > I'm continuing with the vitamin and herb regiment, and finding my
health
> > and energy improving daily so I'm going to keep that up. I'm also
thinking
> > of going to a holistic cancer doctor for other recommendations in this
> > direction so as soon as I do, I'll share.
> >
> > Take care. My thoughts and prayers are with you as always.
> > Barbara S.
> > ----------
> > > From: Claire <clee02@snet.net>
> > > To: mol-cancer@lists.meds.com
> > > Subject: Re: [MOL] Squamous cell carcinoma in lower part of lung
> > > Date: Monday, January 05, 1998 9:05 PM
> > >
> > > Barbara Silverman wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Dear Claire,
> > > >
> > > > You wrote that your husband had 2 incidents of Squamous Cell lung
> > cancer.
> > > > Could you please let me know, did he undergo followup treatment;
i.e.
> > > > chemo? radiation?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks much,
> > > > Barbara S.
> > > >
> > > > Dear Barbara --
> > >
> > > My husband had no follow-up treatment after his surgeries although he
> > > had frequent check-ups and sputum analyses. His last incident was
> > > almost 14 years ago, however, and things may have changed.
> > >
> > > I've heard that if additional treatment for squamous cell lung
carcinoma
> > > is called for radiation, not chemo, is used. Sorry I can't be more
> > > helpful.
> > >
> > > Claire
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