Dear Moler Friends: I am a cancer survivor, I also have
several auto-immune disorders. In researching for the cancer forum I am a
member of, I started noticing similarities between cancer and auto-immune
disorders. These similarities raised many questions in my mind. Then
I started noticing that certain chemo's were being used to treat some
auto-immune disorders like arthritis. Prednisone is widely used by people
with auto-immune disorders and I noticed in researching that this drug was
starting to be used for cancer therapy. I thought I had gone bonkers,
because I did not feel I was being taken seriously when I spoke of this on this
forum and on the auto-immune forum. The final question to lay to rest is
diet. What we consider preferred foods, supplements, herbs for cancer are
not preferred for someone with auto-immune disorder. Keep in mind that
diabetes is an auto-immune disorder; so a low carb diet is important for this
disease and not as important for someone with cancer. Some meats are not
healthy for one with cancer, yet healthy for some one with auto-immune
disorder. Knowing this, I was wondering if I was damaging myself and
not sure how to eat a win win situation. If I eat to improve my immunity
to fight off cancer cells, then I am also building up the auto-immune ( the
immune system does not know it's enemy). I have been working on this
theory for three year's now, and I believe with all my heart we are rapidly not
only approaching a cure for most cancers; but a cure for most auto-immune
disorders that are devastating also. Please read the following
article. Joyously, lillian
Tuesday, April 11,
2000 One Gene Linked to Many
Diseases
Scientists have
made an exciting discovery that could help lead to a treatment for several
age-related illnesses. At the
University of Illinois at Chicago, researchers have found diseases such as cancer,
arthritis,
atherosclerosis
and Alzheimer's
are all somehow connected to a gene called p21. Researchers say the discovery of
this connection could lead to therapies that target this
gene. The p21 gene serves as a brake for
cells, but it also seems to be a bit of a troublemaker. It stops damaged cells
from growing uncontrollably, a beginning phase for cancer. This gene also
appears to have some power over how other genes operate. For example, scientists
found p21 blocks more than 40 genes known to be involved in cell growth, yet p21
also increases the activity of another 50 genes, some of which may be involved
in tumor development. Now, researchers
are trying to figure out if tinkering with the p21 gene may prevent or slow down
the development of these age-related
diseases. This report is published in the
April 11 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences. --ByKatrina Woznicki
