The real story about CANCER!!!

I always see posts from people on line about how cancer has affected their lives, and the lives of people they love.

While the stories are certainly sad and heart-felt, they never offer any remedy.

So, I have taken several hours to present this information to you so that you can educate yourself.

If you have been affected by cancer in any way and especially if you know someone who is fighting for their lives against this disease,

PLEASE READ AND SHARE THIS INFORMATION.
– Scott M. Conkel, President / CEO, GA LVT


Cancer Research Finds Certain Nutrients, Phytonutrients Prevent, Strengthen Immune System Against Cancer

Everyone has cancer cells, probably all day, every day. There are trillions of


cells in the body. Some of those cells (billions) become damaged for various reasons (e.g. wear and tear, free radical damage). Most of the time a damaged cell will at some point self destruct. The self destruct process is called apoptosis. Each day about 60 billion cells in the average person are properly dismantled by apoptosis. Some damaged cells avoid death from their damage before apoptosis occurs by changing to a simpler type of cell (one with fewer energy and nutrient needs). This simpler cell is a cancer cell. The changes in a cell to become a cancer cause excess cell replicating, just like a yeast cell.

A Cell Undergoing Apoptosis

The immune system finds cancer cells and kills them with what’s called phagocytosis. Immune system cells that use phagocytosis surround a cancer cell (or foreign microorganism) and shoots a free radical chemical (NADPH oxidase) at the cancer cell to kill it and then breaks it down into molecular parts. The shooting of free radicals is called respiratory burst. Immune cells that use phagocytosis include macrophages, mast cells, monocytes, and neutrophils. A weak immune system (e.g. weak from certain deficiencies, or from numerous cancer and/or other harmful cells) won’t find all cancer cells. Cancer cells not found and destroyed by the immune system in time can organize. The immune system has a much harder time fighting organized cancer cells (tumors).

So apoptosis prevents cancer, immune cells fight cancer.

-Preventing Cancer
Certain nutrients are needed for apoptosis to occur as often as it should. Deficiencies of the nutrients needed for apoptosis to occur cause apoptosis not to occur as frequently as it should, which leads to cancer.

Zinc and Apoptosis
Zinc deficiency cause apoptosis not to occur when apoptosis should occur, causing cancer.

The Influence of Zinc In Apoptosis (.gov)

Inositol and Apoptosis
Inositol hexaphosphate induces apoptosis. Many brands of supplements make pure inositol and also inositol hexaphosphate (IP6). According to one source (first link), inositol acts as an antioxidant which enhances natural killer cells and reduces cancer cell proliferation. Inositol taken with inositol hexaphosphate works synergistically in strengthening the immune system. Inositol hexaphosphate is often abbreviated as “IP6″.

Inositol Hexaphosphate Induces Apoptosis (.gov)
Prevention Of Cancer, see last line (.gov)
IP6 Inhibits Key Events In Cancer Metastasis (.gov)
IP6 Enhances Tamoxifen In Breast Cancer (.gov)
IP6 Enhances Natural Killer Cell Activity (.gov)
Cancer Inhibition With Inositol and IP6 (.gov)
Protection Against Cancer By Dietary IP6 and Inositol (.gov)
IP6 Blocks Proliferation Of Breast Cancer Cells (.gov)
IP6 In Treatment Of Liver Cancer (.gov)
One Root Cause Of Cancer Is Deterioration Leading To Adaptation

Avoid Excess Selenium, Vitamin D
Certainly avoiding deficiency of these nutrients is good for preventing cancer but excess selenium may kill you faster than cancer because excess selenium weakens the immune system in a way that easily causes pneumonia – I’ve experienced it more than once. If that doesn’t occur, excess selenium causes diabetes. Excess vitamin D hides numerous symptoms which you may need to alert you to something.

Excess Selenium Can Cause Diabetes, Heart Has To Have Some Selenium

-Fighting Cancer
Zinc
According to the USDA, “Zinc is known to play a central role in the immune system, and zinc-deficient persons experience increased susceptibility to a variety of pathogens…… It is clear that zinc affects multiple aspects of the immune system, from the barrier of the skin to gene regulation within lymphocytes… Zinc is crucial for normal development and function of cells mediating nonspecific immunity such as neutrophils and natural killer cells… The macrophage, a pivotal cell in many immunologic functions, is adversely affected by zinc deficiency, which can dysregulate, cytokine production, and phagocytosis.”

Zinc Necessary For A Strong Immune System (.gov)
Zinc In Cancer Prevention (.gov)

Riboflavin
Although not much is said about riboflavin in the news media, riboflavin deficiency “has negative effects on both the activity and viability of macrophages and reduces their ability to generate an immune response.” Riboflavin deficiency decreases the number and ability of macrophages.

Respiratory burst is not the only way immune system cells kill damaged cells, cancer cells, bacteria, but it’s one of the best tools the immune system has.

Find “Completely Inhibited The Respiratory Burst” (.gov 2013)

“Our results suggest that acute riboflavin deficiency immediately impairs priming of Nox2, which is of crucial relevance for an effective phagocytic immune response in vivo.”

Riboflavin (.gov)

DIM Is A Big Deal
DIM is short for Diindolylmethane. DIM is sold in health food stores. DIM is formed during the digestion of Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C), a natural chemical in cruciferous vegetables (i.e. broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts).

According to the USDA, “…have shown that DIM halts the division of breast cancer cells and inhibits testosterone, the male hormone needed for growth of prostate cancer cells. …. DIM led to a jump in levels of four types of cytokines: interleukin 6, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interleukin 12, and interferon-gamma.” Cytokines are chemical messengers that tell other immune cells where they are needed to fight infection and cancer.

DIM Amplifies Immune Response To Cancer (.gov)

DIM Induces Cell Cycle Arrest In Human Breast Cancer Cells:
“DIM is a promising cancer chemopreventive agent …. DIM-induced cell cycle arrest, DIM stimulated a rapid and pronounced increase in levels of the CDK inhibitor …” CDK inhibitor is an enzyme that helps prevent overproliferation of cancer cells.

DIM Reduces Spread Of Cancer Cells (.gov)

DIM Is An Anticancer Agent:
DIM “induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through unknown mechanisms.”

DIM Causes Cancer Cell Death (.gov)

DIM Inhibits Prostate Cancer:
“These results indicate that DIM inhibits prostate carcinogenesis via induction of apoptosis and inhibition of cell cycle progression.”

Prostate Cancer On The Run (.gov)

DIM Is An Anti Tumor Agent:
“Although this agent induces apoptosis in tumor cells in vitro [outside the body, in a petri dish], the exact mechanism by which DIM exhibits its antineoplastic [anti tumor] activity in vivo [in the body] is unknown.”

Summary On DIM (cancer.gov)

DIM Absorption
One DIM supplement company says absorption of DIM is pretty low but absorption of their microencapsulated formulation is well absorbed. There’s reason to believe this because they list 13 brands that contain their (“bioresponse”) DIM.

High Absorption DIM

I3C (Indole-3-Carbinol):
I3C is a natural chemical in cruciferous vegetables (e.g. broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts).

Indole-3-Carbinol and Cancer:
“The research showed that I3C causes the destruction of the molecule called Cdc25A and thereby blocks the growth of breast cancer cells.”

Cancer Stopped With I3C

Prostate Cancer and Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C):
“Studies from our laboratory and others have found that I3C can induce G1 cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in prostate cancer cells.”

Prostate Cancer and I3C Study (.gov)

Indole-3-Carbinol In Cancer Prevention:
“Mounting preclinical and clinical evidence indicate that indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a key bioactive food component in cruciferous vegetables, has multiple anticarcinogenic and antitumorigenic properties.”

Cancer Prevention (.gov)

Indole-3-Carbinol For Breast Cancer Prevention:
“The results in this study suggest that I3C at a minimum effective dose schedule of 300 mg per day is a promising chemopreventive agent for breast cancer prevention.”

Breast Cancer Prevention (.gov)

Indole-3-Carbinol Prevents PTEN Loss:
“In a breast cancer cell line, I3C inhibited cell adhesion, spreading, and invasion associated with an upregulation of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN.”

Cervical Cancer and Breast Cancer (.gov)

Inhibition Of Motility In Human Breast Cancer Cells:
“Taken together, our data demonstrate that I3C induces stress fibers and peripheral focal adhesions in a Rho kinase-dependent manner that leads to an inhibition of motility in human breast cancer cells.”

Potent Antiproliferative Effects in Human Breast Cancer Cells (.gov)

Indole-3-Carbinol Targets Key Enzyme In Late-Stage Cancer:
“An anti-cancer compound found in broccoli and cabbage (I3C) works by lowering the activity of an enzyme associated with rapidly advancing breast cancer.”

Late Term Cancer and I3C

Enhancement of Carcinogenesis:
“…but post-initiation I3C exposure strongly enhanced the tumor incidence above the positive AFB1 control.”

Carcinogenesis and I3C (.gov)

Curcumin:
Curcumin is sold in health food stores. Curcumin is a phytonutrient in turmeric. Turmeric comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant. (Curry powder is a blend of spices that includes turmeric.)

Curcumin Inhibits Breast Cancer Cell Motility and Invasion:
“Curcumin …has emerged as a promising anticancer therapeutic agent. However, the mechanism by which curcumin inhibits cancer cell functions such as cell growth, survival, and cell motility is largely unknown …. these findings show that curcumin inhibits breast cancer cell motility and invasion.”

Cancer and Curcumin (.gov)
Cancer and Curcumin (.edu)

Curcumin Blocks Brain Tumor Formation:
“Oral delivery of this food component has been less effective because of its low solubility in water. We show that a soluble formulation of curcumin crosses the blood-brain barrier but does not suppress normal brain cell viability …. solubilized curcumin effectively blocks brain tumor formation and also eliminates brain tumor cells. Therefore, judicious application of such injectable formulations of curcumin could be developed into a safe therapeutic strategy for treating brain tumors.”

Cancer, Brain Tumors, and Curcumin (.gov)

Curcumin and Piperine Stops Growth of Breast Stem Cells:
“But this paper, published online in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, is the first to suggest these dietary compounds could prevent cancer by targeting stem cells.”

Curcumin Might Prevent Cancer

Curry And PEITC Might Stop Prostate Cancer:
“…the combination of PEITC and curcumin could be effective in treating established prostate cancers.”

Prostate Cancer

Curcumin Could Reduce Breast Cancer Risk In Women Exposed To Hormone Replacement Therapy:
“This exposure to progestin will predispose a large number of post-menopausal women to future development of breast cancer … women could potentially take curcumin to protect themselves from developing progestin-accelerated tumors.”

Curcumin, Progestin and Cancer

Sulforaphane:
Sulforaphane Terminology: Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale) are the only source of glucosinolates. Glucosinolates break down into different isothiocyanates. One isothiocyanate is glucoraphanin (a.k.a. sulforaphane glucosinolate, SGS), which is a precursor of sulforaphane. You can buy broccoli capsules in health food stores.

Isothiocyanates and Sulforaphane

Myrosinase Is Necessary: An enzyme of broccoli, myrosinase, is needed for sulforaphane to be formed. Raw glucoraphanin and heated broccoli florets lack myrosinase and improve chemistry of the colon but not the liver. Broccoli seed, rich in myrosinase and glucoraphanin, for some reason did not improve chemistry of the liver. But unheated broccoli florets did improve chemistry of the colon and liver. Be sure your supplement or diet includes raw, unheated broccoli florets. A juicer may work best for this.

Florets Are Necessary (.gov)

Raw Broccoli is high in sulforaphane. Raw broccoli sprouts are said to have 20-40 times more sulforaphane than raw broccoli. Broccoli seeds are also rich in glucoraphanin (20-50 mg/g). Broccoli seed extract is said to provide the highest amount of sulforaphane. Broccoli seeds probably need to be crushed before eating.

Anti-Cancer Effects of Sulforaphane:
“Sulforaphane, a chemical found in broccoli, interacts with cells lacking a gene called PTEN to reduce the chances of prostate cancer developing.”

Cancer and Sulforaphane Cancer

Sulforaphane Limits Breast Cancer Stem Cells:
“Researchers found sulforaphane targeted and killed the cancer stem cells and prevented new tumors from growing. … Current chemotherapies do not work against cancer stem cells, which is why cancer recurs and spreads.”

Cancer Stem Cells and Sulforaphane

Sulforaphane Halts Breast Cancer Cell Growth:
“Researchers have discovered that sulforaphane can halt human breast cancer cells in their tracks and have identified a new mechanism of action for the compound.”

Breast Cancer Cell Growth (.gov)

Sulforaphane Inhibits Breast Cancer Stem Cells:
“These findings support the use of sulforaphane for the chemoprevention of breast cancer stem cells and warrant further clinical evaluation.”

Breast Cancer Cells and Sulforaphane (.gov)

Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells Stopped:
“Synergistic activity of sorafenib and sulforaphane abolishes pancreatic cancer stem cell characteristics.”

Cancer and Sulforaphane (.gov)

Breast Cancer Spreading Stopped:
“Sulforaphane (SFN) inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells at concentrations that have negligible effects on normal control breast cell. … For humans to obtain concentrations of SFN similar to those we have used, one would have to consume about 1 cup (106 g) of broccoli sprouts per day.”

Breast Cancer and Sulforaphane (.gov)

Sulforaphane’s Anti-Cancer Property:
“This agent displays anticarcinogenic properties due to its ability to induce phase II detoxification enzymes, such as glutathione S-transferase and quinone reductase, thereby providing protection against certain carcinogens and toxic, reactive oxygen species.”

Protection Against Certain Carcinogens (.gov )

Blocking Cancer Tumor:
“Sulforaphane can function by blocking tumor initiation step via inhibiting the Phase 1 enzymes that convert procarcinogens to carcinogens. Sulforaphane also induces Phase 2 enzymes that detoxify carcinogens and facilitate their excretion from the body. Once cancer is initiated, sulforaphane can act via several mechanisms that modulate cell growth and cell death signals to suppress cancer progression.”

Sulforaphane Suppresses Cancer Progression (.gov)

Avoid Over Cooking Broccoli:
“To get broccoli’s benefits, the enzyme myrosinase has to be present; if it’s not there, sulforaphane, broccoli’s cancer-preventive and anti-inflammatory component, doesn’t form.”

Cooking Broccoli

Perillyl Alcohol and Limonene

Perillyl Alcohol Inhibits Human Breast Cancer:
“POH inhibited both ER-positive and negative human breast cancer cell growth in vitro, and suppressed growth and metastasis in vivo.”

Cancer and Perillyl Alcohol

Effective In Treating Early and Advanced Cancers:
“…monoterpenes are effective in treating early and advanced cancers. Monoterpenes such as limonene and perillyl alcohol have been shown to prevent mammary, liver, lung, and other cancers.”

Monoterpenes and Cancer

Cancer and Chlorophyll:
Aflatoxin is a natural, not uncommon, and potent carcinogenic toxin created by the molds aspergillus flavus and aspergillus parasiticus. The molds are most often found in milk, corn and corn products, peanuts and peanut products, tree nuts, and cotton seed. Chlorophyll and chlorophyllin, found in green leafy vegetables and as a supplement in health food stores, can reverse the effects of aflatoxin poisoning.

Chlorophyll Significantly Reduces Aflatoxin (.gov)

Cancer and Antioxidants:
“Damage to DNA has been linked to some kinds of cancer. By protecting cells against free radicals, antioxidants help protect the body against cancer.” Once you have cancer, antioxidants aren’t all that great because cancer cells benefit from antioxidants also.

Cancer and Free Radicals (.gov)

Cancer and Selenium:
According to the USDA, “… the immune-enhancing properties of selenium in humans are the result, at least in part, of improved activation and proliferation of B-lymphocytes and perhaps enhanced T-cell function.”

USDA On Selenium (.gov)

Prostate Cancer and Selenium:
“…we demonstrated that the activity of Trx reductase (TR) is increased by sevenfold in the human prostate cancer cell line …after 5 days of sodium selenite (Se) treatment.” PTEN is a tumor suppresser and controlled by thioredoxin (Trx). Trx reductase is a catalyst for Trx.

Prostate Cancer and Sodium Selenite (.gov)

Anticancer Mechanism of Selenium:
“Taken together, our data demonstrate that sodium selenite inhibits intestinal carcinogenesis in vivo and in vitro through activating JNK1 and suppressing beta-catenin signaling, a novel anticancer mechanism of selenium.”

Intestinal Cancer and Sodium Selenite (.gov)

Reduced Risk of Colon Cancer With Selenium, Folate:
“High levels of serum selenium and reported folate jointly were associated with a substantially reduced risk of colon cancer. Folate status should be taken into account when evaluating the relation between selenium and colon cancer in future studies.”

Cancer, Selenium, Folate (.gov)

Immune-Enhancing Properties Of Selenium:
According to the USDA, “… the immune-enhancing properties of selenium in humans are the result, at least in part, of improved activation and proliferation of B-lymphocytes and perhaps enhanced T-cell function.”

USDA On Selenium (.gov)

Selenium Prevents Cancer From Coming Back:
“This study thus demonstrates the prognostic value of selenium assays in the follow-up of melanoma and [skin] T-cell lymphomas.” From repeated personal experience, if I stop taking selenomethionine (a common supplement form of selenium) for a few months, red bumps come back on my skin where I use to frequently sunburn.

Selenium and Melanoma (.gov)

Too Much Selenium:
More than 50 mcg of selenium for weeks or longer is believed to increase the risk of developing diabetes – see link below. The RDA for adults for selenium is 55 mcg a day. Many brands sell 50 mcg supplements of selenium, but many foods contain a significant amount of selenium – how often do you eat those foods?

Selenium Content Of Different, Choose “W” List (.gov)
Excess Selenium Can Cause Diabetes, Heart Has To Have Some Selenium

Forms Of Selenium:
“…both selenate and selenite can prevent the first of several steps that can lead to cancer, whereas the grain form – selenomethionine – was ineffective.”

Selenate and Selenite (.gov)

Cancer and Vitamin D:

Cancer Risk Reduced With Vitamin D and Calcium:
“Conclusion: Improving calcium and vitamin D nutritional status substantially reduces all-cancer risk in postmenopausal women.”

Some Vitamin D Reduces Cancer Risk (.gov)

Sunscreen Does Not Block Solar Rays Needed To Make Vitamin D:
“…although sunscreens can significantly reduce the production of vitamin D under very strictly controlled conditions, their normal usage does not generally result in vitamin D insufficiency.”

Sunscreen And Vitamin D (.gov)

Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Optimal Vitamin D Level:
“Conclusions: The evidence to date suggests that daily intake of 1000-2000 IU/day of vitamin D(3) could reduce the incidence of colorectal with minimal risk.”

Colorectal Cancer Prevention (.gov)

Cancer and Vitamin D:
“Although some evidence suggests that vitamin D may provide some protection against colorectal and possibly other cancers, the evidence of potential benefit is limited and inconsistent. …there was some evidence that men with higher vitamin D levels had an increased risk for a tumor or disease that forms, grows, or spreads quickly.” You may want to consider using the very common 400 IU supplements of vitamin D sold everywhere until you find out what their use of the word “higher” means, and until you’ve had your blood level of vitamin D checked.

Strengths and Limits of Vitamin D (.gov)
The Study That Found “higher” Rates of Cancer With Vitamin D

Cancer and Calcium:

Breast Cancer Risk Reduced with Vitamin, Calcium Supplements:
“…the findings suggest that the calcium supplements are acting to enhance DNA repair capacity, a complex biological process involving more than 200 proteins that, if disrupted, can lead to cancer …. Vitamin supplements appeared to reduce the risk of breast cancer by about 30 percent. Calcium supplements reduced the risk of breast cancer by 40 percent.”

Cancer and Supplements

Cancer and Lycopene
Lycopene is a phytonutrient in tomatoes. “The evidence for a benefit was strongest for cancers of the prostate, lung, and stomach.”

Anticancer Properties of Tomatoes (.gov)

Cancer and Resveratrol
“…the anti-cancer effect of resveratrol is associated with the damage of mitochondrial function that leads to increased ROS, apoptosis…”

Resveratrol (.gov)

“At first, the tumor cells in the resveratrol-fed lab animals did not grow. But as the resveratrol consumption continued, blood vessels developed around the tumors.”

Resveratrol May Not Be Good For Cancer (.gov)

*None of the discussions on health nor facts on health above are a substitute for licensed medical advice.

Good Things Happen When You’re Nutritionally Well