CANCER CRASH COURSE

Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. Cancer is always named for the part of the body where it starts, even if it spreads to other body parts later. Men have a one in two chance of being diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes; for women, the chance is one in three, according to the NCI. To prevent cancer, it’s good to learn about what causes it. I never did until now and I wish I did in 2014 after my 2 biopsies, because I could've prevented this from growing in my body. The following is layman’s terms for what I’ve picked up over the first 2 months since diagnosis. 

Cancer cells are thieves. They steal nutrients from healthy cells in your body and rapidly divide/ grow compared to normal cells. They thrive in acidic environments with little oxygen, so the more oxygen going through your body, the better (exercise!). They have a way of disguising themselves from your immune system so that they are not attacked by it, and thus can continue spreading without you getting sick. This is why all of my blood tests came out perfectly normal when trying to diagnose my swollen leg. They can create new blood vessels (angiogenesis) for redirecting nutrients to them versus healthy cells. They can also spread 30x faster when you are stressed (have high cortisol levels). 

Cancer cells feed off glucose, which is why it’s important not to over-do it on sugars/ refined carbs and to completely cut it out if diagnosed. This is called the Warburg effect. Different cancers have different metabolic profiles too. What’s worse is that they can adapt and change over time which is why chemo drugs sometimes stop working, There are tests to help prevent this though! At the Weisenthal Cancer Group, they can take a sample of your tumor biopsy and test it against different pharmaceuticals to determine which is most effective at curing your specific cancer, ultimately saving time and money if your cancer responds to one drug better than another.

Personally, I’m treating myself like a diabetic and trying to keep low-carb/ keto to keep my blood glucose levels low so cancer cells are starved. I'm also trying to fast intermittently as much as possible to increase autophagy (cell clean-up, great for everyone!). There are even new integrated chemo methods (called fractionalized chemo) where they do maybe 10-20% of the standard chemo amount while at the same time administering metformin to keep blood glucose low. This starves the cancer cells and causes apoptosis (cell death). Conventional doctors don’t practice this, so the best I can do is take berberine and fast 2-3 days before chemo plus the day of, then resume eating small, well-balanced meals after. Because the cancer cells are the thieves, they are so hungry by the time the chemo is administered that they will absorb anything asap before the healthy cells have a chance. If all they’re receiving is toxic chemicals, then they're theoretically is a higher rate of apoptosis. 

There are many different kinds of cancers with a broad range of causes, and each requires a different treatment plan and/ or cocktail of drugs. What works for one person may not work for another. Some are more aggressive than others. And it takes decades for new pharmaceutical drugs to be tested before they hit the market. Keep this in mind if someone you knows gets the big C - every experience is unique.

HPV is the most common STI in the United States. By age 50, at least 4 out of every 5 women will have been infected with HPV at one point in their lives. HPV is also very common in men, and often has no symptoms. It also can't be tested for in men. Most people who become infected with HPV do not even know they have it. Usually, the body’s immune system gets rid of the HPV infection naturally within two years. This is true of both oncogenic and non-oncogenic HPV types. 

Types of HPV

HPV types are often referred to as “non-oncogenic” (wart-causing) or “oncogenic” (cancer-causing), based on whether they put a person at risk for cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer found that 13 HPV types can cause cervical cancer, and at least one of these types can cause cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and certain head and neck cancers (specifically, the oropharynx, which includes the back of the throat, base of the tongue and tonsils). The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types that can cause cancer.  

Statistics

In general, HPV is thought to be responsible for more than 90% of anal and cervical cancers, about 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers, and more than 60% of penile cancers. Oropharyngeal cancers traditionally have been caused by tobacco and alcohol, but recent studies show that about 70% of cancers of the oropharynx may be linked to HPV. Many cancers of the oropharynx may be caused by a combination of tobacco, alcohol, and HPV. (Source: CDC)

Based on data from 2015 to 2019, about 47,199 new HPV-associated cancers occur in the United States each year: 26,177 among women, and 21,022 among men. Cervical cancer is the most common HPV-associated cancer among women, and oropharyngeal cancers (cancers of the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils) are the most common among men. (Source: CDC)

Defending with the Immune System

When the body’s immune system can’t get rid of an HPV infection with oncogenic HPV types, it can linger over time and turn normal cells into abnormal cells and then cancer. A strong immune system starts in having a strong and healthy gut microbiome. When you take care of your digestive system, it will take care of you back. That’s why a healthy, non-inflammatory diet with the help of pre/probiotics is so important to nourish it. ‘The Longevity Paradox’ really gets into this in detail and is a fantastic read. The main principle being that our body is a garden. We can fertilize it and water it, making the soil impenetrable to weeds, pests, and disease. People have shaken off heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and so much more by switching to an anti-inflammatory diet. 

Prevention

After condoms, vaccines protect against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and anal precancers and cancers. Cervical cancer also can be prevented or found early through regular screening and follow-up treatment. You can take the vaccine even after testing positive for HPV. 

Symptoms

Early on, cervical cancer may not cause signs and symptoms. Advanced cervical cancer may cause bleeding or discharge from the vagina that is not normal for you, such as bleeding after sex. If you have any of these signs, see your doctor. They may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see your doctor.

The lymph system is a vital circulatory system and the body's primary immune defense and waste eliminator system. It is critical to managing the elimination of toxins from our bodies. It is primarily responsible for carrying disease-fighting material to cells attacked by germs, transporting the dead germs away, and supplying protein-rich plasma fluid back to the heart. When this system is blocked, we become defenseless against attacks by viruses, fungi, bacteria, and cancer. Its infection-fighting material is prevented from destroying germs and cell-nourishing elements are prevented from reaching our blood. As a result, germs grow, our blood loses needed protein, the immune system falters and infectious diseases march in. (Source: Cancer Center for Healing)