Cancer & Immunity 

Richard Béliveau, a leading authority in the field of cancer research, estimates that approximately 30% of cancer risk is due to poor diet (Béliveau, 2006). And with today’s all-too-common Standard American Diet full of refined carbohydrates, high sugar, & trans fats, it might not come as a surprise that cancer rates are growing.

About 1,665,540 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2014 according to The American Cancer Society, and about 585,720 Americans are expected to die of cancer. That’s almost 1,600 people per day. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease, accounting for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths (www.cancer.org).

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. There are many types of cancer including breast, ovarian, lung, bladder, & others. Prostate, breast & lung cancer are among the highest diagnosed cases & deaths each year.

According to The American Cancer Society, cancer is a group of diseases that can cause almost any sign or symptom. Each depends on where the cancer is, how widespread it is, and how much it affects the body’s organs or tissues.

Causes of Cancer

There are thought to be many different causes of cancer (all dependent on which type & how sever the diagnosis). Some causes are thought to include:

• Nutrient Deficiencies
• Immune deficiency
• Chronic Inflammation
• Heredity
• Ionizing Radiation
• Viruses
• Neurochormonal instability
• Toxic Load
• Free radical damage

Allopathic versus Holistic Support 

In the allopathic medical world, cancer is treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immune therapy, and targeted therapy. And traditionally many allopathic doctors are not trained in the methods of cancer prevention.

However, there is a growing field of research into the role of nutrition/diet into the cause & prevention of cancer. Some researchers estimate that cancer incident could potentially be reduced by approximately 35% through improved diet quality (Fitzgerald & Veugelers, 2002). And evidence has emerged demonstrating the potentially healing power of certain foods:

• Ovarian cancer patients with high intake of cruciferous vegetables were 45% more likely to survive five years versus controls (Nagle, et al, 2003)
• Grass-fed beef provides significant levels of β-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, & cancer fighting glutathione & SOD activity (Daley, 2010)
• Prostate cancer patients who increased intake of whole grains & vegetables lowered their rising PSAs, a sign of cancer recurrence (Nguyen, et al, 2006)
• High protein & fat ketogenic diets have also been shown to slow tumor growth and increase life-span (Ho, et al, 2011; Otto, et al, 2008)

Holistic Immunity Support Plan

According to more holistic approaches to dis-ease prevention & immunity support, people can begin to take their current & future health into their own hands. Dr. Ed Bauman, a proponent of the Eating for Health model, suggests the following approach:

1. Provide Optimum Nutrition & Remedy Deficiencies
   • Plant-based & alkaline forming diet
   • High fiber intake
   • High chlorophyll
   • High quality, organic foods
   • At least one of the following foods per meal including medicinal mushrooms, alliums, crucifers, carotenes, & polyphenols
   • Protein: eat 0.8-1g protein for each kg of body weight
2. Digestive Support
   • 70-80% of immune system is located in the gut
   • High fiber intake to prevent constipation (can diminish health due to reabsorption of bowel toxins)
   • Integrity of intestinal wall must be intact for proper absorption
3. Detox Support
   • Studies show that people with defective detoxification have higher rates of disease
   • Eat cruciferous vegetables, limonene, curcumin, & quercetin
4. Regulate Blood Sugar
   • Sugar depresses the immune system
   • Fast growing tumor cells uptake of sugar is approximately five times that of normal cells
   • Eat low-glycemic fruits, proteins, high fiber foods, & good oils
5. Enhance Immune System
   • A strong immune system means a strong immune surveillance system
   • Stress can significantly reduce the ability of the immune system to protect you
   • Immune supportive herbs & adaptogens can help
6. Modulate Prostaglandins to Lower Inflammation
   • High oxidative stress from inflammation increases gene mutation (Franco, 2008)
   • Inflammation facilitates cell growth & invasion
   • Reduce inflammation by balancing omega-6s with omega-3s (3:1 ratio), use proteases on an empty stomach, & lower stress
7. Modulate Hormonal Influences
   • Eat probiotics which promote a healthy immunity, prevent the overgrowth of yeast, & can control metabolism of estrogen

References:

American Cancer Society, The (2014). Cancer Facts & Figures 2014. Found at http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@research/documents/webcontent/acspc-042151.pdf
Bauman, E. (2013). Foundations of Nutrition. Penngrove, CA: Bauman College.
Beliveau, R. (2007). Foods to Fight Cancer: Essential Foods to Help Prevent Cancer. New York: DK Publishing.
Daley,C.A., Abbott, A., Doyle, P.S., Nader, G.A., & Larson, S. (2010). A review of fatty acid profiles and antioxidant content in grass-fed and grain-fed beef [PDF]. Nutrition Journal, 9:10. Available at http://www.nutritionj.com/content/9/1/10
Franco, R., Schoneveld, O., Georgakilas, A.G., & Panayiotidis, M.I. (2008, Jul 18). Oxidative stress, DNA methylation and carcinogenesis [Abstract]. Cancer Lett, 266(1):6-11. PMID:18372104
Fitzgerald, A.L., Dewar, R.A., & Veugelers, P.J. (2002). Diet quality and cancer incidence in Nova Scotia, Canada [Abstract]. Nutr Cancer, 43(2):127–132. PMID:12588692
 Ho, V.W., Leung, K., Hsu, A., Luk, B., Lai, J., Shen, S.Y., . . . Krystal, G. (2011, Jul 1). A low carbohydrate, high protein diet slows tumor growth and prevents cancer initiation [Abstract]. Cancer Res, 71(13); 4484–93. DOI:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-10-3973
Memon, A.R., Kazi, T.G., Afridi, H.I., Jamali, M.K., Arain, M.B., Jalbani, N., & Syed, N. (2007, Apr). Evaluations of zinc status in whole blood and scalp hair of female cancer patients [Abstract]. Clinica Chimica Acta, 379(1–2):66–70. DOI:10.1016/j.cca.2006.12.009
Murray, M. (2005). The Encyclopedia of Healing Food. New York: Atria Books.
Nagle, C.M., Purdie, D.M., Webb, P.M., Green, A., Harvey, P.W., & Bain, C.J. (2003, Aug 20). Dietary influences on survival after ovarian cancer [Abstract]. Int J Cancer, 106(2):264-9. PMID:12800204
Nguyen, J.Y., Major, J.M., Knott, C.J., Freeman, K.M., Downs, T.M., & Saxe, G.A. (2006, Sep). Adoption of a plant-based diet by patients with recurrent prostate cancer [Abstract]. Integr Cancer Ther, 5(3):214-223. DOI:10.1177/1534735406292053
Otto, C., Kaemmerer, U., Illert, B., Muehling, B., Pfetzer, N., Wittig, R., Coy, J.F. (2008). Growth of human gastric cancer cells in nude mice is delayed by a ketogenic diet supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids and medium-chain triglycerides [PDF]. BMC Cancer, 8:122. DOI:10.1186/1471-2407-8-122
Thompson, L.U., Chen, J.M., Li, T., Strasser-Weippl, K., & Goss, P.E. (2005, May 15). Dietary flaxseed alters tumor biological markers in postmenopausal breast cancer [Abstract]. Clin Cancer Res, 11(10):3828-35. PMID:15897583