Maybe you have an enexplained weight loss or an extreme fatigue that won't end. Perhaps there's a constant fever or an unending pain in your bones or nerves. Maybe even the appearance of your skin is suddenly different, or you feel a lump where there shouldn't be one...

It is possible for these symptoms to be related to other causes, but several of these symptoms together, especially when they do not seem to go away, provide a sign that you need to seek help for what could turn out to be cancer. It's time to start learning what your body is trying to tell you!

Cancer is a disease caused by a mutated cell that is somehow ignored by our bodies' defenses so that this mutated cell begins to reproduce (normally it should not be allowed to do so). If the body does not stop it over time, it will eventually form a group of mutated cells called a tumor. As the tumor grows, these mutated cells have the chance to break off and infect other parts of the body.

Characteristics of cancer are abnormal bleeding, extreme fatigue, fever, indigestion that cannot be linked to a much simpler cause, unexplained lumps, chronic pain (particularly in bones and / or nerves), changes in skin appearance or of bowel function, unusual sores, weight loss, and potentially other issues.

Education: What happens when you have cancer -
So, what happens when we "have cancer"?

I have never liked the stigma our society applies to many of our major "diseases" like cancer -- that being a perception of, "you just get it; no one knows why; you never know when it might happen to you, and once you 'get it', it's probably the end of the line for you because it really cannot be effectively cured." This viewpoint comes from fear and ignorance more than anything else, and to some extent, this is a natural part of being human. We often fear that which we do not (or cannot) understand, but what we need more than anything else when it comes to cancer is a large dose of understanding!

So, the first thing in understanding cancer lies in recognizing it as a part of who we are -- it is part of our uniqueness just as our eye and hair colors, the shapes of our mouths, and so on are all part of what make us special and unique. And all of this craziness we have gone though is actually a good thing -- a very good thing -- because it gives us a chance to learn more about ourselves and grow powerful as individuals and ultimately triumph over one of the more difficult aspects of life!!!

As we begin to understand that, the next step we need to take is realizing how we get cancer, and this is actually a very interesting step because we discover we're not alone since everyone in the world has cancer to some degree or another at all times.

Wow!!!

Totally amazing, right?!? But what does it mean? Well, normally our bodies exist in a state of balance. The cells in our bodies are constantly reproducing, and this happens in a very controlled fashion. Sometimes the process does not go as planned, but this is occasionally expected. The re-created cell's DNA may become corrupt such that the new cell does not die when it should, or maybe it produces new cells before it should.

Under normal, balanced circumstances, these flawed cells are destroyed by the body's defenses (the natural killer cells), but when we fall out of balance and the body's defenses become overworked, corrupt cells may accumulate faster than they can be destroyed, and a tumor develops. At that point, we may say we have cancer depending upon what type of tumor has appeared.

This understanding leads to another question -- a question about balance: why is the body's defense unable to keep up with the mutated cells?

We can theorize on this and deduce that we overwork our bodies in a couple of key areas. The first is that we expose ourselves to mutagenic agents (those that cause cell corruption and mutation) at a rate faster than our bodies can combat. The second is that we build toxins in our bodies from at least two different sources, primarily: 1) the digestion of foods that are really not proper foods for us, and 2) the digestion of harmful additives found in what we eat. These toxins cause our bodies to have to work harder to clean them out and/or repair the ensuing damage thus allowing mutant cells to reproduce "too fast" so-to-speak. It really is all about balance!

Think of it this way using the analogy of a highway repair team. We may have a total road crew of one hundred men, and maybe this road crew can repair ten miles worth of road in one day. Now, if the weather is neutral, this road crew can repair the normal wear and tear generated on the roads at the normal rate, but if the sun is hot, and it beats down on the pavement so that twenty or thirty miles of road buckle, well, the road crew cannot keep up, and someone's drive home is going to be disrupted because the balance between the damage created and the ability to repair it has been thrown off.

This is how it goes with the body's defense systems. They can only handle so much load at a time. If we throw too much damage at them too fast in the way we handle ourselves and live our lives, then the body is going to "buckle" somewhere, and some organ's "drive home" isn't going to go smoothly.

Can this be what really happens with cancer? At present, given the complexities of the human body, too much is still unknown. It does seem quite plausible, but the only way to really test our theories is to eliminate cancer causing behaviors from our lives INCLUDING removal of substances we should not be eating. As we watch our bodies return to balance, they become, once again, far better equipped to destroy existing tumors and mutated cells on their own.

Since the affliction and triggers are different in all of us, this is no simple task, but the process can be made as easy as possible by following a simple type of fasting. We want to starve the cancer cells as much as possible and ultimately target them to destroy themselves so this means first eliminating nearly everything but the most benign of foods (it is only for a little while to start), and we do want to consume a great deal of raw food -- primarily vegetables.

Particularly in the case of cancer, we need to be sure our entire system stays slightly alkaline the way it wants to be. Since our blood must remain between pH 7.35 and 7.45 at all times, our bodies achieve this by using chemical buffers. When our diets are heavily acidic, however, we overuse our buffers, and this added stress keeps our bodies in a state of imbalance. The key to altering this harmful cycle is to eat more alkalizing foods each day than we eat acidic foods.

If the changes we have made begin causing our cancer to vanish, we know something(s) we were eating is the primary trigger in us that kept us out of balance. The positive pattern should be continued until the cancer signs are completely gone at which point we would gradually begin adding pure foods back into our diets to see what happens.

As these are normally considered harmless foods to everyone, the ones recommended to eat initially are:

• proteins: cod, sardines, walnuts (omit for known allergies to tree nuts)
• fats: olive oil (on a limited basis)
• greens: beet greens, broccoli, collard greens¹, kale¹ (all raw)
• fruits: blueberries, cherries, figs, pineapple, plums (all raw)
• spices: ginger root, fresh or dried parsley, onions (all raw [excluding dried parsley])
• drinks: water (pure and filtered, spring water preferred)

In many cases, a strict vegan diet for one or two years works wonders to improve energy levels and clear a bothersome medical condition. Some people even maintain that course for life -- truly a very healthy path though I personally feel after a two year or so cleansing period, it is likely a person could add back some non-vegan foods in small quantities (fish or fowl, for example) without suffering further negative effects. Again, changes would need to be carefully tested.

• Beta carotene: (from carrots, pumpkin, beets) is an antioxidant which helps reduce cancer risk (except in current smokers where lung cancer risk is actually increased). It also improves vision characteristics when it converts to vitamin A which is stored in the eye in large quantities
• Bilberry: contains a number of anti-oxidants including vitamin C. Studies are showing that it inhibits the growth of cancer cells -- particularly those of leukemia and colon cancer. As an added benefit, it may help improve vision (as reported by RAF pilots in World War II) -- especially night vision, and may help reduce macular inflammation
• Cod liver oil: has wonderful anti-inflammatory effects on the body but does contain significant amounts of Vitamins A and D
• Copper: is beneficial primarily in the sense that it offsets zinc intake since zinc and copper compete in the body. If supplementing with zinc, a 7:1 ratio of zinc:copper should be maintained; however, copper is not normally something we need to add to our diets. Good sources of copper are: black beans, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pinto beans, portabella mushrooms, pumpkin and squash seeds, seaweed, sesame seeds, shrimp, and walnuts
• Cruciferous vegetables: (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower) are potent anti-cancer foods containing numerous cancer inhibiting compounds such as indole-3-carbinol (I3C), lutein, and sulforaphane.
• Curcumin: is the primary active ingredient in turmeric, and research on it has shown significant anti-inflammatory and cancer inhibiting properties. The usual daily dose is somewhere from 500mg to 8000mg depending on need. It is usually well tolerated, but intake adjustments can be made is discomfort is observed.
• Echinacea: increases the quantity of immune system cells, particularly NK ("natural killer" or anti-tumor) cells, and elevates their activity level in the body. For someone with cancer, this can be very effective.
• Fish oil: has some incredible anti-inflammatory effects on the body
• Garlic: is a very strong antibiotic, anti-fungal, and anti-cancer food containing many cancer inhibiting compounds -- in particular diallyl sulfide. Through extensive research, it seems to be effective in treating colorectal, esophageal, lung, prostate, and skin cancers, and it is on Germany's approved list for said treatments. They suggest consuming one large, fresh (raw) clove daily.
• Ginger: is a potent anti-inflammatory which has been shown to dramatically reduce inflammatory markers in the intestines. Further research has shown ginger to be effective at causing cancer cells to either destroy themselves or consume themselves. It is likely that it helps prevent and even reverse cancer -- particularly colorectal cancer.
• Gingko biloba: helps the body improve blood flow
• Ginseng (American, Asian, Korean): is an adaptogenic herb that helps balance the sex hormones. A study following several thousand people for five years showed it to decrease risk of developing liver, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and stomach cancers. Additional studies have shown it to boost the immune system, relieve menopausal symptoms and improve mood in women, raise sperm count and motility, increase male sex drive and erection quality, slow Alzheimer's progression and improve memory, and decrease bad LDL cholesterol. Effects appear compounded for the better when ginseng is combined with gingko biloba, but effects can be reduced by the presence of vitamin C (therefore, at least two hours should separate ginseng consumption from vitamin C). As for blood pressure and blood sugar (diabetes), studies conflict at the moment with some showing increases while others show decreases. Until more is learned, care should be taking if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.
• Habenaro / Jalapeno / Hot Peppers: are strong anti-inflammatory foods that contain the compound capsaicin. Capsaicin has been shown in tests to incite cancer cells to a programmed destruction. It is a potent ingredient though, and there seems to be some delicate balance required as some (inconsistent) studies indicate too much of that "hotness" may actually act as a carcinogen. This seems true when it is applied to the skin as a topical ointment or when enormous quantities are consumed and stomach tumors develop. Doses given in laboratory tests equal the consumption of approximately eight (8) or so habeneros weekly.
• Lycopene: (from tomatoes) is a strong anti-oxidant which acts to reduce the risk of contracting numerous types of cancers.
• Lutein: (from spinach, egg yokes, zucchini) seems to play an important part in keeping the eye healthy and even preventing macular degeneration, but it has also been shown to block the growth of some cancer cells -- particularly prostate cancer cells.
• Omega-3 & Omega-6 fatty acids: are an important part of the diet since we need these acids and are unable to manufacture them on our own. However, diets high in omega-6 and low in omega-3 are now being linked to different types of cancer, notably breast, colorectal, and prostate. It seems that some omega-6 fatty acids, such as those found in corn oil and other vegetable oils, are far worse than others in the omega-6 family. Ideally, we should strive for a balanced ratio of about 1:1 up to 1:4 of omega-3 to omega-6 (e.g. consume omega-6 quantities that are no more than 4 times the amount of omega-3 you consume).
• Oregano: is a strong anti-oxidant and antimicrobial herb which has been shown in recent research to neutralize most of the food-borne cancer-causing molecules created during the cooking process. Even just a tablespoon of the herb daily is significant.
• Rosemary: is a potent antimicrobial and anti-oxidant (more specifically rosemary oil), and it does show promise in fighting breast cancer though so far this is only in animal tests.
• Tea tree oil: is showing promise, when applied topically, in the reduction of skin cancers.
• Thyme: contains terpenoids which have anti-cancer properties.
• Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor): is being shown to fight cancer cells while also boosting the body's immune system. It has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine and has fairly recently been approved by the FDA for clinical trial use in the USA. Both prostate and breast cancer are the current targets (though traditional Chinese medicine uses it for all cancers).
• Turmeric: is a powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory root which is showing promise as an anti-cancer herb as well. It contains the anti-oxidant, curcumin, which blocks some of the cellular pathways that are important in the spread and development of the cancer cells. It may be noteworthy how in Okinawa, the average lifespan is around 81 years, and they regularly drink lots of tea made from turmeric. Good sources are turmeric root and turmeric powder. Turmeric powder is slightly more than 3% curcumin. One teaspoon turmeric power is about 2.27g by weight therefore it has about 1/14th gram of curcumin. Some research indicates that one teaspoon daily is enough to prevent the development of several cancers.
• Vitamin C: is a potent anti-oxidant which may have anti-cancer, tumor inhibiting properties as indicated by preliminary research at Johns Hopkins.
• Vitamin E: is a strong antioxidant which also helps dilate blood vessels. Good sources are: almonds, avocado, broccoli, brown rice, dandelion greens, green olives, hazel nuts, pine nuts, sardines, spinach, and sunflower seeds. Vitamin E supplements of 400 IU daily, however, may be connected to an increased risk of prostate cancer though research is not yet definitive in this area. Stick to food-based sources for now.
• Zinc: is is used by the body to create numerous enzymes and possibly the most important nutrient for the immune system due to its supporting role with T-cells and Natural Killer Cells. High zinc intake depletes copper in the body; therefore, if supplementing with zinc, a 7:1 ratio of zinc:copper should be maintained. Good zinc sources include: beef, black beans, brown rice, cashews, eggs, flax seeds, mozzarella, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, pinto beans, pumpkin and squash seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, venison, walnuts, and white beans

• Beets: contain the red pigment compound betanin which has proven to be a potent anti-cancer compound
• Black walnuts:
• Blackberries:
• Blueberries:
• Broccoli:
• Carrots:
• Cherries: also beneficial is freshly made cherry juice
• Cod:
• Cod liver oil: may be high in vitamins A and D. Fish oil makes a good substitute without the extra vitamins
• Dill:
• Elderberries:
• Fish oil:
• Flaxseed: must be kept refrigerated. Also must be ground before use to gain benefit
• Garlic: raw garlic is highly effective. Once cooked, the benefit is substantially reduced
• Ginger root: raw and grated is effective. It can be eated whole although it is "hot" to the taste
• Grapes: freshly juiced grapes are also very helpful
• Kale: raw, in salads, is a great way to eat it. It is extremely nutrient dense and very healthful
• Olive oil:
• Onions: raw onions are highly effective. Once cooked, the benefit is substantially reduced
• Oregano: wild oregano contains strong anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-cancer components
• Parsley:
• Peppers, hot red and green:
• Pineapple:
• Salmon:
• Sardines:
• Rosemary:
• Tarragon:
• Tea, green:
• Thyme:
• Turmeric:

• Amaranth: (blood types A and AB)
• Beef: (blood type O)
• Black eyed pea: (blood type O)
• Blackberries: (blood types A, AB, and B)
• Blueberries: (blood types A, B, and O)
• Brussel sprouts: (blood type B)
• Buffalo: (blood type O)
• Cabbage: (blood types AB and B)
• Cauliflower: (blood types A, AB, and B)
• Cod: (blood types AB, B, and O)
• Curry powder: (blood types AB, B, and O)
• Dandelion greens: (blood types A and O)
• Elderberries: (blood types A, AB, and O)
• Escargot: (blood types A and AB)
• Essene: (blood types AB and B)
• Fava beans: (blood types A and O)
• Flaxseed: (blood types A, AB, and O)
• Flaxseed oil: (blood type A)
• Ghee: (blood types AB and B)
• Ginger root: (blood types AB and B)
• Goat: (blood type B)
• Grapes: (blood type AB)
• Grapefruit: (blood types A and B) also beneficial is the juice for type A
• Green beans: (blood type A)
• Guava: (blood types B and O)
• Halibut: (blood types B and O)
• Kale: (blood types AB and O)
• Kefir: (blood types AB and B)
• Lamb and mutton: (blood types B and O)
• Lima bean: (blood type B)
• Mackerel: (blood types A, B, and O)
• Mushroom, silver dollar: (all types)
• Mushroom, maitake: (blood type A)
• Mushroom, shiitake: (blood type A) though most type A's are cautioned to avoid these
• Olive oil: (blood types A, AB, and B)
• Parsley: (blood types AB and B)
• Parsnips: (blood types AB and O)
• Peanuts and peanut butter: (blood types A and AB)
• Peppermint: (blood type B)
• Peppers, cayenne, red, and jalapeno: (blood type B)
• Pinto beans: (blood type AB)
• Pomegranate: (blood type O)
• Rosemary: (blood type B)
• Sage: (blood type B)
• Salmon: (blood types A, AB, and B)
• Sea trout: (blood types A, B, and O) though he suggests type B's should avoid this fish
• Seaweed: (blood type O)
• Soy beans, soy flakes, and soy oil: (blood type A)
• Soy cheese, soy flour, soy milk, and soy nuggets: (blood types A and AB)
• Soy sauce: (blood type A)
• Spinach: (blood type O)
• Swordfish: (blood type O)
• Tempeh: (blood type A)
• Tomatoes: (blood type AB)
• Walnut oil: (blood type AB)
• Watermelon: (blood types A and B)
• Wine, red: (blood type AB)
• Yogurt: (blood types AB and B)

• Bladder cancer (#5 USA, #9 Worldwide): is one where the best prevention methods include the drinking of plenty of water each day to dilute toxins, the limitation of exposure to harmful chemicals. Stop smoking if you do, increase omega-3's while decreasing omega-6's, and eat a diet plentiful in fruits and green, leafy vegetables (at least five [5] servings daily).
• Breast cancer (#3 USA, #2 Worldwide): risk can be reduced by breast-feeding your baby as long as possible, limiting intake alcohol (alcohol elevates blood estrogen levels), stopping long-term hormone therapy, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight (see our related page), increase omega-3's while decreasing omega-6's, and limiting exposure to harmful chemicals. Regular mammograms can also help verify the health of your breasts.
• Colo-rectal cancers (#4 USA, #3 Worldwide): is one of the most preventable forms of cancer there is. Ginger, turmeric, lots (at least five [5] servings daily) of green, leafy vegetables and fruits, plenty of fiber including whole grains, limiting intake of red meats and alcohol, increasing omega-3's while decreasing omega-6's, cutting out smoking, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight (see our related page), and removing processed foods from the diet all will go far in helping eliminate this disease. Regular colorectal screenings can be used as an aid to help verify the health of your colon.
• Esophageal cancer (#18 USA, #8 Worldwide): is not well understood yet, but there does seem to be a link between obesity and esophageal cancer. By inference, this would suggest poor diet is a major culprit; therefore, maintaining a healthy weight and eating plenty of green, leafy vegetables (at least five [5] servings daily) are paramount in prevent this cancer. There is also preliminary evidence strawberries may have a strong effect in preventing esophageal cancer according to research done at Ohio State University. Smoking and alcohol intake are also factors and should be eliminated along with cured foods containing nitrates and nitrites. Additionally, careful use of antacids by following directions on the bottle can decrease excess stomach acid and prevent it from backing up.
• Kidney cancer (#8 USA, #13 Worldwide):
• Leukemia (#12 USA, #11 Worldwide):
• Liver cancer (#13 USA, #7 Worldwide):
• Lung cancer (#1 USA, #1 Worldwide):
• Melanoma (#6 USA, #16 Worldwide):
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (#7 USA, #10 Worldwide):
• Pancreatic cancer (#11 USA, #12 Worldwide):
• Prostate cancer (#2 USA, #5 Worldwide):
• Stomach cancer (#16 USA, #4 Worldwide):
• Thyroid cancer (#10 USA, #15 Worldwide):
• Uterine cancer (#9 USA, #6 Worldwide):

In Western medicine, acupuncture is used with conventional cancer treatment to ease discomfort. It provides substantial relief from nausea as well as pain. It seems it should be considered an important and effective part of a cancer treatment regime.

Another question: Um... that's a pretty short list. I can't limit myself to only this list, can I? -
Ask yourself, "do I want to live???" Remember, this is your health we're talking about -- your life! It's well worth doing everything you can to get on top of it! And, it is only for a short time at first.

Next question: Can changing my lifestyle and diet really improve my health and make me feel better? -
Absolutely!
If our bodies cannot tolerate a so-called "food" on the inside, then it is a poison to us, and a poison is a poison no matter how small the quantity. When we stop poisoning ourselves, we start feeling better. I have seen the difference in my life, and countless others have seen the differences in their lives, but don't just take someone's word; try it yourself -- really try it!

How about this: I've heard that pregnancy tests can be used as indicators of cancer. Is this true? -
In some cases, this may be an effective way of determining cancer. The main premise that makes it effective is the presence of hCG in the body which is detected by the pregnancy test. The hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), normally elevated in pregnancy, can also be elevataed by cancer (though certain cancers are noted to do so more than others: primarily liver, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, stomach, and testicular). For this to be an effective screening process, both pregnancy and marijuana use must be ruled out as possibilities since they will act to elevate hCG. Furthermore, a super-sensitive, early pregnancy detection type test is the one to use.

Shouldn't I just follow the standard scientific approach to healing? -
You may if you wish; it is an option; however, you should also be aware of the pitfalls with this approach toward health and healing, and the number one pitfall is how it takes the "innocent until proven guilty" viewpoint in saying, "there's no proof." This is great for the legal system, but it's not so great when ignorance is traded for potentially vast damage to the body. A prime example of this is smoking of tobacco which, despite being linked to cancer by German scientists as far back as the late 1920's, was not proven in popular culture and the medical and legal communities to be detrimental to health until the last decade or so. Yet, it was still causing ill effects to health the entire time.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is another example. In the 1980's protocol to help prevent SIDS was to place babies to sleep on their backs. By the '90's, the science world had realized the error of its ways and now proclamied babies should sleep on their stomachs. But in the new millenium, the "safest" method was again to place them to sleep on their backs. Such capriciousness is a clear indication of a lack of understanding how to handle the problem.

A final point though is, why re-invent the wheel? In many ways, we already have what we need. A myriad of herbs and various plants along with other techniques that have evolved over the centuries are often already sufficient to solve today's health problems.

• Sheila Ulrich has written a book on how she cured herself of stage 4 cancer.
• The actress, Suzanne Somers, is well known to state she cured herself of breast cancer by eliminating processed foods from her diet and adding in some alternative therapies., She has written a number of books on the subject as well.
• The author, William Kelley Eidem, author of The Doctor Who Cures Cancer had his own cancer scare back in 1998, and he cured himself using a concoction of habenero peppers and garlic on Ezekial bread.
• Professor Jane Plant, CBE, author of Your Life in Your Hands, cured her own breast cancer primarily by eliminating dairy products from her diet.
• I have personally used anti-cancer techniques (primarily diet and herbs) with our dogs and have seen wonderful results! One of our black labs was six years old when she developed a fairly aggressive level 2 mast cell tumor on her arm. It started about the size of a pea, and within nine days, it was about the size of a small, flat-ish hotel shampoo bottle. We had that tumor surgically removed and were told if she managed to live another six to twelve months, then she's probably out of the woods. We immediately put her, as well as our ten year old black lab, on herbs designed to prevent cancer (flax seed, red clover, echinacea, and gingko biloba). We also switched their diets away from a grain (corn) based food to a fully meat based food (though we would still give them odd table scraps every so often). Strangely enough, we noticed the six year old would, with random frequency, start to develop the same kind of tumor lump on her belly which would get to about the size of a small marble and then go away again. We started paying attention to the table scraps she was getting and realized it was always a day or two after she would get scraps of greens (like collards or kale -- which were usually cooked in oil -- probably what she liked). To keep the story short, she now is nine years old (in March 2013), has eaten strictly meat-based foods for at least two years, and has not grown any more lumps or tumors since. Echinacea was stopped about a year ago since we figured she was well recovered.

  The other black lab was recently about fourteen years old when she developed an intestinal infection and stopped eating. The x-ray showed a mass near her intestines which the vet felt certain was cancer. We were told it's something like a 95% certainty in a dog this age that it's cancer; however, I honestly would have been surprised if it were. After all, she'd been on an anti-cancer diet for nearly four years. Well, the biopsy came back, and no surprise to me, it was a benign, non-cancerous cyst -- harmless other than the pressure it was putting on the colon.

There are numerous others who have enjoyed similar successes!

Delirium - is an issue which can stem from the cancer itself, the treatment, or both. Depending upon the cause of the imbalance, acupuncture and possibly replacement of fluids / electrolytes may be the desired treatment.

Fatigue - this is a significant factor in cancer, and there are several herbs which may be of benefit both the the fatigue and to the treatment of the cancer itself. Ginger as well as turmeric are recommended because of their anti-inflammatory effects and their ability to improve alertness. Gingko biloba and ginseng can help as well by improving energy levels since gingko dilates blood vessels and ginsing has a distinct stimulating effect.

Omega-3 to omega-6 ratio - is a factor well worth considering. In the western diet, we typically eat too much inflammatory omega-6 oils, and very few of the anti-inflammatory omega-3's (or omega-9's which may be anti-inflammatory). Current evidence is suggesting this as a primary factor in the development of cancer; therefore, every attempt should be made to consume only the primarily anti-inflammatory omega-3 oils and, perhaps, oils that are higher in the monounsaturated omega-9's (e.g. walnut oil, olive oil, high-oleic sunflower oil, or high-oleic safflower oil) rather than their more inflammatory omega-6 counterparts (linoleic or hydrogenated sunflower oil, linoleic or hydrogenated safflower oil, corn oil, hydrogenated corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, or partially hydrogenated soybean oil). We must strive to keep the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio at or below 1:4 in our daily diets, and this is going to require the elimination of nearly all processed foods.

Sugars (added) - refined, and even unrefined cane sugars, along with corn syrup, and molasses are very inflammatory to the body and should be avoided. Furthermore, sugars have a tendency to feed the tumor -- the very last thing we would want to do! Sugars also support the growth of the fungus / yeast candida albicans. It exists in the intestines, but overgrowth can have a negative impact on health; therefore, its growth must be kept to a minimum.

1. chemotherapy
2. immuno and bio therapies
3. radiation therapy
4. surgery

The first option, chemotherapy, makes use of chemicals designed to attack rapidly multiplying cells. Many cancer cells fit into this category as do other cells in the body so with chemotherapy there is some collateral damage. Typical methods of delivery include IV (intravenous) and pill formats.

Version two, immuno and bio therapies, is similar to the first in that it makes use of drugs/chemicals designed to attack the tumor; however, in this case, the attack is designed to seek out and disrupt specific characteristics of the tumor -- cut off the blood supply, for example.

Radiation therapy is third on the list and is, perhaps, the most well-known of the alternatives. For decades we have been aware radiation destroys cells so practitioners will use targeted doses of ionizing radiation to damage the tumor cells' DNA rendering them unable to reproduce. However, potential new light into tumors is showing that they may be comprised of two to three types of interconverting cells: special immortal stem cells and phases of rapidly dividing cancer cells. These cells seem to exist in an equilibrium state with each other where rapidly dividing cells typically make up the bulk of the tumor. Since they are extremely sensitive to radiation, these are the ones which die upon treatment. But the likelihood is that the stem cells remain behind only to reproduce again with a vengence this time because the equilibrium state needs to be returned from the tumor's perspective -- hence the reason tumors often re-grow after a seeming period of dormancy. An added problem here is that targeting is not perfect, and neighboring normal cells are often damaged as well.

The final choice is surgery. At best, the plan is to remove the entire tumor along with some cushion of good cells in hopes that cancerous cells will not return. At worst, a tumor may be surrounding an area where surgery cannot effectively be performed, or it may not be possible to get the entire tumor, and surgery is simply performed to reduce pressure and the corresponding pain.

These approaches may be used alone, or they may be used in varying combinations with each other. Sadly, no single or combination of them is perfect because they do not address the underlying problem of the body that is completely out of balance with itself. To use an analogy, these approaches are rather like removing the fat from an overweight person, but the overweight person is left to continue the habits which made him overweight in the first place.

The best approach is to look at all of the options (including "alternative" options), decide which one or ones may be right for us, and then first and foremost, make the number one priority to correct the body's imbalance so that it can go back to properly healing itself. If done well, we may not need any other options!

¹ For those taking anticoagulants such as coumadin or warfarin, caution must be exercised. Although salicylates, vitamin A, and vitamin E block the uptake of vitamin K, it is possible the vitamin K present in asparagus, brussel sprouts, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach, swiss chard, and turnip greens may interfere with anticoagulants. Vitamin K assists the liver in the process of producing coagulating proteins.