By Puja A. J Thomson, author, “AfterShock: From Cancer Diagnosis to Healing” From Benedictine Hospital, Kingston, NY Several Hudson Valley residents, including Barbara Sarah and myself attended the Annie Appleseed Project Conference in January. The Annie Appleseed Project was founded by Ann Fonfa, following her cancer diagnosis. Ann has been an energetic advocate, intensely committed to the exploration and understanding of information about complementary and alternative therapies for cancer. This conference was an extension of her vision to spread knowledge of both cutting edge, new CAM therapies and ancient methods for which there is credible evidence. Although integrative medicine is gaining ground, the body-mind connection is now well established, and CAM is increasingly used for symptom relief, pain management, and relaxation (e.g. massage, guided imagery, meditation). Mainstream medicine is still slow to validate many lesser known CAM modalities, due to a lack of research. Patients, no matter what stage and type of cancer they have, are often discouraged by their physicians from making choices other than conventional chemotherapy or radiation treatment, because there is no “real” evidence for alternative approaches.* I listened to speakers who had themselves researched CAM or reviewed the multiple studies of others. And studies there certainly are – pl4enty of them – from Chinese herbs to pancreatic enzymes, from normalizing DNA cancer cells to homeopathy, from energy healing to the possible links between childhood vaccines and cancer. Here are some of the lesser known studies that particularly interested me: There are studies that support the beneficial use of antioxidants, and natural supplements during cancer treatment, as well as, before and after treatment. Antioxidants and other nutrients do not interfere with chemotherapy and radiation. (Charles Simone et al, in “Alternative Therapy” 2007 Vol 13(10) pp 22-28). Are you getting enough iodine? Most likely, not… We’re all exposed to the insidious toxic effects of methyl bromide, some bread products like potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, certain asthma inhalers and prescription drugs, plastic products, some personal care products, some fabric dyes and fire retardant in mattresses, and carpeting. When bromide dominance overrides iodine, proper iodine enzyme metabolism is inhibited and…toxicity and cancer rates soar. Reintroduce iodine supplementation and bromide dominance is diminished and a healthy balance re-established leading to fewer recurrences of cancer. Evidence-based research supports the possibility that breast cancer may be an iodine deficiency disease. For information about taking the Iodine Loading test, and for the research go to www.breastcancerchoices.org Hippocrates had a famous saying “Let Food Be Thy Medicine, Let Medicine Be Thy Food”. This theme of “Change the breeding ground” was explored by a number of talks, since there is a lot of evidence that changing diet and nutrition can foster or hinder health. The China study by T. Colin Campbell, MD and Thomas M. Campbell II, is the largest study of this kind which clearly points to the need to shift away from a high protein and animal fat diet. Michael Schachter presented that Gingko Biloba extract can reduce damage from radiation. Susan Silberstein showed that, for the most part, cancer patients don’t die from tumors, but from malnutrition, toxemia, and infection. Remember that natural supplements are very different from chemical supplements. Studies of synthetic supplements show that they will not give the beneficial results that whole foods and natural supplements do. For more information, go to www.annieappleseedproject.org I would encourage you to check out the studies that interest you, point your doctor to the studies, and ask lots of questions. That way the ripple in the pond from this conference will go much further. Immediately following the conference, Barbara Sarah and I were given a tour of the Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach. We lingered to experience the delicious raw food and the pure, enzyme rich, vegan dinner which is part of their healthy regime. Add to that the warm conversation of staff members, one of whom we met at the conference, and we couldn’t have asked for a more pleasant or fitting ending to our conference experience. *For clarification of different types of research, check out “AfterShock: From Cancer Diagnosis to Healing by Puja A. J. Thomson (pages 41-42). This article was published in the Benedictine Hosptial Oncology patient newsletter, April/May 2008 |
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