Cancer

Question 1

What is cancer?

Answer 1

Cells that have acquired the ability to multiply and spread without the usual biologic restraints.

This unregulated growth is caused by damage to DNAresulting in mutations to genes that control cell
division.

Question 2

Cancer: Celluar characteristics

Answer 2

• Damange to DNA and Mitochondria
• Increased activity of chemokines, cytokines and hormones
• Activation oncogenes.

Question 3

Cancer Cells: Altered functions

Answer 3

• Limitless replication
• Evade apoptosis
• Angiogenesis
• Metastasise

Question 4

Cancer Stages

Answer 4

Stage I: Only local tissue involvement.
Stage II: Spread to some surrounding tissues and perhaps to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage III: Metastasised to distant lymph nodes.
Stage IV: Spread to distant organs or other parts of the body.

Question 5

Cancer terminology

Answer 5

• In situ: Abnormal cells are present in the layer of cells in which they originated.
• Localised: Cancer is limited to the organ in which it began, no evidence of spread.
• Regional: Cancer has spread beyond the primary site to nearby lymph nodes or tissues and organs.
• Distant: Cancer has spread from the primary site to distant tissues or organs or to distant lymph nodes.

Question 6

Oncogenes

Answer 6

• Oncogenes are genes that code for one of the typical behaviours of cancer cells: growth, non-responsiveness to stop signals, failure of apoptosis, invasion, metastasis.
• Oncogenes become active:
  – By a mutation that makes them constitutively active (may be inherited). BRCA1
  – By epigenetic modifications such that a gene which is normally silenced becomes active (usually due to loss of methylation marks).

Question 7

Lifestyle Cancers: Diet

Answer 7

Gastric
Colon
Breast
Pancreas

Question 8

Lifestyle cancer: Obesity

Answer 8

Colon
Gastric
Breast
Pancreas

Question 9

Lifestyle Cancers: Genetic

Answer 9

Breast: BRCA1/2
Prostate
Colorectal

Question 10

Cancer causing: Virus/Bacteria

Answer 10

Epstein-Barr Virus: lymphoma
HPV: Cervical
Hepatitis B Virus: Hepatocellular carcinomas (Liver)
HIV: lymphoma
Retro Virus: Adult T-Cell leukaemia
Helicobacter Pylori: Gastric cancer

Question 11

Cancer Support Goals: Primary

Answer 11

• Support allopathic treatment.
• Reduce side effects of those treatments.
• Support overall wellness.

Question 12

Cancer Support Goals: Secondary

Answer 12

• Support immunity.
• Reduce tumour-promoting factors.
• Inhibit metastasis and tumour progression.
• Promote appropriate apoptosis.

Question 13

Dietary Cancer Promoters

Answer 13

Damaged fats
Excess protein
Excess calories
Excess sugar
Omega 6:3 ration >6:1

Question 14

Dietary Cancer - Protection

Answer 14

High fibre
Adequate protein
Adequate calories
Whole plant foods
Omega 6:3 ratio - 2:1
Physical activity

Question 15

Cancer: Progression Promoters

Answer 15

• Excess & damaged fat: Creates lipid peroxides
• Excess protein: Increases IGF-1
• Excess omega 6: Inflammation
  Can create new cancer cells
• Aflatoxins (mould)
• Heterocyclic amines (high temp meat)
• N-nitroso compounds (cured meat)
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (smoked foods)

Question 16

Cancer Diet: Avoid

Answer 16

Red meat
Saturated/Trans fats
Refined sugar
Table Salt
Aspartame (formaldehyde)
Dietary carcinogens
Alcohol

Question 17

Cancer/Obesity: Possible mechanisms

Answer 17

• Excess body fat changes hormone metabolism.
• Oestrogen levels higher: Oestrogen-sensitive tissues exposed to more oestrogen
• Inflammation: promotes angiogenesis and cell proliferation
• Leptin - cell proliferation
• Insulin - IGF-1

Excess body fat also :
* promotes oxidative DNA damage.
* facilitates alteration in carcinogens.
* changes insulin metabolism.
* negatively affects the immune system

Question 18

Cancer: Fibre

Answer 18

• Increases transit time and decreases exposure to carcinogens
• Reduces insulin
• Reduces in serum oestrogen concentraion
• Dilutes bile acids, believed to promote colon carcinogens

Question 19

Cancer: Phytonutrients

Answer 19

Antioxidants
Immune stimulants
Angiogenesis inhibitors
Detox enzymes
Anti-proliferative

Question 20

Cancer: low fat/Vegan diet

Answer 20

Increases:
* SHBG
* Immune response
* Detox

Lowers:
* IGF-1
* Insulin
* Omega 6
* AGEs
* CRP
* Oestrogen
* PSA

Question 21

Gerson

Answer 21

• Organic fruits and vegetables
• Freshly squeezed juices every hour
• Coffee enemas

Question 22

Budwig

Answer 22

Omega 6:3 ratio
* Cell membrane integrity
* Oxygen membrance transport
* Prostoglandins

Faulty cell growth - lack of EFAs and trans fats

Flaxseed oil and cottage cheese/quark