I grew up with cancer in my family. When I was six months old, my father was diagnosed with colon cancer and had the left side of his colon removed. In 1951, he had a permanent colostomy placed so that he could have bowel movements through the side of his abdomen. In those days, my father was the only person I can recall surviving cancer. He lived another 40 years.

Growing up, I always wondered why there was no cure for cancer. This is why I became a doctor and why I serve as associate chair of the Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the University of Hawaii School of Medicine.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. and soon will be first. Through my medical training, I kept looking for alternatives to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation — standard treatments offered to cancer patients. Though sometimes needed to remove and shrink tumors, these approaches are harsh and can cause debilitation and even death. I always thought there should be other ways to deal with cancer.

Now, we are finding additional treatments that are not so toxic: hormone therapy, immunotherapy, nutritional therapy and dietary supplements. Right now the University of Hawaii Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine is seeking funding to do cancer research on fermented Noni and the Ganoderma mushroom.

Look at this graph that compares protein con-
sumption and death from breast cancer. It should be obvious that nutrition plays a pivotal role in cancer. Similar graphs show the relationship between dietary fats and colon, prostate and breast cancer mortality. The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell suggests that dairy products promote the growth of cancer. Another shows that insulin and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) also promote the growth of cancerous cells. Further research finds that eating processed carbohydrates raises insulin and animal products raise IGF-1.

Generations Magazine - April-May 2016 - Controlling Cancer - image 01
Several U.S. doctors are applying these concepts in a dietary approach to help control cancer. I explain this modality in Chapter VIII of the Peace Diet book at www.peacediet.org. Basically, cancer responds to a balance between your immune system and factors that promote cancer growth. Whether you receive conventional therapy or not, it makes sense to tip the balance toward a healthy immune system and away from tumors or disease by adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle.


 

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