Cancer in the News: Leptomets, DCIS, Advances, Lifestyle , Coronovirus

2nd issue

Western medicine Cancer, Cannabis, and Coronavirus

Breast Cancer

• Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis: ‘A Catastrophic Complication of Breast Cancer’
“The risk for leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is greater with more aggressive tumors, such as triple-negative and HER2-positive [tumors], and it is also greater for patients who have very extensive bone metastases.”
and my two cents: Nasty, nasty diagnosis. Still… I am living proof it is survivable…
• Increased Risk for Invasive Breast Cancer After DCIS
“a new analysis shows that any diagnosis of DCIS, even when low or intermediate grade, is associated with an increased risk for invasive breast cancer (IBC) and that treatment of DCIS lowers this risk.”
and my two cents: This is interesting, given the mounting pressure to not overtreat DCIS. I had DCIS, had a preventive mastectomy but no other treatment and five years later… metastatic cancer everywhere.

Western medicine

• Cancer drug: New treatment halts tumour growth
“A drug that could stop cancer cells repairing themselves has shown early signs of working.”
and my two cents: This was only a “phase one” trial, designed to test the safety of a treatment, but early indications showed it could stop tumors from growing. It’s too early to get excited but, still…
• Computer algorithms find tumors’ molecular weak spots
“focussed instead on identifying a few transcription factors that act as bottlenecks. Target those master regulators and you will stop cancer in its tracks, no matter what mutation initially caused it. Oncologists would still need to analyze each patient’s mutations to figure out which regulators are at play in their particular cancer, but instead of tens of thousands of drugs, they may only need dozens.”
and my two cents: Math saves the world… again?

Lifestyle factors

• Just a little physical activity pays big dividends to high risk breast cancer patients
“Our research shows that some physical activity is far better, in terms of cancer survival, than no activity at all and it is just as beneficial as longer workouts.”
and my two cents: “If we had a pill that conferred all the confirmed health benefits of exercise, would we not do everything humanly possible to see to it that everyone had access to this wonder drug? Would it not be the most prescribed pill in the history of mankind?” — Robert E. Sallis, M.D.
• Why The Omega-6 to Omega-3 Ratio is Important
“It is vital that we maintain a balanced ratio of these fatty acids, the modern diet has made this more difficult.”
and my two cents: If you eat like Gramma told you to or follow the Mediterranean diet, you should be fine. If you eat like most Americans, you can expect to have the health problems and chronic disease of most Americans.
• Cancer treatments significantly affected by diet, researchers find
“What we eat has a direct effect on the outcome of medical treatments such as chemotherapy, thanks to the interplay between our diets and the microbes in our gut.”
and my two cents: Another reason for doctors to get more Nutrition training in med school.
• Healthy dietary patterns and risk of breast cancer by molecular subtype
“a significantly reduced risk of HER2-type breast cancer was observed… the DASH dietary pattern.”
and my two cents: Nothing to see here… keep moving. The significance was that the study had few significant findings except for the one mentioned. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is more of Gramma’s common sense… whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, fish, poultry, legumes, and a small amount of nuts and seeds a few times a week. Red meat, sweets, and fats in small amounts.

Cancer, Cannabis, and Coronavirus

• Coronavirus: what I’m doing to protect myself
“A stage 4 Cancer Thriver’s Covid protocol”
and my two cents: What I’m doing and why…
• Detection Rate of SARS-COV2 Antibodies After COVID-19 in Patients with Cancer
“…patients with cancer had a significantly lower detection rate of SARS-COV2 antibodies 15 days or later after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms and RT-PCR-positive test than healthcare workers.” “Anti-SARS-COV2 [antibodies] were more often undetectable in patients receiving cancer treatments in the month prior to testing.”
and my two cents: Are Conventional Cancer Treatments (CCT) interfering with cancer patients’ ability to make Covid-19 antibodies?
• Researchers worldwide look to Cannabis as Coronavirus treatment
“… cannabis may affect the cytokine storm which occurs during COVID-19 disease.”
and my two cents: Cannabis has played a miraculous healing role in my ‘terminal’ cancer and chronic meningitis. Its over 400 healing compounds must be researched for all disease conditions and, in order for that research to happen, must be federally legalized and declassified as a Schedule 1 drug.

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Cancer in the News