Alternative Treatments

adr22367 · Experienced user Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 78

alive and well 24 months after diagnosis,

This is fantastic if it is true. I'm going to call them back and ask if I do come there would they be willing to give my Dad a sample tasting.

mikes · Senior User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 143

Please keep me posted as to how things go.

adr22367 · Experienced user Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 78

I definitely will. My Dad isn't home from work yet, but I will speak to him later and ask him what he thinks about trying this. I will also call back
Sun Farm to ask if they allow a sample tasting. Smile

mikes · Senior User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 143

Here is a quote from one of the melatonin studies:

" Melatonin for lung cancer

Sixty-three patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer that was resistant to cisplatin were randomly assigned to receive supportive care plus melatonin (10 mg/day at 7 p.m.) or supportive care alone (control group). Melatonin was given daily for 21 days, followed by a 7-day rest; this cycle was repeated until the disease progressed. The mean survival time was significantly greater in patients receiving melatonin than in the control group (7.9 vs 4.1 months). The proportion of patients alive at one year was significantly higher in the melatonin group than in the control group.

Comment: Melatonin has demonstrated anticancer activity in a number of human and animal studies. The mechanism of action of melatonin may include stimulation of the immune system, inhibition of the production of growth factors, or a direct cytostatic effect. The results of the present study suggest that melatonin may prolong survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has progressed while receiving cisplatin therapy. Other studies of patients with various solid tumors have shown that melatonin increases survival, improves quality of life, and may reduce the side effects of some conventional cancer medications.

Lissoni P, et al. Randomized study with the pineal hormone melatonin versus supportive care alone in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer resistant to a first-line chemotherapy containing cisplatin. Oncology 1992;49:336-339."

In most melatonin studies, the idea is to combine melatonin with a chemtherapy regimen. In this study it is melatonin vs best supportive care.

What I cannot find out (so far) is whether it is advisable to combine melatonin with Sun Soup.

If the reports and studies are true, melatonin and Sun Soup appear to have the best chance of producing long term survival.

Then there is the issue of overall diet as well as supplements. Many claim that sugar, flour, and red meat are to be avoided. Virtually all American dairy products contain BGH, which also is not recommended. European cheese is not allowed to contain BGH. It looks to me like the organic food freaks knew something all along that the rest of us should have learned.

mikes · Senior User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 143

I ran across this from Oncology News:
___________________________________________________________

"Officials at Introgen announced that a late-stage lung cancer patient who was treated with the adenoviral p53 gene drug therapy Advexin has survived for 63 months without experiencing significant side effects. In comparison, they said the midpoint known survival time for similar patients who have failed conventional therapy is 6 months.

As part of a phase I trial conducted at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, the woman first received Advexin in 1997 in Houston after being diagnosed with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Her tumor could not be surgically removed because malignancy had spread within the lungs; the cancer was uncontrolled after she was given multiple chemotherapy courses.

Advexin uses the p53 tumor suppressor gene to kill cancer cells or stops tumor growth via an adenoviral delivery system that does not harm normal cells. Patients are given large quantities of the nontoxic p53 gene, which then overtake cancer cells and are cleared quickly from the body. In 20 clinical studies performed in patients having eight different types of cancer, the drug was very well tolerated and caused only minimal side effects. "

__________________________________________________________

This sounded good to me, so I did a lot of reading concerning the P53 Gene.

It turns out that from 40-70% of NSCLC is characterized by a mutated P53 gene, depending on who you believe. Many say "more than 50%".

There have been numerous attempts to implant the P53 gene into patients, but none have been successful until Advexin. It uses a unique delivery system. Jumping ahead in the story, it turns out that an alternative to implanting P53, is to increase the expression of the P53 genes already in the body.

Having discovered favorable reports on melatonin and PSK (mentioned earlier in this thread) I decided to see if these two items have anything to do with the P53 gene. It turns out that they do! They increase the expression of the P53 gene.

Excepting the Sun Soup, which I haven't yet determined concerning the P53 gene because it has so many ingredients, I don't think it is a coincidence the the two agents with the best survival rate both act on the P53 gene.

The P53 gene detects and corrects mutations in malignant cells. If it cannot correct a mutation, it causes the malignant cell to die.

If the P53 becomes mutant itself, it cannot do its job. In fact, some scientists believe that a mutated P53 gene can actually encourage malignant growth. It is further believed that the P53 gene routinely and continuously makes these corrections to mutant cells until a number of the P53 genes are mutated themselves by some carcinogen at which time uncontrolled growth (malignancy) occurs.

I'm sure that most people have heard about green tea and red wine being beneficial for NSCLC patients. Guess what... these both increase the expression of the P53 gene.

It turns out that concord grape juice and grape seed extract also promote P53 expression. This also true for certain foods such as broccoli and cabbage.

I don't know where to find out which of these items have the most powerful effect, but I suspect that melatonin and PSK are near the top since they have shown well in trials.

Selenium supplements also have a favorable effect on the P53 gene.

Except for the warning to avoid melatonin if taking Nefidepine or steroids the side-effect profile of all these foods and supplements is very good.

Also, there has been some talk about the cancer treating properties of Celebrex (celecoxib) as of late. It turns out that this drug also increases the expression of the P53 gene. This drug was originally created to treat arthritis pain. On the nefative side, here is now some concern that it may affect the cardiovascular system adversely.

If you study environmental pollution such as herbicides, pesticides, and others, you will see that many (most?) of these agents cause trouble by mutating the P53 gene. You will also see that almost all of the herbicide/pesticide companies also produce one or more chemotherapy drugs or own a company that does.

Strontium-90 and tritium emitted from all nuclear power plants every day(supposedly below maximum levels) at low levels also mutate the P53 gene.

Also, found several articles and trials suggesting that certain chemotherapy agents actually caused damage to the good P53 genes. This explains why there are some reports that chemotherapy can cause other new malignancies to develop after treatment.

On the NIH site there is an article entitled "p53 mutations in lung cancer following radiation therapy for Hodgkin's disease." It shows how radiation can cause P53 damage resulting in secondary tumors years later. This explains why there are some reports that radiation therapy can cause other new malignancies to develop after treatment.

adr22367 · Experienced user Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 78

If the reports and studies are true, melatonin and Sun Soup appear to have the best chance of producing long term survival.

My Dad started the melatonin last night. He doesn't want to start with soup as of just yet....he wants to stay on just one thing for at least 2 treatments to see how it works. He did tell me to tell you thank you very much!! Very Happy

adr22367 · Experienced user Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 78

Thank you very much for posting this, I printed it and will bring it to my Dad tomorrow!!!

mikes · Senior User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 143

There is a lot to be said for trying only one thing at a time.

That way, if you get a negative or positive result, you won't have to wonder what caused it.

Remember to stop the melatonin on the day your Dad takes Prednesone.

adr22367 · Experienced user Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 78

This is why my Dad rather start with only one, good, bad, or side affects, he'll know which one caused it.

He was a bit nervous starting the melatonin because of the prednizone, but I told him to stop it 2 days before, and he'll be okay.

I'm trying to get my parents to agree with me if there's no change after 2 more treatments to try going to TX to the Anderson Center.

mikes · Senior User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 143

I have no idea how long it takes the melatonin to work.

A quick check of the MD Anderson web site using their 'search' box shows that they have done quite a bit of work and study with Advexin, P53 studies, melatonin, and PSK. Compared to other clinics, this makes them pretty special.

There was a one hour show about MD Anderson on CNN exactly 2 weeks ago but they didn't mention any of these things. I guess there is only so much you can say in a one hour show (minus commercials) and they tend to water things down for public consumption.

adr22367 · Experienced user Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 78

I took a look at their site, and they seem to really know what they're doing.

Have you read the store about the man Bob Karjala and his battle with Lung Cancer? I was just reading it, and I'm now curious about COQ-10, but won't let my Dad take anything now anyway. http://NONONONO-info.org/BobK/Bob.html

mikes · Senior User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 143

That's a very interesting story. I haven't had time to check some of his medications out yet, but the grape seed extract is one that I just mentioned in the P53 post earlier. It seems like its all coming together.

adr22367 · Experienced user Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 78

I'm glad you enjoyed that story also, I was really amazed.

mikes · Senior User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 143

Has the melatonin caused any side effects so far?

One disirable side effect is better sleep.

adr22367 · Experienced user Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 78

So far so good Very Happy

He's just very nervous taking them because it says not to with the Prednazone. I told him to stop 3 days before taking it.

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