CANCER HITS, WHATS NEXT?

CANCER HITS, WHATS NEXT?

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READERS SUMMARY:
1. What to do when you get a new cancer diagnosis?
2. Is the main cancer battle field oncologic treatment or in your own body?
3. How does diet play a role?
4. How to deal with your new doc the oncologist?
5. Do not be afraid of exploring every possibility to win this battle. Learn about a ketogenic diet!!!

 

Before you read this blog watch this video:  HYPERLINK

This post is for one of my very special dear friends who just contacted me and told me his wife got diagnosed with cancer at a very young age this week. I could hear from the call and his post on Facebook this was killing him. I told him immediately to go out and buy the book the Anti Cancer: A new Way of Life by David Servan Schreiber and give it to his bride. The good news is that many of the 6 million people being treated for cancer today will go on to live a full life. The numbers of those who do survive in my opinion are still far too low (about 45-50{a7b724a0454d92c70890dedf5ec22a026af4df067c7b55aa6009b4d34d5da3c6}). Moreover, many of the close to 2000 cancers deaths that occur daily happen because their families were completely unaware of the depth of resources currently available to treat cancer conventionally and with alternatives such as complementary or integrative therapies.

Once diagnosed with this disease you get shaken to your core. It is imperative that you know that this disease cannot only be fought but it can be prevented if you decide to immediately alter some of the things you do and lose some of the dogma you have accumulated in your life. This is especially true if you are in the healthcare field and have lived in dogma your whole adult life. This book is written by a physician researcher who not only got hit with the cancer diagnosis but got hit with a brain cancer that is exceptionally deadly. He was able to deconstruct his own beliefs as a physician with new science that was around to researchers but not well known by his oncologists. This book is a must for anyone with cancer or who has risk factors present so you can beat it before it begins. This is honestly one of the reasons I wrote my QUILT because I believe if you protect your cells you will never get this disease. Now that a friend has it…here is a post directed at what you may consider doing right away after consulting with your oncologist. Consider consulting a major cancer center like MD Anderson for a second opinion.

1. Read the book Anticancer mentioned above. It’s critical to you seeing this disease in a new light.

2. Immediately alter your diet to the Epi-paleo Rx and away from a Standard Western Diet.

3. Begin a meditation scheme as soon as possible to control your cortisol and anxiety. (Choice is unimportant but doing it is life saving)

4. The patient should consult the protocols entitled Cancer Treatment: The critical Factors in Cancer: Should patients take dietary supplements for the type of cancer you have?

5. Consider beginning a supplement regime to include Curcumin, Reservatrol, Quercetin, Omega three Fish oil (Rx grade), Vitamin D3 with a target of being over 50 ng/dl, liberal use of CoEnZQ10 daily, R-alpha lipoic acid and a vitamin K supplement daily. Consider use of N Acetyl Cysteine daily as well. Notice I did not put the dosages down because the doses required for anti cancer therapy are significantly higher than one would use in a preventative state. This should be done with consultation of your oncologist. If your oncologist is not open minded about these issues…after reading the book in step one you might need to find a new oncologist. These are what I consider to be the core supplements to most cancers humans get.

6. Within your diet always added turmeric, ginger, garlic, rosemary, and basil to your foods as much as possible. You should drink 1 Liter of green tea per day. Green tea contains L -Theanine which decrease anxiety but is an adjunct to chemotherapeutic drugs by making them more effective . You can also use green tea extracts if you don’t want to drink this much fluid or you cant because of your condition.

7. In 1955 Nobel Laureate Otto Warburg found that all cancers use glucose for energy substrate and high levels of insulin also allow the body to lose control of the immune system that will defend it. This means the patient has to limit anything that stimulates insulin. A strict low carb Epi-paleo template does just this. A Good reference for the diet is here.

8. Your immune system is your best defense against your cancer. Optimize your vitamin D levels and keep your insulin levels below two. Lowering your cortisol levels optimizes leptin but most importantly upregualtes your Natural Killer cells (WBC’s) that are part of your cell mediated immune system that actively fights cancer. You will read a ton about these cells in the book I recommended in step one.

9. Veggies. Make cruciferous veggies a staple. All plants of the Brassica plants are your friends. Glucosinolates can inhibit, retard, and reverse experimental multistage oncogenesis. The reason are the release of isothiocyanantes like sulphoraphanes. Sulphoraphanes do two main things. They promote apoptosis (levee 19) and they induce phase two detoxification enzymes in the liver that strengthen the p53 gene as the guardian of our genomes. Necrosis of cancer cells is commonly seen when they are exposed to sulphoraphanes consistently overtime. Broccoli also includes a secondary metabolite called Indole 3 Carbinol that further breaks down to another anticancer chemical called DIM, diindolylmethane. You can’t eat enough of these veggies if you have cancer in my view. I3C also blocks 16 -hydroxyestrone and is quite helpful in preventing breast and ovarian cancers in women and prostate cancer in men.

10. Here is the counterintuitive one to the dogma you have had drummed into your head…eat tons of cholesterol. Especially coconut oil. Many epidemiological studies have shown that lower levels of serum cholesterol correlate with higher cancer rates. This is why eating a ketogenic Epi-paleo diet makes a ton of sense. Why a ketogenic diet? Because all cancers utilize glucose for substrate. You need to change the cellular fuel of choice. Go Google Otto Warburg for more details. Ketogenic diets should be loaded with MCT from coconut oils as they confer huge advantages to normal cells over cancer cells. This leg up allows your immune system to catch up to the cancerous cells and destroy them using your own biologic machinery. There are numerous cancer journal articles published that show the same links.

Dedicated to Mary. Never submit and conquer it with your defenses. They are your best weapon in this fight no matter what any physician tells you. Optimize them and you will win this battle.

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72 Comments

  1. matt July 7, 2011 at 9:16 am

    Kelley Eidem wrote a book about Dr. Emanuel Revici it's called the doctor who cured cancer. He figured out if his patients were anabolic or catabolic and treated them with a lipid based therapy. Whether or not you read the book, learning about Dr. Revici's work is very interesting.

  2. mpd July 7, 2011 at 12:10 pm

    I got testicular cancer in my prepaleo days and one of the things that now angers me (but I didn't know at the time) was that the doctors and nurses told me to just eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted because I just needed to get something down. They even had little bags of Doritos in the chemo room because the MSG in there stimulates your appetite! Yikes! I wonder how much less terrible treatment would have been had I been instructed to eat a paleo diet, or just not eat and live off of ketosis on the days where I couldn't get anything down. One of my common meals was ramen noodles, I'm sure the gut damage from the gluten plus the chemo didn't help anything.

  3. Tim July 7, 2011 at 7:43 pm

    Thank you for using such a personal experience to tie so many levees together.

  4. Resurgent July 8, 2011 at 3:14 am

    Jack – what is your opinion about Dr Burzynski?
    http://vimeo.com/24821365

  5. KKC July 11, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    Interesting blog, Jack. I linked through to the Epigenetics post; am now on the quest to find out what my Nana's diet was. I'm eager to learn more about this field, and to catch up on your earlier posts.

    I've been following Byron Richards' Leptin Diet 5 Rules for a good while now (Paleo + some dairy); the changes in my health and well-being have been both great and subtle. Your recs and his have a lot of commonality, as well they should.

    A question and a correction:

    Q: Are you familiar with the Jaminet's _Perfect Health Diet_ book and blog? If so, what are your thoughts?

    C: In recommendation #10 above to "eat lots of cholesterol", coconut oil contains NO(0) cholesterol. Plenty of saturated fat – yes, CHO – no.

    Thanks for your time and efforts,

    Best, KKC

  6. cathy August 10, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    Thank you for this article! I have pancreatic cancer, had a whipple last year, and the last scans showed no more signs of cancer. But pancreatic cancer almost always comes back (usually in the liver). I am going to follow your instructions to prevent that. I've been doing the low carb/high coconut oil for a few months now, but I haven't taken any supplements, I've been afraid. Your article is giving me the incentive to take them, along with a multi vitamin. My question is, are there any vitamins or minerals that I should be staying away from? Any that the cancer cells could gain strength from?

    • Jack August 11, 2011 at 10:10 am

      My strongest recommendation is to the read the book I mentioned in this blog. The nutrition for pancreatic cancer therapy is pretty controversial when you talk to oncologists and look at the literature. The key in my mind is to eat a ketogenic paleolithic diet loaded with coconut oil and stay as far away from things that are loaded with glucose and fructose especially.

  7. Darren August 14, 2011 at 4:09 pm

    I was diagnosed with bladder cancer a few weeks ago and just found this post. I've been eating low-carb paleo style for about 3 years so it's certainly no panacea. Of course I can never know how or if the disease would have progressed if I ate SAD, but it certainly has progressed on a paleo diet. When I started having symptoms about a year ago I didn't take the fact that it might be cancer seriously enough as I had so many factors that would mitigate against it. Just a warning to others not to be complacent – being health-conscious does not gaurantee good health.

    I'm going to go from my usual 50-60g of carb to sub-30 although that won't be such a metabolic shock for my tumour.I got the book you mentioned on Paul Jiamet's recommendation and many of the supplements too. The book certainly made me feel more positive.

    However, I can't find anything via google for those protocols you mention – do you have any links?

    • Jack August 14, 2011 at 4:20 pm

      I will search for them Darren. I think they were from MD Anderson to be honest. Ive read some of PJ work but he thinks many carbs are ok in many settings. I dont buy this at all in cancer. I think a meta analysis of the literature we did with our oncologists last yr fully support a low glycemic ketogenic approach. Im sure you can find some studies supporting a higher glycemic load for certain cancers but the ones i deal with do horribly with a moderate to high carb diet. So i cant support his assertions at all.

  8. Kevin September 20, 2011 at 11:48 am

    I've been reading AntiCancer this week as I current have several close friends and acquaintances who are battling it.

    Also found his video (see link below) on Amazon. Its interesting that from his perspective he's basically pushing a very low/zero animal fat nutritional perspective (which appears to conflict with much of what you and I support and conflict with Primal/Paleo). He even discusses recommending – collective GASP! – soy and tofu – in this video. http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m2ZBV821XO

    Does Dr. David Servan-Schreiber just not understand the specifics of animal protein and a role in a powerful diet? Is he towing the organic/vegan/vegetarian line?

    Thoughts Dr on resolving this conflict?

  9. Jack September 29, 2011 at 11:12 pm

    @kevin……i said read the book but not follow his diet. Follow a ketogenic paleodiet. The prepondance of the oncologic peer reviewed literature shows that things like starches, rice, fructose, and high glycemic foods will hurt you not help you. The reason is the IGF1 signaling pathway and its effects on oncologic cells. I have first hand clinical experience of many cancer cases that went south when patients veered off the ketogenic path. Patients have to do their due diligence with literature reviews and the expertise of clinicians who treat this disease.

  10. Joe Brancaleone October 19, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    What sort of methodology Max Gerson would have used in his case studies to prescribe what looks like the opposite of this, i.e. a high sugar, low fat low protein diet (with enemas and supps)?

  11. Lynn October 21, 2011 at 4:17 am

    I have been reading about about capasaicin's ability to slow cancer growth (the ingredient found in hot chili peppers). I found the articles in PubMed. Should that be a supplement to take whether battling cancer or trying to prevent it? Does anyone know about the credibility of the author of this website? http://kelleyeidem.hubpages.com/hub/How-I-Cured-S

  12. Lynn October 21, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    Can you elaborate on what a ketogenic paleodiet is? Is it measured by grams of carbohydrate? Or is it measured by success in keeping blood glucose down (or insulin down). Is there a ghost of a change that you would be available for a consultation (a 1/2 hour or hour, by skype)? My friend who was diagnosed with cancer went to a dietitian who said it was okay to eat fat free chips. How is it I am the only person who is countering this. Where is the medical community. Why aren't his doctors printing out articles for him on how cancer feeds from sugar, or what to eat to slow angiogenesis down. I feel so helpless.

    • Jack October 21, 2011 at 10:28 pm

      @Lynn I hate to say this but there are some in our paleo community who blog who believe this too. If you follow their advice I think your in for some big problems. A ketogenic paleo diet is one that closely resembles Robb Wolf's autoimmune paleo diet described in his book. It restricts dairy and adds in MCT from coconut oil as a replacement. I also tell folks to back off proteins with a lot of BCCA like Whey. That is not a good protein source for those with cancer.

  13. Colleen October 23, 2011 at 12:30 am

    Doc, I'm reading Anticancer. It advocates meat only 3x a week and more vegetables and legumes. I totally get the Omega 3/6 ratio it talks about but I'm not impressed with the meat thing. 🙁 How do you think he went wrong on his assumptions about that?

  14. Jack October 23, 2011 at 1:02 am

    @ colleen. Read comment 11. The rest of the book rocks. Just eat ketogenic paleo and your good.

  15. Colleen October 23, 2011 at 1:45 am

    Thanks, Doc! I'm just desperate to help my friend with ovarian cancer. Hubby is doing well but I'm going to put him on this too.

  16. Jack October 23, 2011 at 2:02 am

    Colleen is she BRCA 1 positive?

  17. Colleen October 23, 2011 at 2:11 am

    No she's not. At least her daughter won't get that gene from her.

  18. Jack October 27, 2011 at 5:24 pm

    @KKC in cancer I am not a fan of any carbs…….why? Here is a good starting point.

    http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/pdf

  19. Paul Edwards December 8, 2011 at 7:46 pm

    I wondered if you were familiar with Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez and his nutritional/enzyme cancer treatment developed by the alternative practitioner Dr. William Donald Kelley.

    http://www.dr-gonzalez.com/index.htm

    In his book, The Trophoblast and the Origins of Cancer, Gonzalez discusses the research of Dr. John Beard, and the molecular biology that suggests the anti-cancer effect of pancreatic enzymes.

    • Jack December 9, 2011 at 7:16 am

      @Paul No I am not. I have read some comments about this doctor after Steve Jobs death because he was criticized by some after this as trying to take advantage of Jobs death from pancreatic cancer.

  20. Paul Edwards December 13, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    Those kinds of criticisms do seem to quite effectively stifle discussion and investigation for the majority. I am glad that alternative nutrition in general, in contrast to alternative methods to cancer treatment, does not (seem to) receive as horrific a backlash from the mainstream and the conventionally minded.

  21. Jack December 13, 2011 at 7:40 pm

    @Paul people with the cancer must lead the charge for nutrition based therapy because conventional treatment physicians wont based upon how they are paid and how research is funded in cancer. It is also why I would never buy anything pink with a ribbon on it.

  22. Susan December 16, 2011 at 7:48 am

    Haha!! No you didn't say "you wouldn't buy anything pink with a ribbon on it". You dare to go aganist the masses and think like a pioneer. You know the AMA curifys them dearly. Fifteen years ago I stopped giving to organizations for cures, in particular, the diabetes foundation. I read and strictly followed Dr D'Adamo's "Eat Right 4 Your Type book" for some years. Was the first and last diet I ever went on until now. I helped a friend who was considered a brittle-type 1 diabetic, with problems in all three areas weight, physical and mental. She went on the diet and lost a considerable amount weigh, went off all medications, except, for her insulin and stayed off the couch feeling sorry for herself. After she explained this way of eating to one of her doctors, she said he couldn't even look her in the eye and just nodded his head. We were both type 0's and ate very little carbs.

    I really enjoy reading your blog and hope you don't mind me commenting from time to time. I need the help now so I will keep reading and drawing encouragement from your blog. Thank you.

    • Jack December 16, 2011 at 8:19 am

      @Susan I love for you to comment…….if I can help you alter the path your on to a new optimal path I will have spent my day wisely.

  23. Paul Edwards December 29, 2011 at 5:11 pm

    Jack, i agree with your comments, and perspectives regarding the conflicts of interest inherent in establishment medicine.

  24. ontoit January 7, 2012 at 12:44 am

    Just been diagnosed with lung cancer and want to get onto things quickly please Jack.

    1. What's your position on raw vegetable juicing, particularly carrot juice. Already been paleo for some time, but given the carb issue for cancer patients, wondering about carrots and beets.

    2. Also, should the vegetables be raw for best nutrition?

    3. Does no snacking apply to cancer patients too, or do you get as much nutrition in wherever and whenever?

    4. Do you think chemo and radio therapies are dangerous?

    5. I see no dairy is recommended, does that mean keffir as well? And what about other fermented foods and probiotics please Jack.

    Thanks so much for your wonderful help.

    • Jack January 7, 2012 at 9:10 am

      @ontoit What kind of lung cancer? Do you smoke or have you ever smoked or is this a non smoking case?

  25. ontoit January 8, 2012 at 1:54 am

    Not 100% sure yet, but I did smoke heavily for 10 years – but that was 30 years ago now. I am otherwise in good health. Thank you Jack.

    • Jack January 8, 2012 at 9:03 am

      @ontoit The type of CA matters here to see if it is related to what should be done.

  26. ontoit January 10, 2012 at 1:43 am

    Hi Jack, I have adenocarcanoma of the lung, stage 4, pleural fluid positive. Starting chemo Tuesday. Good weight, young and healthy – they have confidence I will respond well to chemo. Please help. Thank you!

    • Jack January 10, 2012 at 10:12 am

      @ontoit Avoid Vitamin A then……its linked to this cancer. I would also advocate a ketogenic paleo diet and you need to consider high dose curcumin and resveratrol.

  27. ontoit January 10, 2012 at 1:23 pm

    What about all the other supplements you mention in point 5? Also, I refer you back to my questions – post 33 please? When you say high dose, can you be more specific please Jack?

    • Jack January 10, 2012 at 1:45 pm

      I would do 900 mgs of curcumin 3 times a day and as much resveratrol as you can afford.

  28. ontoit January 11, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    Hi Jack, I'm desperate. I need more specific information please. You haven't answered all my questions above. Post 33. You say as much resveretrol as I can afford. What does that mean? Thank you!

    • Jack January 11, 2012 at 3:51 pm

      ontoit……it means just what it says. Resveratrol has no know toxic dose. so you can take a ton of it to deactivate mTOR and the curcumin deactivates the IGF-1 pathways.

  29. ontoit January 11, 2012 at 3:56 pm

    So do I avoid vitamin A supplements only or foods with vitamin A as well.

    • Jack January 11, 2012 at 3:57 pm

      @ontoit mainly supplements

  30. ontoit January 12, 2012 at 12:06 am

    Should I be taking the other supplements you recommend in point 5 of this blog Jack?

    • Jack January 12, 2012 at 9:04 am

      @ontoit as it says discuss it with your oncologist first and see what they say

  31. kac January 23, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    Dear Jack,

    Thank you so much for writing your blog. I love the technical information and your reasoning on health matters. I thought you would be interested in my story because it shows how diet and life stress interact to create havoc or harmony.

    I am a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed at 32 years old with late stage acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The only problem detected in my labs 7 months prior was low b12 and vit. D3. I started some supplements after that and began limiting my grains. At first I felt better. Then a month prior to my diagnosis I felt lousy again after eating normal again. The doctor thought I had allergies and ordered Naseral. Within a day and over the next week I developed bone pains throughout my body and extreme fatigue. I stopped Naseral and gave up getting answers and tried to heal by resting. Because I had been feeling lousy for a few years and had blood drawn 7 months prior and a recent checkup, I ignored my symptoms (light headed, occasional loss of vision, pounding heart, fatigue) until it was almost too late. I needed four blood transfusions that first day at the ER and I was told immediately that I had some blood cancer.

    My children were just four and six and I couldn't imagine them not having a mother. I was determined to hang on. That is exactly what I did too. I stopped being picky about foods and ate what the hospital gave me, all the meat and veggies, but not any of the sugary junk. Up till then I had avoided all red meats since I was fourteen years old. I made the decision to avoid beef, lamb, pork at a tender age after watching an animal slaughter video. My intake of seafood was also minimal because of mercury fears. I ate lots of veggies and white meat, but my diet was seriously lacking in high quality fats and good cholesterol (my labs from 29 years old show low HDL). I avoided milk due to lactose intolerance (I was also a colicky baby and my mom drank tons of milk when she nursed me), but I did eat some cheese and a little butter. Trying to be careful for bone health, I had also bought into the Soy milk idea about a decade prior to my diagnosis (Not since my diagnosis). My sleep had been disrupted for years from colicky babies and toddler night terrors, so I hadn't been getting my vital restorative sleep. I also, had two children two years apart and nursed both over 15 months.

    The doctors told me that ALL comes on fast and couldn't possibly have been around a long time. I feel otherwise though. My ALL was the PH+ kind where chromosomes 9 & 22 break and join together to create immature white blood cells that over produced and took over my marrow. I think my immune system had suffered ever since my Mono. episode in college. Right after that I became chemically sensitive. I would develop severe headaches and sometimes nausea from perfumes and cleaners. I started applying better attention to my diet and cut out my huge soda addiction (sadly replaced it with juice for a long time after). I had been drinking large amounts of soda each day from the time I was 12 years old, I also developed scoliosis late too (between 14 -16 because it wasn't detectable before that time). I didn't understand the connection about my back and diet until recently – no doctor ever did!

    Anyway, I had multiple rounds of chemo, a life threatening e-coli infection during my induction that required surgery and early termination of therapy. I healed from my infection and went on to have an unrelated allogeneic bone marrow transplant (fully myleoblative/ TBI etc.). It took a long time to heal and it forced my body into early menopause. My transplant will be two years ago this February and I am better now than I have been for YEARs. I take my relaxation and sleep just as seriously as I avoid sugar and grains. I have recently decided to go total Paleo and give up cheese and beans too. My gut is better than ever on this diet and so is my energy and my sleep. I wish I learned about Paleo sooner, but at least I have it now. All I take for supplements is Vit. D3, krill oil, and bio identical hormones. My labs look excellent and I have no Graft V. Host complications and never had any (thank goodness). My chemical sensitivities might be gone – I never get headaches anymore (but I'm not running out and buying toxic ingredients either).

    To make it through everything I had to constantly remember why life was worth living. My gratitude for all the little wonders in life helped keep everyday stress at bay. Love for my family was my driving force to heal. I was honest with myself and others about my feelings and that helped release my fears and anger. Little things don't bother me anymore, in some way I am freer now to live the rest of my life on my own terms. I forgave my father's alcoholic and verbal abuse and what it caused my childhood in fear and low self-worth. I forgave my mother for being a victim all my life and my trying to soothe her. I realized it isn't what you had happen to you in life, but how you react to it that causes the real trauma.

    I hope that I can prevent my children from making my mistakes and I can help them grow into healthy humans in body, mind and spirit. Feel free to share my message if you think it would help others do the same.

    Sincerely,

    KAC

    • Jack January 23, 2012 at 5:51 pm

      @KAC I may use this in a talk I have coming up……….I love your story and you are a dear for sharing it here. What you did is heal yourself using our implicit owners manual getting back to optimal.

  32. lioness7 March 5, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    Dr. Kruse, given your extensive knowledge of biochemistry, what is your opinion of glutamine supplementation during chemo for minimizing mucositis? There are varying opinions amongst the onc community, who have no nutritional or other training aside from oncology.

    • Jack March 6, 2012 at 5:53 am

      @Lioness im ok with it if the cancer person is eatin ketogenic and using CT for cure. The best way to get it is via bone broths.

  33. SimonM March 8, 2012 at 2:37 pm

    @Jack I know Dr Gonzalez and his work. He is a straight up guy and his method works. Interestingly, he was CW educated to high level and was set on Dr Kelley to prove that Kelley's treatment for cancer did not work. Dr G found that it did, and reporting this and subsequently trying to research it in more depth dumped him in a pile of political and career s***t. To his credit he has persevered. He did not take advantage of Steve Jobs' death. He agreed to do an interview with Dr Mercola – pieces of what he said were then taken out of context and whipped round the Net at lightspeed. I ran full-context highlights of his views in the magazine I edit, so I am informed on this story.

    • Jack March 8, 2012 at 9:09 pm

      @simonG all fair points

  34. JedEye April 2, 2012 at 3:17 pm

    I have a client with triple negative breast cancer. Stage 2. Pre chemo. Taking strong drugs that made her lose her hair. Any high dose ranges for the supplements you mentioned I could share with her? If she wont lower her carbs or even if she does, what are your thoughts on metformin?

    • Jack April 2, 2012 at 3:48 pm

      @Jedeye I think its a solid idea based upon current knowledge. It appears to activate the Ancient Pathway. I will be hitting this when I eventually get to the Sirtuin levee.

  35. Jimmy Pagan May 14, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    I’ve had four occurrences of non-hodgkins lymphoma in the last 25 years. My last chemo was last October. Due to a lymph node biopsy in my groin I”ve developed lymphedema on my right leg. Can cold water thermogenisis help my condition. THANK YOU for sharing your incredible story and information.

    • Jack May 14, 2012 at 3:13 pm

      @Jimmy I have little experience with lymphedema but I do know some ladies who are using it after they had breast cancer surgery and node dissections.

  36. pat April 16, 2017 at 1:49 am

    Dr Kruse, Does eating in season have any priority when dealing with cancer, ie eating loads of brocolli if they are not in season. I have heard you say in many of your podcasts that if your body makes it, you are not designed to take it with respect to vitamin D, so here are you saying that that we should break these rules in the event of an extreme illness?

    • Jack Kruse April 16, 2017 at 9:34 am

      I think so. But my thinking on this is dynamic as we learn more about mitochondria

  37. Michelle July 27, 2017 at 7:02 pm

    Dr Jack does this post apply to leukaemia as well? Friends have an 11 year old with acute myeloid luekaemia. After 4 rounds of intensive chemo, he’s been sent home for palliative care. Just wondering what they can do to help him. Thanks

  38. Michelle July 28, 2017 at 6:03 pm

    Thanks so much for your reply. This boy’s father recently had bowel cancer so it seems their environment has affected them both. Thanks again, much appreciated.

    • Jack Kruse July 28, 2017 at 10:10 pm

      That is a clincher for me……..a GI cancer in an adult and a blood cancer in a kid tells me the environment is the culprit.

      • Jack Kruse July 30, 2017 at 8:35 pm

        FACT: Chemotherapy causes uncoupling of the circadian systems in us. NEW FACT FOR THE CANCER DOCS: Bright Light Therapy Protects Women from Circadian Rhythm Desynchronization During Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. WHAT IS THE BRIGHTEST MOST INTENSE LIGHT IN THE SOLAR SPECTRUM? UV light………It is the most intense part of the spectrum and the only part of the spectrum capable of non linear effects. What does that mean? Small stimuli of UV light make a massive difference in mitochondrial diseases like cancer. What did the paper say? “The results suggest that morning administration of bright light may protect women from experiencing CR deterioration during chemotherapy.” Sound familiar to my Vermont 2017 talk? Yep. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15402002.2011.634940?journalCode=hbsm20

  39. Michelle July 31, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    Your Vermont talk is next on my agenda.

    Sadly, the little fella passed away this morning. Thanks again Jack.

  40. Ally October 13, 2017 at 9:29 pm

    Hi Jack.
    My mom was hospitalised for a general weakness in her body and delirium a week after an accidental fall. She was then diagnosed with a brain and breast tumour two days ago. Doctors suspect the breast cancer had spread into the lymph nodes under her arm pit and is the main cause of the brain tumour. Only 5 years ago her head MRI was clear. Now there’s a tumour of 3.8cm. She is on steriods now and the neurosurgeon is pressuring us to move in for surgery of the brain tumour as it is causing the swelling but the risks are too high without having attempted other options first.
    We have not done a breast biopsy or determined where else in the body she may have tumours. She is 68yrs old and possibly pre-diabetic although doctors say her blood sugar levels are fine. We will be putting her on a paleoketogenic diet.
    Hypothetically, would you say it is a ridiculous risk to put anyone through neurosurgery first just to alleviate swelling of a brain tumour?
    In cases like this one, could a paleo ketogenic lifestyle coupled with urgent and heavy supplementation be used immediately to counter the growth and swelling of the brain tumour if we choose to excise the breast tumour first (as the risks are lower than a brain surgery)?
    Do you feel steroids could interfere with any of the supplementations listed in the above?
    In your experience as a neurosurgeon, what are the most effective immediate protocols to follow for a malnutritioned 68yr old female with a big brain tumour and fast- metastasizing breast cancer who has been mostly subsisting on carbs, coffee and sugar her whole life with non-existent exercise?

    • Jack Kruse October 14, 2017 at 11:52 am

      I think the Neurosurgeon is doing as he is trained too. I have issues with it but if you do ask for another opinion.

  41. Lisa August 16, 2018 at 1:57 pm

    Hi jack
    Just found your site, and so grateful for your work! My father has just had 2nd round of chemo for brain cancer, and it’s ruined him. He can’t eat, he sleeps all day, he’s in pain, feels sick, and he’s wasting away. The thing is that before treatment he was retraining his brain. He couldn’t sign his name and limped, but was able to do both just before this last treatment, with paleo, meditation and with indigenous oils, and walking ievery day he was getting better. Now he has given up and the doctors dont have a clue. Is there anything you can suggest to help? I’m in Australia.

    • Jack Kruse January 12, 2019 at 12:47 am

      Glioma and low Vitamin D3 are linked…….Many papers on it.

  42. Tish March 12, 2019 at 2:18 am

    40 yo nephew just admitted to hospital with jaundice had endoscopy for obstructed bile duct. Found to have cancerous tumor on pancreas. Can you suggest most important things? Keto diet.. Supplements? Leptin protocol? Fasting? Any assistance would be appreciated.

    • Jack Kruse March 18, 2019 at 1:56 am

      Deuterium depleted water, ketosis and a ton of sunlight and seafood.

Comments are closed.

CANCER HITS, WHATS NEXT?

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READERS SUMMARY:
1. What to do when you get a new cancer diagnosis?
2. Is the main cancer battle field oncologic treatment or in your own body?
3. How does diet play a role?
4. How to deal with your new doc the oncologist?
5. Do not be afraid of exploring every possibility to win this battle. Learn about a ketogenic diet!!!

 

Before you read this blog watch this video:  HYPERLINK

This post is for one of my very special dear friends who just contacted me and told me his wife got diagnosed with cancer at a very young age this week. I could hear from the call and his post on Facebook this was killing him. I told him immediately to go out and buy the book the Anti Cancer: A new Way of Life by David Servan Schreiber and give it to his bride. The good news is that many of the 6 million people being treated for cancer today will go on to live a full life. The numbers of those who do survive in my opinion are still far too low (about 45-50{a7b724a0454d92c70890dedf5ec22a026af4df067c7b55aa6009b4d34d5da3c6}). Moreover, many of the close to 2000 cancers deaths that occur daily happen because their families were completely unaware of the depth of resources currently available to treat cancer conventionally and with alternatives such as complementary or integrative therapies.

Once diagnosed with this disease you get shaken to your core. It is imperative that you know that this disease cannot only be fought but it can be prevented if you decide to immediately alter some of the things you do and lose some of the dogma you have accumulated in your life. This is especially true if you are in the healthcare field and have lived in dogma your whole adult life. This book is written by a physician researcher who not only got hit with the cancer diagnosis but got hit with a brain cancer that is exceptionally deadly. He was able to deconstruct his own beliefs as a physician with new science that was around to researchers but not well known by his oncologists. This book is a must for anyone with cancer or who has risk factors present so you can beat it before it begins. This is honestly one of the reasons I wrote my QUILT because I believe if you protect your cells you will never get this disease. Now that a friend has it…here is a post directed at what you may consider doing right away after consulting with your oncologist. Consider consulting a major cancer center like MD Anderson for a second opinion.

1. Read the book Anticancer mentioned above. It’s critical to you seeing this disease in a new light.

2. Immediately alter your diet to the Epi-paleo Rx and away from a Standard Western Diet.

3. Begin a meditation scheme as soon as possible to control your cortisol and anxiety. (Choice is unimportant but doing it is life saving)

4. The patient should consult the protocols entitled Cancer Treatment: The critical Factors in Cancer: Should patients take dietary supplements for the type of cancer you have?

5. Consider beginning a supplement regime to include Curcumin, Reservatrol, Quercetin, Omega three Fish oil (Rx grade), Vitamin D3 with a target of being over 50 ng/dl, liberal use of CoEnZQ10 daily, R-alpha lipoic acid and a vitamin K supplement daily. Consider use of N Acetyl Cysteine daily as well. Notice I did not put the dosages down because the doses required for anti cancer therapy are significantly higher than one would use in a preventative state. This should be done with consultation of your oncologist. If your oncologist is not open minded about these issues…after reading the book in step one you might need to find a new oncologist. These are what I consider to be the core supplements to most cancers humans get.

6. Within your diet always added turmeric, ginger, garlic, rosemary, and basil to your foods as much as possible. You should drink 1 Liter of green tea per day. Green tea contains L -Theanine which decrease anxiety but is an adjunct to chemotherapeutic drugs by making them more effective . You can also use green tea extracts if you don’t want to drink this much fluid or you cant because of your condition.

7. In 1955 Nobel Laureate Otto Warburg found that all cancers use glucose for energy substrate and high levels of insulin also allow the body to lose control of the immune system that will defend it. This means the patient has to limit anything that stimulates insulin. A strict low carb Epi-paleo template does just this. A Good reference for the diet is here.

8. Your immune system is your best defense against your cancer. Optimize your vitamin D levels and keep your insulin levels below two. Lowering your cortisol levels optimizes leptin but most importantly upregualtes your Natural Killer cells (WBC’s) that are part of your cell mediated immune system that actively fights cancer. You will read a ton about these cells in the book I recommended in step one.

9. Veggies. Make cruciferous veggies a staple. All plants of the Brassica plants are your friends. Glucosinolates can inhibit, retard, and reverse experimental multistage oncogenesis. The reason are the release of isothiocyanantes like sulphoraphanes. Sulphoraphanes do two main things. They promote apoptosis (levee 19) and they induce phase two detoxification enzymes in the liver that strengthen the p53 gene as the guardian of our genomes. Necrosis of cancer cells is commonly seen when they are exposed to sulphoraphanes consistently overtime. Broccoli also includes a secondary metabolite called Indole 3 Carbinol that further breaks down to another anticancer chemical called DIM, diindolylmethane. You can’t eat enough of these veggies if you have cancer in my view. I3C also blocks 16 -hydroxyestrone and is quite helpful in preventing breast and ovarian cancers in women and prostate cancer in men.

10. Here is the counterintuitive one to the dogma you have had drummed into your head…eat tons of cholesterol. Especially coconut oil. Many epidemiological studies have shown that lower levels of serum cholesterol correlate with higher cancer rates. This is why eating a ketogenic Epi-paleo diet makes a ton of sense. Why a ketogenic diet? Because all cancers utilize glucose for substrate. You need to change the cellular fuel of choice. Go Google Otto Warburg for more details. Ketogenic diets should be loaded with MCT from coconut oils as they confer huge advantages to normal cells over cancer cells. This leg up allows your immune system to catch up to the cancerous cells and destroy them using your own biologic machinery. There are numerous cancer journal articles published that show the same links.

Dedicated to Mary. Never submit and conquer it with your defenses. They are your best weapon in this fight no matter what any physician tells you. Optimize them and you will win this battle.

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  1. matt July 7, 2011 at 9:16 am

    Kelley Eidem wrote a book about Dr. Emanuel Revici it's called the doctor who cured cancer. He figured out if his patients were anabolic or catabolic and treated them with a lipid based therapy. Whether or not you read the book, learning about Dr. Revici's work is very interesting.

  2. mpd July 7, 2011 at 12:10 pm

    I got testicular cancer in my prepaleo days and one of the things that now angers me (but I didn't know at the time) was that the doctors and nurses told me to just eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted because I just needed to get something down. They even had little bags of Doritos in the chemo room because the MSG in there stimulates your appetite! Yikes! I wonder how much less terrible treatment would have been had I been instructed to eat a paleo diet, or just not eat and live off of ketosis on the days where I couldn't get anything down. One of my common meals was ramen noodles, I'm sure the gut damage from the gluten plus the chemo didn't help anything.

  3. Tim July 7, 2011 at 7:43 pm

    Thank you for using such a personal experience to tie so many levees together.

  4. Resurgent July 8, 2011 at 3:14 am

    Jack – what is your opinion about Dr Burzynski?
    http://vimeo.com/24821365

  5. KKC July 11, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    Interesting blog, Jack. I linked through to the Epigenetics post; am now on the quest to find out what my Nana's diet was. I'm eager to learn more about this field, and to catch up on your earlier posts.

    I've been following Byron Richards' Leptin Diet 5 Rules for a good while now (Paleo + some dairy); the changes in my health and well-being have been both great and subtle. Your recs and his have a lot of commonality, as well they should.

    A question and a correction:

    Q: Are you familiar with the Jaminet's _Perfect Health Diet_ book and blog? If so, what are your thoughts?

    C: In recommendation #10 above to "eat lots of cholesterol", coconut oil contains NO(0) cholesterol. Plenty of saturated fat – yes, CHO – no.

    Thanks for your time and efforts,

    Best, KKC

  6. cathy August 10, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    Thank you for this article! I have pancreatic cancer, had a whipple last year, and the last scans showed no more signs of cancer. But pancreatic cancer almost always comes back (usually in the liver). I am going to follow your instructions to prevent that. I've been doing the low carb/high coconut oil for a few months now, but I haven't taken any supplements, I've been afraid. Your article is giving me the incentive to take them, along with a multi vitamin. My question is, are there any vitamins or minerals that I should be staying away from? Any that the cancer cells could gain strength from?

    • Jack August 11, 2011 at 10:10 am

      My strongest recommendation is to the read the book I mentioned in this blog. The nutrition for pancreatic cancer therapy is pretty controversial when you talk to oncologists and look at the literature. The key in my mind is to eat a ketogenic paleolithic diet loaded with coconut oil and stay as far away from things that are loaded with glucose and fructose especially.

  7. Darren August 14, 2011 at 4:09 pm

    I was diagnosed with bladder cancer a few weeks ago and just found this post. I've been eating low-carb paleo style for about 3 years so it's certainly no panacea. Of course I can never know how or if the disease would have progressed if I ate SAD, but it certainly has progressed on a paleo diet. When I started having symptoms about a year ago I didn't take the fact that it might be cancer seriously enough as I had so many factors that would mitigate against it. Just a warning to others not to be complacent – being health-conscious does not gaurantee good health.

    I'm going to go from my usual 50-60g of carb to sub-30 although that won't be such a metabolic shock for my tumour.I got the book you mentioned on Paul Jiamet's recommendation and many of the supplements too. The book certainly made me feel more positive.

    However, I can't find anything via google for those protocols you mention – do you have any links?

    • Jack August 14, 2011 at 4:20 pm

      I will search for them Darren. I think they were from MD Anderson to be honest. Ive read some of PJ work but he thinks many carbs are ok in many settings. I dont buy this at all in cancer. I think a meta analysis of the literature we did with our oncologists last yr fully support a low glycemic ketogenic approach. Im sure you can find some studies supporting a higher glycemic load for certain cancers but the ones i deal with do horribly with a moderate to high carb diet. So i cant support his assertions at all.

  8. Kevin September 20, 2011 at 11:48 am

    I've been reading AntiCancer this week as I current have several close friends and acquaintances who are battling it.

    Also found his video (see link below) on Amazon. Its interesting that from his perspective he's basically pushing a very low/zero animal fat nutritional perspective (which appears to conflict with much of what you and I support and conflict with Primal/Paleo). He even discusses recommending – collective GASP! – soy and tofu – in this video. http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m2ZBV821XO

    Does Dr. David Servan-Schreiber just not understand the specifics of animal protein and a role in a powerful diet? Is he towing the organic/vegan/vegetarian line?

    Thoughts Dr on resolving this conflict?

  9. Jack September 29, 2011 at 11:12 pm

    @kevin……i said read the book but not follow his diet. Follow a ketogenic paleodiet. The prepondance of the oncologic peer reviewed literature shows that things like starches, rice, fructose, and high glycemic foods will hurt you not help you. The reason is the IGF1 signaling pathway and its effects on oncologic cells. I have first hand clinical experience of many cancer cases that went south when patients veered off the ketogenic path. Patients have to do their due diligence with literature reviews and the expertise of clinicians who treat this disease.

  10. Joe Brancaleone October 19, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    What sort of methodology Max Gerson would have used in his case studies to prescribe what looks like the opposite of this, i.e. a high sugar, low fat low protein diet (with enemas and supps)?

  11. Lynn October 21, 2011 at 4:17 am

    I have been reading about about capasaicin's ability to slow cancer growth (the ingredient found in hot chili peppers). I found the articles in PubMed. Should that be a supplement to take whether battling cancer or trying to prevent it? Does anyone know about the credibility of the author of this website? http://kelleyeidem.hubpages.com/hub/How-I-Cured-S

  12. Lynn October 21, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    Can you elaborate on what a ketogenic paleodiet is? Is it measured by grams of carbohydrate? Or is it measured by success in keeping blood glucose down (or insulin down). Is there a ghost of a change that you would be available for a consultation (a 1/2 hour or hour, by skype)? My friend who was diagnosed with cancer went to a dietitian who said it was okay to eat fat free chips. How is it I am the only person who is countering this. Where is the medical community. Why aren't his doctors printing out articles for him on how cancer feeds from sugar, or what to eat to slow angiogenesis down. I feel so helpless.

    • Jack October 21, 2011 at 10:28 pm

      @Lynn I hate to say this but there are some in our paleo community who blog who believe this too. If you follow their advice I think your in for some big problems. A ketogenic paleo diet is one that closely resembles Robb Wolf's autoimmune paleo diet described in his book. It restricts dairy and adds in MCT from coconut oil as a replacement. I also tell folks to back off proteins with a lot of BCCA like Whey. That is not a good protein source for those with cancer.

  13. Colleen October 23, 2011 at 12:30 am

    Doc, I'm reading Anticancer. It advocates meat only 3x a week and more vegetables and legumes. I totally get the Omega 3/6 ratio it talks about but I'm not impressed with the meat thing. 🙁 How do you think he went wrong on his assumptions about that?

  14. Jack October 23, 2011 at 1:02 am

    @ colleen. Read comment 11. The rest of the book rocks. Just eat ketogenic paleo and your good.

  15. Colleen October 23, 2011 at 1:45 am

    Thanks, Doc! I'm just desperate to help my friend with ovarian cancer. Hubby is doing well but I'm going to put him on this too.

  16. Jack October 23, 2011 at 2:02 am

    Colleen is she BRCA 1 positive?

  17. Colleen October 23, 2011 at 2:11 am

    No she's not. At least her daughter won't get that gene from her.

  18. Jack October 27, 2011 at 5:24 pm

    @KKC in cancer I am not a fan of any carbs…….why? Here is a good starting point.

    http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/pdf

  19. Paul Edwards December 8, 2011 at 7:46 pm

    I wondered if you were familiar with Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez and his nutritional/enzyme cancer treatment developed by the alternative practitioner Dr. William Donald Kelley.

    http://www.dr-gonzalez.com/index.htm

    In his book, The Trophoblast and the Origins of Cancer, Gonzalez discusses the research of Dr. John Beard, and the molecular biology that suggests the anti-cancer effect of pancreatic enzymes.

    • Jack December 9, 2011 at 7:16 am

      @Paul No I am not. I have read some comments about this doctor after Steve Jobs death because he was criticized by some after this as trying to take advantage of Jobs death from pancreatic cancer.

  20. Paul Edwards December 13, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    Those kinds of criticisms do seem to quite effectively stifle discussion and investigation for the majority. I am glad that alternative nutrition in general, in contrast to alternative methods to cancer treatment, does not (seem to) receive as horrific a backlash from the mainstream and the conventionally minded.

  21. Jack December 13, 2011 at 7:40 pm

    @Paul people with the cancer must lead the charge for nutrition based therapy because conventional treatment physicians wont based upon how they are paid and how research is funded in cancer. It is also why I would never buy anything pink with a ribbon on it.

  22. Susan December 16, 2011 at 7:48 am

    Haha!! No you didn't say "you wouldn't buy anything pink with a ribbon on it". You dare to go aganist the masses and think like a pioneer. You know the AMA curifys them dearly. Fifteen years ago I stopped giving to organizations for cures, in particular, the diabetes foundation. I read and strictly followed Dr D'Adamo's "Eat Right 4 Your Type book" for some years. Was the first and last diet I ever went on until now. I helped a friend who was considered a brittle-type 1 diabetic, with problems in all three areas weight, physical and mental. She went on the diet and lost a considerable amount weigh, went off all medications, except, for her insulin and stayed off the couch feeling sorry for herself. After she explained this way of eating to one of her doctors, she said he couldn't even look her in the eye and just nodded his head. We were both type 0's and ate very little carbs.

    I really enjoy reading your blog and hope you don't mind me commenting from time to time. I need the help now so I will keep reading and drawing encouragement from your blog. Thank you.

    • Jack December 16, 2011 at 8:19 am

      @Susan I love for you to comment…….if I can help you alter the path your on to a new optimal path I will have spent my day wisely.

  23. Paul Edwards December 29, 2011 at 5:11 pm

    Jack, i agree with your comments, and perspectives regarding the conflicts of interest inherent in establishment medicine.

  24. ontoit January 7, 2012 at 12:44 am

    Just been diagnosed with lung cancer and want to get onto things quickly please Jack.

    1. What's your position on raw vegetable juicing, particularly carrot juice. Already been paleo for some time, but given the carb issue for cancer patients, wondering about carrots and beets.

    2. Also, should the vegetables be raw for best nutrition?

    3. Does no snacking apply to cancer patients too, or do you get as much nutrition in wherever and whenever?

    4. Do you think chemo and radio therapies are dangerous?

    5. I see no dairy is recommended, does that mean keffir as well? And what about other fermented foods and probiotics please Jack.

    Thanks so much for your wonderful help.

    • Jack January 7, 2012 at 9:10 am

      @ontoit What kind of lung cancer? Do you smoke or have you ever smoked or is this a non smoking case?

  25. ontoit January 8, 2012 at 1:54 am

    Not 100% sure yet, but I did smoke heavily for 10 years – but that was 30 years ago now. I am otherwise in good health. Thank you Jack.

    • Jack January 8, 2012 at 9:03 am

      @ontoit The type of CA matters here to see if it is related to what should be done.

  26. ontoit January 10, 2012 at 1:43 am

    Hi Jack, I have adenocarcanoma of the lung, stage 4, pleural fluid positive. Starting chemo Tuesday. Good weight, young and healthy – they have confidence I will respond well to chemo. Please help. Thank you!

    • Jack January 10, 2012 at 10:12 am

      @ontoit Avoid Vitamin A then……its linked to this cancer. I would also advocate a ketogenic paleo diet and you need to consider high dose curcumin and resveratrol.

  27. ontoit January 10, 2012 at 1:23 pm

    What about all the other supplements you mention in point 5? Also, I refer you back to my questions – post 33 please? When you say high dose, can you be more specific please Jack?

    • Jack January 10, 2012 at 1:45 pm

      I would do 900 mgs of curcumin 3 times a day and as much resveratrol as you can afford.

  28. ontoit January 11, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    Hi Jack, I'm desperate. I need more specific information please. You haven't answered all my questions above. Post 33. You say as much resveretrol as I can afford. What does that mean? Thank you!

    • Jack January 11, 2012 at 3:51 pm

      ontoit……it means just what it says. Resveratrol has no know toxic dose. so you can take a ton of it to deactivate mTOR and the curcumin deactivates the IGF-1 pathways.

  29. ontoit January 11, 2012 at 3:56 pm

    So do I avoid vitamin A supplements only or foods with vitamin A as well.

    • Jack January 11, 2012 at 3:57 pm

      @ontoit mainly supplements

  30. ontoit January 12, 2012 at 12:06 am

    Should I be taking the other supplements you recommend in point 5 of this blog Jack?

    • Jack January 12, 2012 at 9:04 am

      @ontoit as it says discuss it with your oncologist first and see what they say

  31. kac January 23, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    Dear Jack,

    Thank you so much for writing your blog. I love the technical information and your reasoning on health matters. I thought you would be interested in my story because it shows how diet and life stress interact to create havoc or harmony.

    I am a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed at 32 years old with late stage acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The only problem detected in my labs 7 months prior was low b12 and vit. D3. I started some supplements after that and began limiting my grains. At first I felt better. Then a month prior to my diagnosis I felt lousy again after eating normal again. The doctor thought I had allergies and ordered Naseral. Within a day and over the next week I developed bone pains throughout my body and extreme fatigue. I stopped Naseral and gave up getting answers and tried to heal by resting. Because I had been feeling lousy for a few years and had blood drawn 7 months prior and a recent checkup, I ignored my symptoms (light headed, occasional loss of vision, pounding heart, fatigue) until it was almost too late. I needed four blood transfusions that first day at the ER and I was told immediately that I had some blood cancer.

    My children were just four and six and I couldn't imagine them not having a mother. I was determined to hang on. That is exactly what I did too. I stopped being picky about foods and ate what the hospital gave me, all the meat and veggies, but not any of the sugary junk. Up till then I had avoided all red meats since I was fourteen years old. I made the decision to avoid beef, lamb, pork at a tender age after watching an animal slaughter video. My intake of seafood was also minimal because of mercury fears. I ate lots of veggies and white meat, but my diet was seriously lacking in high quality fats and good cholesterol (my labs from 29 years old show low HDL). I avoided milk due to lactose intolerance (I was also a colicky baby and my mom drank tons of milk when she nursed me), but I did eat some cheese and a little butter. Trying to be careful for bone health, I had also bought into the Soy milk idea about a decade prior to my diagnosis (Not since my diagnosis). My sleep had been disrupted for years from colicky babies and toddler night terrors, so I hadn't been getting my vital restorative sleep. I also, had two children two years apart and nursed both over 15 months.

    The doctors told me that ALL comes on fast and couldn't possibly have been around a long time. I feel otherwise though. My ALL was the PH+ kind where chromosomes 9 & 22 break and join together to create immature white blood cells that over produced and took over my marrow. I think my immune system had suffered ever since my Mono. episode in college. Right after that I became chemically sensitive. I would develop severe headaches and sometimes nausea from perfumes and cleaners. I started applying better attention to my diet and cut out my huge soda addiction (sadly replaced it with juice for a long time after). I had been drinking large amounts of soda each day from the time I was 12 years old, I also developed scoliosis late too (between 14 -16 because it wasn't detectable before that time). I didn't understand the connection about my back and diet until recently – no doctor ever did!

    Anyway, I had multiple rounds of chemo, a life threatening e-coli infection during my induction that required surgery and early termination of therapy. I healed from my infection and went on to have an unrelated allogeneic bone marrow transplant (fully myleoblative/ TBI etc.). It took a long time to heal and it forced my body into early menopause. My transplant will be two years ago this February and I am better now than I have been for YEARs. I take my relaxation and sleep just as seriously as I avoid sugar and grains. I have recently decided to go total Paleo and give up cheese and beans too. My gut is better than ever on this diet and so is my energy and my sleep. I wish I learned about Paleo sooner, but at least I have it now. All I take for supplements is Vit. D3, krill oil, and bio identical hormones. My labs look excellent and I have no Graft V. Host complications and never had any (thank goodness). My chemical sensitivities might be gone – I never get headaches anymore (but I'm not running out and buying toxic ingredients either).

    To make it through everything I had to constantly remember why life was worth living. My gratitude for all the little wonders in life helped keep everyday stress at bay. Love for my family was my driving force to heal. I was honest with myself and others about my feelings and that helped release my fears and anger. Little things don't bother me anymore, in some way I am freer now to live the rest of my life on my own terms. I forgave my father's alcoholic and verbal abuse and what it caused my childhood in fear and low self-worth. I forgave my mother for being a victim all my life and my trying to soothe her. I realized it isn't what you had happen to you in life, but how you react to it that causes the real trauma.

    I hope that I can prevent my children from making my mistakes and I can help them grow into healthy humans in body, mind and spirit. Feel free to share my message if you think it would help others do the same.

    Sincerely,

    KAC

    • Jack January 23, 2012 at 5:51 pm

      @KAC I may use this in a talk I have coming up……….I love your story and you are a dear for sharing it here. What you did is heal yourself using our implicit owners manual getting back to optimal.

  32. lioness7 March 5, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    Dr. Kruse, given your extensive knowledge of biochemistry, what is your opinion of glutamine supplementation during chemo for minimizing mucositis? There are varying opinions amongst the onc community, who have no nutritional or other training aside from oncology.

    • Jack March 6, 2012 at 5:53 am

      @Lioness im ok with it if the cancer person is eatin ketogenic and using CT for cure. The best way to get it is via bone broths.

  33. SimonM March 8, 2012 at 2:37 pm

    @Jack I know Dr Gonzalez and his work. He is a straight up guy and his method works. Interestingly, he was CW educated to high level and was set on Dr Kelley to prove that Kelley's treatment for cancer did not work. Dr G found that it did, and reporting this and subsequently trying to research it in more depth dumped him in a pile of political and career s***t. To his credit he has persevered. He did not take advantage of Steve Jobs' death. He agreed to do an interview with Dr Mercola – pieces of what he said were then taken out of context and whipped round the Net at lightspeed. I ran full-context highlights of his views in the magazine I edit, so I am informed on this story.

    • Jack March 8, 2012 at 9:09 pm

      @simonG all fair points

  34. JedEye April 2, 2012 at 3:17 pm

    I have a client with triple negative breast cancer. Stage 2. Pre chemo. Taking strong drugs that made her lose her hair. Any high dose ranges for the supplements you mentioned I could share with her? If she wont lower her carbs or even if she does, what are your thoughts on metformin?

    • Jack April 2, 2012 at 3:48 pm

      @Jedeye I think its a solid idea based upon current knowledge. It appears to activate the Ancient Pathway. I will be hitting this when I eventually get to the Sirtuin levee.

  35. Jimmy Pagan May 14, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    I’ve had four occurrences of non-hodgkins lymphoma in the last 25 years. My last chemo was last October. Due to a lymph node biopsy in my groin I”ve developed lymphedema on my right leg. Can cold water thermogenisis help my condition. THANK YOU for sharing your incredible story and information.

    • Jack May 14, 2012 at 3:13 pm

      @Jimmy I have little experience with lymphedema but I do know some ladies who are using it after they had breast cancer surgery and node dissections.

  36. pat April 16, 2017 at 1:49 am

    Dr Kruse, Does eating in season have any priority when dealing with cancer, ie eating loads of brocolli if they are not in season. I have heard you say in many of your podcasts that if your body makes it, you are not designed to take it with respect to vitamin D, so here are you saying that that we should break these rules in the event of an extreme illness?

    • Jack Kruse April 16, 2017 at 9:34 am

      I think so. But my thinking on this is dynamic as we learn more about mitochondria

  37. Michelle July 27, 2017 at 7:02 pm

    Dr Jack does this post apply to leukaemia as well? Friends have an 11 year old with acute myeloid luekaemia. After 4 rounds of intensive chemo, he’s been sent home for palliative care. Just wondering what they can do to help him. Thanks

  38. Michelle July 28, 2017 at 6:03 pm

    Thanks so much for your reply. This boy’s father recently had bowel cancer so it seems their environment has affected them both. Thanks again, much appreciated.

    • Jack Kruse July 28, 2017 at 10:10 pm

      That is a clincher for me……..a GI cancer in an adult and a blood cancer in a kid tells me the environment is the culprit.

      • Jack Kruse July 30, 2017 at 8:35 pm

        FACT: Chemotherapy causes uncoupling of the circadian systems in us. NEW FACT FOR THE CANCER DOCS: Bright Light Therapy Protects Women from Circadian Rhythm Desynchronization During Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. WHAT IS THE BRIGHTEST MOST INTENSE LIGHT IN THE SOLAR SPECTRUM? UV light………It is the most intense part of the spectrum and the only part of the spectrum capable of non linear effects. What does that mean? Small stimuli of UV light make a massive difference in mitochondrial diseases like cancer. What did the paper say? “The results suggest that morning administration of bright light may protect women from experiencing CR deterioration during chemotherapy.” Sound familiar to my Vermont 2017 talk? Yep. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15402002.2011.634940?journalCode=hbsm20

  39. Michelle July 31, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    Your Vermont talk is next on my agenda.

    Sadly, the little fella passed away this morning. Thanks again Jack.

  40. Ally October 13, 2017 at 9:29 pm

    Hi Jack.
    My mom was hospitalised for a general weakness in her body and delirium a week after an accidental fall. She was then diagnosed with a brain and breast tumour two days ago. Doctors suspect the breast cancer had spread into the lymph nodes under her arm pit and is the main cause of the brain tumour. Only 5 years ago her head MRI was clear. Now there’s a tumour of 3.8cm. She is on steriods now and the neurosurgeon is pressuring us to move in for surgery of the brain tumour as it is causing the swelling but the risks are too high without having attempted other options first.
    We have not done a breast biopsy or determined where else in the body she may have tumours. She is 68yrs old and possibly pre-diabetic although doctors say her blood sugar levels are fine. We will be putting her on a paleoketogenic diet.
    Hypothetically, would you say it is a ridiculous risk to put anyone through neurosurgery first just to alleviate swelling of a brain tumour?
    In cases like this one, could a paleo ketogenic lifestyle coupled with urgent and heavy supplementation be used immediately to counter the growth and swelling of the brain tumour if we choose to excise the breast tumour first (as the risks are lower than a brain surgery)?
    Do you feel steroids could interfere with any of the supplementations listed in the above?
    In your experience as a neurosurgeon, what are the most effective immediate protocols to follow for a malnutritioned 68yr old female with a big brain tumour and fast- metastasizing breast cancer who has been mostly subsisting on carbs, coffee and sugar her whole life with non-existent exercise?

    • Jack Kruse October 14, 2017 at 11:52 am

      I think the Neurosurgeon is doing as he is trained too. I have issues with it but if you do ask for another opinion.

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