Latest edition of 'cancer art magazine' Flourish launched

We just launched this week the latest issue of Flourish; our creative magazine by and for the cancer community. It’s a beautiful issue tackling our complex relationship with our bodies through a stunning array of art, poetry, photography, and personal stories that are both empowering and deeply moving. 

It is a great privilege to be part of publishing this magazine - do take a look online - and some real life copies available across Bristol/Gloucestershire area in oncology wards and GP surgeries. However this latest issue we were unable to publish as many issues as usual - but hopefully back to normal with our next issue in new year with the theme 'mind'. Take a look at latest issue for details of how you can help contribute to our next issue.

See more at: https://yestolife.org.uk/news/issue-5-of-flourish-magazine-the-body-issue-is-out-now/

Direct for the magazine: https://yestolife.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ISSUE-FIVE-FLOURISH-MAGAZINE.pdf

Tobacco links leads to Economist Group cancer conference being cancelled

As a member of the international cancer patient advocates organisation, Inspire2Live, I have supported their moves to challenge the Economist Group over links to two 'big tobacco' companies. It was great to hear this week, following letters and phone calls (many from patient advocates) that speakers and attendees withdrew from the 10th annual World Cancer Series conference in Brussels - this seems to have quickly led to the conference being cancelled.

It does seem beyond extraordinary that this sponsorship could have been entertained when we know that over 25% of cancers globally are linked to tobacco.

Today the Guardian newspaper reports on the cancelling of the conference - see here: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/sep/21/economist-group-cancer-conference-cancelled-due-to-links-to-tobacco-firms

One of the quotes is from Mark Lawler, a professor of digital health at Queen’s University Belfast and chair of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership. He said he was stunned to find out about the links. “Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the Economist Impact, which runs the world cancer series event, which I was due to speak at in Brussels, was supported not by one, but by two international cigarette companies – Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco International. I was livid and immediately withdrew from the event.“In what world can an organisation seriously think it is all right to run a prominent cancer event, bringing together world experts, while also taking sponsorship from a company whose product has caused millions of cancer deaths worldwide? Absolutely shocking.”

Update 26.9.24: Guardian shares more of the story as calls for wider boycott take shape: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/sep/25/pressure-mounts-on-publisher-of-economist-over-ties-to-tobacco

Meanwhile just a reminder that Yes to Life's conference is next Saturday 28th Sept looking at the latest developments in Integrative Medicine - no tobacco sponsorship at this one! See more at: https://www.yestolifeannualconference.org/

20 second self-healing technique

 Hey this is interesting - a 2 minute film with a technique to reduce stress: 

Mark Lintern and his inspiring look into cancer

In my last post I mentioned Mark Lintern - I've also written about him here and how his research could be the breakthrough cancer researchers have been waiting for....my original post has links to 6 hours of Yes to Life radio shows that are very worth listening to. 

However for those wanting just an hour you can get a flavour in a podcast with 'biohacker' Dave Asprey. Dave writes of the podcast: "Today's episode focuses on Cancer with a true expert, Mark Lintern. You'll learn about the surprising links between infections, inflammation, and our body's powerhouses - the mitochondria. This is a chance to arm yourself with cutting-edge theories that could change the way we treat cancer. Simple changes in treatment perspectives might be the key to unlocking new ways to tackle cancer and by the end of this episode, you'll have a fresh arsenal of knowledge to rethink cancer's causes and solutions. This is an eye-opening discussion that promises to transform the way we approach this formidable disease." 

Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPJbAJL8srk&t=1s

A critical look at New German Medicine and 'cause' of cancer

Paul Leendertse

I have read a little about the New German Medicine (NGM) approach to cancer - I hugely welcome the way it looks at cancer not as an arbitrary illness but rather a biologically meaningful response to emotional shocks. I love that it looks at the mind body connection and it's possible role in cancer. However quite a bit of it hasn't sat right with me.

There are various sources online for folks to explore NGM - here's one whole book that I was sent to review: https://madeongaia.is/signup_files/GNM-Disease-Clarity.pdf In this they look at the work of Dr Hamer, the originator of NGM, and at particular cancers and causes; prostate cancer, for example, one of the suggestions is that it maybe due to a 'procreation conflict' when the man is unable to father children!

Another book I reviewed before it went to final publication with a number of changes last year was 'Terminal Cancer is a Misdiagnosis' by Danny Carroll. Again this is based on the work of Dr Hamer with some 50,000 patients. As some will know he was given a 19 month prison sentence in Germany for the 'illegal practice of medicine' - this was despite supporters noting that his 'medical research findings' showed an 85% survival rate with his patients who refused conventional medical treatments.

Just this week I was pointed to a webinar where Paul Leenderertse from the Root Cause Institute looks critically at NGM and also shares his own work - he writes: "The Root Cause is a psycho-emotional stress complex, effecting the physical body, which needs to be identified and resolved to heal." I like his approach - he says the 'tumour is there for a reason' - 'it's not just stress it's the suppression of emotions' - 'it's blocking us from spiritual growth, we're getting stuck in it and if we are not growing and learning we're dying'. For me there is clearly a role for emotions but suspect it is more than just that.

Interestingly Paul also notes a role of fungus - something that Mark Lintern's theory considers may play a part in cancer. This is not something new but has been around on the fringes of cancer research - the evidence from Mark is certainly compelling.

See what you think about Paul Leendertse's views...'A Loving Correction to NGM' webinar that lasts some 2 hours and 40 mins: https://www.rootcauseinstitute.com/path-player?courseid=gnm-webinar&unit=6512bb108a5c306ee3067be6Unit

Changing your diet to beat cancer

I've written a fair bit about diet and cancer on this blog but thought this article from Chris Woollams was worth directing too - it challenges those oncologists and others who tell cancer patients not to worry about diet and shows how those folk are so wrong: https://www.canceractive.com/article/changing-your-diet-to-beat-cancer 

Can cycling damage the prostate?

As someone who has cycled lots in the past and heard about cycling causing increased risks of prostate cancer, it was good to read this somewhat reassuring article by Professor Robert Thomas: https://www.nationalworld.com/health/can-cycling-damage-the-prostate-what-men-can-do-to-protect-themselves-4564820

Cycling appears to not be without some possible risks - the importance of a comfortable saddle is covered in the article! And also cycling more than eight hours a week does seem to increase risks...indeed a six-fold increased risk of prostate cancer for those who rode over 8.5 hours per week, however those cyclists still had a lower risk of developing prostate cancer than non-cyclists.