Thursday 28 November 2019

Best websites for cancer support

Ages ago I wrote a blog on the best three books when you are first diagnosed (see here); I could add many great books to that but another key source of info has been the internet. Wow has that been a delight and a challenge. So many sites with so much conflicting information. In this blog I will pick a few of my personal favourites but strongly suggest you also do your own research. Indeed even among my favourites I don’t always agree with what they are saying. 
I’ve also not included a whole range of sites on nutrition, supplements and more as I hope to cover those in future blogs - nor have I covered some excellent newsletters that folks like Fi Munro, David Hamilton and Jem Ayers produce.

I would also welcome any suggestions for other resources; either in comments below or email me.

Key to blog:
1. Sites for info
2. Prostate Cancer specific
3. Prostate Cancer Blogs
4. Facebook groups
(a) Support sites
(b) Prostate Cancer specific
(c) Other specific sites


1. Sites for info

CANCERactive 
This site by Chris Woollams is a highly usable, well-researched information on cancer, its causes and possible treatments, that aims "to empower readers so that they can make more informed personal choices and thus increase their individual odds of beating the disease”. Chris also has a great overview look at prostate cancer:

Yes to Life 
This charity takes an integrative approach and aims to empower people with cancer to make informed decisions about their care options. They provide evidence-based information to those in need via their helpline, website, blogs, book (mentioned in my book blog here) and the reason they get a mention here - their radio show - see more about that in my video below from Robin Daly:
https://yestolife.org.uk/
Chris Wark 
Chris was diagnosed with stage 3c colon cancer in 2003, at 26 years old. After surgery, he opted out of chemotherapy and used nutrition and natural therapies to heal. Since then he has become one of the key voices around cancer, health and healing. His blogs, and many youtube videos of both survivors and health practitioners, are a wonderful resource. Indeed I recommend subscribing free to his YouTube or newsletter:

Beyond Conventional Cancer Therapies
BCCT explores the best of integrative cancer care, which frequently combines conventional and complementary treatments. A useful resource:


2. Prostate Cancer specific

Prostate Cancer UK
This is one of the best websites for conventional treatment and some questions about complimentary approaches. There are also online community pages to ask questions:

Cotswolds Prostate Cancer Support Group
This is a volunteer-led registered charity that is open to being contacted if you need help. It was set up in 2007, by men who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, with the support of the Urology Department of Gloucester and Cheltenham hospitals. It aims to help men come to terms with the challenge of the diagnosis, and be better able to handle the difficult periods when it is often traumatic to talk to people, even those very close to you. They have some very useful videos on their website:

Health Unlocked; Advanced Prostate Cancer
Health Unlocked has a specific prostate cancer online community with over 10,000 posts where folks pick each other's brains. A useful resource to check out medication, approaches and more:


3. Prostate Cancer Blogs 

There are dozens of these but I’ve not found many to recommend. Here are several links I’ve come across;

Prostate Cancer News, Reviews & Views 
This is by Allen Edel, a patient advocate for men with prostate cancer:

Dan’s Journey
Sharing his prostate cancer experience (including surgery) since November 2010:

Feedspot list over 70 bloggers that have registered with them (incl this blog):
https://blog.feedspot.com/prostate_cancer_blogs/

Healing and Cancer film: And just to add a useful introductory video explaining prostate cancer and an integrative approach - it is basic and could challenge some of it but still a useful starting point from Radiation Oncologist, Dr Rob Rutledge https://youtu.be/ehdpeAK9nNY


4. Facebook groups

These are closed groups and you will need to request the administrator to join them. There are loads of them so this is only a taster of ones that I have found useful at different points in my journey.

(a) Facebook - support sites

Cancerucan 
This was set up by a wonderful woman, Fiona Shakeela Burns - the site is a 'non-partisan, open-minded space to share all information and experiences regarding, health, wellbeing and healing related to cancer, irrespective of the chosen healing path’. Fiona also organises retreats; see my film with voices from her recent retreat here and the Facebook group at:

CANCERactive Forum
This is linked to the CANCERactive website, for people from all over the world, who want help from others who have experience of similar issues. The hugely knowledgeable Chris Woollams is one of the moderators in this group and will endeavour to reply to cancer and health questions directed his way:

The Cancer Whisperer
This is Sophie Sabbage’s website and is for 'anyone who has read her book and found it supportive...anyone with cancer who wants to engage with and transform their fear, denial, grief, anger and despair...anyone who wants to discover what cancer may be trying to tell them about who they are and could be’. This site is by invitation only:

Healing Cancer Study Support Group 
This was set up by a woman with loads of energy, Abbey Mitchell. In the group there are threads to many different types of cancers (see here) including prostate cancer - you can ask questions and contribution to that support thread. 


(b) Facebook - Prostate Cancer specific

Prostate Cancer UK Support Group 
This is the support group for those with Prostate cancer and their loved ones where questions about treatment and more can be asked/discussed:
There is also a group for women supporters of folk with prostate cancer:

Prostate Cancer Non-Surgical Treatments and Support
This is a controversial site as they note 'We are biased and do not support surgery for prostate cancer...It's not for everyone and that's okay”. However for discussions about stuff otherthan surgery it can be good:


(c) Facebook - Other specific sites

Facebook has groups for pretty well every aspect; some great ones re nutrition and health but I just want to note a couple here.

Cannabis Oil Success Stories
This site was founded in May of 2012 to collect 'success stories from people who've used Cannabis Oil to treat their dis-ease. The group is now a hub of information for people to find answers to their questions regarding all aspects of Cannabis Oil, with a very knowledgeable core of individuals who've provided valuable information to thousands of people around the world':

Jane McLelland
Jane McLelland Off Label Drugs for Cancer
Jane’s 'mission is to raise awareness and ignite a global revolution in cancer care with new emerging drug combinations using off patent drugs. There are about 60 drugs with anti-cancer effects and certain combinations are proving to be extremely powerful'. The site discusses how folks might get started but see first my video of Jane and link to her website here and Facebook at:

Repurposed Drugs for Cancer Treatment 
This is similar to Jane’s site as it is 'intended for sharing the latest available research and first-hand experiences on the use of existing, often times off-patent "repurposed" or "off-label" drugs for the purpose of treating various cancers for humans’. 
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Wednesday 20 November 2019

Fear; part two ‘What can climate change and cancer teach me?'

Found on a beach near Cardigan, South Wales
Earlier this year I started a series of blogs looking at fear but I didn’t get further than the first blog as the subject challenges me on many levels. In the previous blog I had just met sociologist Heinz Bude whose book ’Society of Fear’ shows how fear is a growing part of our lives. 

I recognise that fear is a necessary part of our survival, but now we all know about every possible danger and threat, there are so many of us are living lives that are full of fear. Barry Glassner writes in his book, “The Culture of Fear”, about how specific fears are created and sustained by the media; often with enormous discrepancy about the reality of what might happen. The media seem to use this constant message of doom to keep us watching, reading or listening to their news. The disturbing thing is that fear encourages intolerance, racism and actions by authorities that are often not in our best interest. Worse still when it comes to some of our most serious threats, our media is silent.

Russ cartoon
Someone asked me recently what was my biggest fear?

I think they were expecting that cancer would be my answer, but my response came straight out; 'Climate Crisis’. 

My generation has failed, and failed spectacularly. Some might have heard about Professor Jem Bendell’s paper last year; the most downloaded paper on climate change (i). He analysed the latest studies about climate change and its implications and writes in the introduction; "That synthesis leads to a conclusion there will be a near-term collapse in society with serious ramifications for the lives of readers.”  Fellow Green Party member, Dr Rupert Reed, wrote a very slightly more positive response (ii). However both reports are beyond bleak. 

Fear makes me hesitate to even to write this blog. Fear can shut people down but it is also a necessary response that activates people to recognize danger and take action. 

Russ cartoon
Following Extinction Rebellion (XR), Greta Thunberg and the school strikes, we are hearing more in our media. The recent United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report highlighted the calamitous difference even a fraction of a degree above a rise of 1.5C can make to ecosystems and all our lives. The Met office have warned we could reach 1.5 within five years rather than some reports that suggest twelve years (iii). To have any hope of holding at that disastrous level we would have to cut emissions by 45% by 2030. Read that line again. This is so big. Yet there is so little leadership and we fail to even reach most of the targets to which we have previously agreed. The science is done. We are in a climate and ecological emergency. There are no words to describe the horrors we risk. So is it any wonder that we are finding that climate change is affecting many people’s mental health? (v).

So why write and share this in a blog about cancer?

I think because, like with my cancer - and yes wow,  the fear around cancer can be huge at times - I need to find a way to let in hope. Getting cancer was almost like a second potentially life-threatening diagnosis, the climate crisis being the first. So I want to start to explore more what these two have got to teach me?

Russ cartoon
Rebecca Solnit (iv), author of a great book, ‘Hope in the Dark’ writes: "Hope doesn’t mean denying these realities. It means facing them and addressing them by remembering what else the 21st century has brought, including the movements, heroes and shifts in consciousness that address these things now." She quotes Patrisse Cullors, one of the founders of Black Lives Matter, who said; “Provide hope and inspiration for collective action to build collective power to achieve collective transformation, rooted in grief and rage but pointed towards vision and dreams”. 

We can have both grief and hope. 

Hope is not about just being optimistic, just as despair is not the same as being without hope. Vaclav Havel writes: "Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well; but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out." A despairing person may still act, perhaps with even more determination because of their dire situation - and isn’t this what we are seeing with many of those who are prepared to get arrested with Extinction Rebellion? I think, what we need to be worried about is hopelessness and the lack of any meaning. In contrast hope is all about meaning.

Dr Catherine Zollman, Medical Director of Penny Brohn Centre, talks about realistic hope as the ‘sweet spot’ on between false hope and false hopelessness. Getting to grips with realistic hope is to understand and accept uncertainty with resilience – essential when facing life-changing or threatening situations. She says being hopeful is an essential part of being human (vi). 

This is all so relevant to my own cancer journey. The self-help book shelves groan with the number of books telling us if we be more positive anything is possible. We seemed to have bought this line well and truly. Many times people have said to me 'you are so positive, if anyone can beat this, you will.' This is all so well-meaning but misses a crucial point - and indeed implies that if you die you have not been positive enough.

Author, Sophie Sabbage, wrote a recent article entitled, "Don’t tell me to be positive... when I’ve got cancer”. She wrote about how this positivity is 'stressful and unsustainable’ (vii); "Positivity, like negativity, is an attitude. We think we have to be positive for fear of being negative, to belong and be liked, to conceal our insecurities in a world of shiny smiles on Facebook and Instagram. Where negativity paints dark clouds on blue skies, positivity paints storm clouds pink. One wallows in pain, the other denies it. Neither represents the half-dark, half-light nature of reality, the sometimes-up, sometimes-down nature of the human condition.”

In the West we have forgotten the value of so-called negative emotions, such as grief, anger, and fear. Each of these have lessons to share with us and when understood they can be key in helping us move more towards our more authentic selves - where I believe healing lies. Yes of course changing our thinking can change our feelings, but it's also about being true to ourselves.

Sophie writes: "Let’s weep together in hospital waiting rooms and take hold of our fear so it doesn’t take hold of us while we’re smiling for the nurses. Because inside our fear we can find what we’re willing to fight for. Inside our rage we can find what we stand for. Inside our despair we can find what we long for. There is no flow without ebb.”

In my 40 second film below there is a clip of Sophie Sabbage talking at Trew Fields this year about ‘fear’. Both her books are wonderful in helping navigate that territory; as she says ‘we need to take hold of our fear and pass through it’.


Renee Lertzman, in her book “Environmental Melancholia”, talks about unprocessed grief about ecological devastation as being a big part of what prevents people from tackling environmental challenges (viii). She says we need to have conversations about climate change that allow space for people to acknowledge and process their feelings. This is what many who are part of Extinction Rebellion have been doing or trying to do. Indeed XR has been a great guide for me with my cancer and the fears around it. Many of us living with cancer also need to have conversations that help us process and acknowledge our feelings. For me that has been crucial in helping take actions to build a protocol that will heal me. 

I also agree with Bill Turnbull in his Channel 4 documentary this month about living with prostate cancer - he says for him says 'love takes you through the fear'. Certainly the love from my partner, friends, work colleagues and even strangers has been extraordinary.

Perhaps one of the most useful bits of advice I've been given is about living my life now and not waiting - as Cancer Thriver, Nick Parker said in my last blog (ix): ‘Remission is not the goal, life is’. This reminds me that I once had a poster with a great quote by Paul Goodman; “Suppose you had the revolution you are talking and dreaming about. Suppose your side had won, and you had the kind of society that you wanted. How would you live, you personally, in that society? Start living that way now!” 

Seen outside Wigtown bookshop
I was going to finish with that quote but I wanted to share one more thought about the parallels between climate change and cancer - both are a direct result of our lifestyle. Furthermore the progression of climate change and the delayed effects of our emissions give us a sense of unreality - this is so like a cancer diagnosis before we see debilitating symptoms. It seems to me all this is a huge opportunity to bring changes to the way we live that enhance, not just in our own health but also that of the planet. I want to write more but must stop as this is too long already!!

And I strongly urge any folks reading this to find support; particularly around fears. Many of the cancer charities offer helplines and XR have great groups across the country that help explore fear and grief.


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Tuesday 19 November 2019

Meeting Nick Parker

I was fortunate to talk to Nick Parker, the Cancer Journeyman, last year and hear about living with prostate cancer (see blog here). I loved the way he talked about his own journey and some of the steps he shared with me really helped me to think about my own situation. I was therefore delighted to hear he was coming to the Isbourne Centre in Cheltenham on 11th November to give a talk; ‘The Art and Science of Living - my journeys, strategies and discoveries.’ That was great but I also got to see him later that week when he joined a panel of ‘Cancer Thrivers’ at the Penny Brohn AGM. 

 Nick kindly accepted my request to catch a bit of him on video, but in this blog I wanted to also share more about what touched me in his talks. Of course I am only scrapping the surface of Nick on the panel and the two hours he spoke for in Cheltenham (with movement breaks and questions).
 
Nick said he completely rejected the idea that his oncologist said he was 'just unfortunate’ to have got cancer. I agree, as listening to that meant there was little hope, yet acknowledging we play a part in our health means there is stuff we can do to help. As Chris Wark, another cancer ‘thriver’, writes; “If my body created cancer then maybe it can heal it”. Indeed cancer
is a preventable disease with some 90-95% being caused by lifestyle; it’s not genes but epigenetics (see my blog on that here). Hope is another whole topic for a blog but I loved the quote that Nick finished his Cheltenham talk with - see right.
 
Nick mapping dis-ease
So what causes cancer? Nick sees his 'dis-ease’ as being largely due to anxiety and stress that became chronic - anxiety being his response to an internal origin while stress being a response to an external origin.  To help find ways forward he mapped out all the possible ways why his body was in a state of dis-ease (see photo of slide). He quoted William Blake saying: “The true method of knowledge is experiment” and said if he could have said these words himself he would have done. Indeed in sharing his journey he showed how he experimented and had tried different approaches, then checked to see how well they are working.

The photo right shows his blood test results improving due to his actions; similarly he looked at his PSA test in response to various actions. One example of an ‘experiment’ was trying a
more ketogenic diet with meats only to find his PSA climb. This fits with what Jane McLelland suggests about cancers having different pathways; prostate seems to thrive more on fats so a keto diet wasn’t good (see my blog and film here). Another example was seeing how a ten day retreat helped bring down his PSA significantly. However he is also quick to say we each have to find our own way through. 

Nick also shared some of the different journeys he has embarked on - and indeed these mirror some of my own - around nutrition, lifestyle, learning how to love unconditionally and spirituality. He also talked lots about how becoming vulnerable helped him on his journey; this led to friends stepping up in beautiful ways that were previously unimaginable. Indeed experiencing love on a whole different level. It reminds me of the work of Brené Brown who has written and talked about the power of vulnerability. She said; “Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” She goes onto say; “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and
Nick's protocol; shows how language is important to him
change.” I agree with Nick that it is also fundamental to the healing journey of many of us. It feels like this could be yet another blog in itself but for now if you haven’t come across Brené’s work then do see her TED talk here and notes from her great book Daring Greatly here.
There is so much more to cover but one last key message came out loud and strong from Nick; ‘remission is not the goal, life is’. This so resonated with me; too often many of us are seeking the destination and not being present in the journey. This was something that travel around Asia taught me in the 80s; travel is part of the experience and relaxing into it made me appreciate so, so much more. However it is useful to remind me as it is all too easy to forget to live in the present, as we plan the
Nick at Penny Brohn
next treatment, holiday, visit or whatever.

Big thanks Nick! See more about Nick on his website and where he is next talking at: https://thecancerjourneyman.co.uk/
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Sunday 17 November 2019

Increasing effectiveness of radiotherapy part two

Todays lunch!
Read part one before you read this (i); that blog looks at other things that I am considering in preparation for radiotherapy. This blog continues that look with a focus on nutrition and supplements.

Nutrition

Nutrition is crucial to healing. Heck do I even need to write that! I know I still haven’t done a blog on my diet but basically it is mainly the Rainbow diet - largely organic vegan, very, very minimal processed foods (exceptions incl very occasionally that vegan cheese), no gluten (with exception of sourdough when out and no decent gluten-free alternative), no refined sugars and reduced carbohydrates. I know you could write a blog on each of those but that is another time…some US cancer centres perhaps not surprisingly recommend similar while doing radiotherapy ie avoiding dairy, animal fats and refined sugars. 

So diets; low or high fibre? Cancer Research UK (ii) say: "People advised to have a high fibre diet during their pelvic radiotherapy had fewer immediate and long term side effects than those who had their usual diet. Advice to have a low fibre diet during pelvic radiotherapy has no evidence and should not be given to people in this situation."

Certainly I will also need to avoid 'wind inducing foods’ as evidence these impact on effectiveness of radiotherapy; so will keep the kale and beans to a Friday night or Saturday so that I can reduce wind Monday to Friday during radiotherapy treatment!?

There is also a suggestion to replace all chocolate, coffee and tea drinks with green tea. The Green tea I understand, and have noted previously that I supplement with green tea (iii), but evidence around coffee is more complex - see my previous blog (iv). I can’t find any research about coffee and radiotherapy but it makes sense to reduce coffee drinking during radiotherapy as caffeine can irritate the bowel linings and also act as a diuretic - this can then impact on treatment and it is already hard to maintain a full bladder for the radiotherapy.

In terms of other drinks, peppermint, ginger tea or slippery elm powder dissolved in a non dairy milk and hot water, may help calm the stomach and reduce any nausea. Boldo tea (v) and dandelion can help eliminate toxins from the liver. I’d not come across Boldo before - it has a positive effect on digestive system - you steep for 10-12 minutes and it is somewhat bitter but very OK! Boldo tea is recognised as safe by the US Food and Drugs Administration but does contain ascaridole which can be toxic to the liver so check out more before using (vi).

Plus in terms of drinks...drink plenty of clean water.

Supplements 

Now these can be tricky as doctors will often tell you to stop completely. The theory used to be, as Dr Geo (vii), writes: “...radiation works by producing oxidative stress (free radicals) in an effort to kill cancerous cells. So, in theory, if you take, say, 500mg of vitamin C, an antioxidant, that would protect the cancerous cells from radiation treatment. The premise that antioxidants from dietary supplements protect cancerous cells from radiation therapy is a lousy theory”.

Dr. Conklin acknowledges that radiation kills cells by generating high levels of free radicals, but he argues this does not necessarily mean you should exclude the use of antioxidants as a dietary supplements during treatment (viii). Antioxidants improve blood flow and therefore promote the normal oxygenation of tissues, thereby rendering tumors more, not less, susceptible to radiation. In a 2007 review of research found that “antioxidants and other nutrients do not interfere with chemotherapy or radiation therapy and can increase kill and increase survival” (ix). However a fair few doctors will still advise strongly against any supplementation. 

The Alliance for Natural Health point out that the media also have a go every so often at supplementation, often based on very little evidence; they have some useful questions to ask ourselves about whetehr to take supplements (ixa).

Chris Woollams at CANCERactive (x) writes: "The very latest research from both MD Anderson and UCLA confirms that it is advantageous to keep taking all the supplements. Cancer cells lose their ability to regulate uptake of antioxidants and the antioxidants and the radiotherapy work together to kill more cancer cells, whilst simultaneously the supplements protect the healthy cells."

Dr Geo (vii) agrees: "Numerous studies have shown that vitamin E and selenium protect against radiation-induced cancers. A precise combination of antioxidants can help decrease damage expected from radiotherapy, including the formation of other cancer, especially in high-dose radiation since RT reduces tissue antioxidants.” He goes onto say: "Seek the help of a nutritionally oriented healthcare expert who works with an oncologist….Synthetic alpha-tocopherol vitamin E should NOT EVER be used for cancer regardless of treatment for cancer. There is no reason to use anything other than mixed tocopherol. Vitamins with antioxidant capacity should be used in combination with others. For example, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and alpha lipoic acid work synergistically and prevents too much pro-oxidation. If your radiation oncologist digs her heels into the ground and not allow you take dietary supplements, and you are not working with a nutritionally oriented doctor, take curcumin, about 1000mg to 3000mg a day with food”.

Before going further I wanted to just note again the concern I raised in an earlier blog about how to starve cancer (xi). In that, Jane McLelland suggests that antioxidants like Vitamin C could help cancer and some are useful for prevention, like low oral doses of Vitamin C and E. However she argues there is a tipping point in cancer progression when, in Jane’s words, they ‘switch allegiance and support the enemy; they help promote and fuel cancer’s resistance to apoptosis (death)'. This may explain why research has indicated that antioxidants could spur the diseases’s spread (xii). Jane argues we all need a combination strategy to tackle cancer. Well I’ve read Jane's book, joined the websites but still need to find a way to put together a more comprehensive protocol - but more of that another time. 

So what else is suggested in the research? Well too many supplements to list but here are a few ideas I’ve come across…of course hold in mind that a lot of the research quoted is done on animals or in labs but in my view still give a useful indication of potential…of course I will need to narrow this down to a manageable protocol. I can also see that if you are trying to take many supplements you won’t have an idea of how they impact with each other; indeed there are all sorts of possible reactions so as always the advice is to talk to your doc. Once again do your own homework as one study says one thing, another seems to say the opposite. It is as always a challenge to find a way through....anyway here’s the list in no particular order:
Golden Flaxseeds

1. Flaxseeds - In 2011 the University of Pennsylvania found that a diet for mice that was rich in flaxseed could significantly reduce harm and even repair tissues after damage (xiii). 

2. Probiotics - Washington State Medical School showed that taking probiotics when radiotherapy was administered near to the gut area could reduce damage to the intestines and the intestinal lining (xiv) (xv). More research is being done on impacts but with more research showing benefits every other day I think this is one to focus on. In the latest addition of ICON by CANCERactive Chris Woollams notes that a good probiotic needs to contain: Lactobacillus acidophillus makes lactic acid as the gut needs to be acid to keep pathogens in check. He also suggests L.rhamnosus as it can heal holes in the gut wall. Plus strains of Bifidobacteria as they make B vitamins and can attack the bad bacteria. One strain B.Infantis has been shown to correct IBS and several gut problems. Chris also says you need to feed them properly ie pectins and inulins - raw vegetables - high natural soluble fibre. And never take them with hot liquids and much to some folks surprise, never keep them in the fridge (xvia). It is also worth a mention that they may not be best taken with cancer immunotherapy; one small study raised some concerns (xvi).
3. Vitamin D - This apparently has been recommended by some US and UK hospitals and also seems to improve the success of the treatment programme. It activates the immune system and has an anti-inflammatory effect on the stomach and gut. I’ve blogged before on this key vitamin which is actually a hormone (xvii). Professor Holick at Boston Medical School says those of us with cancer should aim for 75ng/ml and tell patients to take 5,000IUs a day if they cannot be in the sun for four hours (xviii)! Those on chemo should double the dose. Indeed Holick and others have publicly criticised bodies like Cancer Research UK for advising folks to reduce sun exposure and even call for warnings on sunscreen. Anyhow there is some research with mice to show that Vitamin D boosts radiation treatment for breast cancer. I’ve not found specific research around prostate cancer. Of course the impact of the sun is now more strong than years ago so I am not so sure his advice about sun is so helpful as it is so important to avoid burning - and be very careful of the sun when receiving radiotherapy. It is also worth noting that significant sun exposure can cause a “recall” of the radiation skin reaction, even after the acute skin reaction has resolved. However this is less likely too be the case with prostate cancer due to the site of the radiotherapy - unless of course you are a naturalist?

4. Curcumin - Research shows curcumin (turmeric) has loads of benefits, see my previous blog (xix), and can reduce damage to our bodies from radiotherapy. In one study those taking curcumin had much milder urinary symptoms compared with the placebo group. However there was no bowel symptoms or sexual function difference noted. It is also thought that curcumin has a radiosensitive effect on cancer cells making them more vulnerable during treatment. I've been interested in this 3min video here by Dr Michael Gregor who suggests that Tumeric might be just as good, if not better, than curcumin. Tumeric has over 200 active ingredients but only Curcumin has been studied in any depth (xxa) and we too often forget the benefits of synergy of all those 200 ingredients. Maybe Tumeric is better (certainly cheaper!). Another study showed that curcumin improves the antioxidant status of patients with prostate cancer without compromising the therapeutic efficacy of radiotherapy (xx).

5. Beta glucans - this is a sort of immunomodulator which helps make your immune system smarter and has over 140,000 published studies on it!! It can help our body fight off and kill cancer. So it is not like echinacea that is an immune stimulator, beta glucans modulates but never over stimulates. Immiflex, for example, has been clinically proven to boost the immune system and there is research into it’s impact on radiotherapy (xxia). Indeed I’ve found links to several bits of research and trials looking at beta glucans and its impact including a great link by Chris Work (xxi). This seems to be another must in my protocol.

6. Selenium - mixed research on whether supplementation is useful re radiation but could be important for folks that have tested selenium deficient (xxii).

7. Isoflavones (citrus or soy) - could be helpful with prostate cancer - plus there was a small study to receive 200 mg soy isoflavone or placebo daily for six months beginning on the first day of radiation therapy. Results showed the soy-treated group had a higher overall ability to achieve erections (77% vs. 57.1%) and less urinary leakage, rectal cramping, diarrhea, and pain with bowel movements than the placebo group (xxiii). I like the sound of that!

8. Astragalus - a Chinese herb used in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years, has been found in peer reviewed studies to increases the body’s production of white blood cells and double survival rates of cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy (xxiv). That sounds amazing - although I can’t find the original research only references to it? Update 22.10.20: just learnt astragalus has some oestrogenic affects although Ayurvedic doctor advised me that the jury is out on whether this means to stop taking this as it has such good other effects. However I've not taken this herb.

Black Garlic
9. Garlic - fresh or supplements - lots of claims that it acts acts as a radioprotector and immune enhancer interesting article although not sure you need to buy the particular supplement they are pushing. It is also worth a mention that black garlic has been shown to be twice as effective as ordinary garlic in treating cancer (xxv) - but more of that in another blog!

10. Vitamin B - complex with 400 mcgs of folic acid - the latter helps protect healthy cells - see my previous blog (xxvia). Supplementation seems particularly important after radiation as the treatment can impact strongly on levels - but I have a question regarding choline levels as these are often high in Vitamin B. Should I be worried as choline levels are linked to prostate cancer? It is also worth noting a Norwegian study with people following a heart attack, found amongst those supplementing with folic acid, a slight increase in lung cancer and folks more than twice as likely to have prostate cancer than those taking a placebo. Those with adequate amounts of folic acid had lower prostate cancer rates (xxvi). So supplement only if low seems to be the message?

11. N-Acetyl Cysteine - comes from the amino acid L-Cysteine and contains glutamine (which stimulates the liver to produce glutathione, which repairs damaged healthy cells) - I’ve blogged before on this supplement (xxxiv) but now see one report that shows it protects against ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage but not against cell killing in yeast and mammals (xxv). In another study results revealed it reduced chemotherapy and radiotherapy toxicity (xxvi). In that study they conclude that vitamin E and NAC have been shown to be effective as antioxidant adjuvant therapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia to reduce chemo-/radiotherapy-related toxicities during the initial period of treatment. There are various other studies that suggest it could be a useful addition to managing the radiation. Life Extension also say research indicates it can inhibit growth and block the metastasis of prostate cancer (xxvii). Update 27/11/19: Just read that it can be helpful with radiation treatment but can interact unfavourably with some chemo drugs (xxxx).

12. MGN-3 Biobran - some science to show impacts on cancer but also it is often recommended to keep white cells levels up when chemotherapy and radiotherapy are doing their worst (xxviii).

13. Green tea - I’ve already noted Green tea’s role in tackling cancer (iii) - it can also have a protective effect on healthy cells and enhances radiotherapy’s success with cancer cells. A small study shows it is also effective in decreasing the frequency and severity of radiotherapy induced diarrhea (xxix). Extracts used topically can also play a role in reducing skin toxicity (xxx). 

14. Aloe vera - this is useful for for radiation burns (xxxi). Wash the area only in cold water and apply the cooling aloe vera gel. However there is some research that suggests aloe vera isn’t so useful (xxxii); I guess you have to see what works for you?
 
Update 7/02/2020: it has been suggested by one practitioner to take this instead of probiotics during radiotherapy but I am also aware that Aloe Vera has oestrogen in it...I have an oestrogen sensitive cancer...so ‘seemingly harmless’ Aloe Vera juice may not be so harmless to my specific cancer?

15. L-Carnitine - doctors have identified the cause of fatigue during radiotherapy as low levels of carnitine circulating in the blood stream so it maybe that carnitine supplementation can help (xxxiii)?

16. Cat’s claw - the Readers Digest say that some doctors prescribe cat’s claw to stimulate the immune response in cancer patients, many of whom may be weakened by chemotherapy and radiation (xxxiv). As noted already I personally question the value of using too many of these supplements that work on the immune system but can see a huge value in rotating them after a couple of months or so?

17. Milk Thistle - I’ve covered this previously (iii) but it lists here as it can have a key role in detoxing, reducing the accumulation of dead cells and reducing side effects of radiotherapy to the liver (xxxv). Chris Woollams notes that magnesium will also help strengthen the liver and 3gms of soya lecithin a day will help the liver break down the excess fats lying there. 

18. Medicinal mushrooms - I am hoping to do a blog on these at some stage - they look like they are great for cancer in many ways although my recent taking of them didn’t seem to produce results. I will still look at them as there is also evidence they reduce side-effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy (xxxvi).

19. Grape seed extract - has been shown to impact on cancer but can also play a role in reducing the side effects of chemo/ radiotherapies (xxxvii).

20. Pine bark extract - will boost immune system and may play a role in reducing side effects of radiation (xxxviii). 

Update 22/11/19:
21. Bio-Strath - this is a tonic of some 61 minerals, vitamins (incl B and C), 20 Amino acids, essential nutrients and trace elements. I add this in here as I came across a double-blind study using this brand name herbal yeast preperation with 177 cancer patients using radiation therapy. There was no difference between the group who took it (3 teaspoons per day) and those who didn't in terms of the tumour size or action of radiotherapy on the tumour. However closer analysis showed those taking it reported an improved subjective general condition over a longer period; in particular less anorexia and fatigue, better weight gain and less reduced levels of haemoglobulin. This small study suggests it can ameliorate some of the short to medium term negative impacts of radiotherapy - see picture (xxxix).

22. Melatonin - See more including Melatonin in part one of this blog here.


Notes:

(i) https://myunexpectedguide.blogspot.com/2019/11/increasing-effectiveness-of.html
(ii) https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/find-a-clinical-trial/a-trial-see-fibre-help-control-side-effects-people-having-radiotherapy-that-affects-the-bowel#undefined
(iii) https://myunexpectedguide.blogspot.com/2019/01/current-supplement-protocol-for.html
(iv) https://myunexpectedguide.blogspot.com/2019/07/coffee-good-or-bad-for-prostate-cancer.html
(v) http://www.boldotea.com/
(vi) https://www.verywellfit.com/boldo-tea-benefits-and-side-effects-4163849
(vii) https://drgeo.com/prostate-cancer-the-truth-on-dietary-supplements-during-radiation-therapy/
(viii) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17405678
(ix) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK74654/
(ixa) https://www.anhinternational.org/2017/02/08/vitamin-supplements-rebutting-fake-prejudice/
(x) https://www.canceractive.com/article/20-ways-to-improve-your-radiotherapy-experience
(xi) https://myunexpectedguide.blogspot.com/2018/09/can-we-starve-our-cancer.html 
(xii) https://www.sciencenews.org/article/antioxidants-lung-cancer-spread-prevent
(xiii) https://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/content/11/1/27 
(xiv) https://www.canceractive.com/article/radiotherapy-and-gut-bacteria
(xv) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4663381/
(xvia) https://www.statnews.com/2019/04/02/probiotics-are-touted-as-good-for-the-gut-they-may-be-trouble-for-the-immune-system/?utm_source=STAT+Newsletters&utm_campaign=59991c6e3b-Cancer_Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8cab1d7961-59991c6e3b-149757089&fbclid=IwAR0hn8_9IlL1-Ip47DCB31jIz3IAwkRUrJeA66-pXs8Kb0LkcqUZB3SnXIU
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