A Strong Immune System Is the Key to PREVENTION

In pursuit of stabilizing and prolonging remission, Immunotherapy is based upon first assessing the structure and function (or dysfunction) of your immune system and then addressing the areas of damage. The recommendations are highly personalized because no two individuals have exactly the same pattern of immune system damage even if their cancer diagnoses are the same.

WATER FILTRATION: It is recommended for all patients as a starting point that they get a water purifier and that they only drink either good quality bottled water, preferably in a glass bottle, or that they use a good filter. 

GO ORGANIC: Part of being proactive means buying organic produce in addition to going to the health food stores that carry organic beef, pork, chicken, and other great sources of organic protein. Organic foods are very fresh and are recommend highly. 

LIFESTYLE UPGRADE: Look at your life and lifestyle and try to keep stress under control. STRESS by itself does not cause cancer but it can promote cancer because of its ability to suppress the immune system.

DETOXIFICATION: Thousands of new chemicals are released into our environment every year. We know little about the effects that are caused by each individual chemical and less about the interactions between them. Hormone-like substances such as plasticizers (just try to avoid contact with plastics in today's world) and pesticides have caused feminization of fish and infertile crocodiles with both male and female genitalia. These same substances are probably responsible for at least part of the increasing incidence of cancer of the breast, prostate, and colon, among others. There has even been speculation that these chemicals are responsible for earlier puberty among girls and breast development in some boys. Drugs like Prozac are easily measurable in our water supply. Industrial pollutants have been found deep below the surface of the ice in the arctic region. Babies are born with an average of almost 100 different chemicals detected in the umbilical cord blood. Modern medicine has largely ignored this problem, focusing instead on the pharmacologic treatment of the symptoms of these underlying problems.

Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and aluminum have been associated with immune dysfunction (another potential reason for the rise in cancer and autoimmune disease), endocrine disruption (have you been aware of the apparent rise in thyroid dysfunction?), cardiac disease, chronic fatigue, inflammatory conditions, brain dysfunction, and many other medical problems. Yet, recently, when a prominent actor had to leave a play due to symptoms of mercury toxicity, the mainstream medical community and some in the press, treated it as a joke, rather than the tragedy that it is. The problem of mercury toxicity is so widespread, that a recent article in the New York Times, estimated that more than 25% of the population of New York City is affected. It seems more convenient for physicians to treat the anxiety with sedatives, the depression, fatigue and confusion with antidepressants, the cardiovascular problems (high blood pressure, heart failure, myocardial infarction) with heart and blood pressure medicines, than to admit there may be a widespread underlying toxic cause. All of these symptoms and more can be signs of heavy metal toxicity. We continue to rely on serum levels to diagnose heavy metal toxicity despite the fact that it has been shown that it correlates very poorly with total body burden of these toxins. Specialized provocative testing is necessary to help make this diagnosis.

Detoxification is no longer an option but a necessity if we want to achieve optimal health. The various means available include chelation (for heavy metals), far infrared sauna (primarily for volatile toxins, plasticizers, persistent organic pollutants, etc.), colonics (similar effects as sauna) as well as supplements and other techniques to maximize our natural detoxification pathways.

STRESS MANAGEMENT: This is important for more than psychological health. Stress can affect immune functioning, inflammation, and even hormonal balance. Studies have shown that stress can reduce natural killer cell function. These are normally the cells that attack foreign invaders including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. They are also the cells that patrol the body as the first line of defense against the development of cancer. Stress also increases our levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol, when chronically elevated, can paralyze our immune system and lead to osteoporosis, weight gain (especially the dangerous visceral fat), high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Ultimately, it is not stress itself but HOW WE RESPOND TO IT, which determines its physiological effects on our body. There are simple techniques which we can use to help modulate our stress response. 

Available techniques include meditation, biofeedback, "emotional freedom technique" (EFT), prayer, and others which only help us to feel better and may also improve our health. EFT, which we teach in our center, can be particularly effective in removing emotional barriers to health and has been shown to be helpful for many illnesses when used in a comprehensive plan with other appropriate treatments.

Exercise is one of the pillars of vibrant health. It is also an effective stress reducer when done properly, not overdone and when accompanied by adequate rest. Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates and even walking, swimming, running and weight training can all reduce stress when practiced in moderation.

DNA of cells is shed into the blood due to cancer cell death (apoptosis or necrosis). Once the genomic DNA of a cell is shed into the blood stream, it is called cell-free DNA (cfDNA). This cfDNA retains the DNA methylation pattern of the cell from which it was shed.

Similarly, genomic DNA of cancer cells is shed into circulation and retain the methylation patterns of those cancer cells. Once the genomic DNA of a cancer cell is shed into the blood stream, it is called circulating-tumor DNA (ctDNA).

Methylation is an epigenetic mechanism. DNA within cells may be modified by the addition of a methyl group (-CH3) to certain sites within the genome. This type of DNA modification is not a mutation that alters the coding potential of the genome. Instead, this type of DNA modification acts as a heritable but reversible marker of gene expression, called an epigenetic marker.

Methylation at specific sites in DNA correlates with the presence of cancer. During malignant transformation (the process by which normal cells transform into cancer cells), there are significant changes in gene expression. AI analysis of the IvyGene test results may confirm the presence of multiple cancers, as early as stage 1 allowing them to be treated much faster and easier with less possible side effects.*

*source: https://www.ivygenelabs.com/science-publications/