Potential New Natural Cancer Treatments - Artesunate

Artesunate, Artemisinin & Artemether

Are you looking for a cancer treatment that attacks, and kills cancer cells with little harm to healthy cells? Now add, it should have zero to minimal side effects when administered properly, cost less than $3.00 per day for treatment, and obtain excellent results. The answer may be closer than you think.

One of the most promising new cancer treatment possibilities is Artesunate, a standardized pharmaceutical grade derivative of Artemisinin from the Artemisia annua plant, also known as Sweet Wormwood or Sweet Annie. Artemisia annua has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. In fact, records of its use were unearthed in an ancient Han Tomb at Mawangdui outlining treatment for malaria with Artemisia. Also discovered, was a small region in Viet Nam that has been quietly relying on the Artemisia Anna plant for its malaria healing powers.

As a result of these discoveries, in the 1960’s the Chinese began using this plant to treat malaria. In the 1970’s the World Health Organization began investigating Artemisia annua as a malaria cure when Quinine became less effective. And in 1972, Artemisinin was isolated from the plant by Dr. Tu Youyou of China as one of its principal active ingredients. For this discovery and his work with Artemisinin, Dr Tu received a Nobel Prize in 2015.

Since then, Artemisinin, and its two most common derivatives, Artesunate and Artemether, have been used around the world to treat malaria. Artemisinin works because malaria parasites consume large quantities of red blood cells containing iron. They become loaded with iron. Adding Artemisinin causes a reaction with this iron releasing reactive oxygen species that destroy the parasite.

In the U.S., the FDA has also approved a drug made from this research for malaria treatment. In addition, because of Artemisinin’s extended use, there are excellent records for dosage, effectiveness, and side effects regarding the Artemisia annua plant, Artemisinin, Artesunate, and Artemether. So what does this have to do with cancer? The answer revolves around malaria and cancer’s need for iron to survive.

Now fast forward to present time. Due to recent research, some provided by the University of Washington, scientists are looking at the Artemesia family of compounds as a treatment for cancer. In fact, preliminary research has progressed so well that one company in the Pacific Northwest, working to improve Artemisinin’s effectiveness, is ready to initiate phase one trials in relation to breast and prostate cancer, as soon as they are able to fund the project. So you’re probably asking yourself, how does it work? To answer, it’s important first to understand one of the principal processes of cancer cells. This is, cancer’s critical need for iron.

Iron is essential for each cancer cell’s metabolism, cell division, and survival. It plays a part in DNA synthesis, cellular respiration, and macromolecule biosynthesis. It is vital for cell growth and proliferation. In fact, it is so necessary for cancer cells that without it they die. Now we all need a certain level of iron for proper bodily functions. Too little iron, you become sick and anemic. Too much iron and you could experience chronic fatigue, joint and abdominal pain, even liver and heart failure. And an over-abundance of iron is also believed to fuel cancer’s growth like pouring gasoline on a fire.

Normal cells in your body need minimal iron, but cancer cells need more. It’s their key for cellular division. To gather the iron cancer needs, prostate and breast cancer cells have many more transferrin iron-receptors on their surface than healthy cells, as many as 15 times more! Leukemia cancer cells require the highest concentration of iron. Their iron storage can reach 1,000 times more than healthy cells. All this iron comes from the food we eat.

When we consume foods with iron, the iron is absorbed by the small intestine. It’s then carried to the cells by a plasma protein called transferrin. Our cells have transferrin receptors on their surface. Sort of like a receptacle or dock waiting for its mate or ship to arrive.  As the iron carrying transferrin joins with each cell’s transferrin receptors, it’s transported into the cell by a kind of vesicle, essentially a sac. The transferrin is then released into the cell and the empty receptor is transported back to the cell surface to gather more transferrin. This is a process of continuous repetition, though much more abundant for cancer cells due to their greater quantity of transferrin receptors. In addition to cells collecting iron, much iron is transported to the bone marrow where it’s used to make hemoglobin and red blood cells. These then circulate throughout the body supplying oxygen to tissues and organs. Iron in the blood is an important factor when considering Artemisinin treatment, and it also presents an excellent way of monitoring for side effects. More on this later. 

Now comes the important cancer termination part. The Artemisinin family of compounds contains two oxygen atoms hooked together in an endoperoxide linkage. When put together with iron this bond breaks, thus forming free radicals that destroy the cancer cell from within.

Technically Artesunate, which is readily hydrolyzed back to a DHA metabolite, is activated by iron in the cancer cells. This combination produces highly alkylating carbon-centered radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Because tumor cells are already damaged, they have lower expression of antioxidant compounds and other factors necessary to repair the damage caused by the flood of alkylating carbon-centered radicals and ROS. Thus the cancer cell ceases to function.

Healthy cells require much less iron. They also are better equipped to repair oxidative damage. Because of this, Artemisinin effectively targets cancer cells while leaving healthy cells in tact.

Though few official studies have been completed, reported results from cancer patients taking Artemisinin Compounds are remarkable.

• A 47-year-old male with an egg-sized head lymphoma who took Artemisinin for two weeks experienced complete healing four weeks later. The tumor was gone with no mass remaining.

• A woman with stage-4 breast cancer after receiving Artemisinin derivatives reported renewed wellness, feeling like before she was diagnosed with cancer. Her CT Scan confirmed remission.

• A 40-year-old woman with breast cancer and spine metastases after four months of supplementation with oral Artemisinin derivatives showed no remaining cancer on her spine using a PET scan.

• A woman with metastasized breast cancer was able to stop her drug use of zoledronic acid and Tamoxifen with her oncologist’s understanding because her cancer markers had so improved after taking a course of Artesunate.

• A male, with larynx cancer treated with Artesunate injections for two months was able to shrink his tumor by 70 %.

• A Belgium man with a PSA of 12 reported his PSA dropped to 0.38 with Artemisinin derivative treatment.

• Others with prostate cancer have been able to drop their PSA significantly with Artemisinin and derivative treatment, from 4 to 2, from 7.8 to 1.9, and from 3 to 0.45 respectively, all within 3 to 6 weeks.

Then, there is the recent Colorectal Cancer Study from St George’s University of London combining Artesunate followed by curative resection. This was a 14-day, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Follow-up revealed, of the 11 patients on placebo, six experienced a cancer recurrence within 3.5 years, three of these died. Whereas, only one of the nine patients on Artesunate experienced a recurrence, and none died. Given the very short time on Artesunate, these are fascinating results. 

In all, at least 55 cancer cell lines appear to experience some level of cancer cell death and remission with Artemisinin derivatives… with leukemia, colon, melanoma, breast, renal, CNS, and prostate cancer showing the best results.
 

Additional research papers on the Artemisinin and its derivatives may be found through the University of Washington.

This is exciting information. But do NOT rush out to your local health food store, or onto Amazon.com to purchase Artemisinin. It may not work. Testing on readily available Artemisinin products has revealed capsules containing wide ranges of potency, some with only 5% to 10% active Artemisinin levels. Using these products is most likely a waste of time, money, and your health. There is too little Artemisinin to be effective. This is due to processing, and that different subspecies of Artemesia annua contain different concentrations of Artemisinin. The species with the best yield and quality is found in southwestern China and Vietnam.

Then too, Artemisinin and its derivatives are light sensitive, loosing potency when exposed to light so packaging and storage are very important. And since successful treatment, and side effects are dose-dependent, it is critical to know exactly the amount you’re taking. Therefore, the only Artemisinin family product to consume must be of ‘pharmaceutical grade’ quality. There are several pharmaceutical grade sources for Artemisinin family products, but which form of Artemisinin should be used?

Several derivatives of Artemisinin have been developed since it’s recent discovery in an attempt to improve absorption and stability while reducing toxic effects. Currently, doctors principally use three product forms. Let’s start by looking at each of these.

            Artemisinin – This is the initial product derived directly from the Artemesia annua plant. It is Not Water-Soluble and has poorer absorption than some other forms. When taken, it reaches its peak concentration in the blood in about 40 minutes. The liver quickly breaks it down, and by four hours it has reached the end of its effectiveness.

            Artesunate – This is a semi-synthetic form of Artemisinin. Many sources believe it is the most effective form to use for killing cancer because of its DHA conversion in the body. Artesunate is partially water-soluble. It is available in pill, injection, and IV forms. It has a higher absorption rate, around 61%, but also the shortest activity period.

            Artemether – Another semi-synthetic form of Artemisinin, Artemether lasts longest in the blood and is more fat-soluble. It also exhibits more side effects than the other two products.

Important Note: Because of its higher toxicity, it has been strongly recommended that Artemether dosage not exceed one milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day (<1mg/kg/day).

Now knowing the different forms of Artemisinin, have a conversation with your health care provider to choose which approach may be best. From my own research and medical discussions, I tend to believe Artesunate to be most effective, though in some instances a blend of the three could be explored.

For all three of these forms, most doctors and researchers recommend they be taken on an empty stomach, away from food. If taken near food consumption, the Artemisinin may bind with iron in the food rendering it ineffective before reaching its cancer target. If taking these products twice a day the best times are just before bed at least three hours after eating, or in the morning an hour before food.

But if you are taking supplements, Vitamin-C, CoQ10, Fish Oil, etc., taking Artesunate or Artemisinin twice a day may be not practical. You see many supplements are strong antioxidants. The Artemisinin family works largely on the principal of oxidation. An antioxidant will counteract this oxidative process. Your supplements most likely stay in your body at least four to six hours. If taken too close to Artemisinin, your supplements will negate its use. Then too, one must consider your nutritional intake. You wouldn’t want to eat say a couple of oranges close to ingesting Artesunate because of the anti-oxidants. And, there are many foods with higher anti-oxidant activity. Some of these include red beans, blueberries, kidney beans, pinto beans, cranberries, artichoke, blackberries, prunes, raspberries, strawberries, apples, pecans, cherries, plumbs, potatoes, black beans, and the list goes on. Then there are all the exotic super food antioxidants. So what’s a person to do? You shouldn’t stop eating healthy. The answer is to simply separate the two. Enjoy your high antioxidant foods and supplements in the morning, and take Artesunate in one dose at night before bed.

With that said, there is another reason to take Artesunate before bed. Cancer cells grow faster at night. This is when protein receptor molecules on the cell’s surface are more active. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) facilitates cell growth, but is suppressed by another receptor during the day. All this cancer growth activity at night makes the cells more vulnerable, requiring more iron for cellular division. Bedtime then becomes the best time to slip in a little Artesunate, Artemisinin or Artemether.

Other points to consider are absorption, and absorption resistance. The Artemisinin family is mostly oil-soluble, not water-soluble. Artesunate’s increased absorption rate comes from its partial water solubility. For best absorption, some doctors are researchers suggest taking the dose with a little whole milk as it has fat to facilitate absorption with few antioxidants.

Then, when you ingest Artemisinin continuously your intestines quickly build up a resistance to absorbing the Artemisinin. In only a few days, amounts of Artemisinin absorbed can drop by over 30%. With continued use, this drop in absorption increases until the Artemisinin attained is far too little to be effective. The easy remedy for this issue is an intestinal reset. When one stops taking Artemisinin for a few days, absorption is believed to return to its necessary levels.

Before we continue with this discussion, I want to add an important warning. There can be serious side effects as a result of taking Artesunate, Artemisinin or Artemether in too large a dose without concurrent monitoring of hemoglobin and other appropriate tests. If you are considering using Artemisinin in any of its forms, it is vital you use it only under the supervision of a medical professional that understands the process, and can perform the safety and evaluation tests required.

With that said, let’s continue by focusing on dosage, and side effects. There are a few studies that provide a hint of dosage for Artesunate and Artemisinin as it relates for cancer treatment, though many studies exist for malaria. Doctors around the World have been using Artemisinin in its three principal forms for malaria treatment for decades. Therefore we do know something about dose tolerance.

Recent research, along with doctors and researchers I have chatted with regarding this subject, generally suggest the following Artesunate protocol for treatment:

            • Prior to use have your iron levels and hemoglobin tested

                        If low - these need to corrected before proceeding

            • Artesunate Dosage:

                        2.5mg to 3.5mg per kilogram of body weight per day

            • Take dose before bed,

                        away from food and antioxidants,

                        with a little milk

            • Take 5 days on then 2 days off for best absorption

            • After 14 days test Hemoglobin Levels –

                                                                                     This is critically important!

                        If no change in Hemoglobin on initial 14-day test–

                                    Talk with doctor about a small dosage increase

                        If Hemoglobin dropping –

                                    Reduce dosage and retest until stability reached

            • Continue for another 14 days – re-check Hemoglobin

                        Once Hemoglobin level is stable – re-check every 30 days

            • Check for liver function

            • Check cancer markers for results at 30 days, and as desired.

Research suggests, if the Artesunate is administered properly, positive results in cancer markers should be seen after the first 28 days. I know cancer survivors who have taken Artesunate for months with desired result starting small, then building. Treatment is without side effects for the most part, though some have experienced issues.

Side Effects are often dose-dependent. When side effects show up they can present as stomach or digestive distress, though in rare instances flu-like symptoms of dizziness, fever, nausea, skin rashes, drowsiness, sweating, even vomiting has occurred. Some people with allergies to ragweed related plants also experience an allergic reaction. In one study with 500 patients, approximately 50% of the participants taking Artemisinin compounds experienced some form of minor side effect with no major side effects during treatment. These side effects though concerning, can be controlled with your doctor’s help. But woe to those who take Artemisinin compounds without counsel and medical supervision.

If taken without regard for proper dosage and monitoring, more serious dose-dependent side effects can exist. There have been rare instances of large doses of Artesunate and Artemisinin attacking bone marrow and red blood cells. Nearly 70% of the iron in your body is stored in red blood cell’s hemoglobin and muscle cells. Too much Artemisinin, Artesunate, or Artemether may begin to attack your hemoglobin, or the bone marrow where red blood cells are made. This can result in anemia or abnormal bone marrow. Too much Artemisinin may also effect to liver.

These situations are thought to be easily avoided by monitoring your hemoglobin level at specific times, then adjusting the dosage of Artesunate, Artemisinin or Artemether as required to a maintain proper hemoglobin level.

Contraindications for the use of Artesunate, Artemisinin or Artemether may include allergy, pregnancy, low weight, anemia, hearing or balance problems, liver disease, or adverse drug interactions. Though the Artemisinin family has been successfully tested to enhance 22 cancer drug therapies, in some drugs like doxorubicin, it makes the drug less effective. Again, be sure to cover drug interactions with your doctor.

Lastly, a warning! If you have recently experienced radiation therapy, do not use Artesunate, Artemisinin or Artemether for up to months. When healthy cells experience radiation they go into a repair mode. This requires extra iron. Adding Artemisinin compounds during the repair time could hinder this cellular repair, disrupting the healing. On the other hand, using Artesunate, Artemisinin or Artemether before radiation has been show to enhance the cancer killing effect of the radiation.

Now you know the most recent facts, where do you go from here?

There are two quality sources for Artesunate, Artemisinin or Artemether providing tested pharmaceutical grade products. The Artesunate suggested in the one treatment scenario above is labeled Hepasunate 50 and comes from a company called Hepalin. Another quality source of Artemisinin comes from a company named Holley Pharmaceuticals. Both of these companies are located in California.

Is Artesunate a treatment for your cancer? Limited research, medical opinions, and stories from cancer survivors indicate it, or a close form, could well be the treatment to put cancer into remission. One doctor indicated he has only witnessed improvement in his cancer patients using this process, and many of his patients have experienced profound healing. Are there some people where it has no effect? This may also be possible considering there are over 100 different types of prostate cancer with slightly different reactions. Each person’s cancer and body is unique though this oxidative process appears to bridge the gaps between many forms of cancer.  

People around the Globe have been taking Artemisinin and its derivatives for years with success for malaria, and now for cancer. New research is being accomplished, though unfocused and grindingly slow. Much research still needs to be done. You see no pharmaceutical wants to fund a cancer drug’s research without financial return. Artesunate, Artemisinin and Artemether are already commercially available at around $3.00 a pill, and new derivatives will not be that much more. So where’s the profit? And without financial research backing for human trials Artesunate, Artemisinin and Artemether will never see FDA approval. Does lack of FDA approval mean that it doesn’t work. Not in the least. It just means that this is one of those promising cures kept from official approval due to our system and lack of funds

This is the First of Five Promising Cancer Treatments. Over the weeks to come I will cover each treatment with the most updated information available. In each case these potential healing processes, due to lack of future financial return, have been excluded from proper research and trials thus eliminating them from FDA approval. At the end of these articles, I will propose several solutions to this problem and hopefully a process to increase cancer remissions and enhance the quality of our lives.

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Potential New Natural Cancer Treatments - A Seven Part Series

Setting the Stage

The global cost of cancer surpasses $895 Billion annually. More than 500,000 Americans will die this year from cancer. By 2020 U.S. cancer costs the U.S. are expected to reach $157.7 Billion.

Cancer research is proceeding at a furious rate, yet considering over 40 years of  U.S. research at a cost of $90 Billion with less than jubilant results, one wonders if the research is focused in the most effective manner. This year, 2015, the U.S. will spend around $10 Billion in cancer research. Now, what if I told you we could possibly put cancer into remission, or at the very least cut it by 50%, for a cost of around $50 Million? It is possible, but without change in our medical approval system, the research may never be done. Let’s set the stage for today’s reality. 

Now before you say $50 Million is too much money, consider $50 Million is only one half of one percent of the total money to be spent for U.S. cancer research this year. We say we want a cure for cancer, but really? When one is truly committed to a goal, they pull out all stops, leave no stone unturned, and are not dissuaded from following promising paths. 

Or do we really want to cure cancer only if economically profitable, and politically correct? It would appear this is the case, because we ignore research, and results, of potential cancer promising treatments for economic and political reasons.

In the U.S., our political medical system of protocol and drug approval for the treatment of cancer has evolved to exclude any cancer treatment that will not provide a significant financial return for its end manufacturer. This of course, is not stated in print, but is the direct result of a complex system originally designed to protect the public from snake oil peddlers. Unfortunately, the g approval system today has its failings. If for instance I found a plant in my yard, or an easily ingested supplement that cured my cancer, most likely, the FDA would never approve it as a treatment. If not patentable with a healthy return on investment, no one would put up the millions of dollars and 2-5 years of time necessary to obtain FDA approval. There is simply no financial return worth the time and expense.

Then there’s the ongoing conflict between allopathic and naturopathic approaches. Most medical allopathic doctors specialize to the extent there is little time to explore new healing options. Given marginal cancer treatment results, these doctors are often overworked, experiencing a constant flow of returning and new patients. They have little time, or desire, to explore new treatment options, and they are very protective of their proven income streams often relying on less effective but known and understood out-or-date procedures. As an example, currently there exist two new U.S. approved diagnostic procedures for cancer, the ONCOblot Test and the PHI Test. Used together; these two new tests could save our Country $2 Billion in unnecessary prostate biopsy procedures. Unfortunately most urology and cancer specialists either do not acknowledge theses tests exist, or they refuse to use them. But these same doctors are always recommending another biopsy. In the U.S., we perform around 1,000,000 prostate biopsies each year. Approximately 750,000 of these biopsies have negative results effectively making them useless, while placing patients at risk. I have known some prostate cancer patients to suffer through over eight biopsies with negative results. I have also known patients who are convinced their biopsy spread their cancer.

These same allopathic doctors have little training in the naturopathic healing processes, including nutrition and the use of natural substances to affect cancer remission. Many in the allopathic community simply believe their way is the only way, and each doctor believes their specialty to be the best. It is no wonder many in the allopathic medical community look down at treatment suggestions from the naturopathic community. And which medical community do you think controls the FDA, and financial purse strings? In our time this rivalry has become so out of balance that California made it a felony to treat cancer with anything except surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy regardless of results. Once again, if a natural cure for cancer were found tomorrow, it could be illegal to use, a felony in California. Fortunately there are states more open to alternative treatment options.

So here we stand with little hope of finding a natural cure do to lack of funded research and pushback from the allopathic community. Instead, as cancer patients we are offered extraordinarily expensive laboratory drugs, with often times life threatening side effects, radiation that may cause new future cancers, or life threatening and at times ineffective surgery. All this while the public is left to its own devices to find alternative cures. This would appear to be an insurmountable situation, but fortunately for us, technology is somewhat bridging the gap and filling the void.

The Internet, bless its largely uncensored heart, may have come to our rescue. Research, though limited, is being done around the world on alternative cures for cancer. Limited in its extent due to lack of funding, this research is beginning to filter out to cancer patients. Patients who, on their own, or sometimes with support of a courageous naturopath or allopathic doctor, are extending their lives with supplements and natural protocols beyond what surgery, radiation or chemotherapy offer, and without the debilitating side effects of traditional medicine.

From these largely self-directed cancer therapies have come interesting results including cancer stabilization, remissions, even what some individuals call cures. Pouring over the latest research and self-directed results I believe there are at least five exceptionally promising treatments that have shown their worth. One, a combination of these, or a variation of these, most likely will be found as a natural, inexpensive treatment for cancer. At the very least, I believe these treatments will dramatically reduce a patient’s cancer load thus extending life and making other treatment options more effective.

These five treatments include the following:

                           1) Artesunate, Artemisinin & Artemether

                           2) THC & CBD from marijuana

                           3) PSP from Turkey Tail Mushrooms

                           4) EGCG

                           5) Thymogen

These five protocols have received remarkable results if one reviews the limited research and patient stories. In each case, I have read the research and spoken with cancer patients who have had their cancer stabilized, put into remission, or possibly healed with their use. This is why I am creating this discussion, and I do hope it turns into a positive proactive discussion. I believe each of these substances should be fully researched with the goal of approval by the FDA for cancer treatment under a doctor’s care and guidance.

These treatments, and many other good natural or non-patentable treatment options, are already being used on a regular basis for cancer treatment both in the U.S. and throughout the world because they appear to get results. Unfortunately, using these treatments is a bit like the old west. There’s precious little medical oversight, dosage and interaction information, or side effect considerations. There is also minimal information shared regarding results of these treatments. You see, the FDA for cancer does not currently approve these treatments. 

And side effects, though most often dose dependent, can exist. By the way everything you eat and drink can have unwanted or serious side effects. Pending on what you put into your mouth, you will thrive, survive, or cease to exist. For these reasons it’s wise to know the safest limits of any treatment, and have proper medical supervision running necessary concurrent tests keeping you safe.

With this in mind, it is my firm belief, should you decide to explore any of these treatments for cancer, you must have medical backup. As I further discuss each of these treatments, take specific note on the side effect considerations. Then understand every body is unique. What works without side effects for one person may be hazardous, or possibly ineffective for another individual. Find a doctor, a naturopath or allopath skilled in these protocols before use. Keep yourself safe while improving your health and releasing the cancer.

Over the next few weeks I will be posting the most current information on my Blog regarding each of these five treatment options. The final post in this series will propose a solution, and steps to take, to see that these treatments are properly researched, evaluated, and available to the public with medical oversight. I have no connection or ties to any of these treatments. Like all cancer patients, I merely want to find something with better than available results, without the debilitating side effects.

Your feedback concerning on each posts will be greatly appreciated!

So let’s begin. The next post in this series is on: Artesunate, Artemisinin, and Artemether.

For Movember - My Gift For You

With appreciation for all those who support Prostate Cancer Research during Movember, my new book, ‘Release Prostate Cancer Now!’, will be free to download from Amazon.com from November 11, 2015 through November 15, 2015.

As a Prostate Cancer Survivor, Author, and Nutritional Health Coach, I know this book will save lives while helping men make informed decisions concerning their health, diagnosis, and treatment of prostate cancer. More importantly, this book begins a discussion as to why we allow ourselves to experience cancer, and takes a look at new treatment options to improve the quality of life for all men.

Every 2 minutes a loved one, husband, father, grandfather, or coworker will die of prostate cancer. Just in the U.S. 27,540 men will loose their battle this year from this terrible disease. The time has come to take charge of our destiny, to stand up to prostate cancer, and start looking at the problem from different angles.

Movember is one such new approach for prostate and testicular research. From an idea created by two Australians in 2003, it has grown worldwide as a vehicle to create awareness and funding for prostate cancer research. I am especially thankful when I see Matt Lauer (@MLauer), Al Roker (@alroker), and Carson Daly (@Carson Daly) on the TODAY Show stop shaving for ’Movember’ to bring awareness about this disease that takes so many men before their time.

With gratitude for all those who are contributing towards a cure for prostate and testicular cancer, I have decided to give my book away for free. Just go to Amazon.com starting November 11, 2015 through November 15, 2015 and search for ‘Release Prostate Cancer Now!’. Then download your free eBook.

The more men we are able to reach with this information, the more lives will be save. Please share this information with all those you know and follow. Together we can create change by reducing and removing the burden of Prostate Cancer.

Download your eBook for FREE

‘Release Prostate Cancer Now!’ on Amazon.com

November 11^th through November 15^th

3 'Must Have' Prior-to-Biopsy Prostate Tests

Your PSA is rising! You’ve also been getting up at night, way too often, to pee. You decide to see your doctor. A DRE is performed, and although your doctor feels your prostate is a bit enlarged, results are inconclusive. Your doctor suggests a prostate biopsy. But wait, you’ve heard they can be dangerous. Pain, fever, bleeding, infection, and urinary problems are just a few of the possible side effects. What should you do?

This year there will be approximately 1,000,000 effectively blind prostate biopsies in the U.S. Unfortunately around three quarters of these, approximately 750,000, will have negative results. And most likely around 25% to 35% of these will be because the doctor’s needles simply missed the cancer. If you are one who has experienced a negative biopsy, you know it is of little service. In fact it may be harmful. The biopsy targeting process is so inaccurate it may give you false information about being cancer free. It could have simply missed the cancer. So if you have a negative biopsy, how will you know what’s real? Then there is the $3,000 to $6,000 in biopsy medical costs without insurance, and time lost to recovery.

What if there was a better way to feel secure about your results. Recently developed tests may provide the answer. Using the PHI or 4Score and ONCOblot Tests are one way to assure a biopsy is necessary, and may make it more effective. In my opinion, no prostate biopsy should be performed without these tests.

The first test to consider is called the Prostate Health Index, or PHI test in the U.S., and in Europe where it was developed it’s called the Pro-PSA. This blood test combines three markers: PSA, Percent Free (or Free PSA), and a precursor form of PSA called -2proPSA (also termed Pro-PSA or p2PSA). As a precursor to PSA, there is evidence that Pro-PSA is 2.5 to 3 times better connected to prostate cancer than say PSA. Results of these three markers are then run through a sophisticated algorithm to determine the probability prostate cancer exists. Research has shown the PHI test to be ‘Three Times Better’ at predicting prostate cancer than standard PSA tests for men in the 4.0 ng/ml to 10.0 ng/ml range. Test results are provided in PHI ranges with the higher scores more indicative of cancer. Scores from 0 to 24.0 suggest an 11% possibility of cancer where highest scores greater than 55 have a 52.1% of cancer. Since the PHI test has so out-performed the previous combination results of PSA and Percent Free, where used, it has greatly reduced unnecessary biopsies while better detecting more aggressive prostate cancer.

The second prostate cancer test recently coming to the market is the 4KScore Test. This test provides a much better look at the possibility of having Aggressive Prostate Cancer, claiming 94% accuracy in this area. Certainly an important consideration to determine if a biopsy could be necessary. Based on 10 years of research by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the test takes into account the patient’s age, any previously negative biopsies, if there are any nodules discovered during the DRE, total PSA, free PSA, intact PSA, and measures the amount of hK2 protein in the blood. The protein hK2, also called human kallikrein-related peptide, is made largely in the prostate and responsible for cleavage of pPSA to mature PSA. Since PSA and hK2 express differently, they are considered independent markers. As a general test to determine if one has prostate cancer the original PSA test had an accuracy rate of roughly 55%, that was improved to 65% with the Free/Total PSA test. Now the PHI test results have improved prostate blood test accuracy to better than 75%.

Should you experience a high likelihood of cancer from either, or both, the PHI or the 4KScore Tests, the next step is the ONCOblot Test.

This test detects cancers in their earliest forms, often before symptoms appear. It can find cancers with as few as 2 million cells (about the tip of a pin in size), unlike current scans that need over 4.5 trillion cells to be seen. Imagine finding cancer at its earliest stages when abundant treatment options are still available and effective. This test uses the ENOX2 protein as a marker, and by determining its molecular weight and isoelectric point it can identify not only the type of cancer but also its organ site. With the ONCOblot test nearly all major forms of cancers are screened with a single blood draw including: Prostate, Bladder, Breast, Cervical, Colorectal, Endometrial, Esophageal, Gastric, Hepatocellular, Kidney, Leukemia, Non-Small cell, Lung Small cell, Lymphoma, Melanoma, Mesothelioma, Multiple Myeloma, Myeloma, Ovarian, Pancreatic, Sarcoma,  Squamous Cell, Thyroid, Follicular, Uterine, Papillary, Testicular Germ Cell.

Yes, it is possible to have multiple cancers developing in your body at the same time.

The ONCOblot test reports 99.3% reliability for determining cancer(s) with no false positives, and 96% accuracy in determining the type of and organ site of the cancer. It has been called, “the most sensitive blood test for cancer available today”. Unfortunately it can’t determine the stage of the cancer, the amount of the cancer load, or any spread of the cancer. It just tells you if you have cancer, or not. Yet when considering whether to have a prostate biopsy, determining if you have actually have prostate cancer beforehand can be extremely valuable, even life saving knowledge. The ONCOblot test is approved by the FDA as a ‘Laboratory Developed Test’, but is not yet covered by insurance, as it’s too new. It was first made available to the public in January 2013. Yes, it’s expensive. It currently costs $850 for the lab work. You can also add to this your blood draw, and doctor fees. It’s not a quick test. Once you have sent in the blood draw, it takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks to obtain the results. For more information contact ONCOblot Labs at: 972-510-7773 or email your questions to: info@oncoblotlabs.com.

Together these 3 pre-biopsy tests paint a comprehensive picture of your prostate’s health. Ask your doctor to research the ONCOblot test. Have your doctor put in a request for Medicare approval. Of course, if you’re like the tens of thousands of men who just can’t wait any longer for the frozen wheels of government to turn, have your doctor do the blood draw, and ship the sample to ONCOblot for evaluation. Though it will cost you now, you could end up saving considerable time, money, resources, and quality of life in the long run.

One final note: Should all these three tests come out positive for cancer, then it’s time to consider a prostate biopsy. Again, you will want to handle the biopsy in the most professional and accurate manner possible. At present time, this is accomplished by using the Fusion Biopsy combining both MRI and Ultrasound to provide the most accurate core sampling placement possible. Because if a blind biopsy misses the area where cancer is located it’s really like having no biopsy at all, oh, except for the costs, health risks, and aggravation.

And if you want another reason to do these tests pre-biopsy, in addition to saving you an unnecessary biopsy, over the year they will save our Country $1.5 Billion to $2 Billion in unnecessary medical costs.

The Politics of America’s Medical Crisis

America is facing a future health and financial catastrophe unparalleled in history. 

Soaring medical costs, and ineffective medical management is undermining our society’s foundation. Yet most 2016 presidential candidates only focus on berating the other party while avoiding the hard questions. Let’s face it, we are a people more excited about social gossip than in saving the lives of the 27,500 husbands and fathers who will die of prostate cancer this year, or saving the estimated 2,134,586 who will die this year from our 4 deadliest diseases: cancer, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. It is no wonder the public is so disenchanted with politicians and holds our political system with so little confidence. And if you think this is bad, just wait till 2020 and beyond. The question becomes, will our political system grow a conscience, and wake up to what they’re doing in time to affect change? 

Examples of this disconnect from future reality were abundant during the second televised Republican Debate though I want to focus on one comment by Mike Huckabee. He made a bold, though somewhat poorly refined statement. He offered, we simply need to cure cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s rather than just treating the symptoms. On the surface this sounds good, but one wonders, how do we accomplish this task when as a country we are doing so much to foster these diseases. Yes, though trying to look good, America is the enabler.

After 40 years of looking for a cure with little success, one would think someone would get the message. What we are doing doesn’t work! Furthermore it may be detrimental to the health of our Nation! Sure, there have been medical bright spots and limited successes. Many of our medical procedures are better refined, but there are still few cures. With all the money spent to date, what’s wrong with this picture?  

I ask this because in the 40 years we have been trying to find cures for these 4 deadly diseases, the National Cancer Institute has spent more than $90 Billion fostering research on cancer alone. In fact, in 2015 the U.S. will spend approximately $5,414,000,000 on cancer research, $1,651,000,000 for heart disease, $1,039,000,000 on diabetes, and $586,000,000 on Alzheimer’s in hopes of finding a cure. Beyond this government provided $8.69 Billion for research, there are several Billions more gathered from all the charity drives such as walks, bake sales, stair climbs, and afternoon 5K’s. But all these funds are only making minimal progress as evidenced by the $374 Billion Americans spend annually on prescriptions along with the estimated $70 Billion for indirect disease financial losses.

And the cost of medical care in America just keeps increasing. Drug costs are rising at alarming rates as evidenced by the recent attempted ~5,500% increase for the drug Daraprim. This drug, originally costing around $1 to produce, previously selling for $13.50, was recently re-priced to $750 per pill taking it out of reach for many in medical need. Though the drug company has since said they would somewhat rollback the new price, this is just the canary in the coalmine. Already there are a raft of new drugs that will cost patients $500 to $1,000 per pill. Then there are the existing drug increases with only 1,000% to 2,000% increases. It is no wonder that those with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s are being forced into bankruptcy. With treatment costs as much as $100,000 to $200,000 per year for many diseases, a millionaire is quickly reduced to abject poverty. Now consider that over 38 million Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck, many without adequate insurance. Did you know, over 26% of Americans (over 81 million people) have no savings, and of all those with bank accounts the average total family savings are less than $5,000. What do these people do when sick? Even with insurance coverage they have trouble paying for their deductible, and often times skip pills. And, if it’s between food and drugs for their family, I know which one wins out every time. Too many times these Americans simply suffer in silence, or die in poverty. As a Country, we do little to correct this tragedy.  

And it just keeps getting worse.

At the current medical inflation rate, total annual treatment costs in the next 5 years for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s are estimated to reach $1.5 Trillion. That’s $1,500,000,000,000. From which of your pockets do you think this will come? Now you see the issue.

But this is still the tip of the problem. As Mike Huckabee alluded to, in this country we focus on disease management rather than finding a cure. In addition to currently being without cures, we are a Nation that’s becoming sicker by the minute. With the increasing obesity epidemic, it is estimated by the year 2030 over half the U.S. population will be morbidly obese, and over 1 in 3 Americans will be diabetic. Did you know many consider obesity a precursor to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s? That growing bundle of fat around your belly, arms and legs is alive. It’s like a little factory that’s putting out all manner of toxins overwhelming your immune system and creating disease. Then add the increasing medical disability once cancer, heart disease, or diabetes initiates. With these rising figures looming, it is no wonder forward thinkers are concerned over military, public and private sector vacancies resulting from a broadening lack of healthy applicants. As a Nation we verbosely proclaim we have the best military around, yet without enough healthy soldiers, we may soon be forced to change our tune.

So why are we allowing this degradation of America to happen? The best I can figure, is because…

         1) We have a governing system that’s setup to reward the act of research regardless of results,

         2) a drug approval process that keeps good unfunded healing drugs off the market while rewarding those backed by massive funding,

         3) a governing system that’s more focused on political gain and re-election contributions than on helping the sick and our country recover,

         4) a medical system where doctors are provided little nutritional training,

         5) and a business model that looks to maximize personal financial gain at the expense of the poorest of our citizens.

In other words, we are too focused on personal gain at any cost rather than helping our fellow Americans and our Country in making a real difference. And if you are in a position of political power, have ever voted according to your party without understanding what’s at stake, or acquiesced your vote to a financial campaign contributor, then take a long look in the mirror. You’re the problem rather than solution.

Now one of our greatest holdbacks to finding a cure comes from the drug approval process in America. Did you know new drug approval by the FDA could take over 10 years and cost between $125 Million and $350 Million. Of course, a few drugs experience a fast-track process but this is not without onerous costs, extensive time, and abundant research. During the approval process there are multiple phase studies involving thousands of patients to determine effectiveness, dosage, and adverse reactions of the proposed new drug or treatment. On average only 8% of drugs presented to the FDA receive approval.

Does this mean if the FDA does not approve a drug, or procedure, that it has no merit? Not hardly. I know several who have been cured of cancer by non-approved FDA methods both here and from other countries.  So take a moment and think about the FDA approval process. With all the time and money involved for new drug approval, can you see how the only drugs that make it to market under our current system are those that drug manufacturers can place a heavy price tag on to re-coupe their time and costs, and then make a substantial profit? Drug manufacturers are not in business to cure people. They’re in business to make money. The new drugs coming out at $1,000 per pill are prime examples of this return-on-research reward process. This is why non-patentable natural drugs will never be listed as approved by the FDA. There is simply no money to pay for the time and research necessary to obtain FDA approval.

And just because a successful drug or medical procedure is approved in another country, doesn’t mean we have it for use here. The FDA still wants the testing and verification, again costing millions and years of time. Even successful drugs and medical procedures commonly used in other countries may take 5 to 10 years just to benefit Americans. 

So with all this said, here is where we stand:

         1) Our current policy on obesity is a failure. Just look at the numbers or the people as you stroll down the street.

         2) Diabetes is skyrocketing, and viciously increasing within our young children.

         3) The U.S drug and medical approval process is currently only good for expensive drugs that are out of reach by many.

         4) Because of cost, our current drug approval system totally negates the benefit of any non-patentable natural substance and removes them as treatment and cure options.

         4) Politicians are more concerned with party politics and their re-election rather than health of Americans.

         5) Most doctors are poorly qualified to discuss nutrition with patients do to lack of nutritional training.

         6) There are those uncaring individuals and medical companies in our free economy that are preying on the sick and becoming wealthy at the expense of a healthy America.

         7) The exorbitant cost of medical treatment in America is a ‘major’ portion of our GNP. Providing complete cures for these four major diseases could destabilize our economy if introduced too quickly.

         8) When medical breakthroughs are finally realized, doctors take years to implement new procedures due to lack knowledge and training.

Does this sound like a Country focused on finding cures for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s to you? Or does this sound like someone more concerned with population control and protecting the economy than finding a cure? Then again, we may be just putting our heads in the sand and trying to blame our problems on others. Seems like that happens a lot.

If we really want to cure these diseases, we first need a reality check at the highest levels. We say we want a cure, but are we really ready to do whatever it takes to obtain it? I’m sure there are many ways to get to the same results. Problem is, we have been going backwards for too long and now the steps are becoming more difficult.

To find cure we need to begin with the cause.

In looking for a cure, wouldn’t determining the underlying causal conditions for these diseases be of prime importance so we could stop the disease pipeline from continually filling? According to the International Agency for Research in Cancer, 80-90% of cancer is environmentally caused and avoidable, yet only 10% of our research is focused on our environment and less than 1% of research is focused on diet. It is important to ask at this point… why? Knowing that our environment is largely providing the triggers for these diseases, why do we spend so little time making the necessary changes to prevent these diseases at their origin?

Sugar, fat, salt, GMO’s, pesticides, lack of exercise, lack of information, stress and more stress, it is no wonder that America is becoming sicker. In fact we spend more money on attempting to be healthy than any other country in the world yet are ranked only 37^th, and at the bottom of the list for the World’s eleven wealthiest Nations. If we are to cure these diseases, we first must put a stop to their increasing occurrence. This will mean gradually changing the dietary and exercise habits of Americans. Not an easy task!

Every day we are bombarded by advertisements for junk food filled with sugar and empty carbs. You can’t leave your residence without being flooded with sugary images. There are few countermeasures to these hypnotic enticing ads and displays. If we truly wanted to heal America a good start would be to ban sugar. (Did you just cringe?) That simple act would drastically reduce the incidence of new disease and save the lives of so many more. But at this time banning sugar is not practical or even possible. So we need to begin the next best steps to modify America’s dietary habits. The following is a brief outline of my plan for helping America avoid the coming dark future.

Please review these 9 steps, and let me know what you think.

1) We start by subsidizing organic crops such as cruciferous vegetables, tomatoes, and many other plants that have natural healing properties.

The goal is to have vegetables like organic kale at 50¢ a bunch and a six pack of soda pop at $5.00.

2) Then we decrease subsidizing crops harming America, thus forcing conversion to production of healthier foods.

The goal here is to bring healthy farm to table food to the forefront of people’s minds while making it the most affordable option.

3) Next we place an ‘empty calorie tax’ on foods and beverages that provide little to no nutritional value. This step is important!

Let’s face it sugars, sugary drinks and simple carbs are making America fat and sick. Overly sick people raise expenses and medical costs for all society. Sweets in strict moderation may be fine, but that hasn’t been the case. It’s time we began charging for the privilege of consuming all those unhealthy foods and beverages that are drawing down our Country.

4) We next use this new tax revenue to foster abundant public education forums and Public Service Announcements promoting the benefits of calorie dense, close to the farm, natural whole foods.

It is important here to note special interest food groups should have no part in deciding upon the nutritional suggestions as evidenced by our current increasing obesity and diabetes epidemics. Simply put, what we are doing now doesn’t work and it’s time to get the special interest groups out of the picture. If anyone desires, I could easily provide names of qualified nutritional specialists to assist with determining the best organic foods and advertising.  

These steps will gradually change America’s dietary habits. Next we need to improve the number of options we have available for potential cures.

5) To do this we government fund a new independent non-profit, tasked with evaluating ‘natural non-patentable’ substances for a cure. This organization will complete research as needed and submit their findings to the public, and to the FDA for approval. The good news is most of the potential healing substances are foods, spices and supplements already being used without FDA documentation, so they already have a somewhat positive track record and treatment history.

Immediate research for cancer could focus on such items as PectaSol-C®, PSP, PSK, Gamma Tocotrienol, Artemisinin with Transferrin, Black Seed Oil, EGCG with cayenne, Maitake MD Fraction, Melatonin, Marijuana with its THC and CBD, Thymogen, Progesterone, Thymoquinone, DIM and a broad range of other supplements and possibilities. 

6) We also allow, at a patient’s discretion, and provide financial coverage for, alternative cancer treatments currently available in other countries such as hyperthermia, SPDT, immunotherapy and proven immune modulators currently used abroad.

7) We expand Medicare approval for promising new cancer diagnostic and treatment protocols, and plug the loopholes that insurance companies use to avoid paying for beneficial procedures. For diagnostics, this list would immediately include insurance approval for Oncoblot, PHI, 4KScore, and CTC tests along with C-11 Choline and C-11 Acetate scans. For prostate cancer treatments this could include insurance approval for NanoKnife, and Focal Laser Ablation along with a few others.

IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: Just the ‘full implementation’ of the PHI, 4KScore and Oncoblot tests in relation to prostate cancer would relieve Americans of over 500,000 unnecessary prostate biopsies and save our Country around $1.5 Billion to $2 Billion per year. How’s that for a practical change. The problem is, most doctors do not know of, or currently perform, these tests. The tests are too new. Also, at this time there is little incentive for overworked doctors to change their procedures. Combine that with the fact many insurance companies are reluctant to pay for new tests thus making the tests unavailable to most Americans. Then there is the fact that these tests would greatly cut into biopsy revenue for many doctors and their facilities. You can now see the problem.

8) Then we create a more obvious way to update and train doctors in the latest protocols and breakthroughs so they implement them without delay.

9) And finally, we task our new non-profit, or another organization, with searching the world for successful existing treatment protocols, and when found fast-track these in a 6 month or less FDA approval program. Surely when another country has success we can use their research.

As a Prostate Cancer Survivor, Nutritional Health Coach, and Author of the book 'Release Prostate Cancer Now!', I believe if we are able to follow these recommendations, in 5 years we could dramatically improve the picture of disease in America and ease much of the medical financial burden our Country is facing. We could once again be the strong healthy country many desire. The choice is ours today. Are we willing to put aside our petty differences and focus on the real problems? If not today, then when? For without taking the steps for change we may be facing insurmountable financial, medical and National health challenges in the relatively near future.