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.

Kale, Cabbage, Broccoli, Indole-3-carbinol and DIM for Prostate Cancer

We have previously chatted about the importance of consuming cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli for prostate cancer. As mentioned, they are a great source for many natural cancer-fighting ingredients such as sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol (I3C). Now let’s expand some of this information for a better understanding of the curative processes involved, and the most effective procedures to follow. For this, we’ll take a new look at I3C and DIM (diindolylmethane), which is made from I3C.

When you eat vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, collard greens, kale, watercress, mustard greens, garden cress, horseradish, turnip, kohlrabi, and bok choi you are also taking in Glucosinolates found in each of these plants. The amount you ingest varies per plant and by the cooking process applied. For general consumption purposes the content of glucosinolates for raw vegetables can be calculated as follows:

         Cauliflower                       0.4 mg per gram of vegetable         (~40g/cup)

         Bok choi                           0.5 mg per gram of vegetable

         Kohlrabi                           0.5 mg per gram of vegetable

         Broccoli                           0.6 mg per gram of vegetable          (~42g/cup)

         Red Cabbage                    0.6 mg per gram of vegetable

         Savoy Cabbage                0.8 mg per gram of vegetable

         Turnip                               0.9 mg per gram of vegetable

         Watercress                        0.9 mg per gram of vegetable

         Kale                                  1.0 mg per gram of vegetable          (~67g/cup)

         Horseradish                      1.6 mg per gram of vegetable

         Brussels Sprouts               2.4 mg per gram of vegetable

         Mustard Greens                2.8 mg per gram of vegetable

         Garden Cress                    3.9 mg per gram of vegetable

Now remember there exist many other health promoting substances in each of these plants so it is important to always consider the entire picture. For this discussion, we will just consider the process that fosters I3C and DIM. Here is how this particular process works.

When you start to chew raw kale, broccoli or other cruciferous vegetables, you release the glucosinolates stored inside the plant along with another natural plant substance called myrosinase. Myrosinase is an enzyme found in the plant’s cellular walls. Through your initial chewing and digestive process, these two substances combine, creating an enzymatic hydrolysis process, where Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is formed. Once I3C is formed, it further changes. During the digestive process, two I3C molecules with the aid of stomach acid connect together to further form something new, called DIM (diindolylmethane). Nature and our bodies are certainly wonderful! Through a complex and very human process we are freely provided unique chemical compounds that have exceptional cancer-curative properties.

These cancer-curative properties have been well documented through extensive research. Researchers at Berkley have shown I3C (1) has a direct interaction that kills prostate cancer cells, (2) lowers the production of PSA, and (3) reduces the spread of prostate cancer. Further research from Wayne State University School of Medicine supports these findings saying, ”there is ample evidence for the benefit of I3C and DIM for the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer”.

In a 2001 study it was determined that I3C induced G1 cell cycle arrest leading to prostate cancer cell death along with regulating the genes that control cancer cell death. The researcher’s final determination was that “I3C may be an effective chemopreventive or therapeutic agent against prostate cancer”. This research was further expanded, and in 2004 research it was determined that I3C inhibits the pro-cancer activity of Akt and NF-κB that allow prostate cancer cells to grow unchecked. Through this process they believe the application of I3C makes cells more susceptible to the body’s natural cancer defenses and chemotherapeutic agents. Thus a new treatment approach was proposed using I3C in cases of hormone-dependent, hormone-independent, and metastatic prostate cancer to re-sensitize cancer cells so chemotherapeutic agents become more effective.

But is it I3C or DIM that is doing the job on cancer? Remember, I3C combines quickly to form DIM within the body. It is now believed that DIM adjusts the activity of metabolic enzymes and estrogen receptor molecules. We previously discussed ‘estrogen dominance’ in my new book, Release Prostate Cancer Now!, within the chapter titled Progesterone, Foundation Step #5. The action of DIM limits estrogen’s growth-promoting signals through reduction of the estrogen receptor system. Research regarding breast cancer has shown it works even better than the drug Tamoxifen at inhibiting oestrogen-receptive cancer cells and in turn limits prostate cancer cell growth through moderation of the natural cell cycle. In addition, DIM has been found to limit blood supply expansion, angiogenesis, to prostate tumors. A study published May, 2008 in the Biochemical Pharmacology Journal details how DIM reduces the blood flow to tumors thus limiting their food supply and preventing cancer’s growth. In another 2012 paper it describes how DIM inhibits HDAC enzyme activity in cancer cells thus up-regulating the P21 protein in prostate cancer cells, and at the same time down-regulating the HDAC2 protein, preventing new cancer cell growth, causing cancer cell death, and increased patient survival. Then there is the 2010 Study by Ohio State University Cancer Center that found I3C/DIM causes the destruction of the Cdc25A molecule which is essential for cancer cell division and proliferation.

Based on these studies and more, it appears I3C and DIM from cruciferous vegetables are very important to prevent and even potentially cure prostate cancer. Since 1990 there have been over 120 peer-reviewed studies showing the benefits of I3C, and DIM in relation to prostate, breast, and other cancers. It is interesting to note, an average Japanese diet naturally includes around 120 mgs of I3C per day through common vegetables, and the Japanese enjoy one of the highest life expectancies with exceptionally low rates of prostate cancer.

Could this cure everyone? Probably not, as there are over 100 types of prostate cancer, and cancer easily mutates to survive. The key, I believe, is to eat properly so prostate cancer is eradicated before it gains a foothold. This is when I3C and DIM are most powerful to eradicate prostate cancer before it starts to build and grow unchecked. In a 2009 study reasonably high consumption of cruciferous vegetables revealed a 32% decrease in prostate cancer incidence.

But what if you do have prostate cancer, or breast cancer? Research has shown excellent benefits from increasing your dosage of I3C and DIM. In a 2012 study men with prostate cancer who increased their cruciferous vegetable intake showed a 59% decrease of prostate cancer progression. To do this men consumed two or more large servings of cruciferous vegetables per week. And in another 2010 dose-dependent study of DIM with prostate cancer, one patient supplementing with 300mg of DIM for 18 months experienced a 90% drop in his PSA reading from 89.7 ng/ml to 9.4 ng/ml, while others experienced PSA drops, or term PSA stabilization. Additionally researchers with Florida A&M University have actually said they believe DIM is an effective treatment for triple negative breast cancer.

So you say, I eat kale, broccoli and cauliflower, why am I still having prostate problems? It could be because you’re literally cooking your vegetables to death. Let’s say you cook your vegetables by boiling, excessive steaming, or microwave. The process of high temperature cooking, and overheating your vegetables destroys the natural availability of the enzyme myrosinase. Therefore, with ineffective, dead myrosinase, less if any of the glucosinolates are converted into I3C. But if this happens, you may still obtain a limited amount of I3C through a bodily backup process. A healthy body can use native gut bacteria action to hydrolyze the glucosinolates into I3C, albeit much less effectively. And what happens if your gut is already compromised through cancer treatment? You guessed it; little to no glucosinolates are converted to I3C. And if this is the only way to create I3C, then of course further conversion to DIM is also negated.

Then too, when cooking your vegetables with water by boiling or steaming there is another important issue, that glucosinolates are water-soluble. They leech out of the vegetables into the cooking water reducing their content in the vegetables you eat by over 50%. Think back, how often do you just throw out the cooking water? So overcooking is a double-edged sword. You’re preventing I3C formation with the heat, and are throwing out the good stuff with the water. Because of this, eating your cruciferous vegetables raw, lightly sautéed, or very lightly cooked in soup, are the very best methods for getting the greatest anti-cancer results.

Eating raw and lightly cook cruciferous vegetables obviously has been proven to be an exceptional way to prevent cancer. But for those who have cancer, you may need something more. In addition to eating at least 4 servings of cruciferous vegetables per week, it is possible to supplement with I3C and DIM. Both are available online. For dosage, you will want to contact your trusted naturopath focused on cancer care, as there are some considerations and side effects to consider prior to starting supplementation. I believe ample research has been done both with I3C and DIM to warrant supplementation. Most researchers use the equivalent of 200 mg to 400 mg per day of I3C in their studies, or around 225 mg per day of DIM. It has also been found that DIM in its crystalline form is water insoluble, therefore very difficult to absorb. For this reason, should you decide to supplement with DIM, it is recommended to use a bio-enhanced micro encapsulated form. Some say Nature’s Way DIM-Plus may be a good choice though there are several others. Generally these supplements are well tolerated. The most common side effects when supplementing with I3C or DIM include diarrhea, and in some cases hyperglycemia. Ingesting excessive amounts of cruciferous vegetable have also been known to sometimes play havoc with your thyroid. So for these reasons, it is best to let your doctor know about your supplementation, and to obtain the proper medical tests before and while supplementing.

Should you be unable to find a naturopath skilled in the use of I3C within your immediate area, you may want to contact Dr. Neil McKiney. Located in Victoria, BC, he has written several books on natural cancer treatment, and often uses a prescription of 600 mg of I3C per day divided in two doses with his patients to inhibit androgen receptors and impede cancer’s transition to bones. Everyone’s body is different. Your situation will be unique, so contacting a medical professional in the know who can provide support is always worthwhile.

Kindle, 'Release Prostate Cancer Now!' only 99¢ for limited time!

I am writing today because I really need your help to help others with prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer affects all of us, causing the deaths of loved ones and burdening us with an annual U.S. economic impact of over $12 Billion Dollars.

Knowing first hand the hardship of fighting cancer, my heart goes out to the over 220,000 new cases that will be diagnosed this year just in the U.S., and especially to the families, wives and children, of over 27,000 men in the U.S. who will die from this deadly disease. More than 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. This translates into more than 1,100,000 new prostate cancer cases worldwide each year at a treatment cost of over $50 Billion Dollars.

As I now progress through my own treatments, I have found I cannot stand idly by and allow this suffering to continue without doing something about it.

To help others, I have written the book, Release Prostate Cancer Now!, recently available on Amazon.com at:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W6CEEUM/

For men experiencing prostate cancer, this book will put them light years ahead of those trying to make minimally informed life-altering decisions by looking at both conventional and alternative treatments.

For those not yet burdened by cancer, this book shares 8 practical ways to avoid cancer in your lifetime, along with safe ways to detect prostate cancer early enough for more effective treatment, and the newest cancer research and treatments from the U.S. and around the world. I truly believe Release Prostate Cancer Now! will save lives and help reduce the suffering caused by cancer in our world.

Will you help me, help others?

Now here is what I’m asking you to do…

New books put on Amazon.com are lost in the multitudes of books available. The more positive reviews a book receives, the more visible it becomes to readers seeking help. To help others to find Release Prostate Cancer Now!, I am asking you to purchase this book, read it, and provide your honest (hopefully positive 5 star) review.

To make this process easy, from June 15^th through June 21, 2015 PST, (Happening Today!) I have reduced the price of Release Prostate Cancer Now! in the Kindle eBook format to only 99¢.

(Yes, less than $1)

 

After these dates the book will return to its regular pricing.

(If you are from a country where the 99¢ special will not apply, you may still take advantage of the Kindle drawing by downloading you book at your country's price and providing your review.)

Now I realize buying, reading, and reviewing this book is asking a lot. Not so much for the 99¢, but for the time the process will take. We are all so busy in our daily lives. To counter this concern, the only things I can offer are that your review may be the one that prompts another to read Release Prostate Cancer Now! and helps to save their life. Then too, there is the knowledge you will personally gain from reading this book that may prevent the possibility of future cancer in your life, extend your healthy lifespan, or even save your life. (For the women reading this book, did you know there are a strong links between the causes of breast and prostate cancer, along with their treatment? And what a loving gift, sharing this book with a man you truly care about.) Then too, the more times this book is read and people become aware of their options, the greater the possibility new research, and forms of better treatment, will be available to the millions of men now suffering with prostate cancer.

Now aren’t these benefits worth a few hours of your time?

To sweeten the incentive to read Release Prostate Cancer Now!, because I so believe in the importance of this book’s message, for anyone who provides their Amazon.com published review on or before July 15th, I will include you in a drawing to win a new Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7.

On July 15th I will take all the reviews from the Amazon.com Book Page, place them in a drawing and randomly select a winner. I don’t know how many reviews that will be, but I do know the odds of you wining a new Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7 are far better than the lottery. Then if you win the drawing, I will have the new Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7 shipped to your door, wherever you live, just for your reading this book and providing a helpful review.

If you are willing to help me help others in need, by reading and reviewing Release Prostate Cancer Now! and assisting this important book to become better known, please use this link today to order your book today….

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W6CEEUM/

Then post your review before July 15th so I can enter you into the drawing for the Kindle Fire HD 7.

If you also feel as passionate about helping others as I do, please forward this email to everyone your know especially over the next few days as this special 99 cent price ends soon.

Prostate cancer today is a plague upon our world costing billions of dollars to treat, and leaving over 27,000 families in the U.S. each year without their husbands and fathers. It negatively affects both men and women alike.

Would you agree it’s time we took a step today to end this suffering?

This is my request. Please Read and Post your Review.

Please help me help others.

What’s Holding Back the Prostate Cancer Cure?

As I go through my own trials and treatment with prostate cancer, there has been a nagging question in the back of my mind. Why, with all the research and new developments, with the billions spent on treatment and millions on research, with the over 27,000 men who will die this year just in the U.S., are we not proceeding faster toward a prostate cancer cure?

Certainly it’s not for lack research. Taking a look at the vast volume of prostate cancer research from around the world there are abundant possibilities for cures. There are even recorded instances of individuals curing themselves using modified non-approved procedures and treatment plans developed from new scientific discoveries. Then there are the treatments that have years of successes from other areas around our world that have not gained acceptance in the U.S. There are even medically approved procedures in the U.S. that are still unavailable to the million prostate cancer patients. One has to as why? What is holding these curative procedures back from reaching the patients?

When looking at prostate cancer on a global basis, our lack of progress does not appear to be from a failure to innovate. It appears to come from a failure to initiate, or better yet, from a failure to implement new promising treatments and discoveries. I have thought about this for a long time, and my only conclusion is that this burying of healing options is profit driven, both on a micro and macro scale. Let me provide some examples.

Recently I wanted to obtain a test called a Circulating Tumor Cell-Prostate, or CTC. Many patients and doctors do not even know this test exists. Yet, it has been around for a long time. Clinical data from 26 independent prospective studies involving more than 2,800 patients have been published in more than 100 peer-reviewed publications that validate the clinical performance and value of the test. From 2010 to 2012 alone, more than 85,000 U.S. patients and their oncologists used this test to better understand the progression of disease and make more informed treatment decisions. Based on tests at the University of Texas researchers discovered that the presence of 5 or more circulating tumor cells had the highest predictive value compared to all other tumor markers. The researchers further stated, “Circulating tumor cells have superior and independent prognostic value in determining future treatment.

Doctors at Columbia University in New York discovered that CTC testing can predict which men with prostate cancer are likely to benefit from surgery. They determined that CTC status was superior to PSA levels and Gleason score at predicting potential surgical failure. This information is paramount in determining the course and timing of future treatments of prostate cancer. It not only can predict which treatments may be most effective, it also can provide a benchmark to let one know if current treatments are successful; and if one’s prostate cancer is staying in remission.

So highly thought of for its place in the treatment of prostate and other cancers, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established a national payment rate for the interpretation code. This demonstrates the increasing evidence of the clinical utility of CTC testing, in conjunction with other testing methods, as a predictor of overall and progression-free survival. So the test is Medicare approved.

Recently, now that I’ve reached the age of Medicare, I wanted a follow-up to the CTC test I had over a year ago. For that initial test I had to educate my doctor about its existence, and then pay for it in full when my insurance company declined coverage declaring the CTC test as investigational. This time around, I had my primary care doctor order the test and seek pre-approval from insurance for payment. Once again I was declined insurance coverage saying the test was investigational, and that I needed a Urology Specialist to build a case for the order rather than my primary care doctor. Remember Medicare covers the test. So I started searching for an Urologist to order the test. What I discovered was both frightening and disheartening.

Of the reportedly top prostate urologists in my area, approved by my insurance company for coverage, none were using the CTC test in their practice. Many said they did not know of the test’s existence, and one went on to say they saw no value for the test in their practice. Yet every one of these doctors would heartily recommend giving you a blind biopsy on a regular basis. So here we have a well-documented test, approved by Medicare, yet doctors supposedly in the know as experts in their fields are not taking advantage of the test. Why?

Again the answer comes down to money. What is the first thing most doctors do at this level? They specialize. Their specialty could be surgery, radiation, chemo or cryo, or any number of niche procedures within similar avenues. Now there are over a million men with prostate cancer living in the U.S. and over 220,000 adding to the list each year. So these specialists have no shortage of patients. In fact, just try calling one of these doctors to arrange a non-billable interview to see if you like their form of treatment. Most likely, you will never get past the financial receptionist.

Here is the simple truth. Doctors are so overwhelmed with prostate cancer patients right now they have all they can do just to keep up with there current case load, procedures, and testing without adding something new to the mix. And with patient appointments billing out at $400 to $500 per 30-minute or less visits, there is simply no profit in learning a new procedure or test and having to evaluate it for yourself. Then there is the insurance hassle. Doctors know exactly what insurance will cover based on their history of insurance payments. Why bother to fight with the insurance companies for tests and procedures not previously performed? Their plate is already full with easy insurance payments. The financial return for new procedures is simply not worth it. Because of this, they rely on generally accepted methods of practice, never looking outside their box, or narrow area of practice.

Add to this the difficulty of getting any new drug or procedure approved for cancer treatment in the U.S., or for that matter in most countries around the world. It is a very long and arduous process, often taking 5 to 10 years and costing tens of millions of dollars. This is one reason that natural cures that are not patentable will never make it to the doctor approved standards of practice list. There simply is no financial return and the cost of doing the testing is too expensive. Our system is setup so only the most expensive drugs make it to the doctor’s doorstep, while natural affordable cures are left for private experimentation. That does not mean the natural cures are less valuable. In fact, they often have better results that the laboratory created products, but they have not been through the years of documentation and testing. So what doctor wants to provide a product to their patient that is not on the official approved list? What doctor wants to offer a product or procedure, that although may provide better results, could open them to a lawsuit, medical sanctions, or more hassles with their insurance and the patient’s insurance company? Again it comes down to money and return on investment.

And what would happen if there were cheap drugs, an affordable pill, to cure cancer? Would it make it to the market? This is actually a tough question. World wide prostate cancer is a $50 Billion dollar market. In the U.S. there are over 1,000,000 prostate biopsies done each year. Think of all the doctors and support staff put out of work if we had an affordable cure for cancer. We would have financial collapse if a cure were dropped on the market.

Just take a look at a simple nutritional product used today and review the recent announcement that trans fat would finally be banned in U.S. products because it is creating disease. Did you also hear those making the announcement say in the same breath that they would allow 3 years for the trans fat to be phased out, and manufacturers could file for exceptions to this ruling? Kind of makes you wonder. Trans fat bad, killing people, and we are still allowing 3 years plus additional exceptions. Why? Because of the economic impact! Just think what would happen with an affordable cancer cure, and the vast economic impact that would have on our economy. Could it be there is a financial reason non-patentable and affordable cancer curative drugs never are found in the realm of established allopathic medical practices? What might they do to the revenue form expensive current procedures?

Now I know I have taken some broad strokes with this discussion, yet the simple truth remains, if you take a look at all the promising prostate cancer research, and treatments from around the world, there is so much more we could be doing to cure prostate cancer if it wasn't for the profit motives holding us back. There is so much more that our doctors could be doing today, that they are unaware of, or haven’t taken the time to learn.

We could focus more research and provide treatment applications using PectaSol, PSP and PSK from Turkeytail, Tocotrienols, Artemisinin with Transferrin, Black Seed Oil, EGCG, Maitake, Melatonin, Marijuana, Progesterone, Thymoquine, Indol-3-Carbinol, and so many more. We could take a better look at treatments such as SPDT, Hyperthermia, Immunotherapy with Immune Modulators like Thymogen. And we can expand mandatory insurance coverage for Oncoblot, PHI, CTC, C-11 Choline and C-11 Acetate Tests, plus adding insurance coverage for NanoKnife and Focal Laser Ablation.

If we are to cure prostate cancer, it is time we did away with the self-imposed financial restrictions and started looking at 'all' curative options. With the hundreds of thousands of men annually dying around the world of this deadly disease, isn’t it time we took off the financial restrictions to finding the cure, and started making every possible option available?

New Book: Release Prostate Cancer Now!

A comprehensive Prostate Cancer Book is finally here... 
 

What if you had a source comparing prostate treatment options, looking at all manner of conventional and alternative options from around the world, would that be of benefit? Now what if it went further to suggest ways to heal faster, or even prevent cancer from developing and recurring?

  

Release Prostate Cancer Now! A Comprehensive Look: Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment Options - Facts You Need To Know is both Reference and Springboard to begin a healing discussion, assisting you to make informed decisions about your health.

Written from a patient's perspective, this book takes a unique comprehensive look at how to:

  • Assure your health while dodging the bullet of prostate cancer.

  • Safely and effectively find out if you have prostate cancer, or if you should even be concerned.

  • Make informed decisions regarding the vast array of conventional, and alternative treatments.

  • Learn about new research, possible options, and promising treatments.

  • Become an active partner in your healing.

When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer I knew little of cancer. I felt terrified from the horror stories I'd heard, and found myself looking at the stark reality of my own mortality. It's not a good feeling, when you're forced to peer into the abyss.

As I started researching, hope began to arise. The more I learned, the more I understood I have options and I can rise above this condition. Then came the thought, could I share my knowledge to ease others' fears? Could I jump-start their healing process so they could hit the ground running, without wasting time, feeling more confident about next decisions? And what if, there were ways to even prevent the pain and expense of prostate cancer? What a gift it would be to help others to avoid the challenges I'm facing. With these thoughts, Release Prostate Cancer Now! was born.

Release Prostate Cancer Now! is not only for men. When a man dies of prostate cancer, often his widow and children are left behind to face devastating loss and exorbitant medical costs. It's time we put an end to all this pain.

Focused on prostate cancer, yet applicable to most forms of cancer for men and women, this book will put you light years ahead of those trying to make minimally informed life-altering decisions. The book begins with one simple question, "What if there exists a way to avoid cancer in your lifetime?" and then proceeds with positive solutions for healing.

Available Today

Paperback at Amazon.Com and CreateSpace

and eBook from Amazon.Com

What readers are saying:

 

"Congratulations Steve, what a great work you have produced!

Even though I've read many books on prostate cancer, I highly recommend your book because it doesn't just list choices with a Wikipedia like description, the reader is right there, as you tell what to expect and explore healing options."

Odette & Kirk Wyss, Mandurah, Western Australia

"Coach Steve has compiled a wealth of information through study, research and personal experience. He writes with passion and authority about a variety of options one can explore for the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer."

WD Bauer, Seattle, WA, USA

  

Movember - Creating Prostate Cancer Awareness

Men around the world view this month as ‘Movember’, formerly November, a time to reflect on men’s health, especially as it concerns Prostate Cancer, Testicular Cancer, and Mental Health. The idea for Movember was created by 30 men out of Melbourne, Australia in 2003. It has now touched over 4 million men and women around the world. During the month of Movember, men are encouraged to grow mustaches to create awareness; becoming essentially walking, talking billboards for men's health. With guidance from the Movember Foundation each area creates its own events and fundraisers thereby spreading the message. As a direct result of these worldwide activities, over 800 new men’s health programs in 21 countries costing $559 million have been implemented.

So why is Movember so important? Just in the United States in 2014 it’s projected there will be more than 233,000 new cases of prostate cancer, and 29,480 men will die from the disease. Simply put, men in the US have a 1 in 7 chance of being diagnosed with Prostate Cancer during their lifetime. There are also areas in the US harder hit than others. If you live in many of the Southeastern United States your chances of having Prostate Cancer are much greater, and surprisingly Washington State has a higher incidence rate than many others.

In a global view, the US rates so poorly compared to the rest of the world. It’s ranked 14^th in the World for the highest incidence of Prostate Cancer only beat out by such countries as France, Norway, Sweden, Australia, Ireland and Switzerland. Considering our level of massive medical funding this is a poor testament to the direction our country is headed. Prostate Cancer is rare before the ages of 40, but appears mostly in men over 65. It has about the same incidence as Breast Cancer in the US with 233,000 new Prostate Cancer cases projected for 2014 versus 235,030 new Breast Cancer cases projected. It does appear to have a better long-term prognosis than Breast Cancer. During 2014 it’s projected that 29,480 men will die of Prostate Cancer versus 40,430 women dying of Breast Cancer. In 2011 there were 2,707,821 estimated cases of men living with Prostate Cancer within the US.

So why are we allowing this travesty to happen? Make no mistake; we have choice in the matter. Aside from the Standard American Diet (SAD) that has been causing crippling obesity and diabetes at skyrocketing rates while setting the foundation for Prostate Cancer, men just don’t talk about the disease. It’s as if the word ‘Prostate’ designated something perverse. Or maybe men are reluctant to discuss their problems with societies pressure to remain tuff and strong. Heaven forbid someone should say they need help until the last moment before it’s too late to do anything easy to correct the problem. Then there is the age factor. The average age a man is diagnosed with Prostate Cancer is 66. This is often considered by the young, an age where men are less productive, out of the limelight. So if they can’t be seen or heard, why bother with trying to help or even discuss a somewhat sexually oriented topic? Why worry about something that is often years in the future?

What people fail to acknowledge is that each man dying of Prostate Cancer diminishes our entire society. No longer are we able to rely on their wisdom and experience gathered over years of life. Nor will they be able to contribute to their families shared experience in terms of support and love. Most often when a man dies of Prostate Cancer, a widow is born. This does not bode well for stability in our society. Then there are the exorbitant treatment costs associated with Prostate Cancer. Annually in the US we spend over $12B with projections running as high as $15B by the year 2020 for Prostate Cancer Treatment. What do you think numbers like this do to our insurance costs, our economy?

As mentioned before we have choice in the matter. The first step starts with the open discussion about Prostate Cancer. Here is where the Movember Foundation becomes so important. They provide the vehicle to get the word out about Prostate Cancer while funding so many research projects around the world seeking a cure. Once awareness is created, then we may start to ask the question, why Prostate Cancer is so out of control in the US compared with much of the world. Through this process we start to understand that we are able to reduce the incidence of Prostate Cancer through simple diet and lifestyle changes. Then we start to look for new, safer ways to diagnose the disease. Today there are around 750,000 unnecessary or inaccurate Prostate Cancer Biopsies performed in the US when there already exists a safe approved Alternative with a 99.3% accuracy rate. The problem is, although it could save US patients $1.6B in testing costs with a lot less pain and patient risk, it’s just too new to be covered by insurance. When we know more about situations such as this we begin to ask… Why? Why are we holding back on medical improvements that would help so many? And who really benefits from retaining the old ways? We may also begin to understand there are alternative healing approaches that need to be properly explored. Certainly anything that reduces the pain and suffering of Prostate Cancer is worth investigating regardless of weather it’s patentable by a drug manufacturer. It all starts with awareness! When I was under 45, I never gave Prostate Cancer a thought. In those days it wasn’t even in the news. Now at 65 and dealing with Prostate Cancer, I wish I knew then what I know now. Fortunately for our son I still have time to pass the information on that will change his life for the better. This is Movember’s greatest gift to our society. It’s opened the door to start the discussion that leads to hope and a healthier future.

To find out more about what’s happening with Movember in Seattle go to the Movember Facebook Page, or follow on Twitter.  For those who want to contribute directly to the work Movember is doing, go to their Donation Site. If you live in or near Seattle and are interested in a Prostate Cancer Support Group where you may ask questions, explore all forms of healing options, and share stories, while in a safe friendly environment contact me at ReleaseProstateCancerNow@gmail.com for details. The first meeting is scheduled for Sunday, December 7^th at 3:00pm in North Seattle.        

The Quest For The Cures - A Must See - Available Now!!

This week there is a 'Must See' informational series on Cancer called "The Quest For The Cures..." created by The Truth About Cancer, Educate. Expose. Eradicate.

It's excellent, and well worth the hour of time you'll spend to watch each episode. The episodes are new each day and only repeat for one day. In other words, make sure you take the time to see them as they come available.

Here is a Link to the First Episode that came out yesterday 10/13/14.

http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/live/episode1.php

Here is a Link to the Second Episode, available tonight 10/14/14 and tomorrow.

http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/live/episode2.php

Enjoy, Steve