The answer to this question, as I have personally learned in my practice, is to use everything that works. Unlike the pharmaceutical method, one size does not fit all. What works for one patient’s cancer may not work for the next.
Because the mechanism of progression of cancer is extremely complex and multifaceted, one must often treat with many different modalities. In addition, not only is every cancer genetically unique, but it’s constantly changing; cancer is a dynamic disease because of constant mutations.
The idea of treating everyone with the same cancer, using the same chemotherapy, is absurd to any cancer scientist. One should not even use chemotherapy without knowing the genetics of the cancer. This explains why some patients get no benefit from chemotherapy, and some get a temporary response; it’s pot luck. If you are lucky enough to get chemotherapy that fits your cancer, you may get a temporary response.
Why don’t we do genetic testing on all cancer patients? Once again, it comes down to money. Doing genetic testing on all cancer patients would be as cost-effective as making a different dose of blood pressure medicine for every individual in the country.
Here is an abbreviated summary of the drugs and modalities I use in my treatment of advanced stage cancer.
1) Immunotherapy; to stimulate the innate immune system;
a) Coley’s toxins consists of heat-killed bacteria that stimulate the innate immune system to attack abnormal cells, including cancer. GcMAF is a macrophage activating factor that is normally inhibited by cancer cells.
b) Interleukin-2 is a substance produced by the body that stimulates production of cytotoxic T cells, which can kill cancer cells.
c) Whole body hyperthermia is a process where the patient is warmed to a temperature of up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Increased temperature stimulates increased innate immune function.
2) Glycolytic inhibitors; DCA, or dichloroacetate inhibits the cancer cells’ ability to utilize sugar, while promoting normal mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (cancer cells that use oxidative phosphorylation are more susceptible to being destroyed).
3) Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor; cancer cells “dig in” by secreting an enzyme that breaks down tissue. Low dose doxycycline inhibits release of this enzyme.
4) Angiogenesis inhibitors; tumors can not grow without sprouting new vessels. Vessel formation is dependent on adequate amounts of copper;. If copper is depleted, tumors can not develop more blood vessels. Ammonium tetrathiomolybdate, chelates copper, thereby inhibiting angiogenesis.
5) Cancer cell cytotoxic agents; vitamin C, at high doses intravenously, when used with vitamin K3 at a ratio of 100:1, is preferentially cytotoxic to cancer cells, while leaving normal cells unharmed.
6) Mitosis inhibitors; cancer cells divide rapidly through a process called mitosis. Mitosis occurs through a process known as spindle formation. During spindle formation, spindles pull the chromosomes to opposite sides of the cell, in preparation for cell division. Noscapine, an opioid agonist binds to the spindles, inhibiting mitosis.
7) Aromatase inhibitors; research has shown that several cancers, including breast, cervical, uterine, lung, and colorectal, often fuel their growth through the production of estrogen. Aromatase inhibitors block production of estrogen.
8) IGF-1; IGF-1, or insulin-like growth factor-1 is a growth factor that often fuels cancer growth. Octreotide inhibits the production of IGF-1.
9) GnRh agonists; GnRh agonists, or gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists may inhibit cancer in 2 ways. GnRh inhibits production of the sex steroids; if the cancer is dependent on sex steroids, GnRh will slow cancer growth. In addition, many cancers have receptors for GnRh, which when stimulated, inhibit cancer growth.
10) Many other drugs and natural supplements are often used as well, depending on the specifics of the patient’s cancer.
Using all of the above modalities, I have been able to cut off many pathways of cancer growth, often converting an acutely progressive disease, into a stable, chronic disease.
What will it take to awaken the masses? What will it take to educate the medical professionals that advanced stage cancer can be treated as a chronic disease right now? I do not know the answer to this question. If I knew, I would already be doing it.
In the meantime, I continue on my journey, with the minority of physicians who care to make a difference, no matter what the consequences.
~ Dr. Rosenberg
healthyliving April 18th, 2017
Posted In: cancer care, Cancer Prevention
Tags: advanced stage cancer, cancer prevention, stage iv cancer, treatment
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Dr. Mark Rosenberg received his doctorate from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1988 and has been involved with drug research since 1991.