Cancer: A Result of the Perfect Storm
Cancer is a disease of the immune system that deserves special attention. The literature sites no less than 100 reasons for the cause of cancer. However, the most profound causes are related to lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise and life events such as job and relationship stress. Additionally, environmental factors also play a key role in creating the perfect storm for cancer as for all disease. When addressed, these same environmental factors (like clean food, air and water) can help aid in recovery.
I foresee in the near future that most if not all diseases will have a cure, because future health professionals will combine the understanding of solid scientific principles in nutrition, detoxification, biochemistry, biophysics and psychology to synthesize the solution to conquering cancer. The pieces of the answer are out there, but nobody has connected all the dots.
Many years from now we will look back on this period in medical history and wonder why it took so long to synthesize the answer for cancer. Future doctors will have depth of knowledge in all disciplines of medicine. Understanding of Western Medicine, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Structural Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Functional Dentistry and Nutrition may supersede pharmaceutical medicine.
However, this only covers the medical side of things. It is crucial that the physician studies and understands the dynamics of the patient’s relationship to his/her family, the dynamics of friends, the dynamics of the working environment and the patient’s commitment and financial ability to complete recommended treatments. In the comprehensive cancer care model, the willingness of everyone involved with the patient is a factor in survival rate. I have seen many situations where friends and relatives impose their will on a patient rather than allowing the patient to choose their own treatments.
Insulin Potentiation Low Dose Chemotherapy (IPT or IPTLD) is an interesting bridge between mainstream conventional chemotherapy and complementary medicine. IPT, which was invented in Mexico over 70 years ago, uses insulin in the beginning of a chemotherapy infusion as a biological response modifier. Insulin is infused in the beginning of treatment and the blood sugar is lowered to the therapeutic moment. Cancer cells need sugar to make energy and they have 16 times more insulin receptors than normal cells. Therefore IPT uses the cancer cell’s weakness of more readily absorbing insulin to target the cancer cell for destruction.
The insulin receptors help the cancer cell absorb more of the chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore less of the chemo is needed (10% to 25% of the usual dose) in order to achieve cancer cell death. With the normal cells the opposite is true. The normal, stronger cells are less affected by the chemo thus minimizing symptoms such as nausea, hair loss, blood cell effects and loss of appetite.
Doctors that perform this type of therapy can be found on the web site www.iptforcancer.com. This web site, operated by the Best Answer for Cancer Foundation in Austin, TX, a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization was founded by a patient survivor in 2005. Annie Brandt, the founder and executive director has been cancer free for ten years now and has made it her life’s work to bring awareness to IPT as well as to the whole host of treatments and therapies that can be used in a comprehensive program to beat cancer. She hosts an annual meeting where integrative practitioners of all stripes come to share their latest treatment information. The foundation is also sponsoring an FDA registered Quality of Life Study which is under way currently at Kotsanis Institute in Grapevine, TX.
The Odyssey Of A Cancer Patient:
As a cancer patient one must consider at least seven parameters before seeking out IPT or other integrative therapies.
First and foremost, one must understand the advantages and shortcomings of IPT therapies. The co-morbidities (conditions that exist concurrent to the cancer) usually include dental problems with multiple mercury fillings and problematic root canals. Many patients have had several severe infections in their history for which they may have had multiple rounds of antibiotics. This may have disrupted normal digestive ecology creating a situation that bred fungal infections For example one recent patient had severe recurring episodes of tonsillitis and was placed on many antibiotics for a great length of time prior to tonsillectomy. Blood tests done elsewhere also showed toxicity to aluminum. This patient’s treatment with IPT although very successful initially, failed to provide a long term solution because once the patient achieved remission she was under the impression that no further attention to the cancer was necessary. In fact people with cancer need to understand that once you are diagnosed with this disease, you must follow medically supervised treatments and implement lifestyle and dietary changes for life.
Second, patients must choose a physician that they like. Just remember, a good physician will offer you appropriate therapy, a great physician will serve you for life!
Third, one must dedicate the time needed to get healthy and stay healthy; this is a lifelong commitment. An aggressive antioxidant program (pH and ORP manipulations), along with correction of hormone dysfunctions and correction of emotional stressors can be highly beneficial. For the emotional component we refer to an integrative practitioners who are able to address emotional issues using various forms of energetic medicine and counseling.
Fourth, one must make permanent changes in nutrition for life under the supervision of your IPT physician or a Clinical Nutritionist. The patient may have to make drastic changes to diet, including eliminating almost all sugar intake. A supportive spouse and family should encourage the patient to follow their heart’s desire to conquer their disease. Patients usually engage by reading books about natural healing. I recommend every person read The China Study by Campbell. This completely changes most people’s mind about life and nutrition. Although most patients do not go 100% raw vegan, eliminating all non organic foods and most animal food products and sugars can make a dramatic difference. Most patients see that this change has made a significant improvement in their health.
Fifth, one must accept the recommended IPT therapies without being stressed out of their mind as to “why do I have to change my ways at this stage of my life.”
Sixth, one must understand the financial implications involved with any long term therapies, including IPT, before getting started. Too often I see patients that stop medically supervised treatments because of financial distress. As soon as they begin to feel better, some patients take it upon themselves to continue home treatments without medical supervision; usually this approach can be dangerous and bring a lot of undesirable complications. Regular check ups, blood work and imaging is a must.
Seventh, last but not least, one must aggressively explore all treatment options for life!
You can reach Dr. Kotsanis at the Kotsanis Institute at: metro 817-481-6342. Come hear Dr. Kotsanis’ talk on “IPTLD, The Kinder, Gentler Chemotherapy” at the April 16-17 Wellness Expo in Addison on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 1:00pm and at the June 25-26 Wellness Expo in Grapevine on Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 1:00pm.
References
Insulin Stimulates Cell Replication
Santisteban G. Biochem & Biophys Res Comm. 1985;132:1174.
Cullen J. Insulin-like growth factor receptor expression and function in human breast cancer. Cancer Res. 1990;50:48-53.
Papa V. Elevated insulin receptor content in human breast cancer. J Clin Invest. 1900;86:1503-1510.
Holdaway I. Hormone binding by human mammary carcinoma. Cancer Res. 1977;37:1946-1952.
Insulin, Growth Hormone and IGFs
Spring-Mills E. Immunoreactive hormones in human breast tissues. Surgery. Dec 1983:946-950.
Zapf J. Insulin-like growth factors/somatomedins: structure, secretion, biological actions and physiological role. Hormone Res. 1986;24:121-130.
Furlanetto R. Somatomedin-C receptors and growth effects in human breast cells maintained in long-term tissue culture. Cancer Res. 1984;44:2122-2128.
Wichert T. Insulin-like growth factor-1 is an autocrine regular of chromogranin A secretion and growth in human neuroendocrine tumor cells. Cancer Res. 2000:4573-4581.
Pavelic K. Insulin and glucagons secretion by renal adenocarcinoma. Cancer. 1981;48:98-100.
Pavelic K. Carcinomas of the cervix and corpus uteri in humans: stage-dependent blood levels of substance(s) immunologically cross-reactive with insulin. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1982;68:891-894.
Pavelic K. Correlation of substances immunologically cross-reactive with insulin, glucose and growth hormone in Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients. Cancer Lett. 1982;17:81-86.
Cullin J. Insulin-like growth factor receptor expression and function in human breast cancer. Cancer Res. 1990;50:48-53.
McCarty M. Suppression of dolichol synthesis with isoprenoids and statins may potentiate the cancer-retardant efficacy of IGF-1 down-regulation. Med Hypoth. 2001;56:12-16.
Insulin as Potentiator
Alabaster O. Metabolic modification by insulin enhances methotrexate cytotoxicity in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Europ J Cancer Oncol. 1981;17:1223-1228.
Schilisky R. Characteristics of membrane transport of methotrexate by cultured human breast cancer cells. Biochem Pharm. 1981;30:1537-1542.
Hug V. Use of growth-stimulatory hormones to improve the in vitro therapeutic index of doxorubicin for human breast tissue. Cancer Res. 1986;46:147-152.
Gross G. Perturbation by insulin of human breast cancer cell kinetics. Cancer Res. 1984;44:3570-3575.
Clinical Study
Lasalvia-Prisco E, Cucchi S, Vazquez J et al. Insulin-induced enhancement of antitumoral response to methotrexate in breast cancer patients. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2004;53(3):220-4.
Insulin Therapy in Cancer
Neufeld O. Insulin therapy in terminal cancer: a preliminary report. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1962;10:274-276.
Other Important Literature
Warburg, Otto, On the Origin of Cancer Cells. Science, (24FEB1956), Volume 123, Number 3191, pp. 309-314.
DISCLAIMER
Dr. Kotsanis’ methods are based upon his personal clinical experience treating patients for over twenty seven years, as well as review of published scientific literature and medical studies. Dr. Kotsanis integrates both mainstream and complementary medicine. This practice, known as integrative and functional medicine embraces principles and treatment methods which may or may not be accepted or embraced by conventional medicine providers, individual physicians or other health care institutions.
About Constantine A. Kotsanis, M.D.
Private medical practice focused upon patient wellness and anti-aging. Specialties include integrative cancer therapy IPT, allergy, autism spectrum, nutrition and research in stem cell therapy. He treats patients based on the individuals physical, metabolic, and biochemical makeup. He combines nutrition counseling, anti-aging therapies for different ailments. Dr. K. has been a practicing physician for twenty-five years. He conducts research, treats and educates physicians and patients alike. His mission is to change the way health is delivered to the world one person at a time. He is available for public speaking engagements to physicians and consumers on many medical topics.
