Identifying alternative cancer treatment methods
Published:Wednesday | April 17, 2024 | 12:06 AM
Cancer is a health problem responsible for one in six deaths worldwide. In 2020, there was an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases, and about 10 million cancer deaths globally. Cancer is a very complicated sequence of events, progressing gradually towards a generalised loss of growth control.
For many decades, there were only a few prominent options for cancer treatment. This included surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, as single treatments or in combination.
Recently, however, many pathways involved in cancer therapy have improved dramatically, with combinatorial strategies, involving multiple targeted therapies or traditional chemotherapeutics, such as the taxanes and platinum compounds, being found to have a synergistic effect.
New approaches, such as drugs, biological molecules, and immune therapies, are being used for treatment.
At present, over half of the world’s ongoing medical treatment trials are focused on cancer treatments. A variety of factors, such as the type of cancer, its site, and severity, guide the selection of appropriate treatment options and its progress. The most widely used traditional treatment methods are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, while modern modalities include hormone therapy, anti-angiogenic, stem cell therapies, immunotherapy, and dendritic cell-based immunotherapy.
According to Dr Andre Williams, integrative oncologist at Teshuva Wellness, many patients are now opting to utilise non-conventional or alternate cancer treatment methods.
“Cancer is a complex disease, and its treatment requires a multi-modal approach. Conventional cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy, have been the standard of care for many years. However, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in alternative cancer treatments, which offer a more holistic approach and often have fewer side effects,” Dr Williams said.
“Many patients are opting to try the non-conventional or complementary methods of treatments; however, the same treatment should not apply or be prescribed for everyone. We must assess the person, not just the disease. At Teshuva Wellness, we always take a look at the emotional and nutritional history of the person and select the appropriate tools, rather than just giving everyone the same treatment,” Dr Williams added.
WELLNESS STRATEGIES
Alternative cancer treatments are non-traditional approaches that are often used in conjunction with, or instead of, conventional treatments.
“Patients may seek alternative cancer treatments for a variety of reasons, including: a desire for a holistic approach to healing, the hope of avoiding potentially toxic treatments, or a dissatisfaction with conventional treatment options. Some alternative cancer treatments are rooted in traditional medicine practices from other cultures, while others are based on a variety of alternative health philosophies,” Dr Williams said.
Dr Williams has been extensively trained as a conventional oncologist, and has received an international award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, for his work in a developing country. He has also done further international training in proven nutrition and wellness strategies.
He believes the body was built to heal itself, and employs his wealth of experience to guide you towards complete wellness. “In 2016, when I started this journey, I knew that I was not happy with the limited treatment options I had to offer. I decided to become internationally certified in both the Gerson Therapy and the Gonzalez Protocol. The Gerson Therapy is a decades-old approach to treating cancer and other chronic illnesses, using aggressive nutrition. The Gonzalez Protocol was pioneered by Dr Nicholas Gonzalez and similarly employs powerful, proven nutritional therapies, coupled with high doses of pancreatic enzymes and safe detoxification routines,” Dr Williams said.
Dr Williams, who is also certified in Basic and Advanced Prolozone therapy techniques by the American Academy of Ozonotherapy, said a good cancer treatment protocol includes nutrition, removal of toxic material, and support to assist the body to repair.
Dietary modifications involve making changes in a person’s eating habits, to help boost immunity and reduce the risk of cancer. Some dietary modifications that have been shown to be effective include reducing the intake of processed foods and sugar and increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, some alternative cancer treatments recommend incorporating organic food and plant-based diets.
Herbal remedies are often used, and include natural plant-based medicines that are used in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Some of the popular herbal remedies used in cancer treatment include turmeric, garlic, and green tea, among others. These remedies contain natural compounds that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
“Unfortunately, most traditional treatments focus on destroying the cancer rather than helping the body to rebuild itself. Depending on the case, patients are sometimes recommended to do chemotherapy; however, we also recommend that this type of treatment be accompanied by good nutrition,” Dr Williams said.
HOLISTIC SUPPORT
Jamaica, he said, is uniquely positioned to become a leader in cancer care as the majority of the cancer-fighting foods grow naturally in Jamaica. Some of these foods include soursop, moringa, breadfruit, turmeric, guinea hen weed and cassava.
“Natural foods provide numerous essential vitamins, and the plants grow without any needing maintenance. The thrust should be for Jamaicans to recognise that we can grow food without the added chemicals; organic foods that can help with in our fight against many diseases,” he said.
The most widely recommended conventional cancer treatment strategies include surgical resection of the tumours followed by radiotherapy with X-rays and or chemotherapy. Of these modalities, surgery is most effective at an early stage of the disease. Radiation therapy can damage healthy cells, organs, and tissues. Although chemotherapy has reduced morbidity and mortality, virtually all chemotherapeutic agents damage healthy cells, especially rapidly dividing and growing cells.
Drug resistance, a major problem with chemotherapy, is a phenomenon wherein cancer cells that initially were suppressed by an anti-cancer drug develop resistance to the drug. This is caused primarily by reduced drug uptake and increased drug efflux. Limitations of conventional chemotherapeutic modality, such as dosage selection difficulty, lack of specificity, rapid drug metabolism, and mainly harmful side effects.
“Many people are looking for one single treatment method or even a single supplement that is going to cure their illness. This is not a reasonable expectation. The body was created to repair itself, and healing requires the body’s participation. Depending on the case, multiple methods may be used to heal the body heal, and recovery will depend entirely on the holistic support the body receives,” Dr Williams said.