Chris Wark was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer when he was just 26
years old. After undergoing colon surgery to remove the cancer, he made the
controversial decision not to follow his conventional doctors’
recommendations to do chemotherapy. Instead, Wark turned to nutritional and
alternative healing, a journey that he documents in his bestselling 2018
book,
Chris Beats Cancer.
As detailed in the book, Wark’s cousin Jeff was also diagnosed with
colon cancer: Stage IV. Jeff was told that the cancer was not curable.
With chemotherapy, he could live up to two years. Without it, he would
die in six months, according to the doctors. Although Jeff’s mother
urged him to talk to his cousin, Jeff told his mother that he and
Chris were very different people and that he “didn’t buy into fads or
self-help books.”
Although the surgery to remove the cancer appeared to be successful,
chemotherapy made him sick and depressed. Tumors began growing in his
liver and abdomen. Jeff died three months after his diagnosis. He was
49 years old.
But the idea of poisoning himself back to health using chemotherapy made
no sense to Wark. Instead, he adopted an
all-whole foods organic raw diet, found a
holistic oncologist
who was willing to treat him using a natural and non-toxic approach, and
also sought out alternative treatments, including counseling, acupuncture,
and chiropractic care. Nearly two decades later, Wark is cancer-free, the
father of two, the author of three bestselling books, and the host of a
popular podcast.
“I eliminated everything in my life that may have contributed to my
[cancer],” Wark told The Epoch Times.
Colorectal Cancer: Ivermectin and Fenbendazole
A rapidly growing subcategory in the treatment of cancer is the
utilization of prescription drugs originally approved for treating
conditions other than cancer. Such off-label use of drugs has taken
the world of integrative oncology by storm.
This is a review of 13 case reports of ivermectin and/or fenbendazole
for colorectal cancer. Read more at "
Ivermectin Increases Bifidobacterium within 24 Hrs
Colorectal Cancer and Aspirin
Interestingly, research has shown colonoscopies may be unnecessary if
you're taking daily aspirin. While this may sound too good to be true,
researchers found that aspirin can, in fact, eliminate certain cancerous
tumors, such as liver tumors. (
R)
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2017 (
R,
R) also concluded that aspirin was as effective for preventing colorectal
cancer incidence and death thereof as screening with flexible
sigmoidoscopy or FOBT, and aspirin was actually more effective for
preventing death from cancer in the proximal colon. As reported by the
authors of that analysis (
R):
"The effect of aspirin on colorectal cancer mortality was
similar to FOBT and flexible sigmoidoscopy. Aspirin was more effective
than FOBT and flexible sigmoidoscopy in preventing death from or cancer
in the proximal colon. Aspirin was equally effective as screening in
reducing colorectal cancer incidence, while flexible sigmoidoscopy was
superior to FOBT.
Conclusions: Low-dose aspirin seems to be
equally effective as flexible sigmoidoscopy or guaiac FOBT screening to
reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality, and more effective for
cancers in the proximal colon. A randomized comparative effectiveness
trial of aspirin vs. screening is warranted."
There is even a study (
R) of over 600,000 men and women in which aspirin use at least 16 times
per month was associated with a 40% reduced risk of colon cancer mortality
over the six-year study period.
A
2016 study in JAMA Oncology also found aspirin use staved off colorectal
cancer. This study included nearly 136,000 people who were followed for 32
years. Taking either a 325 mg tablet or an 81 mg tablet at least twice a
week reduced overall cancer incidence by 3%, the risk for gastrointestinal
cancer by 15% and colorectal cancer by 19%.
What might explain these findings? Well, there are several potential
mechanisms by which aspirin can be helpful against cancer, including the
following:
-
Aspirin is a prostaglandin inhibitor, so it can help address hormone
imbalances that contribute to colorectal cancer development
-
It lowers your iron, which is another potential cancer contributor
- It has anti-inflammatory effects
-
It has anti-lipolytic effects, so it inhibits insulin resistance and
Type 2 diabetes, both of which are risk factors for cancer
If you decide to implement this recommendation it is likely that taking
one regular aspirin a day, preferably with your largest meal to avoid any
gastrointestinal damage, would be the best strategy. If you are taking
blood thinners, are very sick, or are on multiple medications, using
willow bark would likely be a safer option.
Best Natural Aspirin Alternative and Aspirin Purchasing Guidelines
If you decide to use aspirin, avoid coated extended-release versions due
to their additives. Opt for immediate-release aspirin, which can be found
on
Amazon. Check the inactive ingredients list carefully — corn starch should be
the only one listed.
If you're sensitive to aspirin, consider using a salicylic acid or
willow bark supplement instead. When you take aspirin, your body
metabolizes the acetylsalicylic acid into salicylic acid, which is
responsible for aspirin's anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and
antithrombotic effects. This compound is naturally found in willow
bark.
Willow bark stands out as a compelling natural
alternative to aspirin, embodying the age-old wisdom of traditional
medicine. Unlike synthetic pharmaceuticals, willow bark's active compounds
have coexisted with human biochemistry for millennia, resulting in a
natural affinity that modern drugs struggle to replicate.
This harmony stems from our ancestors' long-standing consumption of small
amounts of these compounds, allowing our bodies to adapt and utilize them
efficiently.
While 240 mg to 600 mg of willow bark extract (15% salicin) is often
estimated to provide a salicin dose that is roughly equivalent to 325 mg of
aspirin, due to the differences in metabolism and bioavailability between
salicin and aspirin, the total amount of willow bark extract needed is
typically larger.
For dosage, to approximate the effects of 81 mg
of aspirin, you would need 400 mg to 800 mg of willow bark extract
standardized to 15% salicin. To match the effects of 111 mg of aspirin, you
would need 500 mg to 1 gram of willow bark extract standardized to 15%
salicin.
Overall, aspirin is a versatile and underappreciated
medication with a wide array of health benefits beyond its well-known
cardiovascular applications. From cancer prevention to potential treatments
for liver disease and cognitive decline, aspirin's diverse effects warrant
further research and consideration.
Its metabolic impacts and
potential to influence hormone balance add another layer to its therapeutic
potential. The breadth of aspirin's potential benefits suggests that this
common, inexpensive medication may have more to offer than health
authorities are acknowledging in supporting overall health and preventing
various chronic conditions.
Coffee for Colorectal Cancer
In a large group of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer,
consumption of a few cups of coffee a day was associated with longer
survival and a lower risk of the cancer worsening, researchers at
Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and other organizations
report in a study published by
JAMA Oncology (2020).
The findings, based on data from a large observational study nested in a
clinical trial, are in line with earlier studies showing a connection
between regular coffee consumption and improved outcomes in patients
with non-metastatic colorectal cancer.
Exercise Helps Colon Cancer Survivors Live as Long as Cancer-Free Peers
In a 2025 study published in the American Cancer Society, researchers from Louisiana State University (LSU) found that exercisers with colon cancer may live approximately as long as those without it.
The authors assessed data from two post-treatment clinical trials involving 2,876 people with stage 3 colon cancer. Stage 3 colon cancer means that the cancer has spread beyond the colon to nearby lymph nodes but hasn’t yet reached distant organs. Participants self-reported their exercise levels following cancer surgery, as well as during and after chemotherapy. Researchers then compared this data with that from the general population, matched according to sex, age, and year.
The pooled data from the two trials indicated that among the 1,908 individuals alive in the third year following cancer treatment, those who engaged in less than three MET (metabolic equivalent) hours had a 3.1 percent lower likelihood of surviving three additional years, whereas those exercising 18 or more MET hours per week had a 2.9 percent higher likelihood of survival.
Three MET hours is the equivalent of one hour of brisk walking, while 18 MET hours equate to five hours of brisk walking, lead author Justin C. Brown of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center told The Epoch Times in an email.
“This new information can help patients with colon cancer understand how factors that they can control—their physical activity levels—can have a meaningful impact on their long-term prognosis,” said Brown in a
press statement.
This study builds on findings from a 2022
study by the same group of LSU researchers. The earlier study suggested that exercise can prevent, as opposed to delay, cancer recurrence. Findings demonstrated that in patients with a history of colon cancer, those who were physically active had improved survival rates three years after surgical resection compared to those who were inactive.
Protecting Your Colon Health Starts With Protecting Your Gut Health
The health of your gut affects that of your entire body, which is why
protecting your colon health shares many of the same principles as
protecting your gut health. For instance, according to one study,
dried plums (i.e. prunes) may lower your risk of colon cancer by building your
gut bacteria.
13
Adequate fiber is also important. For every 10 grams of fiber you add to
your daily diet, your risk of colon cancer decreases by 10%.14 Well-cooked vegetables are your best source of fiber. Overall, I
believe about 25 to 50 grams of fiber per 1,000 calories consumed daily is
an ideal amount to aim for.
Fermented foods are also gaining recognition as an important tool for both gut
health and disease prevention, including colon cancer. For example,
butyrate, a short-chain fat created when microbes ferment dietary fiber in
your gut, has been shown to induce programmed cell death of colon cancer
cells.
15
In short, eating a high-vegetable,
fiber- and fermented food-rich diet is key for preventing colon cancer, and the reason for this is
directly related to the way it affects your gut microbiome. According to
one study, "intestinal bacteria can act in concert with diet to reduce or
increase the risk of certain types of colorectal cancer." (16)
Keep in mind that while fiber can nourish your gut microbiome, it can also
feed endotoxin-producing bacteria if your gut health is compromised.
Therefore, it’s important to introduce fiber-rich foods gradually and
carefully into your diet.
There is a significant connection
between the state of your gut microbiome and colorectal cancer risk, which
is strongly influenced by your diet. Your gut is a complex ecosystem housing
trillions of bacteria—both beneficial and harmful—that play essential roles
in digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune function.
Consuming
a poor diet high in ultraprocessed foods, vegetable oils, and linoleic acid
(LA) not only inhibits the growth of beneficial bacteria but also promotes
the proliferation of pathogenic, endotoxin-producing bacteria. This
imbalance triggers chronic inflammation in the gut, creating an environment
that increases the risk of colon cancer.
Avoid Antibiotic-Laden CAFO Meats and Processed Meats
Both processed meats and red CAFO meats have been linked to colon cancer,
and it's important to understand that many of these contain antibiotic
residues as well as other compounds that may influence your cancer risk.
Processed meats, such as bacon, ham, pastrami, salami, pepperoni, hot dogs and some
sausages, are those preserved by smoking, curing, salting or adding chemical
preservatives. The nitrates found in processed meats are frequently
converted into nitrosamines, which are clearly associated with an increased
risk of certain cancers.
A 2007 analysis by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) found that eating
just one sausage a day may raise your risk of bowel cancer.17 Specifically,
1.8 ounces of processed meat daily — about one sausage or three pieces of
bacon — was found to raise your likelihood of cancer by 20%.
Research also suggests that people who eat the most red meat (in one study
this was 5 ounces a day) have a 24% greater risk of colorectal cancer than
those who eat the least.18 Red meat is likely not the problem in and of
itself, however; the way it's cooked, and the source it comes from, likely
play a role. Grass fed beef, for instance, contains cancer-fighting
compounds.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S., aside from
skin cancers, as well as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths
in women, and the third in men.19 More than 95,500 cases of colon cancer
were expected to be diagnosed in 2017, according to the American Cancer
Society, so taking steps to prevent it is important.
The study author suggests using this low protein diet at specific points in chemo or other treatments and says low protein alone is not enough. Do some more reading before taking this writer's words on the topic.
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