If you have been diagnosed with cancer, or have a loved one that is suffering
from cancer, chances are you have heard about many alternatives to conventional
(chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy) cancer treatment. We have seen
tremendous demand for some sort of guide on how to sort out the good from the
bad, and supporting evidence on treatments that are proven effective and
safe.
Traditional mainstream media often overlooks such information
due to a profit-driven focus. This leaves many people confused about the role of
alternatives in cancer prevention and treatment. We have to shovel through a lot
of dirt to find the gold.
This is a review of the published
literature showing options for natural strategies and repurposed drugs that can
be used in cancer prevention and treatment. It is not intended as a stand-alone
guide to treating cancer. Nothing in this document should be taken as a basis to
initiate treatment without guidance or avoid any treatment prescribed by your
treating physician. This information is offered as a basis to assist mutual
decision-making.
Note: Cancer care should always be supervised by a healthcare provider.
Patients with cancer should ALWAYS consult with their regular oncologist as
well as an integrative provider/oncologist, in addition to their primary
care provider.
Summary of Top Alternatives and Complementary Cancer Treatment
List based on the quality of evidence.
- Avoid Ultra Processed Foods
- Vitamin D3, Omega 3 and Cancer
- Fenbendazole / Mebendazole / Albendazole and Cancer
- Turmeric (Curcumin)
- Vitamin C
- Magnesium and Molecular Hydrogen
- Metformin
- Ivermectin and Cancer
- Melatonin
- Mistletoe
- Aspirin and Celecoxib (COX-2 Inhibitor)
- Statins
- Hyperthermia
- HyperBaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
- Gerson Therapy / Protocol
Methodology
For evidence, we include first meta-analyses of clinical trials. If these
are not available, we then include individual clinical trials. If these are
not available, we include case series, and then case studies. If human
studies are not available, we rely on preclinical evidence.
The
Repurposing Drugs in Oncology (ReDO) project has cataloged 268 approved drugs with anticancer effects. It would be
impossible to review all the drugs in ReDo’s database in this article;
rather, we have focused on, curated and evaluated the drugs or natural
compounds that appear to have the greatest clinical utility.
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Diverse cancer hallmarks targeted by repurposed non-oncology
drugs. This figure was created with Biorender.com.
Source: Nature 2024
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Chemotherapy has survival advantage on 'chemotherapy curable
cancers' (left column) but chemotherapy does not have survival
benefit for most cancers on the right column: FLCCC Alliance
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Best Alternative Cancer Treatment Therapies
1. Diet and Cancer
Avoid Ultra Processed Foods
A
2024 umbrella review* (BMJ) of the literature confirmed what multiple studies
have shown — the higher your intake of ultraprocessed food, the
higher your risk of adverse health outcomes. The analysis,
which included 45 unique pooled analyses and 9,888,373
participants, found direct associations between 32 health
parameters and exposure to
ultra processed food, including metabolic dysfunction, cancer, mental, respiratory,
cardiovascular and gastrointestinal issues, as well as all-cause
mortality.
*Umbrella review: An umbrella review, or a review of reviews,
is a systematic review that only considers other systematic
reviews as an eligible study type for inclusion. An umbrella
review compiles evidence from multiple existing reviews and is
one of the strongest and highest levels of evidence.
Another
umbrella review*, published in May 2024 in PLOS One, evaluated 48 previous
reviews and meta-analyses published between 2000 and 2023 and
concluded that
vegetarian or vegan diets “significantly reduce the risk” of ischemic heart
disease, gastrointestinal cancer, and prostate cancer, as well
as associated mortality.
Caution: What are the nutrients of concern for vegetarians
and vegans? Vitamin B12 and K2. Anybody who is eating a vegan
diet or a vegetarian diet or just a mostly plant-based diet
should be taking vitamin B12 and K2 supplements. Vitamin B12
is only found in significant amounts in animal products and
fortified foods, and a deficiency can cause anemia, mood
changes, or permanent neurological damage. Plant-based diets
may also be low in vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and
minerals like iodine, selenium, iron, and zinc.
Evidence from another umbrella review (
BMJ 2023) of more than 8,000 studies supports the limiting dietary sugar
recommendation.
Another
2023 umbrella review (more than 100 studies analysed) of the literature
indicated that a high intake of dietary fiber is associated with a
reduced risk of several types of cancer, including esophageal,
gastric, colon, rectal, colorectal adenoma, breast, endometrial,
ovarian, renal cell, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. Conclusion:
Dietary fiber intake has different protective effects on different
cancers.
According to a 2019 Lancet publication, risk reduction associated with a range of critical outcomes was
greatest when daily intake of dietary fibre was between 25 g and 29 g.
Low-carbohydrate Diet and low glycemic index diet
A carbohydrate-restricted diet (less than 25 g of carbs per day) that is
high in saturated fat and Omega-3 fatty acids (ketogenic diet) is
suggested. Avoid all processed food (see the
FLCCC Guide to Fasting and Healthy Eating for more detailed guidance). Contrary to current dogma, saturated
fatty acids are “healthy,” but you should avoid processed Omega-6
vegetable oils (see below). Avoid foods that are high on the
glycemic index and follow the “hacks” to flatten the blood glucose curve
(see below).

The saturated fat-cholesterol hoaxThe
Cholesterol-Saturated fatty acid
hoax began to proliferate in the 1960s. Dr. Ancel Keys popularized the
notion that saturated fats and high cholesterol were the primary causes
of atherosclerotic heart disease — the so-called
Diet-Heart Hypothesis. This concept has been vigorously studied, including in many
randomized controlled trials, and has been convincingly proven to be
false (
BMJ 2016). Indeed, replacing saturated fats with a diet high in vegetable oils
(linoleic acid) was associated with higher rates of death,
cardiovascular and coronary heart disease as well as a significantly
increased risk of cancer (
BMJ 2013).
Healthy and unhealthy oils
Avoid seed oils high in linoleic acid (Omega-6). Linoleic acid is an Omega-6 fatty
acid that our bodies require in small amounts. Unfortunately, many
people eat up to 10 times the desired amount of linoleic acid, because
of excess consumption of foods made with seed oils. Too much linoleic
acid is associated with inflammation, obesity, heart disease, and other
unfavorable conditions. Therefore, avoid:
• Soybean oil
• Corn oil
• Cottonseed oil
• Sunflower oil
• Sesame oil
• Grapeseed oil
• Safflower oil
• Margarine
• Rice bran oil
Instead, opt for healthy oils and fats such as the ones listed below.
Use only high-quality products and check production and expiration
dates.
• Olive oil (oleic acid, Omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids); never
heat olive oil to the point where it produces smoke.
• Avocado oil (oleic acid, Omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids)
• Coconut oil (medium chain fatty acid)
• Flaxseed oil (alpha-linolenic acid, ALA Omega-3)
• Walnut and Pecan oils; should be refrigerated to avoid
spoilage
• Butter (saturated fat)
Low-Carb, Keto Diet and Fasting Are Ill-Advised
You most likely have heard that keto diet and fasting are helpful for cancer patients?
As noted by Dr Peter Attia, weeklong fasting significantly
deteriorates thyroid function, and that can be explained by the lack
of nutrients during a fast. While he does not address this, the same
applies to low-carb eating and time-restricted eating (TRE). All
three of these strategies will activate your adrenals, trigger
cortisol release and down-regulate your thyroid function and
metabolism.
So, while low-carb and various fasting regimens can be helpful in
the short term to address extreme obesity, there are safer, albeit
slower, ways to address that. As explained in "
Important Information About Low Carb, Cortisol and Glucose", elevated cortisol is highly problematic, as it breaks down your
lean muscle, bones and brain to make amino acids that your liver
then converts to glucose. It also promotes inflammation and is a
primary driver of aging.
If cortisol is chronically elevated, you will likely die
prematurely, as it is highly catabolic, meaning it will break down
your body tissues. Cortisol is released when your body doesn’t have
enough glucose available, so it’s important to eat enough healthy carbs and not deprive your body of glucose for extended periods.
Low-carb/high-fat diets ultimately backfire because they inhibit
glucose metabolism, which is the most efficient form of energy
production in your mitochondria; they also impair thyroid function.
Your thyroid is crucial for energy production, and if your thyroid
doesn't work, you're down the creek without a paddle.
One
of the reasons for this is because ketogenic diets increase the
stress hormones — cortisol, glucagon and adrenaline. On the other
hand, one of the reasons why ketogenic and carnivore diets are
usually helpful for a time is because, if implemented properly,
you’re radically reducing your intake of omega-6 fats,
linoleic acid (LA) in particular, which is one of the primary drivers of
ill health.
Cautions and Concerns: Things to Consider Before Fasting
Fasting can have certain side effects, including mood swings
and, notably, hunger. In today’s culture, where snacking and
constant indulgence in food are common, fasting can be seen as
equivalent to starvation.
Dr. Jason Fung, a
nephrologist and fasting expert, however, would argue that
fasting is a purposeful way of managing one’s day by allocating
specific times for eating.
The benefits of fasting
can vary among individuals, and the preferred type of fasting
can also differ. Intermittent fasting is generally safe, but not
everyone responds well to prolonged fasting.
During
prolonged fasts, the body primarily breaks down fat for energy
rather than muscle. However, the extent to which fat or muscle
is targeted can vary based on an individual’s body composition.
Those who have more fat to lose may lose more fat and less
muscle, while those with higher muscle mass may experience a
greater breakdown of protein stores.
Studies have
shown that lean muscle mass loss occurs within the first day of
prolonged fasting, regardless of an individual’s fat and muscle
proportions. Therefore, individuals with significant muscle mass
may experience more muscle loss and less fat loss during
prolonged fasting.
There are different approaches to
incorporating fasting into one’s lifestyle, such as intermittent
fasting or longer fasting periods every few months. Social
norms, like having dinner together, can discourage extended
fasting, so it’s important to choose a fasting style that suits
one’s lifestyle and preferences.
However it should be
noted that intermittent fasting is not recommended for:
-
Older people are notorious for getting frail very quickly
if they skip even one meal. They don’t eat very often, but
they need their meal. If you don’t give it to them, they
can very quickly decline.
-
Extended fasting is also not a healthy long term strategy as
it increases your stress hormones and worsens mitochondrial
function.
-
People with diabetes and kidney disease are also recommended
to check with their primary care physicians before
considering intermittent fasting.
-
Those taking hypoglycemic or antihypertensive medication are
particularly at risk, as they may end up overdosing. If
you're on medication, you need to work with your doctor to
ensure safety, as some medications need to be taken with
food and/or can become toxic when your body chemistry
normalizes.
-
People younger than the age of 18, as it can prevent
growth.
-
Pregnant and breastfeeding women are also not recommended to
fast intermittently.
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Credit: FLCCC 2024 Conference
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2. Vitamin D3 and Omega 3
A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 RCTs
(randomized controlled trials), published in Ageing Research
Reviews (
Kuznia 2023) found vitamin D3 supplementation reduced cancer mortality
by 6%. This wasn’t considered statistically significant, but
when only studies involving daily vitamin D intake were
analyzed, cancer mortality dropped by a significant 12%.
The first randomized-controlled trial (DO-HEALTH) trial
to investigate the combination of three complementary
treatments for the prevention of cancer and suggest that
the combination of daily vitamin D3, supplemental marine
omega-3s, and a simple home exercise program may be
effective in the prevention of invasive cancer among
generally healthy and active adults aged 70 and older.
Findings from a 3 year Randomized Controlled Trial
with more than 2,000 participants observed a 61%
reduction in the risk of invasive cancer among
patients who completed a home exercise program and took vitamin D3 and omega-3 fatty acids daily.
A Secondary Analysis of the VITAL Randomized Clinical
Trial studied the effect of Vitamin D3 Supplements on
Development of Advanced Cancer. The Harvard research,
published in the
JAMA Network Open medical journal (2020), overturns the initial findings of a study
of 25,000 people published in 2018.
Initially researchers believed there was no benefit
from taking vitamin D, as they detected no reduced
incidence of cancer diagnoses overall. But they were
puzzled because cancer deaths went down among those taking
the supplements. Meaning, there was no benefit in terms of
prevention of cancer but a reduction in cancer deaths was
observed.
A secondary analysis, found this
anomaly can be explained by the fact that vitamin D seems
to stop metastatic cancers - those aggressive types which
spread to other parts of the body. That said, when
stratified by BMI (body mass index), there was no
significant reduction for the vitamin D arm in incident
metastatic or fatal cancer among those with overweight or
obesity (BMI 25-<30).
The cancers for which the most human data are
available
are colorectal, breast, prostate,
and pancreatic cancer. Numerous epidemiologic
studies have shown that higher intake or blood levels of
vitamin D are associated with a reduced risk
of colorectal cancer (
R). In contrast, the Women’s Health Initiative
randomized trial found that healthy women who took
vitamin D and
calcium supplements for an average of 7 years did not
have a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer (
NEJM 2006). Some scientists have pointed out that the relatively
low level of vitamin D supplementation (10 μg, or 400
IU, once a day), the ability of participants to take
additional vitamin D on their own, and the short
duration of participant follow-up in this trial might
explain why no reduction in colorectal cancer risk was
found.
According to BreastCancer.org, research suggestsTrusted Source that certain cancers such as breast
cancer, can have a higher risk of occurring
when the body has low levels of vitamin
D.
Studies also show a link between vitamin D
deficiency and cardiovascular disease, diabetes,
and cancer (Sizar, 2020).
In 2016, a landmark study published in PLOS ONE found that women
over 55 with blood concentrations of vitamin D
higher than 40 ng/ml, had a 67% lower risk of
cancer compared women with levels lower than
20 ng/ml.
Many experts now recommend 800 to 1,000 IU
a day, a goal that's nearly impossible to
attain without taking a supplement. Although
protection is far from proven, evidence
suggests that vitamin D may help reduce the
risk of prostate cancer, colon cancer, and
other malignancies.
Types of cancers that Vitamin D may be
beneficial for
Vitamin D supplementation is likely
beneficial in most cancers, but particularly
in patients with breast, colorectal,
gastric, esophagus, lung, and prostate
cancer as well as those with lymphomas and
melanoma.
Although the role of vitamin D in cancer
prevention remains an area of research
interest and debate, avoiding deficient
levels is recommended. (American Cancer Society 2020)
Vitamin D can also be absorbed through
sunlight, or with the following diet:
- fatty fish
- egg yolks
- fortified milk
Make sure to take 500 mg to 1000 mg of magnesium and 150
mcg of vitamin K2, (not K1) which are important
cofactors for optimizing vitamin D function. And,
remember the only way you know what your vitamin D level
is, is to test it. Vitamin D level should be in a
therapeutic range of 50 to 70 ng/ml for treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis. Most people are shocked how low
their level is when they finally get around to testing
it.
Vitamin D and Chemotherapy
Multiple studies indicate that a significant proportion of
cancer patients are vitamin D-deficient (level < 20
ng/mL) and that higher plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels
are associated with improved survival in colorectal,
breast, gastric, and lymphoma cancer patients [
Systematic Review 2014]. Meta-analyses and clinical trials demonstrate
that vitamin D supplementation may reduce cancer mortality
and improve survival in cancer patients, especially when
used in combination with chemotherapy (
Meta-analysis 2023). SUNSHINE (
JAMA 2019), a clinical trial on metastatic colorectal cancer
patients, showed that “high-dose” vitamin D3 (aiming for a
level of >50 ng/mL) combined with standard chemotherapy
resulted in improved progression-free survival compared to
standard-dose vitamin D3.
3. Turmeric (Curcumin): Prevention and Treatment
Studies show that the curcumin in turmeric may kill cancer cells
and slow tumor growth. This preclinical research has taken
curcumin from the lab to the clinic.
The benefits of curcumin may include:
- blocking cancer cells from multiplying
-
killing colon, breast, prostate, and melanoma cancer
cells
- slowing tumor growth
Most of the studies published on PubMed are non-human
(pre-clinical) studies.
A
review paper published in 2022, analysed 21 human studies.
Sixteen out of 21 clinical trials were associated with
the effectiveness of curcumin or turmeric on various
types of cancer, and the other five clinical trials
were related to the evaluation of the efficacy of
curcumin or turmeric in relieving the side effects of
cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The emerging
data from the clinical trials confirm that curcumin
has the potential for cancer prevention and
intervention.
Significantly, the active elements in curcumin attack cancer
while leaving healthy cells untouched. For the purpose of
disease intervention, while turmeric is available in
powdered form, it contains very little of the active
compounds in curcumin, or only about a 3% curcumin
concentration.
Because it's not easily absorbed through your
gastrointestinal tract, it's more effective to use a
high-quality bioavailable curcumin extract, according to
a
2013 study. A typical anticancer dose is just under 1 teaspoon of
curcumin extract three or four times daily.
Both curcuminoids and related turmeric products have
been sanctioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) as safe.
Turmeric and black pepper each have health benefits,
due to the compounds curcumin and piperine. As piperine
enhances curcumin absorption in the body by up to 2,000%,
combining the spices magnifies their effects. (
Healthline)
The use of fenbendazole and curcumin, has achieved much
attention due to the reported experience of
Joe Tippens. In 2016, Tippens was diagnosed with non-small-cell lung
cancer with extensive metastatic disease. At the advice of
a veterinarian friend, he took Fenbendazole together
with
nanocurcumin, and three months after starting these drugs his PET
scan was completely clear. He remains alive and
disease-free up until the present.
4. Fenbendazole / Mebendazole / Albendazole and Cancer
The use of benzimidazoles in cancer is limited to a few case
reports and a small case series (
Chiang 2021). Mebendazole (MBZ) is a component of the multidrug cocktail
used in the METRICS study (
Agrawal 2019). The use of benzimidazoles, and in particular
fenbendazole, has achieved much attention as a repurposed drug
for cancer due to the reported experience of
Joe Tippens. In 2016, Tippens was diagnosed with non-small-cell lung
cancer with extensive metastatic disease. At the advice of a
veterinarian friend, he took Fenbendazole together with
nanocurcumin, and three months after starting these drugs his
PET scan was completely clear. He remains alive and disease-free
up until the present.
Types of cancers that mebendazole may be beneficial
for
A wide variety of cancers, including NSCLC (non small cell lung
cancer), adrenocortical, colorectal, chemo-resistant melanoma,
glioblastoma multiforme, colon, leukemia, osteosarcoma/soft
tissue sarcoma, acute myeloid sarcoma, breast (ER+ invasive
ductal), kidney, and ovarian carcinoma, have been shown to be
responsive to benzimidazoles, including MBZ. (
Guerini 2019,
Meco 2023)
Dosing and cautions
We suggest Mebendazole 100-200 mg/day. The cost of mebendazole
in the U.S. skyrocketed once this drug was discovered to have
activity against cancer ($555 for a single 100 mg tablet).
However, mebendazole is available from international compounding
pharmacies (India) at about 27c for a 100 mg tablet.
Read More: Fenbendazole Cancer Success Stories and Treatment
Testimonials: Case Series
Numerous trials have shown that metformin, routinely
used to treat diabetes, also inhibits the development of
cancer cells and reduces cancer cell proliferation. Unlike
most standard chemotherapy, metformin suppresses cancer stem
cells, the root of cancer. (
Shi 2017)
Many cancer patients also have type-2 diabetes. Yet few take
metformin because treating diabetes has taken a backseat to
treating their cancer. We check hemoglobin A1c status on all our
cancer patients. The medical standard of care is to prescribe
metformin for anyone with a 5.8% or higher A1c.
Clinical studies
The results of the
Taiwan National Health Insurance Data Survey (2019), which included a community of 12,005 patients
taking metformin from 2000 to 2007 and a population of 4,597
patients taking other oral medications, indicated that using
metformin reduces the chance of any type of cancer up to 88%.
Meta-analyses have examined the role of metformin in the
primary prevention of cancer, where it was found to
significantly reduce overall cancer incidence (
Gandini 2014).
Lega et al (2014) performed a meta-analysis of 21
observational studies, evaluating the outcomes of diabetic
patients with cancer who were receiving metformin. In this
study, metformin was associated with a reduction in all-cause
mortality and cancer-specific mortality; patients with
colorectal cancer demonstrated the greatest benefit.
In a similar analysis performed by
Yin et al (2013), metformin improved overall survival in patients
with lung, breast, and prostate cancer.
Coyle et al (2016) performed a meta-analysis of 27 observational
studies which investigated the use of metformin as an
adjunctive treatment for cancer. The findings of this study
suggested that metformin was associated with significant
benefit in the early treatment of patients with colorectal and
prostate cancer, particularly in those receiving radical
radiotherapy.
Types of cancers that metformin may be beneficial
for
A
2023 meta-analysis revealed a 45% risk reduction in thyroid cancer among
metformin users in Eastern countries, a phenomenon which was
more evident in Asian populations than their Western
counterparts.
Another extensive
2022 meta-analysis ascertained a notably lower gynecological cancer
occurrence in those undergoing metformin treatment compared
to alternative therapies (gynecological cancer: HR = 0.60,
95% CI: 0.49–0.74; endometrial cancer: HR = 0.65, 95% CI:
0.50–0.85; ovarian cancer: HR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.27–0.82).
Various malignancies can be prevented with the use of
metformin. In general, metformin can: i) lower cancer
incidence, ii) lower cancer mortality, iii) improve cancer
cell response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, iv) optimize
tumor migration and lower malignancy, v) lower relapse risk,
and vi) lessen the harmful effects of androgen derivatives.
(
Saraei 2019)
Collective findings show that metformin has a broad spectrum
of anticancer activity against breast, pancreatic, gastric,
colorectal, endometrial, pancreatic prostate, non-small cell
lung cancer (NSCLC), and bladder cancers. (
Buczyńska 2022,
Stopsack 2016,
Mei 2014) However, the greatest benefit may be in patients with
colorectal and prostate cancer, (
Stopsack 2016,
Mei 2014), particularly when used as an adjunctive therapy.
Dosing and cautions
A dose of metformin of 1,000 mg twice daily is suggested.
Metformin is a remarkably safe drug with very few side
effects. The most common adverse effects include abdominal or
stomach discomfort, cough, hoarseness, decreased appetite, and
diarrhea. Prolonged use is associated with vitamin B12
deficiency; supplementation with a B complex vitamin is
therefore suggested. Metformin may cause very low blood
glucose when combined with berberine; hence the blood glucose
should be very closely monitored in patients taking this
combination; if low glucose does occur, we would suggest
alternating metformin and berberine (monthly).
Note: Preclinical, epidemiological, and clinical insights
have confirmed that metformin may act as a metabolic modulator
by targeting various molecular pathways. Thus, metformin is a
promising potent adjunct in anticancer regimens that could
potentially synergize with chemotherapy, targeted agents, and
immunomodulators.
6. Vitamin C (Prevention and Treatment)
Prevention
2022 - An
umbrella review* (Xu 2022) to assess the existing systematic reviews and
meta-analyses for the association between vitamin C intake
and multiple health outcomes; showed that vitamin C intake
was associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality,
cardiovascular disease (CVD), oesophageal cancer, gastric
cancer, cervical cancer and lung cancer with an increment of
50–100 mg per day.
Beneficial associations were also identified for
respiratory, neurological, ophthalmologic, musculoskeletal,
renal and dental outcomes. A total of 76 meta-analyses (51
papers) of randomised controlled trials and observational
studies with 63 unique health outcomes were identified.
Harmful associations were found for breast cancer and kidney
stones for vitamin C supplement intake.
*Umbrella review: An umbrella review, or a review of
reviews, is a systematic review that only considers other
systematic reviews as an eligible study type for
inclusion.
2022 - Obese women who took vitamin C and B6 at amounts
that exceeded the recommended daily intake levels were
associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, according
to a five-year long
South Korean cohort study. 40,432 women without a history of cancer at baseline
were included in this study.
2022 - A
meta-analysis to review the association between vitamins and brain cancer
showed that intake of vitamin C, β-carotene, and folate can
reduce the risk of brain cancer, while high serum
α-tocopherol (vitamin E) concentration also has a protective
effect on brain cancer.
Treatment - High Dose Vitamin C
2022 - A
systematic review on the effect of vitamins C and E on cancer survival
showed improvement of survival and progression rates of
cancers by vitamins C and E. However, the authors concluded
that more high quality trials with large sample sizes
are required to confirm.
2020 - Vitamin C is known as an antioxidant, but at high
concentrations, vitamin C can kill cancer cells through
a pro-oxidant property (
Transl Oncol. 2020). This study has also demonstrated that vitamin C
treatment with magnesium supplementation provided more
effective anticancer therapy than vitamin C treatment alone.
High-dose vitamin C cancer therapy was introduced by Linus
Pauling and Ewan Cameron [
R]. Clinical demonstration results by Pauling and Cameron
showed that intravenous injection of 10 g/day of vitamin C
extended the survival time of terminal cancer patients by
about 4.2 times. However, results from the Mayo Clinic in
1979 showed that the survival time of vitamin C–treated
patients was even shorter than that of the placebo group
patients [
R]. A significant difference between those two research
groups was the route of AA administration: intravenous
injection and oral administration, respectively.
To understand the mechanism of AA's anticancer activity,
many research groups have treated colon, prostate, leukemia,
lymphoma, brain, and stomach cancer cells and chemically or
genetically transformed cancer cells with AA and showed
cancer growth inhibition and even cancer cell death through
hydrogen peroxide–mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS)
generation [
R]. In most cases, the pharmacological concentration of
vitamin C required for anticancer effects (EC50 value of
1–10 mM) could only be achieved by intravenous
administration. Thus, to apply vitamin C as an
anticancer therapy, a high intracellular concentration in
cancer cells is critically important (
R).
Vitamin C and Aspirin
In laboratory tests, the
aspirin-vitamin C combination showed a strong cytotoxic effect on liver cancer cells but was
much less harmful to normal lung cells. This selectivity is
crucial for reducing the side effects associated with cancer
treatments. The synergy between these two common substances
appears to enhance their individual anticancer properties,
offering a safer alternative to harsh chemotherapies.
The
potential of aspirin and vitamin C extends beyond the lab,
with encouraging results in animal studies. When tested on
rats with chemically induced liver cancer, the combination
therapy
showed remarkable results. After 90 days of treatment, the livers of treated rats had
significant improvement in both appearance and function.
In
another study, the combination of aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic
acid (ASA), and vitamin C, or ascorbate (AS), showed superior
results in shrinking tumors compared to either compound alone.
When mice with solid tumors were treated with the combination,
their tumor volume decreased by 46%, versus 40% with ASA alone
and 36% with AS alone.
This synergistic effect
likely stems from combining aspirin's anti-inflammatory
properties with vitamin C’s potent antioxidant capabilities.
The two compounds appear to work together to create a more
hostile environment for cancer cells, impeding their growth
and proliferation.
By attacking tumors through
multiple mechanisms simultaneously, the aspirin-vitamin C
combination may overcome some of the adaptations cancer cells
typically develop to evade single-compound treatments.
Beyond
just shrinking tumors, the aspirin-vitamin C combination
significantly extended survival times and appeared to improve
overall health in the tumor-bearing mice. Mice treated with
the combination survived an average of 93.5 days, compared to
just 54 days for untreated tumor-bearing mice — a
73% increase in lifespan.
Vitamin C ChelationChelation therapy
uses chemicals or natural compounds to remove toxic metals from
the body. The word “chelate” means to grab on to something, which
describes chelating agents’ ability to grab on to toxins.
Generally, only holistic doctors and naturopaths use
chelation therapy because it is not an officially “approved
therapy” for most conditions in medicine today. When it is
employed in the medical system, however, it is most commonly used
to remove calcium deposits from arteries.
In a study
published in Free Radical Biology & Medicine, vitamin C
chelation therapy was found to be highly pro-oxidant after just
one hour of treatment. This benefit lasted more than 16 treatments
in the absence of nutrient supplementation and even
provided
“beneficial long-term antioxidant effects.”
Pro-oxidation
isn’t always good, but in this case it is.
It was
discovered that, “pro-oxidant effects appear to be responsible for
destroying tumor cells. These pro-oxidant effects may also induce
endogenous antioxidant systems in normal tissues that offer
protection against carcinogenic insult!”
Along with
vitamin C chelation,
consuming more vitamin C-rich foods
may also prevent and fight cancer.
7. Magnesium and Molecular Hydrogen
Magnesium and Colorectal Cancer
Several studies have demonstrated an association between high magnesium intake and reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC).
An analysis of the prospective, Swedish Mammography Cohort (
JAMA 2005), evaluated 61,433 women aged 40 to 75 without a history of cancer for a mean follow-up of 14.8 years. The highest quintile of magnesium intake was associated with a significantly lower risk of CRC compared with the lowest quintile. This benefit was observed for both colon and rectal cancers.
A case-control study evaluated 2204 subjects from the
Tennessee Colorectal Polyp Study (2007), which demonstrated that increasing total magnesium intake was significantly associated with decreasing risk of CR.. The highest tertile of dietary magnesium intake (>298 mg/day) was significantly associated with reduced risk of CRC in an age-adjusted model.
A study of 140,601 postmenopausal women from the
Women’s Health Initiative (2015) with an mean follow-up of 13 years demonstrated a significant reduction in CRC risk with the highest quintile of total magnesium intake compared with the lowest quintile of magnesium intake. The benefit was driven by colon cancer, with a trend for rectal cancer.
Magnesium and Pancreatic CancerA study of 66,806 subjects aged 50 to 76 at baseline from the Vitamins and Lifestyle cohort (
Nature 2015) evaluated magnesium intake and the incidence of pancreatic cancer during a mean follow-up of 6.8 years. Subjects with magnesium intake below the recommended dietary allowance were more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, particularly in those whose intake was less than 75% of the recommended dietary allowance. In this study, a 100 mg/day decrease in magnesium intake resulted in a 24% increase in risk of pancreatic cancer.
Molecular Hydrogen and Cancer
There is little evidence to show that molecular hydrogen can reduce the risk of cancer.
However, in terms of cancer treatment, studies involving the effects of H2 on cancer were systematically reviewed. More than 600 articles related to molecular hydrogen and cancer were retrieved from Cochrane, PubMed and Google Scholar, and 27 articles were included for this
systematic review (2023).
Based on the authors' analysis, "H2 plays a promising therapeutic role as an independent therapy as well as an adjuvant in combination therapy, resulting in an overall improvement in survivability, quality of life, blood parameters, and tumour reduction."
Although H2 has demonstrated significant anti-cancer effects, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. Many studies have shown that H2 therapy can reduce oxidative stress. This, however, contradicts radiation therapy and chemotherapy, in which ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) are required to induce apoptosis and combat cancer.
Note: Most Molecular Hydrogen tablets uses pure elemental magnesium as its carrier and provides you with approximately 80 mg of magnesium per tablet. So, you receive also highly bioavailable magnesium for a healthy brain, muscles, cells, kidneys, and heart.
8. Melatonin
PubMed has indexed more than 3,000 research studies on
melatonin and cancer.
Melatonin is one of the most important antioxidant molecules.
In the human body — aside from having direct antioxidant
effects — it also stimulates the synthesis of glutathione
and other important antioxidants like superoxide dismutase
and catalase.
Many people are not aware that only 5% of your body’s
melatonin — which is also a potent anticancer agent — is
produced in your pineal gland. The other 95% is produced
inside your mitochondria — provided you get sufficient near
infrared exposure which is typically from sun on your bare
skin. This is why vitamin D is more than likely a biomarker
for sun exposure, which is intricately involved in melatonin
production. (
R)
Melatonin - Treatment
"Survival at one year (P < 0.005) significantly
increased with cancer patients."
2020 - A case series of 14 advanced cancer patients (
Trends in Oncology 2020), treated with high dose (1,000 mg/day) of melatonin;
achieved a disease control of 54% of the patients:
"Moreover, this preliminary study may also suggest that
high dose melatonin has no toxicity in cancer patients
with poor clinical status, as well as in healthy
subjects."
9. Ivermectin and Cancer
In a
2021 review paper, the related mechanisms by which ivermectin inhibited
the development of different cancers and promoted
programmed cell death were discussed. Also reviewed was
the prospects for the clinical application of ivermectin
as an anticancer drug for cancer therapy.
In another study, published in
Nature (2021), Ivermectin stimulates T-cells to invade
and destroy tumors and synergizes with immune
checkpoint blockade for treatment of breast cancer.
Clinical studies
While many in vitro studies have demonstrated the
effectiveness of ivermectin against multiple cancers,
the clinical effectiveness is limited to small case
series. (
De Castro 2020,
Ishiguro 2022)
Dosing and cautions
The optimal dosing strategy with ivermectin is unclear.
De Castro et al reported the use of 1mg/kg/day for up to
6 months in three pediatric patients with refractory AML
without untoward side effects (
De Castro 2020). Ishiguro et al reported the use of ivermectin 12 mg
twice weekly. (
Ishiguro 2022)
10. Mistletoe
Over
50 prospective studies (2020), including more than 30 randomized controlled
trials (RCTs), have investigated the role of mistletoe in
cancer patients, showing benefits in terms of improved
quality of life, performance index, symptom scales, and
reduced adverse effects of chemotherapy.
Another
2022 review has further supported these findings, revealing that
mistletoe extracts significantly improve global quality of
life and may have a favorable effect on survival in cancer
patients (HR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.69–0.95, p = 0.01) when used
as in combination to conventional treatments.
A
phase I trial (2023) of intravenous mistletoe extract in patients
with advanced cancer showed a disease control rate of 23.8%
and improved quality of life indicators. Mistletoe is
commonly used by integrative oncologists to enhance quality
of life, increase chemotherapy tolerability, and potentially
contribute to better tumor control and survival.
Read More: Mistletoe and the Emerging Future of Integrative Oncology
11. Aspirin and Celecoxib (Celebrex)
Aspirin and Cancer
In November 2023, researchers from Cardiff University in the
United Kingdom published a
comprehensive review in the British Journal of Cancer (BJC) outlining
aspirin’s potential to reduce cancer mortality, prevent
metastatic cancer spread, and minimize vascular complications.
The review encompassed both favorable and unfavorable evidence,
thoroughly analyzing the rationale behind using aspirin in
cancer treatment.
The study compiled results from 118 observational studies
involving approximately 1 million cancer patients. It revealed
that daily intake of low-dose aspirin (75 or 81 milligrams) was
associated with a 21 percent reduction in all-cause mortality.
A study involving pancreatic cancer patients undergoing surgery
indicated that patients who took aspirin had a three-year
survival rate of 61.1 percent, compared to 26.3 percent for
those who did not take it.
A
comprehensive review published in the renowned journal Annals of Oncology in
2020 indicated that patients who take aspirin have a relatively
lower risk of developing various types of cancer.
The
researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of all
observational studies on aspirin and digestive tract cancers
published until March 2019, encompassing over 150,000 cases. The
results revealed that, compared to patients not using aspirin,
those who regularly took aspirin had a 27 percent reduced risk of
colorectal cancer, a 33 percent reduced risk of squamous cell
esophageal cancer, a 39 percent reduced risk of adenocarcinoma of
the esophagus and gastric cardia, a 36 percent reduced risk of
stomach cancer, a 38 percent reduced risk of hepatobiliary tract
cancer, and a 22 percent reduced risk of pancreatic cancer.
However, there was no significant change in the risk of head and
neck cancer.
For colorectal cancer, taking a daily dose of aspirin
between 75 and 100 milligrams can reduce the risk by 10 percent,
while a daily dose of 325 milligrams can reduce the risk by 35
percent.
As covered above (under vitamin C and aspirin), various
pre-clinical studies have showed the potential of aspirin and
vitamin C with encouraging results in animal studies.
Celecoxib (Celebrex) and Cancer
Celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, is
conventionally prescribed for adult arthritis. However, recent
studies have described the anticancer properties of celecoxib,
which are mediated through the suppression of COX-2, a factor
that is closely associated with cancer-related inflammation by
promoting the synthesis of various prostaglandins, such as
prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). (
source)
Mr. Ben Williams was diagnosed with glioblastoma in March 1995.
He availed himself of a drug and supplement protocol that proved
to be effective. He chronicled these treatment choices first on
a
website and in his 2002 book,
Surviving Terminal Cancer: Clinical Trials, Drug Cocktails,
and Other Treatments Your Oncologist Won’t Tell You About. The protocol he followed stood out not just because of the
many nutritional supplements but also because he took multiple
off-label drugs. Williams took a range of drugs including
Accutane, Actos, and
Celebrex that evidence
suggested might have an additive or synergistic effect against
glioblastoma.
A compelling study by
Guo et al. demonstrated that administration of celecoxib
post-diagnosis led to better overall survival rates in cancer
patients, particularly those exhibiting positive PTGS2
expression combined with a phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate
3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) mutation.
Overall, the momentum of clinical trials investigating the role
of celecoxib in cancer therapy is intensifying. In particular,
the potential synergistic combination of celecoxib with
chemotherapy or immunotherapy could improve cancer treatment
outcomes, and confirm the importance of modulating inflammation
as a potential therapeutic strategy against cancer.
12. Statins
Statins lower circulating blood lipids including low-density
lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol through the competitive
inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase
(HMGCR), an enzyme that facilitates the conversion of HMG-CoA
to mevalonic acid, which is a crucial step in cholesterol
biosynthesis. By inhibiting this process, statins not only
reduce cholesterol production but also impact by-products
essential for cancer cell growth, thereby demonstrating their
potential as anticancer agents (
source).
Of the statins, simvastatin is particularly interesting due to
its anticancer applications, which have been observed in
various cancer types and are largely mediated through
activation of mutant P53.
Ongoing clinical trials are currently examining the efficacy
of simvastatin against various cancers, including breast
(NCT00807950, NCT05550415), gastric (NCT01099085,
NCT03086291), colorectal (NCT01238094), and bladder
(NCT02360618) cancer. Although the specifics of its mechanism,
optimal dosage, and compatibility with other anticancer drugs
remain unclear, we anticipate the emergence of novel
strategies employing statins in cancer treatment in the
future.
13. The Gerson Therapy and Juicing
According to
Albert Schweitzer, MD (Nobel Peace Prize Winner, 1952):
I see in him one of the most eminent geniuses in the history of
medicine. Many of his basic ideas have been adopted without
having his name connected with them. Yet, he has achieved more
than seemed possible under adverse conditions. He leaves a
legacy which commands attention and which will assure him his
due place. Those whom he has cured will now attest to the truth
of his ideas.
Who was Albert Schweitzer talking about?
He was
referring to Dr. Max Gerson, the German-born American medical
doctor who developed one of the most effective natural cancer
treatments about a century ago. Coined the “Gerson Therapy,” Dr.
Gerson helped hundreds of cancer patients activate their bodies’
extraordinary ability to heal by recommending:
In the words of the Gerson Institute:
With its whole-body approach to healing, the Gerson Therapy
naturally reactivates your body’s magnificent ability to heal
itself — with no damaging side effects. This a powerful,
natural treatment boosts the body’s own immune system to heal
cancer, arthritis, heart disease, allergies, and many other
degenerative diseases.
How the Gerson Therapy Works
The Gerson Therapy targets the most significant metabolic
requirements in your body. How? Believe it or not, this therapy
allows you to reap the nutritional benefits of consuming
15–20 pounds of organically grown fruits and vegetables each
day!
Here’s the breakdown:
-
The Gerson Diet – Consisting of eating only organic fruits, vegetables
and sprouted ancient grains, the Gerson Diet is exceptionally
rich in vitamins, minerals and enzymes. It’s also very low in
fats, proteins and sodium. The meal plan advises cancer
patients to drink 13 glasses of freshly prepared juice, eat
three plant-based meals and only snack on fresh fruits each
day. Also, the traditional Gerson Therapy recommends consuming
raw beef liver since it is the most nutrient-dense food on the
planet and extremely high in vitamin B12.
-
Juicing – According to the Gerson Institute, “Fresh pressed juice from raw foods provides the easiest
and most effective way of providing high quality nutrition.”
The cancer-fighting protocol calls for patients to
drink fresh vegetables each day, including raw
carrots or apples and green-leaf juice. To preserve the
nutritional content, the juice should be prepared hourly
using a two-step juicer or a masticating juicer used with a
separate hydraulic press. This helps prevent denaturation —
when vitamins, minerals and enzymes are destroyed. (Most
commercial juicers spin so fast that they heat up juice to the
point they are basically pasteurized!)
-
Detoxification – The Gerson Therapy utilizes coffee enemas as the primary
method of detoxing the body by increasing the parasympathetic
nervous system. For cancer patients, this may take up to
five enemas each day. The importance of keeping the body
free of toxins is stressed by Dr. Gerson’s daughter,
Charlotte:
The moment a patient is put on the full therapy, the combined
effect of the food, the juices and the medication causes the
immune system to attack and kill tumor tissue, besides working
to flush out accumulated toxins from the body tissues. This
great clearing-out procedure carries the risk of overburdening
and poisoning the liver — the all-important organ of
detoxification, which, in a cancer patient, is bound to be
already damaged and debilitated.
-
Supplements – The Gerson Therapy recommends the following organic
medicinal therapies:
14. HyperBaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Chambers
All normal cells have an absolute requirement for oxygen, but
cancer cells can live without oxygen — a rule without
exception. Deprive a cell 35 percent of its oxygen for 48
hours and it may become cancerous.
~ Otto Warburg, MD (Nobel Prize in Physiology
Winner, 1931)
Dr. Warburg made it clear that the root cause of cancer is oxygen deficiency,
which creates an acidic state in the human body. He also
discovered that cancer cells do not breathe oxygen and cannot
survive in the presence of high levels of oxygen, as found in
an alkaline state.
We’ve all heard that antioxidants kill free radicals in the
body and reverse oxidative stress-causing chronic disease.
This is one of the reasons why I love to use
blueberries in my morning Berry Protein Smoothie! But is eating blueberries enough to help treat cancer?
Probably not. That’s why supplementing with oxygen therapy and
utilizing a hyperbaric chamber is highly beneficial for people
seeking natural cancer treatments.
Because the air pressure inside a
hyperbaric oxygen chamber
is about 2.5 times greater than the normal pressure in the
atmosphere, it causes your blood to carry more oxygen to the
organs and tissues in your body. Thought to help with everything
from infected wounds to radiation injuries, many people claim
that it has helped them of become free of cancer.
15. Hyperthermia Therapy for Cancer
What is Hyperthermia?
Hyperthermia is an abnormally high body temperature because your body can no longer release enough of its heat to maintain a normal temperature. It’s the opposite of
hypothermia, when your body is too cold.
Hyperthermia vs Fever
Hyperthermia isn’t the same as a fever. Hyperthermia is an
uncontrolled rise in body temperature due to thermoregulation
failure. Thermoregulation is a process that allows your body
to maintain its core internal temperature.
A fever,
on the other hand, is a temporary increase in your body
temperature. Your hypothalamus increases your body’s set-point
temperature often because your body’s attempt to fight off an
infection.
Thermal Therapy – photo from semanticscholar.orgHeat therapy for cancer
High body temperature is often caused by illness, such as
fever or heat stroke. Research has shown that elevated body
temperature can damage and kill cancerous cells with minimal
injury to normal cells (
Source). The main mechanism involved is by killing the cancer cells
by destructing proteins and the structure within cells. Thus,
hyperthermia may shrink tumors (
Source).
In addition, hyperthermia to treat cancer is
also called thermal therapy,
thermal ablation, or
thermotherapy.
This application of heat also help enhance the
efficiency of standard cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy
and radiation treatment.
Hyperthermia in combined treatment of cancer:
a. Combination of Hyperthermia and Radiotherapy
Hyperthermia treatment is a non-invasive method of increasing
tumor temperature to stimulate blood flow, increase
oxygenation and render tumor cells more sensitive to
radiation. By adding hyperthermia to radiation therapy,
radiation oncologists can increase tumor control while
minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Hyperthermia
helps address the limitations of radiation for many patients
by effectively increasing the radiation dose without
increasing in unwanted side effects. (
Source)
Hyperthermia and Radiotherapy in Metastatic MelanomaA major multicenter trial was carried out in
Europe by ESHO in patients with metastatic melanoma showed
that here was a significant benefit for the addition of
Hyperthermia, with a 2-year local control of 46% in the
combined group as compared with 28% for those receiving
Radiation alone. (
Source)
b. Combination of Hyperthermia and Chemotherapy
Hyperthermia drug sensitization can be found in several
anti-cancer drugs, mainly in alkylating agents. Those cells
which are already resistant to the drugs, can respond to the
same drug with combination therapy (i.e. heat).
Hyperthermia,
with enhanced tissue perfusion, facilitates the absorption of
chemotherapeutic API through cell membrane. In the presence of
heat, chemical reaction gets accelerated. Therefore,
chemotherapy becomes more effective, and less toxic. (
Source)
Alternative cancer treatments vs Conventional
What is Integrative Oncology?
Integrative medicine combines conventional Western medicine with
complementary and alternative treatments that have been
researched and proven to be safe and effective in healing.
Integrative oncology uses integrative medicine as part of
standard cancer care.
"Integrative oncology is a practice where we use lifestyle medicine like dietary modifications, stress reduction,
exercise, supplements and mind-body practices,"
says Stacy D'Andre, M.D., a Mayo Clinic medical and integrative
oncologist. "We combine all of these practices to help our cancer
patients improve quality of life and hopefully improve
treatment outcomes, as well."
Integrative oncology is a patient-centered,
evidence-based field of cancer care that utilizes mind and
body practices, natural products, and/or lifestyle
modifications from different traditions alongside
conventional cancer treatments. Integrative oncology aims to
optimize health, quality of life, and clinical outcomes
across the cancer care continuum and to empower people to prevent cancer and become active
participants before, during, and beyond cancer
treatment.
Notes and Disclaimers:
-
Please do not consider this guide as personal medical
advice, but as a recommendation for use by
professional providers. Consult with your doctor and
discuss with her/him.
-
Our aim here isn't to replace your doctors' advice. It
is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information.
Do take note that most treatments are not 100%
protective or curative against cancer. It's a continuous
struggle between the immune system and the cancer cells.
Cancer treatments are meant to assist the immune system
in this battle.
-
Cancer treatment should be part of a multi-modal
approach in order to provide the best possible outcome.
Diet and lifestyle changes are also meant to run
alongside conventional treatment. That said, there is no
miracle treatment that can cure all cancers.
Sources and References:
For more information on treatment, causes and prevention, screening,
and the latest research, check out this comprehensive resource page
(by cancer type) from National Cancer Institute:
https://www.cancer.gov/types.
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