Category Archives: News

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research, News

VP Staff Meets with Cancer Experts as a Push towards a Cure

The Cure is Out There
The Cure is Out There

It’s nearly impossible to find anyone whose life has not been touched by cancer. If you have not been affected by the disease yourself, you have at least one family member or friend who has. Vice President Joe Biden has channeled grief over his eldest son’s death into a personal campaign to find a cure.

Turning tragedy into hope

In May 2015, 46-year-old Beau Biden passed away from brain cancer. The following October, his father announced that he would not be running for president in order to devote time toward a “moon shot in this country to cure cancer.”

Since that time, Biden has followed through on his commitment to ramp up government’s role in the search for a cure. He and his staff members have participated in dozens of meetings to become fully educated in the current progress, seeking the most promising opportunities to accelerate the fight. This past January, Biden and his advisors sat down with 15 members of the American Association for Cancer Research.

During the same month, the Vice President’s office issued a statement saying Biden saw “great promise in genomics, immunotherapy and combined therapies,” all of which are part of our Issels immuno-oncology treatments. Biden also showed support by lobbying for a proposed multi-million dollar boost in funding for the National Institutes of Health.

The power of immunotherapy

The staff at our Issels immuno-oncology clinic has long shared the Vice President’s enthusiasm for personalized, non-toxic cancer treatments. Contact us to learn why our state-of-the-art programs may be the right choice for you or your loved one.

Breast Cancer, Cancer Research, Immuno-Oncology, Immunotherapy, News

In 21 States Cancer Tops the List as the Cause of Death

We Haven't Defeated Cancer Yet
We Haven’t Defeated Cancer Yet

Thanks to increasingly successful developments in treatment, such as the state-of-the-art programs at our Issels immuno-oncology clinics, the number of cancer deaths has dropped significantly over the past 20 years. Sadly, though, it has become the leading cause of death in 21 states, emphasizing the need for continuing urgency in research.

Cancer by the numbers

Projections recently released by the American Cancer Society reveal that more than 1.68 million people will be diagnosed with the disease in the upcoming year, while nearly 600,000 will die from it. In terms of overall numbers, 23 percent of deaths are a result of cancer, second only to 24 percent from heart disease.

While lung cancer is still the most deadly form, the 23 percent drop in cancer death rates between 1991 and 2012 is largely due to a steep reduction in smoking. Only 16.8 percent of Americans are smokers, compared to just fewer than 21 percent in 2009.

Continued optimism in the search for a cure

The American Society for Clinical Oncology issued a statement hailing “our nation’s investment in cancer research,” which has led to major breakthroughs in effective treatment. In particular, advancements in innovative programs such as immunotherapy and molecular targeted treatments have led to a consistent decline in death rates from the four major types: lung, breast, prostate and colon/rectum.

For years, our Issels immuno-oncology clinic has been a leader in the use of non-toxic immunotherapy protocols. Visit our website for more information about our programs as well as testimonials from the many patients of all ages who have been helped by our personalized treatment programs.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Immuno-Oncology, Immunotherapy, News

Jimmy Carter: the New Advocate for Immunotherapy Treatment

Fighting With Immunotherepy
Fighting With Immunotherapy

Being a leader is nothing new for former president Jimmy Carter. Since the end of his political career, he has devoted his time to human rights activism, and his work earned him the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize. Today he has assumed a role he never anticipated: a leader in immunotherapy cancer treatment.

Carter’s diagnosis and treatment

In August 2015, Carter announced that surgery to remove a tumor from his liver had uncovered four spots of melanoma in his brain. He accepted the diagnosis with grace and strength, but that wasn’t the end of the story.

Doctors at Emory University, which is gaining notice as an immuno-oncology center, began treating Carter with pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug sold under the brand name Keytruda. The drug, which received Food and Drug Administration approval just over one year ago, does not work directly on the cancer. It works by harnessing the power of the body’s own immune system to destroy the malignant cells.

What does the future hold?

In a more upbeat announcement in early December 2015, Carter revealed that his brain cancer is gone. Since pembrolizumab is so new to the market, there is little long-range data available, so doctors will continue to watch for any signs of recurrence. The tumors have been slow-growing, which is reason for optimism that, should they return, they will not prove fatal.

Our Issels® immuno-oncology center is another leader in alternative cancer treatment. We offer personalized non-toxic therapies in a state-of-the-art facility featuring experienced, caring doctors and staff. Visit our website to learn more about our innovative treatment protocols.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, News

Cold Cap Aims to Save Hair of Chemotherapy Patients

Save Your Hair
Preventing Chemo Hair Loss

Hair loss frequently affects women undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer, making them self-conscious at a time when their emotional state is already fragile. That may change with use of the cold cap, a device approved last December by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use at cancer treatment facilities.

The science behind the cold cap

While various forms of cold caps have been sold around the world, the DigniCap is the first one officially cleared by the FDA for use in the United States. The cap is made by Dignitana AB, a medical technology company in Sweden whose slogan is, “Preserving Dignity of Life.”

Cold caps work on the principle of scalp cooling, which has been around for decades. The concept involves applying near-freezing temperatures to a patient’s scalp, temporarily reducing blood flow and cell metabolism in the area. This makes it difficult for the cancer-fighting drugs to reach and damage hair.

Bringing the DigniCap to the United States

The DigniCap was tested at the University of California at San Francisco and four other medical centers. Out of 122 women tested while undergoing standard chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer, more than two-thirds of the participants retained more than half of their hair. Dignitana AB plans to lease the DigniCap to cancer treatment centers for use by chemotherapy participants, who would pay a fee for each round.

Treatment at our Issels® immuno-oncology center focuses on your mental and emotional well-being as well as your physical health. Visit our website to learn more about our personalized non-toxic protocols.

Cancer Research, News

Tiny Synthetic Diamonds Light Up Cancer in MRI Scans

Detecting Cancer
Detecting Cancer

Diamonds are the most highly prized gems in the world of jewelry, but now there is a completely different reason to consider them precious. Cancer research at the University of Sydney has resulted in the development of synthetic diamonds that show promise as unique tools in the fight against cancer.

The recent study, published in Nature Communications, was inspired by the discovery that the non-toxic, non-reactive properties of nanodiamonds allow them to safely penetrate cell walls. While they initially showed promise as a delivery vehicle for cancer drugs administered during chemotherapy, physicists at the University of Sydney saw potential for further use in cancer detection.

Professor David Reilly, lead author of the study, explained that it was the magnetic properties of the gems that captured their interest. He and his team hyperpolarized nanodiamonds by aligning atoms in such a way that they would emit a signal visible through MRIs. Once the altered nanodiamonds were attached to cancer-targeting molecules, the researchers were able to track them via the signals.

According to Helen Zorbas, chief executive of Cancer Australia, there is reason to believe that nanodiamond tracking can aid in detection of brain and pancreatic cancers along with other hard-to-find forms. Since early onset of treatment offers a greater chance of effectiveness, this method could be extremely valuable in improving survival possibilities.

Current cancer research has focused on other non-toxic methods such as personalized treatment and immunotherapy, which are protocols that we have successfully used at Issels® for years. Visit our website to learn more about our innovative cancer treatment programs.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, Immuno-Oncology, News

Using the Power of a Dendritic Cell Vaccine

Using Cells To Fight Cancer
Using Cells To Fight Cancer

The term “vaccine” is often associated with the prevention of diseases such as measles, mumps and whooping cough, many of which are contagious and usually occur in childhood. A non-toxic cancer vaccine that proactively combats existing tumors has been an effective part of our immuno-oncology protocols at Issels®.

Our vaccine therapies derive their power from a patient’s own immune system. The vaccines themselves are autologous, meaning they are prepared using the patient’s blood to incorporate potent dendritic cells.

The power of dendritic cells

Dendritic cells act as coordinators between the innate immune system, which provides the initial response to pathogens, and the adaptive immune system, which offers a long-lasting defense against the invading cells. When foreign organisms are detected, dendritic cells capture their markers, or antigens, for presentation to T-lymphocyte cells, triggering the attack on the pathogens.

What is extracorporeal photopheresis?

FDA-approved for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, this process involves passing blood through a chamber featuring ultraviolet light, which boosts immune properties. White blood cells comprised of monocytes and lymphocytes are then extracted before the blood is returned to the body. The separated cells are cultured to become active dendritic cells and injected back into the patient, where they initiate an immune response against the tumor.

Our immuno-oncology treatment programs are personalized based on the needs of each individual patient. Specific protocols may include a non-toxic cancer vaccine, gene therapies, and other integrative treatments designed to stimulate the body’s natural immune responses. Visit our website to learn more about the effectiveness and benefits of our non-toxic, state-of-the-art immunotherapy protocols.