Conventional medical treatments, like surgery and chemotherapy can help eliminate the tumour and lingering cancer cells but they do not address the underlying conditions that may have contributed to the rapid growth of the cancer cells.
There are several key elements that need to be in place to maximize the chances of complete and lasting healing from cancer. The first is to have a strong, well-functioning immune system supported by a healthy body. We also need to be emotionally well balanced and have achieved a good level (knowing no one is perfect) of peace, harmony and fulfillment in our lives. This may sound like a tall order but over the next 4 articles I will be talking about how this is possible and, in fact, how a cancer diagnosis can actually help one achieve this result.
As you know, we all develop cancer cells over the course of our lives. The body, using its innate intelligence, is normally able to identify and destroy these cells without our even realizing it. It is part of the normal functioning of our immune system.
When a cancerous tumour is able to grow out of control, there are likely two things happening. First, your immune system has been weakened in some way so it is not able to naturally stop the rapid growth and spread of cancer cells. This can happen for many reasons including; long-term stress, fatigue, injury, infection, dietary deficiencies, electromagnetic radiation, extreme shock, sadness and/or feelings of hopelessness. The second factor at play is likely a toxic internal environment or body terrain. This can be caused by such factors as negative emotions, too much poor quality or processed food or by the presence of toxins. You can think of your body’s internal environment as being like a bath that your cells are constantly immersed in. If the bath water turns toxic it creates an environment where cancer cells can thrive. Cancer cells like an anaerobic, acidic environment and they use the inflammation process in order to expand and penetrate neighbouring cells*. If the environment is like this for long enough, cancer cells are able to thrive- meaning they rapidly reproduce and expand their territory and may eventually form a tumour.
Here is an outline of 4 key factors that contribute to fuelling cancer cell growth as well as examples of the causes or underlying conditions that support the toxic bath water;
Low oxygen – cancer cells thrive in an anaerobic environment;
- Poor breathing – often caused by stress, worry or being rushed
- Breathing polluted air (in cities) or stale air (as in some office buildings)
- Lack of exercise - exercise helps increase the circulation of oxygen throughout the body and also helps toxins move through and get flushed out of the body
- Lack of circulation – often caused by tension, tightness, the build up of stress hormones or the presence of scar tissue
- Chemo and radiation therapy - both can lower the oxygen level of the blood
The presence of inflammation – cancer cells use the inflammation process to invade neighbouring cells and sustain growth;
- Injuries – can lead to localized inflammation
- Diet :
- An imbalance in the ratio of Omega 6’s (that promote inflammation) and Omega 3’s (that help reduce inflammation). Most people in the Western world consume too much Omega 6’s (ex. meat, dairy products, vegetable oils);
- Consumption of hydrogenated fats (altered Omega 6 fats that become less digestible and increase inflammation even more than Omega 6’s);
- High levels of sugar promote inflammation factors and are like cancer cell fertilizers.
- Negative emotions such as anger and depression
- Pollutants such as smoke, pesticides etc.
An acidic ph level – cancer cells thrive in a highly acidic environment;
- Diet :
- Too much processed / junk food
- High intake of animal proteins
- Not enough alkaline producing fresh fruits and vegetables
- On-going stress and negative emotions
High levels of blood sugar – cancer cells love sugar and use it to grow!
- Diet :
- High intake of processed sugars, especially sugars like high fructose corn syrup (sodas, iced tea, chocolate bars, cookies etc.)
- Consumption of highly refined carbohydrates (white flour, white pasta)
- Consumption of foods that are high on the glycemic index (food and drinks that cause a rapid spike in blood insulin levels)
Now let’s look for a moment at the incredible intelligence of the body. It coordinates, synchronizes and harmonizes billions of bits of information every second. It manages over 10 trillion cells and does so with precision and speed that is greater than any super computer - that is how powerful it is. So you may be asking; ‘why has this mass formed in my body if the body is so powerful and intelligent?’.
If we consider that the bath water is toxic for normal cells, but is ideal for the growth of cancer cells, then we can view the development of a tumour as a warning sign or a cry for help. If seen from this perspective, cancer is not an evil destructive force that enters the body and reeks havoc but rather it is, at least partially, a consequence of a toxic internal environment. The cancer can be seen as a message from your body, and your cells, that it is time to change the bath water.
This is why conventional medical treatments, like surgery and chemotherapy can help eliminate the tumour and lingering cancer cells but they do not address the underlying conditions that may have contributed to the rapid growth of the cancer cells. They take the damaged cells out of the bath water but they do not change the water. It may still be toxic and may continue to be an ideal breeding ground for cancer cells.
The good news is that many of the factors that influence the growth of cancer cells are within our control. What I help people do is to identify the aspects of their lives that may be out of balance or the things that may be contributing to the creation of a toxic internal environment. I take a holistic approach, looking at diet, fitness regimen, emotional state and spiritual health in order to create inner harmony that will allow the body’s natural resources to take over and change the bath water.
Part 2 of this series of articles will look at how we can make simple changes to starve the cancer cells; Part 3 addresses ways in which the immune system can be stimulated in order to help it function at its optimal level because without a strong and healthy immune system complete and lasting healing is not possible. Finally, in Part 4 I will discuss the emotional aspects which contribute to lasting healing.
The remaining three parts of this four-part article will be published weekly under the following headings:
Part 2: How To Stop Feeding Cancer Cells
Part 3: Fuelling the immune system for a more rapid cancer recovery
Part 4: The emotional side of the cancer healing equation
* For a thorough description of how inflammation feeds cancer cells growth please refer to Dr. Servan-Schreiber’s book Anti-Cancer, A new way of life.