The Role of the Body’s Natural Defenses in Preventing and Treating Cancer - UCTV - University of California Television

The Role of the Body’s Natural Defenses in Preventing and Treating Cancer - UCTV - University of California Television

Anticancer Action - Dr. David Servan-Schreiber

Anticancer Action - Dr. David Servan-Schreiber

Mission Hospital Integrative Health: Dana Park

Three Baskets: my body, my mind, my soul, my inner voice by laura...

Three Baskets: my body, my mind, my soul, my inner voice by laura...

my body, my mind, my soul, my inner voice by laura hankins

Three Baskets: In Memory

Three Baskets: In Memory: In Memory of Suzanne M. Ringersen BORN: February 8, 1958 DIED: August 10, 2011 The Inspiration for Three Baskets Family Retreats

Three Baskets: In Memory

Three Baskets: In Memory

Three Baskets: For Nutritional Punch, You Can't Beat Plant-Based ...

Three Baskets: For Nutritional Punch, You Can't Beat Plant-Based ...: For Nutritional Punch, You Can't Beat Plant-Based Foods Still, 90 percent of Americans eat too few fruits and veggies, health experts say ...

Three Baskets: Tender Breasts From Combo HRT Linked to Higher Cancer Risk

Three Baskets: Tender Breasts From Combo HRT Linked to Higher Cancer Risk

For Nutritional Punch, You Can't Beat Plant-Based Foods

For Nutritional Punch, You Can't Beat Plant-Based Foods

Still, 90 percent of Americans eat too few fruits and veggies, health experts say

By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Nov. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Those in the know consider fruits and vegetables among the healthiest foods around.
U.S. government health experts now encourage Americans to fill half their plates with fruits and vegetables. Weight Watchers' new system assigns no points to nearly all fruits and vegetables, making them a truly "guilt-free" option.
But, really, what's the big deal? Why is it so important to eat more veggies?
Nutritionists can rattle off a long list of reasons when asked that question. Vegetables and fruits are dense in nutrients but light on calories. They contain rich amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. Eating more veggies and fruits has been linked to decreased risk for such health problems as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer.
Despite this, many people seem to have a hard time eating vegetables, something that's developed the reputation of being a chore rather than a pleasure. President Barack Obama even likened the need to finish difficult debt ceiling negotiations to the need to "eat our peas."
More than nine of 10 Americans consume fewer fruits and vegetables than the daily amount recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's dietary guidelines, which ranges from 2 cups to 6½ cups, according to the "Fruits and Veggies -- More Matters" health initiative, a national program aimed at increasing consumption of plant-based foods.
"I would say many of my current clients get maybe a cup of vegetables and maybe a fruit throughout the day, if I'm being generous," said Jessica Crandall, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator in Denver and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
Getting a serving of vegetables or fruit is not difficult because a single serving is not a large amount, said Angela Ginn, a nutrition education coordinator and diabetes educator at the University of Maryland Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology at Maryland General Hospital, who's also a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
"A whole cup raw or a half-cup cooked is considered a serving for vegetables," Ginn said.
But there's a lot of nutritional power packed into that cup or half-cup. Though the precise benefit varies by type of fruit or vegetable, it could include a significant amount of:

• Calcium, which promotes healthy bones and teeth, and is needed for proper functioning of muscles and nerves.
• Folate, which reduces a woman's chances of having a child with a birth defect.
• Iron, which is necessary for healthy blood and cell function.
• Magnesium, which prevents muscle cramping and high blood pressure and is needed for healthy bones and proper enzymatic function.
• Potassium, which helps maintain healthy blood pressure.
• Vitamin A, which keeps eyes and skin healthy and helps protect the body against infection.
• Vitamin C, which aids in healing cuts or wounds and helps keep teeth and gums healthy.

Even the micronutrients that give fruits and vegetables their color are important sources of antioxidants, which have been shown to help prevent an array of diseases.
"Your phytonutrients that have all those vibrant colors, those are things that fight against chronic diseases," Ginn said. "You find them in your fruits and vegetables more in abundance than you will in whole grains or in meat or dairy products."
According to Crandall:

• Blue and purple fruits and vegetables contain anthocyanins, which have been shown to help fight some cancers and are helpful in anti-aging and memory function. They are found in blueberries, blackberries, plums, grapes, figs and raisins.
• Green fruits and vegetables contain luteins, which lower cancer risk and help promote better vision and strong bones and teeth. They are found in avocados, kiwi fruit, pears and apples.
• Red fruits and vegetables contain anthocyanins and lycopene, which can help keep the heart healthy, maintain better memory function and lower the risk for some cancers.

Fruits and vegetables also contain a large amount of fiber. Fiber has a number of health benefits and also helps make people feel more full, reducing their consumption of other higher-calorie foods, Crandall said.
"Most people think fiber is just good for digestion," she said, "but it's also helpful for lowering cholesterol, keeping your blood sugars stable and helping you feel full throughout your day."
But even those who are already sold on eating more fruits and veggies sometimes find it tricky to work sufficient amounts into their day-to-day eating, say both Crandall and Ginn. They suggest getting creative.
For instance, work veggies into recipes that don't normally contain them. "It's just the little things you can do, even if you add grated carrot to your favorite muffin or grated zucchini to your pancakes," Ginn said. "You can sneak them into your food in ways where you don't even taste them, but you receive the nutritional benefit."
They also suggest cutting up fruits and veggies so they're bite-sized and available for snacking. As Crandall said, "Make a vegetable tray so they are easier to use, so you don't have a cucumber rotting in the back of the fridge."
And don't worry about whether you're eating fresh, frozen or canned vegetables. They're all good for you. Fresh or frozen vegetables might have slightly more nutrients, Ginn and Crandall said, but canned veggies are cheaper and available throughout the year. Just be sure to rinse canned veggies, to reduce the amount of sodium they contain, or buy low-sodium alternatives.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on working fruits and vegetables into your diet, including interactive tools, tips and recipes.
For ideas on how to solve the dilemma of consuming enough vegetables, read about one woman's story.

SOURCES: Jessica Crandall, R.D., C.D.E., Denver; Angela Ginn, R.D., L.D.N., C.D.E., education coordinator/nutrition diabetes educator, University of Maryland Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Maryland General Hospital, Baltimore
Copyright © 2011 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

FDA Revokes Approval of Avastin for Breast Cancer

FDA Revokes Approval of Avastin for Breast Cancer

Drug isn't safe or effective for women with metastatic disease, agency says

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Nov. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Saying the risks outweigh the benefits in patients with advanced breast cancer, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg said on Friday that the agency has rescinded its approval of the cancer drug Avastin for that use.
Avastin (bevacizumab), however, will remain available for treating some types of colon, lung, kidney and brain cancer.
"Today, I am revoking the FDA's approval of the breast cancer indication for Avastin after concluding that the drug has not been shown to be safe and effective for that use," Hamburg said during a late morning press conference.
"Sometimes, despite the hopes of investigators, patients, industry, and even the FDA, the results of rigorous testing can be disappointing," she said. "This is the case with Avastin when used for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer."
The risks of Avastin include severe high blood pressure, bleeding, heart attack or heart failure and the development of perforations in different parts of the body such as the nose, stomach and intestines.
"These are considerable risks from taking Avastin, and can be justified only if there is good evidence that the use of the drug will benefit the patient," Hamburg said. "In breast cancer, it was clear that there was no proof of benefits that would justify the risks."
The FDA's decision was based on an expert panel's unanimous recommendation in June that the drug was not safe or effective when used for women with metastatic breast cancer. The drug had been approved for use along with the cancer drug Taxol (paclitaxel) for an aggressive type of breast cancer called HER2-negative breast cancer.
In 2008, Avastin was approved to treat metastatic breast cancer under the FDA's accelerated approval program, Hamburg said. Under this program, a drug can gain approval before final data on its safety and effectiveness is complete if its use appears promising in treating serious and life-threatening conditions, she explained.
Avastin's approval was based on results from one study that suggested it extended the lives of certain breast cancer patients.
After its approval for this use, Avastin's maker Genentech completed two clinical trials that found only a small effect on tumor growth without evidence that patients lived any longer or had a better quality of life compared with standard chemotherapy alone.
Some said Friday that they thought the FDA's decision was a sound one.
In a statement, the National Breast Cancer Coalition said it "applauds the FDA and Commissioner Margaret Hamburg for the decision to revoke the approval of Avastin in the first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. We understand the devastation of metastatic breast cancer and the fact that we do not know how to prevent or cure it. We remain committed to and focused on finding those answers."
However, Genentech took issue with the agency's decision.
"We are disappointed with the outcome," Dr. Hal Barron, Genentech's chief medical officer, said in a statement. "Despite today's action, we will start a new phase III study of Avastin in combination with paclitaxel in previously untreated metastatic breast cancer, and will evaluate a potential biomarker that may help identify which people might derive a more substantial benefit from Avastin."
Several experts also questioned the FDA's decision.
"I can only say it's not good," said Dr. Stefan Gluck, an oncologist at the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. "They have been agonizing over it, and they still made the wrong decision."
Avastin gives a subset of patients a large advantage over chemotherapy alone, Gluck said. "In metastatic breast cancer, we give therapy to improve symptoms and improve quality of life and occasionally to improve quantity of life," he explained.
Avastin should only be used in late-stage breast cancer where the disease has spread to other organs such as the lungs, liver, bone or kidneys, Gluck said.
"I would not use Avastin in an older woman with small tumors in the lung without symptoms," Gluck said. "But in a young woman with huge lung masticates, then I need a quick response and a long-lasting response, and this is only available if you add chemotherapy and Avastin together," he said.
In these cases, "the cancer is worse than the side effects," Gluck said. "I need to weigh what is worse at the moment, the side effects, which may not happen, or the cancer. Eventually, the cancer kills the patient, but until the cancer kills the patient I want to give her the best quality of life."
Gluck noted that doctors can still use Avastin for breast cancer patients on an off-label basis. However, the FDA decision may mean that the drug will no longer be covered by insurance companies for use in treating breast cancer.
Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, said in a statement: "The full impact of this decision is difficult to determine at this time. This decision will obviously lead insurance companies to review their payment policies regarding Avastin in breast cancer. Other experts have made their opinions known that in their experience Avastin has proven beneficial for breast cancer patients. Whether those opinions will provide sufficient reason for insurers and government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid to pay for this treatment remains unknown."
"At the least, we would hope that insurers will continue to cover treatment with Avastin in those women with metastatic breast cancer who are currently on the drug and who are showing a benefit from its use," he added. "Ultimately, as noted by the Commissioner, this was a difficult decision to make, but one that had to be made based on the science."
Elizabeth Thompson, president of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, said in a statement that "as a patient advocacy organization, we want to ensure that women who are successfully using Avastin today continue to have access to the drug, and that their treatment be covered by third-party payers."
"This decision underscores the need for aggressive research to develop treatments that will allow women to live full, high-quality lives even with advanced and metastatic breast cancers. At the same time, we encourage continued research into biomarkers that will help identify which patients will or will not benefit from certain treatments," she said.



SOURCES: Stefan Gluck, M.D., professor, medicine, and oncologist, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center; Nov. 18, 2011, statement, Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer, American Cancer Society; Nov. 18, 2011, statement, Elizabeth Thompson, president, Susan G. Komen for the Cure; Nov. 18, 2011, Genentech statement; Nov. 18, 2011, teleconference with: Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Three Baskets: Parents, Doctors Often Differ on Chemo for Incurable Kids

Three Baskets: Parents, Doctors Often Differ on Chemo for Incurable Kids

Parents, Doctors Often Differ on Chemo for Incurable Kids

Parents, Doctors Often Differ on Chemo for Incurable Kids

Health professionals would usually opt for supportive care alone, study shows

TUESDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Parents of children with incurable cancer tend to prefer to continue aggressive chemotherapy rather than pursue supportive end-of-life care, researchers have found.
The study findings revealed that if given the choice, the health care professionals treating these very sick children under the age of 18 would opt for supportive care alone to alleviate their patients' discomfort, according to the report published in the Oct. 17 issue of CMAJ, the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
"The choice between palliative chemotherapy and supportive care alone is one of the most important and difficult decisions for parents of children whose disease cannot be cured," Dr. Lillian Sung, of the division of hematology/oncology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, said in a journal news release.
In conducting the study, the researchers compared the treatment preferences of 77 parents whose children had little chance of surviving cancer to those of 128 health care professionals, including the doctors, residents, nurses and social workers, who care for children diagnosed with cancer.
The investigators found that 55 percent of parents preferred chemotherapy over supportive care. In contrast, only 16 percent of health care professionals would make the same choice.
Although parents placed a high value on their child's quality of life, the study also revealed that parents would choose chemotherapy for their child even if it reduced their quality of life and survival time.
The researchers pointed out that one reason for this discrepancy is the health care professionals viewed supportive care more positively than parents. The professionals' previous experiences with other children in similar circumstances may have something to do with that, the study authors suggested in the news release. Meanwhile, parents may remain hopeful that their child has a chance for survival regardless of their poor prognosis, the researchers added.
"This study is important because it highlights the incongruity between the preferences of parents and health care workers," Sung's team explained. "However, it may be that this incongruity masks a greater concern: miscommunication or unrealistic expectations."
The study authors concluded that health care professionals should be aware of parents' views on aggressive chemotherapy and communicate information about the child's quality of life and survival when making treatment decisions. They noted, however, that parents can remain hopeful while still optimizing their child's quality of life.
More information
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization provides more information on palliative care for children.

SOURCE: CMAJ, news release, Oct. 17, 2011

VPI: Coaching for Excellence: The Entrepreneur

VPI: Coaching for Excellence: The Entrepreneur

Article; Science Based Medicine

In Memory

In Memory of
Suzanne M. Ringersen
BORN: February 8, 1958
DIED: August 10, 2011

The Inspiration for Three Baskets Family Retreats

Cancer Massage Letting go . . .

Three Baskets: Letting go . . .

Cancer and Nutrition

We are preparing to launch individual and family retreats focused on nutrition and other self care modalities.

Letting go . . .

"Letting Go" was the theme of my week-long workshop at Mercy St. Vincent's hospital in Toledo, Ohio. It could not have been more appropriate of a theme as at this time in my life as I am letting go of so many things - a virtual "free fall" where at times I think I will never land . . .

This workshop was a five day hospital intensive for oncology massage. There were five of us in the class, and two instuctors. We spent five days applying gentle massage and comfort touch to those suffering from cancer, among many other things. We worked both in an inpatient and in an outpatient facility. I summarized my thoughts for the week today at our sharing at the end of our workshop:

This week has brought me to a new level of confidence and comfortability in my massage work that I did not expect . . . it has allowed me to apply my knowledge, and to tap into parts of myself that have been left dormant for many years.

I have also been made aware that there is so much more to learn; I am excited to begin this new journey in my life.

As I shared with my classmates and instructors in the beginning of the workshop, I knew this week was both a beginning and an end for me - I have been working diligently on letting go of my old roles and my old life where I walked for years as though asleep.

I am sitting today in the hospital lobby and I liken this week to the turnstile doors rotating before me - I stepped in with only a shadow of an idea of where these doors would lead and now I am stepping out back into the world and into a new beginning.

I have had guardian angels by my side to guide me all week - my classmates, my instructors, the hospital staff and most important of all, the patients - those that allowed me into their personal space, and whose beings were open to their own healing and letting go.

I am grateful for this amazing experience, and for being able to embrace "letting go".

Join the Health Fair & Expo

The Three Baskets’ Health Fair offers a unique opportunity for organizations and professionals to join forces in an innovative project that will generate major media attention and reach a diverse community of participants.

The Three Baskets’ Health Fair offers a forum for diverse groups of people and organizations to share a common experience that promotes public dialogue and unity within health care communities.  Three Baskets believes that a forum that provides an opportunity for all participants to speak and listen has a transformative power for all participants and is a catalyst for promoting cooperation and understanding to improve the quality of life for those diagnosed with cancer and their families.
 

Become a Professional Participant Today!

Visit us on the web at www.threebaskets.org Or call 828-628-6206

Three Baskets' Mission

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

Three Baskets’ mission is to offer family retreats, referral services and community education workshops that introduce local Oncology Services, Organizations, Medical Professionals and Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) to those living with cancer, their families and the entire community. These services act as a complement to conventional medical treatment. We believe that those living with cancer, and their families, should have access to many tools on their journey. Our organization addresses the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of those striving to live a better quality of life.

Sincerely

Susan Hayden
Director, Three Baskets's

Three Baskets' is a nonprofit 501 (3) (C) status pending.  Fiscal sponsor is Serenity Insight Meditation Center all donations are tax deductible and should be made to Serenity Insight Meditation Center and mailed to: 888 GASH ROAD, MILLS RIVER NC 28759

A Renewed Respect for the Body . . .

Well, I am back from a six-day workshop in Perrysburg, Ohio. Held at the Healing Arts Institute, this Manual Lymphatic Drainage workshop was presented by Klose Training (www.klosetraining.com). A nine-hour drive from my still-snowy home, I realized that all the snow that is left in the U.S. is in my yard! A clear, dry drive along Lake Erie convinced me that old man winter has taken up residence for good in Saratoga Springs!

Upon my arrival, I was warmly greeted in true Ohioan fashion by the proprieter of the B & B that was to be my home for a week. I settled in, completely unaware of what lay ahead.

Monday morning started the first of six nine-hour days (ok, five - our instructor let us go early on Saturday!), not including the time spent studying every night. I managed to get in a nice walk and a good bath every day but the week was long and grueling.

By week's end, I had a whole new perspective of the human body. I had learned more about the lymphatic system than I ever thought I could - right down to the cellular level and the little hair-like pumps that keep the lymph flowing (yes, despite popular belief, the lymph system has it's own pumping system in place!).

The massage technique we learned was gentle and subtle - it was our job to help direct the flow of lymph through the body, moving it around injured areas, and helping with pain and swelling. How does this all relate to cancer you ask? Well, cancer surgery and radiation is the number one cause in this country of a condition called Lymphedema. Lymphedema has no cure, and must be managed for the duration of a person's life. It is the swelling of the extremities, and it can become quite debilitating.

So now I have another designation after my name - CMLDT (Certified Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist - that's a mouthful!) - to add to LMBT (Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist). What all this means for me is that I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn even more about the amazing human body, and to be better able to help others improve their quality of life.

So Happy Spring to all! Enjoy the blossoming and blooming and all the miracles of life . . .

Hot Stuff!

We can certainly use some "hot stuff" to warm us through these chilly March days . . . the snow accumulation up here in the north country has been record-breaking, and now rain, more snow and ice challenges our already winter-weary beings!

In February I had the good fortune to attend a Hot Stones Massage workshop, and it was wonderful! The comfort and warmth of the hot stones permeates deep into the muscles, releasing and relaxing the whole body! This allows for deeper massage work to be accomplished . . . warning: this technique is NOT recommended for those with cancer.

On the Three Baskets front, things are happening very quickly! We have received our first donations, totaling over $10,000! This is such exciting news! We are in the process of signing a contract with our fiscal sponsors, and all donations will be tax deductible. Sue and I have been working diligently at getting all the paperwork completed that is necessary for our 501(c)3 status with both the state and the IRS. Sue has been an especially busy gal working on strategy, a business plan, and an operating expense report for Three Baskets.

I will be continuing on the practical front by attending a week-long workshop this month on the technique of Manual Lymphatic Drainage at the Healing Arts Institute in Perrysburg, Ohio (http://www.haiohio.com/).

Sue has also been busy promoting personal and business growth, as well as Three Baskets, through the development of her lecture and workshop series. The first of the series will be presented this weekend at the Women's Wellness & Education Center in Asheville (http://www.ashevillewomenswellness.com/Calendar-of--Sponsored-Events.html). Come on down and join Sue for an afternoon of inspiration!

We are laying the groundwork for what has become a living, breathing, growing entity in and of itself, whose mission is to offer integrative holistic healing, free of charge, to cancer patients and their families. Three Baskets is gaining momentum, and we feel privileged to be a part of it.

Three Basket's first retreat is planned for August of this year, and we are looking for volunteers to help out any way they can! Healing practitioners, business people, techies and spiritual gurus - all are welcome to join in the Three Baskets effort!

Continuing to grow . . .

Here we are, deep in the heart of winter where all is so still and quiet. Three Baskets is continuing to grow. We are now working with new cancer patient. She is a breast cancer survivor, and a joy to do healing work with.

I am pleased to announce we have a new space at Dr. Szurek's office in Saratoga Springs, where we can work with those who don't require that we come to their home (http://www.szurekchiropractic.com/index.htm).

Sue is happily back at Morgan Hill focusing on developing her Reiki workshops which will soon be available for all of those interested (www.mountainreiki.org).

I am going to be attending a Hot Stones Massage Therapy Workshop in February way up near Tupper Lake in the Adirondacks (http://www.amtamassage.org/events/detail/2724). The new stones have arrived in the mail, and everyone is anxious to try out them out!

Please stay safe and warm, and enjoy the beautiful snow while it lasts!

Following your dream

New Year Blessings to All..........May 2011 be a time in your life that you have the faith to follow your dreams, the courage to do the will of GOD and the knowing that everything belongs.

Sometimes things are very clear, the direction to take, the words to say and the people to allow in to our lives. Yet often times I find life confusing. Why am I not in the "flow"?

For today:
I will sit quietly and listen to myself
I will pray and meditate
I will allow my dreams to surface
I will trust that I can do the will of my Father
I will take the necessary steps in faith
I will believe that all will be revealed to me
I will notice miracles
I will LOVE

AMEN....SO BE IT