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Lowering Risk of Cancer

Lowering Risk of Cancer

lowering risk of cancer

Can cancer risk be modulated?

Lowering risk of cancer:  is cancer prevention possible thru oriental medicine modalities of acupuncture and herbal formulas?  Cancer is a very complicated process, involving groups of cells, in almost any organ of the body, that have started to grow uncontrollably, due to changes in cells.  These changes are mostly due to genetics.

Those unfortunate enough to have a genetic mutation in an oncogene or a tumor suppressor cells can get any variety of cancers, usually at a young age.

There are many other factors that contribute to the formation of malignant tumors and that is the subject of this blog as the genetic factors are a factor that not much can be done about yet, but in the near future genetic manipulation and correction of genes may help with curing some or all of the cancers caused by genes.  But please note that not all cancers are caused by genes and their aberrant regulation.  Here is a quick rundown of different causes, followed by ways for lowering risks of cancer.

  • Oncogenes: these are genes that are either supposed to be silent for the span of the life of the individual, or are active during development, embryonic or adolescence, and then go silent for the life of the individual.  When they are turned on at the wrong time, they can lead to the formation of tumors.  An example of this is the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).
  • Mutations: there are normal genes that are active all the time, but then there is a mutation in them, usually a common area of the gene, resulting in uncontrolled cells growth and proliferation.  An example of these is the gene “deleted in colorectal cancer” (DCC), or the gene “mutated in colorectal cancer” (MCC).   There are inherited gene mutations and acquired gene mutations.
  • Tumor suppressor genes: there are a few tumor suppressor genes that are known and well studied so far, but there maybe many more yet to be discovered.  An example of this is the tumor suppressor p53.  This is a medium size gene product (protein) that has many functions.  The main function is to detect mutations in a replicating DNA strand, stopping the cell cycle if the mutation can be repaired, or signaling the cell to die if the damage to the DNA is too extensive to repair, thereby ensuring the gene mutation is not passed on to the daughter cells.  There is also claims of parasites causing cancer, although this has been controversial but gaining more and more validity.
  • Radiation:  If exposed to radiation, depending on the amount and duration of the exposure, mutations can occur in the genes that can turn into cancer.  UV radiation and exposure to radon gas are examples.
  • Immune system:  In the mid 90’s, it started becoming more clear and convincing that the immune system is playing a pivotal role in keeping cancer from taking hold.  The sheer number of cells that are replaced every day, each having 3 billion base pairs in them almost guarantees that there will be mistakes made in the replicati0n of the DNA, and when mistakes are extensive, the cell must die vs continue and possibly pick up more mutations and finally become a cancer cell.  The optimal working of our immune system is paramount therefore and stress is one of the factors that affects the immune system.  Any modality, such as acupuncture that reduces stress helps the immune system do its job better
  • Infectious agents: There are some viruses, many in fact, that can cause cancer in the long run.  Few examples of these is HIV (Kaposi’s sarcoma), HPV (uterine and head and neck cancers), HTLV’s (some forms of adult onset leukemia), HBV and HCV (liver cancers), and many others.   There are even bacterial infections that can result in cancer such Heliobacter Pylori (stomach cancer).
  • Environmental factors: exposure to poor quality air, food, water, radiation, and many chemicals called carcinogenic can cause changes to the cells microenvironment that leads to inflammation which over time, usually years or decades, can lead to cancer.
  • Lifestyle choices: exposure to alcohol, tobacco, and some additives found in food and cosmetics can also cause inflammation to various organs which over time can lead to changes in the micro environment of the cell including, but not limited to the genes in the nucleus.  Processed foods and alcohol can also cause changes to the microbiome which has already been found to affect many aspects of health and probably will be found to affect initiation or propagation of cancer
  • Sedentary lifestyle: Physical activity is linked with lower cancer risk. When the blood moves and oxygenates the tissues better, risk of cancer drops.  Also, oxygen is toxic to most cancer cells.  The more the blood moves, the better removal of toxins from the tissues and out of the body.  Being sedentary is really bad for the health

How can acupuncture help

We are an energetic being on an energetic planet.  The seasons have a change of energy in them.  Energy is everywhere.

We’re covered by muscles from head to toe.  Although chemical messengers get the synapses at the neuromuscular junction engaged and the muscles go into action by contracting, there is an electrical charge that moves down the axon.  This creates an electromagnetic pulse that moves.

There is a life force that resides in the body.  This collection of energies running thru the body is the basis of life and how acupuncture works.  The needles are moving energies around.  Our energies can get stuck due to trauma, strong lingering negative emotions, poor or toxic diets, and sedentary lifestyle.  This is where acupuncture can help in possibly lowering the chances of cancer developing.  Let’s delve into this bold claim more.

According to traditional oriental medicine, blood stagnation is the cause of tumors, benign or malignant.  They didn’t know about oncogenes and tumor suppressors and genetic deletions, acquired or spontaneous.  These practitioners knew however that when blood stagnates in a patients organ, it increases the chances of a tumor forming there.   They assessed blood stagnation from the pulse and the tongue and years of observation and note taking.  Therefore keeping the blood and qi moving is paramount in keeping tumor formation away.

A proper diet, and an active lifestyle, along with acupuncture performed correctly, no doubt in my mind, will result in a lowered chance of tumor development, except for when genes are involved, or exposure to carcinogens or radiation plays a role.   Regarding inflammation, where chronic inflammation due to a lingering pathogen or carcinogenic compounds, is another important factor to modulate and get under control.  Acupuncture and herbal medicine are very successful at accomplishing this task.

A truly amazing compound, the aspirin, derived from the willow tree bark helps with keeping inflammation down, and has been shown to have anti-cancer properties, but not everybody can take it as it comes with side effects.  One of the beauties of herbal medicine is that herbal  formulas with many herbal ingredients in it, side effects become negligible.

Keeping inflammation down, keeping the blood moving by ensuring proper movement of qi, making sure emotions move and are not stagnant, and nourishing all of the body can go a long way towards reducing ones chance of developing tumors.

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