Exploring Cancer Around the World

A number of people extremely close to me are battling cancer. One very young lady, a beautiful soul, will be leaving us any day now.

I am someone who is a self-titled health nut (although what's nutty about learning and taking care of yourself?). I read a lot, listen to a lot of podcasts, watch YouTube videos and am in a number of on-line groups relating to various topics.

Over the years I have seen comments, heard comments in those venues regarding our (USA) treatment of diseases: We treat symptoms, don't get to the root causes. We have high rates of diseases compared to other countries around the world. And, the one I'm focusing on today, other countries deal with cancer much better and more humanely than we do.

How do we stack up? Is there a better way to treat cancer than to use chemo, radiation, and the newest method immunotherapy. Probably as I delve into things I'll find that the newest isn't the newest. I haven't started my research journey yet.

First: How do we rank in the world? Per the World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research, the US is the 5th highest (standardized) when it comes to the rates of cancer. Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Hungary have higher rates, in that order. https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/cancer-trends/data-cancer-frequency-country

Pretty sad for a country that brags about its health care system. We are, according to my reading, known as the place to come for treatment when all hope is gone. We're not so great on prevention.

What's our survival rate? From Wikipedia: "In the United States there has been an increase in the 5-year relative survival rate between people diagnosed with cancer in 1975-1977 (48.9%) and people diagnosed with cancer in 2007-2013 (69.2%); these figures coincide with a 20% decrease in cancer mortality from 1950 to 2014." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_survival_rates

I'm not sure how they define "survival rate" only because I know of a number of people who are "surviving" but their lives are living hells. Pain, treatment, more treatments, pain, inability to breath after treatments, sitting in chairs and unable to leave their homes... Living decently for 3, 5, 7 years then finding out a cancer has been growing in another part of their body undetected and wham, they're back on the treatment roller coaster.

To be fair, I also know quite a few people who have survived cancers and are doing well. Mostly breast cancers caught early. I have a number of friends who weren't so lucky.

Per World Population Review the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden have the highest survival rates. http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/cancer-survival-rates-by-country/

Breast and prostate cancers have the highest survival rates while those with stomach and lung cancer have fairly dismal chances (under 30% for stomach, under 20% for lung).

[When I dug a little deeper, while their article is dated 2019 the data is only through 2014, a much talked about report by CONCORD, a global program for world-wide surveillance of cancer survival, led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. You can find more info on the study here: https://csg.lshtm.ac.uk/research/themes/concord-programme/  ]

On a side note, I had a friend who beat lung cancer after a strong battle. The doofus went back to smoking and it reoccured. He wasn't so lucky the second time around. And...went to lunch with a friend and his wife, both heavy smokers. Great lunch, talking about working together, planning things for the future and two weeks later he was in the hospital with lung cancer, died within days.

If you're looking for overall survival rates, data on all causes of death I came across this excellent compilation dated April, 2019 (data is from 2015): https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/mortality-rates-u-s-compare-countries/#item-respiratory-diseases-mortality-rate-2015

OK --- finally I'm back to the subject I started with --- treatment types in other countries not available in the US or considered more humane, less painful or in some cases, lethal.

Mexico: This is a listing from the Gerson Hospital that offers these alternative and complementary types of treatment just outside Tijuana, Mexico: https://chipsahospital.org/11-powerful-cancer-treatments-that-are-use-in-other-countries-but-unavailable-in-the-usa/

I have read of people going there for treatment who have had great success. I would guess that money is an issue as I seriously doubt our insurance companies will touch covering treatments 1. outside the country and 2. not approved in the US :-). I love that they integrate diet and nutrition as the foundation. If I found out I had cancer that might be my first go-to after hearing what the US docs had to say.

Max Gerson was a German neurosurgeon. You'll read more if you click the link about the treatments above.


The Mayo Clinic popped up in my research with a list of alternative cancer treatments (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-treatment/art-20047246). I was kinda mildy shocked until I read what they offered. "Won't cure but may make treatment easier" (paraphrased). Ummm... sure. Deep breathing, massage, etc. Great list and it may help some, especially at the beginning, but when you're feeling like crap, itching, crawling out of your skin due to chemo or radiation the last thing you want is a massage. Even deep breathing can be painful.

Finland: Again, this is an advertisement from a hospital. They tout the CONCORD study showing that Finland has some of the best treatment survival rates. https://www.docrates.com/en/treatments/patient-satisfaction/finland-leading-country-in-cancer-care/

I skimmed their treatment options and nothing popped out as being radically different, but all I did was a quick skim. However, there is a reason Finland has the highest survival rate --- it have nothing to do with their treatments. It could be that they eat better, eat closer to the way we were meant to eat, and thus they fight off cancer better than the average person in countries who eat crappy diets (like we do in the USA).

Here is a great article from a UK author on treatment abroad: https://www.medic8.com/medical-tourism/cancer-treatment-abroad.html They go into treatments in Germany, France and Spain, and have tips for those wanting to travel abroad for cancer care. It is interesting that there's a statement basically saying you might get better care outside of the UK. Kinda sad. As you read you'll see many slams on healthcare in the UK. Striking them off my list (not that they were ever on it, even though I lived there and loved it many, many years ago).

Great article on alternative treatments. I have read a LOT about the Ketogenic diet (first on the list). That would be my first go-to as it also has a huge positive impact on any inflammatory issue. In fact, I am now on a Keto-flex type of diet combined with intermittent fasting as a prevention protocol. Unapproved but Effective Cancer Cures

An opposing, and sobering view on alternative treatments that specifically mentions treatment in Mexico: https://www.statnews.com/2017/08/29/cancer-treatment-alternative-medicine/

I am one who looks to alternative, "natural" treatments, especially diet and herbs --- but I certainly don't shun doctors and standard care. I just do my research. I rather like how he ended the article...doctors can alienate patients by demeaning alternative treatment, but there's no reason someone can't do both (again, I paraphrase).

Another article you may want to read: Cancer care in the U.S. versus Europe: Is more necessarily better?

NOTE: I put the links throughout the blog rather than posting at the end 'cause I figure you don't want to keep skipping to the end. Hope you found something of interest although I barely touched on the subject matter. I'm sure I'll be back with more at some point!

Amoena and Young Survival Coalition Celebrate Breast Cancer Survivors With Contest and Cruise

/PRNewswire/ -- Amoena USA Corporation, the worldwide leader of post-surgery breast care products, is sponsoring the 4th Annual Breast Cancer Survivors Cruise. In 2010, for the first time, Amoena will honor survivors and the people who helped them through their recovery by awarding a cabin for the one with the most inspirational story to tell.

As part of the contest, Amoena wants to hear about young mothers who bravely endured treatments; women who, despite their diagnosis, remain positive and optimistic; friends who were there when a survivor was diagnosed, went to appointments and made the recovery process a little easier. The contest is a celebration of survivorship and friendship.

"Amoena's mission is to help restore dignity and a positive self-image to women who have fought breast cancer and won. No woman can go through the battle alone. They need someone by their side encouraging them," said Malissa Magyar, Marketing Manager for Amoena. "We're inspired by the women who have fought this fight, and we're inspired by those who helped them every step of the way to recovery. This contest is our way of celebrating them."

Amoena approached the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), an organization focused on addressing critical issues of women under 40 diagnosed with breast cancer, to help sponsor the contest and spread the word among its affiliates.

"As a survivor, I know how important it is to have a support system while you undergo treatment and the emotional ups and downs following a breast cancer diagnosis," said Courtney Bulger, Executive Director, YSC, Greater Metro Atlanta. "We're happy to join Amoena in promoting a contest that honors that support system."

Nominations are now being accepted through March 1, 2010. To nominate, write in 500 words or less, the inspirational story of the woman who never gave up and the people who encouraged her to keep fighting. Amoena will select one winner to receive a cabin for two on the 2010 Breast Cancer Survivors Cruise, May 2-8. YSC will cover travel costs for the winner and guest to the cruise's port city, Ft. Lauderdale.

To nominate someone, simply fill out the online form available at www.amoena.com/cruise.

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GI Condition Once Thought Rare is Common in U.S.

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dorothy Carpenter had stomach problems her entire life. Eating as much as a bite of bread or pasta could lead to terrible pain.

Her illness went undiagnosed for years until a University of Michigan Health System physician recognized it as celiac disease. By then her long-standing condition had become an intestinal mass, a cancer that forced doctors to remove part of her small intestine.

"I've been in this body 65 years and I know what's normal for it and something's radically wrong here," Carpenter recalls telling William D. Chey, M.D., director of the Gastrointestinal Physiology Laboratory at the University of Michigan Health System. "He listened."

Celiac disease, a condition characterized by severe, chronic inflammation of the small intestine, develops from exposure to a dietary protein called gluten. Gluten is most commonly found in grains including wheat, rye and barley.

Carpenter's cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, developed as a result of her undiagnosed and untreated celiac disease, Chey told her.

Treatment involved removing 48 inches of her small intestine and a small mass, and undergoing chemotherapy. It's been five years since she was diagnosed and treated and she feels great, says Carpenter, 70.

She has also had to change her lifestyle - maintaining a gluten-free diet.

"Living a gluten-free life, it's what you make of it," Carpenter says. "You have to make up your mind that these are things I have to do if I want to live."

Since she was diagnosed, she's noticed stores have gotten better about stocking gluten-free products and labeling foods properly. "It's getting better all the time," she says.

Awareness and proper diagnosis of celiac disease have improved dramatically in the last decade, says Chey.

"When I was a medical student many years ago, we were taught that celiac disease occurred or could be found in approximately one in 500 to 1,000 individuals within the United States," he notes.

Data from within the last five years, however, show celiac disease is significantly more prevalent than previously thought. It can be identified in up to one in 133 individuals within the United States, Chey says.

People who suffer from celiac seem to have a genetic predisposition and the disease can remain latent or asymptomatic for a long time until it becomes unmasked or more clinically apparent through laboratory studies or symptoms, Chey says.

Diseases like diabetes mellitus, auto immune thyroiditis, premature bone loss or iron deficiency anemia have all been associated with celiac disease, Chey adds.

"If you are affected by any of those conditions you should be tested," Chey says.

Celiac can present itself in a variety of ways, such as abnormal laboratory values like low blood counts or abnormal thyroid function, malnutrition, weight loss or a life-threatening disease.

The more common way for it to present itself is with vague GI symptoms, such as bloating, excessive gas, loose stools or abdominal cramping.

Symptoms can be similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome, and new IBS guidelines by the American College of Gastroenterology recommend that newly diagnosed IBS patients get screened for celiac disease.

Chey warns that individuals with very long-standing, untreated celiac disease have an increased risk for developing cancer, primarily of the GI tract but others as well.

Screening is done through a blood test. Therapy consists of instituting a restricted diet devoid of gluten, which tends to inflame the small intestine and lead to more serious problems.

"The key takeaway is that celiac is more common than previously thought, that there are tests available to diagnose the condition and that treatment is highly effective and relies upon a diet rather than drugs," says Chey.

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Dr. Ben Johnson Services, LLC Releases a New Book about Breast Health

RJ Note: Food for thought, or is it thoughts to read?

24-7 -- Most women pay little attention to their breasts unless there is a problem. A new book, The Secret of Health: Breast Wisdom (Morgan James 2008) by Ben Johnson, M.D., D.O., N.M.D. and Kathleen Barnes, changes that focus to breast health.

As an integrative cancer specialist, Dr. Ben Johnson has treated hundreds of women with breast cancer. The experience led him to seek ways to increase awareness of the directions women can take to keep their breasts healthy, thereby diminishing their risk of breast cancer and other breast diseases.

Dr. Johnson and his co-author have a unique approach to breast health that stems from the principles of the Law of Attraction as presented in the blockbuster movie, The Secret, in which Dr. Johnson appears. The book expands on the Law of Attraction by adding the principles of quantum physics and cellular memory that show how deeply our emotions affect every cell in our bodies, causing wellness or illness.

"Dr. Ben Johnson and Kathleen Barnes have fresh new ideas based on solid science and on the truths of the Law of Attraction," said Hyla Cass, M.D. author of 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health (McGraw-Hill 2006)

The Secret of Health: Breast Wisdom is written to provide greater breadth and scope on maintaining healthy breasts than other similar books. Unlike other books that deal primarily with breast cancer, The Secret of Health: Breast Wisdom focuses on dietary and lifestyle choices that create breast health for women of all ages.

Dr. Johnson explains some of the principles used to bring about healing on the deepest possible levels:

"To put it in the simplest possible terms: Your body, down to the individual cells, remembers and believes messages about you that may not be true.

"These messages are lies. Somewhere along the line, you might have been told you were stupid, ugly or not good enough. These messages may have come from your family, from society, even from generations past."

The Secret of Health: Breast Wisdom offers ways to heal those toxic memories, to re-establish healthy communication between cells by eliminating all sorts of old cellular memories based to help us learn on all levels to forge a sense of self-worth, something that many women are lacking.

Johnson, co-author with Kathleen Barnes, said modern medicine focuses on disease conditions rather than on means of creating health. "Nowhere in medicine is this as apparent as in breast health," says Dr. Johnson.

The Secret of Health: Breast Wisdom is loaded with practical advice and personal anecdotes from both Barnes and Dr. Johnson about wearing bras, thermograms versus mammograms, the healthiest diet, the best supplements, and much more.

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Cleavage Creek Cellars Releases New Wines and Donates 10% of Gross Sales to Breast Cancer Research

RJ Note: It's been awhile but I have seen the owner of Cleavage Creek telling his wife's story on a TV program. I am so touched by what this company is doing in her memory and for all women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. I thought you'd enjoy learning more, too.

24-7 -- The second generation of Cleavage Creek wines produced by owner Budge Brown will be released on October 4th, 2008. Dedicated to fighting breast cancer, Cleavage Creek and Brown continue their commitment to donate 10% of gross wine sales to breast cancer research. Brown lost his wife of 48 years to breast cancer in 2005. He obtained the Cleavage Creek label, and is focusing his efforts on funding research to find an end to the disease.

Cleavage Creek will release 6 varietals on October 4th. This much anticipated release continues a one-of-a-kind philanthropic venture, pairing fine wine and an effort to fund breast cancer research. The six new Cleavage Creek wines include a 2006 Reserve Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, a 2006 Reserve Napa Petite Sirah, a 2006 Reserve Cabernet-Syrah, and a 2007 Reserve Chardonnay, all produced from grapes grown in Budge Brown's own vineyards. A 2006 Secret Red and a 2007 Secret White complete the group. Brown expects a total of 1,600 cases of wine to be available for sale in October 2008.

Each bottle of Cleavage Creek wine honors a breast cancer survivor with their picture on the label. Their story is told on the Cleavage Creek website. Six survivors adorn the bottles of the second release of Budge Brown's Cleavage Creek wines. The breast cancer survivors and their stories are every bit as unique and special as the wine they represent.

Ten percent of the gross dollar amount of this operation will be donated to cutting edge research to fight breast cancer. That's gross, not net - a huge difference when determining the amount of money that will be contributed. These wines will be priced in the $18 - $50 range and are available for purchase via internet and phone. Gift sets of Cleavage Creek wines will be available in 2, 4, and 6 bottle sets.

To date, Cleavage Creek has donated over $37,000 to breast cancer research.

Budge Brown is a successful self-made businessman and farmer. Brown believes that Cleavage Creek wines can make a difference. "The world is full of people who enjoy good wines," says Brown. "When they buy Cleavage Creek, they get a world class wine while helping efforts to find a cure for breast cancer. Everybody wins. When people learn about Cleavage Creek and the motivation behind it, well, if it reminds one person to go for a checkup, do a self-examination, or become more informed, we're accomplishing our goal of saving lives. The cure for breast cancer may not come in my lifetime, but the mere existence of Cleavage Creek could bring it along sooner rather than later. Let's get it done."

Plans for Cleavage Creek vineyards in Napa are in the works, and they are ambitious. A tasting room and wine shop will soon be under construction just steps from the growing vines as the permit has already been approved by local Napa officials. Arlene's Garden, a special meditation flower garden overlooking a lake has been built to honor the late Arlene Brown, Budge Brown's wife and a victim of breast cancer. Her favorite flowers have been planted there, including over 20,000 daffodils, 10,000 iris, thousands of tulips, California poppies, a host of wild flowers, and roses. "I want people to visit Cleavage Creek and celebrate life and health," says Brown. "There's no better way to do that than with a fine wine and the company of those who are a part of the fight." Brown looks forward to hosting events and celebrating survival. "We have to move forward," he asserts. "The focus should be on finding a cure. We want Cleavage Creek to do all it can to help this process."

Budge Brown speaks with great passion about the Cleavage Creek Wine Clubs. There is a special category of the club for those who have conquered breast cancer. Brown believes that not only should those with breast cancer survive, but they should thrive as well.

Brown's goal is simple and his dedication is genuine. "I want to sell great wine, give a portion of our gross to the best sources for a cure, raise awareness, and celebrate survival. Our motto is 'Live to Love Life'."

About Cleavage Creek
Cleavage Creek vineyards are located in Pope Valley, Napa, Calif. Cleavage Creek is dedicated to producing world class wines and funding breast cancer research. For more information, please visit http://www.CleavageCreek.com or phone 1.888.295.1280.

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