The Fungal Theory

digger

Jane, do you know what hubris means? 

Janeluvsdogs

I didn't say anything about people born in 2000. You can't know how long people born in 2000 will live. You keep dealing with unknowables and assumptions.

Don't thank me for your assumptions. Just keep that crystal ball going. It's very amusing.

Janeluvsdogs

Hubris? Yeah, I know what it means. You can get an ointment for it at Walmart.

wendy57

Actually they've been keeping statistics for more than 100 years. In 1900 the death rate per 100,000 population for Breast Cancer was 4.5 and Breast Cancer accounted for 7.3% of all cancers diagnosed. In 1911 the death rate (per 100,000) was 7.2 and breast cancer accounted for 9.1% of cancers

impositive

digger, I for one...Out of sheer respect for my fellow human being, would NEVER "hop on over" to the stage IV forum and "preach" or present any of my thoughts or opinions.  That is why I posted this thread in the "alternative forum"!  If members want to know our thoughts, they'll come here to read them, like you do. 

impositive

Wendy57, I would be curious to learn what today's statistics say. Would you mind posting them?

wendy57

The age-adjusted incidence rate was 122.9 per 100,000 women per year. These rates are based on cases diagnosed in 2003-2007 from 17 SEER geographic areas.

From 2003-2007, the median age at death for cancer of the breast was 68 years of age Approximately 0.0% died under age 20; 0.9% between 20 and 34; 6.0% between 35 and 44; 15.0% between 45 and 54; 20.8% between 55 and 64; 19.7% between 65 and 74; 22.6% between 75 and 84; and 15.1% 85+ years of age.

The age-adjusted death rate was 24.0 per 100,000 women per year. These rates are based on patients who died in 2003-2007 in the US.  In 1975 the death rate was 31.45 per 100,000.

impositive

Wendy57, You must have a mind for numbers...sadly, I dont. 

year 1900 the death rate per 100,000 for Breast Cancer was 4.5

as of 2003-2007 the age-adjusted death rate was 24.0 per 100,000 

So the death rate has increased more than 5 fold?  Is that right or am I mis-interpretting the data?

impositive

This should interest some of us...Chernobyl Fungus Feeds On Radiation

Source: http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20070422222547data_trunc_sys.shtml

This is the title of an article about a study by researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  The researchers have found evidence that "certain fungi possess another talent beyond their ability to decompose matter: the capacity to use radioactivity as an energy source for making food and spurring their growth." 

I never understood the relationship between radiation as a cancer causing agent.  Now I do!  If we have a fungus in our body and we are getting x-rays, mammography, too much sun, or chronic small doses from cell phones, etc., we are feeding the fungus and spurring it's growth!

Another topic this article touches on, which is of great interest to me since I've had melanoma, is melanin. (a dark pigment found in skin and in malignant melanoma tumors.) 

(Melanoma- a dark pigmented tumor arising from a melanocyte. (melanocyte-melanin producing cells) 

Has anyone ever seen melanoma? It typically has irregular borders and is unnaturally pigmented, meaning it contains various shades of brown, black and sometimes other colors as well. 

This article says: "Arturo Casadevall said his interest was piqued five years ago when he read about how a robot sent into the still-highly-radioactive Chernobyl reactor had returned with samples of black, melanin-rich fungi that were growing on the ruined reactor's walls....."I found that very interesting and began discussing with colleagues whether these fungi might be using the radiation emissions as an energy source." ...  Casadevall and his co-researchers then set about performing a variety of tests using several different fungi. Two types - one that was induced to make melanin (Crytococcus neoformans) and another that naturally contains it (Wangiella dermatitidis) - were exposed to levels of ionizing radiation approximately 500 times higher than background levels...Interestingly, the melanin in fungi is no different chemically from the melanin in our skin ...

These researchers are were not looking for a cancer fungus link, however in my mind, this lends to the credibility of the theory....Cryptococcus neoformans make melanin and another Wangiella dermatitidis contain it...and...the melanin is no different from the melanin in our skin!

Interestingly enough, I've also had basil cell carcinoma.  I have had numerous spots removed, so many  that my dermatologist has asked me on more than one occasion, "Are you sure you've never been exposed to radiation?"  I abused the sun's radiation as a teenager but to my knowledge, no other radiation, except the occasional dental x-ray.

I continually hear the question from cancer patients and others, "Why do some of us get cancer and others dont?" 

Maybe it's because some of us have come across a fungus.....

luv_gardening

It's really hard to compare statistics as 100 years ago many more died as infants hence the number of adult women over 35 in the population was a much smaller percentage of the population than it is now, and the death rate in that age group makes up the vast bulk of deaths.

Apart from infant deaths, people died younger from infections such as after childbirth or from any infection that got into the bloodstream.  Hygiene and living conditions were worse for many.  Smallpox, polio, TB and other illnesses have almost been eradicated in so called developed countries.  Many people are saved from illnesses that would have killed them and stopped them reaching 35, 55 or older when BC is more often diagnosed and death rates rise.

Even comparing more recent statistics is problematic as more are diagnosed early and different treatments are used.  If only it were simple.

CrunchyPoodleMama

Age is the biggest risk factor in cancer....the average human's life span is much, much longer than it was 100 years ago, hence the higher incidence of cancer.    

*sigh* It really is tiring to keep debunking this myth. The only reason the "average" (mean) life span is longer is because infant mortality is way down. "Average" people 100 years ago lived pretty much as long of lives as they live now, and much healthier lives, too.

I remember being mystified when researching my genealogy at how many of my ancestors died in their 90's and 100's. I kept thinking, what a fluke -- most people died in their 40's way back then! Um, no. Many infants died because of things like poor hygiene during childbirth and infectious diseases, but many people lived well into old age.

Of all my ancestors, some of whom lived to be past 100 (one husband and wife lifed to be 105 and 107), not a single one of them ever had any form of cancer. (Well, okay, maybe they had it and didn't know it, until they died of something else at 107.)

Also, with the current generation of young people, the average lifespan will likely decrease... mainstream medicine says it's due to obesity, but it's more complex than that. With all the toxins and dead food and Frankenfood (GMOs) being consumed literally from birth now, I won't be surprised if today's babies' lifespan not only plummets, but their quality of life does too (autoimmune and other chronic illnesses).

edited: I was typing this post before I saw Sheila's. Right on, Sheila!

impositive

Thanks for clearing that up ladies....

Janeluvsdogs

Impositive,

Thanks for introducing the melanoma topic. There was a study that claimed breast cancer, colon cancer and melanoma were in the same "category" of cancers. I've met several people who have had both breast cancer and melanoma. I wonder about radiation exposure. I'm also wondering how heavy metals fit into the fungus picture. Do metals weaken the organs and increase our vulneralbility to fungus?

squidwitch42

My mother died a horrible death from Pancreatic Cancer. She never made it to chemo. Just great how this disease is treated like a joke here. Got any more jokes about death from pancreatic cancer Jane?

and impositive...there is no need to speculate about whether his quality of life would have been better without treatment. Clearly you have never seen a loved one pass from Pancreatic Cancer.

impositive

Janeluvsdogs, I recently read an article (It was in some of the info Huggins office sent me, thanks again) about how mercury attaches itself to our cells to form a Hapten (a normal cell that aquires a 'hitch hiker' that elicits an immune response)  This new cell is mistaken by the immune cell as being foreign thus it attacks it causing autoimmune disease.  If our bodies are busy attacking those cells, it's probably not going to do to well handling other pathogens that enter into our systems (ie. fungus)

I believe fungus can do the same sort of thing.  It can 'attach' itself to the cell (ie.- our glands, like the thyroid, and the immune system will attack it thus causing autoimmune disease.  It can sometimes get inside the cell and can then hide from our immune cells. (cancer)  Medicine says autoimmune disease is our immune system making a mistake...I dont think so...they are attacking a known pathogen. (Known to our God given immune systems....not so much to our doctors.

Janeluvsdogs

Squid,

My mother also died of pancreatic cancer. She lived less than a year from diagnosis until she died at 46 leaving four children. My father in law lived a year and a half with pancreatic cancer and passed away last winter. No one was joking about pancreatic cancer. The joke was about the use of the word, hubris. Reread the posts before making accusations.

Janeluvsdogs

I agree with you impositive. There can't be any such thing as auto-immune disease. Scientists just haven't found the invader the immune system is attacking. I think there was a study about one of the so-called auto immune thyroid diseases be associated with a particular bacteria.

Didn't somebody mention George and Barbara Bush and their dog all having Graves (auto-immune) Disease at the same time? What are the odds of that not being an infection?

impositive

squidwitch and jane, I'm so sorry about your loved ones.  I have not had the heartbreak of watching a loved one pass with PC and I am thankful for that. I have witnessed loved ones with other forms of cancer wither away from it's (and chemo's) horrible effects. Both my grandmothers had BC.

impositive

Jane, I hadn't heard that story (about Bush)....that's interesting, to say the least.

impositive

Just thinking...Are there really any of us whose lives have not been touched by cancer?  Our experiences may be different but I dont believe any of us (well...not most) are so callous as to make light of it. 

I didn't see the joke as relating to PC...but to that word...hubris...I had to laugh because I  had to look it up.  Who uses that word?  

luv_gardening

Squidwitch42, my father died 6 weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  That was almost 5 years ago.  He had no treatment after being offered chemo as he said it would make him sick for nothing.  I suspect he actually died from starvation as he completely lost his appetite and couldn't eat.  He was an obese man but fat will not provide nutrients for long. 

I haven't found any of the above posts offensive but then we're all different and I'm too lazy to go back a page and re-read the posts in case I missed something.   I've noticed when my family are fighting they will always interpret words from 'their' side in a positive light and words from the opponents side in a negative light.  As a result I'm getting more immune to family gossip and people's interpretations and being more careful about how I interpret things.

Now, if humour works to avoid or delay recurrence then bring it on.  But not intentionally at anyone's expence of course.

Hugs for Squidwitch 42.  Pancreatic cancer is a &@<?*!

Janeluvsdogs

Imp,

Just a guess on who uses that word. Hubrisians?

impositive

Sheila, I like you more all the time.

Whenever I read your posts, I get a sense of calm...as I've said before...a voice of reason.

Janeluvsdogs

Oh, Sheila! Six weeks, that must be like being hit with a bomb, not having any time to absorb the diagnosis. The shortest time I heard before your father was three months. Geez, what is causing all this?

Blessings to us all that we may somehow help each other.

luv_gardening

Imp (I like your new nickname),

I get most of the logic from a relative who belongs to many skeptic clubs and debates a lot.  He's quick to politely point out my logical errors so now I'm learning to look out for bias, opinion, misquotes and other forms of logical error.  I wish I had the maths skills to study formal logic but then I'd like to study biochemistry, psychology and many other subjects too. I wish our children could learn the basics of logic and people skills rather than useless facts as it's these disputes that seem to hold people back and cause the most distress when relationships fail and disputes disrupt our lives.

As far as the fungal connection goes, I remember decades ago reading a book by Edward De Bono about brainstorming.  He said that when brainstorming it's good to propose ludicrous solutions to any problems.   His example was an elephant suggested for a solution which was slightly helpful but completely impractical, but then someone jumps up and says, hey, that reminds me of a way we can really solve this.  Some aspect of the elephant was actually the best solution but without having to raid the zoo.  Since then I've been much more open to all ideas and I can see your sources are all good and there may be some important connection or angle that proves to be a breakthrough. Or as De Bono would say, paraphrasing, why keep digging the same hole deeper and deeper looking for the solution, why not start new holes?

luv_gardening

Jane, I suspect my father had symptoms long before he was diagnosed as he once stood and laughed after drilling a drill bit through his thumb.  He would put up with pain unless it was extreme. My family spotted that he wasn't eating 5 years ago at Xmas and was looking jaundiced.  He was hospitalised on 27th December and died in early February.  He spent a week in denial, joking with all the hospital staff, then plunged into deep depression.  He did recover a little, enough to enjoy the family in his last weeks.  He was mostly sedated the last few days in the hospice.  He said he regretted nothing and had had a good, full life.

When my cousin in law died young leaving behind two toddlers,  from oesophogeal cancer after just 9 months on both conventional and CAM treatments, that was much more upsetting.  He wasn't in any risk categories but had eaten a lot of imported indian spices and was a bit of a health fanatic.  It shook me to my core for a long time as we related so well to him and we both had 2 sons around the same age.  I wonder if that could have been the trauma that kicked off my own cancer?  I finally decided I needed to accept whatever life throws up.  Nothing is guaranteed and stressing only adds to our problems.

Hindsfeet

Talking about autoimmune diseases, I got back today the results of my thyroid tests. It seems to be that my TSH is really low. My T3 and T4 are also low. My naturalpath feels that my autoimmune dease is the culpret to my low thyroid numbers. I think it's the result of having yeast infections all year (due to several courses of antibiotics). Yeast can be the cause of autoimmune diseases as noted earlier on this thread. Yeast/fungal latches onto our thyroid cells and organ, which causes our immune system to attack our thyroid. Correct me if I'm wrong.



After my breast surgery, (last 2 lumpectomies they gave me antibiotics through an IV before surgery), I will go on a serious yeast free diet, take fungal medicine, and supplements...plus detox. I look forward to the next thyroid test. Hopefully, I'll be yeast free, and no auto-immune disease.

Jainey

Hi Chilipad ... my goodness, there is lots going on here ... there is no way that you should be having open wounds ... Why cant you have a mastectomy?? or is it just your choice ... sorry, I didnt find the answer to that so I am asking. I spent 5 months after my diagnosis seeing many opinions and then seeing lots of NDs .. some took exhorbitant amounts of my money in a short period of time and have been left behind! But ... two NDs have saved my life ... one in particular, Dr. Neil McKinney (and the other Dr. Swetlikoff) ... both of them told me that If I Did NOT get the cancer removed that It would eventually spread as it is like a parasite with billions of cells, and with natural medicine we can only kill hundreds of cells (I was doing it all from Mistletoe, Intravenous Vit C to 33 pills for supplements a day and the alkaline diet etc etc etc). Please do not sacrafice your life for refusing surgery if that might be your only way to survive ... Now that my surgery is done (november 30 BMX) I dont need chemo or rads and refused Tamoxifen ... I have an 85% chance of complete recovery with natural means .. Wow! Before surgery I had less than 5%.

"Naturally There's Always Hope - Healing Cancer with Natural Medicine" is one of the books that my ND Oncologist has written ... It costs about 40$ and can be ordered from his clinic at 1 888 722 6401 ... I just love this book and I believe there is new one coming out in the near future ... Please PM if you have any concerns or questions regarding this. Love you all!

hlth4513

Jainey-

I have that book and love it!! I had to buy a used copy online and it was falling apart at the binding. You are very fortunate to have him as your naturopath. He was the one who early on convinced me of having to cast a very wide net to stop cancer from recurring.

Beth

chillipadi

Jainey, surgery is out of the question because the tumors have broken through the skin all over my right breast. It is too widespread for a masectomy. Even the radiation oncologist said that she would prefer that my medical oncologist try to shrink the tumors before radiation is attempted. I was shocked at how fast the tumors grew and spread. Funny thing, though, is that they seem to be only breaking outwards, and not inwards. Scans show that they have not metastasized elsewhere. A traditional Chinese medicine doctor whom I consulted said that the Chinese herbal tea which I have been drinking for almost a year probably helped to prevent the cancer from spreading. The ingredients and properties are listed in my blog post http://healingpastures.com/2010/08/02/cancer-fighting-mint-plant/

Six weeks ago, I received my first Zoladex shot to get my overies to stop producing estrogen. Meanwhile, I continued with metronomic chemo plus Tamoxifen. Two weeks ago I started applying anti-fungal powder to the lesions. I also started consuming natural anti-fungals like a clove of garlic chopped up and swallowed with a tablespooon of coconut oil, as well as an apple cider vinegar with manuka honey drink. In the past week, my husband and I have noticed that the lesions have started to shrink. Not rapidly, like when you do regular chemo, but they are obviously receding. Slow and steady is okay with me, as long as the cancer diminishes and stops progressing.

I'm seriously thinking of adding Reishi mushroom (also known as ganoderma or Lingzhi) capsules to my program, even though mushrooms are a fungus. Chinese medical doctors always recommend this for fighting cancer. Hmm.