Comments on: Preventing Surgery-induced Cancer Metastasis http://www.healthwatchersnews.com/2009/12/preventing-surgery-induced-cancer-metastasis/ Sharing Excellence in Medicine for Optimal Health Tue, 20 Apr 2010 01:50:59 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Denis http://www.healthwatchersnews.com/2009/12/preventing-surgery-induced-cancer-metastasis/comment-page-1/#comment-174 Denis Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:26:36 +0000 http://www.healthwatchersnews.com/?p=402#comment-174 This was all very interesting but now I am left trying to establish how the use of low dose naltrexone might factor into some of these curative measures; it certainly seems to have some significant anti-cancer properties! Any comment on this would be much appreciated particularly as my wife is now established on her maintenace dose of ldn as a preventative supplement because she is genetically predisposed to increased risk of cancer. This was all very interesting but now I am left trying to establish how the use of low dose naltrexone might factor into some of these curative measures; it certainly seems to have some significant anti-cancer properties! Any comment on this would be much appreciated particularly as my wife is now established on her maintenace dose of ldn as a preventative supplement because she is genetically predisposed to increased risk of cancer.

]]> By: Peter MacLellan http://www.healthwatchersnews.com/2009/12/preventing-surgery-induced-cancer-metastasis/comment-page-1/#comment-173 Peter MacLellan Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:17:26 +0000 http://www.healthwatchersnews.com/?p=402#comment-173 This article is very interesting and exciting. Work on the impact of anesthesia on the immune system has been done, in my direct knowledge, since the 1980's, and necessarily depended on new details on how the immune system functions. As an anesthesiologist, my role has been one of enabling, but it is now apparent that it can also be therapeutic. There is increasing evidence that the choice of anesthetic can affect long term outcome for the patient receiving the anesthetic, because of the effect of anesthetic agents on the immune system. It may be reassuring for patients to know that this information is not only in the anesthesia literature, some of which is documented in the article, but also in Continuing Medical Education material from the American Society of Anesthesiologists. However given the long-time perception of anesthesia in the eyes of both the public and the profession as merely a means to enable surgery to take place with no or minimal pain and suffering, and also given the "production pressures" in operating rooms, there may be considerable resistance to increasing the use of regional anesthesia. Regional anesthesia tends to take longer than general anesthesia and will therefore decrease the number of cases that can be done, therefore reducing income for both the anesthesia practitioner and the institution. This is a significant barrier to overcome. There are also 2 significant references missing from the article which describe the possible beneficial effects on outcome of epidural anesthesia for prostate cancer surgery, and of paravertebral block for major breast cancer surgery: Biki B, Mascha E, Moriarity DC, et al. Anesthetic technique for radical prostatectomy surgery affects cancer recurrence: A retrospective analysis. Anesthesiology. 2008; 109:180-187. Exadaktylos AK, Buggy DJ, Moriarty DC, Mascha E, Sessler DI: Can anesthetic technique for primary breast cancer surgery affect recurrence or metastasis? Anesthesiology 2006; 4:660-4 Both of these papers are retrospective, and therefore should be viewed as not definitive, but the information is very dramatic. Epidural anesthesia is fairly widely accepted as a modality for post-operative pain relief after radical prostatectomy, so request for it is more likely to be entertained. Paravertebral block for mastectomy is less likely to be available since most anesthesiologists do not know this technique (myself included.) Other factors to consider are the use of propofol infusion instead of a volatile agent (gas), since volatile agents seem to have anti-analgesic properties and lead to more post-operative narcotic use, and narcotics have immune suppression effects, inhibiting both cellular and humoral immune function in humans. There is also a small study from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto which showed that eating a ground flax containing muffin for several weeks before breast surgery reduced tumor size (no risk - possible benefit). And of course Vitamin D3 deficiency is widespread, is easily avoided and/or corrected (10,000 units per day clearly safe over a 6 months period, therefore could easily and safely be done pre-operatively) and its correction in the wider community will prevent breast cancer occurence in some patients, which in the final analysis is the best way to avoid recurrence - prevent the disease completely. This article is very interesting and exciting. Work on the impact of anesthesia on the immune system has been done, in my direct knowledge, since the 1980’s, and necessarily depended on new details on how the immune system functions. As an anesthesiologist, my role has been one of enabling, but it is now apparent that it can also be therapeutic. There is increasing evidence that the choice of anesthetic can affect long term outcome for the patient receiving the anesthetic, because of the effect of anesthetic agents on the immune system.

It may be reassuring for patients to know that this information is not only in the anesthesia literature, some of which is documented in the article, but also in Continuing Medical Education material from the American Society of Anesthesiologists. However given the long-time perception of anesthesia in the eyes of both the public and the profession as merely a means to enable surgery to take place with no or minimal pain and suffering, and also given the “production pressures” in operating rooms, there may be considerable resistance to increasing the use of regional anesthesia. Regional anesthesia tends to take longer than general anesthesia and will therefore decrease the number of cases that can be done, therefore reducing income for both the anesthesia practitioner and the institution. This is a significant barrier to overcome.

There are also 2 significant references missing from the article which describe the possible beneficial effects on outcome of epidural anesthesia for prostate cancer surgery, and of paravertebral block for major breast cancer surgery:

Biki B, Mascha E, Moriarity DC, et al. Anesthetic technique for radical prostatectomy surgery affects cancer recurrence: A retrospective analysis. Anesthesiology. 2008; 109:180-187.

Exadaktylos AK, Buggy DJ, Moriarty DC, Mascha E, Sessler DI: Can anesthetic technique for primary breast cancer surgery affect recurrence or metastasis? Anesthesiology 2006; 4:660-4

Both of these papers are retrospective, and therefore should be viewed as not definitive, but the information is very dramatic.

Epidural anesthesia is fairly widely accepted as a modality for post-operative pain relief after radical prostatectomy, so request for it is more likely to be entertained. Paravertebral block for mastectomy is less likely to be available since most anesthesiologists do not know this technique (myself included.)

Other factors to consider are the use of propofol infusion instead of a volatile agent (gas), since volatile agents seem to have anti-analgesic properties and lead to more post-operative narcotic use, and narcotics have immune suppression effects, inhibiting both cellular and humoral immune function in humans. There is also a small study from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto which showed that eating a ground flax containing muffin for several weeks before breast surgery reduced tumor size (no risk – possible benefit). And of course Vitamin D3 deficiency is widespread, is easily avoided and/or corrected (10,000 units per day clearly safe over a 6 months period, therefore could easily and safely be done pre-operatively) and its correction in the wider community will prevent breast cancer occurence in some patients, which in the final analysis is the best way to avoid recurrence – prevent the disease completely.

]]> By: Deborah http://www.healthwatchersnews.com/2009/12/preventing-surgery-induced-cancer-metastasis/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Deborah Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:37:02 +0000 http://www.healthwatchersnews.com/?p=402#comment-172 Thank you for this article. I had surgery for breast cancer 1 1/2 years ago. I wish my doctor had given me this kind of information. I did know some of the things you mentioned from the reading that I do and i took Modified Citrus Pectin before and after my surgery. I also take curcumin, vitamin E, green tea (EGCG), quercetin, fish oil, garlic, Maitake D, and Avemar. How long do you recommend taking Modified Citrus Pectin after surgery? Thank you, Deborah Thank you for this article. I had surgery for breast cancer 1 1/2 years ago. I wish my doctor had given me this kind of information. I did know some of the things you mentioned from the reading that I do and i took Modified Citrus Pectin before and after my surgery.

I also take curcumin, vitamin E, green tea (EGCG), quercetin, fish oil, garlic, Maitake D, and Avemar.

How long do you recommend taking Modified Citrus Pectin after surgery?

Thank you,
Deborah

]]> By: Catherine L. Pearson http://www.healthwatchersnews.com/2009/12/preventing-surgery-induced-cancer-metastasis/comment-page-1/#comment-166 Catherine L. Pearson Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:02:42 +0000 http://www.healthwatchersnews.com/?p=402#comment-166 Thank you so much for this new info. Both my mother and sister have had breast cancer. My sister twice. They both were in their mid 40's. I am 64, so far cancer free. I have used natural progesterone cream since menopause, try to eat healthy foods, plus use the important supplements. I will bookmark this study, and also share info with my family and friends. -Cathie Thank you so much for this new info. Both my mother and sister have had breast cancer. My sister twice. They both were in their mid 40’s. I am 64, so far cancer free. I have used natural progesterone cream since menopause, try to eat healthy foods, plus use the important supplements.

I will bookmark this study, and also share info with my family and friends.

-Cathie

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