At the beginning of the 20th century Professor John Beard of Edinburgh University proposed the trophoblastic theory of cancer.  In pregnancy stem cells, under the influence of oestrogen, erode into the wall of the uterus so that the embryo can attach to the uterine wall.  Around the 56th day of pregnancy the baby’s pancreatic enzymes kick in and destroy the outer coating of the trophoblast, which is then broken down by the immune system.  Professor Beard discovered that the healing process in humans is stimulated in the same way – with oestrogen stimulating stem cells to produce trophoblasts.  The healing process is then terminated by pancreatic enzymes.  He successfully treated cancer cells by injecting trypsin and chymotrypsin. His trophoblastic theory of cancer has stood for a century without being disproved.  When we consider today’s diet, the increasing problems with diabetes and obesity, and a corresponding increase in all kinds of cancer, the role of pancreatic enzymes seems to tie in very well.  Leucocytes, the white cells, carry a negative electrostatic charge.  The cunning cancer cell also has a negatively charged outer coat.  Basic physics informs us that like charges repel.  Pancreatic enzymes break down the surface of the cancer cell and allow the white cells of the immune system to attack the cancer cell.  This is also one of the reasons that many authorities recommend a meat free diet –to avoid using up your body’s trypsin and chymotripsin in breaking down protein

Professor Gerry Potter leads the Cancer Drug Discovery Group at De Montfort University in Leicester.  If you were at the Kinesiology conference you may have heard Professor Potter’s illuminating talk on Salvestrols.  Salvestrols are compounds found in foods –especially in organic green vegetables and red fruits – which are triggered by enzymes in cancer cells to have anti cancer activity.  This seems to be a similar “magic bullet” scenario as the B17 process.  As we know, orthodox chemotherapy agents are toxic (and sometimes more toxic) to healthy cells as well as to cancer cells.  Salvestrols have no toxicity to healthy cells when taken at recommended levels.  This appears to be an exciting way forward for cancer treatment and hopefully over the next few years after proper trials are conducted we will see salvestrols in the hospital anti cancer armoury.  In the meantime food grade salvestrols are available through www.fruitforce.co.uk   Professor Potter  says that these supplements should not be taken with B17.

Ambrotose is a glyconutritional supplement. Glyconutritionals are monosaccharides which are essential to life.  They attach to cell walls and conjugate with proteins to form glycoproteins.  These glycoproteins form the communication system of the body.  Cellular          communication relies on these glycoproteins.  Recognising another cell as self or non-self relies on these glycoproteins.  This is important in all diseases but especially in auto-immune disease.  In addition these supplements boost the immune system and have anti oxidant, anti-viral and anti-fungal benefits.  In a study published in 1999 in the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association Dr Darryl See compared the efficacy and toxicity of 196 products.  Only glyconutritional products and aloe and garlic showed a significant benefit in boosting Natural Killer Cells, anti-oxidant activity and anti-fungal activity without any toxicity.  Ambrotose performed significantly better in elevating numbers of Natural Killer Cells and in anti-viral activity.  You can find out more about glyconutritionals at www.glycoscience.org

Low levels of vitamin A have been linked with cancer since 1941.  It appears to mop up free radicals and block the proliferation of cancer cells.  You can obtain vitamin a from Cod liver oil.  Too much vitamin A is toxic so you can additionally supplement beta carotene which is the vitamin A precursor.  In one study  30mg per day caused cancer inhibition in 44% of patients with colon cancer. Beta carotene should be taken with meals and in divided doses for best absorption.

Many studies, and especially large-scale studies in Finland, have shown a relationship between low vitamin E and increased susceptibility to cancer.  Vitamin E is known to enhance the immune system and can be taken in doses of 400-800 units a day.

Vitamin C must be the most researched of nutrients.  In the 18th century Dr Lind’s research connected scurvy  to a lack of citrus fruit in the diet. In the 20th  century Sir Linus Pauling –(the only person to win 2 solo Nobel prizes) extensively researched the health benefits of Vitamin C. In fact some of his research into the cancer connection was done with Dr Cameron in Scotland at the Vale of Leven hospital.  There is no doubt that supplementing large doses (up to to 20grams or more per day) improved survival times.  In one of their studies terminally ill cancer patients on Vitamin C lived four times as long as control patients.  In another study (Pauling and Hoffer 1990) patients on a nutritional programme including beta carotene and 10 grams daily of Vitamin C survived up to 16 times longer than the control group – and some were still alive at the publication of the report.   I find patients require 5-15 grams a day. It may be easier to take in powder form in a little fruit juice and in divided doses.  It is certainly much cheaper in powder form. Occasionally a patient can get loose stools in which case you may want reduce the dose.