Ask Dr. Block I’ve heard you say we have made some recent gains, but overall, and for many years, we have been losing the “war on cancer.” Why do you believe this to be the case? Compared to the mortality rate for other diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and stroke, the change in mortality … Continued
Ask Dr. Block Dr. Block, what do you think are the main differences between the “standard of care” approach of conventional medicine and a comprehensive, personalized integrative approach? Mainstream cancer treatment grows out of a cultural – and global – fixation on seeking out silver bullet treatment strategies. This search, while fruitful in small … Continued
For many years, we’ve been telling breast cancer patients that if they have estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) cancers, they can safely eat soy foods like tofu and tempeh. Soy foods have been shown in epidemiological studies to be safe for breast cancer patients, as well as for those at higher risk. They may actually lower breast … Continued
Filling 5-7 firm, tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (Golden Delicious, for example) 4 tablespoons organic brown rice syrup -OR- 2 tablespoons pure agave syrup 1 teaspoon cinnamon Canola oil, high heat, or pure grapeseed oil or other Topping 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant) ½ cup organic whole wheat pastry flour … Continued
I’ve heard you speak often about the importance of the “biochemical terrain.” How does our terrain influence our risk of getting cancer? I have spent the past 30 years investigating the clinical relevance and influence that the extracellular and intracellular environments have on cancer cells. A patient’s biochemical terrain can either be cancer promoting or … Continued
I understand one of your chemotherapeutic infusion and distribution techniques is unique in the United States. I am referring to chronomodulated chemotherapeutic treatments. How does this methodology work? Back in the early nineties, I was looking for methods to help my patients better tolerate some of the more invasive cancer treatments. When I came across … Continued
What prompted you to become involved in a comprehensive Integrative Cancer practice versus a conventional “standard of care” practice? Early on during my medical training I was carrying cancer cells from one lab to another, just a short 30 yards down the hall, to a graduate student in a second lab. He was quite impatient … Continued
A major story on health news websites last week was a study from the Netherlands suggesting that fish oil will negate the effects of cancer chemotherapy. This study was published in JAMA Oncology, and thus attracted much attention. It’s actually a continuation of a study that we blogged about a few years ago: https://lifeovercancer.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/fish-oil-and-chemotherapy-the-bigger-picture/. We’ll … Continued
This is perhaps the most overlooked aspect of conventional oncology. Once a patient is deemed “in remission,” they are typically disconnected from care – as well as any attending support – and told to come back in three to six months where diagnostic scans or blood tests will determine if the cancer has returned. I … Continued
The data and studies looking at the relationship between nutrition and cancer are voluminous. However, there is a major disconnect between what is evidence based and supported by the literature, and what the average mainstream clinician is comfortable with when it comes to advising patients who are battling for their lives. For many years now, … Continued