Most people are surprised to learn that neither the FDA nor any other regulatory agency ensures the potency or purity of dietary supplements. Equally concerning, manufacturers don’t have to get FDA approval or provide the FDA with safety data prior to making them available for sale! It isn’t until a product is on that market … Continued

If you have or have had cancer, you’re likely aware that doctors frequently advise patients to get more rest, and reduce, or even stop, their exercise regimen. And while fatigue is a common concern for cancer patients – especially those undergoing treatment – and this advice might sound appealing, it is, actually, a very bad … Continued

In our previous blog post, we reviewed specific dietary patterns that research demonstrates are beneficial to breast cancer patients. Today we take a look at how our general dietary recommendations are valuable not only to breast cancer patients, but to anyone facing a cancer diagnosis. We recommend a diet that’s low in saturated fats and … Continued

We are often asked if there are specific foods that can boost cancer survival. Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we thought we’d address this question as it relates to breast cancer. Existing research doesn’t support the notion that there are specific foods that can increase survival. However, there IS considerable evidence that dietary … Continued

One of the most common sources of distress after a diagnosis of cancer is being told that you have “X” number of months or years to live. This is often presented in the form of a risk-based percentage, such as “a 30 percent chance of surviving one year.” For anyone on the receiving end of … Continued

Early on during my medical training I was carrying cancer cells in a petri dish from one lab to another, just a 5-minute walk down the hall. The graduate student in the second lab was quite agitated with me, yelling for me to move faster, because the cells died during this short walk, preventing him … Continued

For those of you familiar with Dr. Block’s book Life Over Cancer, you know that Dr. Block places great importance on our “biography.” Our biography is who we are, how we live and how we take care of ourselves. This is important because the Standard American Diet, a sedentary lifestyle, high levels of unrelieved stress, … Continued

Advanced cancer patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatments often report suffering from insomnia, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and depression. In fact, experts estimate that as many as 50% of patients dealing with lung and other cancers experience fatigue syndrome (a combination of physical exhaustion, mental weariness, and reduced emotional stamina.) Many factors in cancer and treatment … Continued

Since at least the 1980s, evidence has been growing that inflammation can both initiate and fuel many different cancers. In fact, any chronic inflammatory disease – such as arthritis, bronchitis, fasciitis, colitis, and asthma – can increase the risk of cancer. For example, according to a 2000 study, approximately one in every ten patients with … Continued

For people touched by cancer, the term “hope” can mean different things. At a basic level, of course you hope to get rid of your cancer and then stay free of the disease. In this context, hope is simply a form of wish fulfillment: You desire, and to some degree, expect, a full-fledged recovery. Implicit … Continued