CANCER-FREE THEN DEAD?

The story of Janet Kanini Ikua is not only a heart-breaking story, but also leaves many unanswered questions about the medical field. Why should a doctor declare a patient Cancer-Free, then they are declared dead soon after? Should we even trust doctors’ results? Is there something we are missing and or overlooking as medics and paramedics?

Cancer is one of the most ruthless, devastating, agonizing and aggressive medical conditions I’ve seen so far in my line of work. Most Cancers’ symptoms mimic those of other common diseases, therefore more often than not, doctors either misdiagnose or end up managing the symptoms for too long, and by the time they get the right diagnosis it’s by far too late. This was the unfortunate reality for Janet and my Mum’s friend’s Mum, who was treated for Cellulitis for so long, only for the doctors to realize she actually had Leukemia (Blood Cancer). She died less than a week after diagnosis. 

But why would a person be declared Cancer-Free then they end up succumbing soon after?  The answer to this is in the fact that we keep constantly over-looking the basic Foundation of the Human body. The human frame and all structures in it run 100% on Nutrition.

The human body is an intricate network of well-coordinated systems that are programmed to carry out various functions, which together directly influence optimal health. This complex system is Fueled and run Fully on Nutrients. The body needs energy for cells and all systems in general to function; energy comes majorly from Carbohydrates and Fats as a secondary source.

The body has a way of destroying all worn-out cells and tissues and creates new ones to replace them. The body triggers a self-destruction process in any cells that develop abnormally or have any defects in a process known as apoptosis, or simply cell death. The Nutrients in-charge of this rejuvenation and rebuilding process is Amino Acids, which are the building blocks of Proteins.

No pathogens; Viruses, Fungi, Bacteria, Worms etc. can survive in the body under optimal health status. This is because the body was created with a defense system to destroy any pathogens before they can cause any harm in the body. Why then, do diseases and more so chronic illnesses like Cancer develop, in-spite of the defense system being present? Also, why would Auto-immune conditions develop?

Vitamins and Minerals are the ammunition in the body’s defense system. The wide range of Vitamins and Minerals not only strengthen the immune system, they also stop various destructive processes. For example, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and the Mineral Selenium stop the Oxidation process, which plays a huge role in Cancer development. Vitamin A and Omega 3 also play a huge role in strengthening the body’s immunity.

Several questions then arise;

1. Why do we develop diseases?
2. Do we take enough Nutrients to prevent us from developing diseases?
3. If a person develops Cancer, do they require the same amount of Nutrients as a ‘healthy’ person?
4. Does a person under the various Cancer treatment methods; Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy and Surgery require the same amount of Nutrients?                                                                        NB: I put the word ‘Healthy’ in quotes because it’s very under-rated. How do we define optimal health in regard to Nutrients intake?
5. Do persons with Cancer, need the normal levels of Required/Recommended Daily Intake Amounts of Nutrients or much more than the Required Daily Intake amounts based on;

·         The specific disease

·         The stage at which the disease is at

·         The Disease treatment modalities

·         The specific individual’s Nutrient status and Nutrient stores

·         The Individual’s Gastro-Intestinal System’s (Digestive System) ability to effectively digest and absorb the Nutrients, but most importantly, the specific cells ability to adequately and efficiently assimilate the Nutrients, or simply put to use the Nutrients to support optimal function.

·         Most importantly, how do we determine or gauge the individual’s Digestive System’s ability to effectively utilize Nutrients from food ingested? Moreover, do we consider the food’s bio-availability levels if ingested cooked or raw?   

These are pertinent questions we MUST get right in order to stop the unfortunate reality of people being declared Cancer Free, then Dead soon after.  

Cancer is an extremely aggressive, ruthless disease. When you introduce even more aggressive Conventional Cancer treatment methods like Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy, then we end up with a battered, mistreated,   completely drained body, whose systems have not only been completely weakened by the disease itself, but the cells are completely destroyed by the non-selective treatment methods, which tend to destroy both cancer cells and healthy cells.

Once the doctors declare that the individual is Cancer Free, assuming they are clear of both Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) and Cancer Tumor Cells (CTCs); we then as a care team need to work towards restoring the body back to optimal health, and trust me, Vegetable juices only won’t do. Instead, the juices might cause renal failure, due to high concentration levels. By the way, do we consider the amount of minerals and vitamins in vegetable juices? Remember even too much of a good thing is poisonous. You can’t compare eating half a beetroot in salad to drinking 4 beetroots in juice mixed with other vegetables, with no water. That concoction will kaput your Kidneys.

What a recuperating Cancer warrior needs is a balanced blend of all Nutrients the body requires, according to the individual’s weight. Medical Nutrition Therapy is the best and only way we can be sure that we’re providing Nutrients in the right amounts and high bioavailability. Many people become skeptical the moment the word ‘Nutrition Supplementation’ or ‘Nutrition Supplements’ are mentioned, and understandably so. Many scrupulous businesspersons have taken advantage of the sense of desperation in many patients, and sold them useless concoctions and capsules with a promise of full recovery.

Let me make it clear that there’s a difference between herbal concoctions and Nutrition Supplements. Nutrition supplements should ONLY be administered and prescribed by a qualified, registered Nutritionist/Dietitian. They are not ‘Miracle drugs’ either. The body does not get destroyed in a day; therefore one requires a period of time to fully get the body back to optimal function and health, even with Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT).

Medical Nutrition Therapy’s goal is to provide the body with the required Nutrients during treatment, restore the body back to optimal function, and replenish the body’s Nutrient stores. Depending on the Nutritionist’s assessment of the individual, he/she could be put on aggressive Nutrition therapy for a certain amount of time, then an immune complex, for the long-term, with periodic review of the individual. The reason for having long-term Nutrition Supplementation for most individuals is the fact that a majority of us do not meet the Required Daily Intake of Nutrients. For Cancer warriors unfortunately, the disease could relapse. And more so, if the immune system is not strengthened and the body’s nutrient needs constantly provided on a daily basis. Therefore a long-term supplementation plan is crucial in ensuring that the body is provided with the vital Nutrients it requires for optimal function.

What makes the real difference between a person being declared Cancer-Free and not only surviving but actually thriving and being declared Cancer-Free and dying is how their Nutrition Status is managed before commencement of Cancer treatment, during Cancer treatment and after the cancer treatment.

 It is about time we woke up to the reality that without the appropriate Nutrition management in terms of Medical Nutrition Therapy and fully integrating a Clinical Nutritionist in Cancer management, we will keep losing Patients and missing the mark over and over again, while the writing is clearly on the wall and by now we are all cognizant to the fact that Cancer Management without appropriate Nutrition Management equals disaster.