Sandra Miller PhD ( McGill University ) Echinacea cancer cure -- mcgill university and carol bower immunity cancer cure echinacea , astragalus, burdock -- immunity cancer cure

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Sandra C Miller (Professor at McGill University) research on Echinacea Ginseng and Cancer Let your food be medicine and your medicine be food. ~Hippocrates, the Father of Western Medicine Professor Sandra C. Miller, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She has taught and conducted research at McGill for since 1978. She also has conducted research at two distinguished medical schools in the United States (see Biographical Information). Sandra C. Miller's research focus for more than 30 years has been the cells of the body's immune system, especially natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells are instrumental in seeking out and destroying newly formed cancer cells. She formulated "the immunity cancer cure"--her cancer-fighting eating regimen, as an outgrowth of her studies on enhancement of the immune system in the presence of cancer by using substances derived from plants. She has published numerous research papers in medical and scientific journals (see Publications), edited a textbook on Echinacea, and she has received several awards for excellence in education and research. Sandra's work was featured in the March, 2007 issue of Cancer Monthly. Sandra C. Miller's father died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 66, long before anyone knew about treating cancer with biologically active plant products. Carol E. Bower, BSc is medical writer and editor, currently working in public health research and planning. Previously, she directed aquatic chemistry, parasitology, and toxicology laboratories, and conducted research in the Department of Tropical Public Health at Harvard School of Public Health. Carol has authored three books. Her other publications include educational guides, peer-reviewed research papers on human and animal health, and many reports on population health. She served on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Cancer Partnership, from 2002 to 2009 and was editor of its web site. Carol E. Bower's father died of lung cancer in 1967 at the age of 48. Her mother was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in late 2005 at age 83. She refused to have conventional treatments, and with her oncologist's consent, began following the cancer-fighting diet since February, 2006. One year later, she was declared cancer free. In July, 2013 she celebrated her 91st birthday, and is presently in fine health with no detectable cancer. She still takes all the supplements every day. Copyright © 2014 by immunitycancercure.org. All rights reserved. Address inquiries to the web site editor. About the Immunity Cancer Cure When you learn you have cancer, everything seems frightening and confusing, whether it is the first time it has been diagnosed or if it has returned after months or years. Even without leaving the bounds of conventional medicine, the choices you must make can be overwhelming--choices that could determine how long you live and the quality of your life. On the one hand, medical doctors offer surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or experimental treatments. On the other hand, well-meaning people bombard you with information about alternative therapies--enzymes, extracts, chemicals, electronic devices, or other "magic bullets"--and their suggestions only add to your confusion. How you choose to fight your cancer may be the most important personal decision you will ever make. As you weigh your choices, we hope you will explore this web site and learn about Dr. Miller's dietary regimen. It might save your life, or the life of someone you love. Welcome to Immunity Cancer Cure This web site contains information about a cancer-fighting nutritional regimen. The regimen ("diet") was developed by Sandra C. Miller, PhD for adults with cancer. It also can be followed by healthy individuals to lower their chances of getting cancer. It works in several ways, most importantly by enhancing the immune system--the body's natural defense against cancer--without harming normal, healthy cells. It is a carefully defined regimen, in which specific food supplements are taken at specific time help to ensure that the body absorbs the most cancer-fighting nutrients, and when they are taken aligns with the growth cycles of various cell types in the immune system. It is grounded in scientific evidence. It integrates findings from hundreds of studies published in peer-reviewed journals on the effects of phytochemicals (substances derived from plants), vitamins, minerals, and other supplements on the immune system and on cancer development and tumor growth. It can be used against any kind of cancer at any stage, either as the first and only treatment, or after surgery, chemotherapy, or other conventional medical treatments have been completed. Important Note: The cancer-fighting eating regimen will not be effective during chemotherapy or extensive radiation (both of which harm the immune system). It also will not work if disease or prior treatments with radiation or chemotherapy have caused major, irreversible to any vital organs (heart, brain, lungs, liver). All the information about the cancer-fighting eating regimen is free. We do not sell or promote any books, brands or distributors of supplements, or counseling or treatment facilities, nor are we affiliated with any commercial ventures. Occasionally, we recommend specific brands for reasons of quality and efficacy. None of the foods or supplements in the eating regimen is proprietary or requires a prescription. They all can be found at many drugstores and health food shops, or can be purchased online (typically at a much lower cost) from the source of your choice. Sometimes we mention specific web sites that we have found have the lowest prices. We encourage you explore this web site and learn more about the cancer-fighting eating regimen (see How to Use This Web Site). It could save your life or the life of someone you care about who has cancer. It will always improve quality of life for a cancer survivor, and will lower anyone's chance of getting cancer. The Story behind the Cancer-Fighting Diet Despite the billions of dollars poured into public and private cancer research each year throughout the world, the number of new cancer cases continues to increase each year. In developed countries, cancer is expected to surpass cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death by 2010. It is already the leading cause of death for some minority groups in the United States. Most conventional cancer treatments add only months to life, and for the more successful treatments, "complete remissions" (but rarely cures) can be expected for a "5-year survival increment." The trouble with most treatments, particularly chemotherapy and radiation therapy, is their damaging side effects. It is becoming increasingly evident, especially with childhood cancers, that conventional treatments increase the risk of developing other cancers at a later age, often by as much as 2 to 8 times. Numerous experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated beyond a doubt that the immune system can be mobilized to combat cancer. Several approaches to "immunotherapy" are being studied (anti-tumor vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, etc.), but all have limited success. The cancer-fighting diet is a safe, effective, and inexpensive method of treating and curing cancer by stimulating the immune system. Why, didn't someone think of it before? The answer is that it took a unique scientist--an immunologist with extensive knowledge about cancer--to "put two and two together." [Add material about the fallacy of "spontaneous remission." Also add explanation of why clinical trials are not likely.] Dr. Sandra Miller has been studying the the immune system for more than 35 years. In her early research on combating cancer by enhancing the immune system, she focused on a family of molecules called cytokines. Cytokines, which include interferons and interleukins, are chemical messengers produced by the cells and organs of our own immune system. They interact with target cells in the immune system to produce biochemical reactions that stimulate or inhibit various activities. Some cytokines can stimulate the immune system to fight cancer, but large doses are needed to fight cancer effectively, and these high doses cause side effects such as high fevers and rupturing of tiny blood vessels. Although cytokines are manufactured in biotechnology laboratories, they too expensive for widespread use, and the manufactured ones don't always work as well own own "home-grown" varieties. In the late 1970's, Sandra began to pay increasing attention to newly discovered cells in the immune system called natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells are one of the oldest and most primitive types of immune system cells. They are found in all animals with backbones, including reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and even insects have immune systems with NK-like activity. NK cells have a starring role in the story of the cancer-fighting diet, because they are the body's first line of defense against all foreign invaders, and they are the primary defender against cancer. [Continue story here.] The Diet: What It Is, and What It's Not What It Is It is a highly specific dietary regimen (eating program) for adults with diagnosed cancers, who are not currently receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy or who have completed surgery or other medical treatments. It requires normal (not "mega") dosages of several vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements, in combination with certain foods, taken at specific times of the day. The objective is to maximize the absorption of the critical nutrients and active substances that can shrink existing tumors and prevent the formation of new ones. It is based on scientific studies that have been published in reputable journals. It contains foods and supplements that act in six different ways to help eliminate existing tumors and to keep new ones from forming. 1) It enhances and restores the immune system with biologically active substances derived from plants. 2) It improves the body's natural ability to prevent cancer-causing damage to cells. 3) It helps to repair damage to cells that has already occurred and has the potential to become cancer. 4) It slows or stops the growth of new blood vessels to feed existing tumors. 5) It prevents existing cancer from spreading (metastasizing) to other tissues and other parts of the body. 6) It causes cancer cells in existing tumors to "commit suicide" by inducing a process called apoptosis. This process ends with the death of cells and occurs as a normal and controlled part of all living things' growth or development. It is blocked in cancer cells, which enables them to grow out of control and form tumors. It can be used to fight any kind or stage of cancer, either as a first and only treatment or after conventional medical therapy (chemotherapy, radiation) is finished. It is free and based on open information, all of which is provided on the web site. Everything you need to take-- all the foods and all the supplements-- can be found at most drugstores and health food stores. We do not sell anything. It will not work, however if: The person with cancer is currently being treated with chemotherapy or extensive radiation therapy. Because the eating regimen destroys existing tumors and stops cancer from spreading largely by restoring and enhancing the immune system, it cannot work during these treatments, which weaken or destroy the immune system. The cancer is so extensive, or prior medical treatments were so damaging, that a vital organ or organ system has failed irreversibly. Vital organs are those that are essential for the body's existence, such as the brain, heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, and pancreas. What It's Not It is not a "complementary" therapy. Complementary therapies are used in combination with conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments weaken the immune system and prevent the diet from working (see Conventional Cancer Treatments). It can, however, be used after such treatments, to help restore the immune system and to prevent new tumors from forming. (NOTE: There is growing scientific evidence that certain food supplements make chemotherapy and radiation work better against cancer cells, while protecting normal cells from damage and reducing other common side effects. A section about these nutrients will be added to this web site soon.) It is not a list of general guidelines for lowering cancer risk. It is not a weight-loss diet. It is not a "macrobiotic" diet. It does not require "mega-doses" of vitamins and other supplements; in fact, in most cases, it calls for the lowest available dosage of each supplement. It does not involve any proprietary powders or pills, enzymes, extracts, glandular concentrates, electrical charges, or "frequency generators," or any other substances or devices that have not been studied by qualified researchers and documented by publication in reputable scientific journals. It does not require body cleansing, fasting, or enemas. It does not "make the body alkaline." It does not poison cancer cells. It is not based on religious, spiritual, or mystical beliefs, or blood or body types. About Conventional Cancer Treatments Despite advances in the understanding of cancer biology, conventional treatments have remained fundamentally unchanged for decades. Treatments generally still involve surgery, often preceded or followed by drugs (chemotherapy) and/or radiation--all in an effort to kill the cancer before the cancer or the "therapy" kills the patient. The shortcomings of these three approaches, along with those of some new and experimental biological methods, are discussed briefly below. Surgery Surgery is the oldest method of cancer treatment. It is most effective when cancers are diagnosed early, before they have spread. Surgery still has serious risks and side effects, including complications of anesthesia, bleeding, damage to blood vessels and internal organs, pain, infections, and blood clots. Intravenous fluids, given during and after surgery, can raise blood pressure, and this can raise the chances of heart attack and stroke, especially among the elderly. Surgery, itself, is also stressful to the body, and stress suppresses the immune system. Chemotherapy "It seems that far too often, we physicians are vendors of suffering, infusing toxic chemicals when we know it's not only futile but, in the realm of ethics, wrong." ~ Paul Roussea, MD, Journal of the American Medical Association, August 8, 2007 The drugs and chemicals used for cancer chemotherapy typically attack cancer cells when they are reproducing, so they are most effective against fast-growing cancers. The trouble is that the chemo drugs cannot distinguish between cancerous and normal cells. The most vulnerable normal cells are those that multiply rapidly and have a good blood supply--in hair follicles, eyes, lining of the stomach and intestines, bone marrow, liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs. The inability of chemotherapy drugs and chemicals to tell the difference between cancer cells and normal cells results in its devastating "side effects": hair loss; dry eyes; mouth sores and ulcers; nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; stomach or intestinal bleeding; anemia; damage to the heart and other organs; and a severely weakened immune system. Chemotherapy often destroys the immune system by killing white blood cells as they are manufactured in the bone marrow. These cells are the body's first defense system against bacteria, viruses and, ironically, cancer. Their destruction opens to door to a range of secondary, opportunistic infections that can lead to death. In addition to immediate side effects, many chemotherapy drugs cause permanent damage that appears and persists long after treatment has ended. These effects, which are well documented in the scientific literature, include damage to organs (weakening of the heart muscle, toxic damage to the liver, kidneys, and bladder), fatigue, "chemobrain" (problems with memory and concentration), infertility, hearing loss, "peripheral neuropathy (a sensation of numbness or burning in the hands and feet), bone loss, and scarring of the lungs. Many chemotherapy drugs cause damage to DNA. As a result, chemotherapy actually increases the chance that new cancers will develop in the future, and is a major problem, especially for survivors of childhood and adolescent cancers. "As a practicing oncologist for the past 20 years, I have seen that chemotherapy has been overused, and many times potential toxic effects should have deterred the oncologist from persisting in various "protocols" in the name of killing the last cancer cell. There should be more emphasis on supplemental use of alternative therapies... to improve the quality of life rather than ending up in a total avoidable disaster in many of advanced cancer cases." (April, 2011) ~ Arvind Kulkarni, MD, former Medical Director. Integrated Medical Program, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA Radiation Therapy Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles, rays, or waves to damage cancer cells, making them die or slowing their reproduction. All the side effects of chemotherapy can also happen with radiation, except the physical damage is usually limited to the areas directly under the radiation beam. Radiation treatment of head and neck cancer, for example, often causes substantial and permanent hearing loss.* A 2011 study of women with early-stage breast cancer suggested that surgery followed by radiation decreased cancer recurrence compared to surgery alone; but when breast cancer did recur after radiation, it was more likely to be invasive.¥ Also, it is well known that incidental exposure of the heart during radiation therapy can increase the risk of subsequent heart disease.+ Like chemotherapy, radiation therapy also can cause long-term damage to the body. The severity and type of damage depends on the the site of the cancer and how much of the body was exposed. Some common harmful effects are damage to the heart (after breast cancer), anal and rectal problems (after prostate cancer), hearing loss and problems with memory and concentration (after brain cancer), and increased chances of developing other cancers. Biological Treatments Experimental biological therapies for treating cancer, such as anti-tumor vaccines, gene therapy, and monoclonal antibodies recently have come into use, but their success has been limited. Cancer cells mutate regularly, selecting out those that reproduce and spread the best. Biological therapies also can have harmful side effects, and their effectiveness depends the individual patient and type of cancer. More importantly, cancer cells ultimately develop ways to evade or thwart the treatments, so complete cures rarely are achieved. Why the Cancer-Fighting Diet is Different Unlike the conventional treatments that kill both cancerous and healthy cells, including those of the immune system, the cancer-fighting diet contains naturally occurring substances that stimulate the immune system's ability to fight cancer. This is the key to its effectiveness: it enables the immune system to destroy cancer cells without harming normal, healthy cells. This is how it keeps the cancer from spreading to new places in the body. In addition the enhancing the immune system, the diet also contains substances that: 1) cut off the food supply to existing tumors by inhibiting the growth of new blood vessels to the tumors (anti-angiogenesis); 2) make cancer cells revert to normal behavior-- they lose their ability to grow out of control into tumors, and they die (apoptosis); prevent the formation of "free radicals" that can damage cells and lead to cancer; and increase the ability of cells to repair damage that has already occurred. (See The Diet for a detailed discussion of the benefits of this method of treating cancer.) * Schultz, C. et al. 2010. Hearing loss and complaint in patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy. Archives of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery 136(11):1065-9. ¥ Janie Weng Grumley, M.D., fellow, breast oncology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine; presentation, American Society of Breast Surgeons meeting, Washington, DC, April 29, 2011. + Taylor, C., and Darby, SC. JAMA Internal Medicine. Published online, October 28, 2013. doi:10. 1001/ jamainternmed.2013.9131. The Cancer-Fighting Diet>> How to Do It Key Concepts This is not a "lose weight diet." It is a "save-your-life" diet. Be sure you understand the difference. Humans were originally grazers and foragers, eating small amounts of food here and there throughout the day. Eating three meals a day is known as "bolus eating" (consuming large volumes in one sitting). No other creature on earth intentionally "bolus eats" the way humans do. In the cancer-fighting diet, the words, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are meaningless and are not used. You will eat specified foods with specified vitamins and other supplements 6 times per day (as described in The Eating Regimen) for 2-3 months, then go back to your oncologist to check on the status of your cancer. The foods in each of the 6 “eating times” were planned with the indicated vitamins and herbals in carefully defined combinations (see Rationale for Foods & Supplements). The combinations are based on: a. The timing of daily growth and reproductive phases of the different cells of your immune system; and b. "Molecular bonding" of the supplements with the foods, to ensure that they are absorbed. For these reasons, do not exchange #1, 2, 5, or 6 with one another or any other. You may switch “# 3” with “# 4,” but make sure to switch both the foods and supplements. Our physiology is governed by circadian rhythms (bio-rhythms) of biological processes throughout a 24-hour daily cycle, and this diet is timed to correspond with those bio-rhythms. For the first 2-3 months, NEVER eat any of the following foods and NEVER use laxatives (see Forbidden Foods for explanation): a. Red meat (beef, veal, lamb, etc.) b. Ham, pork, bacon, or other pork products c. Processed meats such as hot dogs, lunch meats, or coldcuts (even turkey) c. Coffee d. Margarine, shortening, and foods containing trans fats. (Trans fats are identified as "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oils. READ FOOD LABELS CAREFULLY.) Although sugar is not entirely off-limits, you'll also want to go easy on sugary foods (see Forbidden Foods). [Lists of preferred food and foods to avoid are given under xxx.] When your oncologist determines with an MRI, CT scan, or PET scan that your cancer has not spread and your tumors have shrunken, continue the diet for another 2 months, then get evaluated again. The amount of time it will take for your cancer to be eliminated depends on many things, such as they type of cancer and how far it has progressed when you begin the diet. Another important factor is your age. The older you are, the longer it takes to build up your immune system (see The Immune System and Cancer). Even when there is no sign of remaining cancer, continue to maintain some level of the diet. Remember that one single, completely undetectable cancer cell is all it takes to begin growing another tumor. Sustained enhancement of your immune system with the recommended foods and supplements will ensure that not even one cancer cell can survive and go on to form a tumor. The Cancer-fighting Diet>> How to Do It Forbidden Foods "Forbidden" may seem like a strong word, but your first months on the cancer-fighting diet are the most critical. This is when you need to focus all your body's resources on strengthening your immune system to fight your cancer, while keeping the rest of your body in optimal health. So it's especially important to avoid anything that reduces the absorption or beneficial effects of the foods and supplements, or prevents them from doing their work. Many of the foods listed below have been linked to an increased risk of getting cancer. While it's important for people to avoid these foods to lower their chances of getting cancer, it's especially important to keep them out of your diet if you already have cancer. Red Meat Pork Products Processed Meats Margarine, Butter, Shortening, Trans Fats, Vegetable Oils Coffee Laxatives Sugary Foods Red Meat Beef, veal, lamb, and other red meats should not be eaten for three reasons. They all contain saturated animal fats. These fats coat the lining of the digestive system and the walls of the blood vessels, and block the absorption of nutrients your body needs to fight cancer. Cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines are formed in meats during high-temperature cooking (frying, grilling and broiling). Even lean red meats cooked at lower temperatures (baked or stir-fried) take up space in your digestive system that could otherwise be filled with foods that are valuable for fighting cancer. Although red meat is an important source of iron, the iron in the foods and multivitamins you'll consume will meet your body's needs. Pork Products Pork, ham, bacon, sausage, and other products of pigs also contain saturated animal fats (see Red Meat, above). Ham, bacon, and sausage are even worse for people fighting cancer, because they are heavily salted and contain preservatives called nitrites that cause cancer (see below). Processed Meats Hot dogs, coldcuts and luncheon meats, pepperoni, corned beef, pastrami, and other processed meats are especially harmful to people with cancer. First, even "low fat" and "all beef" processed meats commonly are more than 50% fat! (Read the amounts of "calories" and "fat calories" on the Nutrition Facts labels. Don't be surprised to find that 140 calories or more of each 190-calorie slice of meat comes from fat.) Cancer-causing chemicals are produced during the salting of meat. Nitrites are added to meats because they prevent the growth of bacteria. They combine with a protein in meat to produce the "desirable" dark red or pink color typical of ham, hot dogs, corned beef, pastrami, and coldcuts. Very high concentrations of nitrites, by themselves, cause cancer. But during cooking, nitrites combine with other substances in meats to form additional carcinogenic substances. The last thing a person fighting cancer needs to consume is more carcinogens! Margarine, Butter, Shortening, Trans Fats, Vegetable Oils Margarine, butter, shortening (e.g., Crisco), and other oils and spreads made of saturated animal fats, polyunsaturated vegetable oils, and trans fats (listed on nutrition labels as "hydrogenated" and "partially hydrogenated" oils) should not be used at all during the first months. They keep cancer-fighting nutrients from being absorbed into your body. They also may make existing cancers grow faster. These types of fats and oils can raise levels of "bad" (LDL) cholesterol, lower levels of "good" (HDL) cholesterol, and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Animal fats and many vegetable oils contain omega-6 fatty acids, which form inflammatory substances when broken down in the body. Inflammation may play an important role in the development of cancer. Only extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and canola oil should be used for cooking an in salad dressings. EVOO is loaded with antioxidants and also raises levels of HDL cholesterol. Olive and canola oils, along with fish oil, and oils in nuts, contain omega-3 fatty acids, which curb inflammation and may slow the growth and spread of cancer. Fried Foods All deep-fried foods (meats, poultry, seafood, French fries, potato chips, taco chips, etc.) are strictly off limits, because they are cooked with unhealthy fats and oils. More important, the high temperatures reached during frying creates carcinogens. While frying is out, sautéeing poultry, fish, and vegetables in olive oil is fine. You won't believe it until you try it, but chicken, shrimp, scallops, and vegetables sautéed in a high-quality extra virgin olive oil taste almost exactly the same as when cooked in butter. Vegetables also are delicious when tossed with olive oil and a little salt and roasted (see Recipes). Coffee Although drinking a few cups a day of caffeinated coffee may have some health benefits, such as lowering the risk of diabetes and Parkinson's disease, people on the cancer-fighting diet should not drink coffee. Coffee is a diuretic (increases the flow of urine), and it complexes with calcium and accelerates its eliminationfrom the body. The whole point of Dr. Miller's diet is to maximize absorption of cancer-fighting nutrients, and calcium is a key nutrient. Another important reason not to drink coffee is that it does nothing to fight cancer, and it keeps you from drinking something that may prevent or slow the formation of tumors (low fat milk, soy milk, green tea) . Laxatives By now, you probably have figured out why laxatives should not be used: they prevent absorption of the food and supplements that are key to boosting your immune system to combat cancer. Sugary Foods Sugar is not entirely off-limits in the cancer-fighting diet. In fact, some sweet foods, such as fruits and dark chocolate, are important parts of the regimen. Big bursts of sugar--what you get from a can of Coke (9 teaspoons of sugar!) or a candy bar can rapidly raise the level of sugar in your blood. There is new evidence that sugar-sweetened beverages increase the chances of getting colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and endometrial cancer, and possibly other cancers. More important, high levels of blood sugar cause Natural Killer (NK) cells--the main cancer fighters of the immune system--to leave the bloodstream. While they are away, it means that the "cancer police" are not patrolling for and destroying cancer cells. The idea is to boost levels of NK cells, so sugar consumption should be limited mostly to sugars found in natural foods. The Cancer-fighting Diet >> How to Do It The Eating Regimen Before you begin the diet, please be sure you read and understand the Key Concepts of the eating regimen and the section on Forbidden Foods. The 6 "eating times" described below replace the 3 meals a day you're accustomed to eating. These are the times you take specific supplements with certain foods. The eating times should be spaced out, so that you eat something every 3 to 4 hours throughout the day. Times that work well for many people are 7- 8 a.m., 11 a.m.-noon, 2-3 p.m., 5-6 p.m., 8-9 p.m., and just before bed. As you'll see, the amounts of food and supplements you take get smaller as the day goes on. You can eat as much or as little as you like, as long as you have at least a little bit of each of the specified foods. How often you eat is far more important than how much you eat. If you're not a "morning person," for example, your first foods of the day could be a few spoonsful of Cheerios with half a banana, a few spoons of yogurt, and a few ounces of V8 vegetable juice. You do not have to eat large amounts of the specified foods. If you get hungry between scheduled times (which is not very likely) feel free to snack on anything you like, except, of course, the forbidden foods. Nuts, especially walnuts and almonds, are excellent snacks when you're on the cancer-fighting diet. And if you get the urge for sweets, we recommend dark chocolate, which is loaded with antioxidants and other cancer-fighting substances. This is not a "mega-vitamin" diet, so there is no need for concern about overdosing on the supplements. Where supplement dosages are not specified, take the lowest dosage you can buy. High dosages of most supplements are not needed, and excess amounts simply get washed out. Nearly all the supplements are available as capsules or gels. Those who follow the diet find these forms easier to swallow than dry, uncoated tablets, and they can easily be opened and added to foods like applesauce if you have difficulty swallowing them. NOTE: The strict eating regimen outlined below is for persons who currently have tumors diagnosed as cancer. It is designed to maximize absorption of specific substances when specific immune cells can best use them. People who have no detectable tumors (after surgery or other conventional treatment to prevent cancer from recurring, or for general prevention) can follow a simplified version of the diet -- Observe the dietary guidelines about what foods to eat and what foods to avoid, and take all the supplements over the course of the day. Printable Food Reference on Index Cards (PDF) Printable List of Supplements (PDF) How to Set Up One Week of Supplements (PDF) FIRST Eating Time (approx. 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.) Foods: Oat-based cereal (not bran or wheat), such as cooked oatmeal, Cheerios, Heart to Heart, oatmeal muffins, etc., with low-fat or fat-free milk Sprinkle a spoonful of ground flax seed over the cereal. V8 vegetable juice or V8 Fusion (but not plain tomato juice or fruit juice) At least half a banana Yogurt (plain or flavored, as long as it contains Acidophilus) Finish with a cup of green tea Supplements: 1 Echinacea tablet* 1 Multivitamin (any good brand) 1 Vitamin C (500 mg) 1 Vitamin E (gamma-E, not alpha-E, 400 IU)** 1 NAC (N-acetylcysteine) 600 mg 1 Bilberry 1 Biotin 1 Folic acid 1 Zinc (low dose) 1 Calcium & Magnesium with Vitamin D*** [Take highest Calcium dose available. These are usually large tablets, which can be difficult to swallow, so you might want to substitute a few capsules of lower dosage, or add powdered calcium/magnesium to your food or a glass of milk.] * Bioforce Echinaforce, an extract manufactured by A. Vogel, is recommended ** Alpha tocopherol is the most common form of Vitamin E, but this form is NOT effective against cancer. Buy only "mixed tocopherols" containing the gamma and delta forms. In the US, we recommend Jarrow Gamma-E or any other brand that contains mostly gamma-tocopherol. *** Natrol Calcium-Magnesium with Vitamin D are in gel caps that are easier than tablets to swallow. SECOND Eating Time (approx. 10 a.m. to 12 noon) Foods: Salad containing a variety of vegetables Add any kind of beans (Black beans, kidney beans, a little 5-bean salad, etc.) A small amount of vegetarian chile would work here also.) Any soy product (Tofu, Edamame, or Soy Nuts) Tofu is delicious stir-fried in olive oil with garlic and mushrooms, or boiled and used in place of a chopped hard boiled egg in a sandwich with celery, onion, and canola mayonnaise. Edamame (ed-uh-MA-mee) is the name of whole soybeans, which you probably never heard of until now. You can find them (in or out of their shells) in the freezer section in the "natural foods" area of your supermarket. They taste like fresh peas, and are delicious uncooked (thaw them in a strainer under running water), lightly steamed, or sautéed in olive oil. Use olive oil and your favorite spices as dressing Dessert (if desired)--dark chocolate with nuts; Nutella on whole wheat crackers Green tea, low-fat milk, or soy milk Supplements: 1 Vitamin C (500 mg) 1 B-100 complex vitamin 1 Omega-3 fish oil capsule* 1 Alpha lipoic acid 1 Coenzyme Q10 (50 mg for most people, 100 mg or more for people who take statins such as Lipitor, Zocor, or Mevacor to control their cholesterol) 1 Beta carotene (low dosage) 1 Astragalus (350 mg)--Not to be taken by people with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis 1 Burdock (540 mg)-- Not to be taken by people with diabetes who are taking insulin 1 Cranberry capsule * Not all "fish oil" capsules are equal. Their content of "omega-3 fatty acids" is what to look for. We recommend Carlson's Elite Omega Gems, which contain about twice as much omega-3 as other brands. They are extremely pure, and have no fishy smell or taste. THIRD Eating Time (between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.) Foods: Salad containing a variety of fruits Pasta with tomato sauce or Hard-boiled egg (could be part of the salad or eaten as an egg salad sandwich on multigrain or oat bread) Dessert if desired (see #1) Low-fat or fat-free milk, soy milk, or green tea Supplements: 1 Vitamin C (500 mg) 1 Vitamin E (400 IU-- see notes under "First Eating Time") 1 Lycopene 1 Vitamin D3 (1,000 IU) FOURTH Eating Time (between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.) Foods: Chicken or seafood (As much as you like, broiled, baked, sautéed, or stir-fried in olive oil.) Vegetables (Raw is most nutritious except for carrots, which are more nutritious after light cooking to release beta carotene. Lightly steamed broccoli, green beans, etc. would be fine here, too. Just don't boil them to death.) Sprinkle a spoonful of ground flax seed over the vegetables Dessert if desired (see #1) or some fruit salad Low-fat or fat-free milk, soy milk, or green tea Supplements: 1 Selenium 1 Folic Acid 1 Resveratrol, 100 mg 1 Omega-3 (fish oil) capsule, 1,000 mg* * Strict vegetarians may substitute 1 flaxseed oil capsule. See notes under "First Eating Time." NOTE: Post-menopausal women, women with estrogen-receptor-positive [ER+] breast cancer, and men over 65 years of age should add: 1 Lactoferrin, 100 mg This is especially important for breast cancer survivors who are taking Tamoxifen or Arimidex FIFTH Eating Time (betwen 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.) Foods: A small amount of anything that you ate previously in the day. Yogurt Add another spoonful of ground flax seed Green tea only Supplement: 1 Multivitamin SIXTH Eating Time (Just before going to sleep) Food: A little yogurt or a few dry whole wheat crackers Green tea only Supplement: 1 Echinacea tablet * * Bioforce/Echinaforce, an extract manufactured by A. Vogel, is recommended Has This Diet Been Proven Effective in Clinical Studies? Question: Has the effectiveness of this dietary regimen been proven in clinical trials? Answer: There is no simple answer to this question. Everything in the cancer-fighting diet-- the foods and individual supplements-- has been studied scientifically, reported in scientific our medical journals, and is included because it has the ability to fight cancer or keep it from developing. More important, they foods and supplements are safe and not harmful under most circumstances. Some of the studies have been conducted with cancer cells grown outside the body in cultures, some have been done with laboratory animals (such as Dr. Miller's own studies on Echinacea and ginseng), and others have involved human subjects. "Randomized controlled clinical trials" are considered the gold standard for demonstrating the effectiveness of a treatment. They are experiments involving people selected according to specific criteria and then randomly placed in a group that receives one or the other of the treatments being studied. These studies are extremely complex, typically cost millions of dollars, and take several years to complete. They test a single intervention-- one drug or treatment-- rather than a complex regimen such as the cancer-fighting diet. Although some randomized trials are sponsored by non-profit organizations or government agencies, most are funded by the health care industry and pharmaceutical companies. Businesses are unlikely to invest such time and money to study foods and food supplements, when there is no promise of future profits. (For example, the drug Avastin, used to treat colorectal and lung cancers, costs $5,000 a month, and Gleevec, used to treat leukemia, costs $92,000 a year. In contrast, food supplements can be bought for a few dollars at any grocery store or drugstore.) So it is not likely that the diet or many of its components every will be tested in randomized controlled clinical trials. Is this a drawback? Not at all. As stated simply but eloquently by George Ebers, MD, Professor of Neurology and specialist in Genetic Epidemiology and Immunology at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom: "It's all very nice to have a randomized trial, but they are not the be all and end all. If we needed a randomized clinical trial, then we still wouldn't recognize that smoking caused lung cancer and contaminated water caused cholera." (Medscape Medical News, from the 29th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, October 3, 2013) Can Certain Foods Be Substituted for Others? Low-fat Dairy Products Question: I am lactose intolerant. What can I substitute for low-fat milk and yogurt in your dietary regimen? Answer: Almond milk or soy milk may be substituted for low-fat milk. Note: Although some doctors think that soy mimics estrogen and could make some breast cancers grow faster, there is no evidence that this is true. If you cannot eat yogurt take a good probiotic supplement containing a mix of different bacteria (especially Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium). Probiotics help maintain a healthy balance of microorganisms in the digestive system and reduce the growth of harmful bacteria. They may help to control diarrhea and prevent infections, and also could help control inflammation related to irritable bowel syndrome and colorectal cancer. Oatmeal Question: I am on a gluten-free diet. What can I eat instead of oatmeal, wheat bread, and wheat crackers? Answer: Oats are included in the diet mainly because they minimize cholesterol accumulation, but oatmeal is not essential. Feel free to substitute quinoa or brown rice for oatmeal, and rice crackers and any gluten-free breads and crackers for regular breads and crackers. Sandra C Miller Contact Information Email address: [email protected] Position: Emeritus Professor Degree(s): BSc (Sir George Williams), PhD (McGill) Department: Anatomy and Cell Biology Areas of interest: Function and differentiation of cells in the immune system - in particular, the properties of natural killer (NK) cells. Methods and mechanisms of NK cell enhancement in cancer immunotherapy. Sandra Miller PhD, Carol Bower, Max Gerson, Johanna Budwig , Essiac tea Alpha lipoic acid Astragalus Beta Carotene Bilberry Biotin Burdock Calcium/Magnesium with Vitamin D Coenzyme Q-10 (Co Q-10) Cranberry Echinacea Folic acid Lactoferrin Lycopene Multivitamin N-acetylcysteine (NAC) Omega-3 fish oil Resveratrol Selenium Vitamin B complex (B-100) Vitamin C with bioflavonoids Vitamin D Vitamin E Zinc