How to Prevent Recurrent Cancer

Recurrent Cancer Overview

The initial cancer treatment given to new patients generally comes from traditional "standard of care" guidelines; by way of example, breast cancer may be a surgical removal of the breast followed by systemic chemotherapy and radiation.

This "1^st line therapy" is considered the best approach based upon type and stage of cancer – but if not "cured," or patient experiences severe side effects, then another treatment may be added or used instead.

Regrettably, 1^st line therapy often fails to kill all existing cancer cells; often reappearing at the original tumor site months later, a new distant site, or both, with treatment now considered palliative rather than curative, and; sadly, depriving the patient the chance to be free of recurrent cancer forever.

Recurrent Cancer Insights

• Malignant tumors go far beyond visible/perceptible "boundaries" ("microscopic spread").
• Excessive tumor margin remaining after 1^st line surgery, fails to eliminate all microscopic spread.
• Microscopic spread must be eliminated before any first-line surgery to prevent cancer recurrence.
• Cancer recurrence does not have to occur if a different sequence of events is undertaken before commencing the first-line treatment.
• Invoking an entirely different 1^st line therapy sequence can prevent cancer remission for the majority of patients and possible full eradication of cancer for others!

1^st-Line Recurrent Cancer Prevention

1^st line therapy recurrence can be prevented if low-dose radiation, et al are given immediately preceding the patient undergoing an initial biopsy or the initial treatment!

How? it's well accepted that low-dose radiation can significantly reduce or even obviate lethal cancer tumor cells in surrounding tumor margins and regional lymphatic areas when combined with a chemo-sensitizing cytostatic agent. This combination of chemotherapy and radiation is called cytoreduction ("CCRT"), or more commonly "neoadjuvancy" However, neoadjuvancy was never expected or intended to eliminate the tumor in its entirety, rather:

• Clear microscopic cancer spread within surrounding tumor tissue margins.
• Reduce overall tumor mass providing the opportunity for more manageable and less invasive eventual tumor removal.
• Facilitate tumor retraction from adjacent critical structures (e.g., blood vessels, nerves, bone, organs, etc.) facilitating eventual tumor removal with less invasive and a more conservative surgical approach.
• Enhance overall organ/tissue preservation.
• Implementation of neoadjuvancy must be precisely timed with 1st-line surgery, to ensure the peak benefits are fully implemented while still facilitating patient recovery.

Neoadjuvancy Guidelines

The prophylactic use of a low-dose chemo agent immediately preceding and immediately following 1^st line surgery, has shown to provide the greatest protection for lethal cancerous cells spreading during an initial biopsy or tumor surgery; it can also help overlap the gap between the 1st line surgery and any subsequent invasive treatment(s).

In all instances this is best achieved when CCRT is administered immediately following full recovery of the patient (usually 4 to 6 weeks after surgery) when a small dose of radiation and low-dose chemotherapy is given within the same cancer "fields" and identically as given previously; with the primary intent to eliminate the potential for lethal "surgical seeding" and/or any remaining localized malignant cells.

This proprietary neoadjuvancy protocol has been the mainstay of our treatment approach for over 40 years of practice and enabled us to achieve remission for tens of hundreds of past patients, with many remaining cancer-free for over 10 to 20 years!