Pangaea Clinic of Naturopathic Medicine
interventional natural medicine for rapid, lasting health
Pangaea Clinic of Naturopathic Medicine
#120 - 12011 Second Ave
Richmond, BC
V7E 3L6
(604) 275 - 0163
(604) 677 - 5910 (fax)
The information presented within this web site is solely for education. It is copyrighted and protected as intellectual property. As all physicians have their unique opinions, this information is not to be taken as the opinion of any association or regulatory body. This website is not a substitute for personalized care by Dr Eric Chan or Dr Tawnya Ward; liability is excluded for misuse.
Lung Cancer
Smoking is the largest cause of lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both males and females. Second hand smoke also increases the risk of cancer. While the individual prognosis always depends on the individual case, lung cancer is unfortunately usually diagnosed at a very late stage. The use of chest x-rays or CT scans in early detection has not been definitively proven to be extend life, and risks of the x-ray tests make it necessary to evaluate individual cases before deciding on screens.
The two main types of lung cancer are small cell (or oat cell) and non-small cell carcinoma.
SYMPTOMS OF LUNG CANCER
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Persistent cough
•Constant chest pain
•Fatigue
•Loss of appetite or weight loss
•Recurrent pneumonia
•Swelling of neck and face
•Coughing up blood
DIAGNOSIS
A chest x ray and sputum test or CT scan may be used to aid diagnosis, although a biopsy is the definitive test. Further tests are usually done to ascertain if the cancer has spread. Spread can occur through the usual methods of direct invasion into other tissue, spread through the lymphatic system and lymph nodes, or in the blood vessels to distant sites. With lung cancer, spread can also occur along the lining of the lung, in the pleural space.
NATUROPATHIC TREATMENT
The type of chemotherapy used is important in selecting complementary, natural treatments to ensure that there is no interference between the two therapies. Usually there is no problem completing both therapies simultaneously, and in fact the natural treatments can help a patient to tolerate chemotherapy and radiation more easily.
•Careseng therapy is a natural, non-toxic chemotherapy derived from chemicals in ginseng called sapogenins. It is given by vein 2-3 times a week and has direct toxicity effects on cancer cells, immune stimulating effects, and decreases a type of chemotherapy resistance related to the p53 protein. It is particularly useful in combination with taxol and related compounds.
•Intravenous vitamin C is a treatment where vitamin C is used as a precursor drug to deliver hydrogen peroxide to the tumor. Test tube studies have confirmed that high doses of vitamin C are toxic to cancer cells by the generation of hydrogen peroxide. Doses have to be given intravenously in order to achieve therapeutic blood levels. The treatment is given 3 times a week, sometimes immediately before a careseng treatment. Dosages involved are on the order of 75-100 grams. Vitamin C may potentiate the effects of gemcitabine and adriamycin / doxorubicin.
•UKRAIN therapy is a natural chemotherapy derived from the greater celandine plant. It is given by injection 1-2 times a week. It is non-toxic to healthy cells.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can have serious side effects, especially because these 2 treatments affect healthy as well as cancerous cells. Typical side effects include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, mouth sores, and fatigue. Careseng carries a risk of allergy, and UKRAIN carries a risk of temporary nausea, vomiting, and fever. Intravenous vitamin C rarely has any side-effects.
