Question
There is nothing worse than going on the hospital merry-go-round when a loved one develops a malignancy. One therapy overlooked these days is "Coley Therapy". You can find information in two back issues of Scientific American and on the net using a search engine.
Dr. Coley was not a quack. He was a world authority on cancer during the 1920's. In fact he was one of the founders of Sloan Kettering, recognized as one of the finest cancer care centers in the world today.
During the 1920's Dr. Coley selected a universe of terminal patients who failed to responded to therapy then in use. He initially infected the patients with staph infections. To his surprise there were remissions about eight hundred remissions during the period in which Dr. Coley documented his treatment. Antibiotics were not developed and there were deaths from the infections. Next Dr. Coley tried killed bacteria injected as a vaccine. These "Coley Cancer Vaccines" were produced by Lily drug company during the early 1930's. In a select number of cases, between ten and twenty percent, there were complete remissions. We know today administration of a vaccine produceds tumerogenic necrosis factor (TNF). This is the likely reason the tumors shrunk. These results were rapid, usually within thirty days of vaccine administration. Photographs of tumors which disappeared are in the issues of Scientific American.
Coley theorized that there was a common response to introduction of an antigen (a non-self substance) into the body tissue and these malignancies were growing simply because the body's natural immunization system did not recognize it was being invaded. Later on, when chemo was developed, the "Coley Toxins", as they came to be known, were forgotten. Coley's wife attempted to have the treatment re-introduced during the 1960's.
Here's a good question to ask your oncologist: Who was Dr. Coley and what was Coley Therapy? If he flunks both questions find another physician.
The Lily vaccines are no longer manufactured, however there are a host of available killed bacterial vaccines listed in the PDR any civilian can have administered simply by fibbing and telling the doc "they are necessary for me to do a trip to Africa". Lots of bad bugs there, you know. Theoretically speaking they all induce production of TNF.
Such a treatment protocol in no ways means you should rule out surgery, chemo or radiation. I would think Coley therapy should be administered first, because if it eliminates the cancer the others are unnecessary. It works quickly and the remissions and tumor disappearance are usually within thirty days. Unfortunately, the treatment protocol has no effect on most malignancies. There was never a test protocol developed to determine what special characteristic those malignancies had which made them susceptable to this treatment. It should be remembered that this treatment depended upon an operating immune system, ideally one not yet damaged by chemo or radiation.
Cancer is a sensitive subject and I do not want to raise false hope, however because killed-bacterial vaccines are relatively harmless there appear to be no contraindications to use of such therapy. It makes sense in the risk-benefit formula. I cannot understand why the Coley Protocols are ignored in the modern hospital.
Curiously, I have heard anecdotal evidence of "cancer cures" using accupuncture in China. The literature states the composition of the needle is of prime importance and the needle must be implaced in close proximity to the tumor. This fits right in with Coley therapy. Perhaps the body reacted to the "non-self substance" being the needle of the acupuncturist, and upon being presented with an antigen, produced TNF.
[This message has been edited by newyorktwo (edited October 22, 1999).]
[This message has been edited by newyorktwo (edited October 22, 1999).]
[This message has been edited by newyorktwo (edited October 22, 1999).]
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I think that the Coley therapies are ignored, NY2, in hospitals because if you are not in a teaching hospital alot of what is happening in the field of biochemistry is never filtered down to the general patient population. That is one of the reasons (that and managed health care) is why I went to work in Atlanta. I felt I was beginning to get behind the times.
Vaccines play a big part in the general picture. I have heard both pros and cons on this subject. And now Nurse Red's reminder to get our flu shot and Mary's reply to make sure we get our pneumonia shot brings several things to mind.
Our immune system works pretty hard to define "self" and destroy "non-self." This is pretty important because otherwise our immune system could start attacking our own tissues. Actually sometimes it does and then we have the so-called autoimmune diseases like lupus. Its really very simple: the immune system has two basic functions: recognizing "us" and killing "them." In this respect your body is like a big invitation only party--you know the drill, show the invitation or get thrown out.
Nature has given our immune systems some very sophisticated methods to determine if a substance in the body is foreign or not. One of these methods is chemical markers called ANTIGENS. These are found on the cells of our bodies. Every life form has them. One of the most powerful antigens found in the human body is the ones that determine your blood type. The different blood type antigens are so sensitive that when they operate like they are supposed to, they are the immune system's greatest security system. When a suspicious character shows up at your front door (like a foreign antigen from bacteria) one of the first things your immune system does is compare it with your blood type antigen to tell whether it is friend or foe.
Your blood type is named for the anigen you possess on your red blood cells. Blood types are Type O, Type B, Type A and Type AB.
When your blood type antigen senses that a foeign antigen has entered the system, the first thing it does is create antibodies to that antigen. These antibodies are specialized chemicals made by the cells of the immune system. They are designed to attach to and tag the foreign antigen for destruction. Our immune system makes antibodies specific to each foreign antigen. And while this is going on, the bacterial and viral invaders try to change or mutate their antigens into some new form the body will not recognize. A virtual battle really.
What happens when an antibody encounters the foreign antigen? A reaction occurs called agglutination or literally gluing. The antibody attaches to the say viral antigen and makes it very sticky. When cells, viruses, parasites and bacteria are agglutinated they begin to stick together and clump up, like criminals chained together. This makes disposing of them easier for the body than if the foreign antigen was allowed to move around freely by itself alone.
Of course we all know about getting the "wrong kind" of blood. This is the same kind of reaction. If I was a B blood type and got A blood it would be rejected by my body by clumping A blood cells together in my blood stream. This reaction can be so violent it can cause death.
But there is more: a similar reaction can occur between your blood and the foods you eat. This is because of a factor called LECTINS. Lectins are abundant. They are made out of proteins and they have agglutinating properties that affect your blood. Lectins are a powerful way for organisms in nature to attch themselves to other organisms in nature. Lots of germs and even our immune system use this super glue to their benefit. Our cells in the bile ducts of our liver have lectins on their surfaces to help them snatch up bacteria and parasites. Bacteria have lectins on their surfaces as well, which work like suction cups, so that they can attach to the slippery linings of the body.
It is the same thing with lectins in food. This is where we get into the thing NY2 mentioned about tomatoes. Many food lectins have characteristics that are so close to a certain blood type antigen that your body will recognize it as and "enemy." So for example, milk has B-like qualities: if a person with Type A blood drinks it, his sytem will immediately start the agglutination process in order to reject it. The lectin protein is resistant to the acid digestion in your stomach and then it begins to interact directly with the lining of the stomach or intestinal tract, causing the runs.
Or like the nightshade vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, and white potatoes. The intact lectin may get absorbed into your bloodstream along with your digested food. Different lectins target different organs and body systems. Once the intact lectin protein settles someplace in your body it literally has a magnetic effect on the cells in that region. It clumps the cells together and they are targeted for destruction.And guess what? the nightshade plants are very high in lectins and they love to target the joints.
Living in the country, there is an annual spring ritual in which the locals go out and collect the leaves and early shoots of pokeweed to make pokeweed salad. They say that it is a great spring tonic to clean out the blood after a winter of eating heavy foods. Food lectins, you see, can also interact with the surface receptors of the body's white cells, programming them to multiply rapidly.Pokeweed lectins are just such animals. They don't clump blood by gluing the cells together--they just attach themselves to the white cells like fleas to a dog--and cause the white cells to enter mitosis, or reproduction. But don't go eating pokeweed now that it is grown up and has the berries on it--it is very deadly at this stage.
But then how did I get off the beaten path? We were talking about vaccines. In the early 90's a very interesting study appeared in Lancet, which is like the JAMA is to us, except the Lancet is published in England. The question was whether you could predict whether or not breast cancer could be predicted to spread to nearby lymph nodes based on its characteristics. They took breast cancer cells and treated them with a stain (marked them) with a lectin from the edible snail. It was noticed that there was a strong association with the uptake of this snail lectin and the development of breast cancer spreading to the lymph nodes. In other words, antigens on the surface of the primary breast cancer cells were changing and this change was allowing the cancer to spread into the lymph nodes. The lectin it was soon discovered was highly specific to Blood Type A. In other words, as the cancer cells changed, they made themselves more A-like. This allowed them, in Type A persons, to bypass all of the body's defenses because they were welcomed as self. It is not that Type B or Type O don't get breast cancer or even die from it, but obviously the A-like intruders would be more easily detected and eliminated if they were to slip into a Type O or Type B system. Breast cancer markers are overwhelmingly A-like. Type A and Type AB patients then can't "see" their opponents. Everywhere the immune system turned, the cells looked just like them and they could not "see" the mutated cancer cells under their clever masks. Type O and Type B would be in a better position to fight it off, rounding up early cancer cells and destroying them. This could be one of the clues to survival rate.
The pneumovax vaccine (pneumonia shot) elevates anti-Type A antibodies. Type Os and Type Bs produced higher levels of anti-A antibodies when given this vaccine. Type As will not produce anti-A antibodies, but the Pneumovac in effect "wakes" up their immune systems and makes them more on the alert. The vaccine is safe; it is inexpensive and it prevents some forms of pneumonia. Most important it stimulates production of isohemaglutins--the so-called "Terminators" of our immune system. They are much more powerful than antibodies. Normally they float gently through our bloodstreams. But if they detect a virus or bacteria they change form to become three-dimensional and crablike.They agglutinate and kill their prey by themselves, requiring no help from the other normal cells of the immune system.At this point they are so prominent they can be seen by the microscope. Unlike the flu shot, you don't have to revaccinate every year. I think it is every 5-10 years. The shot is inexpensive--our health department charges $5.00. Other places it is higher. The vaccine is available in limited quantity--given to older people or people prone to respiratory problems, so you have to convince the nurse you really need the vaccine. Both my husband and I have gotten one. I had mine two years ago and I have seen a huge difference in how I got through the last two winters and flu season. I noticed that my sinus problems were not as bad either.
Along the same lines as NY2's Coley vaccines, Dr.George Springer with the Bligh Cancer Center at the University of Chicago School of Medicine, has been investigating the effects of a vaccine whose basis is a molecule called the T antigen. The T antigen is a common tumor marker found in many cancers. Healthy, cancer-free people carry antibodies against the T antigen, so it is never seen in them. Springer believes that a vaccine composed to the T antigen and tumor marker CA15-3 can help jolt and then reawaken the suppressed immune system of cancer patients, helping them attack and destroy cancer cells. He has been using a vaccine derived from the T antigen as a long-term treatment against recurring advanced breast cancer for the last 20 years.
If you want to read more about Blood Types and how different illnesses, foods, herbs, and even traditional medications affect each blood type there is a good book on the subject EAT RIGHT FOR (4) YOUR BLOOD TYPE by Dr. Peter J.D'Adamo. He has a website too www.dadamo.com
[This message has been edited by RunningSoLate (edited October 23, 1999).]
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NY2 and RSL,
All I can say is WOW! You two boggle my mind with the knowledge you have to share.
Wouldn't these conversations be even more interesting if we had someone with a strong knowledge of folk medicine to add input?
I have always found it interesting that so many of the medications we still use today are plant deriviatives. And somewhere along the line, our ancestors figured out what these plants could do for the human body.
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Keeping you safe, healthy, and on the road.
Nurse Red
Visit us at www.Truck.net/abmsVisit us at
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Just a thought ......
Why would a creator, (undefined), create something that would fail because support needed for life was not available?
I'm certain what was needed was provided. We have just gotten to "smart" to utilize it.
Monty
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I am not sure I totally understand what you are trying to say Monty. Maybe you can clarify. But my grandfather, who was a doctor in Switzerland, would often say "For every illness there is a cure in nature." The trouble is, is that we have imbalanced nature so badly we are just a reflection of what we have done. What we have done to nature, we have in essence done to ourselves. And we don't totally comprehend the magnificence of the workings of the body that Our creator has bestowed on us. We go running down the road of life, cramming all kinds of stuff into it that was never meant to be and we don't have a clue what we are doing biochemically to our bodies. Last night I was watching a program by National Geographic on the bears of Yosemite. And when they raid cars and campgrounds--they are looking for our food. The rangers said they will tear the hinges off the car doors(each year they do millions of dollars worth of damage to cars) if they even smell just one bag of Nachos versus eating berries and fish nature intended them to. And the result in their behavior-it(the food) makes them 10 times more aggressive.