The weekend’s grey weather could not put a dampener on the excitement of hosting our very first northern seminar. Whilst the Yes to Life office is based in London, our beneficiaries are spread across the country so reaching out to different regions is very important to us, and the welcome we received in Manchester could not have been warmer. We settled into our seats, notepads at the ready, to learn more about how lifestyle choices can influence experiences of cancer.
Patricia Peat kicked off proceedings with her talk
‘Lifestyle Choices: Fact not Fiction’, outlining the evidence for lifestyle
strategies that can support the body through cancer. After many years as an
oncology nurse Patricia saw the need for people to have access to good quality
information. Passionate about encouraging the safe integration of complementary
treatments with orthodox medicine, Cancer Options is at
the forefront of cancer treatment developments.
Patricia described cancer as a metabolic disease, rather than a genetic one, drawing on research into epigenetics which shows our genes are not fixed and respond to different stimulus. She shared the science behind cancer, the conditions in which it thrives and how to go about changing those conditions. The first important fact was that there is no specific gene mutation or chromosomal abnormality that is common to all cancer but nearly all cancers express aerobic glycolysis. Glucose fuels cancer cells, which is why limiting or
omitting sugar and refined carbohydrates can support the body against cancer.
She also discussed angiogenesis which is the process by which new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels and is a fundamental step in the process of a tumour becoming malignant. The use of angiogenesis inhibitors is therefore another important strategy for combatting cancer and Patricia shared some very useful information on dietary sources of anti-angiogenic substances (see list).
Patricia spoke about the dangers of inflammation and how to prevent it, through diet (see image) and other therapies such as hyperbaric oxygenation.
She discussed the potential negative side effects of consuming processed dairy products, the importance of Vitamin D and gut health, the gains of alkalising the body, ways to combat fatigue such as Lipid Replacement Therapy and Liver support, ways to improve immune function such as Gc-MAF and methods to improve your health whilst going through chemotherapy.
Stress was another area Patricia explored, discussing the scientific reasons it has such a negative impact on health. Raised levels of cortisol resulting from stress has a host of adverse implications including elevated blood sugars and blood pressure, increased risk of infection, damage to the immune system and disruption in the body’s ability to control inflammation.
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Following a short refreshment break, Dr Francisco Contreras spoke about the metabolic, rather than genetic, origin of cancer. Dr Contreras is a leading figure in the integrative cancer world and serves as Director, President and Chairman at the Oasis of Hope Hospital in Mexico. Founded by his father in 1963, the clinic has treated over 100,000 people and continues to be as pioneering now as it was then.
Dr Contreras explained the science behind how cells malfunction or mutate and the importance of nutrients (minerals, vitamins, phytochemicals, antioxidants, enzymes) in preventing this and keeping cells healthy. This is a key reason why a good diet is so important in supporting the body to recover from cancer.
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It is Dr. Contreras’ unique mix of expertise and humanity that makes him such a compelling speaker. His priority is doing the best by his patients, and whilst he comes under fire from both orthodox and alternative health figures alike, he refuses to deviate from what will be best for the person he is treating regardless of how that treatment might be labelled. In this way complementary approaches and orthodox treatments work side by side to get the best results.
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To find out more about how Yes to Life please call our helpline on 0870 163 2990 or check out our website
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