host posted on June 15, 2008 13:26
Dear Readers,
I want to thank all of the people who have come to see me as patients. What many of you do not realize is that you are the reason my practice has changed from traditional to alternative. I was introduced to Doug Kaufmann’s ideas by one of my patients. She urged me to come to a talk given by Doug and even saved me a place to sit. My patients have forced me to think and look “outside the box” and for this I am grateful.
In October 2007, I saw a woman who had been diagnosed with cancer and she wanted information about an alternative cancer treatment center in south Texas. I called the doctor there and he mentioned that there would be a conference in two weeks in Dallas with Dr. Simoncini about an alternative cancer treatment. Serendipity!
So, I attended the conference in October 2007 and had the opportunity to meet Dr. Tulio Simoncini. Those of you who are regular viewers of Know The Cause have probably had the opportunity to see Dr. Simoncini on the show. Dr. Simoncini is a surgical oncologist from Rome, Italy who believes that cancer is a fungus. What is truly remarkable is that he uses sodium bicarbonate instead of traditional chemotherapy to cure the cancer. That’s right! He uses pharmaceutical grade, (sterile, pure), sodium bicarbonate to kill the cancer. To understand why sodium bicarbonate is effective against cancer cells it is necessary to understand a bit more about fungi.
So here is your crash course in fungi. Sadly, this is more than I learned in medical school. The branch of science that studies fungi, (mold, mildew, mushrooms and yeast) is mycology. Some fungi eat dead organisms while other parasitic fungi feed off live organisms, including us. The parasitic, (pathogenic), fungi are responsible for human, plant and animal diseases such as athlete’s foot, ringworm, fingernail and toenail onychomycosis, rosacea, and yeast infections. (As an aside, I find it to be an odd contradiction that the medical profession as a whole refuses to believe that fungi can cause disease in people who are not immunocompromised. Yet they clearly understand that all of the above diseases are caused by fungi. So where is the disconnect?)
Fungi generally sprout from a spore and grow as hyphae. Hyphae are filaments and the fungus is the filament. These hyphae branch repeatedly and interconnect with hyphae of other fungal cells. In this manner, they form one large organism called a mycelium. Hyphae extend at their tips which allows the fungus to grow into new areas of nutrients. This extension also allows the fungus to penetrate hard surfaces such as your nails or walls. The hyphae can burrow into its food source and intertwine with the tissue. This is why you cannot scrape off athlete’s foot or ringworm. It has penetrated into the tissues.
Some fungi can change their appearance dependent on the environmental conditions. Dimorphic fungi can alternate between two different body forms. These fungi may produce a mycelium in soil but convert to a single cell form, (conidia), at body temperature. The single cell form allows the fungus to spread via the bloodstream and lymphatic channels. Once inside the body, the conidia can shed its protective cell wall and become a “deficient form,” free to invade a human cell. Inside the human cell, it can lay dormant or it can reproduce more fungal spores. The fungus can also incorporate their DNA with that of the host cell to create a hybrid cell. For example, squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma cells have receptors on their cell wall for rhamnose. Rhamnose is a sugar utilized by plant and fungal cells but not human cells. Normal human cells do not have rhamnose receptors. The squamous and basal cell cancer cells are hybrids; fungal/human hybrid cells. Scary!
Fungi live in damp environments so that they can absorb nutrients that are dissolved in water. They absorb soluble nutrients and release enzymes into their environment to break down the more complex nutrients. Whereas animals eat their food then digest it, fungi digest their food then absorb it. Fungi also produce toxins and enzymes that can disable, kill and dissolve their food sources. These mycotoxins are some of the most toxic substances known to man. Gliotoxin, which is produced by Candida, can disrupt the immune system and inactivates a number of important enzymes in the cell.
Fungi are not very efficient at using the nutrients they ingest. They use anaerobic metabolism, (fermentation/low oxygen), to produce energy in the form of ATP. ATP is the fuel that all cells run on. You probably thought cells ran on oxygen and glucose, but those are the necessary nutrients for the production of ATP. Anaerobic metabolism yields 2 ATP per glucose molecule instead of the 36 ATP that results from normal human aerobic, (high oxygen), metabolism. Anaerobic metabolism requires an acidic environment.
So what does all this have to do with treating cancer with sodium bicarbonate? Fungi/cancer cannot survive in an alkaline environment. Sodium bicarbonate makes the environment alkaline. Sodium bicarbonate can penetrate into the cancer cells and destroy them. The basic principle of Dr. Simoncini’s treatment is to administer a solution of 5% sodium bicarbonate directly onto the tumor. If the tumor can be seen, it is a simple matter to bathe the tumor with the sodium bicarbonate or to inject sodium bicarbonate into the area around the tumor. Since many cancers are in areas of the body that are not easily reached, Dr. Simoncini uses a technique known as “selective arteriography.” Selective arteriography allows him to determine which arteries directly perfuse the tumor. Dr. Simoncini can then place a small arterial catheter port into the artery that supplies the tumor and then use it to administer high doses of sodium bicarbonate directly to the cancer. Dr. Simoncini found that tumors that are 2 to 4 centimeters in size begin to get consistently smaller from the third to fourth day and collapse from the fourth to fifth day of treatment. Treatment requires repeated cycles of daily treatment with sodium bicarbonate followed by brief periods of rest. Diet and support of the immune system are of utmost importance, as well.
Dr. Simoncini has been treating patients with sodium bicarbonate for over 20 years. So why haven’t we heard about this sooner? Dr. Simoncini’s work has not been welcomed with open arms by the medical community in his home country of Italy. Unfortunately, innovation in medical treatment is not embraced, unless someone stands to make a lot of money from it. Sodium bicarbonate is inexpensive, though.
This brings me to this month’s case study. Before I go any further I must give this disclaimer: This case study is for information purposes only. I am using it to show you how a typical patient presents and the important things I consider when I make a diagnosis. The patient’s name has been changed to protect his identity. I practice integrative/alternative medicine and my recommendations for treatment are often considered outside traditional practice. It is not my intent to criticize or denounce traditional medicine. I am merely providing an alternative opinion. Most importantly, the information provided here should not be used as a substitute for an examination and/or treatment by a licensed health care provider.
Presenting illness: Mr. June is a 46 year old, white male who presented to our clinic for evaluation and possible alternative medical treatment. He had just been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the bladder. He reported that about six months ago he was seen by his family physician and was diagnosed with prostatitis. His PSA, (prostate specific antigen), was elevated and he was placed on four months of antibiotics. A repeat PSA remained elevated at 70 and consultation with a urologist was obtained. Cystoscopy revealed a tumor in the bladder. The tumor was removed and pathology reports came back with a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the bladder. To keep his kidney draining, a stent was placed in his right ureter (tube that connects the kidney with the bladder). He is scheduled for a CT scan to see if this is a primary tumor or if he has tumors elsewhere.
Past Medical History: Unremarkable.
Past Surgical History: Unremarkable, other than the recent removal of his bladder tumor and stent placement.
Medication: Mr. June is on no prescription medications. He is taking oral laetrile, glyconutrients, zinc, and shark cartilage
Allergies: He is allergic to sulfa.
Social History: Mr. June is married. He works at a nuclear power facility, although he is quick to state that he has no known exposure to radiation from working there. He was in the Navy and reports that he had exposure to many chemicals during his term of service. He has no smoking history, does not drink, and exercises on a regular basis.
Review of Systems: Patient had a root canal placed two years ago. He stated that the dentist said it was the “worst” (?) he had ever seen. He also had an implant in his gum one year ago. Patient also states that his body temperature runs lower than 98.6 F.
Assessment/Plan: There are several things that need to be done. Mr. June needs to have a PET/CT scan to determine if there are other areas of tumor involvement. I recommended that he keep his appointment with the oncologist so that he can be made aware of all of his traditional medical options. I also suggested that he strongly consider having his root canal and implant removed by a dentist who is familiar with the proper technique of removing diseased bone tissue. We discussed going to Italy to see Dr. Simoncini, but unfortunately, their finances are such that this is not possible. Alternatively, if the tumor is confined to his bladder, then it would be possible to irrigate his bladder with sodium bicarbonate, which we can do. We also discussed other alternative treatments for cancer including intravenous Vitamin C and DMSO. He has already begun the antifungal diet. I added Diflucan 100mg every day, Nystatin 1,000,000 units twice a day. I recommended daily probiotics. I also recommended he test his urine pH and to try and keep his urine alkaline. This can be done by increasing his intake of raw vegetables and fruits. I also recommended a good multivitamin, adrenal and thyroid support supplements. His low body temperature suggests that his immune system is compromised. I personally do not recommend chemotherapy or radiation because it destroys the immune system. However, if he chooses to receive chemotherapy, there is a treatment known as “Insulin Potentiated Therapy,” which uses very low dose chemotherapy. This is considered less toxic to the immune system.
Being informed of all of your options is essential when choosing a course of treatment for cancer. Mr. June and his wife are considering going to a treatment facility in Mexico that his sister has researched.
For those of you who are interested in learning more about the fungal/cancer link, I recommend The Germ that Causes Cancer by Doug A. Kaufmann and Cancer is a Fungus by Dr. T. Simoncini.
Addendum: Two days after my initial visit with Mr. June, he fell and was hospitalized with a vertebral compression fracture in his lumbar spine. This is not unusual in older patients with thinning bones but it is certainly less common in younger men. With his recent diagnosis of bladder cancer, a bone scan was obtained to see if he has had spread of the cancer to his bones. Unfortunately, his bone scan was positive for possible metastasis to two different levels in his lumbar spine. Tumor spread was confirmed when Mr. June underwent surgery to repair the vertebral fracture. Based on his recent studies and a consultation with an oncologist, Mr. June has been diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer with bony metastasis. The oncologist is recommending radiation, chemotherapy and anti-hormonal therapy. His wife called me this afternoon to tell me about the above events. Mrs. June reports that her husband’s PSA has dropped to the low 40’s (previously 70). She wonders if this decrease could be as a result of his diet change. I have to say, it is certainly possible when you stop feeding the fungus. Not surprisingly she and her husband are in a daze and terrified. It is hard to say what any of us would choose to do under the same circumstances. At present, they are still strongly considering an alternative approach to treatment.
Blessings,
Lynn