The Use of Immune Stimulation Therapy in Treating Cancer

At the Playas de Tijuana, Mexico-based Oasis of Hope Hospital, a world-class oncology team offers its patients a unique Total Cancer Treatment Care Approach that emphasizes alternative medicines and personalized healing modalities. The Total Cancer Treatment Care Approach integrates emotional and spiritual counseling with complementary conventional treatment options like immune stimulation therapy.

Immune stimulation therapy refers to a process of boosting the activity of the immune system and its components while simultaneously overwhelming the cancer-generated elements that attack immunity cells. The physicians at Oasis of Hope Hospital employ a number of agents, like the hormone melatonin, to increase the functionality and strength of immune system cells like cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. Research shows that when administered once daily, melatonin greatly encourages the survival rates of individuals suffering from cancer of the first, second, or third stages. The reasons for this include melatonin’s ability to cause antigen-presenting cells like dendritic to produce a protein molecule necessary for the creation of immunity cells.

Another immuno-supportive agent used at Oasis of Hope Hospital includes probiotic bacteria. Oasis of Hope Hospital’s physicians administer a specially created probiotic capsule covered with an enteric coating to cancer patients. The capsule’s coating allows the bacteria to avoid dissemination in the stomach acid and pass easily into the intestines. Once in the intestinal tract, these probiotics interact with dendritic cells there to grow and stimulate cytotoxic lymphocytes and NK cells.

Oasis of Hope Hospital uses the above immunity system support agents and several others, including supplemental selenium, the anti-ulcer drug cimetidine, and the amino acid glutamine.

Insulin-Like Growth Factors and How They Affect Cancer

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) play an important role in the manifestation of certain types of cancer. Oasis of Hope Hospital takes IGFs into consideration when planning a treatment. In particular, Oasis of Hope Hospital tries to reduce IGF-1 for breast, colon, pancreatic, and prostate cancer.

IGFs serve as a natural and important part of the body’s regulatory system and play a role in the proper growth of children. They are named insulin-like growth factors because they have protein sequences that are very similar to the insulin molecule. The two main types of insulin-like growth factor are IGF-1 and IGF-2. As their names suggest, IGFs affect growth.

IGF-2 is thought to work primarily in the womb and is essential for the proper development of the fetus. Later in life, IGF-2 also plays a key role in the development and function of certain organs, particularly the brain and liver.

When present in children, IGF-1 leads the child to reach maximum growth potential. Children who lack the growth hormone may not develop fully, may experience a reduced hearing ability, and tend to be shorter. Conversely, children with higher than average IGF-1 levels tend to develop higher IQs.

In adults, IGF-1 also plays a role, particularly in the aging process. When the growth factor operates properly, it binds with neurons to prolong their life and also helps to prevent muscle atrophy. It also affects the cartilage and bones in a positive way.

However, like all systems in the body, IGF-1 needs to be regulated which, in a healthy individual, is accomplished by IGF-binding proteins. They prevent IGF-1 from acting too aggressively.

Research has shown that elevated IGF-1 levels can lead to certain types of cancer, as described above. This is because an imbalance is caused between the amount of IGF-1 in the system and the binding proteins available to neutralize the growth factor.

In particular, IGF-1 levels in the body can be affected by diet, as the liver increases its production of the hormone in response to diets that emphasize large quantities of animal protein. Therefore, in societies that rely heavily on such diets, like America, cancer influenced by IGF-1 is more prevalent.

Although not all IGF-1 cancers can be treated by reducing the level of the hormone in the body, it is prudent to adopt a diet that lowers the amount of the hormone created by the liver anyway in order to decrease the odds of new cancer induction.

Emotional Support, Laughter Therapy, and Cancer Treatment

A comprehensive, integrated treatment center for patients suffering from all kinds of cancer, The Oasis of Hope Hospital combines emotional support with its other therapies in order to optimize patient treatment. Emotional support includes the use of laughter therapy, an interesting new treatment that was studied for its impact on many serious conditions. Laughter therapy has a wide range of benefits, including bolstering the immune system, enhancing cardiovascular flexibility, developing the abdominal musculature, and raising the spirits.

Laughter therapy, also sometimes known as humor therapy, promotes overall health and wellness while also relieving the emotional and physical stresses that accompany cancer and cancer treatment for many patients. As early as the 13th century, doctors began using humor to distract their patients from pain, and beginning in the 20th century, doctors have carefully studied the precise physiological effects of humor and laughter on health. Studies have revealed that mirth can reduce the experience of pain, lower levels of stress hormones, and boost the immune system while simultaneously improving quality of life for the patient.

In conjunction with a regimen of other cancer therapies, laughter treatment relaxes the muscles, increases the flow of oxygen, releases endorphins, and balances the blood pressure. Often, laughter therapy is conducted in a group, encouraging patients to laugh and work together on their healing. Patients often enjoy these sessions, seeing them as a chance to escape from the often difficult emotions associated with dealing with cancer.