Lung cancer (also known as bronchogenic carcinoma)

Cancer that forms in tissues of the lung - usually in the cells lining air passages

Worldwide and in the U.S. lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death

• True for both men and women.   Lung cancer is responsible for 1.37 million deaths annually, as of 2008. (WHO, 2006; U.S. Cancer Statistics, 2012)
• 14% of people in the United States diagnosed with lung cancer survive five years after the diagnosis. (Collins et al, 2007)

Worldwide women are more likely to get lung cancer  Lancet, 2001

• Nearly 72,000 American women died of lung cancer in 2006.   More than died of breast, ovarian, uterine and cervical cancers combined
• Women exposed to smoke - are twice as likely to develop lung cancer as men;
• Nonsmokers who develop lung cancer - are two-and-a-half times more likely to be female than male
• Women who died from lung cancer - were younger than men who died from the disease.

(U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group, 2012)

There are two main types of lung cancer

The two types are distinguished by the appearance of the cancer cells under a microscope.

(1) Non-Small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC)

NSCLC grows more slowly than SCLC and accounts for almost 90% of all lung cancers

3 main sub-types of NSCLC:

1. Adenocarcinoma.   ~35-40% of NSCLC; cancer of the mucus-producing glands of the lungs; most common lung cancer for those who have never smoked; more common in women; often begins near the outside surface of the lung; likely to spread to nearby lymph nodes or or other tissues in the chest (E.g. pleura (lung lining) or pericardium (around the heart) or the other lung) or other organs (E.g. brain, liver, adrenal glands) or bones;
2. Squamous cell lung carcinoma.   Forms in the lining of the bronchial tubes; most common lung cancer in men;
3. Large-cell lung carcinoma .  5-10% of NSCLC; forms near the surface or the outer edges of the lungs; similar to adenocarcinoma, it is also likely to spread to nearby lymph nodes, other organs or bones;

NSCLC is sometimes treated with surgery.    When non-small-cell lung cancer is found before it spreads beyond one lung, surgery can sometimes offer a cure. The surgeon may remove the part of the lung that contains the tumor, or if necessary, an entire lung. Some patients are given radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy after surgery to kill any remaining cancer;

(2) Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC)

SCLC is more aggressive than NSCLC and is strongly tied to cigarette smoking.   Rarely seen in non-smoker; can quickly spread to other parts of the body early on.

SCLC usually responds better to chemotherapy and radiation.   Surgery is not usually an option because it has typically already spread at the time of diagnosis.  (Chapman et al, 2009)

Symptoms possibly suggesting lung cancer

• Shortness of breath
• Coughing up blood.    The surface of the cancer may be fragile, leading to bleeding from the cancer into the airway, which subsequently may be coughed up. Many lung cancers have a rich blood supply
• Chronic coughing
• Wheezing
• Pain in chest or abdomen
• Weight loss, fatigue, and loss of appetite
• Hoarse voice
• Difficulty swallowing
• Breathing diffulties.   If cancer growing in airway obstructs airflow. Secretions can back up behind blockage, predisposing to pneumonia.

Lung cancer treatments

At present, there is no effective medical therapy in metastatic Non Small Cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who progress under a first-line chemotherapy containing cisplatin. The following alternative treatments are provided, some with anecdotal success, others with supportive studies.

Treatments must be fast-acting and not cause congestion

It is easy to KILL the cancer cells in a lung cancer patient - however, it is NOT SO EASY TO DO IT SAFELY without causing dangerous congestion in the lungs due to:

1. Dead cancer cell debris

2. Inflammation and swelling as a consequence of treatment.   A dying cancer cell induces an immune system attack that causes inflammation and swelling.

Immune system (IS) building treatments do not cause inflammation, but are slow (up to 12 months).   These type of treatments allow the IS to kill the cancer cells safely and are generally used in conjunction with proteolytic enzymes, which strip the protective protein coating from around the cancer cells so the IS can more easilykill the cancer cells. However, proteases thin the blood, so only moderate doses can be taken (e.g. 15 capsules a day of Vitalzym). The problem is that lung cancer patients typically do not have enough time for this method to work.

Any cancer treatment that kills cancer cells directly creates inflammation and is a balancing act between killing too many cancer cells (creating too much debris) and not killing enough (such that the cancer cells cause too much congestion).    This can be very tricky and ideally needs clinical supervision. Fortunately, there are some fast-acting alternative treatment methods that do NOT cause inflammation and for lung cancer these are the best choices  and they avoid the problem of creating congestion.

(Does not cause Inflammation or Congestion in lungs)

Primary treatments

(1) Cancer Treatment CORE - Cancer NOT Allowed!

(2) ElIMINATE CANCER CELLS using BUDWIG / PLASMA PROTOCOL (For stage IV, fast-growing cancers): 

• The "O3-Fix" / BUDWIG PROTOCOL (include at least 5-6 Tbsp. Flax oil /day)
• RIFE RESONANCE PROTOCOL (using "HIGH RF FREQUENCY GENERATOR" with  "PLASMA AMPLIFIER")

Therapies of special mention included in: 

CANCER TREATMENT CORE

Baking soda / Maple Syrup Protocol.  Baking soda alkalizes cells.  Researchers have found that this protocol inhibits malignant growth by increasing tumor pH, and also reduces formation of spontaneous metasases.  The sudden pH increase kills the cancer cells. as the shock of alkalinity allows more oxygen into the cancer cells than they can tolerate. (OR If, like this author,you hold with the microbial theory of cancer, it causes cancer microbe inside cells to die or go into its hibernating form, such that cells revert to normal metabolism. Baking Soda / Maple Syrup against Cancer

Magnesium against Cancer   Without sufficient magnesium, the body accumulates toxins and acid residues and degenerates rapidly.  For any degenerative disease, especially cancer, transdermal or nebulized magnesium chloride is a "No-brainer" to quickly build up the body's magnesium levels.

• Nebulizing Magnesium Chloride is the ideal delivery method for lung cancer.   Putting the magnesium into the action center, where it is needed to fight infection and counter broncho-constriction; additionally, magnesium is absorbed through the lung tissue into the bloodstream for a systemic effect

Alkalizing therapy  to attend to Acid / Alkaline Balance - Nebulizing Sodium Bicarbonate is the best way to directly target the lungs

Eucalyptus essential oil

• Nebulizing eucalyptus oil.   Time-tested, known bronchial-dilator. Just add a drop or two to the nebulizer cup (Can combine with magnesiium chloride in nebulizer)

Blocking estrogen stops / slows estrogen-sensitive lung cancer

If a patient's lung cancer displays estrogen receptors, then reducing estrogen levels in the body, in addition to standard treatments, is potentially beneficial (since estrogen stimulates cancer growth).   According to American Association for Cancer Research study published in 2002, human non small cell lung cancer show estrogen receptors and respond to estrogen.  Estrogen dominance is a prevailing problem in today's world. (A receptor is a structure on the surface of a cell that selectively receives and binds substances). Laura P Stabile et al, 2002

"Our studies continue to show that lung cancer cells grow in response to estrogen and that stopping or slowing the spread of the disease may be dependent on blocking the action of estrogen, in fact, in previous studies, we have observed that lung tumor cells contain estrogen receptors at levels comparable to breast cancer cells."

-   Jill Siegfried, Ph.D., professor, department of pharmacology and co-leader,Lung and Thoracic Malignancies Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.

DIM supplementation proven to be beneficial in reducing estrogenic activity in the body.  DIM demonstrated anti-cancer mechanisms in lung cancer in mice and human studies.  Morse MA et al, 1990; Ichite N et al, 2009

I3C / DIM - Estrogen Blocker with Anti-cancer benefits

MELATONIN has multiple anti-estrogen actions and decreases estradiol levels in the body in lung cancer. 

• MELATONIN has been used both alone and in combination with most standard cancer treatments because it improves both survival and quality of life.  Lynch E, 2005
• Advanced lung cancer patients show a progressive reduction in MELATONIN levels with disrupted sleep-wake patterns.  Mazzoccoli G et al, 1999;  Levin RD et al, 2005
• MELATONIN combined with aloe vera extract stabilizes the cancer growth and improves survival in advanced cancer patients.     In a study including 50 patients (with advanced, untreatable neoplasms for whom no other standard treatment is offered) suffering from lung cancer, gastrointestinal tract tumors, breast cancer or brain glioblastoma. Patients were treated with melatonin (MLT) alone (20 mg/day orally when dark) or MLT plus aloe vera tincture (1 ml twice/day). Lissoni P et al., 1998
  • A partial response (PR).    Achieved in 2/24 patients treated with MLT plus aloe and in none of the patients treated with MLT alone.
  • Stable disease (SD).    Achieved in 12/24 and in 7/26 patients treated with MLT plus aloe or MLT alone, respectively.
  • The 1-year survival rate.    Significantly higher in patients treated with MLT plus aloe (9/24 vs. 4/26, p < 0.05).
• MELATONIN has multiple antiestrogen actions and decreases body's estradiol levels.  Sanchez-Barcelo EJ, 2005;  Rato AG et al, 1999
• Study adding MELATONIN to chemotherapy increased survival rates.    100 lung cancer patients were randomized to receive either chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy with melatonin (20 mg/day orally). No patient treated with chemotherapy alone was alive after two years, whereas five-year survival was achieved in three of 49 patients (6 percent) treated with chemotherapy and melatonin. Lissoni P et al 1999, 2003a,b
• Also, lung cancer patients treated with MELATONIN tolerated chemotherapy better and had less-serious side effects.  Lissoni P et al, 1999; LissoniP et al, 2003a; Lissoni P et al, 2003b
• Swiss study  Lissoni P et al, 1992 demonstrated stabilization and increased survival rates in NSCLC patients taking MELATONIN.     A randomized study was designed to evaluate the influence of a MELATONIN treatment (10 mg/day orally at 7.00 p.m.) on the survival time at 1 year from the progression under chemotherapy in respect to supportive care alone in a group of metastatic NSC lung cancer patients, who did not respond to a first-line chemotherapy containing cisplatin. The study includes 63 consecutive metastatic NSCLC patients, who were randomized to receive MELATONIN (n = 31) or supportive care alone (n = 32).
  • The percentage of both stabilizations of disease and survival at 1 year was significantly higher in patients treated with MELATONIN than in those treated only with supportive care
  • No drug-related toxicity was seen in patients treated with MELATONIN.   Who, on the contrary, showed a significant improvement in performance status.
  • This randomized study shows that the pineal hormone MELATONIN may be successfully administered to prolong the survival time in metastatic NSCLC patients who progressed under a first-line chemotherapy with cisplatin.    For whom no other effective therapy is available up to now. 

How to supplement MELATONIN

Vitamin K2 - For Klotting and Kalcium reduces estrogenic activity in body. Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) decreases the ratio of estradiol to less estrogenic estrone.   Known for its blood coagulation effects, K2 also reduces estrogenic activity.  Otsuka M et al, 2005

Estrogen levels lowered by maintaining healthy body weight.  Body fat is a source of estrogen, therefore it is important to establish and maintain a healthy body weight. Siiteri PK, 1987

Progesterone therapy to deal with estrogen dominance in lung cancer

• Progesterone therapy has had some positive results reversing NSCLC (and estrogen-positive breast cancer) in mice
• Progesterone inhibited growth of progesterone-positive NSCLC cell lines in mice and in vitro.   A 2005 study by American Association for Cancer Research examined immunolocalization of Progesterone receptor and estrogen receptors in 228 NSCLC cases, and showed that the Progesterone receptor was a potent prognostic factor. Researchers found that progesterone (at 10 nmol/L in vitro) inhibited the growth of progesterone receptor-positive NSCLC cell lines, and proposed that the progesterone receptor is a possible target for progesterone therapy in NSCLC patients. In vivo study with nude mice,  progesterone significantly reduced the growth of progesterone receptor-positive NSCLC cells (at ~350 nmol/L serum progesterone concentration).  Hironori Ishibashi et al, 2005i

Possible role for growth factor antagonists in lung cancer

• Peptide hormones act as growth factors and increase lung cancer growth.    E.g. SCLC and NSCLC both produce the growth factors gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), neurotensin and adrenomedullin, which increase lung cancer growth.  Moody TW, 2006
• Growth factor antagonists prevent SCLC growth in vitro.    These have been studied in Phase III clinical trials and may provide future treatments for SCLC patients. Moody TW et al, 2001

References

Lung cancer

Chapman, S; Robinson G, Sradling J, West S (2009). "31". Oxford Handbook of Respiratory Medicine (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN9-780199-545162

Collins LG, Haines C, Perkel R, Enck RE (January 2007). "Lung cancer: diagnosis and management". American Family Physician (American Academy of Family Physicians) 75(1): 56-63.

Study in The Lancet Oncology (2001)

U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group (2012). United States Cancer Statistics: 1999-2008 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute;  http://www.cdc.gov/uscs.

WHO (February 2006). "Cancer". World Health Organization. Retrieved 2007-06-25;

Lung cancer and estrogen dominance

Hironori Ishibashi, Takashi Suzuki, Satoshi Suzuki, et al. Progesterone Receptor in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer--A Potent Prognostic Factor and Possible Target for Endocrine Therapy. Cancer Res 2005;65:6450-6458. Published online July 15, 2005.

Ichite N, Chougule MB, Jackson T, Fulzele SV, Safe S, et al. Enhancement of docetaxel anticancer activity by a novel diindolylmethane compound in human non-small cell lung cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2009;15:543-552. PubMed

Laura P. Stabile, Autumn L. Gaither Davis, Christopher T. Gubish, Toni M. Hopkins, James D. Luketich, Neil Christie, Sydney Finkelstein and Jill M. Siegfried. Human Non-Small Cell Lung Tumors and Cells Derived from Normal Lung Express Both Estrogen Receptor α and β and Show Biological Responses to Estrogen.  Cancer Res April 1 2002 (62) (7) 2141-2150; Link

Levin RD, Daehler MA et al. Circadian function in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Br J Cancer. 2005 Nov 28;93(11):1202-8.

Lissoni P, Barni S, Ardizzoia A, et al. Randomized study with the pineal hormone melatonin versus supportive care alone in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer resistant to a first- line chemotherapy containing cisplatin. Oncology 1992;49(5):336-339. View Abstract

Lissoni P, Giani L et al. Biotherapy with the pineal immunomodulating hormone melatonin versus melatonin plus aloe vera in untreatable advanced solid neoplasms. Nat Immun. 1998;16(1):27-33.

Lissoni P, Barni S et al. Decreased toxicity and increased efficacy of cancer chemotherapy using the pineal hormone melatonin in metastatic solid tumour patients with poor clinical status. Eur J Cancer. 1999 Nov;35(12):1688-92.

Lissoni P, Chilelli M et al. Five years survival in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy and melatonin: A randomized trial. J Pineal Res. 2003a Aug;35(1):12-5.

Lissoni P, Malugani F et al. Reduction of cisplatin-induced anemia by the pineal indole 5-methoxytryptamine in metastatic lung cancer patients. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2003b Feb;24(1-2):83-5.

Lynch E. Melatonin and cancer treatment. European Biology and Bioelectromagnetics. 2005 Jun 18;1(2):183-200.

Mazzoccoli G, Giuliani A et al. Decreased serum levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I in patients with lung cancer: Temporal relationship with growth hormone (GH) levels. Anticancer Res. 1999 Mar;19(2B):1397-9.

Moody TW, Chiles J et al. SR48692 is a neurotensin receptor antagonist which inhibits the growth of small cell lung cancer cells. Peptides. 2001 Jan;22(1):109-15.

Moody TW. Peptide hormones and lung cancer. Panminerva Med. 2006 Mar;48(1):19-26.

Morse MA, LaGreca SD, Amin SG, Chung FL. Effects of indole-3-carbinol on lung tumorigenesis and DNA methylation induced by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and on the metabolism and disposition of NNK in A/J mice. Cancer Res. 1990;50:2613-7. PubMed

Otsuka M, Kato N et al. Vitamin K2 binds 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 4 and modulates estrogen metabolism. Life Sci. 2005 Apr 8;76(21):2473-82.

Rato AG, Pedrero JG et al. Melatonin blocks the activation of estrogen receptor for DNA binding. FASEB J. 1999 May;13(8):857-68.

Sanchez-Barcelo EJ, Cos S et al. Melatonin-estrogen interactions in breast cancer. J Pineal Res. 2005 May;38(4):217-22. 

Siiteri PK. Adipose tissue as a source of hormones. Am J Clin Nutr. 1987 Jan;45(1 Suppl):277-82.