Is There A Natural Cure For Cancer?
When most cancer patients think about cures, they think about the ‘all-clear’. Currently, a number of cancers can be cured, with many more cancer treatments now available compared to a decade ago.
At one time or another, many cancer patients are likely to have researched natural cancer remedies and ways to slow down cancer cell growth. From natural cancer-fighting foods to helpful exercise regimes, we have seen them all over the years.
There are many people around the globe who claim that ‘natural’ cancer cures exist and should be the preferred choice over conventional cancer treatments. We have all heard of a natural cure for cancer at one time or another, but what is really meant by a cure for cancer, natural or otherwise?
Understanding cancer
The body is made entirely of cells – around 38 trillion of them to be precise, which are constantly renewing themselves. The renewal stage of these cells keeps the body alive. Over the course of years or even decades, cancer develops as our cells slowly diverge from their natural state, however, it’s worth remembering that not all divergence from natural cells is cancerous, as cells are constantly diverging in the endless cycle of cell renewal.
Cancer is caused by changes in the DNA which works in two ways, by copying errors or environmental change. Unfortunately, this means that every one of us has the potential to develop cancer.
As humans, we identify things in life that can harm us, then we avoid them. Cancer works in a very similar way by following a Darwinian path of survival and avoiding the body’s balances and checks.
Only when systems fail, does cancer take hold. We often hear that cells are cancerous when they become malignant, which is generally defined by continuing to divide when they shouldn’t or having the ability to move around the body. When we think about curing cancer, what we really mean is to prevent these things from happening.
‘Natural’ cancer cures
There are endless numbers of conspiracies with natural cancer cures, which has led to some uncertainty to what does and doesn’t work. These cancer cures are yet to be proven, with a lack of supporting scientific evidence. Some natural cures are dangerous and should be avoided if they are proven to not work.
It’s worth understanding that patients should try to improve their position by exercising, eating a healthy balanced diet, managing stress levels and partaking in complementary therapies for doctor-led treatments.
Patients who promote alternative and natural cancer cures have the belief that cancer pharmaceutical drugs do nothing to prevent or stop the rate of cancer, but instead, they cause more cancer.
There are also thoughts that chemotherapy is unnatural and makes patients sicker than they already were. Whilst chemotherapy does have its side effects, it has highly-supported evidence to support its use for cancer cells.
Helping yourself after a cancer diagnosis
Some doctors say that cancer can be effectively ‘cured’ if it can be controlled by drugs and other treatments over time. Modern treatments keep cancer from spreading, therefore allowing patients to live a normal life.
Studies with cancer patients receiving some new immunotherapy cancer drugs seem to suggest that a healthful diet with plenty of fibre may help some cancer patients to respond particularly well to these treatments.
After a cancer diagnosis, lifestyle and overall diet quality can be very helpful for supporting health and resilience. This includes the foods you eat, which is why you’ll want to look into putting together your own healthy eating plan.
There are many cancer-fighting foods which can have a positive effect in preventing and reducing progression in cancer, by speeding up the removal of carcinogens. Known to cause cancer, carcinogens inflict damage to DNA cells in our bodies and can be found in daily exposures, including exhaust emissions, excessive smoking, UV exposure, red meat and other forms of food.
Plant-based foods are healthful choices with the array of vitamins and minerals which are valuable for health and wellbeing. Unprocessed plant foods are especially helpful to feed you and feed your beneficial bacteria.
While more evidence is needed to definitively say that there are natural cancer cures, there is enough evidence now to say that patients looking to improve their position, and those looking to reduce their cancer risk, would benefit from changing their diet and lifestyle.