Dr Mark Sircus on Cancer.

[Guest guest]

Magnesium, Selenium and Zincin Cancer PreventionInternational Medical Veritas AssociationSince ending one’s life with cancer is not pleasantit behooves all of us to be concerned with its prevention.It certainly is time to get serious about cancer prevention, with the diseasepredicted to surge in the next 15 years. The Association for InternationalCancer Research (AICR) said that if current trends continue, the number ofpeople developing cancer was set to rise at an "alarming" rate. The World HealthOrganization predicts that cases of cancer will increase by up to 50% worldwideby 2020.The weight of evidence based on the findings of wildlife biologists,toxicologists, and epidemiologists clearly indicates that the world’spopulations arebeing exposed to a host of chemical contaminants that have recently passedover an invisible

barrier and is now more dangerous and threatening than anycombination of viruses. Chronic disease is the number one killer in the UnitedStates, accounting for about four out of five deaths in America each year.According to the Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) about 100 millionAmericans, more than one-third of the population, suffer from some form ofchronicdisease like asthma, diabetes, cancer, heart and kidney disease or arthritis.Cancer is the second leading cause of death, exceeded only by heart disease.Among children ages 1 to 14, cancer is now the leading cause of death bydisease. At current rates, invasive cancer will be diagnosed in half of all menand in one in three women in their lifetime. More than 1.3 million new cases ofinvasive cancer will be diagnosed in 2006 meaning that approximately 1,500Americans will die of the disease everyday. “Whether it is cancer or autismthatis affecting our

families and showing up in our examination rooms, the growingrates of chronic disease compel us to search for clues and answers todetermine the true causes of these increasingly prevalent illnesses,†says thePSR.Almost 100 percent of these peopleare suffering from chemical poisoning.“With rates of cancer incidence rising, mortality rates not falling, and anever increasing armamentarium of high-tech scanners, radiotherapy equipment,and chemotherapeutic drugs being directed in what sometimes appears as a losingbattle, there is no more emotive nor scientifically charged issue thancancer,†writes Dr. Sandra Goodman. Along with the rest of the allopathic medicalestablishment the last thing oncologists want to admit is that the population issuffering from poisoning from hundreds of carcogenic compounds and that this,in large part, is a great part of what is driving the escalating epidemic

incancer.In March of 2004, the federal government issued an unusually detailed alertto the nation’s 5.5 million health care workers: The powerful drugs used inchemotherapy can themselves cause cancer and pose a risk to nurses, pharmacistsand others who handle them. Four years in the making, the alert was issued bythe National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).Chemotherapy— the use of potent drugs to kill cancerous cells — is more than 60 years old.The first such drugs were nitrogen mustards, originally developed as chemicalwarfare agents. Modern chemotherapy drugs are so strong that they can causesecondary cancers in patients; to a healthy person, they’re poison. Mosthealthcare workers are clueless about how toxic these agents really are.Oncologists use treatments that cause cancer to treat cancer when they useradiation andchemotherapy treatments. (See

upcoming IMVA essay for more information)A Harvard thesis has shown a connection between water fluoridationand a 700% increase in osteosarcoma in young men if they areexposed to fluoridated water during their 6th to 8th years.Dr. Paul ConnettThe prevailing medical paradigm surrounding cancer today is in totaldisavowal of nutrition as crucial in cancer prevention and treatment and thisclearlyputs the cancer industry and health officials in opposition to manydistinguished research scientists. Though the data speaks for itself, inthousands ofstudies, the majority of cancer specialists are patronizing to patients who wishto use nutritional methods in their cancer treatment protocol. Oncologist’svociferous and over-zealous protestations of the inherent worthlessness andsupposed quackery of nutrition in cancer treatment is embarrassing to theinstitution of medicine. It exposes many of these doctors as little more

thanhumanleaches, extracting money and profits on the backs of cancer patients.[ii]Most main stream physicians are unaware of the extensive depth of evidenceabout nutrients preventing and alleviating many deadly diseases. This is adisgrace since we can save countless lives and reduce needless suffering if weapply the power of minerals and vitamins in the prevention and treatment ofcancer.According to the National Foundation for Cancer Research the value ofminerals as part of an anticancer diet is frequently overlooked. However,mineralscan play a vital role in fighting cancer. A prime example is the mineralselenium, which has powerful antioxidant properties. Selenium (Se) is anessentialmicronutrient with important biological and biochemical functions in organismsbecause of its unique antioxidant properties and its ability to regulatethyroid gland metabolism. It is well known that Se is an antagonist

thatmoderatesthe toxic effects of many heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, andlead in organisms.Data suggests that a diet rich in selenium protects against cancers of thestomach, breast, esophagus, lung, prostate, colon, and rectum. According to Dr.Harold Foster death rates in the USA for cancer are lower when blood seleniumlevels are high. One important study found that high blood levels of seleniumis associated with a four- to fivefold decrease in the risk of prostatecancer. Scientists at Stanford University studied 52 men who had prostate cancerandcompared them to 96 men who didn’t.[iii] One surprising finding was thatblood levels of selenium generally decreased with age. It is well known that therisk of prostate cancer increases dramatically as one ages.Those who have studied geographical differences have seen that inlow-selenium regions, higher death rates occurred from malignant lymphomas

andcancers ofthe tongue, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas, larynx, lung,kidneys and bladder. In addition, cancer patients with low selenium levelstend to have a wider spread of the disease, more recurrences and die sooner.[iv]In China, where the selenium levels in the soils varies much moredramatically than in the United States and the population is less mobile, anecologicalstudy in 1985 showed dramatic results in linking cancer with seleniumdeficiencies. Dr. Shu-Yu Yu measured the selenium content of blood stored inbloodbanks in 30 different regions in China, and classified the regions as highselenium, medium selenium, and low selenium. They then compared death rates fromcancer to the selenium rates and found there was an exact correlation. In thelowselenium classification, three times as many people died from cancer as in thehigh selenium classification.The West African

country of Senegal is dominated by high concentrations ofselenium in the soil and thus in their foods, and as expected, we find thatSenegalese males had the world’s lowest rates for cancer of the trachea,bronchusand lung; stomach and colon; the fourth lowest for prostate cancer and sixthlowest for esophageal cancer. Senegalese women had the lowest incidence ofcancers of the trachea, bronchus, lung, esophagus, stomach and colon and secondlowest for breast cancer and fifth lowest for cancer of the uterus.There is no doubt that selenium is essential for human health and that theseelements may protect against cancer and other diseases. For this reason peoplein regions which are naturally rich in selenium tend to live longer.Selenium, especially when used in conjunction with vitamin C, vitamin E andbeta-carotene, works to block chemical reactions that create free radicals inthe body(which can damage DNA and cause

degenerative change in cells, leading tocancer). Selenium also binds strongly with mercury protecting us from itsdamagingeffects.Selenium helps stop damaged DNA molecules from reproducing, meaning it actsto prevent tumors from developing. “It contributes towards the death ofcancerous and pre-cancer cells. Their death appears to occur before theyreplicate,thus helping stop cancer before it gets started,†says Dr. James Howenstine inA Physician’s Guide to Natural Health Products That Work.A 1996 study by Dr. Larry Clark of the University of Arizona showed just howeffective selenium can be in protecting against cancer. In the study of 1,300older people, the occurrence of cancer among those who took 200 micrograms ofselenium daily for about seven years was reduced by 42 percent compared tothose given a placebo. Cancer deaths for those taking the selenium were cutalmost in half, according to the study that

was published in the Journal of theAmerican Medical Association on December 25, 1996. In addition, the people whohad taken selenium had 63 percent fewer prostate cancers, 58 percent fewercolorectal cancers, 46 percent fewer lung cancers and overall 37% fewer cancers.Selenium was found to reduce the risk of lung cancer to a greater degree thanstopping smoking.[v]MagnesiumIt is generally accepted that a higher magnesiumintake in the drinking water is associated with reducedcancer incidence andreduced frequency of cardiac infarction.Information is scarce about the relationship between cancer and magnesium butresearchers from the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesotahave just concluded that diets rich in magnesium reduced the occurrence ofcolon cancer.[vi] A previous study from Sweden[vii] reported that women with thehighest magnesium intake had a 40 per cent lower risk of developing the

cancerthan those with the lowest intake of the mineral.Preliminary data also suggests a relationshipbetweenlow intake of magnesium and kidney cancer.Several studies have shown an increased cancer rate in regions with lowmagnesium levels in soil and drinking water as well. In Egypt the cancer ratewasonly about 10% of that in Europe and America. In the rural fellah it waspractically non-existent. The main difference was an extremely high magnesiumintakeof 2.5 to 3 g in these cancer-free populations, ten times more than in mostwestern countries.[viii]Dr Seeger and Dr Budwig in Germany have shown that cancer is mainly theresult of a faulty energy metabolism in the powerhouses of the cells, themitochondria. ATP and most of the enzymes involved in the production of energyrequiremagnesium. A healthy cell has high magnesium and low calcium levels. Theproblem that comes with low magnesium (Mg) levels is

the calcium builds upinsidethe cells while energy production decreases as the mitochondria graduallycalcify.“Mg2+ is critical for all of the energetics of the cells because it isabsolutely required that Mg2+ be bound (chelated) by ATP (adenosinetriphosphate),the central high energy compound of the body. ATP without Mg2+ bound cannotcreate the energy normally used by specific enzymes of the body to make protein,DNA, RNA, transport sodium or potassium or calcium in and out of cells, norto phosphorylate proteins in response to hormone signals, etc. In fact, ATPwithout enough Mg2+ is non-functional and leads to cell death. Bound Mg2+ holdsthe triphosphate in the correct stereochemical position so that it caninteract with ATP using enzymes and the Mg2+ also polarizes the phosphatebackboneso that the 'backside of the phosphorous' is more positive and susceptible toattack by nucleophilic agents such

as hydroxide ion or other negatively chargedcompounds. Bottom line, Mg2+ at critical concentrations is essential to life,†says Dr. Boyd Haley who asserts strongly that, “All detoxificationmechanisms have as the bases of the energy required to remove a toxicant theneed forMg-ATP to drive the process. There is nothing done in the body that does notuse energy and without Mg2+ this energy can neither be made nor used.â€Detoxification of carcinogenic chemical poisons is essential for people want toavoidthe ravages of cancer. The importance of magnesium in cancer prevention shouldnot be underestimated.The School of Public Health at the Kaohsiung Medical College, inTaiwan, found that magnesium also exerts aprotective effect againstgastric cancer, but only for the group with the highest levels.[ix]Among other effects, magnesium improves the internal production of defensivesubstances, such as antibodies

and considerably improves the operationalactivity of white, granulozytic blood cells (shown by Delbet with magnesiumchloride), and contributes to many other functions that insure the integrity ofcellular metabolism.A Dr. Hans A. Nieper, back in 1961, introduced cardiac therapy based onmagnesium aspartate. He was surprised to observe that hardly any new canceroccurrences appear in the group of patients so treated. The rate of newcancerousdiseases with long-term magnesium therapy was reported to be less than 20% ofthefrequency otherwise expected. In an uncontrolled trial, researchers in the UKfound that intravenous magnesium relieves neuropathy pain in patients withcancer.[x] Magnesium acts as a noncompetitive antagonist of theN-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, which has been implicated in the transmission ofpain,according to Dr. Vincent Crosby and colleagues at Nottingham City Hospital.It is known that

carcinogenesis induces magnesium distribution disturbances,which cause magnesium mobilization through blood cells and magnesium depletionin non-neoplastic tissues. Magnesium deficiency seems to be carcinogenic, andin cases of solid tumors, high levels of magnesium inhibitscarcinogenesis.[xi] Both carcinogenesis and magnesium deficiency increase theplasma membranepermeability and fluidity.ZincNo modern chemotherapy includes zinc adjuvant even thoughzinc serum levels are usually low inleukemic children.Epidemiologic studies suggest that zinc deficiency may be associated withincreased risk of cancer.[xii] Zinc supplementation is associated with decreasedoxidative stress and improved immune function, which may be among the possiblemechanisms for its cancer preventive activity.Zinc is essential for health. It’s needed for the enzymes that regulate celldivision, growth, wound healing, and proper

functioning of the immune system.Zinc is an essential co-factor in a variety of cellular processes includingDNA synthesis, behavioral responses, reproduction, bone formation, growth andwound healing. Zinc is a component of insulin and it plays a major role in theefficiency of most of the functions of the body. Zinc is necessary for thefree-radical quenching activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), a powerfulantioxidant enzyme which breaks down the free-radical superoxide to formhydrogenperoxide. Zinc is required for the proper function of T-lymphocytes. The mineralalso plays a role in acuity of taste and smell. And zinc is required for properfunctioning of genetics, immunity, formation of red blood cells, organ,muscle and bone function, cell membrane stability, cell growth, division,differentiation and genetics. Importantly, zinc is vital for the metabolism ofVitaminA.A paper by Dr. Mei and colleagues at the Anhui

Medical University, Hefei,China, suggests that some aspects of immune function can be enhanced bytreatmentwith zinc. The authors state that it would be “reasonable to expect that zincis instrumental in restoring failing immunocompetence of cancer patients. Meistudied the influence of zinc and selenium-zinc upon the immune function(T-cells, granulocytes and NK cells) of cancer patients. The results showed thatimmune response was strengthened.[xiii]Leukemic cells contain much less zinc than normal lymphocytes, suggesting anerror in zinc metabolism, which appears correctable with zinc treatment. Zincalso is known to have some beneficial interactions with chemotherapy drugs.In one recent case, upon noting low blood levels of zinc in a 3-year-old 11.3kg girl, zinc at the rate of 3.18 mg/kg body weight/day was administered fromthe start of chemotherapy through the full 3 years of maintenance therapy.Dosage was split

with 18 mg given at breakfast and 18 mg zinc with supper. Theresult was a bone marrow remission from 95+% blast cells to an observed zeroblast cell count in both hips within the first 14 days of treatment which neverrelapsed.[xiv]Dr. Mathais Rath wrote that “500 years ago, the Roman church was makingbillions of Thaler (early dollars) by selling indulgences, an imaginary “keytoheaven†for its believers. Then the fraud scheme collapsed and with it much ofthe power of the church. Today, the pharma business uses the same fraud scheme.It tries to sell the “key to health†to millions of people and takes awaybillions of dollars in return for an illusion: the deception that thepharmaceutical industry is interested in your health.â€[xv]The cancer industry is among the most aggressive areas in the medical arenaand the FDA will swoop in with automatic weapons into doctors’ offices if theystep out of line with

acknowledged oncology protocols. Medical fascism isperhaps at its worst in the cancer area with oncologists insisting thatpoisoningpatients with chemicals and radiation is the only and best way to go.Minerals are essential for life and ealth and provide the keys for theprevention of cancer. Minerals (in the form of cesium chloride)[xvi] alsoprovide areasonably safe way to treat advanced stage four cancer without resorting tothe slash and burn tactics of radiation and chemotherapy.It’s a frightening world when it comes to cancer and that fright is made muchworse by the medical authorities who insist their way is the only way. Notonly do they let the ball drop by not informing us about how to avoid cancer,but if we get it, they will use therapies that are as dangerous to live healthycells as they are to the cancer cells. Cesium chloride on the other handaggressively kills cancer cells by turning their internal

chemistry alkaline.Mark Sircus Ac., OMDDirector International Medical Veritas Associationhttp://www.MagnesiumForLife.comhttp://www.imva.infohttp://www.detoxchelationclinic.comhttp://www.worldpsychology.netEMAIL: director+55-83-3252-2195www.skype.com ID: marksircusInternational Medical Veritas AssociationCopyright 2006 All rights reserved.IMPORTANT