Cancer Need Not be the New Normal: Getting educated today about prevention can help eliminate one's chances of having cancer, says Dr. Paul Stallone

Mutated cells, or cancer cells, develop from time to time for a number of reasons. A cell is supposed to kill itself (apoptosis) when there’s a defect, but sometimes it doesn’t, so our immune system is the next line of defense. When it detects a mutated cell, it’s supposed to eliminate it.

Cancer flourishes when a weakened immune system doesn’t do its job and allows cancer cells to multiply. Many factors can contribute to a compromised immune system, like poor nutrition, lack of exercise, smoking, excessive drinking, certain medications and chronic stress. These factors all create an environment that supports and encourages cancer and disease.

With risk factors increasing, cancer occurrences are continuing. Toxic pollution, “dead” soil, contaminated soil, genetically modified food, poisoned water, chemicals on and in everything, and lifestyle factors are contributing to rampant disease. Some things we can help, but many are out of our control. Some reports predict that one in two women will develop breast cancer at some point in their life, while others state that one in four people will develop other cancers during their lifetime. These numbers are frightening, but even if they’re on the high side, imagine the millions of people that will affect.

There is good news. Cancer, with certain action, doesn’t have to be a death sentence or even guaranteed to happen. The first step is to get educated. With the right mindset and perspective, researching online can be an invaluable resource. There are myriad sites to help pinpoint risk factors and how to correct them. If we have significant risk factors, we may want to discuss our options with a physician that understands cancer soon. They can help assess our risk and make suggestions to reduce our chances of developing certain cancers.

Getting educated should also be a priority to anyone diagnosed with cancer. Seek several opinions. Experts across the board agree that cancer screenings can produce false positives, in which the tests show something that’s not actually there. Many people with a false positive test result have been rushed into treatment, so a second opinion can help assure that treatment is appropriate and present all possible options.

Scare tactics like skewed cancer statistics can also push people into receiving rushed treatment. Most aren’t given the time to consider alternative options, but these alternative therapies are designed to target cancer cells and support the immune system without causing debilitating side effects. Nutritional IVs of high-dose vitamin C and autohemotherapy, just to name a few, may be used to successfully address the needs of patients with cancer. These IVs are usually customized with components like vitamins, homeopathic remedies, DMSO and a variety of other nutrients to create a potent cancer-fighting combination. These treatments can also be tailored for those looking for cancer or other disease prevention.

Even though cancer may be unavoidable for us all, we all have the power to take the measures to prevent it. A major priority in anyone’s life should be taking care of their immune system, so it can take care of them. A naturopathic physician is a great resource because they can evaluate each patient as an individual and make specific recommendations to achieve goals.

Paul Stallone, NMD, founded the Arizona Integrative Medical Center, located at 8144 E. Cactus Rd., Ste. 820, in Scottsdale. He combines natural/alternative/conventional treatments to best fit and benefit each individual patient’s needs. For more information, call 480-214-3922 or visit DrStallone.com.