Optimum Health Report #330

Alternative Cancer Treatment

Wonders do happen!

Last August a 69 year old female came to me with squamous cell cancer of her tongue. Her tongue was swollen and it was hard for her to talk or eat very well. She had a swollen lymph node in her neck, on the side of the tongue where the tumor was. She had seen an oncologist, had a biopsy and was recommended to get her tongue removed, the lymph nodes in her neck removed (radical neck) and post op radiation. The radiation had a good chance of damaging her vocal cords and esophagus so she would have to have a stomach feeding tube put in.

She was scared off by the suggested treatment. That is when she came to LifeWorks. We outlined a different program and one in which she would not be damaged by the therapy. One of her daughters was not enthusiastic about “alternative” care and so she hesitated. She did nothing. Then she reappeared just 3 month ago. She had lost 20 pounds, looked terrible, could barely eat and could barely talk at all. Both the tongue tumor and lymph gland had doubled in size. When I saw her, I was not hopeful. This looked bad.
But now she insisted and so we went ahead.

I just rechecked her after 3 months of our treatments.

Her tongue is normal. She can eat and talk. She has gained back the weight. The lymph gland is now normal and not swollen. She feels great. She is optimistic. We never say cure and we will continue therapy at a lower level, but she has her life back with her immune system intact and better than ever. No surgery or radiation needed.

Isn’t this what you would want if you had cancer?

This is what we do. If you or someone you care about needs help, have them come see us. We CAN help.

Have a great week.
Dr. David I Minkoff, M.D.

The Toxic World We Live In

By Jennifer Baer, ARNP

Are you tired of feeling ill? Are you tired of going to doctor after doctor looking for answers that do not come? Are you tired of using medications that suppress symptoms instead of getting to the bottom of your health concerns?

Well, I am sure you have heard over and over about the rise in cancer and other chronic illness being either a direct or indirect result of toxicities in the environment. We all know the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has essentially no control over the 85,000 chemicals in use that our bodies are assaulted with. The EPA only has the time to review 10,000 of these chemicals so we are essentially at the mercy of our environments unless we are extremely proactive in keeping our environment clean as well as our bodies.

There is essentially no escaping the toxins in this world in some form or another. Whether it is pumping gas, visiting a friend who may have a toxic home, eating food at our local health food store which may not be all organic, or traveling on an airplane and being exposed to the radiation of the security line. We are assaulted in more ways than we realize.

One toxin that I see that really wreaks havoc on a body is mold but most people do not turn their attention to mold as possibly even contributing to the downward spiral of their health. Many people may show signs of mold toxicity, but most Primary Care Providers are not aware that the presence of mold may be causing the issues in the body. As a result, harmful medications like steroids, anti-fungals, or similar will be given, which can tax the liver and suppress the immune system even more.

Most people I ask if they have mold in their home will say no, but what one does not realize is that mold spores are microscopic to the eye. Most spores will float around the house and one could not even be aware of this. The size of these spores is up to 100 microns. To put this more in perspective, 20 million spores can fit on a postage stamp.

Molds feed on whatever substance they live on. It could be sheetrock, floor boards, window sills, bathroom grout, to name a few.

Typically, one would usually smell a musty smell as a first sign of mold. It could be noticing a new stain on your ceiling or wall. It could be a floorboard that buckles. There are a multitude of clues that your environment may show.

Mold is a fungus. There are about 400,000 types of fungus. The three major types are allergenic, which may usually cause allergy-type symptoms. The second type is known as pathogenic. Pathogenic can cause infections in the body. A common pathogenic mold would be Aspergillus and can be found in lungs of immunocompromised people.

Lastly, Toxigenic mold is the mold that produces something called “mycotoxins”, a chemical on the surface of the mold, that can be deadly and cause severe health problems in a person. Alfatoxin, is one of the most common Toxigenic molds and is highly carcinogenic.

As challenging as it may be, often a standard mold test will not detect mycotoxins in the environment. There is specific testing that needs to be done to detect if the source is your environment. Unfortunately, if it is, a remediation will have to occur. The body will not recover while exposed to a toxic home.

The usual signs and symptoms of mold illness can overlap with many other issues that most health care providers look elsewhere before considering mold. These include:

• Brain fog
• Dizziness
• Difficulty breathing
• Rashes
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Headaches

Mold is overall damaging to the environment and damaging to our bodies. It disrupts not only individuals, but families. The devastating effects of chronic illness are many. Time lost tending to recovering health, finances spent on dead-end roads, and extra work that happens when patients are recovering.

There is good news!!! Here, at LifeWorks Wellness Center, we can test your body for Mycotoxins, treat your body to eradicate them and guide you in the right direction for fixing your environment!! Our treatments have proven successful time and time again. We will get to the bottom of your issues and stop the downward spiral!!!

Sustainable Health in a Toxic World – Dr. David Minkoff

Listen to Dr. Minkoff’s interview with Josh Trent of Wellness Force as he talks about how to build sustainable health in a toxic world.

View the full podcast details at WellnessForce.com

Arthritis

Arthritis refers to joint pain and symptoms include:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Decreased range of motion

Symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe and can last for years.

According to the Arthritis Foundation:

• 1 in 5 people aged 18 + are diagnosed with Arthritis
• 1 in 250 children have arthritis or a rheumatoid condition

Two types of Arthritis are Osteoarthritis (degenerative) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (inflammatory).

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease which affects over 27 million Americans.  OA is characterized by the breakdown of cartilage – the part of a joint that cushions the ends of the bones and allows easy movement.  As cartilage deteriorates, bones begin to rub against one another.  This can cause stiffness and pain which makes it difficult to use that joint.  Osteoarthritis can also damage ligaments, menisci and muscles.  Over time OA may create a need for joint replacements.  Osteoarthritis occurs most often in knees, hips and hands. Other joints, particularly the shoulders, can also be affected.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a form of inflammatory arthritis and an autoimmune disease.  This means that the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, specifically the synovium, a thin membrane that lines the joints.  As a result of the attack, fluid builds up in the joints, causing pain in the joints and inflammation that’s systemic – meaning it can occur throughout the body.

If you are having a problem with Arthritis, we can help you.  For an appointment or more information, call LifeWorks at (727) 466-6789.