Cancer is a not a word anyone wants to be associated with. Unfortunately the statistics tell us that 1 in 2 Australian men and women will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85. Crazy right? This means that EVERY person will at one point be effected by the horrible disease either personally or within their family.
So What Is Cancer?
“A disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body”.
Why Are More And More People Getting It?
- Population Growth and Ageing – More people, living longer
- Increased Screening
- Lifestyle – Smoking, drinking, water contamination etc
- Environmental factors – Atmospheric pollution, chemical exposure etc.
What Does The Gut Have To Do With Cancer ? (we’re going to get a little technical now)
Each individual inherited a specific gut microbiota footprint since their birth, and their intestinal microbiota develops and changes with ageing, diet and lifetime exposure to the diverse environments. This balance is very delicate and subjected to multiple changes during the entire lifespan.
Nowadays, there is a growing attention towards the characterisation of the gastro-intestinal microbiota composition and functionalities. Genetics, together with functional studies, highlighted a dual role played by the gut micro biome in Cancer. Some bacterial subpopulations are able to rise during gut dysbiosis and, in turn, to trigger the formation of an inflammatory and pro-cancerogenic environment. On the other hand, many gut derived probiotics are able to protect someone, re-establishing the conditions of a healthy intestinal microbiota within dysbiotic patients, including cancer patients.
LGG is a very good example of a probiotic well studied in cancer, often administered as complementary therapeutic to cure dysbiosis. Given the observed functions as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent in both cellular and animal models, this probiotic may be suggested to be further characterised as helpful in integrated anti-cancer therapies in the future.
In addition, there has now been breakthrough studies on the association between probiotics and anti-cancer therapy efficacy, studies identified specific gut species populating the gastro-intestinal tract of cancer immunotherapy responders, able to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy treatments.
That questions the usage of both probiotics and FMT (Faecal Microbiota Transplantation) in cancer therapy, either as tools to repopulate cancer patients’ damaged intestine or even as proper additions to immunotherapy and other kinds of anti-cancer therapies.
Correspondingly, care needs to be pursued as patients are often immunocompromised, therefore it is important to evaluate the specific side effects of administering selected bacterial species to such sensitive individuals. Hopefully in future trials there may be a more personalised/integrated approach, considering the specific and whole background of each patient.
In Conclusion
We here at pH Clinic, are passionate about the preventative space of cancer. As our owner Nicola Johnson says “Imagine living in a world where we could actually decrease the incidence of cancer” We’re big believers that given the right environments (internally and externally) we can help to minimise the occurrence, but its a commitment, or better yet an investment.
Due to the detoxifying nature of the clinic, we have organically also become a support for many people on their traditional cancer treatment journey. We have many clients here who are currently undergoing chemotherapy, and come along to the clinic to detox (when it is safe to) to help rid the body of the high toxic load that chemotherapy puts on to the body.
Even further down the track we have people coming after their treatments or potentially even Cancer free to take a more proactive approach to their health. Generally aware that if they keep their insides – Cells, Gut, systems etc healthy and flowing, they are less likely to attract illness, and have a better fight if anything comes their way.
Below we have listed our different therapies and how they are beneficial in preventing Cancer, supporting treatments and decreasing the chance of reoccurrence.
***It is very important to note, that while the above research has been taken from official and fully certified websites, it should not be taken as medical advice. Please seek advise from your doctor and hopefully our services can help support your journey***
