| Causes, prevention and humane, up-to-date treatment Real-life research by Al Smith and Faith Warn |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The Cocktail to Cure Cancer?
Jill Palmer reports
Daily Telegraph 19th June 2006
Daily Telegraph 19th June 2006
A potent mix of herbs and vitamins
devised by a European specialist has
brought new hope to men with
advanced prostate cancer
devised by a European specialist has
brought new hope to men with
advanced prostate cancer
Al Smith and his wife Faith were determined on an idyllic
retirement, and, in 1995, the couple - who'd been together for
three years - rented a second home on the Greek island of
Kalymnos where they had holidayed previously.
They enjoyed the best of both worlds, spending their summers in
Britain and winters on the island. Al, a former sales manager, grew
tomatoes and courgettes, went fishing and took photographs, while
Faith, a writer, devoted her time to completing a book on sponge
diving. They had never been happier and all was set fair for that
idyll.
But their contentment was shattered when Al was diagnosed with
advanced prostate cancer. He spent months on potent drugs but
when they stopped working, the cancer continued to spread.
Having exhausted the possibilities of conventional medicine, they
turned to alternative treatments - and that was when Faith
discovered a cocktail of herbs that, according to Swiss research,
had prolonged the lives of patients with a similar prognosis to Al.
What followed was a struggle to persuade doctors to test the
herbal cocktail. Thanks to Faith's tenacity, Al is now one of the first
men in this country to try the treatment as part of a pioneering
study overseen by a leading British oncologist.
The story began in August 2004, when Al started to experience
prostate problems; he was urinating frequently and urgently, and
getting up several times in the night. He wasn't too concerned
because he felt well in himself. However, Faith encouraged him to
go to the local doctor who gave him a blood test to measure the
levels of a protein known as prostate-specific antigen (PSA), an
indicator of cancer.
The results were alarming: Al had a PSA of 37 - normal levels
range from 0 to 4. Al, 71, and Faith, 56, returned to Britain for a
second opinion; he had a private MRI scan and an ultra-sound.
These confirmed their worst fears - Al had prostate cancer that
had already spread to the bone and lymph glands. Another blood
test showed his PSA levels had escalated to 82.
It was hard to take in. It hit me hard," says Al. "I had cancer. But I
was not suffering from cancer. I was not dying from cancer. I was
living with cancer and intended to carry on that way."
The disease was aggressive, and, because the tumour was large
and uncontainable, surgery and radiotherapy were not
appropriate. "I was told my only option was hormonal drugs that
would control the symptoms and keep the cancer in check."
Around 32,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in
Britain every year, and 10,000 die of the disease. Although
surgery and radiotherapy can be successful if it is diagnosed
early, for one in five men - like Al - the disease has already spread
by the time it is detected. (Although it is easy to diagnose, many
men with symptoms are reluctant to visit their doctor at an early
stage.)
For them, treatment involves hormone therapy: injections of a
pituitary down-regulator (which halts production of the male
hormone testosterone that stimulates the cancer cells), such as
Zoladex, or anti-androgen tablets (which block testosterone
reaching the cancer cells), such as Casodex. But in more than 50
per cent of patients, the body stops responding to the drugs after
a few years; this is known as hormone-refractory prostate cancer.
Al opted for Casodex because it has less extreme side effects -
Zoladex can cause impotence and incontinence. The pills
controlled his symptoms and reduced his PSA levels. Faith insisted
that a sceptical Al should try complementary therapies, too, so
they visited Bristol Cancer Help Centre. He was advised to adopt a
vegetarian diet with no dairy or alcohol. He also took up Qigong, a
Chinese exercise programme that co-ordinates breathing patterns
with physical movements. "All this helped my determination to be
positive," he says. "Focusing my mind and taking charge of my
body gave me a sense of empowerment."
A few months later, the cancer was in remission, and the couple
returned to Kalymnos where, they thought, the stress-free
existence would help Al to recover. Each month, he went to the
local doctor for a check-up. Initially, his PSA levels dropped
further, to 0.8 but, after a few more months, it started to creep up
again - slowly at first and then rapidly. Soon, it was doubling every
month. The doctor offered Al injections of Zoladex, but he refused,
because they could cause impotence. "I knew that it was not a
long-term option," says Al. "It, too, would eventually lose its
effectiveness. In any case, I am a chicken about destructive
therapies."
In desperation, Faith turned to the internet. Her research led her
to Professor Ben Pfeifer, director of clinical research at the
renowned Aeskulap Clinic in Switzerland, who specialises in
combining conventional and complementary cancer therapies.
She read about Prof Pfeifer's success in treating prostate patients
with a phytotherapy (the medicinal use of plants) protocol of four
supplements, taken in specifically designed cocktails every day.
These were Prostasol, which contains a range of herbs and dietary
supplements with proven efficacy in supporting the prostate;
Imupros, containing vitamins, trace elements, ginseng, lycopene,
and green-tea extract to aid prostate function; Curcumin Complex,
an extract of turmeric, which is a potent antioxidant - to mop up
cancer-causing free radicals - and an anti-inflammatory; and
Biobran, made from Japanese rice bran, which boosts the immune
system.
A one-year clinical study involved 184 patients with advanced and
end-stage prostate cancer. In two thirds of patients, their
symptoms were relieved, PSA levels were reduced by up to 50 per
cent, tumours shrank, and the disease's progression was inhibited.
When the trial was extended for five years to include a further
1,250 European men, similar results were obtained.
Faith contacted Prof Pfeifer but her hopes were dashed by the
protocol's cost - £500 a month. She found it wasn't available on
the NHS. But she was determined not to give up and decided to try
to interest British doctors in the study. This led her to Tim Oliver,
professor of medical oncology at St Bartholomew's and the Royal
London NHS Trust. She bombarded him with facts.
"When I saw the findings of the European research using these
supplements, it really interested me," says Prof Oliver. "I was
particularly attracted to this protocol because unlike other
prostate-cancer treatments, it does not cause impotency.
"Finding a treatment for men who no longer respond to
conventional hormone treatment is the holy grail of prostate
cancer. There is nothing I can offer these men in the long term;
with advanced tumours, the average hormone therapy will last
between two and four years."
Prof Oliver agreed to run a 10-man study in London but first
had to obtain the expensive supplements for which he couldn't
secure NHS funding. Faith contacted their British distributors - they
are mainly formulated in the Netherlands - and persuaded them to
donate the drugs to Prof Oliver. She also e-mailed Prof Pfeifer,
who agreed to liaise with the London study and advise on Al's case.
This January, Al became the first British patient to start the
protocol. Although his PSA was 42, he stopped the Casodex and
instead took a mixture of 10 pills every day. He and the other nine
men will be monitored by Prof Oliver for up to 18 months.
"At this stage, it is too early to be deemed a trial," says Prof Oliver.
"Herbal medicine has been tried before and you have to be
careful. A few years ago, another herbal mixture known as
PC-SPECS had to be withdrawn because of contamination. But
herbs could have a useful place in the treatment of prostate
cancer and this study could enable us to validate it in a
cost-effective way.
"If I can confirm the Pfeifer findings, I will carry on and do further
clinical research which is properly approved and
documented."Within a few days of taking the supplements,
Al's urine flow was much stronger with less urgency and frequency
and he was sleeping better. After two weeks, his PSA had halved
to 21; after a month, it was down to 10; today it is seven.
"I know this is not a cure, but it is an exciting
development," says Al. "Hopefully it will continue to
improve my quality and quantity of life for a long time to
come."
· For more information on Prof Pfeifer's protocol, see
www.clearfeed.com/pfeifer
retirement, and, in 1995, the couple - who'd been together for
three years - rented a second home on the Greek island of
Kalymnos where they had holidayed previously.
They enjoyed the best of both worlds, spending their summers in
Britain and winters on the island. Al, a former sales manager, grew
tomatoes and courgettes, went fishing and took photographs, while
Faith, a writer, devoted her time to completing a book on sponge
diving. They had never been happier and all was set fair for that
idyll.
But their contentment was shattered when Al was diagnosed with
advanced prostate cancer. He spent months on potent drugs but
when they stopped working, the cancer continued to spread.
Having exhausted the possibilities of conventional medicine, they
turned to alternative treatments - and that was when Faith
discovered a cocktail of herbs that, according to Swiss research,
had prolonged the lives of patients with a similar prognosis to Al.
What followed was a struggle to persuade doctors to test the
herbal cocktail. Thanks to Faith's tenacity, Al is now one of the first
men in this country to try the treatment as part of a pioneering
study overseen by a leading British oncologist.
The story began in August 2004, when Al started to experience
prostate problems; he was urinating frequently and urgently, and
getting up several times in the night. He wasn't too concerned
because he felt well in himself. However, Faith encouraged him to
go to the local doctor who gave him a blood test to measure the
levels of a protein known as prostate-specific antigen (PSA), an
indicator of cancer.
The results were alarming: Al had a PSA of 37 - normal levels
range from 0 to 4. Al, 71, and Faith, 56, returned to Britain for a
second opinion; he had a private MRI scan and an ultra-sound.
These confirmed their worst fears - Al had prostate cancer that
had already spread to the bone and lymph glands. Another blood
test showed his PSA levels had escalated to 82.
It was hard to take in. It hit me hard," says Al. "I had cancer. But I
was not suffering from cancer. I was not dying from cancer. I was
living with cancer and intended to carry on that way."
The disease was aggressive, and, because the tumour was large
and uncontainable, surgery and radiotherapy were not
appropriate. "I was told my only option was hormonal drugs that
would control the symptoms and keep the cancer in check."
Around 32,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in
Britain every year, and 10,000 die of the disease. Although
surgery and radiotherapy can be successful if it is diagnosed
early, for one in five men - like Al - the disease has already spread
by the time it is detected. (Although it is easy to diagnose, many
men with symptoms are reluctant to visit their doctor at an early
stage.)
For them, treatment involves hormone therapy: injections of a
pituitary down-regulator (which halts production of the male
hormone testosterone that stimulates the cancer cells), such as
Zoladex, or anti-androgen tablets (which block testosterone
reaching the cancer cells), such as Casodex. But in more than 50
per cent of patients, the body stops responding to the drugs after
a few years; this is known as hormone-refractory prostate cancer.
Al opted for Casodex because it has less extreme side effects -
Zoladex can cause impotence and incontinence. The pills
controlled his symptoms and reduced his PSA levels. Faith insisted
that a sceptical Al should try complementary therapies, too, so
they visited Bristol Cancer Help Centre. He was advised to adopt a
vegetarian diet with no dairy or alcohol. He also took up Qigong, a
Chinese exercise programme that co-ordinates breathing patterns
with physical movements. "All this helped my determination to be
positive," he says. "Focusing my mind and taking charge of my
body gave me a sense of empowerment."
A few months later, the cancer was in remission, and the couple
returned to Kalymnos where, they thought, the stress-free
existence would help Al to recover. Each month, he went to the
local doctor for a check-up. Initially, his PSA levels dropped
further, to 0.8 but, after a few more months, it started to creep up
again - slowly at first and then rapidly. Soon, it was doubling every
month. The doctor offered Al injections of Zoladex, but he refused,
because they could cause impotence. "I knew that it was not a
long-term option," says Al. "It, too, would eventually lose its
effectiveness. In any case, I am a chicken about destructive
therapies."
In desperation, Faith turned to the internet. Her research led her
to Professor Ben Pfeifer, director of clinical research at the
renowned Aeskulap Clinic in Switzerland, who specialises in
combining conventional and complementary cancer therapies.
She read about Prof Pfeifer's success in treating prostate patients
with a phytotherapy (the medicinal use of plants) protocol of four
supplements, taken in specifically designed cocktails every day.
These were Prostasol, which contains a range of herbs and dietary
supplements with proven efficacy in supporting the prostate;
Imupros, containing vitamins, trace elements, ginseng, lycopene,
and green-tea extract to aid prostate function; Curcumin Complex,
an extract of turmeric, which is a potent antioxidant - to mop up
cancer-causing free radicals - and an anti-inflammatory; and
Biobran, made from Japanese rice bran, which boosts the immune
system.
A one-year clinical study involved 184 patients with advanced and
end-stage prostate cancer. In two thirds of patients, their
symptoms were relieved, PSA levels were reduced by up to 50 per
cent, tumours shrank, and the disease's progression was inhibited.
When the trial was extended for five years to include a further
1,250 European men, similar results were obtained.
Faith contacted Prof Pfeifer but her hopes were dashed by the
protocol's cost - £500 a month. She found it wasn't available on
the NHS. But she was determined not to give up and decided to try
to interest British doctors in the study. This led her to Tim Oliver,
professor of medical oncology at St Bartholomew's and the Royal
London NHS Trust. She bombarded him with facts.
"When I saw the findings of the European research using these
supplements, it really interested me," says Prof Oliver. "I was
particularly attracted to this protocol because unlike other
prostate-cancer treatments, it does not cause impotency.
"Finding a treatment for men who no longer respond to
conventional hormone treatment is the holy grail of prostate
cancer. There is nothing I can offer these men in the long term;
with advanced tumours, the average hormone therapy will last
between two and four years."
Prof Oliver agreed to run a 10-man study in London but first
had to obtain the expensive supplements for which he couldn't
secure NHS funding. Faith contacted their British distributors - they
are mainly formulated in the Netherlands - and persuaded them to
donate the drugs to Prof Oliver. She also e-mailed Prof Pfeifer,
who agreed to liaise with the London study and advise on Al's case.
This January, Al became the first British patient to start the
protocol. Although his PSA was 42, he stopped the Casodex and
instead took a mixture of 10 pills every day. He and the other nine
men will be monitored by Prof Oliver for up to 18 months.
"At this stage, it is too early to be deemed a trial," says Prof Oliver.
"Herbal medicine has been tried before and you have to be
careful. A few years ago, another herbal mixture known as
PC-SPECS had to be withdrawn because of contamination. But
herbs could have a useful place in the treatment of prostate
cancer and this study could enable us to validate it in a
cost-effective way.
"If I can confirm the Pfeifer findings, I will carry on and do further
clinical research which is properly approved and
documented."Within a few days of taking the supplements,
Al's urine flow was much stronger with less urgency and frequency
and he was sleeping better. After two weeks, his PSA had halved
to 21; after a month, it was down to 10; today it is seven.
"I know this is not a cure, but it is an exciting
development," says Al. "Hopefully it will continue to
improve my quality and quantity of life for a long time to
come."
· For more information on Prof Pfeifer's protocol, see
www.clearfeed.com/pfeifer