In these stressful times, using simple, relaxation techniques can be very helpful to reduce your “fight or flight” nervous system activity and increase your heart rate variability (HRV). Increased HRV is associated with superior immune function, as ... [Read More]
How AntiCancer Are You? (Simple Online Calculator)
These basic (and modifiable) lifestyle variables are among the most highly associated with cancer development, recurrence and progression. Calculate your risk score with this simple online tool. ... [Read More]
Optimizing Our Health
Dr. Brian Lawenda's introductory lecture at the 2018 UsToo International Prostate Cancer Pathways for Patients & Caregivers Conference (June 23, 2018). The topics discussed are relevant to both men and women and those with and without ... [Read More]
Improve The Effectiveness of Immunotherapy With β-Blockers
A study published in 2017 reported on the potential effects of taking a cheap blood pressure medication while also being treated with immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma. Their results were so exciting, that they have led to a clinical trial of ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses How Inflammation Fuels Cancers and Chronic Diseases
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses How Inflammation Fuels Cancers and Chronic Diseases (May 20, 2017) https://vimeo.com/218490922 I think most of us typically think of inflammation as our body’s protective response to ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses Stress and Depression and Their Impact On Cancer
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses Stress and Depression and Their Impact On Cancer (December 24, 2016) https://vimeo.com/197205314 ... [Read More]
Breast Cancer Risk, Curcumin, Vitamin D, Genetics And More
Breast Cancer Risk Can Be Determined From A Biopsy A landmark Harvard study found that the risk of breast cancer can be predicted by looking at the percentage of dividing cells from a routine breast biopsy. If this tissue analysis (called ... [Read More]
Stress Management Reduces Breast Cancer Recurrence and Death
I have previously posted on the anticancer effects or stress reduction. We now have a new landmark study that further adds support to the importance of helping our patients cope with stress. In this study, the researchers randomized 240 breast ... [Read More]
Controlling Blood Sugar and Reversing Insulin Resistance
Having high-blood sugar levels and insulin resistance is a bad combination. They increase systemic inflammation, DNA-damaging free radical levels and cellular aging, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, obesity and risks of heart disease, diabetes (no ... [Read More]
Make Your Body Less Conducive To Cancer (Video)
Watch Dr. Brian Lawenda's seminar on integrative oncology- a special type of cancer care that combines conventional cancer and medical treatments along with anticancer lifestyle counseling and evidence-informed complementary and alternative ... [Read More]
Dr Brian Lawenda’s Breast Cancer Talk (Video)
Watch Dr. Brian Lawenda’s talk on a breast cancer. He discusses a variety of related topics, such as: Reducing your risk of developing breast cancer Introduction to the role of integrative oncology in breast cancer care Breast cancer ... [Read More]
Dr Lawenda Discusses Integrative Oncology (Listen)
Learn about Dr. Lawenda's integrative oncology practice. During this 60-minute interview he discusses how he combines state of the art cancer treatments, complementary therapies and anticancer lifestyle changes. Radio interview on the Healthy ... [Read More]
Adrenal Exhaustion and Cancer: Is This Real?
Medical school teaches nothing about adrenal exhaustion (also known as adrenal fatigue). Most conventionally trained physicians believe this not to be a real medical diagnosis. Instead, it is simply felt to be only in the mind of the patient with no ... [Read More]
Are You Feeling Distress? Your oncologist needs to know
Are you feeling distress? We have covered this topic in a previous blog post, but this is worth repeating as I encounter this in my patients every day. What is "distress"? "Distress" is purposely chosen as the word we use even though it is a very ... [Read More]
Healing touch and guided imagery work for severe stress symptoms.
Wow...a short 2-week regimen of healing touch and guided imagery treats the most severe form of stress, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD.) In a recent study, researchers found that by adding a short course of healing touch and guided imagery ... [Read More]
Yoga for Cancer Recovery
I'm sure you've heard that Yoga, a 5,000+ year old practice, can help in your cancer recovery. Yoga combines exercise (postures, called asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation...a system that has been scientifically proven ... [Read More]
Get To Bed! How getting enough shut eye fights cancer
Check out our most recent article on SLEEP here ... [Read More]
Exercise and Cancer 101: Why You Should Just Do It!
Why is exercise so important: Exercise reduces your risk of developing cancer. Exercise during and after cancer treatment may reduce your risk of cancer recurrence and progression. Exercise improves quality of life in cancer patients and ... [Read More]
Depression and Cancer 101: Depression May Shorten Survival After a Cancer Diagnosis
Depression affects up to 50% of patients with cancer...and unfortunately many go undiagnosed and suffer in silence. The problem is two-fold: Oncologists often feel too busy or not qualified to be able to diagnose and treat this condition, ... [Read More]
Stress and Cancer 101: Why Stress Reduction Is Essential
One of the key pillars of integrative oncology is stress reduction. The majority of us intuitively recognize the link between stress and the immune system. How many times in your life have you come down with a cold or other viral infection ... [Read More]
12-minute yoga slows cellular aging, improves cognitive function and reduces depression
This remarkable study explored the effects of a convenient 12-minute, daily yoga practice on a group of psycho-emotionally taxed caregivers. What they discovered is truly amazing. In their study, the researchers compared two groups of study ... [Read More]
Consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduces fatigue & inflammation in breast cancer survivors
A new study, reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that breast cancer survivors have less fatigue if they consumed higher quantities of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (a major component of an "anti-inflammatory diet"). The ... [Read More]
Cannabis and Cancer: prescribe 5 different drugs or simply one botanical…your choice
This is a completely non-political blog entry on the science of the medical efficacy of Cannabis (marijuana) in oncology. Cannabis is plant that is classified in the U.S. as a controlled substance with an "increased potential for abuse and no known ... [Read More]
Relaxation gizmos: Rapidly reduce stress & improve emotional balance with these palm-sized biofeedback devices
Chronic stress (via prolonged stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system and inhibition of the parasympathetic nervous system) is toxic to the body and mind, and is causally linked to a wide-range of deleterious conditions (examples): Anxiety ... [Read More]
Inhaling vaporized botanicals as medicine
The use of plants as medicine has been and continues to be employed by cultures throughout the world in the treatment of numerous physical and psychological conditions and symptoms. It is estimated that 80% of the world's population use plants as ... [Read More]
Chronic stress increased the risk of cancer metastases (spread) by 30-fold!!
In a study (published in Cancer Research, September 2010), investigators from UCLA demonstrated the biological effects of chronic stress leading to a 30-fold increase in the rate of breast cancer metastases in a mouse study. This study adds the the ... [Read More]
Massage is an excellent therapy to help relieve pain, anxiety and stress for anyone with a diagnosis of cancer
Numerous, high-quality studies have been published over the last decade demonstrating the effectiveness of massage in reducing pain, stress and anxiety in individuals with cancer. These studies have included patients of all ages (infants to elderly), ... [Read More]
Anxiety & stress can be reduced with a simple, 5-minute acupuncture treatment
A study published, in March 2010 (in Acupuncture in Medicine/British Medical Journal) reports a 50% reduction in measured anxiety scores following a single, 5-minute acupuncture treatment. All enrolled patients had a history of severe anxiety prior ... [Read More]
Relaxation & stress reduction counseling reported to reduce breast cancer recurrence and improve survival
In a study (published in June 2010, in Clinical Cancer Research), investigators update the results of a fascinating experiment in which 227 breast cancer patients were randomly assigned to two groups: group 1 (received psychological interventions ... [Read More]
Social interaction (even over the phone) reduces the body’s response to stress
In a study (published in May 2010, in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.) investigators have demonstrated that social interaction (over the telephone) after a stressful event significantly decreases amount of stress hormones (cortisol) ... [Read More]