Summary of a lecture given by John Lee, MD, 2003
Based on the findings of the top 26 world-renowned experts in cancer research who presented their findings at a National Cancer Institute symposium in Washington, DC, in 1998, estrogen, in the form of estrone and/or estradiol, without the presence of progesterone to oppose or keep in check the stimulation of cell multiplication, was unanimously indicted as the cause of the vast majority of both breast and prostate cancer. The identified estrogenic mechanism of action, namely the “turning on” of the BCL 2 gene which causes cells to multiply abnormally, has been clearly established by these experts. The evidence was undeniable. An absence of or inadequate level of the hormone progesterone, caused by the use of oral contraceptives or the use of synthetic forms of estrogen used in HRT without progesterone, leads to “estrogen dominance,” or an imbalance between these two hormones. Progesterone, often called the “miracle hormone”, is needed in adequate amounts, both in men and in women, to “turn on” the P53 gene that signals cells to stop multiplying and die as they are designed to do. When progesterone is absent, or present in less than adequate amounts, “estrogen dominance” prevails, and the development of cancer is promoted. Half of all 35-year-old women in industrialized societies are no longer making adequate progesterone due to herbicide, pesticide, or other chemical exposure during their fetal stage of life, or the use of oral contraceptives which suppress ovulation, thereby stopping the production of the protective hormone, progesterone. This leaves women unprotected from the effects of estrogen, and therefore at much greater risk for the development of cancer.
Why were these ground-breaking findings NOT published, either by the media or by the major pharmaceutically-funded medical journals, like the Journal of the American Medical Association? For over 30 years, the pharmaceutical industry has enjoyed the massive profits generated by the various forms of estrogen, as are found in the birth control pill and Hormone Replacement Therapy offered to menopausal women to the tune of $8-10 billion annually. They have very successfully controlled the information that is reaching physicians so that their “cash cow” will not be threatened. Studies designed to prove the safety of these hormones are most often funded by the pharmaceutical companies that produce them, and the results are often skewed and presented in such a way that any bias is not easily discovered, especially by physicians who have not been trained to evaluate them, or are too busy to take the time to do this. The pharmaceutical companies most certainly do not want physicians to doubt the safety of these synthetic estrogens. The findings of this symposium were, however, published in lesser-known scientific journals that were not pharmaceutically funded, and therefore the vast majority of physicians are unaware of these findings. For this reason, physicians continue to prescribe various forms of estrogen to women who desire Hormone Replacement Therapy, and very seldom prescribe bioidentical progesterone, as clearly differentiated from synthetic progestins like Provera, to balance these estrogens, leaving women unbalanced and therefore unprotected. Women are unaware of the great risks involved in using both conventional HRT and the various forms of birth control that suppress the production of progesterone which has a critical role to play in breast cancer prevention.
Each day you make choices that have the ability to greatly reduce your risk for developing these cancers. Be pro-active. Cancer is largely preventable. Implement the following guidelines on a daily basis to protect yourself and your families.
- Eat a diet of whole, unprocessed
foods, not wrapped in plastic, or contaminated with preservatives or
additives. Eat only “clean” meats and animal
foods that have been produced naturally, without the use of added hormones or
herbicides/pesticides in the feed given to the animals. Eliminate refined
sugar, soda, excess coffee (more than 1 cup daily), and white flour from your
diet, all of which deplete your mineral stores.
Increase vegies to 4 or more cups daily.
Do NOT microwave your food. This intense energy destroys vital nutrients
in your food.
- Eat organically grown fruits and
vegies when possible, especially these “most toxic” that contain the highest levels
of herbicides/pesticides: apples, peaches,
nectarines, grapes, strawberries, celery, white potatoes, greens, sweet bell
and hot peppers, summer squash,
cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, spinach, kale, collard greens, lettuces.
- Do not drink water that contains
fluoride and/or chlorine, as these compete with iodine receptors and reduce the
amount of iodine absorbed. If your water
contains chlorine or fluoride, get a ceramic water filter from Clean Water
Revival (1-800-444-3563) to remove these from your water.
- Avoid the use of synthetic hormones as are
used in conventional HRT, and any form of birth control that puts synthetic estrogens
or progestins into your body. These will
suppress ovulation, thereby preventing your ovaries from making adequate
progesterone to balance your estrogen and protect you from abnormal cell growth
which can lead to cancer. If salivary
hormone testing has confirmed that you are in need of replacing estrogen, ask
your physician for one of the safe bioidentical forms known as “Bi-est” or
“Tri-est”, which can be compounded by your pharmacy. ALWAYS use bioidentical progesterone cream to
balance these estrogens unless you know that you are making adequate
progesterone. Refuse any prescription
for the drug Provera, which is a synthetic imitation of progesterone, and has
many serious risks and none of the cancer-protective benefits of bioidentcial
progesterone. Please note: ONLY salivary hormone testing can
give you a reliable ACTIVE hormone level.
Serum testing will not. This has
been known for over 30 years now, and salivary hormone testing is the
recommended from of testing used by the World Health Organization. It is inexpensive, and does not require a
physician’s order. You can go to www.virginiahopkinshealthwatch.com for information on ordering salivary
hormone test kits, or purchase them through our office.
- Have an annual physical exam and do
monthly breast exams at home. Have an
annual breast thermogram, available in our office, to identify suspicious areas
of inflammation before they become cancerous YEARS before a mammogram will
identify a tumor. In several large
studies, including one Canadian study of 15,000 women followed for 18 years,
mammography DID NOT reduce mortality from breast cancer. Finding a tumor 6 months earlier via
mammography when it has taken 8-10 years to grow offers no significant benefit,
and exposes the sensitive breast tissue to radiation that can cause cells to
become cancerous. This radiation is
cumulative in the breast tissue.
- Avoid using toxic insecticides in
your home, choosing safe forms from companies like “Gardens Alive”. Also avoid toxic cleaners, synthetic air
fresheners, personal care products, and fabric softeners that contain the words
“fragrance”, “petrolatum”, “paraben”, toluene, benzene, or propylene glycol.
These chemicals act like estrogen in the body, disrupt normal hormone function,
and are cumulative. Use only toluene and
benzene-free nail polish, as typical nail polish is highly toxic and estrogenic
in nature.
- Supplement your diet with adequate
levels of Vitamin D3 and iodine to ensure optimal thyroid and adrenal function. Most adults need a daily intake of
4,000-8,000 I.U. of Vitamin D3 daily, depending on body weight, to maintain a
25 OH Vitamin D level of 50 or above.
Iodine can be found in seaweed, but must be eaten regularly to provide
the body with adequate iodine. Many informed physicians who have researched the
use of iodine in clinical practice, including David Brownstein, MD,
endocrinologist Guy Abraham, MD, and Jonathan Wright, MD, realize the important
role of this critical element in the production of all steroidal hormones. Using the Iodine Loading Test, they have
discovered that we have an epidemic of iodine deficiency here in the United
States, as well as world-wide. They strongly advocate the use of supplemental
iodine/iodide to provide the body with 12-50 mg. daily, depending on the
results of the Iodine Loading Test, available from FFP Labs, and Haakala
Research.
- Avoid use of cellphones and computers
without the protection of a diode to eliminate EMF exposure. Diodes may be purchased from www.energpolarit.com.
- Do not allow amalgam fillings to be
placed in the mouth, as they contain 50-60% mercury which leaches out into the
body and is highly toxic. Also, avoid
root canals, as they as nearly impossible to fully sterilize and may provide a
haven for highly toxic bacteria that stress the immune system.
- Reduce stress by taking time daily to
exercise. This will also help to clear the body of accumulated toxins, and
maintain optimal cardiovascular health.
- Make lifestyle choices that reduce
your stress load. Excess daily stress compromises
the function of your adrenal glands, depletes your production of necessary
hormones including progesterone and thyroid hormone, all of which are necessary
for optimal immunity to disease. So slow
down, do less, and enjoy more! Celebrate
life each day for the wonderful gift that it is. Maintain a positive attitude as one of your
best defenses against cancer as well as all other degenerative disease.
- For further information, purchase
your own copy of “Hormone Balance Made Simple” and “What Your Doctor May Not
Tell You About Breast Cancer” by John Lee, MD, available from www.johnleemd.com, and “The Miracle of Natural
Hormones” and “Iodine: Why You Need It and Cannot Live Without It”, by David
Brownstein, MD, available from www.drbrownstein.com.
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