Inflammation and Its Role in Cancer  (from 2010)

In a recent copy of The Journal of Supportive Oncology – an article by Dr. Neil MacDonald- Professor of Oncology and Director McGill Cancer Nutrition and Rehabilitation Programme, McGill University Montreal Quebec Canada, covers the role inflammation plays in cancer.  “Chronic inflammation often acts as a tumor promoter, resulting in aggressive cancerous growth and spread.  Many of the same inflammatory factors that promote tumor growth also are responsible for cancer cachexia/anorexia, pain, debilitation, and shortened survival.  A compelling case may be made for mounting an attack on inflammation with other anticancer measures at initial diagnosis, with the consequent probability of improving both patient quality of life and survival.”

This is a welcomed article, considering that an overwhelming number of physicians maintain and promote quite the opposite position.  A patient who came for a thermal scan to evaluate her physiology, commented that her surgeon was angry when she wanted to “build her immune system” before committing to surgery for recently diagnosed breast cancer.  This surgeon was adamant that she not wait and building her immune system would not benefit her.  Obviously she felt it would help her in the long run.  But new evidence shows us that we need to evaluate the level of inflammation to determine the best course of action.

Dr. MacDonald comments that there are two schools of thought concerning immunity.  He refers to this as “friend or foe?” “Immune response to invasive tumor growth is highly nuanced; certain immune-defense patterns limit tumor progression, even in advanced disease.  Nevertheless, immunoreactive cells around the tumor (primarily part of the innate immune reaction) more likely are acting in malevolent alliance with malignant cells than exerting a defensive posture.  We are not helped when suppression cures to control the innate response are ineffectual and the system remains in the “on” position.  Evidence that this is happening includes the following.

Tumor-associated macrophages produce angiogenic factors and tissue proteases that promote development of the tumor blood supply and infiltration.

Stromal factors surrounding a tumor commonly promote an M2 macrophage reaction’ ie, one that does not involve an attack on the tumor. Rather, it is associated with a decreased M1 macrophage response, which may interfere with antitumor immunity.”

Dr. MacDonald goes on to say “chronic inflammation often acts as a tumor promoter, resulting in aggressive cancerous growth and spread.  Many of the same inflammatory factors promoting tumors also are responsible for the devastating symptoms that bedevil patients and their families, reducing quality of life and limiting independent function.”

Seeing this article improved my level of confidence when promoting thermal imaging.  Although many physicians are still ‘playing old tapes’ when it comes to knowledge of thermal imaging – “old technology – nonspecific etc., etc.” they are not thinking of what the potential thermal patterns can provide them. 

No disease is diagnosed with thermography.  Similarly – no disease is truly diagnosed with an x-ray.  There is often suspicion of the ‘presence’ of disease, but biopsy is needed to confirm.   Sadly when physicians only rely on structural imaging – there can be consequences.  A practitioner I met recently told me about a patient – who following treatment exhibited no thermal signal.  The MRI, however, was detecting ‘something’.  They elected to proceed with removal of the breast based on the MRI.  When the breast tissue was x-rayed following removal (a common procedure) there was no cancer present. It becomes a difficult situation.  If physiology says there is no action – do you wait and follow or do you proceed with a ‘safe’ alternative?  This woman will now statistically become one of those “cured”.  But actually – had benefited from the therapy – and surgery at that point was excessive action.  Some would argue for “better safe than sorry” and claim that in time the cancer would return. Sad that they second guess their own therapy.

Infrared imaging can easily detect the presence of inflammation.  It then becomes the job of the practitioner to determine the location and level of response.  But if we totally ignore the inflammatory markers that thermal detection displays – are we not missing