Cancer is the disruption of the orderly and regulated cycle
of cell replication and division under the control of our genes.
This is a brief outline of the presently held cause of this modern pandemic. “Control of our
genes” has been attributed to our DNA. Any disruption with this process, must therefor lie with
the DNA. The ‘faulty DNA’ model is the only theory put forward to explain this disruption of
the orderly regulated cycle. It has not been necessary to label this as an hypothesis, since no other
theories have been put forward. Thus, it has been bequeathed that this disruption of the cell
reproduction was the result of faulty DNA. Thus, all efforts for the last 130 years have been
concentrated on determining what is causing the DNA in some individuals to go astray. Various
links to lifestyle, genetics, and environmental contaminants (carcinogens), have all been
proposed as possible explanations. Yet as the lists of possible explanations grows larger, there
appears to be no reduction in the amounts of patients acquiring some form of cancer. It would be
expected that as our knowledge increases as to which carcinogens we need to avoid, and which
behaviors we need to adopt or promote to reduce our risk to cancer , the resulting number of
cancer cases should be on the decline. Yet the percentage of people who can expect to have to
deal with some form of cancer in their lifetime, is regrettably, still on the rise.
A competing hypothesis to the original DNA model for explaining cancer may be what is
required to break from these disheartening statistics.
There are two distinct procedures from which a cell can be reproduced. The first method is the
abundantly studied method in which the cell replicates itself as outlined within that cell’s DNA.
The second method is a slightly altered procedure, whereas the cell replacement is being
generated by factors outside of the individual cell. The body’s own immune system is sent to
rapidly reproduce the surrounding tissues in an endeavor to heal over an area by way of ‘scar
tissue’. A clinical definition is as follows:
Scar tissue formation is a ubiquitous feature of adult wound healing, with the resulting
repair both functionally and cosmetically inferior to normal skin. At microscopic level,
the main difference between scar and normal tissue is in the alignment pattern of the
collagen fibers of which they are composed.
www.google.com final report on Grant GR/K71394
Mathematical Model of Scar Tissue
This excerpt , in addition to substantiating that there are indeed two distinct ways in which a cell
can be reproduced, also proclaims that the second method (scar tissue) is ‘inferior’ to the primary
method of cell reproduction. The primary method has become the most understood way of the
cell replicating itself as outlined in the cell’s DNA code, which is referred to above as ‘normal’
cell replacement. But the secondary, less obvious, and less understood process also exists. This
second means of cell replacement (scar tissue) is described as “functionally and cosmetically
inferior”. Both, the rapid growth, and the inferior quality of tissues, are two attributes shared by
tissues manufactured by the immune system. But note also that these attributes are commonly
applied to tissues manufactured by cancer cells. These inferior qualities, and the non alignment of
collagen fibers, are not attributed to the DNA method of cell replacement.( Note that the purpose
of a Burn Unit is to hinder the bodies tendency to rapidly heal over the burned area with scar
tissue, when the trauma of a burn has set off this immune response. The procedure of
continuously changing gausses in a sterile environment, allows the slower process of natural cell
replacement to be granted enough time to heal the area with the cosmetically superior, collagen
aligned tissues.)
When we investigate the immune system more closely, we notice that it actually has three
distinct components;
i) to ‘identify’ foreign antigens that are deemed to be ‘enemies of the body’
ii) to ‘destroy’ these enemies of the body; and
iii) to ‘repair’ any damage that may have occurred during this onslaught.
The function of this article is to focus on the ‘repair’ aspect of the immune system, which
expressed simply, is the bodies ability to promote rapid cell division (the formation of scar
tissue) to quickly heal over breaks, wounds or openings in the skin, in order to reduce blood loss,
and avoid foreign antigens from entering the body by way of this new opening. The unwanted
cell division and manufacture of tissue that we presently call ‘cancer’ could possibly be
generated from this secondary source. The immune system can make scar tissue by dividing cells
from tissues other then the skin cells. The immune system repairs broken bones by rapidly
stimulating the regeneration of bone mass at the break site. Similarly, muscle tissue, tendons, or
cartilage tissue can undergo this immune systems rapid repair process. Again this scar tissue is
different from the original tissue (cosmetically and functionally inferior). In fact, the body has
over 200 different types of cells, so in theory there could be, and probably are, over 200 different
types of scar tissue.
The mechanism that starts this process is not yet fully understood, but it is known to be triggered
when the body experiences some form of trauma. Obviously; once this process has been started,
there must also be a mechanism in place to inform the body of when the healing process has
been completed. That is to say, the body must be made to know when the rapid formation of scar
tissue is no longer required, so that the immune system can cease this elevated activity, and
restore itself to the level of activity that existed prior to the trauma. It does not require too much
imagination to realize that the inability to shut off this ‘repair process’, would result in a
situation comparable to that which we presently attribute to cancer. For example, a trauma to the
breast would trigger the immune response of repairing any tissues that may have been damaged.
If the immune system lacked the ability to know when this process was completed, it would go
on to repair the tissues in the breast, and a tumor resembling the scar tissue process (firmer
density, different collagen alignment, different pigment, etc.) would be the result. Similarly, if a
faulty immune system were to commence this healing process without there first being a
requirement for it, (a fault in the ‘identify’ process) then this too would result in an activity that
would be indistinguishable from our present definition of cancer.
Since there are two distinct ways in which a cell can be reproduced, it is only prudent that we
consider both of these scenarios as possible explanations for when something going wrong. Thus
far, only the DNA model has been investigated as being the cause of this affliction.
The term ‘cancer’ refers to a group of diseases. All of these diseases have one thing in
common which is the non-required growth of cells. If it is a single flaw that is causing this
non-required growth, then it would be logical to expect that by fixing the flaw, we could stop all
of this non-required growth of cells. If the growth is not caused by a single flaw, then a single
solution should not be expected. The journey must start with finding one flaw that causes this
non-required growth. If it does not end there, then the journey must continue. The last hundred
years have been spent looking for a flaw in the cell’s DNA. The DNA is thought to be
responsible for this non-required growth. We have not been able to find the flaw in the DNA. We
need to now look at the second method, which is the formation of scar tissue, and the
accompanying inflammation (which is the ‘lifeblood’ to support the existence of these newly
acquired cells),as a possible means for this non-requested growth. Both the rapid growth of
inferior tissue, and the accompanying inflammation, are functions of the immune system.
If a single solution can not be found that cures all cancer, then perhaps we should be content with
finding a solution for one cancer, and then proceed from there. With over 150 different types of
cancer, there could be 150 different solutions. But this would imply that we are 150 times as
likely to stumble onto one of them. It becomes harder to imagine that 150 potential solutions
have eluded use for over 100 years of searching. For this reason, I believe that there is but one
underlying flaw that is responsible for all of this non-required growth that we call cancer. And it
will continue to elude us so long as our search is confined to looking only at our DNA as the root
problem.
The immune system has in its arsenal, the ability to inflame an area with increased blood flow,
as it stimulates the neighboring cells into rapidly reproducing themselves. It is known that this
process is set in motion when the body experiences some form of trauma. When we can readily
observe scar tissue, as in the case of skin surface scars, we can immediately detect that this is an
altered form from that of the surrounding tissue. Because it was manufactured rapidly, and by a
different process than that of normal tissue replacement (normal cell division, as outlined in that
cell’s DNA), it has different characteristics. For example, scar tissue made from skin cells has a
distinct appearance with a smoother surface, firmer density, (described as a waxy appearance)
and a different pigment from that of the surrounding tissue.
The easiest cancers to observe this phenomenon are the surface cancers. Basil Cell Carcinoma
has all of the characteristics of scar tissue, and the same words are used in its definition (smother,
denser, waxy.). This common skin cancer could conversely be described as a slow formation of
scar tissue that is both unnecessary, and unyielding. This cancer is not considered to be a
dangerous cancer because it is slow growing and easily removed surgically. Using this new
model, we could regard this cancer to be different in that; although it has the cell division
element, it does not have the accompanying blood supply (inflammation) which is necessary to
support the existence of these newly formed cells. Note that the shape of the basil cell carcinoma
would indicate that it can only grow to a size that can be supported by the existing blood supply,
and as it grows, the center cells cannot receive oxygen or nutrients, and as a result, these center
cells die off, leaving a hollow in the middle. If this tumor were to have its own blood supply
(inflammation), it would become considerably more dangerous.
Both the ‘DNA theory’, and this ‘Scar Tissue theory’ are able to adequately account for the
cancer cells having shared characteristics from the ‘host’ cells, however the latter theory becomes
much more complex by virtue of the fact that it must also account for the modification of the
existing blood supply. The ‘Scare Tissue theory’, is not required to account for the accompanying
increased blood supply, because the same elements that brought about the reproduction of the
cells, also caused the accompanying blood supply (inflammation). Both of these events are
normal functions of the immune system responding to a trauma. The DNA theory, must further
account for the presence of the accompanying blood flow to support the life of these newly
generated cells. With the billions of cells in the human body, it is conceivable to hypothesize
how the DNA of some of these individual cell might go astray, and start to reproduce themselves
repeatedly. But this event would be limited to grow only to the size that could be supported by
the existing blood supply. It should yield a ‘pea’ sized growth. If this chain of events were to
occur, the first step would be the cell replicating itself. Using the Law of Averages, it is
reasonable to expect that there would be a number of occurrences in which this chain of events
started, but did not complete itself. That is to say, there should be occurrences in which the cell
did reproduce itself, but the accompanying blood supply did not transpire. There should be
hundreds, or perhaps thousands of cases of these ‘pea’ sized tumors for every case that advances
to full scale cancer (cell division accompanied with a modified blood supply).
The scientific community acknowledges the need to address the blood supply issue, and with
great difficulty they have postulated a complex chain of events that is both mathematically and
logically absurd. We are told that these cancer cells take on an ‘immortal’ status, and acquire the
ability to ‘disguise’ themselves, and ‘recruit allies’ in there defense, and a multitude of other
special powers that are attributed only to cancer cells. When you examine this supernatural chain
of events, and the obstacles that the cancer must overcome, and the safeguards that are in place to
prevent these occurrences from happening the way they are described, you would wonder about
the mathematical likelihood of this occurring even once. It requires much less credence to simply
hold that the immune system is causing the lawless proliferation of growth, (since it is its job to
do so,) and the immune system is also supplying the essential blood supply to support this new
growth, by way of ‘inflammation’(again, since it is its job to do so.). If we make this simple
adjustment in our model for explaining cancer, (by taking the blame away from the individual
cell’s DNA, and placing the blame on the immune system as a whole, or more specifically, the
repair and/or identify aspects of our immune system,) then we simplify things immensely. This
phenomena then becomes a candidate to apply ‘Ockham’s razor’. Why employ a complex set of
beliefs when a simple explanation already exists? Unexplainable events become, for the first time
explainable.
We now will not have to address why the immune system makes no attempts at attacking the
cancer cells. If the cancer were to be shown to be a legitimate product of a defective immune
system, we would not expect these cells to be attacked. (It should be included here that the only
occasion in which our immune system permits any non-legitimate cells to coexist in its domain,
is when the foreign cells are from an identical twin.)
The belief that cancer cells somehow become unrecognizable by the immune system is a
necessary stratagem of the present DNA theory. But there are no occurrences of this
‘unrecognizable’ phenomena in nature. To give credence to the concept that some cells are
unrecognizable to the immune system, we could phrase this phenomena to read; “ cells from an
identical twin are unrecognizable to the immune system.” We would then have at least one
natural occurrence of this ‘unrecognizable’ phenomenon. But this begs the question, Why? The
answer I believe is intuitive. These cells go unrecognized because they have the same
characteristics as the bodies own cells, and therefor the immune system lacks the ability to
distinguish these foreign cells from the body’s own cells. Therefore it could be concluded that
since cancer cells are also treated in a like manor to cells that are not recognized as being
different, then they too are deemed to be not foreign. To say that they are not foreign, is
equivalent to saying that they are domestic, or rather, a legitimate part of the body. If there were
other occurrences in which living cells were granted the same privileges as the cancer cells, then
this conclusion would not be as incontestable. Since there are no other occurrences (outside of an
identical twin) in which this phenomena can be observed to occur, then I feel that this conclusion
is warranted, namely that cancer cells are a legitimate product of the body, and their function
(stimulating cell reproduction) asserts that they are a part of our immune system. If we grant this
point, then we avoid the burden of having to explain why our immune systems leave the cancer
cells alone. Similarly, we would no longer have to account for how cancer manages to travel
throughout the body and take up residence in a new location, without being detected or
encountering resistance along its route. If we accept the cancer cell as being a legitimate body
cell, all these perplexing problems go away. We would no longer have to consider how cancer
spreads from one cell to another, or how it overcomes the multitude of safeguards that the body
has in place to prevent the sporadic mutation of cells, and the proliferation of this event into
neighboring cells. Cancer becomes much simpler (and mathematically feasible ) when we adapt
this new framework.
Under this new theory, we would view cancer cells as an integral part of the immune system,
similar in nature to the B cells , T cells or natural killer cells, but with a different function.
Whereas the B cells are involved in the ‘identify’ process, and the T cells and natural killer cells
are involved in the ‘destroy’ process, the cancer cells function is in the ‘repair’ aspect of the
immune system, specifically the formation of scar tissues. It copies the surrounding tissue, and
then making copies of the copies, until the wound is impervious. With over 200 different types of
cells, there would therefore be a potential for that many different cancer types. To date, just over
150 cancers have been documented. If we use this new model to describe Proteus Syndrome (i.e..
Joseph Merrick known as the Elephant Man) as the immune system starting to relentlessly
reproduce the bone mass in some individuals, then this too might be categorized as a cancer. I
believe that the same elements are at work that cause this disease as are any cancerous tumors.
But because this disease effects the skeletal system , and has no adverse effect on any vital
organs, or their blood supply, it has never resulted in a direct cause of death, and therefore has
avoided being labeled as a cancer. Another disease that I believe has avoided the classification
are some forms of heart disease and strokes. It is reasonable to expect from what we know about
cancer, that there should be incidents of ‘heart cancer’. The heart is a vital organ with access to
an unlimited blood supply, just as the liver, pancreas, lung etc. yet we never hear, nor have we
needed the term ‘heart cancer’. Using this new model, I would deduce that the same element
exist in heart disease, as in cancer. Hardening of the arteries would be accounted for by the
immune system relentlessly repairing the cells of the artery walls with the formation of scar
tissue, causing restrictions in the blood flow due to the changed dimensions. Scaring can be
observed in many heart attack victims. Postmortem’s and biopsies of heart attack victims have
shown that there is both fat and fibrosis (scar tissue) replacing the muscle cells in the heart. Often
a patient can be identified as having suffered a heart attack by observing scaring of the heart
tissue, even if the patient is not aware that he or she has had a heart attack. For the patient to be
unaware, implies that the heart attack in some instances is an ongoing ‘process’ and not a single
‘event’. If the immune system started to repair the muscle tissue of the heart, and replace these
muscle cells with fibrosis that could not perform the same function, then this would be an
ongoing process that would likely go undetected until the heart was no longer capable of
performing its function. If the heart attack victim is rushed into the operating room and the chest
cavity is opened, the surgeon will be able to observe the scarring. But note that scarring is not an
instantaneous process. The heart attack did not cause the scar tissue. There has not been enough
time laps for this to occur. But rather, the scar tissue caused the heart attack. And the immune
system caused the scar tissue. A long drawn out fight with the disease is unlikely because any
blockage or restrictions caused by the scar tissue will have immediate and severe consequences.
It is of interest to note that myocardial infarction (heart attacks) were rare at the start of the
twentieth century; as was cancer. According to the U.S. Bureau of Census, heart attacks caused
less then three thousand deaths in the United States as late as the year 1930. Your lifetime risk of
developing heart disease now is one in two if you are male and one in three if you are female. It
would therefore be logical to entertain the possibility that whatever is causing our cancer
statistics to skyrocket, might also be contributing to, or causing these escalating heart disease
statistics. If we adapt this new ‘scar tissue theory ‘, then both of these anomalies become grouped
together, and could perhaps be construed as one disease.
One could point out that cancer activity can be clinically observed. If it were in fact, a normal
body function, then why does it shows up on tests designed to indicate cancerous activity? In
most cases, the cancer tests show thermal heat being generated. This “heat” being generated, is
then interpreted as the immune system battling with the foreign carcinogen that is believed to be
causing the cancer.( This becomes a bit of a contradiction when you consider that we are told the
cancer cells go undetected and avoid a response from our immune system, and yet show up as a
thermal image on tests which is then interpreted as a battle with our immune system. As to why
this ‘battle’ did not take place previously while the carcinogen journeyed to the present post, is
dismissed as a ‘mystery’.) However; it could be viewed that this ‘heat’ is not from a fight, but
rather, a bi-product of the unauthorized work that is taking place by this arm of the immune
system; namely the cancer cells stimulating the rapid cell division and inflaming the area with
increased blood flow (the lifeblood of these new cells that are being created.). If there were no
activity, the area would operate at body temperature, and register as cold (not register). It is never
observed that a foreign antigen is present. Every cell that can be observed in the cancerous area is
legitimate. Yet the present explanation for cancer is that some foreign type of antigen has
traveled to this location and is causing the DNA of these cells to lawlessly divide. But neither of
these phenomena (the antigen or the cancer cells themselves) has ever been observed as it flows
through the body. The cancer activity can only be observed when it takes up residency and starts
to inflame and stimulate the cell division in a new area. Under the DNA model, if this ‘heat’ was
in fact the immune system objecting to the presence of a foreign carcinogen, then we could
expect to be able to follow this reaction (between the carcinogen and the immune system
objecting to its presence) along its route, and not just when it materializes at a new site. A
pertinent question to ask is; why would the immune system wait until this carcinogen stopped at
a location in the body, before it begins to object to the carcinogen’s presence? The inability to
explain why cancer can travel undetected, is a major defect in the present DNA model. It is not
reasonable to accept that the carcinogen too, is given the same superpowers and abilities that are
awarded to the cancer cells themselves, in order to avoid detection. The DNA model does not
address this anomaly. In fact, when you probe more deeply, one must question the need for a
‘cancer cell’ at all in the DNA model. If the foreign carcinogen is causing the proliferation of the
cell’s DNA to suddenly mutate itself over and over, then what is the role for the cancer cell? This
tumor growth has already been accounted for. The existence of the cancer cells is acknowledged,
only because they can be observed. As to why the cancer cells are there, the present DNA model
has recognized that they have always been there, and they are in all of us. Under the DNA model,
the reason for the cancer cell is not fully explained. They are only attributed with the task of
spreading this DNA flaw to the surrounding tissue cells. This appears to be merely an
acknowledgment that the cancer cell exists, and then assigning it with a function. Is there a
difference between the cancer cell, whose presence and existence has not fully been accounted
for, and the repair aspect of the immune system, whose presence and existence can fully been
accounted for? The immune system is a legitimate part of the body with a specific function. The
cancer cell is reluctantly also acknowledged as legitimate (because to account for how it
spontaneously came into being without being able to say that it always was there, is too
incomprehensible), and then also reluctantly assigned a function. The cancer cell is deemed to be
fulfilling the same function as the repair aspect of the immune system. If there is no distinction,
then there is no need for both terms. We could therefor use the term ‘cancer’ to represent
something going wrong with the ‘repair aspect of our immune system. (Specifically, when the
system fails to first ascertain that a repair is required, or when the system fails to ascertain that a
repair has been completed and therefor no longer required.) When the immune system starts to
relentlessly divide the surrounding tissues, without this event first being deemed to be necessary,
then this would become a phenomenon that would be labeled as cancer. If it repairs a wound, and
relentlessly fails to stop, then this too is cancer.
This phenomenon can be observed in thyroid cancer patients. Often the thyroid is completely
removed, yet the patient has recurrences of tumor growth at the site previously occupied by the
thyroid. The most plausible explanation for this is that, after the faulty immune system has healed
over the surgical cut made to remove the thyroid, it simply does not stop repairing the tissues at
this site and as a result, there is the formation of a new tumor made solely of fibrosis tissues
(since the thyroid tissue had previously been removed). These tumors cannot be detected by the
iodine method which was used to detect the original thyroid cancer, because the fibrous scar
tissue has different properties then the thyroid tissue, and no longer has the distinct ability to
absorb iodine. The failure of the radioactive iodine to detect this new growth is further proof that
this is not a reoccurrence of the original thyroid cancer. Using the DNA theory, it would be
expected that the thyroid tumor should have the same characteristics as the host cells. That is to
say, the cancer tissue at this site should still absorb iodine, if the DNA caused the host cells to
lawlessly reproduce themselves. This is a continuation of the faulty immune system which has
not been addressed by surgically removing the thyroid. Note that it was earlier pointed out that
the present DNA model holds that a foreign antigen had caused this lawless proliferation of cells.
Under the present DNA model, it can be appreciated that the objective for removing the tumor,
is to rid the body of the offending cancer cells and any carcinogens that might be at the site as
well. This objective can only be achieved so long as the premise holds true that the cancer cells
that are causing the tumor are contained within the boundaries of the tumor. If the tumor tissues
contain the cancer cells that made them, then by removing these tissues, should result in the
patient being cured, and with the same future prognosis as someone whom had never acquired
the disease. Unfortunately the evidence does not support this optimistic expectation, and gives
rise to questioning the original premise; which holds that the cancer is contained within the cells
of the tumor itself.
When medical professionals discovers an active tumor being produced, they may opt to
surgically remove the tumor and the offending cancer cells that made it (excision biopsy). As this
radical surgery has not yielded the desired success rates, the medical profession has expanded the
scope of the surgery to include the surrounding tissues (margin), believing that this tissue might
contain some adrift cancer cells as well. They test this removed tissue and may confirm that it too
was cancerous. They then close up the wound and hope that they have managed to remove all of
the cancerous tissue. Now they must wait until the immune system has had time to heal up the
surgical wound before testing the area, because the activity of the inflammatory nature of the
healing process will read as ‘hot’. We then have the defective immune system, (which may one
day be shown to have caused the tumor to begin with,) being invited back to the site, and being
expected to heal up this surgical cut. Healing is what the immune system does. Therefore, this is
an exercise for it. Often, the immune system heals over the surgery and then stops. The surgery
was a success. Sometimes, however; the immune system doesn’t get the message to stop. The
immune system continues to produce scar tissue, and rapidly divide the adjoining tissues without
receiving the message to ‘reset’ itself to the conditions that existed prior to the trauma of the
surgery. The poor surgeon is mystified that he or she could have missed some of the cancer cells,
and now they appear to have merely taken up where they left off. This patient, now rid of the
offending tissues, should mathematically be given the same bill of health as a non patient. But
unfortunately the statistics do not support this. Quite often, the cancer patients who undergo
surgery, have recurrences at the original site. If the cancer recurs at another location, then the
surgery would be statistically labeled as a success. Even with this clemency being granted, the
statistics for the surgery are not too favorable. The apparent failure of the surgery has given birth
to the suspicions that exposing the cancerous tissue to the air, helps it to spread. Or exposing the
cancer to the light of the Operating Room, perhaps, is what causes it to flourish. Exposing the
cancer to the light and air is a byproduct of the fact that these cells have been operated on, and as
a result, the immune system is re-invited back to the region to repair the surgical wound. The
suppositions that the light or air has anything to do with any reoccurrence can be dismissed
because surgeries that are performed on patients who have not been diagnosed with cancer, are
not subject to similar reoccurrence of tumors, despite also being subjected to the light and air,
and even the supporters of the DNA model, acknowledge that cancer cells are in all of us (
because the ‘spontaneous existence of matter’ is a hard sell). If we were to attribute this reaction
to the light and/or air as yet another mystical feature enjoyed only by cancer cells, we would still
need to account for why every surgery was not subject to the same level of reoccurrence. The non
cancerous patient has a properly functioning immune system which still has the ability of
knowing when to stop the healing process. The cancer patient does not. In the cases of cancer
patients, since the immune system may have already shown to be defective, it should not be
surprising to find out that sometimes it does turn out to relentlessly continue the healing process
and in so doing, inflict the area with a new cluster of cancerous activity, despite how diligent and
careful the surgeon had performed.
Biopsies are tests that examine the cell structure at a tumor site. From the removed cells the
medical professional can determine whether this tissue is currently undergoing non requested cell
division, or whether it had previously undergone cell division. Cold-Hot ; Inactive-active;
benign-malignant. These are the differences between non life-threatening benign tumors, and
life-threatening malignant tumors, specifically one is active (cancerous) and one is benign (scar
tissue). The benign scar tissue has already been manufactured by the immune system, and is now
dormant. Scarring can be observed on the lungs, heart, liver or anywhere that cancer can be
observed. Everyone freely accepts that the inactive scar tissue was previously manufactured by
the immune system. It should therefore be easy to accept that cancer, or active scar tissue, or
perhaps ‘runaway scar tissue’, is currently being manufactured by the immune system, though be
it a defective one. The immune system accepts this benign tumor (or malignant tumor, if it is
currently undergoing development) as part of the ‘self’, because it possesses all the
characteristics of the legitimate body cells. This point could also be used to explain why the
bodies own immune system is useless against fighting cancer, which in turn makes sense of the
fact that all attempts to employ the immune system into attacking the cancer cells have thus far
failed. The cancer cells that created the tumor, and then stopped, have either been reclaimed by
the immune system, and may function normally in the future, or they may resume there non-
requested work in the future, or perhaps travel to another part of the body and start to stimulate
cell division at a new location.
When the immune system is healthy and functioning properly, these cancer cells are kept in
check and in harmonious balance with the rest of the system (identify and destroy), so most of us
live out our lives oblivious to their presence. It is only when something goes astray that we come
to know of their existence. Thus, cancer cells have the connotation of being ‘bad’.
This model does not yet attempt to account for the various forms of cancer that a defective
immune system may opt to take. Why does the defective immune system start to randomly
multiply the tissues of the breast in some individuals, and the lung tissue in others? In order for
us to address this anomaly, we need to recognize that there are different types of tissues in the
body, and the observable data supports that some of these tissue types are easier then others for a
defective immune system to stimulate into unnecessary formation of scar tissue. The evidence
tends to support that there is a hierarchy amongst tissue types. The evidence also tends to support
that the cancer activity takes place where the immune system happens to be located.
The immune system is free to be located throughout the body. However, due to its function it
tends to be in higher concentrations on the surface and near body orifices in adults. The immune
system is designed to protect the body from foreign antigens (carcinogens). A carcinogen can
enter the body in one of two possible ways, either through the epidermis (skin), or through an
opening in the epidermis. The epidermis is the body’s largest organ, and the immune system
must be located throughout this organ to defend the body from carcinogens that try to enter by
way of this route. In many cultures, skin cancer is the #1 form of cancer. If a carcinogen is to
enter the body, and cannot do so by way of the skin, it must then do so by way of one of the
bodies orifices. When you consider that the lungs are subjected to the outside world with every
breath that we take, it would be understandable that this organ, too would require an intense
presence of the immune system’s arsenal of defenses. The lung takes its rightful place in the #2
position of likely locations for cancerous activity. We then move down the list of the various
body orifices, all of which require defending by the immune system. Another tissue type that has
shown to be amongst the easier tissues to mutate is the mucus membrane tissue. These tissues are
located throughout the body, yet it is not located arbitrarily throughout the body. Notice that
polyps that grow out of the mucus membrane tissue, only grow on this specialized tissues that are
always located adjacent to a body orifice. All of the body orifices have adjacent mucus
membrane tissues which house the immune systems defense mechanism (‘T’ cells, ‘B’ cells,
natural Killer cells etc.). The existence of polyps is often observed at these sites (adjacent to body
orifices, we find Colon polyps, Esophageal polyps, Endometrial polyps, nasal polyps etc.). I am
not clear as to whether these polyps are normal immune system tools, or a sign of something
going amiss. Different cultures have different rankings as to the various cancer types associated
with the various orifices, however there is a noticeable correlation between cancer and the
positioning of the immune systems defense mechanisms. To illustrate this orifice correlation, let
us consider the breast. The female breast is not an orifice to the outside world until the woman
reaches puberty. Thus this portal does not require an immune system defense until this time. This
is precisely why pre-pubescent breast cancer is as scarce as male breast cancer. Once the woman
reaches adulthood, however, this new orifice requires the presence of the immune systems
defense mechanism as much as the other orifices. It is worth mentioning that oral contraceptives
have been linked to breast cancer. Oral contraceptives are a method of birth control that works by
chemically ‘tricking’ the body into not ovulating by supplying hormones that cause the body to
behave as though it were already pregnant. When the body behaves as though it is pregnant, it
makes a number of changes, one of which is to prepare the breast for nursing. This then becomes
an orifice that requires a defense strategy from the immune system, because it is now a new
portal to the outside world. If the immune system is defective, and takes up residency at this new
location, then by using this model, we can now understand how the oral contraceptive could have
‘caused ‘ the breast cancer. This relationship can not be explained using the DNA model.
If cancer was a disease of the cell losing the ability to replicate itself in a controlled manor, then
we would expect to see uniformity between the cancer tumor and the parent cells that had lost
this ability to replicate themselves in a controlled manner. We should not expect to see
uniformity between cancers themselves, if this uniformity did not first exist between the
parenting cells. But Warburg, while studying the metabolism of tumors, noted that “cancers of
various species and tissue origins reveal a high uniformity from tumor to tumor.” Warburg, O.:
Stoffwechsel d. Tumore, Springer, Berlin, 1926. Engl. edn., The Metabolism of Tumors, tr. F. Dickens, London, 1930.
In fact there have been numerous studies all of which point to a number of parities between
cancer tumors of all types. “Correlatively, the Coris find the lactic acid and sugar content of the
various exhibitions of cancer to be highly uniform. Williams and his co-workers report a
pronounced degree of uniformity in the concentration of eight B vitamins in a great variety of
animal and human tumors, regardless of the tissue of origin or the manner of their induction.”
Cori, C.F., and Cori, C.J.:J. Biol. Chem., 64:11, 1925
“Shack describes an almost complete uniformity in cytochrome oxidase content in a number of
mouse tumors.” Shack, J.: J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 3:389, 1943
“Maver and Barrett describe substantial evidence for an immunological uniformity among
malignant tumors. Greenstein reports an impressive degree of uniformity in enzyme
concentration among malignant tissues, regardless of their means of induction, tissue of origin or
species of origin.” Greenstein, J.P.: Symposium on Cancer, A.A.A.S. Research Conference on Cancer, ed. F.R.Moulton, Am. Assoc.
Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C., 1945, p. 192
“The uniformity of various exhibitions of cancer in respiratory properties, lactic acid production,
vitamin content, enzyme content, action on a given substrate, effect on liver catalase, cytochrome
oxidase content immunological properties, and many other characteristics is correlative to an
uniformity of malignant tumors in the ability to metastasize, in their amenability to
heterotransplantability, and in their autonomy, invasiveness and erosiveness. Indeed, there is no
known basic property unique to any single exhibition of cancer---the only variation being a
morphological one partially conditioned by admixed benign or somatic components.” Cancer and the
Immune System The Vital Connection
After considering all the above quotations, a fair question to be asked is, “Why is there such
uniformity between cancer tissues from tumor to tumor?” Another question that comes to mind
is, ” If a fault in the DNA is causing this tissue growth, why is the cancer cell even
distinguishable from the normal cell?”
If on the other hand, we consider the growth of cancerous tissues to be a product of a faulty
immune system, then the answer to both of these questions becomes self evident. The cancer cell
is distinguishable from the normal cell because it was manufactured by a different process then
‘normal cell replacement’. Similarly, if all of these tissues have been stimulated into reproduction
by the same immune system process, then it would be anticipated that there would be much
uniformity between the various cancers. Since it is the case that there is such uniformity, then it
ought to follow that all of this tissue reproduction is being produced by a single method that
would appear to be independent of the cells themselves.
The internal organs that do not have a direct association with a body orifice, have rates of cancer
that are far down the list of likely tissues to come under attack from cancerous activity. This is
understandable using this new model when we consider that the immune system would have a
smaller presence at these locations. This phenomena can be best observed by studying childhood
cancers. We need to also recognize that the immune system would exist in infants, but would
have to be located deep inside the infant, as any presence of the immune system that were located
on the surface, would be forced by design to attack the foreign tissues that surrounded it in the
womb.(Recall that the only instance when the immune system accepts the existence of a foreign
cell, is when it is from an identical twin. Thus even the surrounding tissues of the womb would
be subject to rejection. The mothers system produced the cells of the fetus, so these would not be
identified as foreign.) It could also be that there is no call for the immune system at the surface of
newborns because the mothers immune system has previously dealt with any and all foreign
antigens. In either case, it appears that the immune system is not located on the surface of an
infant, but has a tendency to ‘migrate’ from the center of the trunk of the body at birth, to the
perimeter (skin and orifices) as the immune system develops. This helps to explain why there is a
list of over one hundred rare cancers that, for the most part have only been observed in children.
Infants and toddlers have an immune system that is both undeveloped, and not yet assigned
specific functions. This undeveloped immune system would not have a tendency to be directed
towards any specific tissues at the beginning of the child’s life. If a defective immune system
were to exist in this child, and the immune system were not located on the surface, it would be
expected to arbitrarily start to reproduce any tissue that it came into contact with. This would
account for the list of over one hundred bizarre names of tissue types that can come under attack
only in childhood cancer cases. As toddlers become older, this long list of bizarre names
becomes shorter, and the tissue types that can come under attack become more refined.
Eventually the list of over one hundred is reduced to a shorter list of familiar sounding names,
and eventually the majority of all childhood cancers fall into one of two categories; leukemia, or
brain tumors. (Note that the childhood cancers still do not have the orifice association that is
prevalent in adult cancers.)
(I will address how leukemia and brain cancer fit into this theory later.)
DNA defects could play a role in the immune systems of some individuals being more prone to
defect then others. However, if this was a genetic defect, I would expect it to be self correcting,
by causing the carriers of the defect to parish prior to being of age to reproduce themselves. Since
cancer appears to be more of a modern epidemic, I tend to lean towards the belief that it is
something that we are doing to ourselves in modern times that is causing it (specifically, this
modern tendency to ‘assist’ our immune systems with the numerous pharmaceuticals available
primarily to the western world.).
We now need to modify this new model to include a provision that points out that cancer
appears to be an ‘opportunistic disease’(2*). That is to say, the immune system will ‘pick- on’ or
stimulate the tissue that it finds to be the easiest tissue to do so with. This revision allows us to
move on to understand many of the other anomalies surrounding this disease. We can now look
at the various links (environmental links; lifestyle links; heredity links; etc.) as carcinogens that
either promote a tissue type towards being the easiest tissue from which the defective immune
system can operate on, or the link may demote a certain tissue away from being the likely
candidate from which the defective immune system can operate. Tobacco smoke, or asbestos
dust have been linked to cancer of the mouth, esophagus and lung. Using this new model we can
view these tissues as having been chemically weakened by these carcinogens, and now represent
the easiest forms of tissue that this individual is in possession of. If this individual also possesses
the requisite faulty immune system, then this person will get cancer, and it will be cancer of one
or more of these weakened tissues. Conversely, a high fiber diet has been linked to a decrease in
the number of colon, prostate and bowel cancer patients. Using this new model we can view the
high fiber diet as having physically strengthened the tissues in this region away from being the
easiest tissue from which the defective immune system can operate.
This hierarchy of tissue types tends to show that our melanin cells appears to be one of the easiest
cells from which a defective immune system can wreck havoc. One of the best ways to
demonstrate this principle, is to look closely at malignant melanoma (3*)
One of the most bizarre anomalies in my opinion, is in regards to melanoma. Melanoma has been
linked to sun damage, and yet it is less prevalent in the tropical regions of the globe. Dark
skinned races seldom acquire this or any form of skin cancer, and yet skin cancers are the most
prevalent form of cancer. In the rare cases in which a dark skinned person does acquire
melanoma, it will be under the fingernails, on the palms of the hand, sole of the feet, or inside the
mouth. These areas are surface tissues that do not posses the darker pigment, and due to their
location, these cases of cancer could not be caused by sun damage. Those regions closest to the
equator, have people whose skin has evolved or adapted to the more intense sunlight. Their
darker skin is a consequence of the human melanin cells having adapted to convert the sunlight’s
harmful ultraviolet waves, into harmless heat waves. Thus, the people who reside in the tropical
regions of the globe, have skin that has already adapted to a harmful attack (ultraviolet waves)
and therefore, using this new model, we can view these cells as no longer being the easiest cells
for the opportunistic cancer to ‘pick on’. People in the tropical regions who do posses defective
immune systems will find that they have cells other then their melanin, which are easier for their
immune system to stimulate. But if the cancer does favor the melanin cells in this individual, it
will be the tissues that do not poses this modification(palms of hand, sole of foot, etc.).
Using this model we would predict that similar cultures would produce similar cancer statistics.
This fact has eluded no one. We have always been aware that people who share the same culture,
same lifestyle, same access to health services and facilities, same documentation methods etc.
would have the same life expectancy, and the same mortality rates for diseases. If however, one
group of a society were to be immune to one form of cancer, then we would expect,
mathematically, for an equilibrium to be maintained, that the numbers would have to be made up
for, in other forms of cancer. We see a prim example of this theoretical prediction by examining
cancer in African Americans. They share the same culture as the North American Caucasians,
and yet they could be considered to be ‘genetically immune’ from acquiring skin cancer(the
number one form of cancer). Thus we see African Americans with alarmingly higher rates of
lung cancer, and heart diseases for instance. The slight deviation in smoking habits can not
account for the vast deviation in cancer statistics. It has been acknowledged that African
Americans suffer disproportionately from chronic and preventable disease compared to the White
Americans. Similar anomalies have been observed in American Indians, Hispanics, and
Asian/Pacific Island minorities. It has been acknowledged statistically that these groups all
smoke less cigarettes per day then there White counterparts, yet these groups all have alarmingly
higher incidents of lung disease, and lung cancer. No justifiable explanation is offered by the
present DNA model for this anomaly. The explanation that perceptively follows from this new
model, makes far more sense to me. Prior to this new model, we were at a loss as to how to
account for the vast discrepancies in these numbers. I would expect that this phenomena could be
observed by viewing statistics between Australians, and Aborigines as well. Consider the plight
of the Australians. Here we have a culture of displaced Europeans who were originally placed
there as a penal colony. They do not posses the required genetically modified skin to live in this
more tropical environment. Thus we now see, as this modern trend of possessing weaker immune
systems takes effect, the skin of the Australian Caucasians is coming more and more under heavy
attack. This trend can also be observed by studying the cancers of Northern Europe and
comparing these to countries closer to the equator in Southern Europe. This explanation accounts
for countries nearer to the equator, although their incidence of melanoma is lower, do have a
higher incidence of other types of cancer. Liver cancer for instance, is six times more prevalent in
Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, and Italy) than it is in Northern Europe (Denmark, Finland
and Norway). This principle can be applied across the board in explaining why some types of
cancer are more rare then others. The rarer forms of cancer have a cell structure that is more
difficult for the immune system to stimulate into scar tissue.
This same principal (cancer cells ‘picking on’ the easiest target ) can be used to explain
childhood cancer, and help to explain why the list for adult cancers and child cancers is so
different. I will now offer an attempt to explain how childhood leukemia and brain cancer could
have a cause/effect relationship, and fit these two into this new model.
During the initial development of the body, all organs, muscles and bones undergo a growth
period which lasts until adulthood. All tissues in the body undergo development during this time.
An infant boy starts out at 6 pounds, and 18 years later he weighs 180 pounds. Thus each pound
of mass must multiply itself approximately 30 times. Because of this ongoing development, these
tissues are constantly being fabricated and revised. The observable phenomena indicate that these
cells are less susceptible to being stimulated by a faulty immune system, undoubtedly as a result
of this elevated activity. That is to say, the defective immune system will not assess these cells as
requiring accelerated cell division, because these cells are currently undergoing accelerated cell
division, which is a natural part of development of the body during adolescence.(A wound that
would result in a scare formation on an adult is less likely to form scare tissue when a similar
wound is received by a child, due to this phenomenon.) The white blood cells, on the other hand,
have previously been manufactured in the bone marrow, and now have left this ‘factory’ of
origin. This circulatory system is best described by using an analogy of a manufacturer with a
recycling and maintenance department. Our body continues to manufacture blood throughout our
lifetime in this continuous ‘loop’ system. Newly repaired or manufactured blood cells leave the
factory (bone marrow) and will not be seen by the maintenance department again, until they
reenter the kidney and liver at the other end of the loop. These individual white blood cells begin
there journey through the body in the state of decline (no longer being maintained). They have a
short life span of between several days, up to two weeks. Since all the other cells in this
adolescent are undergoing intense development, these are the cells that become the easiest
targets for a defective immune system to divide. Thus leukemia, becomes the most common form
of childhood cancers. Once the body is fully grown, the organ tissues no longer have this inherent
advantage of the ongoing development, and so these organs become susceptible to cancerous
activity to the same extent as the rest of the adult population. The observed phenomena supports
the hypotheses that developing tissues are less prone to cancerous activity then matured tissues
are.
In the developing years, the human brain undergoes the least amount of mass variance. The brain
starts out between 350 and 400 grams and grows to a weight of between 1300 and 1400 grams.
Thus, the brain undergoes a mass increase of 3.6 times its original (in contrast to 30 times, for all
other tissues). This fact means that the development of the brain tissue is considerably slower, or
less intense then the development of all the rest of the body tissues. This helps us to understand
why childhood brain tumors are the principal form of cancer of a solid mass. Brain tissue is the
‘low man on the totem-pole’ as far as cell activity is concerned. Thus, it becomes the easiest
tissue for the defective immune system to ‘pick on’. The combination of leukemia, and brain
tumors, represent the vast majority of all childhood cancers.
If it does turn out to be a defective immune system that is causing cancer, and not some
environmental agent, as is the present focus, then it should be possible to show a concrete
‘cause-effect’ relationship between cancer and a defective immune system. A concrete
relationship has thus far proven to be impossible using the present model for cancer. Under the
new model, it would be predicted that a concrete relationship could not be found using the
present DNA model, because it is missing half of the equation. They will only be able to compile
lists of suspected cancer causing substances and activities. To defend the tobacco industry, a
lawyer needs merely to produce one or more ‘healthy’ individual, all of whom have smoked for a
long period of time, in order to show that there is not a concrete relationship between their
product and cancer. It will always be possible to find a healthy smoker, or a healthy asbestos
miner. If however, this healthy individual were to have their immune system become weak (the
other half of the equation), the resulting maverick cancer cells are most apt to attack the
weakened lung tissues of this individual (thus showing further support to an identified link to
cancer). Therefore, tobacco becomes an environmental ‘link’ that has been shown to cause
cancer in some individuals. Smoking cigarettes does not guarantee that you will get lung cancer.
Sun-tanning does not guarantee that you will get skin cancer. But as was stated earlier, while the
list of ‘links’ to cancer becomes longer, there is no real progress being made.
Immunosuppressant medications are the exception to this, and this fact lends itself beautifully to
add support to the theory that the immune system contains the cancer cells, and is responsible for
cancerous activity. These medications were developed to intentionally decrease the effect of the
immune system in organ transplant patents, so that the bodies defense mechanism would not
attack (reject) the foreign tissue. If the patient survives the transplant operation, and overcomes
the rejection, they will live longer lives then they would have, had they not had the transplant
operation. However, the transplant patient will ultimately succumb to a bout with cancer. This
phenomenon has scientists struggling for an explanation:
“Scientists believe transplant recipients were already at risk for cancer because their weakened
immune system could not keep healthy cells from becoming malignant”.
“ The use of immunosuppressants(cyclosporine) increases the chance cancer cells will divide and
invade surrounding tissue. However it is not clear if cyclosporine can change normal cells into
cancer cells researchers say”
web search for ‘organ transplants’
Organ Transplant Drug Increases Cancer Risk
Friday, Feb.12, 1999
Here we have a conclusive ‘link’ between cancer cells, and immunosuppressants (tampering
with, or weakening the immune system). Thus we find that a deliberately weakened immune
system will doubtlessly, cause the patient to succumb to cancer.(4*) It would be anticipated that
this fact is what scientists have been yearning for.
This phenomenon begs the question; If a weakened immune system has been shown to causes
cancer, would it not therefore follow that a strengthened immune system, should overcome, or at
least prevent cancer? This incident clearly establishes that there is a cause-effect relationship
between cancer and a weakened immune system, and by using this new model for explaining
cancer, we would predict that by creating a defective immune system, we can expect that some
form of cancer will result. All the other ‘links’ and ‘markers’ merely help to ascertain which of
the numerous types of cancer the patient is likely going to acquire. That is to say, the numerous
lifestyle links, environmental links, and dietary links all have a tendency to either promote, or
demote, any given tissue in the body, towards, or away from cancerous activity. I believe that
these patients were pre-determined to obtain cancer merely by having an immune system that had
lost control over their cancer cells. Regrettably, it then became only a question of which type of
cancer they would ultimately acquire. If colon cancer can be averted by implementing a high
fiber diet, then I believe that this is merely a pyretic victory. The patient who avoids colon cancer
by eating a high fiber diet, will unfortunately succumb to some other type of cancer, if they
already posses the requisite weakened immune system, and do nothing to change this. Again, the
evidence tends to support this belief, which has led to the dilemma whereby doctors manage to
overcome one type of cancer, only to have the patient succumb to another type. Often this
phenomenon has been dismissed similar to a child who acquires wills’ tumors. That is to say, the
patient was merely allowed to live longer, and thus was permitted the time necessary to acquire
some other type of cancer (blind optimism on the defense). I believe that the real problem is that
the doctors and scientists are devoting their efforts in treating the attacked tissues, while ignoring
what is attacking them, namely the immune system itself. It is of interest to note here that the two
treatments which have thus far shown to be the most promising in the fight against cancer have
been chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Aside from being the most successful treatments,
these two strategies have one other thing in common, and one thing that differentiates them from
all the other cancer treatments. The one thing they have in common is that neither treatment
makes any attempt at employing the immune system to help with the attack on the cancer cells.
These treatments attack the cancer cells themselves, directly. This is also the one thing that
differentiates these (most successful) treatments from all the others. All other treatments attempt
to trigger the immune system into attacking the cancer. They all try to stimulate; enhance,
activate, invigorate, boost, assist, etc., the immune system. But if the cancer cells are a part of the
immune system, it becomes easy to see why all these attempts have so far failed, and why the
attempts that do not involve the immune system have shown to be the most promising. I believe
we will not discover a cure for cancer, so long as our efforts are focused on employing the
immune system to attack itself. The immune system is designed to recognize and not attack itself.
Perhaps this explains why there are presently only treatments for cancer, and not yet any cures.
One could point out that modern science has permitted us to experience a longer life span then
that of our ancestors. Even with this modern epidemic of cancer, we are living longer lives then
before the industrial revolution. Arguably this is a fact(5*). I believe however, that the pendulum
has swung too far. I hold that cancer is an unnecessary byproduct of our modern lifestyle, which
is now attempting to bypass nature in this endeavor to provide for our health through the use of
the vast array of pharmaceuticals. This phenomenon brings to mind a quote from John Dryden,
“God never made His work for man to mend.”
The consequence of this action, is a weaker immune system, which I believe can lead to the
development of cancer (which I define as a defect in the ‘repair’ aspect of our immune system).
Further, this helps to explain why cancer is less prevalent in undeveloped countries, and more
prevalent in developed countries. Third World countries do not have access to anywhere near the
amount of immune enhancing medications that are available to Western Societies. As a result,
they don’t have near the incidents of cancer either.
Some studies show Thailand as having the lowest incidences of cancer. Bangkok, the capital
of Thailand, and one of the largest cities in the world, has a population density of 3,292 people
per square kilometer. This is a city that grew around a river and canal system which provides for
its transportation needs, its waist removal needs, as well as its bathing and drinking needs. Those
famous/infamous photographs of traffic police wearing respirators, were taken in Bangkok. Thus
these people would possess an immune system that is accustomed to a good workout, having to
fight off a higher frequency of circulating antigens in their culture. A strong immune system
would be mandatory to endure in this environment. These global maps of cancer clusters show
that you are forty times more likely to acquire cancer from being raised in Denmark, then you are
if you’re from Thailand.
Statistics have also pointed out that pet owners live longer lives then those without pets. The
justification for this was always thought to have been that petting and nurturing a dependent
animal was a therapeutic stress release, and this ‘less stress’ transferred into longer lives. It is
now being suggested that these animals naturally carry with them an enhanced level of germs and
bacteria that the immune systems of the pet owners must contend with. Those without pets do not
receive this extra immune system exercise, and as a result, do not experience the same level of
health that their counterparts do.
Another phenomenon that could be accounted for with this new outlook is the successes of
Acupuncture.
Acupuncture is an ancient mystical practice used to treat many types of ailment. It is labeled
‘mystical’ because it presently lies outside of the scientific community’s ability to account for
what is going on. The scientific community is at a loss to explain how the concept of sticking
needles in various parts of the body can yield relief from symptoms of any disease or disorder,
however despite this lack of understanding, this ‘practice’ continues to grow in support. Here is
an excerpt from www.medicalacupuncture.org. that outlines the principal problem with
acupuncture gaining acceptance.
“Although the quality of research in acupuncture is now better meeting the requirements
of Western medicine, we sti
