How to Fight Cancer – These Dogs May Have The Key
Experts at the Cleveland Clinic have successfully treated cancer in dogs, and this could lead to an interesting new strategy on how to fight cancer in people as well.
At the 237th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, Joseph A. Bauer, PhD presented findings, building on more than 60-years of research effort to developing a B12 based attack against cancer.
The story begins with a “miracle dog” by the name of Oscar, a ten year old Bichon Frise who had a very aggressive type of cancer known as anal sac adenocarcinoma.
After the standard chemotherapy and radiation, and with no improvement, poor Oscar was left unable to walk and with only three months to live.
As a last hope, Oscar was given a potentially cancer killing medicine known as nitrosylcobalamin (NO-Cbl for short).
Within 14 days Oscars cancer had improved significantly and he was back on his feet again.
This compound has now been given to other dogs with equally promising results and no negative side effects. This drug targets cancer cells like a “Trojan horse”, delivered by being hidden inside something that looks harmless or beneficial.
The compound is made with nitric oxide that’s attached to vitamin B12. Receptors on cell surfaces will attract the vitamin and assist it in getting into the cell.
Cancer cells have more B12 receptors; and so the unsuspecting cancer cell takes in this compound. Once inside, the nitric oxide is released and the cell dies.
Ultrasound and MRI imaging is being used to keep an eye on tumor size in all three of the dogs currently under treatment.
After 9 months of NO-Cbl the spinal tumor of a 6 year old golden retriever, Buddy, has been reduced by 40%, and the inoperable thyroid cancer of a 13 year old female giant schnauzer by 77% in just ten weeks of treatment.
Also, Haley, a golden retriever, is being treated for a spinal tumor. Once the team treats ten dogs with the drug, they’ll go for FDA approval to test the medication in people.
Mice aren’t the only good subjects to use for such research.
He points out that people and dogs are genetically similar – Similar to make a case for approval from the FDA.
The National Cancer Institute collects data on pets, which makes sense if you think about it.
After all, they breathe the same air; drink the same water and eat processed foods just as we do.
“We are one of the few research groups that is offering to treat dogs with cancer that otherwise have no hope,” Bauer makes clear. “With no other options available, most people in this situation opt to euthanize so that their pets don’t go through the pain of disease and trauma of surgery.”
The great news for dog owners is that this treatment offers hope for our faithful friends who may be one of the estimated 6 million dogs in the U.S. diagnosed with cancer every year.
It’s a rare thing for research to uncover a treatment that can be used for animals, and yet holds realistic promise for people as well.
Next – just head on over to the Daily Health Bulletin for more information on how to fight cancer, plus for a limited time get 5 free fantastic health reports. Click here for more details on this study on how to fight cancer.