June News!

Summer is almost here and all of us Phoenicians know that with the summer months come the infamous high temperatures. So, the questions is, how dangerous is the sun exposure for those of us that reside in the valley? Dr. Marie addresses this issue in the article below. Dr. Tamburri and Dr. Najeeullah will also be giving us useful information on prostate screening and possible causes and treatment for pain and fatigue.

This month don't miss out on the free health events that will be held at NFC!

Thursday, June 17th Dr. Najeeullah will be speaking on:
Treatment Options After a Lumpectomy

Wednesday, June 30th Dr. Tamburri will be discussing:
Recent Changes in the Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines



The Sunscreen Dilemma
by Dr. Marie Niechwiadowicz, NMD

The sun has long been considered the source of life and a provider of energy. We need sunlight to make Vitamin D which benefits the immune system, bone health, and cardiovascular health. Vitamin D has been shown to reduce depression and possibly prevent cancer while Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to multiple sclerosis, osteomalacia, and delayed calcification of bones in children.

Many of you reading this are taking a Vitamin D supplement and since Vitamin D is fat-soluble, it is possible that this supplementation can cause toxic levels of Vitamin D. However, Vitamin D produced through sun exposure does not carry the risk of toxicity because after 20 minutes in the sun your body has already produced all the Vitamin D you need and any further exposure will degrade extra Vitamin D. 20 minutes of sun exposure provides the equivalent of 10,000 to 25,000 IU of oral vitamin D depending on the amount of pigment in your skin. If you want to get your Vitamin D from food, you would need to eat 35oz of wild salmon a day to equal 20 minutes of sun exposure.

The caveat – what about skin cancer? It is important to remember sun exposure does not equal skin cancer but sun damage increases the risk of skin cancer. It is possible to get healthy sun exposure without damaging your skin. First, assess your skin on the Fitzpatrick scale – type 1 is very fair, always burns and is likely to get skin cancer. Type 6 is very dark, never burns and is unlikely to get skin cancer. If you are a type 1 and have no pigment, minimize your exposure, avoid peak times, use shade and clothing as protection.

Why no mention of sunscreen? Most sunscreens contain harmful ingredients like oxybenzone and or benzophenone-3. Both have been linked to endocrine cancers and hormonal issues. Fragrances in sunscreen and other beauty products has also been linked to reproductive health problems. If your sunscreen has insect repellant, the sunscreen can cause too much insecticide to be absorbed in your body. With powder and spray sunscreen, you have increased your absorption of these harmful ingredients by inhaling the sunscreen.

Many common sunscreens were shown to be ineffective at blocking the sun as well as being toxic – Coppertone, Neutrogena and Banana Boat were found to be unsafe and ineffective. According to the Environmental Working Group’s cosmetic database (ewg.org and cosmeticdatabase.com), the top three safest and most effective sunscreens were Blue Lizard, California Baby, and CVS with zinc oxide. I recommend visiting the website for the entire list to see where your sunscreen falls in the safe and effective range.

Having a diet high in anti-oxidants reduces any oxidative stress from exposure and damage. As with most things in life, moderation is the key. Avoid sun damage but don’t avoid the sun. If you have a past history of sun damage check your skin for suspicious growths, and if you are over 40, have annual skin exams. Remember ABCDE: Asymmetry, irregular Border, change in Color, Diameter greater than 1/4inch, Evolving over time. Always report any suspicious lesions to your physician. Early detection is the key to successfully treating skin cancers.


Recent Prostate Cancer (CaP) Screening and PSA Guideline Changes
by Phranq D. Tamburri, NMD

This blog entry is important for men. It regards prostate cancer screening, and new insights into the management of prostate cancer that has occurred in only the last 3 months.

The PSA (prostate specific antigen) and digital rectal exam (DRE) recommendations for CaP (prostate cancer) screening have been recently challenged by the American Cancer Society, the U.S. Congress, and even the discoverer of the PSA himself! Recently they each are coming to a similar conclusion that the current screening method (simply a PSA and/or DRE) is not sufficient enough to give medically reliable information to warrant its overall cost in both dollars and side effects to the patient. As mentioned, the discoverer of this test, Dr. Richard J. Ablin in an astounding Op-Ed piece to the New York Times on March 9, 2010, called the PSA today, “a hugely expensive public health disaster”. Therefore, remarkably, recommendations are now proposed to stop these common CaP screenings. These new recommendations are drawing intense reactions from both sides. For instance, I have been recently at odds with some laymen prostate screening members since they interpret these new recommendations as “rich doctors and insurance companies that simply are allowing men to die.” But could there be rational reasons for this radical change? At the same time many ‘alternative’ patients read into this as a complete vindication for the “throwing out of the PSA”, a test that they have been lead to believe by some radical perspectives as being fatuous and useless.

At the end of the day and after all of the passion, the guidelines do not call for eliminating PSA testing en mass nor mass screening events at all. What they do underscore is that if CaP screening is offered, then an in-depth CaP risk assessment MUST be conducted if the PSA is tested; the simple PSA test should NOT be used alone. If patients cannot receive this in-depth consult then it is advised to simply avoid the test altogether.

So therefore on the one hand, advocacy groups that screen men for prostate cancer are not physicians nor do they have the training to educate PSA screened men to the level urologists are now recommending / requiring. Yet those that do, the physicians, do not have the time under the current reimbursement models to do so. Therefore for these reasons the basic PSA and DRE primary screening is being reevaluated.

In Reference to Prostate Second Opinions at Longevity Medical Health Center:

I do strongly agree with these screening conclusions. These problems with CaP screening were foreseen by this office many years ago and were the catalyst for our Advanced Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment (APCRA). The APCRA conducted here at Prostate Second Opinions accomplishes this very in-depth CaP / PSA analysis but in even greater detail utilizing various PSA kinetics that are supported by these guidelines. We further incorporate advanced ultrasound imaging to ‘see’ the potential lesion and color Doppler blood flow monitoring to measure the ‘sickness’ of the prostate in ‘real-time’. The APCRA had been created specifically for our nationwide educated patient base that has also recognized these screening concerns.

The Great Prostate Mistake


Pain and Fatigue: Why do I have it and What can I do about?
by Raushanah Najeeullah, NMD

Chiari Malformation is a neurological condition in which the cerebellum descends outside the cranial space through the foramen magnum. There are 4 types of which type I is the adult form. Chiari Malformation type I is caused by the section of the skull containing the cerebellum is being too small or is deformed. This causes crowding and pressure on brain. Some people with Chiari malformation do not have symptoms and are diagnosed by chance finding. It is commonly misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome due to otherwise unexplainable fatigue. Other common symptoms are moderate to severe headaches, imbalance, clumsiness, memory loss, numbness or paralysis, ringing in the ears and dizziness. The crowding can disrupt flow of cerebral spinal fluid (CFS) leading to hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). Chiari can sometimes be accompanied by syringomyelia, a condition in which cavities develop in the spinal cord space. Syringomyelia can be asymptomatic and / or cause pain or paralysis.

Treatment depends on severity. If no symptoms are present, a watchful waiting approach is implemented. In more severe cases, surgery is used. The most common operations for Chiari malformation are posterior fossa craniectomy or posterior fossa decompression. Your surgeon removes a small section of bone in the back of the skull, relieving pressure by giving the brain more room. The covering of the brain, called the dura, is then opened, and a patch is sewn in place to enlarge the covering and provide more room for the brain. This patch may be an artificial material, or it could be tissue harvested from your own leg or neck. The exact technique may vary, depending on whether a fluid-filled cavity is present, or if you have hydrocephalus (excess fluids in the brain). The operation takes about two to three hours, and recovery in the hospital usually requires two to four days. Surgery is followed by physical and occupational therapy.

In conventional medicine, opioids, anti-depressants and muscle relaxers are used commonly used for pain control. Alternative non-toxic therapies are available and should always be discussed with your physician before using. Below are brief descriptions of helpful measures:

Nutrition

Most Americans eat a diet composed largely of processed foods low in nutrients but high in calories. Foods common to the Standard American Diet (SAD) are full of sugar, saturated fat from red meats, and artificial additives all of which cause inflammation and contribute to the breakdown of our bodies. A vegetarian diet high in fruit and vegetables, restricted red meat consumption, lots of water and fiber are the foundation to a healthy diet. Proper nutrition is helpful in speeding recovery from surgery and for correction of other conditions you may have. Individual factors such as weight, age, other conditions (hypertension, diabetes) must be considered and discussed with your doctor when adjusting your diet.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a therapy where minute doses of medication are used to treat a multitude of conditions and is particularly useful in pain management. A detailed evaluation is attained where physical and emotional symptoms are assessed. A homeopathic remedy is chosen based on your individual symptom picture. Common pain remedies are Bryonia, used is for pain which is relieved with pressure and Belladonna, and used for pain that comes suddenly and goes away suddenly.

Homotoxicology

This is defined as the use of non-toxic homeopathic combinations to detoxify, increase immunity and improve function of the organ system being treated. It is useful in controlling muscle spasms, neuropathic pain, headache and vertigo. Homotoxicology is commonly used in conjunction with nutrient IV therapy. Nutrient IVs are utilized when moderate to severe nutritional deficiencies and fatigue are present.

Neurocranial Reconstruction

A technique in which a specialized balloon is inserted into the nostril, inflated and quickly removed. It is done in a series of treatments to readjust the facial bones and create structural changes in the other bones of the skull. This specialized manipulation can help alleviate pressure in the skull.

Craniosacral therapy

Similar to massage and chiropractic therapy, this is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the function of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system - comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Using a soft touch generally no greater than 5 grams or about the weight of a nickel, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system.

Sources: Mayoclinic.com, The Merck Manual, FirstConsult.com, Upledger Institute.