Part 5. A dynamic model for development of cancer (theoretical and practical ideas)

Theory

Formation and growth of malignant tumours is based on tissue hypoxia (low cellular oxygenation). Tissue hypoxia appears due to local effects of some carcinogenic substances (anything that can suppress the respiration of cells) and abnormal lifestyle factors. Both these elements can result in chronic hidden hyperventilation which washes out the CO2 from each cell of the human organism.

Since CO2 is a dilator of small blood vessels, low CO2 concentrations lead to the constriction of the arteries and arterioles causing problems with blood and oxygen delivery. In addition, low CO2 values cause the inability of red blood cells to efficiently release whatever little oxygen they bring (the suppressed Bohr effect). The final outcome is hypoxia in the tissues, including vital organs.

Since all vital organs are going to suffer from hypoxia, malignant cells can thrive in tissues and parts of the body which are most compromised in relation to their oxygenation (the genetic component of cancer). Toxic overload due to smoking, dietary toxins and poisons, radiation, and other causes can intensify local hypoxic effects in certain parts or organs of the organism (the environmental component of cancer). Further growth of the tumour and its metastasis are also controlled by the same factors, where tissue hypoxia plays the central role.

Development of cancer or growth of tumours is a dynamic process which is sensitive to changes in our breathing. For example, for modern man early morning hours are the times of severe hypoxia. Hence, usually tumours grow during early morning hours and stagnate or even regress during the remaining part of the day. Even short periods of overbreathing (30-40 minutes) weakens the immune system, creates tissue hypoxia, and promotes growth of tumours.

This model does not explain the basis for all cancers since more research is required to establish the exact chain of events for various conditions.

Practice

Is it possible to predict the behaviour of tumours based on the oxygenation index or the CP (control pause or stress-free breath holding time)? Dr. Buteyko, MD developed a system of breathing retraining leading to normalization of cellular respiration and oxygenation. He trained some 200 medical professionals in the USSR and Russia to apply this method. These doctors treated over 200,000 patients, mostly with asthma and heart disease. Consequently, they accumulated a vast amount of clinical experience. The Buteyko breathing therapy was approved by Soviet Ministry of Health in the 1990s.

The Buteyko method was tested by various western and Soviet trials on patients with asthma, heart disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, radiation disease (after Chernobyl disaster), liver cirrhosis, and HIV/AIDS. During the large western trials on asthmatics, the disappearance of malignant tumours was the side effect of the therapy. Many Soviet patients who learned the Buteyko breathing method also had cancer. What were the observations of Russian and Soviet doctors in relation to cancer?

Large CPs (over 60 s 24/7) are incompatible with malignant and benign tumours. Normal breathing parameters indicate good perfusion (blood supply) of all vital organs and tissues and the enhanced Bohr effect. Vital tissues get sufficient O2 supply and this eradicates the foundation for cancer (tissue hypoxia). Hence, normal breathing of the person creates conditions for normal breathing of all cells.

Normal breathing parameters were accepted about a century ago. However, very few people have them now. We, in health, breathe about 50% more air every minute (about 9 instead of 6 l/min). Thus, relatively healthy modern day people have about 25-30 s CP during day time and about 15-20 s CP or less in the early morning hours. Sick people (asthma, heart disease, diabetes, cancer) chronically breathe about 2-3 times more air than the medical norm. They have shorter CPs (e.g., 12-15 s for people with mild asthma and heart disease; and less than 10 s for the severely sick and terminally ill).

When the CP is less than 20 s, the Krebb cycle (also called citric acid cycle) is reversed. The chemical reactions of this cycle provide mitochondria with oxygen and ability to generate energy aerobically. Abnormalities in the Krebb cycle intensify the anaerobic metabolism, production of lactic acid, generation of free radicals, fatigue, and tissue hypoxia. The practice of Russian doctors, as well as western breathing teachers, show that most people have their shortest breath holding times during the early morning hours (usually 4-7 a.m.). Hence, if a person's CP drops below 20 s, cancer progresses, and the tumour grows.

Moreover, in severely sick cancer patients, the CP can be below 10 s. Such critically low levels of oxygen indicate severe hypoxia, a very weak immune system, and the ability of malignant cells travel via blood, attach themselves in new organs and initiate formation of new tumours (metastasis).

Clinical observations revealed that there are 3 crucial CP numbers involved in understanding the general development and progress of disease, cancer included. They are as follows.
◊ When the CP is below 10 s, we are fighting with death.
◊ When the CP is between 10 and 20 s, we are in the grip of disease. Negative symptoms, pains, and aches take most of our energy and attention.
◊ When the CP is between 20 and 40 s, we are struggling with disease, but changes in either direction are quite small.
◊ When the CP is above 40 s all the time, numerous chronic degenerative conditions get reversed and quickly disappear. We are full of energy, sleep soundly (but without sounds!), have good digestion, a good mental outlook, and perform well.

However, our breathing and the CP are not the same throughout the day. Meals, stress, exercise, emotions, and hundreds of other factors influence tissue oxygenation and breathing. The dynamic of these changes in cellular oxygenation is the decisive factor that controls the life of malignant tumours or development of other forms of cancer.

Conclusions: The dynamic nature of cancer can be expressed by the index of oxygenation, or stress-free breath holding time after usual exhalation: 1-10 s – metastasis; 10-20 s – growth of tumours and advance of cancer; 20-40 s – the intermediate state (deadlock); over 40 s – reversal of hypoxia and disappearance of cancer.

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© 2008 Artour Rakhimov (If you copy the content of these pages for educational purposes, please, indicate the site address and author's name).