KEYWORDS: Annie W. Brandt, Cancer, Cancer personality, whole-being Healing Platform, mind-body-spirit, NuCalm, Integrative treatment

NHIMA Lecture and Book Review of The Healing Platform by Annie W. Brandt

By Michael Gerber, MD, HMD

We were honored to have Annie Brandt address the Nevada Homeopathic and Integrative Medical Association (NHIMA) Annual Fall Convention in Reno, Nevada, presenting her latest book, The Healing Platform. She is the founder of Best Answer for Cancer Foundation and the International Organization of Integrative Cancer Physicians (IOICP).

Hope and Healing Insights – Annie’s Story

Prior to her health issues Ms. Brandt worked as a market research specialist for Anheuser-Busch Industrial Products Division and as a systems engineer for Digital Equipment Corporation, rising through the ranks to corporate information networking consultant for the Fortune 100. She became an entrepreneur in the field of indoor air/water quality consulting and has owned her own firm in that specialty since 1994. From 1997 to 2004, Ms. Brandt was also co-owner of an award-winning “green” design/building company.

In 1992, she was in a meeting in Boston with the Vice President of Kodak and realized she couldn’t remember her thoughts nor the man’s name or company. She felt panicky, feverish, achy, dizzy and nauseous. Her account manager knew something was wrong and covered for her. Afterwards he suggested that she might have the flu, so she went back to the hotel and flew home the next day. However, her symptoms intensified with mind fog, headaches, extreme fatigue, and she had to crawl to the bathroom. After consulting with several doctors she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), which she prefers. She was totally disabled and slept 22 hours per day. Doctors gave her no hope, and she got sicker from their medications.

She lost her job, savings, and her relationship. Who could live with her after falling in love with a vibrant, successful, professional woman? She couldn’t collect disability because ME wasn’t recognized as a serious problem. She began her own research and realized that that the majority of people with ME did not get over it and ended up with other autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, diabetes and cancer. Many people did not survive. She asked what in the world had she done wrong. It was at this time that she realized that she needed to figure things out for herself in order to be healed.

It’s MS

In 1994, she had no equilibrium, double vision with numbness and vomiting, and an MRI tested positive for multiple sclerosis. She had a second opinion at Duke University and confirmed the presence of both MS and IDS (immune dysfunction syndrome). She was told that she had progressive-aggressive MS: in a wheelchair in six months and death in a few years. In 1995, she was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse and, in 1997, with multiple chemical sensitivities.

It’s Cancer

In 2001, she found a swollen lymph node under her arm during a shower. Biopsy showed ER+/PR+ breast cancer. More scans revealed lesions in the lungs and brain. Her diagnosis was end stage metastatic breast cancer. She was given three months to live no longer than five. She was booked for a double mastectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiation. “Have a nice weekend.” Conventional oncology standard of care included surgery, which weakens the immune system and causes metastases, and chemotherapy, which kills the P53 tumor-suppressor gene, distorts the DNA of healthy cells, causes cancer to build immunity, and promotes metastases. Radiation causes all of the above and promotes cancer. (Annie opined that “God is the only one who really knows when I am going to die, everyone else just has an opinion!”) She went back to the books.

Throughout this process she received help from many friends and doctors. One of her first inspirations was from W. Douglas Brodie, MD’s book The Cancer Personality: Its Importance in Healing. He felt, after decades of treating cancer patients, there are certain personality traits which are rather consistently present in cancer-susceptible individuals. These include the following:

1. Being highly conscientious, dutiful, responsible, caring, hard-working, and usually of above-average intelligence.

2. Exhibiting a strong tendency toward carrying other people’s burdens and toward taking on extra obligations, often “worrying for others.”

3. Having a deep-seated need to make others happy, tending to be “people pleasers.” Having a great need for approval.

4. Often having a history of lack of closeness with one or both parents, sometimes later in life, resulting in lack of closeness with spouse or others who would normally be close.

5. Harboring long-suppressed toxic emotions such as anger, resentment, and /or hostility. Typically, the cancer-susceptible individual internalizes such emotions and has great difficulty expressing them.

6. Reacting adversely to stress, often becoming unable to cope adequately with such stress. Usually experiencing an especially damaging event about 2 years before the onset of detectable cancer. The patient is unable to cope with this traumatic event or series of events, which comes as a “last straw” on top of years of suppressed reactions to stress.

7. Showing an inability to resolve deep-seated emotional problems and conflicts, usually arising in childhood, often even being unaware of their presence.

Whole-Being Approach: The Healing Platform

The Healing Platform in Annie Brandt’s book is a whole-being approach. It aims to heal the entire person. A tumor is the messenger, just a part of the equation. Patient and physician work together to find the “dis-eases” and systematically address each of the following healing components:

• Spirituality,

• Mind-Body, Psycho-Emotional,

• Immunity,

• Nourishment,

• Detoxification,

• Lifestyle,

• Targeted Cancer Therapies.

Spirituality

On at least two occasions, Annie heard the voice of God telling her “Do not worry.” “I love you and I will not let anything bad happen to you; you must have faith in Me.” The National Cancer Institute sponsored a multi-institutional cross-sectional study of 170 patients with advanced cancer. More use of positive religious coping methods was associated with better overall quality of life and higher scores on the existential and support domains of the McGill Quality of Life measurements. Tools to support the spirituality healing platforms include prayer, attendance at religious services, healing touch, Order of St. Luke, prayer group, and Reiki.

Mind Body – Psychoneuroimmunology

Research pointing to a circuit linking the immune system and brain connects illness, stress, mood, and thought in a whole new way. Toxic, buried emotions usually start in childhood and create patterns that may persist throughout life. These include beliefs of unworthiness, being unlovable and displeasing, and a persistent feeling of being trapped: “There is no escape.” Traumatic events, six months to two years prior to diagnosis, can trigger unknown/unrecognized traumas that resurface.

Tools for removing negative emotions include recognizing that cancer impression is positive, not negative, using visualization, imagery, positive affirmations, self-hypnosis/meditation, faith, and NuCalm. NuCalm entrains the brain to the alpha/theta EEG ranges, naturally creating homeostasis, neuromuscular release, and relaxation.

Immunity

Boosting, strengthening, and balancing the immune system has huge power to influence cancer. Tools include clinical immunotherapies, immune supplements and herbs, acupuncture, liver cleanses, healthy gut, music, endorphins (exercise, knitting, handiwork), living touch and massage, unconditional love (pets), laughter, nutrition, supplements, and NuCalm.

Nourishment

Nutrition plays a key role in cancer therapy. Tools include diet, microbiome (gut flora), supplementation, herbs and spices, enzymes, and very importantly, switch diet content—fool the cancer! Cancer cells are smart and need changes in approach to keep them off guard.

Detox: Cancer Diagnosis = Toxic Overload

According to chemical analysis of ten cord blood samples from newborns, 287 toxins were identified, 180 of which cause cancer (AXYS Analytical Services). According to the CDC’s 2009 report of blood, serum, and urine samples from 2500 random participants, all Americans are recipients of widespread exposure to environmental chemicals. This ranges from BPA and lead to acrylamides in fried food and gasoline additives. Environmental toxin sources include air, water, and electromagnetic frequencies (EMF). Use air purifiers for all living/working spaces. Get water purifiers and filters for all household water. Don’t drink bottled water; fill BPA-free bottles with purified water. Find good EMF blockers and practice Grounding. Physically follow a detox diet and exercise. Use liver, colon, and kidney cleanses, colonics and enemas, and chelation to remove heavy metals.

Spiritually, get rid of suspicions, anger, resentment, and bitterness against God. Psychologically, research has shown that psychotherapy may improve a patient’s quality of life. Change negative thinking and improve self-belief system by using Neural
Emotional Therapy, counseling, self-help books, 12-step programs, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR).

Lifestyle

“The day of diagnosis is the first day of the rest of your life. Literally.” How do I want to live? How do I want to die? Experts estimate that more than 4 in 10 cancer cases could be prevented by lifestyle changes.

Important lifestyle changes include diet (no sugar, little/no starches, and organic foods). Stop smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, exercise 30 minutes per day, eliminate negatives (people, situations), and reduce stress (NuCalm). Include fun activities and positive support groups. Count your blessings and have an ‘Attitude of Gratitude.’ Get good, nourishing sleep every night—at least 7 hours, court positive relationships, and build physical strength. Move your body, which will get blood flowing and move the lymph.

Targeted Therapies of Choice

IPT/IPTLD (insulin potentiated therapy)

High-dose IV vitamin C

Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) inhibition

Oxidative Therapies (ozone, hydrogen peroxide, prolozone, UV, UBI, HBOT)

Thermal Medicine (hyperthermia and focused hyperthermia)

Bicarbonate IV Therapy

IV chelation

Immunotherapies

RIGVIR

Enzymatic Therapies (digestive, systemic)

Colonic Therapies

Medical Cannabis (United Patients Group)

Zolodex Injections

Aromatase Inhibitors

Poly-MVA

Lugol’s Iodine

Curcumin

Metformin and Berberine

Haelan 951

GcMAF

Salicinium

Silver

Artemisinin/Artesunate

Iscador/Mistletoe

Laetrile

3-Bromopyruvate (3BP)

Budwig Protocol

AveULTRA

ESSIAC Tea

Red Clover/ Stillingia

Hoxsey

Pau d’arco

Modified Citrus Pectin

Mushroom Extracts

KAQUN water

Selenium Therapy

DMSO

Functional Integrative Dentistry

Psychoneuroimmunological medicine

Amino Acid Supplementation

Seeds

Food

The Leading Edge of Integrative Oncology – Targeted Treatments for Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs)

Max Wicha, MD, Chairman of the Department of Oncology at the University of Michigan School of Medicine, wrote in 2006 that standard cancer treatments can make things worse because when tumor cells die under assault from chemotherapy and radiation, they give off inflammatory messengers that can recruit cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are responsible for recurrence of cancer, especially metastases. Targeting cancer stem cell population is essential for improving outcomes.

Targeted treatment for CSCs include metformin, berberine, natural botanicals, curcumin, fermented soy, fish oil, and sulforaphane. Other therapies are in Table 1.

Conclusion

Annie Brandt’s The Healing Platform – Build Your Own Cure is an inspirational book with patient interactive question pages. As a fifteen-and-a-half-year survivor of stage IV breast cancer and host of other health challenges, she speaks with experience and knowledge. Her compassionate life focus is to help others not only “survive but thrive.” Her book is very well documented, informative, and geared to the cancer patient. All cancer patients and their doctors would do well to begin their health journey with a copy of her book.

The next Answers for Cancer Summit will be held on April 28-29, 2017, at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego, California. The doctor’s conference will be from April 27-29.