The Cause of Cancer and other degenerative diseases

by Charlotte Gerson

“In my opinion, cancer is not a problem of deficiencies in hormones, vitamins,and enzymes. It is not a problem of allergies, of viral infections or any other known or unknown microorganisms. It is not a poisoning through some special intermediate metabolic substance or any other substance coming from an outside, so-called carcinogenic substance. All these can be partial causative agents, contributing elements. Cancer is not a single cellular problem; it is an accumulation of numerous damaging factors combined in causing deterioration of the whole metabolism after the liver has been progressively impaired.”
Max Gerson, MD, A Cancer Therapy – Results of 50 Cases.

Keeping Dr. Gerson’s words in mind, it becomes evident that “science” will not find “the cause of cancer” since there is no single cause. The deterioration of the organs, and the liver specifically, cannot be easily detected. Symptoms may take years before revealing themselves. Also, these symptoms can indicate any number of problems, from cancer to other chronic diseases, which are caused by the same early deficiencies and poisoning of the liver and other organs.

Since Dr. Gerson wrote his book, other overwhelming problems have developed to dramatically increase the incidence of cancer. In only the last 27 years, the number of cancer deaths has increased from 215,000 persons annually to over 550,000 (in the U.S. alone). While these numbers are alarming, they are also revealing.

We observe more and more often that patients arriving at the Gerson Therapy hospitals are in their thirties or early forties, accompanied by their parents. While cancer is traditionally thought of as a disease of age and deterioration, present reality shows quite the opposite – it is the younger generation who are getting sick! This is not only tragic but unnatural.

Let us look at some of the probable causes: The heaviest environmental poisons, starting with DDT and progressing to Dieldrin, along with many other pesticides, came into use toward the end of WWII, about 1944. When looking at people 65 or over (the most rapidly increasing sector of our population) who were already in their teens or twenties when these chemicals were introduced, we find a much lower percentage of cancer incidence and deaths.

From this statistic, we can assume that when the body is fully formed, toxins are not as severely damaging as they are to the delicate developing organs of babies and young children. We are now in the second and third “post-pesticide” generation, and the cancer death rate in children is rising because their easily damaged, developing tissues are exposed to more and more toxic chemicals in the air, food, soil, and water. Even second-hand smoke and the excessive use of antibiotics lead to the increased frequency of cancer in children.

Obviously, the problem is not only cancer. Diabetes, asthma, allergies, chronic infections, and even arthritis in children have been on the rise for many years (see “Hearings Before the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs,” 1978).

While antibiotics have undoubtedly saved many lives, their overuse for every kind of cold, flu, and cough has made ‘”bugs” resistant, so more powerful drugs have to be developed and used. The result is not only that new forms of many bacteria, including TB (see JAMA, Vol. 278, No.13, October 1, 1997) are now resistant to antibiotics; but these wonder-drugs also have toxic side effects. Therefore, they tend to weaken children who are regularly treated with them. They weaken the immune system and predispose the patient to higher frequencies of more severe infections. The average physician does not give any thought to building up the immune system in order to prevent future infections, with, say fresh carrot juice (beta carotene) and living fresh foods. They have not been trained in that direction.

The weakening of the immune system and the poisoning of the liver are the beginning of all chronic, degenerative diseases. However, the factors mentioned above are only a few of the ones affecting us.

Another situation that is particularly heart-rending is the frequent incidence of cancer during or immediately after pregnancy. In a few women, perhaps past their early thirties, this occurs with then-first baby; in others, it occurs after the second or third child. It is extremely tragic when a new baby, or a very young family, loses its mother.

The reason is not difficult to find: Our damaged soil, artificially fertilized, is deficient in nutrients. Further, our population (including young mothers, of course), eat the damaged, sprayed produce and meats, which are then processed with more chemicals and depleted of living nutrients. In the end, the actual nutrition obtained from the foods is minimal when it comes to minerals, vitamins, and living enzymes. So when the already deficient body of a young woman is called upon to form a whole new system, nature protects the new life, and the baby gets everything it needs from the mother’s reserves. (This becomes a problem unless she has been ingesting adequate nutrients.)

Disease finds its opportunity to grow when nutrient reserves are low and depleted. Besides sharing nutrition, the mother’s body also has to excrete toxins for both organisms, placing an additional burden on the detoxifying organs (liver and kidneys). If all these deficiencies are serious enough, toxin levels increase, leading to the final break-down called: cancer.

In many presently “underdeveloped” countries, women normally bear 6-8 children, nurse them, and remain in quite good health. They often do not have the means to eat much meat or animal proteins, so they eat more vegetables from their own garden plots, or from street markets (not canned, preserved, pickled, frozen, and chemicalized). They have a much lower cancer incidence than the U.S. population. With civilization and industrialization bringing us such a severe breakdown of health, we must re-examine our lifestyle and make changes to ensure our good health.

Gerson pointed the way half a century ago. He was a pioneer – his ideas are more and more recognized and incorporated into healing methods and “alternative” medicine. He stated that we “must return to nature,” eating the fresh, living, organic fruit and vegetables our bodies are designed to use most beneficially. We must do this in order to maintain health and a long, active life.

Source: From “Gerson Healing Newsletter”, reprinted with permission.

GLOSSARY

Bile : A yellow or greenish fluid
produced in the liver, concentrated and stored in the gallbladder, and passed into the duodenum, where it aids digestion.
Carcinogen : any substance that produces or tends to produce cancer.
Choleretics : substances that stimulate bile flow.
Colon : the large intestine, extending from the caecum to the rectum.
Duodenum : the first part of the small intestine, beginning at the lower end of the stomach.
Free Radicals : highly unstable, charged, atomic particles that damage membranes of cells and inflict disturbances in cellular metabolism.
Gall bladder : sac in which bile from the liver is concentrated and stored.
Gallstone : stone-like accumulations of bile pigment, and/or calcium occurring in the gallbladder.
Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) : enzymes found in the liver which is responsible for removing free radicals from the blood stream.
Peristalsis : a movement in the wall of a hollow organ by which its contents are moved onward, e.g. the wavelike, circular contractions of the intestines.
Rectal : of the rectum, which is the lowest part of the large intestine, extending from the last curve of the colon to the anus.
Serum : Any watery liquid in animals.
Small Intestine : coiled tube (approximately 26 feet long in the adult) consisting of the duodenum, jejunum, and the ileum, extending from the stomach to the large intestine.