This document discusses the thyroid gland, its role in the body, diseases of the thyroid, and the relationship between thyroid function and various forms of cancer. It begins by introducing the topic of the thyroid, its diseases, and relationship to cancer. It then discusses the presenter's background and approach to treatment. The document goes on to describe the thyroid's role as the "conductor" that regulates metabolism and functions in the body through thyroid hormones. It discusses various thyroid conditions and diseases and their causes. Finally, it discusses the links between thyroid function and different types of cancer like breast, prostate, colon, and liver cancers.

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2. Today, we are going to be talking about the role of the
thyroid , its diseases,
Causes of dysfunction and its relationship to all forms of
cancer
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3. WHO AM I ?
I am a Medical Herbalist, trained in the UK, in integrated
medicine in clinics, hospitals and university
environments
I treat cancer, pre cancerous and chronic auto immune
conditions such as MS, Alzheimer's, thyroid and
women’s problems in a (w) holistic protocol, on a science
evidenced basis with plant drugs
Disclosure - No commercial ties
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4. WHAT DO I DO
I ASSESS THE CONDITION ( DIAGNOSE ) , EXAMINE THE PATIENT, TAKE A
CASE HISTORY, COMPOUND ( PRESCRIBE ); IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF
THE PROBLEM WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF RESOLVING IT WITH PLANT
DRUGS ON AN EVIDENCED BASED BASIS.
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5. WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE THYROID?
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6. BECAUSE IT’S THE CONDUCTOR!
The Thyroid plays the music written in the Hypothalamus in the brain
The signalling hormone TSH from the brain gets converted to T4 and T3 in
the gland. These hormones act on cells in all bodily tissues and can
alter gene products
The hormones regulate protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism – in other
words all functions and diseases within the body normally described as
endocrine metabolism.
Another way is to say it regulates all fuel ( glucose ), Cells ( fats ) and DNA (
protein
In addition the cells of the parathyroid embedded in the gland regulate
serum calcium levels
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7. BECAUSE
It is endemic in Ontario and thyroid cancer is the fastest growing type
Cancer in Ontario Overview : Astatistical report 2011
And
Most OHIP practitioners have never been educated or recognise the vital
role this gland plays in human health
“ Most doctors would not consider a thyroid examination on most healthy
women of a normal age in a physical exam”
Cathy Maclean Head of Dept Family Medicine University of Calgary quoted in Globe &
Mail 2011 Oct 24.
‘
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8. ©
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9. PINEAL PARATHYROID PITUITARY GLANDS
These glands all closely interrelate to the thyroid
Pineal – responsible for circadian rhythms
Parathyroid- cells of the parathyroid embedded in the gland regulate serum
calcium levels in conjunction with calcitonin and Vitamin D
Pituitary – anterior and posterior
Releases prolactin ( female hormone for lactation/birth processes )
FSH/LH , ACTH, TSH, GH
Oxytocin, ADH
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10. PROBLEMS OF THE THYROID
HASHIMOTOS
GRAVES
IDIOPATHIC
EUTHYROID SICK SYNDROME
SUB CLINICAL FUNCTION HYPER/HYPO
NODULES
CANCER
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11. THE THYROID GLAND
This is a butterfly shaped gland which is wrapped around the throat, so
when it swells it has an impact on
Your throat
Your neck
Your voice cords
Your neck muscles
Your swallowing/ eating
Most common and obvious sign is goitre – turkey neck! ( very visible even
in a cursory examination of a woman! )
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12. OTHER SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Obesity
Carpel tunnel
Hypertension
Constipation
Palpitations
Hair loss
And lots more!
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13. WHAT DOES THE THYROID DO FOR YOU!?
Lets look at some of the functions of the body where the thyroid is crucial
•
FERTILITY / LACTATION
•
SUGAR REGULATION / DIABETES
•
OBESITY/Liver function
•
FEMALE HORMONE DISORDERS EG PCOS
•
CARDIAC REGULATION / PALPITATIONS
•
TEMPERATURE REGULATION/SWEATS
•
BONE HEALTH
•
OXYGENATION ( IE METABOLIC RATE )
•
Anything involving steroid hormones/fat soluble vitamins.ADEK
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14. ENDOCRINE FUNCTIONS
Involve the hypothalamus in the brain
The pituitary gland in the brain
The thyroid and other endocrine glands
Hormones and their receptors
All in a complex pattern of vertical horizontal and diagonal axes.
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15. MAJOR THYROID BLOOD MARKERS
Thyroid stimulating hormone
Free T 4
Free T 3
Thyroid peroxidase
Thyroid anti globulin
Reverse T3
Each of these monitors the major stages of the hormonal signalling
process
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16. NEURO ENDOCRINE SIGNALLING
The body works on a complex neuro endocrine signalling mechanism i.e.
cells signal when they want to receive something and signal when the
delivery has been completed
The body is composed of major 401 type traffic highways and minor rural
roads all with parking bays, traffic lights, policemen, traffic wardens!
In the thyroid TSH converts T4 which converts to T3 which eventually
converts T3 to T2 and T1. 20% of the conversion occurs in
the
thyroid gland itself and 80% over the rest of the body.
When there is sufficient of say T3 then less TSH is produced on a
negative feed back loop.
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17. ROAD WORKS
Within the feedback loop there are various intermediate stages; blocking
any of these stages can cause dysregulation of the gland
egTSH converting to T4 can be blocked by bromine and other things.
Bromine is commonly found in imported US processed foods such as pizza
bases. It is legal in the US but not in Canada to put bromine in
processed flours. Once a product has been created it is not a legal
requirement to disclose its presence but in a country where there is
endemic sub clinical hypothyroidism in my view this is a major loop
hole Health Canada should be addressing
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18. CAUSES OF DYSREGULATION
DIET:
EXCESS CONSUMPTION OF GRAINS – BROMINE
LACK OF IODINE – FISH
EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF BRASSICAS
LACK OF BASIC NUTRIENTS – ZINC/SELENIUM
GENETIC – TRANSFERENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO THE
FETUS
VIRUSES
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19. DYSREGULATION LEADS TO DISEASE
Cancer, diabetes, infertility etc.
OHIP approach is to ignore the issue until it becomes acute i.e. the gland is
beyond saving…….lasting damage will already have been done at this
point. No prevention or long term considerations
Surgery/ ablation of the gland and prescribe thyroxine – the only drug
available – for life
Side effects of thyroxine particularly in women increase with age.
Low risk thyroid cancer Overdiagnosed Overtreated Aug 28 2013
Brito JP et al BMJ
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20. BE AWARE
Other factors which cause dysregulation of the thyroid:
Drugs e.g. lithium, Tamoxifen
Iodide
Beta blockers, steroids, androgens, phenytoin,
Salicylates, anti depressants
Statins
Environmental agents including chemicals e.g. benzenes
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21. RADIATION
American Thyroid Association released policy statement for
minimising radiation exposure whenever possible June 18 2012 @
incr 3.2% annually 1996-2010 from medical imaging
An exponential growth in incidence of Thyroid Cancer: Trends and
the impact of CT imaging Hoang JK et al AJNR 2013 oct 10 PMID
24113469
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22. WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT?
CHANGE YOUR DIETARY LIFESTYLE
CUT THE CARBS
EAT FISH
ELIMINATE SUGAR
BE ALIVE
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23. WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT?
LOTS!
THROUGH THE USE OF MY PLANTS I CAN MAKE THE THYROID
NORMAL
I CAN RAISE /LOWER TSH, Free T4 and T3 and remove some of
the anti thyroglobulin antibodies to reduce TPO anti bodies.
WITHANIA, BLADDERWRACK, COLEUS, NETTLE, MYRRH,
BACOPA AND OTHERS ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN
EVIDENCED FOR THEIR EFFECT
WHEN ADMINISTERED BY A QUALIFIED MEDICAL HERBALIST.
In a truly personalised format for each person.
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24. TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH
Good thyroid health helps to ensure good health through out the body
For further information on more detailed workings of the thyroid for
example:
The Thyroid and Fertility please see my website
www.medicusherbis.com
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25. WHAT IS CANCER
IS AN METABOLIC ENDOCRINE DISEASE WHEREVER IT OCCURS IN
THE BODY DRIVEN BY INFLAMMATION
IT IS A DISEASE OF PROLIFERATION I.E GROWTH
IT IS A DISEASE OF ABERRANT CELL SIGNALLING
Cancer is only divided up into different types as this suits the surgical
approach and patenting conventional medicine.
IT IS ALWAYS A DISEASE OF PROLIFERATION AND ALWAYS DRIVEN BY
HORMONES WHERE EVER IT IS LOCATED IN THE BODY
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26. PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF ALL TYPES OF CANCER
Diet
Alcohol
Lack of exercise
)
) 70%
)
Bacteria & Viruses
20%
Iatrogenic
5%
Genetic - Brac 1& 11 mutations especially
5%
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27. CONVENTIONAL APPROACH
Surgery Jones in
1895 and Peeters
in 2005 Journal
of Surgery both
observed:
Surgical removal
of the primary
tumour activates
cancer
All associated
with long term
side effects ,
complications,
reoccurrence
and poor results
including
diabetes
Chemotherapy
Radiation
Complications of
radio iodine
treatment of
thyroid
carcinoma Lee S,
J Natl Canc Netw
2010:8(11):12771287
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28. EVIDENCE LACKING FOR CURRENT PROTOCOLS
Increasing it is being recognised that radiation is not of benefit as it is both
an inflammatory process and destabilises DNA
BUT many hospitals have invested huge sums in radiology which have to
be justified
OHIP produces such poor pathology reports including omitting key
diagnostic markers e.g. Ki67 that any chemotherapy protocol has no
evidence of validity for the patient
Gepar Trio Trial Annals of Oncology Aug 2013
It has been known since 1895 that surgical intervention stimulates cancer
in the body.
Take charge of your own health!
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29. ROLE OF THYROID IGNORED UNLESS IT IS
THYROID CANCER OR MESTATISIS
Statistically 80% of women with breast cancer have at least
sub clinical thyroid disorder with outcomes worse if it is
hyperthyroidism.
In my practise it is 100% for all cancers
A large cohort study of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in relation gynecologic
cancers Kang JH et al Obstet Gynecol Int 2013 ;2013:743721 doi
10.1155/2013/743721
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30. THYROID LINKS TO CANCER
Breast – hormone and lipid metabolism
Prostate - hormone metabolism
Colon – dietary metabolism
Thyroid fastest growing cancer in US and Canada
Lung – hormone metabolism
Pancreatic – carbohydrate metabolism
Liver – metabolism all types and breakdown of hormones
Bone – oestrogen, vitamin D and calcium
Leukaemia's & Lymphomas – kidneys, immunity
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31. THYROID CANCER
4 Main types
Papillary, Follicular, Medullary, Anaplastic
Surgery may work for papillary but no longer considered a ‘true’ cancer
No effective Chemotherapy drug for any - Soforenib
Radiation leads to:
DNA destabilisation
Increased NFKB ( inflammation )
Further tissue damage
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32. BREAST AND GYNAECOLOGICAL CANCERS
This type of cancer is driven by oestrogen and progesterone –
steroid hormones derived from cholesterol
The ACTH hormone influences FSH/LH which stimulates thyroid
hormones which in turn stimulates growth hormone, thyroid,
thus influences the ovaries and the testes and further down the
line oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone
Hall LC, et al. Effects of thyroid hormones on human breast cancer cell proliferation. J Steroid Biochem Mol
Biol. 2008;109:57–66.
Orai 3 is an estrogen receptor alpha regulated Ca2+ channel promotes tumorigenesis Motiani RK Faseb J 2012
Sep 19 PMID 22993197
Cancer: Thyroid circadian clock-altered in cancer? Wilson C Nat
Rev Endocrinol 2013 Sept 13
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33. LIVER & PANCREATIC CANCERS
TSH signals the thyroid which then signals and influences the Pancreas
and in turn the liver through the production of insulin/glucagon
If the metabolism is impaired the liver is impaired as it is the site of
both the creation of cholesterol and the detoxification of hormones for
excretion
J Thyroid Res. 2011;2011:152850. doi: 10.4061/2011/152850..
Why can insulin resistance be a natural consequence of thyroid
dysfunction ? Brenta G.Department of Endocrinology, glucose
metabolism and analyze the mechanisms whereby alterations of thyroid
hormones lead to insulin resistance.PMID: 21941681 PMCID:
PMC3175696
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34. COLON AND LUNG
The microbiome project has shown that many cancers start
in the gut.
β-Catenin regulates deiodinase levels and thyroid hormone signaling in
colon cancer cells. Dentice M, et al. Gastroenterology. 2012
Oct;143(4):1037-47.
Metastasis squared: colon cancer spread to the pre-existing skeletal
metastasis of thyroid carcinoma. Majumder S, et al. Am J
Gastroenterol. 2012 Jun;107(6):956-7.
Preliminary study of thyroid and colon cancers-associated antigens and
their cognate autoantibodies as potential cancer biomarkers. Kiyamova
R, Biomarkers. 2012 Jun;17(4):362-71. doi:
10.3109/1354750X.2012.677476.
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35. KIDNEY
Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Mar-Apr; 16(2): 204–213. doi: 10.4103/2230-8210.937Interactions between
thyroid disorders and kidney diseaseGopal Basu et al
There are several interactions between thyroid and kidney functions in
each other organ's disease states. Thyroid hormones affect renal
development and physiology. Thyroid hormones have pre-renal and
intrinsic renal effects by which they increase the renal blood flow and
the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Hypothyroidism is associated with
reduced GFR and hyperthyroidism results in increased GFR as well as
increased renin – angiotensin – aldosterone activation. Chronic kidney
disease (CKD) is characterized by a low T3 syndrome which is now
considered a part of an atypical nonthyroidal illness. CKD patients also
have increased incidence of primary hypothyroidism and subclinical
hypothyroidism.
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36. WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
DIET
EXERCISE
Dr. Lakoski 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology Being Fit can protect against developing, dying of cancer
Comparative effectiveness of exercise and drug interventions on mortality outcomes: metaepidemiological studyBMJ 2013; 347 doi:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f5577
DE STRESS
The GAS syndrome – Hans Selye – Canadian
Stress is known to deplete immunity and increase the
rate of Cancer it releases pro inflammatory cytokines
which act as stimulants
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37. SUGAR
Warburg in 1925 deduced quite correctly that:
“Cancer has only one prime cause. |It is the replacement of normal oxygen
respiration of the body’s cells by anaerobic oxygen deficient cell
respiration”
Confirmed again in 2008 by another Nobel prize winner!
Ist calorie restriction to treat cancer randomised clinical trial approved by
Duke University Feb 2013
Use of Metformin in USA but this is not the answer!
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38. SUGAR
Grains translate to sugars in the body:
Sugar is inflammatory to the body ( inflammation being the key
pathological process in cancer )
Sugar provides a better less hostile environment in the gut for bacteria and
viruses to grow and live ( bacteria and viruses part of the pathological
processes of cancer )
High circulating sugar levels impede the function of the brain, liver,
kidneys, pancreas and thyroid. The receptors leading to further
biochemical processes in the body are altered.
Obesity and other concomitant diseases
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39. MORTALITY AND SUGAR
THE INCREASE IN MORTALITY IN CANCER HAS MIRRORED THE USE OF
PROCESSED FOODS AND INCREASED CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR
IN 1900 CANCER WAS NOT EVEN IN THE TOP 10 CAUSES OF DEATH
TODAY IN NORTH AMERICA IT IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH
Mortality by diet and physical activity (PA) in Women’s Healthy Eating and
living Study comparison group Pierce J et al J Oncol 25:2345 2007
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40. SUGAR IS WHITE SWEET AND DEADLY!*
The presence of sugar in processed foods has grown exponentially since
1900 – so has the diagnosis of Cancer
Globally, sugar consumption has tripled in the past 50 years. But, it turns
out, the greatest threat to human health is one type of sugar in
particular: fructose.
In the US, per-capita consumption of fructose, a common food additive
there – mainly in the form of high-fructose corn syrup – has increased
more than 100-fold since 1970.
Processed foods lack key nutrients. 1tsp =
fruits
J.Physiol 2012 590:2485-2499 Gomez-Pinella see also Lustig / Yudkin
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41. BE ALIVE
AVOID PROCESSED FOODS
LOVE YOUR VEGGIES
INNOVATE AND EAT A WIDE RANGE OF FOOD STUFFS
Value moderation
ELIMINATE SUGAR FROM YOUR DIET
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42. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?
LOTS!
There are many very effective herbal medicine protocols which inhibit the
development of cancer
These plants have huge amounts of science about them.
Curcuma Longa – Turmeric is probably the best known
98 metabolic pathways affected – efficacy shown against 19 cancers
“Most efficacious cancer drug is a plant “ Prof. BB Aggarwal MD Anderson
Cancer centre & University of Texas
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43. PLANTS
Angiogenic and proliferative effect of the cytokine VEGF in Ehrlich ascites
tumour cells in inhibited by Glycyrrhiza glabra. Sheela ML et al Int
Immunopharmacol 2006 Mar 6(3)494-8
Anti tumour properties of Boswellic acid against Ehrlick ascites cells
bearing mouse Agrawal SS et al Food Chem Toxicol 2011 Sept 49(9)
Cancer has 27 principal pathways for growth – I have plants which block all
those pathways
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44. OTC CAVEATS
illegal to sell a medically efficacious dose
most are not pharmaceutical grade
no evidence base / extrapolation claims
Contents /label/marketing claim
Unnecessary with a proper diet
No consideration of individual needs
Failure to address polysupplementation
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45. EXAMPLES OF OTC ISSUES
DO NOT USE PROTEIN POWDER WHERE THERE
ARE SUGARS – AGAVE, STEVIA, SYNTHETIC SWEETNERS,
Just because its ‘natural’ does not mean its good for you
Circulating insulin like growth factors and related binding proteins are selectively altered in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
and multiple sclerosis. Growth Hormone & IGF research Vol 17 Issue 6 Dec 2007 Hosback et al
POTASSIUM IODIDE
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46. REFERENCES
Some of the references used have been shown in the text
but if you want a full list please email me at
mrsmg@sympatico.ca
All references are available on Pubmed
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47. BE SENSIBLE
PLEASE DO NOT SELF TREAT
THE PLANT DRUGS I USE ARE NOT AVAILABLE OVER THE
COUNTER
IN SOME DISEASE USE OF OVER THE COUNTER
SUPPLEMENTATION IS HARMFUL.
PLEASE NOTE IT IS ADVISED, THAT ANY PLANTS MENTIONED IN
THIS TALK, ARE ONLY USED UNDER PROFESSIONAL
GUIDANCE.
.A professional: will recognise all the issues within the body
Select herbs that will impact positively on these issues without causing problems in
order to co exist with orthodox drugs,
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48. THANK YOU
Morwenna Given
MEDICAL HERBALIST
BA MA (Oxon) BSc m.OHA BHG AHG RH
www.medicusherbis.com
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