Cancer may be induced through multiple factors. These include environmental factors, carcinogens, as a factor of ageing, genetic mutations, immune system disorders, poor diet and by some viruses. There is a long history found in the scientific literature implicating bacterial infection as cancer induction. For over 100 years scientists have cultured varying bacteria from tumours and in many cases have cured cancer by treating such infections. This area of science has been ignored and at times actively discouraged from full investigation. Bacteria known to induce cancer are neither routinely screened in patients nor routinely treated.
Presented at the NHAA 6th International Conference on Phytotherapeutics 2007
Our current scientific position on cancer causation is that of induction through multiple factors. These include environmental factors, carcinogens, as a factor of ageing, genetic mutations, immune system disorders, poor diet and by some viruses. There is another history of cancer induction that has been clearly documented in the scientific literature, implicating bacterial infection as cancer induction.
These lesser known areas of cancer research (bacterial induction of cancer) receive minimal mention in most medical textbooks and information spread appears to have been actively discouraged. This suppression of information has occurred in three main ways and continues to occur:
Early research on bacteria and cancer
Pasteur: bacteria as a cause of disease
Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) dominated the scientific community of the day with his work on bacteria as a cause of disease. When Pasteur postulated that disease arose from germs attacking the body, his findings were debated hotly amongst the medical establishment.
The notion that large organisms could be endangered by these tiny bodies appeared ludicrous at the time to many medical practitioners.
He continued with this work and later showed that anthrax was caused by a particular bacillus. Subsequently he developed a vaccine produced from the same organism in a weakened state. His work on the cause and treatment of rabies through vaccination led to the acknowledgement of his work and his eventual honour and fame (Encarta 2002).
Koch: the rise of bacteriology
The discoveries of Pasteur laid the foundation for the work of other scientists such as Robert Koch (1843-1910), eventually giving rise to the discipline of bacteriology. Koch isolated Bacillus anthracis and inoculated it into mice to cause anthrax, thus convincing the medical community that these tiny bodies, bacteria, actually could cause disease. Koch later also isolated and identified bacteria as causative agents for tuberculosis and cholera.
Koch’s Postulates
Koch is still remembered for his criteria (known as Koch’s Postulates) for judging whether a bacteria could cause a particular disease: