The University of Arizona (UA) Cancer Center will receive a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the effectiveness of baking soda therapy to treat breast cancer. Yes, clinical trials will soon be underway on the use of oral sodium bicarbonate for breast cancer treatments (see: http://azcc.arizona.edu/node/4187). Actually, cancer research involving sodium bicarbonate has been going on for years at UA, and Dr. Robert Gillies and his colleagues have already demonstrated that pre-treatment of mice with plain ole “Arm & Hammer” increases tumor pH and inhibits spontaneous metastases of the cancer cells. It also reduces the rate of lymph node involvement. This latest new research funding is a rare example of what medical science should be doing much more of in its quest for the answer to cancer. Research should be less about toxic drugs that don’t seem to be very effective overall and more about some natural remedies that show great scientific potential. Our body’s pH balance is known to be a major determiner of our cellular health. Now, finally, we appear to be looking more closely at pH balance relative to cancer.

I am distressed when anything stifles any pursuit of raising funds to fight cancer. More resources are always needed for treatment, research, education, and preventive measures. Granted, I have been critical in my writings regarding the priorities of Komen, National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, and other funding agencies, but I have consistently maintained that all anti-cancer efforts deserve to be supported. Unfortunately, when these agencies grow into huge institutions, decisions on how they spend their millions become of interest to the media and politicians who pounce on any misstep.  Such is the present predicament with Komen as thousands of former supporters jump ship.