Meet Mike Landesberg, Breast Cancer Survivor & Genetic Testing Advocate

Michael Landesberg is a courageous breast cancer survivor, generous philanthropist, passionate advocate, and experienced chef who lives every day by this mantra: courtesy is contagious; pay it forward. In April 2020, at the age of 46, he was diagnosed with HER 2+ (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) breast cancer, right at the onset of the isolating quarantines of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also underwent genetic testing and discovered that he carries both the BRCA2 and CHECK2 gene mutations. He knew that this put him and potentially his family at an increased risk for not only breast cancer, but ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and melanoma. After he tested positive, his sister tested and discovered that she also has the gene mutations. She was treated for Stage 0 breast cancer—the disease’s earliest stage. In the context of his advocacy, Michael stresses the importance of genetic testing, the increased risk associated with carrying one or more of the gene mutations, and how knowing this can help save lives, just like it saved his sister’s life.

Last October, Michael raised over $26,000 in support of the MBCGA and the West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition at his first “All Boobs Matter” event at his restaurant.

After undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy, Michael vowed to be there for others with a similar diagnosis. He quickly became a strong advocate for male breast cancer awareness. He has appeared on Good Morning America and News 12 and has written numerous articles chronicling his breast cancer journey that have been published by the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Michael started his career in the restaurant business at the age of 14 years old, and today is a renowned chef and much-beloved personality. Since 2021, he has been the Executive Chef and General Manager of the highly-acclaimed Jackson Hall American Bar and Grill in East Islip, Long Island. His love and passion for the industry is exemplified by his creative dishes and his interaction with his customers every day. He “pays it forward” here as well—when he’s not in the kitchen, he’s out and about patronizing other restaurants across Long Island, writing reviews, and sharing his message widely on social media.

In October 2023, looking for a way to give back to the people who helped him and his family through that very difficult time, Michael launched his first annual “All Boobs Matter” fundraising event at the restaurant. Donations of items for his raffle poured in, more than 200 prizes in all, including baskets filled with fine jewelry, wine, lottery tickets, gift cards, vacations and more. He and his team of volunteers, went shoulder-to-shoulder with all the friends and family and business associates who bought tickets, packed the house, and donated generously. In the end, he raised over $26,000 in support of the two organizations who were there with their support during his breast cancer diagnosis and treatment: the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance and the West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition. The MBCGA is grateful for Michael’s commitment to spreading awareness and applaud his incredible efforts and success in assisting our organization with our mission through fundraising and advocacy.

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WHAT'S NEXT AFTER CANCER?

The Importance of Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle and Monitoring

Written by: Dr. Leslie Valle-Montoya 

Cancer recurrence can occur months or even years after initial treatment, and it’s important to be aware that cancer can return in different tissues, not just where it was originally diagnosed. While this is a challenging possibility, there are proactive steps you can take to reduce the risk and protect your health.

Staying vigilant with regular check-ups, lifestyle adjustments, and continued screenings is essential. Early detection of any signs of recurrence greatly increases the chances of successful treatment. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle after being declared “cancer-free” is not always easy, but it’s vital. We are constantly exposed to environmental toxins in our food, water, and surroundings, so addressing the root causes of disease and making healthier choices is crucial. A nutritious diet, physical activity, and stress management all support overall wellness and strengthen the immune system. I often guide patients in addressing lingering dental infections and maintaining a healthy internal environment, whether by enhancing the microbiome or reducing bodily acidity, which cancer thrives on.

Avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol, and maintaining a healthy weight are also key to lowering the risk of recurrence. By focusing on what you can control—your health and regular monitoring—you empower yourself to stay well and ensure long-term health.

CONTRIBUTOR:

LESLIE VALLE-MONTOYA, MD is the Founder of Biomed Life and the Santa Barbara Longevity Center. After medical school, Dr. Valle focused on managing chronic disease starting with its links to poor nutrition and then introducing them into the world of energy frequencies.  She explores and includes non-invasive modalities such as: frequency therapies (including biofeedback), PEMF, proper detoxification, nutritional guidance and binaural beats as needed. - visit: www.biomedlifesb.com

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Monday, September 23, 2024

RECURRENCE EXPLAINED- POSTOP SCANNING

Click to play video CANCER RECURRENCE IN THE MOST RARE CASES: "LIGHTING STRUCK TWICE WITH MALE BREAST CANCER!"-- “I contracted Male Breast Cancer TWICE, just when I thought it was gone the first time. I learned that cancer doesn't give up - so neither should you! Stay smart, be proactive and follow a RECURRENCE PREVENTION plan to KEEP CANCER AWAY.” MARC FUTTERWEIT- Survivor/Senior Ambassador for Male Breast Cancer Coalition Doctors will never guarantee that your cancer is gone forever, even after the remission period. The American Medical Community suggests that all survivors of cancer should subscribe to proper health and nutritional standards to support continued prevention. Take the right steps to OUTSMART CANCER TODAY by learning how recurrence works. Start by managing a healthy (and organic) lifestyle, support a regular fitness regimen and schedule an annual monitoring program with an advanced imaging professional or physician specializing in cancer diagnostics to maintain regular screening protocols for early detection or to help prevent cancer recurrence.

RECURRENCE IN REVIEW
Transcript by Dr. Roberta Kline

There is a constant debate in the cancer community about the term "CANCER FREE". Cancer recurrence continues to be a major concern as reported in annual medical reports- identifying its tendency to “return with a vengeance". [1, 2]

Medical research has identified the major reasons why cancer recurs.  A widely reported cause for this is attributed to a deficiency in treatment performance. [2] This means the therapy induced did not successfully remove or kill all of the cancer cells, possibly due to the patient's level of drug resistance.  During treatment, Cancer cells can enter a dormant state to protect themselves from treatment and other stimuli. Over time, these dormant cells can reactivate. The cause of this may be a spike in chronic stress or the release of toxins from oxidative stress from environmental factors like smoking or repeat exposure to reactive chemicals. [3]

Inflammation has also been linked to the activation of immune cells called neutrophils. [4] Cancer cells that have spread to other areas of the body after successful treatment of the original tumor can remain dormant for years or decades before recurring as metastatic cancer. Further activators of these dormant cells have also been linked to one's personal Epigenetics. [5] This determines how your environment and lifestyle affects your cell function- including the dormancy state of your cancer cells. 

Another known cause for recurrence are Cancer stem cells or CSC's.  These are a small group of cells in tumors that have the ability to self-renew, differentiate, and give rise to all cell types in a tumor. [6] Most stages of tumor progression, including tumorigenesis, promotion, progression, and recurrence are accompanied by epigenetic alterations, some of which can be reversed by epigenetic drugs. [6]

DETECTION MONITORING: After cancer surgery, there are many preventive measures to support a safe and healthy recovery and to reduce the risk of recurrence.  A logical and preventive strategy as part of postop maintenance is called RECURRENCE PREVENTION SCANS. Through the use of affordable, real-time medical imaging such as the 3D Doppler Ultrasound, post-cancer surgery patients can subscribe to a personal monitoring regimen to scan for any potential lesions and micro-tumors that may have fallen under the radar.  Proactive monitoring can also address complications such as post-surgical Infections, recurring pain, swelling, neuropathy from nerve damage, scarring, fluid buildup or blood clots. In less than 20 minutes per visit, you earn peace of mind from a comprehensive scan by seasoned specialists trained to support postop patient management.

DR. ROBERTA KLINE is an ObGyn physician, an award-winning author, an educational advocate, and an inspirational speaker for the professional and women’s communities. She holds a combined mission to upgrade how we approach health and deliver healthcare for women through education, globalized communication, research, and advocacy.  Dr. Kline develops and teaches CME programs, consults on gene expression project designs, and leads collaborative projects designed to advance the direction of women’s health. She is also a clinical advisor in integrative medicine and functional genomics to many health organizations including the Integrative Health Research Center.  In addition to her mentorship programs for women physicians, Dr. Kline is Director of Educational Programs for the Women's Health Collaborative, Editor of the Women’s Health Digest, and on faculty at the University of Western States. 

(1.) Butow P, Sharpe L, Thewes B, et al. Fear of Cancer Recurrence: A Practical Guide for Clinicians. Oncology (Williston Park). 2018 Jan 15;32(1):32-8.   (2.) Mahvi DA, Liu R, Grinstaff MW, et al. (2018). Local Cancer Recurrence: The Realities, Challenges, and Opportunities for New Therapies. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 68(6), 488. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21498 (3.) Payne KK. Cellular stress responses and metabolic reprogramming in cancer progression and dormancy. Seminars in cancer biology 2022 Jan Vol. 78, pp. 45-48. (4.) He X-Y, Gao Y, Ng D et al. Chronic stress increases metastasis via neutrophil-mediated changes to the microenvironment. Cancer Cell 2024:42(3);474-486. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2024.01.013  (5.) Costa S, Alves Sales SL, Pinheiro DP, et al. (2023). Epigenetic reprogramming in cancer: From diagnosis to treatment. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2023.1116805 (6.) Yu X, Zhao H, Wang R, et al. (2024). Cancer epigenetics: From laboratory studies and clinical trials to precision medicine. Cell Death Discovery, 10(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-024-01803-z