Press-Pulse Protocol Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Press-Pulse Protocol right for me? The following questions will help you decide if you are a candidate for working with your physician to tolerate and implement the Press-Pulse strategy.
Do I have adequate body fat and muscle stores to implement a strict ketogenic diet for 3-6 months?
It is mandatory that you have adequate muscle and fat stores to tolerate a strict ketogenic diet for 3-6 months. It is imperative to maintain muscle stores while in ketosis. This can be achieved with a diet high in protein and fat, however protein is also converted to sugar. Therefore a strict detailed daily macronutrient diet log is necessary. See the sample ketogenic diet log for further information on a sample ketogenic meal plan.
Will you become my physician or manage my care?
NO- we do not establish a physician-patient relationship, however we are always happy to discuss the Press-Pulse Protocol with your healthcare provider for a limited amount of time. Please feel free to share the scientific articles and journals referenced on the website with your practitioner.
How do I obtain DON and other supplements/ medications?
At this time DON is for research purposes only. In the past other glutamine blockers have been used to address cancer, however they were not given when the patient was in ketosis, so they did not have as successful an outcome. With funding, HRF or other research institutions may be able to fund a study using glutamine blockers and ketosis to address tumor burden.
How do I get Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy? Can I change the depth or duration?
You will have to work with your healthcare practitioner to find a HbOT center near you. Thomas Seyfried has done studies with patients in ketosis undergoing a HbOT 3 times per week to 2.2 atm for a total of 90 minutes with an impact on tumor burden. Lower atm and duration does not appear to have the same results. It is important to note that there are contraindications to HbOT, such as an untreated pneumothorax (absolute), and relative contraindications such as increased intracranial pressure, administration of certain chemotherapy agents such as Bleomycin and Doxorubicin, COPD or asthma, implanted devices or pain pumps, pregnancy, high fever or epilepsy, or recent eye surgery or sinus infection. HbOT can decrease blood glucose levels, however this appears to be well tolerated in those in ketosis, as the ketone bodies serve as a fuel source for normal cells. HbOT is know to increase the number andimprove the function of mitochondria.
How do I obtain repurposed drugs and medications?
As we don't establish a physician-patient relationship, you will need to work with your healthcare practitioner to obtain the medications and supplements that are right for you and your cancer. There are programs that specifically work with repurposed drugs, such as Care Oncology, that can be explored.
What are the costs associated with the Press-Pulse Protocol?
To implement the entire Press-Pulse Protocol, the cost is approximately $40,000 USD (see the page on Press-Pulse Protocol costs), as it is not currently covered by insurance. Depending on your type of tumor or cancer, you may be able to work with your healthcare practitioner and insurance company to help cover part of the cost. With further funding, HRF hopes to establish an Investigational Research Board that will allow us to participate in medical research programs and projects.
I finished the Press-Pulse Protocol, what now?
After finishing the Protocol, a full body PET scan will help determine if there is any evidence of disease detected. Even with NED, there will always be Circulating Cancer Stem Cells (CSC) left in the body. These can be monitored with a variety of tests, which can also be used as a screening tool to detect early cancer. If the CSC number is kept low enough, cancer should theoretically not recur. Liquid biopsy tests useful for monitoring CSC include Signaterra and RGCC. Keeping CSC low can endorse practices such as continuing a low glucose (not ketogenic) diet, stress reduction, an active lifestyle including resistance training to improve the function and number of mitochondria, and membrane lipid replacement therapy to replace damaged cell membranes (Clinical Uses of Membrane Lipid Replacement Supplements in Restoring Membrane Function and Reducing Fatigue in Chronic Diseases and Cancer; Nicolson, Rosenblatt, et al; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6941554/). See the Press-Pulse Protocol Costs page to learn more about liquid biopsy cancer tests.