3D Printed Atlas & Axis - Medicine at its Finest

Does Upper Cervical Chiropractic treat cancer? Emphatically, NO! Medical problems require medical solutions, and health problems require health solutions. The health side of cancer deals with the CAUSE of cancer: diet, lifestyle, environment, stress, neurological incoordination (all of which are 99% of the problem), and faulty genes (which are only 1% of the problem).

In this arena, chiropractic can assist. However, when a person has bone cancer that is destroying the C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis) vertebra, medical intervention is required. Here is a story of medicine + surgery + technology at their finest. http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-22/tumour-patient-gets-worlds-first-3d-printed-vertebrae/7183132

To summarise, an unfortunate fellow was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer that destroys bone particularly at the base of the skull and/or base of the spine (chordoma). The only solution that this neurosurgeon could conceive was to excise the C1 and C2 vertebrae and to REPLACE THEM with 3D printed bone.

Now, let me exclaim also that this procedure is highly dangerous. Moreover, this should NEVER be an excuse now for people to go out and obliterate their bodies and spines with the expectations that, "Ah, docs can just make me a new one." I can see the fellow's x-rays published on the ABC site, and he has NEGLIGIBLE amounts of arthritis in his neck ... this means that this is a fellow who very likely took exceptionally good care of himself in the first place!

A chordoma is in that 1 % of cancers, and though I speculate, had he NOT taken care of his spine before these unfortunate sequences of events he may not even be in the situation he is now. No, we don't like to see the neck all fused up with the screws and hardware like is in the picture, but when the difference is life-or-death, choose life! The procedure has been successful, and now this fellow has the opportunity to regain his health. Kudos docs!!