Do you remember the telephone game? I used to play it as a child. One child starts with a message and whispers it to the next child, who whispers it to the next, and so on. It only takes a tiny change in the message, at one or two steps, to have a completely different message at the end of the line. Indeed, the fun of the game is to see what nonsense can be created from a simple repeated message.
Similar to the message in the telephone game, the cells in our bodies are constantly replicating themselves. It’s a way of replacing themselves as the older cells die off. This is an essential process; it keeps us alive. But, like in the telephone game, this constant replication leaves lots of room for error. Thankfully, our bodies are usually good at recognizing the poorly replicated, or “dud” cells, and get rid of them, leaving us none the wiser. But in some cases, an error in the messaging means that a cell or group of cells keeps on dividing, eventually creating a tumour.
So the question is, what’s the difference between the two scenarios? Why does cancer develop in one case and not the other? We may not have the whole answer, but we can find many clues by looking at the whole body.
Looking at the cellular environment
The ability of cancer cells to survive depends greatly on the environment in which they exist. This concept is a cornerstone to the whole body approach to cancer care. It means that by changing the internal environment, we can alter the potential for cancer growth. We can work to create an environment that is inhospitable to cancer growth.
For example, cancer cells tend to thrive where there is inflammation. The presence of chronic inflammation increases risk of cancer occurrence and death from cancer. Dietary changes, herbs, and supplements that reduce inflammation can be used to decrease this risk.
Cancer also thrives in the presence of certain nutritional deficiencies. Low vitamin D levels, for example, are associated with worse prognosis and increased risk of recurrence or progression. Nutrient levels can be tested, and can often be easily corrected with supplements or dietary changes.
Cancer cells love sugar. All cells use sugar as a source of fuel. But cancer cells, in particular, love the insulin that is released in response to chronically high blood sugar levels. So by decreasing the sugar intake, you can create an environment that is less supportive of cancer growth.
Cancers also tend to thrive in environments that are high in hormones like cortisol, released to help cope with stress. This is one way in which chronic high stress can create an environment that supports cancer growth.
The role of reproductive hormones
Some cancers grow in the presence of certain reproductive hormones, especially when these hormones are out of balance with each other. The majority of breast cancers, for example, will grow in the presence of estrogen — especially when certain forms of estrogen are high. Symptoms like PMS, irregular periods, fibroids (benign growths in the uterus) or dense breast tissue suggest high estrogen levels. Balancing hormones can help to resolve these issues. At the same time, you reduce your risk of hormone-dependent breast cancers.
Change can be difficult. You want to make sure you’re working in the right direction. You might have a good gut feeling of where you can begin to make changes. If you need some direction, talk to your practitioner. With a thorough health history we can identify potential nutritional deficiencies, patterns of hormonal imbalance, blood sugar imbalance, or chronic inflammation. Supporting your history and symptom picture with lab work helps us determine the best place to focus your efforts. Follow up lab work helps us see your progress, ensures that we’re working in the right direction, and is an opportunity to flag any changes needed to your treatment plan.
For more information about lab testing, read here.
For more information about taking a whole body approach to breast health, check out the Breast Cancer webinar coming soon as part of Sprout’s webinar series!
In health,
Dr Rachel VandenBerg, ND
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