For far too long, cancer has been considered a genetic disease characterized by a myriad of mutations that drive cancer progression. But now we know that only about 5-10% of cancers are linked to genetics (not completely responsible for). In comes The Metabolic Theory: “Recent accumulating evidence indicates that the dysregulated metabolism in cancer cells is more than a hallmark of cancer but may be the underlying cause of the tumor.” (2022 study).

In complex terms, the definition of the metabolic theory is: The metabolic dysregulation of cancer cells leads to upregulation or suppression of genes regulating metabolism in order to remain viable and proliferate. In more understandable terms, cancer cells flourish on sugar and a body that is not in a healthy metabolic state. The opposite is true: cancer cells can NOT survive without sugar and in a body thriving in metabolic health. The good news is that YOU control your sugar intake and have access to lifestyle changes and medicine that can launch your body into a healthy metabolic state.

I believe in metabolic theory so strongly that I based 7 Essentials System® around solutions to cell and metabolic health. This blog serves as a base for optimal metabolic health and offers dozens of resources as you read through it. Please read, take notes, dive deeper into the links, reread, and always feel comfortable asking me questions via the contact form.

Metabolic Health

A 2019 study found that only 12% of adult Americans have optimal metabolic health, which means that 88% are metabolically compromised. The study concluded: “Prevalence of metabolic health in American adults is alarmingly low, even in normal weight individuals. The large number of people not achieving optimal levels of risk factors, even in low-risk groups, has serious implications for public health.” One of the serious implications is how it can lead to breast cancer. As mentioned above, a “normal weight” does not necessarily mean you are metabolically healthy. This is because your metabolism is the set of cellular mechanisms that powers every part of the human body. It produces energy via the food, energy, and environment you surround yourself with. 

Metabolic health describes how well your body generates and processes energy. It is vital for reducing the risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, cancer, and other health issues. Metabolic health has evolved to include metabolic flexibility (learn all about it via this blog post), and we now have metabolic oncology.

What causes metabolic diseases?

In the past few hundred years, major changes have been made to our air, water, soil, stress levels, and planet. Processed foods, pollution, vegetable oils, smoking, stress, EMF, lack of sleep, gluten, beauty products, etc., are just a few examples. These toxic changes have created a lack of adaptability within ourselves, our genetics, and our lives. However, the foundation of metabolic disease is unhealthy carbs, sugars, and unhealthy fats and oils.   All of this damages our metabolic system and the health of our mitochondria. Instead of being in a state of “at-ease,” many people are living in a state of chronic “dis-ease”. 

Chronic metabolic diseases include:

• Cancer
• Non-alcohol fatty liver disease
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Alzheimer’s
• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Inflammation
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Mitochondria

The main function of mitochondria is to generate the energy necessary to power cells and basically all of your biological processes. Mitochondria also keep cells healthy and able to adapt to stress. However, when your mitochondria are damaged, they can’t work as designed, which is when cancer and other diseases can creep into your cells. This is also true in regards to metabolism, as it happens within mitochondria. In everyday life, here’s how it works: toxic lifestyle choices (stressful relationships, substance abuse, highly processed foods, too much sugar, lack of exercise, etc.) “suffocate and damage” your mitochondria. This forces your cells to thrive on sugar (glucose and glutamine), rapidly increasing pathways that turn on the growth of cancer cells.

The connection between cellular metabolism and cancer growth is simple yet profound.  It indicates that, just like many other chronic diseases such as diabetes and autoimmune conditions, cancer can be managed and, in many cases, reversed. All it takes is the right diet, lifestyle, and supplement protocol. Which is what the 7 Essentials System® is all about.

Metabolic Oncology 

The terrain of your body, microbiome, immune system, and blood sugar balance are essential to breast cancer healing and metabolic health formula. The Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health developed The Terrain Ten approach to cancer: “To eliminate the cancerous cells, we must optimize the mitochondria and the body’s healing mechanisms. We start by identifying what is causing the body to go into the cancering process, then treating the terrain, not just the tumor, with the right therapies for biological and mitochondrial needs.” 

Metabolic oncology turns “tumor-focused” care, which usually involves zapping a tumor with just chemo, into a “terrain-focused” whole-person approach. The goal is to create a body that is so healthy that cancer can no longer survive.

To help the body achieve metabolic health, this form of oncology care involves using repurposed drugs and eliminating sugar to interrupt the product of energy in cancer cells. This causes the cells to die and makes other cancer therapies more effective since the cancer cells are so weak and vulnerable. 

To learn more about this approach to creating a body that cancer can no longer survive in, please listen to my conversations with Dr. Nasha Winters and Nicole Saleske, NP.

A Balanced Keto Diet

Today, many mainstream oncologists are focused on issues with exhaust (symptoms of cancer and types of cancer) from the car. A doctor who approaches health with a metabolic approach will say, “Stop putting oil and gas in the car!” Without both, the car won’t even be able to start up and run.

I heard this simple analogy from Dr. Susan Wadia-Ells, author of Busting Breast Cancer: Five Simple Steps to Keep Breast Cancer out of Your Body, which is based on the metabolic theory of cancer. I found her research so insightful that I invited her to the podcast, please check out this episode.

This is all to say that short-term use of a Balanced Keto Diet could be exactly what your body needs to stop loading it with carbs and sugar, the “oil and gas” that fuel cancer cells. Cancer cells have more insulin receptor sites for glucose compared to healthy cells, which means cancer cells get fed first when it comes to refined sugars. On the flip side, you can simply kill cancer cells by depriving them of glucose (sugar). This study found depriving cancer cells of glucose activates metabolic pathways that lead to cancer cell death.

My experience with the Keto Diet

During my healing journey, I followed the Keto Diet for six months to starve the cancer and leap my body into a healthy metabolic state. What I discovered about my own body based on how I responded to it was very eye-opening which I document in this blog: My Love-Hate Relationship with The Ketogenic Diet. If you are considering the Keto Diet, please listen to this podcast episode with Maria Emmerich to learn about “dirty” vs. “healthy” Keto and talk to your medical team before starting.

Metformin, Aspirin & Antibiotics

I am a firm believer in integrative health.  Combining the best of Western and Eastern medicines to create a unique plan for healing. Metformin is a drug used to control high blood sugar and support people with Type 2 diabetes. It can also help women with advanced cancers achieve metabolic flexibility. Some people with diabetes also take Metformin as one way to reduce their risk for cancer. (Study) However, it should only be used in specific cases and not for general health maintenance. 

Temporary use of certain repurposed drugs like antibiotics and aspirin can also help speed up the process of getting your body into a metabolically flexible state. However, as with Metformin, it should be only used in certain situations. Below are a few recent studies for you to review. Please always talk to your medical team before trying anything new.

Aspirin

• 2023 study concludes: “Together, these results show that aspirin leads to significant metabolic reprogramming in colorectal cancer cells and raises the possibility that aspirin could significantly increase the efficacy of metabolic cancer therapies in CRC.” While this study was focused on a different type of cancer, the root causes of cancer and the need for metabolic reprogramming are all the same.
• Another 2023 study concludes: “However, the suggestive evidence from observational studies, together with evidence from Mendelian randomisation powerfully favour the use of low-dose aspirin.”
• MD Anderson oncologist Dr. Bresalier states: “Aspirin blocks the production of the enzymes that increase inflammation in your body and speed or assist the growth of cancer cells. Ultimately, this helps lower your cancer risks or slows the spread of the disease. However, not everyone should be taking a daily aspirin.”

Antibiotics

• This 2017 study discovered, “High dose Vitamin C and antibiotics (doxycycline) could be up to 100 times more effective than drugs at killing cancer cells – without the side effects.”  The antibiotic induces metabolic flexibility and starves the cancer cells to death. However, I do want to make clear that this was just a single study, and while very promising, we are still in the early stages of this therapy.
• This 2019 study is researching the effectiveness of Doxycycline, Azithromycin, and Vitamin C for targeting mitochondria and eradicating cancer stem cells (CSCs).

***As always, never take a new drug before getting the approval of your medical team.***

Integrative Breast Cancer Healing

Combining strategic lifestyle choices, as laid out in The Terrain Ten, with drugs such as Metformin is just one example of integrative oncology and healing support that you could learn from the Survive and Thrive: Conquering Breast Cancer with Conventional Treatments and Natural Medicine online program.

I teamed up with world-class integrative doctors and healers to help you create a true healing plan so that you never have to fear breast cancer again!

Dr. V’s Metabolic Theory Library

Blogs

• Metabolic Flexibility For Breast Cancer Healing
• Glutamine and Glucose Fuel Breast Cancer

Podcasts

• It’s Not About the Tumor, You Need To Focus On The Terrain with Nicole Saleske
• The Metabolic Approach with Dr. Nasha Winters
• Busting Breast Cancer with Dr. Susan Wadia-Ells

Recipes that are really free of sugar

Replacing toxic sugars with alternatives is totally possible! Stevia, coconut sugar, and monk fruit are a few options. 

• Blueberry Cheesecake: Yes, you read that correctly! I love a good cheesecake, but not the dairy and sugar that comes with it. This delectable gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free alternative really is a yummy slice of heaven!
• Keto No Bake Cookies: Sweet bursts of protein and healthy fats. They also can be stored in the freezer for easy access.
• The Ultimate Donut Pie: This dreamy dessert is rich in protein, healthy fats, and flavor. It’s also grain and sugar-free.
• Find more delightful dessert and sugar-free recipes in The Breast Cancer Conqueror Recipe Library.

 

Author: Dr. Veronique Desaulniers, better known as  Dr. V, is a Doctor of Chiropractic & has 44 years of experience in the wellness industry. For personalized support, please partner with a trained Breast Cancer Conqueror Coach.