Most breast cancer cases are preventable with a healthy lifestyle and a strong immune system, but failing these, the right diagnostic tests will help you find them early, says Dr Leigh Erin Connealy
Breast cancer gets a lot of attention in the media today, but the focus is mainly on awareness and treatment. We don’t hear as much about prevention.
According to the American Cancer Society, almost a third of breast cancer cases after menopause occur due to lifestyle factors we can control. And we can prevent 50–70 percent of breast cancer cases at all ages by making lifestyle changes sooner.1
Being female and getting older are two major risk factors we can’t do anything about. However, the best defense is a good offense. Starting today, you can change your habits to help fend off cancer and engender overall health. These are some key areas to focus on:
Let’s look at a few of these in more detail.
Whether you have cancer or are trying to prevent it, shoring up your immune system is a must. In addition to the steps above, there are a handful of therapies you can employ to enhance immune function.
Oral and IV vitamin C. Vitamin C is a well-known immunity booster, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that increases and supports immune function.
In the past, getting enough vitamin C to be effective was challenging, as potent levels taken orally can cause stomach upset. That’s no longer the case with a new water-soluble formula we started giving patients recently.
Up to 75 times stronger than other vitamin C supplements, MyCell products deliver targeted doses at the cellular level. Because they’re more bioavailable and easily absorbed, lower dosages are required. (The product we use and recommend is VitC, available from perfectlyhealthy.com, though other products out there may use MyCell technology.)
For the ultimate immune recharge, consider IV vitamin C. It bypasses the stomach entirely, sending therapeutic doses directly into the bloodstream. Hydration rooms and even mobile IV services are now available in most major cities—search online to find one near you.
Suggested dosage: Follow label or practitioner instructions for oral vitamin C
Vitamin D3. Did you know that vitamin D3 is one of the most powerful anticancer supplements on the planet? Or that it favorably influences more than 200 genes in the body? Behaving more like a hormone, vitamin D helps reduce inflammation, thwart cancer cell growth and replication, prevent tumor blood vessel growth and even trigger cancer cell death.
Suggested dosage: Order a blood test and aim for a level of 50–70 ng/mL; most people need 5,000–15,000 IUs daily to reach the therapeutic range
Probiotics. Many people don’t realize the gut is the control center for the immune system. An unbalanced intestinal biome can wreak havoc on health and keep the immune system from functioning at its peak.
That’s where a good probiotic and fermented foods come in. Populating—or repopulating—your system with beneficial bacteria is essential for immunity.
Various brands of probiotics can be found online or in health food stores. Look for well-known, reputable brands that contain billions of colony-forming units (CFUs) and are tested for potency and purity.
Suggested dosage: Follow label instructions and/or eat foods like kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha and kimchi
In addition to the everyday immune-boosting supplements, a handful of targeted supplements also have proven anticancer properties.
Curcumin. Curcumin, derived from the bright yellow spice turmeric, is known for being an anti-inflammatory powerhouse. But this spicy member of the ginger family is also a potent anticancer agent.
Curcumin inhibits multiple processes in the body that can lead to cancer and interferes with tumor growth and metastasis. It also goes after the “baby” cancer cells that chemotherapy may not affect.
Research spanning the past 50 years and clinical trials over the past 25 years support curcumin’s role in treating cancer and other pro-inflammatory diseases.2 Clinical trials also suggest curcumin is as effective as pharmaceuticals in cancer treatment.
We use both oral and IV curcumin in our practice. Curcumin supplements are easy to take at home, while IV administration allows for larger, more potent doses and optimizes absorption. Ask your integrative physician to investigate IV curcumin as a treatment option for cancer or other inflammatory diseases. (Note: IV curcumin must be ordered from a compounding pharmacy.)
Suggested dosage: Follow label or practitioner instructions for oral curcumin
Garlic. Garlic has been a medicinal tool and fragrant cooking staple for centuries. A member of the onion family, it’s brimming with healthful anticancer compounds that attack cancer cells in the body.
Garlic strengthens the immune system, increases natural killer cell counts (one of the body’s frontline immunity responses), bolsters liver detoxification and stimulates production of the body’s premier antioxidant, glutathione.
Suggested dosage: Follow label or practitioner instructions
Indole-3-carbinol. Cauliflower, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, cabbage and other members of the cruciferous vegetable family are rich in the compound indole-3-carbinol (I3C). I3C blocks some xenoestrogenic effects of chemicals in the body, which increase the risk of reproductive cancers like those of the prostate, breast, uterus and cervix.
Consult with your physician about hormone testing, which can reveal if too much estrogen or xenoestrogens are putting you at a higher risk of cancer or playing a role in your current disease. If you find you have excess “bad estrogen,” eat more cruciferous vegetables and consider taking an I3C supplement.
Suggested dosage: Follow label or practitioner instructions
Talk with your doctor before beginning any new supplement regimen. These supplements are safe and generally well tolerated, though some contraindications do exist. It’s always wise to consult your personal physician and discuss any changes or additions to your treatment plan.
These supplements are readily available online and in many health food stores and integrative physicians’ offices.
We all know the importance of regular physical activity. But in the case of cancer, particularly breast cancer, it’s a must, especially for preventing recurrence.
Studies show that women who regularly exercise significantly reduce their risk of the disease returning. Findings from a 2019 systemic review and meta-analysis revealed that “breast cancer survivors who were the most physically active had a 42 percent lower risk of death from any cause and a 40 percent lower risk of death from breast cancer than those who were the least physically active.”3
Do your best to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days. Even if you don’t feel well or aren’t motivated, do whatever you can to get moving. Exercise can positively impact your recovery just as much as your other treatment programs.
Whether you’re facing a serious health challenge, such as breast cancer or another chronic disease, or you just want to cultivate a positive outlook and boost your health, daily positive affirmations are an outstanding therapy. Everyone can benefit from this simple and powerful practice, and it’s easier than you think.
Wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and pick an affirming sentence, or handful of sentences, that apply to your health and healing goals. These are a few I suggest to my patients:
“I am strong and capable of overcoming any challenge.”
“I am surrounded by love and support.”
“I am grateful for each day and the opportunities it brings.”
“I am worthy of love, joy, and happiness.”
“I choose to focus on positivity and let go of negativity.”
The most important thing is to choose a positive affirmation that resonates with you. Commit to repeating it daily and note how your outlook and health improve exponentially.
Even if you’ve done all you can to prevent cancer, life happens, and you might still find yourself suspecting you have it. The earlier cancer is detected, the better. I encourage everyone to partner with an integrative physician.
They are more likely and willing than conventional oncologists to run preliminary screening tests, use innovative detection modalities and think outside the conventional medicine toolbox. They also look at your health from a whole-body perspective versus simply targeting the tumor.
If you don’t already have an integrative physician, you can find one by visiting the website of the American College for Advancement in Medicine at acam.org or the Institute for Functional Medicine at ifm.org.
At the Cancer Center for Healing, we use screening tests that conventional oncologists typically don’t. One is the Cancer Profile. This test can detect cancer in the earliest developmental stages, up to a decade before a tumor forms and becomes visible using routine diagnostic tests.
The Cancer Profile and carcinoembryonic antigen test look at several biomarkers, including HCG, phosphohexose isomerase or glucose phosphate isomerase (PHI), thyroid hormone function, specific liver enzymes and DHEA. Abnormal levels of these enzymes and hormones are often early warning signs of cancer.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with cancer but want to find out which therapies will work most effectively on your specific cancer, a blood test through Datar Labs or Research Genetic Cancer Center (RGCC) can be instrumental. RGCC testing also measures circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs).
CTCs and CSCs are often created when tumors larger than 1–2 mm break up and move to other parts of the body via the circulatory system. These newly created “nests” can become homes for new tumors. To be truly cancer-free—even if your original tumor has been treated with chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgery—your CTCs and CSCs must be down to zero.
These blood tests are an excellent start, but we also rely on diagnostic testing that looks different from traditional oncology screening.
Since the introduction of mammograms in the 1970s, women have been urged to undergo these screenings every one to two years, starting at age 40–45, depending on the country they live in. However, there are several problems and risks associated with mammography.
First and foremost, mammograms are painful and can be traumatic. Implant rupture, skin tears and deep tissue damage are among the potential risks.
Next, mammograms are not as accurate as once believed. In dense breasts, they can miss almost half of all cancers.4
Then there are the anxiety, fear and trauma associated with false positives. Per the American Cancer Society, “About half of the women getting annual mammograms over a 10-year period will have a false-positive finding at some point.”5
Perhaps most alarming is the repeated exposure to small doses of ionizing radiation, which can accumulate in the body and have carcinogenic effects over time.
I believe, to my core, that a paradigm shift in breast cancer diagnosis is necessary and could impact the safety and well-being of women around the globe. Fortunately, an innovative screening modality is now gaining popularity and becoming accessible to a broader range of women worldwide.
Quantitative transmission (QT) ultrasound is a safe, painless and FDA-approved imaging method that’s going to change the way we diagnose breast cancer worldwide. It uses sound waves to produce a 3D reconstruction of the breast—without compression or radiation.
QT imaging provides 40 times the resolution of an MRI and can replace mammograms and other breast cancer diagnostics with a simple, painless test. I believe so strongly in its efficacy and usefulness that we brought it into my clinics as soon as it was available. Keep your eyes peeled for this revolutionary tool at a clinic near you by checking qtimaging.com/locations.
Ultrasound. Ultrasound is a widely available, non-radiation option that can detect lumps and bumps in the breast. It’s quick, painless and noninvasive.
Self breast exams. Done regularly and thoroughly, self-exams are also extremely effective for early detection.
Thermography. Infrared thermographic imaging allows us to see vascular patterns in the breast along with temperature (heat) that may signify cancer. We use it to find abnormalities in the breast tissue and monitor patients during treatment.
When it comes to breast cancer, we desperately need a paradigm shift in prevention, screening and detection. The good news is the information is at your fingertips, and top-notch integrative practitioners worldwide are sharing these tools and approaches.
If you haven’t already, partner with one and focus on the lifestyle changes you can start making today to engender health and ward off disease. Yours could be one of the 50–70 percent of preventable cancer cases.
A handful of symptoms can clue us in to cancer developing in the body. Often these warning signs appear long before the disease becomes aggressive. Talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing these symptoms and haven’t already been diagnosed with cancer or another health condition.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, especially if more than a handful are present, please talk to your doctor about cancer testing.
Also see: An Integrative Approach to Breast Cancer
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