Breast Cancer: Bridging Prevention, Overdiagnosis, and Holistic Treatment Options
As a fertility specialist, I spend much of my time helping individuals and couples navigate the complexities of reproductive health. However, in light of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I want to take this opportunity to highlight an important connection between breast cancer and fertility. These two areas of health, often viewed as separate, are more intertwined than many realize. Infertility has been linked to cancer in various ways, and understanding this relationship is essential for prevention and informed decision-making about treatment options.
The Complexities of Mammograms: Overdiagnosis and Overtreatment
While mammograms are commonly recommended for breast cancer screening, they come with complexities, including the risk of overdiagnosis. Conditions like ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) are non-invasive and may never progress into invasive cancer, yet they are often treated aggressively in the U.S. This can lead to unnecessary biopsies, surgeries, or radiation. Additionally, repeated imaging, such as mammograms and MRIs, exposes patients to radiation and gadolinium (if MRIs are done with contrast), which carry risks such as DNA damage, potentially increasing cancer susceptibility or progression.
It’s essential to weigh the risks and benefits of mammograms and explore safer alternatives. QT Imaging, an FDA-cleared technology, uses ultrasound to create 3D images of breast tissue without the risks associated with radiation. Breast ultrasounds are also highly effective, particularly for women with dense breast tissue, offering a safer option for both screening and ongoing monitoring.
Key Markers to Guide Treatment After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
If you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s crucial to fully understand your diagnosis before deciding on a treatment path. Most breast cancers grow slower than expected, giving you time to explore your options. Key diagnostic markers include the cancer’s grade, which measures how abnormal the cells look and how fast they may grow, and the Ki-67 marker, which indicates the rate of cell division. The Oncotype DX Test can predict whether chemotherapy will be beneficial, helping you avoid unnecessary treatments. Waiting 4-6 weeks between initial imaging and follow-up imaging can also provide valuable insights into the cancer’s growth rate, helping guide more personalized and informed decisions.
The Metabolic Approach to Cancer: Optimizing Your Terrain
Breast cancer requires a holistic, metabolic approach to treatment to change the body’s terrain. The Metabolic Approach to Cancer, created by Dr. Nasha Winters, focuses on optimizing the body’s internal environment—also known as the terrain—to create conditions that are less favorable for cancer and improve overall reproductive health. This approach addresses key areas, such as genetics, immune function, microbiome health, hormonal balance, environmental toxins, and metabolic health. For cancer and optimizing all of health including fertility and beyond, an optimized terrain is essential to reduce risk factors, improve treatment outcomes, and promote long-term wellness.
The Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health (MTIH), founded by Dr. Winters, emphasizes the Terrain Ten, which includes:
– Genetics and Epigenetics
– Immune Function
– Microbiome Health
– Hormonal Balance
– Environmental Toxins
– Diet and Nutrition
– Blood Sugar Regulation
– Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
– Mitochondrial Health
– Mind-Body Connection
These tenets are central to cancer treatment, making it clear that a comprehensive, terrain-focused approach is necessary for optimizing health and promoting healing. For more information on the Metabolic Approach to Cancer and these tenets and to find Dr. Nasha’s certified practitioners and advocates to help on your cancer journey, please visit the Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health at https://my.terrain.network
Treatment Options: Surgery, Cryoablation, and Beyond
Breast cancer treatment traditionally includes surgeries like lumpectomy or mastectomy, often followed by chemotherapy or radiation. However, newer techniques such as cryoablation, which freezes cancer cells rather than removing breast tissue, are offering minimally invasive alternatives for early-stage cancers. In addition, complementary therapies, including IV high-dose vitamin C, curcumin, mistletoe injections, and the use of repurposed medications like low-dose naltrexone, can support overall health during treatment. Metronomic low-dose chemotherapy is another option, providing smaller, more frequent doses of chemotherapy that reduce toxicity and are better tolerated by many patients.
The Role of Nutrition, Supplements, and Functional Lab Testing
Nutrition plays a significant role in managing breast cancer. Many patients benefit from ketogenic or low-carb diets, as well as fasting protocols that help starve cancer cells. Supplements, prescribed by naturopathic or integrative doctors, can address inflammation, hormone balance, and immune function. Repurposed medications like low-dose naltrexone, metformin, and propranolol have also shown promise in improving outcomes. Regular lab work, such as the Signatera test by Natera, helps track circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood, offering an early warning system for cancer progression.
Physical Activity: Enhancing Breast Cancer Outcomes
Physical activity is crucial in breast cancer treatment. Maintaining a healthy body weight and building muscle can significantly improve treatment outcomes. Regular exercise—aiming for 120 minutes of cardio and strength training per week—helps reduce inflammation, enhance resilience, and improve quality of life during treatment.
Natural IV Therapies and Injectable Treatments for Support
Natural IV therapies and injectables, such as high-dose vitamin C, PolyMVA, ozone, and mistletoe, offer additional support by providing targeted nutrients directly into the bloodstream. These treatments enhance the body’s ability to fight cancer while reducing side effects. Injectable mistletoe and/or helleborus, widely used in integrative oncology, has been shown to modulate the immune system and provide anti-cancer benefits.
Empower Yourself: Taking Control of Your Health Journey
Breast cancer is a profoundly personal journey, with each experience being uniquely its own. Empowering yourself starts with fully understanding your diagnosis, thoughtfully considering all available treatment options, and taking proactive steps to optimize your overall health. Having navigated this path on various levels, I know how crucial it is to avoid the pitfalls of overdiagnosis and explore the full spectrum of treatments. Whether your journey leads you toward surgery, cryoablation, or a more integrative, holistic approach, being actively involved in your care is key to not only surviving but truly thriving.
A valuable resource in this journey is the Metabolic Approach to Cancer, which has recently evolved into the Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health (MTIH). This transformation expands the focus beyond cancer to include a wide range of chronic conditions—such as complex infertility, autoimmunity, diabetes, hypothyroidism, pain syndromes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, and more—because the core principles of MTIH apply broadly to many health concerns. By focusing on optimizing your body’s terrain through a comprehensive metabolic approach, MTIH provides a framework that can improve outcomes for a variety of conditions.
By connecting with experts trained in this approach and prioritizing the health of your body’s terrain, you can ensure that your care is not only personalized but also aligned with your values and long-term health goals, whether you’re navigating cancer, infertility, or another chronic condition.
References:
1. Winters, N., & Kelley, J. (2017). *The Metabolic Approach to Cancer: Integrating Deep Nutrition, the Ketogenic Diet, and Nontoxic Bio-Individualized Therapies*. Chelsea Green Publishing. This book outlines the comprehensive metabolic approach that Dr. Nasha Winters developed for cancer treatment and prevention, emphasizing the importance of the Terrain Ten and how addressing underlying metabolic issues can help manage and treat cancer.
2. Esserman, L. J., Thompson, I. M., & Reid, B. (2013). *Overdiagnosis and Overtreatment in Cancer: An Opportunity for Improvement*. JAMA, 310(8), 797–798. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2013.108415. This article discusses the growing concern around the overdiagnosis and overtreatment of cancers, including breast cancer, and explores strategies for reducing unnecessary interventions in cancer care.
3. Yaffe, M. J. (2015). Overdiagnosing Overdiagnosis. Academic Radiology, 22(10), 1254-1260. DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2015.04.003. This article critically examines the concept of overdiagnosis in breast cancer screening, particularly in the context of mammography, and argues against the idea that it always leads to overtreatment. It provides an important perspective on the complexities of breast cancer screening and diagnosis.
4. QT Imaging. QT Imaging Technology Overview. https://www.qtimaging.com/. This website provides information on QT Imaging’s FDA-cleared ultrasound technology, which offers a radiation-free alternative for breast cancer screening.
5. Natera. Signatera Test Overview. https://www.natera.com/. The Signatera test tracks circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the bloodstream to provide early detection of cancer recurrence, allowing for more precise monitoring and intervention.
6. Grivennikov, S. I., & Karin, M. (2011). Inflammation and Cancer: Back to Virchow? Cancer Cell, 19(6), 716–719. This article reviews the link between inflammation and cancer, emphasizing the importance of addressing chronic inflammation through lifestyle changes and metabolic interventions.
7. McLelland, J. (2018). How to Starve Cancer…without starving yourself. Agenor Publishing. This book provides an in-depth look at how specific dietary strategies and off-label drug use can help “starve” cancer cells by cutting off their fuel supply, aligning well with holistic cancer treatment approaches.
8. Holmes, D. R. Cryoablation for Breast Cancer. Cryoablation.com. Retrieved from https://www.cryoablation.com. Dr. Dennis Holmes is a leading breast cancer surgeon and cryoablation expert, specializing in minimally invasive treatments for breast cancer. He has pioneered the use of cryoablation as an alternative to traditional surgical methods, allowing for the preservation of breast tissue while effectively targeting and destroying cancer cells. More information about his work and cryoablation as a treatment option can be found on the website.
By: Dr. Rosia Parrish | Naturopathic Wellness Center of Boulder
Dr. Rosia Parrish (She/Her/Hers) is a Naturopathic Doctor and Fertility Specialist with a passion for helping individuals and couples achieve their dream of starting or growing their family. With advanced practitioner training through the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) and a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from the esteemed Bastyr University, Dr. Parrish has over a decade of clinical and research experience.
Dr. Parrish specializes in fertility and pregnancy, and she also offers naturopathic support for a wide range of health conditions including digestive concerns including food sensitivities, candida, SIBO, eczema, autoimmunity, and more. She also diagnoses and treats chronic infections, hidden infections, chronic fatigue, mycotoxin and mold illness (Mold Literate Certified by Dr. Jill Crista), and she treats hormonal imbalances for both women (PMS, PCOS, PMDD) and men (low libido, low testosterone, hair loss, male factor infertility, etc.).
Dr. Rosia’s approach is centered around identifying the root cause of complex health concerns, providing gentle and efficient care, and supporting her patients in achieving optimal and lifelong health. She is committed to working with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that will help you achieve your fertility goals and overall wellness.