Quick Summary: Many people worry that a needle biopsy might cause cancer to spread, and research suggests that while this risk may exist, it appears to be relatively low. Biopsies remain essential because they provide critical information about a tumor, helping doctors diagnose cancer and choose the most effective treatments. Studies in breast and prostate cancer have shown that biopsies can trigger inflammation and other biological changes that may make cancer cells more lik

In 2013 a research paper was published that reported a dramatic decrease in recurrence rates for women with triple negative breast cancer (aka. TNBC). The study used a repurposed medication known as tetrathiomolybdate to lower copper levels in women with a history of TNBC. At the end of one year, 85% of the women remained disease-free. This was a fantastic result, as typically 30-40% of women with TNBC experience a recurrence. So why would copper influence breast cancer re

It's common for women to question the recommendation to add soy to their diet when they have a history of breast cancer (or any other estrogen-related cancer). For years women were told to avoid the "phytoestrogens," aka plant estrogens, that were present in foods like soy, yams, flax seed, and even marijuana. The idea was that if a woman had an estrogen sensitive cancer, often referred to as estrogen receptor positive (ER+), then the phytoestrogen might be an agonist for t

Anyone diagnosed with cancer will ask themselves "What can I do to improve my chances of survival?" Beyond surgery, chemotherapy, and medical follow-up, lifestyle choices—especially exercise—is showing real promise. The Women’s Health Initiative is one of the largest health studies ever conducted, following tens of thousands of women across the United States for decades. Researchers used data from 600 women diagnosed with primary ovarian cancer to look at whether physical ac

Ovarian cancer is one of the toughest cancers women face. Despite initially responding to therapy most women see their cancer return. Currently there are limited options for inhibiting the recurrence of ovarian cancer. However, there is hope, and physicians and researchers are exploring new options. Surprisingly, one of the most promising candidates isn’t a new, high-tech drug—it’s an old one. Metformin, a medicine that’s been around for decades to treat type 2 diabetes, mi

Ovarian cancer is one of the most challenging cancers for women. Even after completing treatment, many women face a high risk of the cancer coming back. Integrative medicine and lifestyle changes can provide women with science-backed options for reducing recurrence risk. Recent research has found that ovarian cancer survivors who do not consume enough protein may be at higher risk for recurrence. Here’s what the science says about protein intake and ovarian cancer recovery:

The prostate, that walnut-sized gland that resides just below a man's urinary bladder, doesn't typically get much thought until it goes sideways. Sideways for a prostate most frequently happens in middle-aged men and manifests as an enlarged gland. Prostate enlargement is most often the result of a condition termed benign prostatic hyperplasia, aka BPH, and roughly 50% of men in the 50-60 age group have it. When the prostate gland enlarges, it can cause symptoms leading to th

Reducing Harmful Chemical Exposure Through Personal Care Products The REDUXE study published in May of 2023 looked at how reducing exposure to certain chemicals in personal care products (PCPs)—like shampoo, lotions, and makeup—can affect the body, especially breast cells. These chemicals, like parabens and phthalates, are called xenoestrogens (XEs), and are man-made substances that act like estrogen in the body. Phthalates and parabens were the chemicals that were specifica

One of the most frequent concerns I hear from breast cancer survivors is a decrease in the quality of their sex life. Often this decrease in the quality of a women’s sex life is characterized by vaginal dryness, atrophy, which contribute to the painful intercourse. This frequently is the result of their being a decreased level of estrogen in the women’s body. The decreased level of estrogens, which is often below that level typically seen in post-menopausal women, is the resu

A recent study examined the role that selenium status played in the prognosis of breast cancer. This study looked at the level of selenium in a woman’s blood at the time of her diagnosis of breast cancer and correlated this with overall survival and risk of cancer recurrence. Selenium levels were determined using three blood-based biomarkers: serum selenium, selenoprotein-P (SELENOP), and glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3). Selenium’s essential importance is due to it’s role in

Lately I’ve been seeing patients come into the office with concerns about symptoms related to having had COVID. The symptoms that people are describing include moderate-to-severe fatigue, “brain fog,” pain, and shortness of breath. A few people have mentioned abnormal heart rhythms. These symptoms can last for several months after the initial infection and can be quite debilitating for those affected. This post-COVID constellation of symptoms is now being referred to as “Long

Fiber may just be the Rodney Dangerfield of cancer therapies; it gets no respect. That is until now. Recently there have been scientific articles published describing with fantastic detail how dietary fiber, and in particular a type of fiber known as resistant starch, can influence the development and progression of cancer. Resistant starch is a type of fiber that travels through the digestive tract intact until it reaches the large intestine. Once in the large intestine the

An Australian study from 2015 reported a significant reduction in skin cancers in high-risk people. This study included 386 patients aged 30 to 91 years who had two or more non-melanoma skin cancers over the past 5 years and were therefore deemed high-risk. 500mg of niacinamide, a common form of vitamin B3, was given twice daily for 12 months. At the end of the study it was determined that the niacinamide reduced the rates of new basal-cell cancer and squamous-cell cancer dia

I read something interesting lately. It started with “high levels of serum uric acid in cancer patients significantly and independently predicted reduced survival time.” Most people associate uric acid with a condition that causes big toe pain known as gout, not as a marker of survival in cancer patients. Uric acid has also been found to exhibit strong statistical association with an increased risk of premature cancer death in men and women. Clearly, there is more to uric aci

Chemo brain. This is the common term used to describe a decline in mental function following conventional cancer treatments. Chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin, which is used to treat bladder, lung, ovarian cancers, etc, are commonly associated with chemo brain. The medical name for chemo brain is cancer-related cognitive decline (CRCD). Estimates are that up to 75% of cancer patients experience chemo brain and 35% of people have it after their treatment has ended. Treatmen

One of my favorite supplements for preventing cancer isn’t really a supplement at all, but a food. It’s a type of carbohydrate that is found in certain foods, such as peas, oats, beans, green bananas and plantains and even properly treated potatoes. This carbohydrate is referred to as resistant starch. It is called resistant because it resists digestion until it reaches the large intestine. Once there it feeds the beneficial bacteria that reside there. This bacterial digestio

It's Amazing. People who consume 18 grams of mushrooms daily have a 45% lower risk of cancer compared to those who don't. This was the finding of a systematic review and meta-analysis of research performed on over 19,500 cancer patients. How much is 18 grams? About an 1/8 of a cup. Hardly mouthful. Even if you don’t like mushrooms, this is a very easy amount to slip into your diet. Mushrooms get one of their superpowers from an interesting amino acid known as ergothioneine

In 2019 people began taking a veterinary medicine known as fenbendazole to treat cancer. At that time, this was a new off-label use of the drug and several people told me about a man who had cured his cancer this way. Intrigued, I looked into it and what I found surprised me. I learned that researchers had been studying fenbendazole’s cancer fighting activity since at least 2005. It turns out that sometime around 2005 a lab found it impossible to implant cancer cells onto lab

A few years ago a patient asked me about using a veterinary anti-parasite drug, a dog de-wormer called fenbendazole, for the treatment of human cancer. After 20 years of practicing as a naturopathic doctor helping people fight cancer, I have been asked about countless improbable sounding cancer treatments. However, I’ve learned over the years that it doesn’t hurt to consider some of these out of the norm treatments. More than once I’ve been surprised to find out that the trea

I recently wrote this article for Cowboy Life Network. The power of medical prevention through nutrition is truly amazing. Not long ago a good friend of mine fell off her horse while trail riding in Arizona. When she fell onto the hard desert ground, she luckily avoided smacking her head but did manage to break her wrist. After a few months of discomfort, surgery, and the addition of some new stainless-steel hardware she’s almost back to 100%. Another friend recently suff