How Do I Know if I Have Cancer and Do I Want to Know?

There are many misconceptions about cancer in this age of information overload and misinformation:

  • I don’t have cancer so I don’t have to worry about it 
  • Cancer is a genetic disease
  • What you eat does not matter
  • Cancer is easily curable using natural methods only (this is an exception, not a rule)

The truth is, anyone can get cancer…but there is a lot you can do to prevent and manage it. We’ve all seen the numbers – cancer is on the rise and will eventually reach a tipping point to become the #1 cause of mortality. Accepting this can empower you to lower your risk and make the changes to help prevent cancer or improve your outcomes if you do get it. 

Your genes don’t guarantee that you will get cancer because cancer is a metabolic disease. Less than 10% of cancers are due to genetic inheritance. Your environment can change the way your genes express themselves, so cancer is modifiable to a certain degree. What parts are modifiable and impact cancer positively? The foods you eat, exercise, stress management and lowering your environmental toxin load are all actionable lifestyle changes you can make to change your cancer trajectory. 

To better understand cancer and the inner workings of its development, watch this 10-minute video from Nathan Crane. Learn how to take proactive steps against cancer formation and growth. You CAN actually hinder the progress of cancer by understanding:

  • The role of DNA damage: DNA damage from environmental factors, dietary choices and lifestyle impacts cancer development.
  • The process of cellular breakdown: The breakdown of healthy cells due to damage results in the formation of cancer cells.
  • The strength of your immune system: An active immune system plays a crucial role in eliminating cancer cells, while the lymphatic system aids in cleansing and repurposing.
  • The alarming proliferation of cancer cells: Active cancer cells multiply (doubling every 90 days) and have different stages of growth.

In addition to making lifestyle changes, there are a few tests that detect cellular changes and cancer cell presence at an early stage, which can give you insight of where you stand currently. You can work with any integrative or functional medicine practitioner to order and analyze your results to come up with a focused plan to stay ahead of your cancer. 

  • RGCC: This is a liquid biopsy test that gives you insight to see if you’re forming cancer years before it is diagnosable. It looks at gene abnormalities, immune system status and circulating tumor cells to give you insight on what changes you can make to prevent a more serious cancer diagnosis. 
  • Cancer Profile – This test looks at different biomarkers (ex. PSA) that indicate cancer formation at a more rapid rate than what is natural (since a healthy body fights cancer on its own routinely).
  • Natera – These tests measure cell-free DNA to gain invaluable insights into risk, recurrence and treatment responses.

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