Increasing mortality rates associated with cancer metastasis has significantly impacted the cancer research community over the last decade. The spread of cancer is complex and involves a domino effect of influences which promote an environment for cancer cells to thrive.
Cyclic series of events innately drive cancer. Stress leads to cellular damage. Untreated damage creates more inflammation and genetic abnormalities that intensify the ability for cancer to develop. Inflammation breaks down healthy cell signaling allowing cancer cells to form tumors and spread throughout the body (metastasize).
This article will cover the 4 key factors that cause cancer metastasis in the body. You will also learn natural ways to combat these influences from wreaking havoc within your cells and how to detect cancer early.
Factor #1: Chronic Inflammation
One of the key driving forces behind cancer metastasis is systemic inflammation. It is suspected that chronic inflammation is the primary cause of 25% of all human cancers. Inflammatory conditions contribute to the ability of cancer cells to rapidly grow, form tumors, and even resist cancer treatment drugs.
Inflammation increases tissue damage and is a major cause of epigenetic changes. While scientist once thought that the genes we were given at birth were unchangeable, the field of epigenetics provides evidence that environmental factors we are exposed to (ie. nutrition, toxins, stress) can turn genes off and on causing genetic abnormalities.
Genetic alterations result in the following consequences:
- Activation of EMT Activity: EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) activity is turned on, triggering a series of pathways that maintain chronic inflammation. EMT pathways boost tumor cell migration by breaking down adhesive anchors to cancers cells, thus increasing their ability to move and invade new tissue.
- Transcriptional Changes: Many transcription factors that act as on/off switches for the expression of genes are altered under conditions of inflammation. These controlling factors have the ability to repress E-cadherin activity normally responsible for maintaining the adhesive properties that binds a cell to a location.
- Immune Cell Secretion: Inflammatory cells like lymphocytes and neutrophils infiltrate tumors causing the release of other cellular agents that promote metastasis including cytokines and growth factors.
- Overexpression of LOX: LOX or lysyl oxidase changes enzymatic activity associated with cellular adhesion. As a result, increased LOX expression induces several of the influences mentioned above including EMT activation and the suppression of E-cadherin activity.
Factor #2: Modified Nrf2 Signaling
Nrf2 (nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2) signaling is involved in numerous functions in the body associated with healing. Nrf2 aids in DNA repair and has anti-inflammatory properties that regulate cellular adhesion. It also regulates enzyme activity and apoptosis and otherwise acts as a super antioxidant defense system.
This transcription factor is intrinsically involved in maintaining homeostasis throughout the body via stress management. Three major stress molecules including reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H202), and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are toxic to biological systems and are regulated by Nrf2.
Oxidative stressors ultimately degrade Nrf2 preventing its ability to block genetic mutations from occurring while aiding cells to appropriately manage stress.
Factor #3: Secretion of Connective Tissue-Dissolving Enzymes
The overexpression of metalloproteinases or MMPs is indicative of cancer metastasis. MMPs are a family of enzymes that break down the extracellular matrix within a cell. Typically, a healthy cell utilizes this connective network of tissue to communicate with other cells and its environment while also providing structure and various physiological functions.
When this matrix is degraded, there is an increased risk of malignant tumor growth. This is due to increased cellular permeability, response changes to surrounding stimuli including angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth), and increased systemic inflammation. Of the 21 MMPs recognized in the development of chronic conditions and disease, a select few are used as biomarkers in identifying aggressive cancer types.
MMP-13 activity is prevalent in metastatic breast cancers, urinary cancer, as well as skin, head, and neck cancers. MMP-11 is evident in invasive breast and skin cancer. MMP-2 and MMP-9 play a key role in cancer malignancy because they are associated with increasing tumor growth.
Specifically, these MMPs support metastatic growth factors like angiogenesis. They act as traffic controllers sending signals to inflammatory compounds and light the path to receptors. Once MMPs bind to these receptors they activate numerous other metastatic influences.
Factor #4: Angiogenesis
The development of new blood vessels to an abnormal cell naturally promotes aggressive tumor development. Angiogenesis provides a cancer cell with adequate blood flow and nutrients required to invade new tissue.
This energy fuels a tumor to create biological changes once it invades and interacts with endothelial cells. Thin layers of endothelial cells lines blood and lymphatic vessels. Once interaction with these cells is initiated, cancer has the ability to circulate throughout the body and invade distant tissue.
As infection increases and the cancer grows, conditions of hypoxia increases, further inducing LOX and giving rise to a cascade of adverse but favorable conditions to the tumor. Chronic inflammation leads to inflamed cells, prolonged oxidative stress, and the inability of the body to identify and eliminate the infectious cancer growth.
Cancer Tumor Prevention Strategies
The following strategies will increase the chemoprotective properties of your cells and limit cellular toxicity that stimulates cancer metastasis.
#1. Limit MMP Activity
Improving the regulation of MMP activity in cells is essential to reducing the breakdown of connective tissue within a cell and combating cancer metastasis. Some of the best dietary compounds that inhibit MMP activity and promote detoxification in the body are:
- Polyphenols: EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) found in green tea, resveratrol in dark grapes and berries, and curcumin-active turmeric
- Flavonoids: Quercetin, predominantly found in citrus fruits as well as apples
- Isothiocyanates: Sulfur-containing compounds including sulforaphane concentrated in broccoli and a variety of cruciferous veggies
Incorporating more of these antioxidants into your diet has been shown to effectively treat colon, prostate, kidney, and liver cancer − to name only a few. Simultaneous dietary phytochemicals provide significant cancer protective benefits to healthy cells and create cytotoxic effects to tumor cells. You can also support cellular integrity by consuming foods rich in zinc, magnesium, and vitamin C.
#2. Consume an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Consuming an anti-inflammatory chemopreventive diet is the best way to prevent the aggressive behavior of cancer metastasis. These nutrients inhibit inflammatory enzymes and suppress carcinogenic activity:
- Berberine: Natural antibiotic with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Found in goldenseal root and Oregon grape root
- Luteolin: Suppresses cancer by stimulating enzymes and supports elimination of toxins. Found in chamomile tea, celery, and green peppers
- Curcumin: Blocks TNF (tumor necrosis factor) therefore decreasing tumor growth activity. Active component in turmeric
- Kaempferol and Quercetin: Inhibits uric acid synthesis. Abundant in blackberries, spinach, onions, and cucumbers
- Apigenin: Scavenges free radicals and supports detoxification pathways. Concentrated in onions, oranges, and grapefruit
The key to preventing chronic inflammation and suppressing cancer growth is to limit foods high in sugar and starch. Genetically modified grains have flooded the marketplace and fuel cancer growth by supplying a steady feed of glucose.
Rather than feeding cancer, starve it by consuming foods that help maintain low blood sugar levels. These foods include 100% grass-fed beef and raw cheeses, and organic pasture-raised poultry. Adding low-carb fermented foods and beverages to your diet will help to provide an alkalizing environment in your tissue and organs inhibiting the development and spread of cancer.
#3. Support the NRF2 Pathway
#3. Support the NRF2 PathwayIt is critical to strengthen the anti-inflammatory mechanisms regulated by Nrf2 signaling in order to protect your cells against oxidative damage and free radical activity. This is why the nutrients abundant in a plant-based diet have such powerful chemopreventive properties. Phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables prevent cancer development by upregulating antioxidant enzymes and detoxification processes.
Dietary phytochemicals support the Nrf2 defenses in the following ways:
- Inhibit the release of inflammatory promoting agents that induce metastasis
- Protect against genetic mutations and epigenetic alterations
- Turn off factors that keep cancer cells in a constant state of proliferation thus shutting down their ability to grow and divide
- Shut down transcription factors responsible for turning off the body’s defense mechanisms to fight against infection
Key dietary compounds that support the Nrf2 Pathway include curcumin, resveratrol, green tea extract, and sulforaphane, among others.
Alternative Cancer Testing: Thermography
The efficacy and risks involving cancer screening is a topic globally debated. Conventional screening methods are often invasive, are a significant financial burden, increase emotional stress, expose patients to unnecessary radiation, and can even promote cancer metastasis.
An affordable and more accurate form of identifying cancer growth in the body is thermography testing. Thermography screening offers a painless and safe route for analyzing physiological changes in the body that characterize cancer growth. This diagnostic tool creates a digital map of heat patterns identifying areas where increased blood flow may indicate the presence of infection.
Unlike other diagnostic cancer screening which may only identify anatomical changes and the presence of a tumor, thermography screening provides early detection from the start of cancer growth. Any asymmetrical thermal patterns of the body provide information about abnormal vascular function helping to identify cancer before it develops the ability to metastasize.
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Article Summary
The spread of cancer is complex and involves a domino effect of influences which promote an environment for cancer cells to thrive.
4 key factors that cause cancer metastasis in the body are:
- Chronic Inflammation
- Modified Nrf2 Signaling
- Secretion of Connective Tissue-Dissolving Enzymes
- Angiogenesis
The following strategies will help prevent the formation, growth, and spread of cancer tumors:
- Consume dietary compounds that inhibit MMP activity and promote detoxification in the body including EGCG found in green tea, resveratrol in dark grapes and berries, and turmeric; quercetin found in citrus fruits and apples; sulforaphane concentrated in broccoli and cruciferous veggies
- Consume nutrients that inhibit inflammatory enzymes and suppress carcinogenic activity such as berberine, luteolin, curcumin, kaempferol, quercetin and apigenin
- Strengthen the anti-inflammatory mechanisms regulated by Nrf2 signaling with curcumin, resveratrol, green tea extract, and sulforaphane
Conventional cancer screening methods can expose patients to unnecessary radiation and even promote cancer metastasis. A safer and more accurate form of identifying cancer growth in the body is thermography testing.
I suffer from chronic headaches I get them every day I have gone to numerous doctors specialists and have had X-rays mri etc to no avail I have been given all kinds of migrain meds again nothing works I take excedrin migrain aspirin they help but I take to much of this I have discussed this with my dr and he does not have an answer for me can you suggest something? They tell me all the tests and X-rays are normal
Hi Domingo,
We are sorry to hear what you are going through. It must be so frustrating not finding results! The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
I had chronic headaches everyday for thirty years. Serendipity lead me to the cure. I had a breast cancer scare. Turned out to be cysts. I came across a book by David Derry, MD called “Breast Cancer and Iodine” and he described my headaches. He stated that iodine will induce apoptosis in breast cancer up to and including the first stage in fourteen days. He also adds desiccated thyroid. The Asians have been ingesting approximately 12.5 milligrams per day for centuries, so we know it is safe at that dosage. He recommends Lugol’s 2%. Each drop has 1.65 milligrams so five or six drops in a little water each morning on an empty stomach, twenty or thirty minutes before food. What I thought were tumors were gone in eight days! Over time, my headaches improved by eighty percent! You likely have a thyroid issue. I am hypothyroid. I have come to learn that this is caused by the Epstein Barr virus, thanks to Anthony Williams book, “Medical Medium”. Avoiding eggs and dairy and consuming his “ heavy metal detox smoothie “ primarily, along with adequate magnesium cured me completely, 100 % of my daily headaches! I have zero pain! Domingo, I am confident this will help you. Use the liquid form of iodine at least until your headaches are gone. It is more bioavailable. You can switch to a capsule later. I discovered I don’t digest tablets well. As we age our digestion often isn’t as effective as when we are younger. God Bless.
People sensitive to EMFs (cell phones, wifi, smart meters, game stations, etc) can experience headaches. I have a patient who had daily headaches. Moved to a rural area with no internet and it’s night and day. I will get a headache if my husband leaves his cell phone in the bedroom by accident. You can have symptoms in any body system – skin, breathing, cancer, pain, poor sleep, ovarian cysts, reproduction issues. I get sneezing and running nose, ovarian pain and headaches, and sometimes itchy skin. Start by turning your wifi off at night or better yet go back to ethernet plugged in. Keep your cell phone off of you and on airplane mode (GPS still works unless you turn off location services). I can really tell the difference when I go out to crowded places with all of that around me. I do wear a PEMF device that helps a lot.
Hello How and where do we purchase such nutrients to prevent metastasis?
You can find just about anything at amazon,.com. Read the good AND bad reviews.
PET/CT is bad? I know that is last minute notice. My wife will go for it in this coming Tuesday.
Is the insurance Humana can cover for thermography testing? Of course, you do not know.
Anyway, I am very much thank you for your genius mind to teach us to beat the damn cursed cancer: (Doctors by MRI, CT, and X-rays, do not know what was the source and it is stage 4 metastatasized liver and adrenal tumors which took by biopsy) So frustrated and my wife takes ondansetron 8 MG for every 8 hours to prevent vomit and nausea, Wondering of other natural remedy to kill those?
Anyway doctors removed appendix and ovary because of big tumors, actually not the appendix. So to prevent cancer spreading to appendix. However all of them had no cancers at all.
Thank you again and if you help me out, I will be more glad. My wife is weak and we refused to take a chemo. But we wanted to know where the source of cancer from only. She cannot eat a big plate anymore. Very picky person. I already bought a machine for the green veggies. But she is trying to drink and eat the big changing diets. I am very frustrating. I can do that and change my life for the better finally!
Check out the doctors at this address: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/ Miriam Kalamian has a consulting service, as well as Nasha WInters. They can help you. I wish you the best.
This was very helpful.My children want me to get a PET scan I don’t want one I’m going to look for thermography place now.Also I have multiple melanoma tumors that are growing.Im going to add some of the products you mentioned. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Google ACCT approved Thermography Clinic. Best wishes!
I do not interested on receiving this kind of e-mails, please unsubscribe me.
Thank you, best regards
Hi Fatima,
Please go ahead and send our customer success team a message by going here: https://support.thetruthaboutcancer.com/submit_ticket
They will be able to help you with that.
Some of the comtent is very hard to inderstand .. or maybe I’m just mot smsrt enough to know what some of this means. I wish it wete eadier to understand.
I had breast cancer .. think I’m ok now but my oncologist still dping follow ups.
Gail
Are there health care professionals in the Kansas City metro area that are trained in integrative medicine and can provide guidance to individuals with health issues.
I am a contributor to TTAC and have watch a lot of the Videos and take supplements recommened to stop Cancer. But….now that my Left Breast Cancer has come back and spread to Right Breast, I am scared to use the Alternate Methods or Facilities. I was able to get my 2010 cancer in remission naturally and I really dont want to go the Traditional Route but fear is setting in and pressure to act fast. ANY Suggestion??
Patti,
We are so sorry to hear that your cancer has come back. The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Great info on how important s healthy diet is!
I registered for the latest docuseries on TTAB and have received no info from the web site. I have been following this site for at least 2 years but now am receiving no information.
Hi Barbara,
We are so sorry to hear that you haven’t been receiving emails. Please send our customer success team a message and they will look into the issue for you: https://support.thetruthaboutcancer.com/submit_ticket
How much iodine does one need to have to read normal in the body. What type of iodine should one take.
Hi Ronita,
We cannot recommend a specific dosage of iodine, but we would recommend speaking with a trusted medical professional about this.
I don’t understand a cancer hospital that cost $50,000 for a three week stay. Is there any place in the USA that similar hope can be found?
Learn and do it at home. Wireless radiation is one of the top causes of cancer – clean up your environment and listed to all these Truth about Cancer protocols.
How about microcurrent and cancer?
Have you done research on lyme disease? My daughter has Lyme, however, the cdc does not recognize her markers even though she has five markers, 2 of them are showing in her urine and cdc says no to urine tests.
Hi Susan,
We don’t have information on lyme disease at this time. The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Hi Dr. Jockers,
Thank you for this important info! A couple questions:
1. I thought green peppers help cause inflammation? Has this changed or have I been given the wrong info?
2. Should my hematologist/oncologist be aware of thermography? The more important question is can it detect any change or anything else with/for blood cancers such as waldenstrom’s?
Thank you!
Regards
Sal C.
Health Information
Meat and dairy is a No No.
What do you think about taking systemic enzymes to break down fibrin??
Thanks for asking this question! I have the same!
Great article. Interesting though, could the promotion of thermography just give the medical mafia a chance to get a hold on a lot more people earlier to commence their destructive tools of chemo, radiation and surgery where cancer may never even have developed? Early detection is not necessarily a good thing.
Early detection will help you get on the ball and get real help!!
A healthy lifestyle involves a lot of things including a fitness training every day, good sleep, reducing toxins and what we eat. First is what to avoid, refined sugar and processed foods, fast food take-aways. The whole world needs to stop GMO foods as they have been proved to cause cancer. Eat raw fruit and vegetables every day. Fasting is a great way to give the body a rest from the 3 meals a day idea.
I take Protandim NRF2 Synergizer for that exact reason.
Hi David
i am Mala from London. I am 65yrs of age and have a medical background.
In 2016 i was diagnosed with rectal cancer. The diagnosis could only be confirmed with a biopsy and a histology. I took about 6 months to look into alternatives and finally had a radical surgery to remove the tumor with a left side ileostomy . A week later i had to return to theater with an ischemic bowel.. I than had an end colostomy.. Lots of complication relating to surgery with a two months stay in the hospital. I recovered very well with no drugs but was using CBD oils from Charlotte’s website unsupported by the hospital. Using it independently.
In December the MRI scan showed 1cm and 3cms lesion outside the liver. Again i took time out prior to 6 chemotherapy sessions . i was not too bad . I had a liver resection after chemo and the tumor was removed . The 1 cm tumor disappeared and the 3cms shrunk to 2cms. This was via open Liver surgery. i healed well and did a 10miles walk before the 6 wks.
NOW i want to ensure i do not have any metastasis.. following the alkaline diet and as normal leading a very health life.
not sure about taking anything systematically esp enzymes. Even if their were enough studies on humans to say it helps to break down fibrin , i would need to be convinced.
Very informative thank you i have learned a lot.
This may as well be written in Chinese! Explanation in English please. Not practical not helpful
Hi Liz,
For more information about this article please visit the Sources and References tab for more information.
Good morning,
I am hoping you can help me understand. In the following passage it seems to me that H2O2 therapy would have negative effects on my body.
But when I click on the link for H2O2 provided in the article, it takes me to an article about the positive aspects of H2O2 therapy.
I have read the The One Minute Cure and actually used H2O2 therapy orally for about 6 months. This was about 5 years ago and honestly, after about a month I felt better than I had in over 15 years of being diagnosed with Chronic Active Hep B, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. I was thinking of starting it again but frankly I am confused about it’s benefi and risks. Any help is appreciated as it is hard to find info on this subject.
“This transcription factor is intrinsically involved in maintaining homeostasis throughout the body via stress management. Three major stress molecules including reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H202), and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are toxic to biological systems and are regulated by Nrf2.
Oxidative stressors ultimately degrade Nrf2 preventing its ability to block genetic mutations from occurring while aiding cells to appropriately manage stress.”
Sincerely,
Laurie
I wish you could just give us a list of good verse bad things to eat and not go into so much technical wording. Like these foods work for cronic inflammation list, and maybe even simpler these are the food groups and what you should try to eat. I know sugar is bad but I didn’t know that natural beef was ok to eat?
just maybe make a simple health list to follow??
I am a breast cancer survivor 8 years out.
Hi Tina,
We have lots of articles on healthy eating habits on our website! Just search for any keywords that seem pertinent to you.
I agree! I read all of these articles and there is really nothing about what to get to help me or anyone in my family. That’s the biggest problem is trying to find real organic products and companies to get stuff from! I even bought a book and most all the websites don’t work anymore! It’s so hard to figure the actual right things or places to go to help ones self and family
Hi Sarah –
Thanks for reaching out to us about this.
Unfortunately, we don’t have a specific brand recommendation for supplements at this time. But I would be happy to pass along this question/request on your behalf.
In the mean time, you could start with doing some research on USDA certified organic supplements available in a local shop or an online store. 🙂
The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors we interviewed in the Global series so they can recommend the best products for your bodies.
Please note that we are not able to select an expert for you.
We’ve created a page with the experts’ contact info as it was available to us.
Here’s the link to the actual webpage:
http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
We do have one more resource you may be interested in. During our Live Event 2017 series, Dr. Patrick Quillin suggested contacting The Institute of Functional Medicine to locate a practitioner in your area.
If you are interested, here is the link to search for a Functional Medicine Practitioner in your area: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
Blessings and love!
Confused, as you state in one sentence low carbs and sugar but in the next state to eat grapes, fruit, like oranges. I am stage four breast to bone mets. Would be nice to have some clarity. Also you address the problems with conventional and at the same time mention how curcumin makes chemo work better. It would be nice if what your stated were clearer, since I am fighting for my life.
I also have metastatic breast cancer that has gone to my bones. I eat 1 clove of garlic every night. (Clean, Put whole clove in your mouth and bit 1 to 2 times and swallow whole. I also wash one whole lemon. Cut it up and put in ninja pulse until it is all pulverized LOL. Put in quart container add alittle sugar to taste and drink throughout the date, every day. I do take a break from these every 3 weeks for a week. I’ve been fighting since 2009 and my last blood work was all within normal limits.
Sugar in fruit is not bad for you. In fact you can cure cancer with a 100% fruit diet as my husband did. Indoor agree with the artical saying beef and cheese are good for you. They are all very acidic and you need to create an alkaline environment. We follow Dr Robert Morse and he has about 800 YouTube videos on his channel if you want to learn more.
Hello Stephanie what type of cancer did your husband have and what stage was he at. Did he go on a special if so could you give me details. I am so pleased your husband has been cured.
Check out foods presented in a Macrobiotic Diet for starting. Second, NO processed foods. Lots of folks will help you with food confusion at the Facebook Macrobiotic website. No one diet is right for all of us. We are and remain individuals, but there are a few definite items we need daily. Keeping a clean mind is of the utmost. Do not be afraid. We are here and can help. Goddess Bless you …
All these anti inflammatory foods that are listed…must they be eaten as is, raw…or can they be added to a smoothie? Which method provides the higher anti inflammatory properties for your body?
Wish to translate in Polish language and many more, because You use such a smart words and every third word people must use dictionary..
Hello, I was diagnosed nearly 2 years ago with endometrial adenocarcinoma (mucinous) stage 1b
i had a full hysterectomy on my 60th birthday ! I have been told that I am more or less cured but you never know with cancer. Apparently it was the slow growing type. I am a medical herbalist and learning about CBD Oil at this time. I find your articles really interesting and it is wonderful to read some evidence written in a scientific way which actually does help me understand better due to my education at university studying herbal medicine. I will be taking this advice and making note of all this pathophysiological evidence. thank you so much for sharing.
Hello,hello my name is Luba and I am looking for for some good suggestions how to help my mother 😞🙏🏻. She has gastro- tumour please help me how to save my mother life
Great article! Thank you for all the help. I loved your documentary also!
I started with a new doctor, a DO, whos family has run a health food store for many years and he was raised in a holistic/naturopathic environment. He was on our list of providers our insurance/medicare covers. We were hoping that he would be more natural minded, but unfortunately is not. He is pushing mammograms, colonoscopies, Rx, etc, etc. on us. When I said no mammograms he went on to try to convince me that Thermograms basically are worthless and that mammograms are safe. He did tell me of another alternative called a Quick Breast MRI. He gave me a pamphlet on it and after reading about it, I threw it out. They inject you with dye – no way! Any thoughts on that one? Anyway, it has been frustrating to say the least.
My question is this, can a Thermography be used to detect other cancers other than breast cancer? For instance instead of colonoscopy could a Thermogram be a good alternative?
Also since this is a older video about mammogram vs thermography – is there a newer one with more resources or stats to update on the efficacy?
Thank you.