CANCER IS ON THE RISE...ARE MEDICAL TREATMENTS SUCH AS CHEMO OR SURGERY THE ANSWER?

Did you know research suggests chemotherapy may in some cases promote metastasis and aggressive tumors?

There are also studies showing issues with surgery for cancer. For instance surgery for breast cancer induces stress and suppression of the immune system with a peak of metastasis in the months after surgery.

Mechanisms Explained:

1. Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis (TMEM) Sites: Chemotherapy (e.g., paclitaxel) can increase TMEM structures, which act as gateways for cancer cells to enter the bloodstream, aiding metastasis.

2. Inflammation: Chemotherapy triggers inflammatory responses, recruiting immune cells like macrophages that may support cancer cell survival and spread.

3. Exosome Release: Tumors under chemotherapy release exosomes (tiny vesicles) with proteins that prepare distant organs for cancer cell colonization.

4. Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT): Chemotherapy can induce EMT, making cancer cells more invasive and metastatic.

5. Altered Tissue Environments: Chemotherapy modifies distant tissues, creating a "fertile soil" for metastatic cancer cells to grow.

Exercise benefits outcomes in patients with cancer

Exercise also improves outcomes in patients with cancer, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Patients with cancer who participated in a structured exercise program in a randomized-controlled trial lived longer without cancer recurrence and had a lower risk of dying within the trial period compared with people in the control group.

Naturopathy and cancer treatment

I'm successfully treating more clients with cancer than ever before. For some clients its alongside conventional treatment to offset the side effects and damage from chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. If someone you love has cancer, or is making hard decisions about the treatment approach they choose to follow, perhaps share this post.

Please message me if you'd like to book an appointment. There are some incredible herb, supplement, nutritional tools (and more) that I can share with you.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Shine bright,

Nic

Supporting Studies:

1. Karagiannis et al. (2017), Science Translational Medicine: Chemotherapy increased TMEM sites and metastasis in breast cancer models. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28679654/

2. D’Alterio et al. (2020), Seminars in Cancer Biology: Chemotherapy enhances tumor relapse via the tumor microenvironment. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31454672/

3. Keklikoglou et al. (2018), Nature Cell Biology: Chemotherapy-induced exosomes promote lung metastasis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31454672/

4. Middleton (2018), International Journal of Molecular Sciences: Chemotherapy supports breast cancer metastasis by altering tissue environments. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/19/11/3333

5. Liu et al. (2018), Journal of Experimental Medicine: Chemotherapy-induced inflammation strengthens cancer cells.

6. Nakasone et al. (2012), Cancer Research: Chemotherapy recruits monocytes, aiding metastasis.

7. DeNardo et al. (2011), Cancer Discovery: Chemotherapy increases tumor-associated macrophages, promoting progression.

8. Shaked (2016), Nature Reviews Cancer: Chemotherapy triggers host responses facilitating metastasis. https://www.nature.com/articles/nrclinonc.2016.57

9. Gingis-Velitski et al. (2011), Cancer Research: Chemotherapy upregulates pro-metastatic factors. https://aacrjournals.org/.../Host-Response-to-Short-term...

10. Chang et al. (2017), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Chemotherapy induces EMT, increasing invasiveness

11. Courneya et al (2025) The New England Journal of Medicine. Structured exercise after adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2502760

12. Tohme et al (2017) Pubmed. Surgery for Cancer: A Trigger for Metastases. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5380551/