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The Pro-Active Protocol
For Breast Cancer Prevention
3. Understanding the Physiology of Cancer
Understanding the Physiology of Cancer
Cancer happens when previously healthy cells, mutate, often remaining in an immature state (undifferentiated), and divide and multiply faster than normal (proliferation), and don't die when they should (apoptosis).
Almost all the cells in the body are in a constant process of renewal. But breast tissue is unique in that it is capable of dividing and multiplying much faster than other tissues in the body. Some of this is due to breast tissue's sensitivity to estrogen. Most breast cells are covered with estrogen receptors. These are small openings like a keyhole on the surface of the cell. Estrogen is the key that fits the opening and then enters the cells to deliver its message. That message is "Grow." Any woman who has ever been pregnant can attest to the fact that the breast does indeed grow when flooded with estrogen! Many women who have taken estrogen replacement therapy have experienced this as well. (Read the Estrogen 101 article to learn more about estrogen.)
This ability to undergo rapid growth is one reason why breast cells have a greater risk for cancer. Cancer biologists are well aware that when a tissue replicate rapidly, its genetic code (DNA) becomes more vulnerable to damage by chemicals, viruses and radiation that may express itself some years later as cancer. With every replication, there is an opportunity that something may go wrong. More replications equals more chances of a mistake occurring.
Damage is occurring constantly to the DNA inside of our cells. Our body has built in safety mechanisms to correct and repair this damage. But, by mid-to-late life, our safety mechanisms may not be able to keep up with the damage that's been done by living in a modern, industrialized society full of poisonous chemicals, radiation, and stress.
One of the more important new findings in what causes breast cancer has to do with apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Apoptosis(Ah-po-TOE-sis), literally means falling away, like the leaves of a tree in autumn. It's often explained as "programmed cell suicide". It's now well understood by cancer specialists that delayed apoptosis of older cells, increases their risk for becoming cancer cells. With the exception of nerve and muscle cells, all the cells of the body are constantly being replaced with new cells. (And now we are learning that even nerve cells can change.) This requires that cells live for a specified period of time, and then die as new cells come along to replace them. The death of old cells is necessary for continued good health. Old skin cells are shed, as are the linings of the intestines and lungs. In the breast however the old cells that undergo apoptosis are consumed by macrophages (special white blood cells).
Cell differentiation and proliferation are also important pieces in the breast cancer puzzle.
Most breast cancer originates as changes in the milk duct epithelial cells, and, as with other types of cancers, in addition to a slowing of apoptosis, these cells show a loss of differentiation and an increased proliferation rate when compared to normal breast cells.
As cells grow, they change or differentiate into the type of cells that they are meant to be. Usually, those that are proliferating, or multiplying faster, will be less differentiated. In contrast, the more differentiated the cell, the slower it will proliferate and the more it will be like a normal cell, and therefore less threatening.
Another way to think of an undifferentiated cell, is that it never really matures or develops fully into a cell with normal self-regulatory mechanisms. It remains immature and unregulated by the normal "laws" that mature cells obey.
The following explanation of the stages of development of breast cancer is not to be confused with the staging of a malignant breast tumor, which is done after the tumor has been surgically removed and, depending on it's severity, or degree of invasiveness, will be graded a stage 1 through 4.
The First Stage of Cancer is called initiation. This is when the initial damage, or modification of the DNA occurs. This damage is caused by a carcinogen, which might be a hormone, a chemical, a virus, radiation, trauma, or some combination of these things. The result is a permanently altered cell with defective growth controls. Scientists generally believe that it usually takes more than one insult by carcinogens to DNA before a normal cell is transformed into a cancerous one.
Once a cell has been transformed into a cancer in the breast, it may take as long as ten or twenty years before it grows to the size whereby it can be felt by touch (palpated) or seen on mammogram. However, if the cancer cells are metabolically active, as most are, they can be detected by thermography at a much earlier state.
The body does have many protective mechanisms in place for stopping DNA damage before it begins. These include sophisticated excretion and detoxification processes, specialized cells that remove dead and damaged cells from the breast, anti-oxidants and other nutrients that help protect and repair DNA, and hormones, such as progesterone, which encourage the cells to differentiate and die when they are supposed to.
Cancer arises when the DNA is permanently damaged and this escapes the body's normal detection systems. The damage is passed on from one generation of cells to the next, resulting in an accumulation of DNA-damaged cells without the proper controls needed to keep them normal.
The Second Stage of Cancer, called promotion, involves the expansion of the tumor cell population to the point where it begins to interfere with the normal workings of the body.
This stage occurs over an extended period of time, usually 10-20 years, it varies depending on many factors. For example, tumor growth rate will depend on whether there's a good blood supply around it for delivering nutrients to its cells, and on growth factors such as the hormones estrogen, prolactin, and the substances called insulin-like growth factors (IGF) that trigger breast cell division. Tumor growth will also depend on substances that inhibit growth, such as progesterone, thyroid hormone, melatonin, DHEA, and phytochemicals from fruits and vegetables.
The Third Stage of Cancer is called the Progressive stage. In this stage a distinct tumor grows in size, invades surrounding tissues, blood vessels and lymphatic, and migrates to (metastasizes) and grows in other tissues of the body.
Once a cancer invades other parts of the body, stopping its growth becomes much more complicated, but, IT CAN BE DONE. The good news is that breast cancer is a disease of long duration, and we have daily opportunities over a lifetime to make decisions that will encourage the body to get rid of cancer. The interval between the transformation of a normal call into a cancer cell and the full-blown clinical detection of a tumor the size of a pea, containing as many as a billion cells, may take decades.
Some other qualities of breast cancer cells that oncologists look for is whether they have hormone receptors on them. When comparing hormone receptors of breast cancer cells with their state of differentiation, (remember the more differentiated the better), it's found that the tumors with the highest estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) counts are the most differentiated. Tumors that have lost their capacity to express ER and PR are the most undifferentiated and aggressive.
The presence of ER however, also makes it possible for excessive estrogen exposure (as with conventional HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy) to lead to accelerated growth and allow more aggressive cancer cells to emerge from this population with faster growth potential. Normal cells also respond to excess estrogen with accelerated growth, resulting in more dense and lumpy breasts and fibrocystic changes.
On the other hand, the presence of progesterone receptors correlates with cancer cells that are more differentiated and less dangerous.
Estrogen also activates an oncogene (a cancer promoting gene) called Bcl-2 that slows apoptosis. Progesterone, in contrast, activates a gene called p53, which restores proper apoptosis. Thus by considering apoptosis, cell differentiation and proliferation, we can see that estrogen, in excess, can be a potent promoter of breast cancer while progesterone protects against breast cancer by countering the growth promoting actions of estrogens.
There are many factors, which can contribute to the development of breast cancer. Hormonal imbalances are but one aspect of a multitude of processes in the body that, when stressed, become imbalanced. The concept of balance is an important one. When we are in balance we are healthy, happy and able to recover from the stressors of daily life without grave consequences. But when we are chronically out of balance, the body and mind try harder and harder to maintain equilibrium, becoming strained and exhausted, and ultimately manifesting breakdowns in the body-mind and spirit, causing dis-ease.
The Pro-Active Protocol for Breast Cancer Prevention aims to identify and correct the various stages where problems occur that can lead to breast cancer. The goal of the Protocol is to put the power and knowledge in your hands to make choices every day that will dramatically reduce your risk for breast cancer and other debilitating diseases.
As I state in the "Quantum Healing" Section, the first change you need to make is a change in your attitude toward yourself. Recognize and honor the inherent intelligence in every cell of your being. Develop relationship with your body. Listen to its many messages. Respect yourself deeply. Trust your intuition. Slow down, tune in and let these changes be a form of self-nurturance, healing and love.
Much of the information in this section is from the book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer" by John Lee, M.D.
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•These statements have not been evaluated by the food and Drug Administration. This Product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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