Breast cancer prevention and treatment requires multiple approaches, including regular screening; monthly self-exams; annual clinical exams with a primary care provider or OB-GYN, including mammograms; healthy lifestyle choices; and hormonal monitoring.
Many functional medicine practitioners take a 360-degree approach, looking at the disease’s root causes while assessing risk factors to aid in early detection. The approach is to encourage patients to act before they start detecting symptoms. And if they find themselves among the one in eight women in the U.S. who will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, supportive, complimentary treatments are utilized alongside conventional medical treatments such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Lab tests
An evaluation of estrogen detoxification – including genetic testing – can provide a better understanding of a patient’s breast cancer risk.
Early detection of hormonal imbalances through specialized testing enables a practitioner to recommend specific lifestyle changes, which could include the use of dietary supplements to support healthier estrogen metabolism and breast health
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002231662216102X?via%3Dihub)
To ensure that hormone metabolism remains optimized for breast cancer prevention, monitor the progress of treatment and track changes to hormone metabolism to determine interventions when needed.
A comprehensive stool test can assess microbiome levels and detect the presence of gastrointestinal pathogens. Utilizing advanced DNA sequencing technology, physicians can test for high levels of Beta-glucoronidase, which indicates dysbiosis, or a microbial gut imbalance. Rising levels of Beta-glucoronidase have also been correlated with impaired estrogen metabolism (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6901331/; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37559394/).
Dietary modifications
Dietary changes are often necessary to modify the estrogen metabolism into a safe pathway. If we’re eating processed food, we’re basically enhancing the multiplication of cancer cells.
A low-glycemic diet is one option. So is intermittent fasting, which can lower the levels of glucose and insulin, which are necessary for tumor growth.
One promising approach is a ketogenic diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates. Some studies have shown (ifm.org/news-insights/lifestyle-therapies-to-support-breast-cancer-treatment) that a keto diet may improve the antitumor effects of conventional chemotherapy and improve quality of life. In addition, new evidence suggests a ketogenic diet also lowers the levels of glucose and insulin in the blood.
To support liver detoxication, boost the levels of organic green leafy vegetables, garlic, turmeric, and beets in the patient’s diet. Increasing fiber intake while lowering alcohol intake is also advised. A whole-food diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats is also recommended.
Other dietary recommendations include cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and kale which contain indole-3-carbinol which is converted into diindolylmethane (DIM) in the body. DIM promotes the production of the protective 2-OH-E1 (2-Hydroxyestrone) metabolite, which is believed to stimulate detoxifying enzymes in the gut and liver
(https://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/49/8/694).
Lifestyle modifications
Regular exercise on a daily basis is linked to a decreased risk of cancer, with strengthening exercises to help maintain muscle mass while promoting fat loss and improving insulin sensitivity. Yet adult obesity rates remain above 35 percent in 23 U.S. states, the CDC reports.
As physicians, it’s incumbent on us to reinforce this message of attainable, preventative steps, over and over again. That can include mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises. Doing so can lower cortisol levels, which protect against hormonal imbalances. Chronic stress, on the other hand, raises cortisol, which can disrupt the estrogen levels balance and increase harmful estrogen metabolites.
Supportive Treatments
When it comes to supportive treatments for those with breast cancer, there’s no single remedy. At Naples Center for Functional Medicine, we focus on providing supportive, complimentary treatments alongside conventional medical treatments such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Each patient is unique, and we must consider their overall health, lifestyle and diet. This includes family history and environmental factors in search of the root causes.
Dr. Lina Sakr is a board-certified internal medicine physician at Naples Center for Functional Medicine with nearly 40 years of experience. She specializes in metabolic and nutritional medicine, anti-aging medicine, and women’s health.
This article was featured in November-December 2024 Issue of The Forum, the Collier County Medical Society Magazine
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