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| What Influences Metastasis? |
| Tumor cells proliferate at a much faster rate than do normal cells. When a cell divides and the chromosomes are exposed to a reactive environment, the possibility of generic alterations is increased. |
| In general, tumor cells have a higher sodium-to-potassium ratio than normal cells. Insulin, growth factors, and tumor promoters all increase the influx of sodium across the cell membrane, expel potassium, and stimulate anaerobic glycolysis (the breakdown of sugars into energy), which in turn increases the release of lactic acid. |
| Lactic acid production and its resulting increase in cellular glucose consumption enhances the ability of tumor cells to metastasize. Tumor cells consume three to five times more glucose than normal cells. Avoiding all refined sugars and starches is an important dietary factor for inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. Cancer loves and feeds on sugar. |
| Increasing the oxygen level in the blood, on the other hand, can inhibit tumor-cell proliferation since tumor cells favor a low-oxygen environment. Sometimes, however, if the body is toxic and nutritionally compromised, artificial oxygen therapies can encourage tumor-cell proliferation by increasing free radical damage to healthy cells. By using herbal nutrients, on the other hand, such as saffron extract (which is rich in aqueous carotenoids), one can enhance oxygen uptake of the cell and quench free radicals at the same time. This is another example of the wonder of nature and its healing properties. |
| Another factor in the inhibition of tumor-cell proliferation is temperature. Although it is possible to induce tumor death by raising the blood pH (this is the theory behind using cesium chloride), it is also possible to induce tumor-cell death by a drastic drop in pH through hyperthermia (heat therapy), which can decrease the extracellular pH. This is one of the many benefits of Epsom salt baths. High fevers have been reported to cause tumor regressioneven, in a number of cases, complete spontaneous regression. 18,19 High fever induces systemic acidosis, which can cause such a significant drop in the intracellular pH that rumor cells can no longer live. |
| Tumor cells can suppress immune function, hide from our immune system, and spread in three ways: |
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