Learning About Cancer

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the blood. (Amino acids are the building blocks of protein.) Some cancer cells (kidney, lymphoma, neuroblastoma [AKA adrenal], pancreatic) are glutamine addicted, consuming 10 times the normal amount, to the point where they can't exist without it.

Does cancer grow because it can't stop eating?

Or, does it eat because it can't stop growing?

JPJ: Can a symbiotic relationship be formed with cancer?

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Cells generate energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate). They do this in two different ways: OXPHOS (Oxidative phosphorylation) [also called respiration] and glycolysis [also called fermentation].

In the mitochondria, OXPHOS generates PURE ENERGY by burning each glucose molecule with oxygen.

The Warburg effect describes how cancer prefers to use glycolysis for energy production. This is what allows us to see cancer on a PET scan.

Glycolysis better supports rapid cancer growth by supplying energy (ATP) and also the building blocks (AKA raw materials, AKA carbon).

High Insulin IGF1 provides fertile soil for cancer.

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From glycolysis, cancer makes a bath of lactic acid, which appears to be waste. But it's not. At cancer's leisure, the lactic acid can be converted 1:1 to ATP.

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Mitochondria (our energy powerhouses)

In our distant evolutionary past, mitochondria were once separate organisms.

Eventually, they developed a symbiotic relationship (a mutually beneficial arrangement) with the cell, whereby the cell provided a safe place (a house; shelter; sanctuary) for the mitochondria to reside. Plus, the cell provided fuel (AKA nutrients), whilst the mitochondria generated energy from these fuel stores. 

Mitochondria are highly susceptible to damage and are constantly repairing damage to themselves.

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Mitophagy (death of a mitochondria)

Autophagy (eating one's self)

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Apoptosis (cell death)

10 billion new cells are made every day and 10 billion cells die every day. The death of a cell is called apoptosis. The dead cells must be neatly removed.

Cancer cells resist apoptosis.

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These 3 nutrient sensors are the biggest players when it comes to normal and cancerous cell growth:

• Insulin - responds to protein and carbs (happens almost immediately)
• MTor - responds to protein (this plays out over 18 to 30 hours)
• AMPK - responds to all macronutrients and plays out over a period of days and even weeks

* Most of the information on this page comes from The Cancer Code by Dr. Jason Fung.

Further Reading on non-destructive treatments whereby the effect was at least as good as chemotherapy:

The International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine | Targeting the Mitochondrial-Stem Cell Connection in Cancer Treatment: A Hybrid Orthomolecular Protocol