The body responds to stressors – whether they be chemical, physical, nutritional or psychological – by secreting stress hormones. These enabled our ancestors to respond quickly to predators or other threats by producing an immediate surge of energy, and of course, comes in handy in modern times when, for example, a car swerves in our path or a growling dog jumps out at us. Once the danger has passed, our stress hormones return to normal levels. At least, they’re supposed to. But when the stress is chronic, so is the response.
Chronically elevated stress hormones produce a terrain that is hospitable to cancer cells. With your stress machinery stuck on high, continued exposure to stress hormones can severely damage your body and disturb your vital reserves of nutrients, hormones, enzymes, antibodies, and immune cells, all of which are essential to your recovery. For instance, chronically elevated levels of the stress hormone adrenaline increase levels of blood glucose and clotting factors, which are conducive to the growth and spread of cancer. Chronically high levels of another stress hormone, cortisol, make it difficult for insulin to ferry blood glucose into your tissues; this is tantamount to insulin resistance, which can stimulate tumor growth. In addition, cortisol suppresses some immune system activity and can increase biochemicals that support the growth and spread of tumors.
Biorhythm Malfunction:
Most people struggle with insomnia or fatigue from time to time, but for cancer patients they can be more than simply unpleasant, they can be warning signs of disrupted stress hormone cycles that can affect the response to chemotherapy and even adversely impact survival! The reverse is also true: reestablishing regular biorhythms of rest and activity can improve your prognosis.
You can’t, of course, eliminate all cortisol production. Cortisol is a critical element in your ability to navigate the normal stresses of everyday life. The problem is excess cortisol, or poor timing of its production, and imbalances in its circadian cycling. Some of the major offenders that can cause excess cortisol production or throw off your normal sleep rhythms: caffeine, alcohol, inactivity, extreme exercise, overeating, a low carb (complex carbohydrates!)/high fat diet, and a high ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s.
What You Can Do:
To begin the self-care program for stress chemistry and biorhythm malfunction, you should be following the Life Over Cancer recommendations for diet, fitness, and mind-spirit balance. In addition, Dr. Block recommends the following:
- Reduce caffeine and other stimulants.
- Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
- Avoid overwork. Overwork can upset stress chemistry rhythms because it can cause anxiety and dial up adrenaline and cortisol production, and because it can discourage regular bedtimes.
- Improve sleep hygiene. Try going to bed at the same time every night, sleeping in complete darkness, and getting exposure to sunlight or full-spectrum light in the early part of the day.
- Properly time snacks and drinks. Keep late night snacks light, and include protein and/or whole grains, avoid eating an hour before you go to sleep, and consume most of your fluids earlier in the day.
- Ensure a high ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s.
- In some cases, the use of specific supplements may be helpful, including a green- vegetable and fruit drink, a concentrated fish oil supplement and a cancer-specific multiple. Supplement needs will vary with each patient and recommendations should be made following laboratory testing.
For more information on The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment, visit BlockMD.com.