SS:  It sounds like there is nothing we can do about this mishap.  It’s just bad luck?
CP:  Actually this is another spot where we have some leverage to influence our chances. 
 The DNA checkup is more likely to be skipped if cells are growing and dividing really fast, and I mentioned earlier that sugar and insulin are evil supporters in this process.  Also, that is not the only way they have detrimental effects on overall cancer risk, as I will describe later.  Vitamin D was also shown to be important in supporting this DNA repair process. I marked this as Intervention D  in Figure 1 posted and the end of this chapter.

SS:  Are there any tests that can show us if DNA damage occurs excessively in our bodies, so we can intervene early?
CP:  Yes, we can measure urinary DNA damage markers such as 8-OHdG (or 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine).  We can also measure lipid peroxides, which are a marker of oxidized fat and are indicative of an excess of free radicals and the fact that we need more antioxidants.  This may be the result of ingesting damaged fats (from fried foods, et cetera) or just too much polyunsaturated fats (such as margarine, sunflower, safflower, soybean, and corn oils) or nuts like roasted sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, pine nuts.

SS:  So if the DNA mutation can’t be detected and corrected, what happens to the cells that have this DNA damage? Are these cells now a real cancer threat?
CP:  No, actually this can happen every day with many cells in our bodies, but if we have a powerful immune system, like an army that has an adequate number of soldiers that are equipped with good weapons, these precancerous cells are recognized and killed.  For example, the natural killer (NK) cells can recognize cancer cells and kill them.  We can actually test patients for NK cell number and activity, to see if their immune system is strong enough and whether we need to work on boosting it.  Remember that, as with infections, winning a quick war is about having a strong defense that annihilates the invaders quickly, before they multiply and take over too many local resources.  The key is to have a good operating immune system that recognizes these cells as abnormal, almost like foreign invaders.  It is critical to kill them before they have a chance to multiply and overwhelm the immune system’s ability to eliminate them, just like what happens with tough infections.

SS:  What can we do to make sure we have a good operating immune system?
CP:  That’s what I call Intervention E:  Enhance Your Immune System

Enhance immune efficiency.  Incorporate factors that enhance the immune system’s efficiency, such as adequate protein amounts spread evenly throughout the day, vitamins (vitamin C, folate, B12) and minerals (zinc, selenium).  Glutamine is fuel for the immune response.
Occasionally get an extra boost.  For an extra, occasional immune boost use herbs like Echinacea, astralagus, elderberry, andrographis, goldenseal, or various mushroom extracts (maitake, shiitake, reishi, beta-glucan).  I have a review of how these work on my website, www.CristianaPaul.com, in a paper entitled “Herbal Extracts for Boosting Immunity.”
Address what may impair the immune system:

• Reduce stress.
• Do not have excessive amounts of carbohydrates ( sugars or starches) at any meal/snack or total per day.
• Do not have excessively fatty meals.
• Get adequate sleep.
• Correct depression if possible with lifestyle measures and nutritional interventions.
• Avoid and eliminate toxins (such as mercury or other pollutants).

Make sure you take in adequate amounts of vitamin K.  Vitamin K was shown to be essential in supporting adequate cancer cell killing by the immune system (apoptosis).  New research shows evidence we may need at least 1 to 2 milligrams of vitamin K per day for optimal function.  One recent study has shown a correlation between prostate cancer risk and vitamin K status; another study supplemented women with vitamin K for bone health and found that it reduced development of breast cancer.

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