When the genome decoding project first started, humans were excited as if conquering all diseases. But even now, knowing all the human genes, we still suffer from disease. The medicines we take have not changed in particular. So is cancer.
Cancer is the most commonly misunderstood disease that is caused by genes. It is thought that mutations in genes cause cancer, but mutations may be one of the predispositions to cause cancer, but they are not the only cause.
There are regarding 30,000 human genes, of which only regarding 0.1% normally cause individual differences. We call this a SNP mononucleotide polymorphism. It is this 0.1% difference that causes the diversity of over 6 billion people. It makes me wonder if it’s strange that a very small difference can make such a big difference. These small differences in genes are by no means exhaustive. It means that genes are not everything that makes me who I am today and what makes my disease.
Of course, there are genes that are known to be associated with certain cancers as a result of research. However, even when these oncogenes are mutated and activated, they require changes in tissue structure to cause cancer. It can cause cancer only when there is a change in the structure of cells and tissues accumulated for a very long time.
In addition to genes, there are various chemical substances, radiation, preservatives, toxic substances, sunlight, steroids, trans fats, and the like, which cause this tissue structure. These carcinogens cause cancer by inhibiting the delivery of oxygen to cells.
However, even cancer cells generated in this way can be killed by immune cells, NK cells and natural killer T cells, in various ways. Until the existence of cancer is diagnosed as cancer according to modern medical standards, such a change in the cell stage precedes it.
If you think regarding it backwards, you will find the answer. Even if I have a mutation in a gene that causes cancer, if I can keep it in a state that does not cause changes in cell and tissue structure, cancer can never become a lump.
Functional medicine looks at the human body in an integrated way, and at the same time trusts the physiological accuracy and homeostasis of humans. Our body thinks that it already has the power to solve any problem from within.
The same goes for approaching cancer. If oxidative stress is effectively controlled in a situation where oxygen is sufficient and nutrients can be absorbed in a balanced way by all tissues, our body will be able to protect itself from cancer.
This is why functional medicine, which diagnoses the disease state in advance and provides sufficient nutrients and oxygen, is important for cancer prevention.
Jae-cheol Lee, President of the Korean Society of Functional Medicine, President of BanH Clinic
