Cancer Starts with Broken Energy Transport--Not Broken Genes🧬
Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment with Mitochondrial Metabolic Therapy
At Oxizona, we believe in a holistic and innovative approach to cancer treatment, inspired by the groundbreaking work of Prof. Thomas Seyfried from Boston College (USA) who discovered, "No tumour cell can survive in the absence of glucose and glutamine". While glucose and glutamine are naturally produced by the liver from protein and cannot be entirely eliminated, our approach targets specific pathways cancer cells use to access these nutrients.
Clues that help solve the cancer mystery and shift suspicion away from gene mutations which happen in the cells's nucleus, toward broken energy in the mitochondria--the tiny energy factories of the cell
- Cancer cells can have thousands of gene mutations and each cancer cell in the same tumour can have different mutations. Some cancer cells have NO mutations. If a gene mutation was the culprit, EVERY cancer cell would have the same single mutation.
- Mitochondria do more than produce energy that go awry in cancer, including:
- The Electron Transport Chain (ETC), located in the folds of the inner mitochondrial membrane, called Cristae, are missing and disconnected which breaks the ETC and the production of energy using OXPHOS
- The purposeful and controlled release of Reactive Oxygen Species (Ros) to kill any invaders becomes chaotic and uncontrolled releasing massive amounts of damaging Free Radicals
- Apoptosis: the programmed cell death of old and malfunctioning cells is no longer controlled
How Cancer StartsIn healthy cells, glucose, fats, and proteins are broken down to produce electron carriers that donate electrons to the Electron Transport Chain (ETC). This process, known as Oxidative Phosphorylation (OXPHOS), occurs in the inner folds of the mitochondria (Cristae). During OXPHOS, oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor, enabling the production of ATP, the cell's main energy source.
In ALL cancer cells, the inner membrane with the embedded ETC are broken, causing massive amounts of oxygen molecules to leak out before they can be paired with an electron. These unpaired oxygen molecules, called Free Radicals, cause a lot of damage in the mitochondria and eventually in other parts of the cell. When they reach the nucleus where our DNA is found, it can cause DNA mutations. But these mutations are not the cause of cancer but the effect of the broken ETC.
Some Free Radicals are naturally produced in the OXPHOS process. But healthy cells can manage them with robust antioxidant mechanisms such as Melatonin: a major antioxidant of which only 1 molecule can neutralize 1 million Free Radicals. Melatonin is made by mitochondria if they receive sufficient sun exposure and by the pineal gland when we sleep in complete darkness, and optimized when our circadian rhythms align with the cycles of the sun.
Malignant transformation results from years of disrupted oxygenation to mitochondria, caused by stressors such as carbohydrate overload, inflammation, environmental toxins, poor circulation, infections or, rarely, gene variations affecting mitochondrial energy production. In response to this chronic stress, a cell reverts to an ancient survival mechanism: fermentation.
What about gene mutations?
Because tumours can have thousands of gene mutations and because the root cause of the tumours isn't the mutations but the broken energy chain, targeting mutations fails in the majority of patients. By blocking the two main fermentable fuel sources of cancer simultaneously we can starve it to death, regardless of why the cell transformed into a cancer cell in the first place. Normal cells are more metabolically flexible and can use ketones for energy, while cancer cells cannot in the absence of glucose and glutamine. Therefore, nutritional ketosis is the first step in treatment.
This contrasts with how healthy cells produce energy using oxygen (OXPHOS).When the cell can no longer produce sufficient ATP through OXPHOS, it reverts to an ancient survival mechanism: Fermentation. The only fermentable fuel sources that can support the long-term proliferation and rapid growth of cancer cells are glucose and glutamine.
Signs and symptoms of mitochondrial decline and dysfunction start 6 to 10 years before the manifestation of cancer or other disease, including:
Low energy or fatigue
Poor focus or brain fog
Mood changes (low or anxious)
Muscle weakness or exercise intolerance
Cold hands/feet or poor circulation
Blood sugar swings or cravings
Poor sleep and recovery (tired after waking)
Aging: (grey hair, slower healing, fat storage, insulin sensitivity, thyroid function, cortisol balance)
Digestive issues (gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux, nausea, poor appetite)
When Should I Start Treatment?Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment with Mitochondrial Metabolic Therapy
At Oxizona, we believe in a holistic and innovative approach to cancer treatment, inspired by the groundbreaking work of Prof. Thomas Seyfried from Boston College (USA) who discovered, "No tumour cell can survive in the absence of glucose and glutamine". While glucose and glutamine are naturally produced by the liver from protein and cannot be entirely eliminated, our approach targets specific pathways cancer cells use to access these nutrients.
- Cancer cells can have thousands of gene mutations and each cancer cell in the same tumour can have different mutations. Some cancer cells have NO mutations. If a gene mutation was the culprit, EVERY cancer cell would have the same single mutation.
- Mitochondria do more than produce energy that go awry in cancer, including:
- The Electron Transport Chain (ETC), located in the folds of the inner mitochondrial membrane, called Cristae, are missing and disconnected which breaks the ETC and the production of energy using OXPHOS
- The purposeful and controlled release of Reactive Oxygen Species (Ros) to kill any invaders becomes chaotic and uncontrolled releasing massive amounts of damaging Free Radicals
- Apoptosis: the programmed cell death of old and malfunctioning cells is no longer controlled
In healthy cells, glucose, fats, and proteins are broken down to produce electron carriers that donate electrons to the Electron Transport Chain (ETC). This process, known as Oxidative Phosphorylation (OXPHOS), occurs in the inner folds of the mitochondria (Cristae). During OXPHOS, oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor, enabling the production of ATP, the cell's main energy source.
In ALL cancer cells, the inner membrane with the embedded ETC are broken, causing massive amounts of oxygen molecules to leak out before they can be paired with an electron. These unpaired oxygen molecules, called Free Radicals, cause a lot of damage in the mitochondria and eventually in other parts of the cell. When they reach the nucleus where our DNA is found, it can cause DNA mutations. But these mutations are not the cause of cancer but the effect of the broken ETC.
Some Free Radicals are naturally produced in the OXPHOS process. But healthy cells can manage them with robust antioxidant mechanisms such as Melatonin: a major antioxidant of which only 1 molecule can neutralize 1 million Free Radicals. Melatonin is made by mitochondria if they receive sufficient sun exposure and by the pineal gland when we sleep in complete darkness, and optimized when our circadian rhythms align with the cycles of the sun.
Malignant transformation results from years of disrupted oxygenation to mitochondria, caused by stressors such as carbohydrate overload, inflammation, environmental toxins, poor circulation, infections or, rarely, gene variations affecting mitochondrial energy production. In response to this chronic stress, a cell reverts to an ancient survival mechanism: fermentation.
What about gene mutations?
Because tumours can have thousands of gene mutations and because the root cause of the tumours isn't the mutations but the broken energy chain, targeting mutations fails in the majority of patients. By blocking the two main fermentable fuel sources of cancer simultaneously we can starve it to death, regardless of why the cell transformed into a cancer cell in the first place. Normal cells are more metabolically flexible and can use ketones for energy, while cancer cells cannot in the absence of glucose and glutamine. Therefore, nutritional ketosis is the first step in treatment.
This contrasts with how healthy cells produce energy using oxygen (OXPHOS).When the cell can no longer produce sufficient ATP through OXPHOS, it reverts to an ancient survival mechanism: Fermentation. The only fermentable fuel sources that can support the long-term proliferation and rapid growth of cancer cells are glucose and glutamine.
Signs and symptoms of mitochondrial decline and dysfunction start 6 to 10 years before the manifestation of cancer or other disease, including:
Low energy or fatiguePoor focus or brain fog
Mood changes (low or anxious)
Muscle weakness or exercise intolerance
Cold hands/feet or poor circulation
Blood sugar swings or cravings
Poor sleep and recovery (tired after waking)
Aging: (grey hair, slower healing, fat storage, insulin sensitivity, thyroid function, cortisol balance)
Digestive issues (gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux, nausea, poor appetite)
The Press
The key is to keep cancer stressed with a continuous therapeutically low blood glucose level between 55 and 65 mg/dL accomplished with diet and pharmaceuticals such as Metformin, and nutraceuticals such as Berberine. Mebendazole (MDZ), an anthelmintic drug that inhibits microtubule assembly is also added. The Pulse
The killing blow, executed when cancer is at it’s weakest. These are periodic “pulses” of glutamine blocking drugs such as DON, with simultaneous hard shell hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) of 3-5 times per week. HBOT produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) which have been found to "shred" cancer cells similarity to radiation therapy. The difference being, radiation destroys normal cells too which HBOT does not. Normal cells have mechanisms to neutralize ROS which cancer cells do not have. One of these is the production of catalase, one molecule of which can neutralize 1 million ROS molecules. Cancer cells do not produce catalase, making HBOT and other oxygen therapies only toxic to cancer cells in proper doses
Learn more in Seyfried’s treatise, read free here
Although, it is possible to work this protocol on your own, we do not recommend it because of the complexity involved in blocking metabolic pathways and how aggressively cancer fights back if not done correctly. We personally have known people who have died using less effective metabolic protocols, despite having initial success, including our founder’s 25 year old son, Jacob, who followed the Care Oncology (COC) Protocol and Jane McLelland’s, How to Starve Cancer Protocol, along with conventional surgery, chemo and radiation. The Press-Pulse Metabolic Protocol goes beyond these other protocols to stop cancer in its tracks, kill it and keep it from coming back! But medical supervision and follow-up is important to know if things are working as expected and to change things that aren't working quickly.
You will need substrates and prescription drugs for the highest efficacy of this protocol and sadly, in most countries, doctor’s will not prescribe these pharmaceuticals for off label use and risk their medical license. They are bound by law to provide only the standard of care: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
We Offer 3 Options
Option 1:
6 months of distance support with prescriptions provided (only available in Canada currently). We expect complete remission in this time frame but there are no guarantees in life and results can vary widely based on how committed a person is to the protocol. Research shows that this protocol offers the best possible outcome and best chance of beating cancer for good. The cost of prescription drugs is extra and covered by most extended health plans across Canada, except for Mebendazole which is compounded, and needs to be paid for upfront (you may remit the receipt to your insurer)
A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is required. We can provide the prescription (valid throughout Canada) if your health plan covers these. If paying out of pocket, the cost is about C$250/month
You organize the hyperbaric chamber sessions (3-5 sessions per week). Some facilities may offer discounts for our program.
Radical change is required: you cannot expect to heal doing the same things that made you sick. At Teravida we help you with these 9 key factors of success to beat cancer beyond the Press-Pulse Protocol:
- Taking control of your health and healthcare
- A 180 degree diet and lifestyle change with toxin avoidance
- Participation in our online community support group
- Circadian Rhythm reset: its crucial that sleep, sun, water, magnetism, and oxidation are optimized
- Stress reduction, and release of suppressed emotions while increasing positive emotions
- Finding your life’s purpose and strong reason to live!
- Living your best life
- Following your intuition
- Deepening your spiritual connection
Option 2:
For all other countries, same as option 1 but your own doctor provides the prescriptions for off label use of the needed pharmaceuticals and some follow up lab work. We provide a letter explaining the protocol, a follow up phone call and a waiver that you agree to not hold your doctor responsible for any unexpected outcomes. Most doctors are more willing to help if they know you are being followed by a team of professionals familiar with the protocol, throughout. We suggest finding a willing doctor prior to enrolling.C$500 for initial intake and review of medical records + C$500 per month (billed as a onetime payment of C$3,500) convert to your currency
Option 3:
Retreat with us at our centre in MexicoThe recommended 3 - 6 month stay times perfectly with Canada's Employment Insurance Sickness benefit of 26 weeks
This includes everything in option 1 plus a comprehensive healing retreat including:
- Standard lodging at Jardin Zen Resort for you and your support person (you may upgrade to a luxury suite or downgrade to local lodging (get a custom quote)
- Continuous supervision and support from our team of doctors, mental health experts , dieticians, complimentary/allied health practitioners, and support staff.
- A therapeutic ketogenic diet from regenerative organic nutrient dense seasonal vegetables, berries, wild greens, grass fed lamb, free range poultry and wild caught fish (support person pays for their meals--buy a meal plan at the resort or eat locally)
- Medical supervised fasting periods as indicated
- IV therapies: IV Ozone, IV Vitamin C (high dose), and others (as indicated)
- HBOT
- Red light and NIR therapy (Photobiomodulation)
- PEMF therapy
- Heat (Temezcal) and cold plunge therapy
- Stress reduction, massage, meditation, forest bathing, qigong and breathwork
- Safe/beneficial sun exposure, fresh air, grounding, circadian rhythm reset and sleep optimization are crucial for normal mitochondrial functioning
- Targeted exercise: AI assisted cycling, EWOT, resistance training and HIIT
- Nutraceuticals, substrates, CBD oil and pharmaceuticals
- Standard blood tests and ultrasounds. Additional blood tests, MRI, CT, or PET scans may be indicated: these may be obtained from your family physician or oncologist, and paid for by your public/private health insurance. Some optional specialized blood panels, tumour markers, liquid biopsy and DNA tests are paid for out of pocket but may be covered by some Health Spending Accounts if you have one
- Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs): We require you to purchase two Freestyle Libra 1,2 or 3 CGMs for every month of stay. We recommend you get these in Canada as some health plans cover these and they're less expensive in Canada. We also require you purchase a Keto-mojo kit with additional strips for your duration of stay.
What Are The Benefits:
- High probably of being able to avoid the debilitating side effects of surgery, chemotherapy and standard radiation treatment. These are still available, if needed, after the 6 month duration of the protocol.
- Improved outcomes over Immunotherapy alone which only has a 20% to 30% response rate and is dependent on the presence of specific immune cells and genetic markers. Metabolic therapy targets the root cause of cancer: damage to mitochondrial respiration common to ALL cancers. The cost of just one 4 ml treatment of Keytruda is equivalent to a two month retreat
- Strengthens the immune system and body rather destroying immune function and weakening the body, so that you are better able to fight cancer.
- Stimulates the "programmed cell death" of cancer cells
- Restores your body's healthy metabolic, oxidative and inflammatory state
- Increases overall health, vitality and longevity
- Reverses concomitant conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure etc.
- If cancer cannot be completely eradicated with this protocol, the size and virulence of tumours can at least be reduced which provides better chances of success with conventional treatments.
- If the tumour shrinks but does not completely resolve by 6 months we may recommend "debulking the tumour" and continuing the protocol at home (without chemo and radiation) with periodic check-ins with us in collaboration with and monitoring by your oncologist.
- A very small dose of "pinhole" radiation for a duration of about 1 minute may be recommended as adjunct to the protocol to stimulate an immune response to your tumour. This is known as the abscopal effect
- Generally only beneficial side effects: Overall metabolic health, reduction of inflammation, improvement of stem cell function, DNA repair, reduction of oxidative stress and detoxification of chemicals, heavy metals and pathogens.(parasites, viruses, fungus)
- With one caveat: If not followed by an experienced physician that understands the physiology of cancer cell metabolism, progression of cancer can occur. We recommend you only undertake this protocol with the help of a qualified physician and the approval of your oncology team.