Breast Cancer And The Microbiome: The Remarkable Link

When you think of breast cancer, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Chances are, the microbes in your gut aren’t among the first things that pop into your head. However, research is finding that there is a complex and direct link between the microorganisms that reside within us and the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer.

Today, we’re going to explore this fascinating link between breast cancer and the microbiome, how these little microbes can potentially influence cancer, and most importantly – some tactical steps you can take to support your gut and stack the deck in your favor when it comes to fighting back against cancer. Let’s dive in.

Understanding Breast Cancer: What It Is and Types Of Breast Cancer

In its most basic explanation, cancer occurs when there's a glitch or deviation in the coded instructions that dictate how your cells operate, grow, and reproduce. When a cell turns cancerous, it begins growing and multiplying at an accelerated and uncontrolled rate. This rapid growth may lead to the formation of a tumor.? And in some cases, these out-of-control cells may infiltrate and spread into other tissues throughout the body – a phenomenon termed metastasis.

Cancer can strike any type of cell in your body – including your breast tissues. Exactly how these cancerous cells show up within breast tissues can vary significantly and manifest as distinct types of breast cancer. Some of the most prominent forms of breast cancer include:2,3,4

• Endocrine Receptor (ER) Positive Breast Cancer: ER-positive breast cancer refers to tumors that have receptors for estrogen – meaning the cancer cells receive signals from and are influenced by the hormone estrogen.
• Triple Positive Breast Cancer: Triple-positive breast cancer is characterized by the presence of receptors for estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), and excess human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) – meaning these cells are influenced by all three of these hormones.
• HER2 Positive Breast Cancer: HER2-positive breast cancer has an overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) – a protein that plays a crucial role in cell growth and division.
• Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Triple-negative breast cancer lacks receptors for estrogen, and progesterone, and does not overexpress HER2 – meaning these cancerous cells do not respond to changes in any of these hormone levels.

So what on earth can cause your breast cells to malfunction and turn cancerous in the first place?

What Causes Breast Cancer?

At its core, cancer can be traced back to an imbalance or malfunction in the instructions that inform your cell's behavior. The factors that can contribute to this underlying shift in your cells are numerous and widely varied. Just some of the factors that can potentially shift the internal balance of your cells and tip the scales in the favor of cancer include things like:

• Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking and tobacco use
• Exposure to toxins
• Stress and trauma
• An unhealthy diet
• Chronic unresolved inflammation

It’s not always one singular underlying driver that creates a favorable environment for cancer – it’s often an accumulation of factors that eventually add up and spark the development of cancerous cells. But another key player is emerging onto the scene that might just give us some more insight when it comes to the development and treatment of breast cancer – your microbiome.

What Is Your Microbiome?

inside your body, there's a bustling community of trillions of microorganisms – bacteria, viruses, fungi, and more. This medley of microbes forms what we call the microbiome – a complex and dynamic ecosystem that works alongside your own cells. While this community of microorganisms can be found throughout your body, they are most heavily concentrated within your gut – making up what’s known as your gut microbiome.5

This microscopic ecosystem is so ingrained into our bodies, that we quite literally couldn’t survive without them. These gut microbes influence every single facet of our well-being – from digestion to mood and from our appearance to our susceptibility to chronic disease. And what's especially intriguing is that this microbiome is as unique as a fingerprint. Yep, each one of us has our very own microbe composition or what’s known as a microbial signature.

What Is A Microbial Signature?

Your personal microbial signature is like a unique fingerprint of the microorganisms residing in and on your body. It's the distinctive blend of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microscopic inhabitants that make up your microbiome. Various factors like your genetics, diet, lifestyle, environment, and more shape this signature.

But if we zoom out a little, microbial signatures can actually give us some remarkable insight as to what’s going on on a broader scale. You see, on a larger scale, distinct microbial signatures refer to patterns and compositions of microbial communities that are associated with specific conditions, populations, or environments. This means certain diseases have been linked to specific microbial imbalances.6

And recent research has found that different types of breast cancer may indeed have a distinct microbial signature.

What Is The Link Between Gut Health, the Microbiome, and Breast Cancer?

Studies have detected unique and common viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic signatures for each of the breast cancer types listed above. These distinct microbial signatures reveal specific imbalances within the microbiomes of those with cancer. It’s speculated that an imbalanced gut microbiome and disrupted gut health can contribute to the development of breast cancer via multiple pathways – some of which include:7,8,9, 10,11,12

• Gut barrier dysfunction and inflammation: Imbalances in the microbiome can contribute to a compromised gut barrier – allowing harmful substances to enter the bloodstream, potentially triggering inflammatory responses. Prolonged inflammation may contribute to DNA damage and increase the risk of cancer development, including breast cancer.
• Altered immune response: Your immune system and gut are intricately intertwined – meaning an imbalanced microbiome can throw your immune system off-kilter. A compromised immune response may cause your immune system to fail to recognize and eliminate potentially cancerous cells – promoting their survival and proliferation.
• Hormonal imbalances: Your gut microbiome plays a role in hormone metabolism. Disruptions in hormone regulation, especially estrogen, can influence the development of hormone-sensitive breast cancers.
• Metabolite production: Microbes in your gut produce metabolites through the breakdown of dietary components. Friendly species of microbes produce healthy, cancer-fighting metabolites (like short-chain fatty acids ) while an overgrowth of not-so-friendly microbes can result in an influx of inflammatory and cancer-promoting metabolites .
• Nutrient absorption: An imbalanced microbiome can affect nutrient absorption in the gut which can subsequently lead to possible deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals that play a role in maintaining a healthy cellular environment.
• Impact on detoxification pathways: Your gut microbiome plays a major role in your body's detoxification pathways. Disruptions in these pathways may lead to the accumulation of toxins that could contribute to cancer development.
• Impaired gut-brain axis communication: Your gut microbiome communicates directly with your brain via a communication channel known as your gut-brain axis. Disruptions in this network can influence stress responses and neural pathways related to cancer development and progression.

But the relationship between cancer and your microbiome is a two-way street – meaning while your microbiome can certainly impact the development of cancer, cancer can also influence your microbiome. Understanding this complex interplay might give us some powerful insight and potential tools when it comes to fighting back against breast cancer.

And because of this undeniable link between gut health and cancer, fostering a healthy gut and thriving, balanced microbiome should be a key part of any plan – whether you’re actively treating cancer, are in remission and trying to keep cancerous cells at bay, or want to proactively take steps to bolster your defenses against cancer.?

So, How Can I Best Support A Healthy Gut and Microbiome?

Supporting a strong healthy gut and a thriving microbiome requires a big-picture lifestyle approach. Here are some of the shifts you can make to optimize your gut health:

• Focus on a diverse, anti-inflammatory diet: The microbes in your gut thrive on diverse, nutrient-dense foods to maintain balance and keep your gut barrier strong. So try to build most of your meals around anti-inflammatory whole foods – like fruits and veggies, healthy fats , and filling proteins . While it’s fine to indulge sometimes, try limiting your intake of processed, sugar-laden food. If you need some ideas to keep it fresh in the kitchen, be sure to check out my recipe library .
• Eat prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods: Probiotics (friendly bacteria in your gut) and prebiotics (the fiber that serves as fuel for these microbial allies) can go a long way in supporting your gut health. Try rotating in probiotic-rich fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and miso while incorporating prebiotic-rich foods into your diet, such as onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, bananas, and chicory root.?
• Steer clear of unnecessary antibiotics and antibacterial products: While antibiotics serve a purpose when needed, their use can disrupt your gut microbes by eliminating both harmful and beneficial bacteria. Overusing antibacterial products, such as soaps and cleaning agents, can also upset the natural balance of gut bacteria.
• Make rest and relaxation a top priority: Insufficient sleep and persistent stress can adversely impact the makeup of your gut microbiome. Ensure you get ample, quality sleep and consider integrating stress-reducing practices such as meditation , yoga, deep breathing, or anything that gets you into a flow state .
• Stay active: Engaging in regular exercise is associated with a more varied and advantageous gut microbiome. Discover a form of physical activity that brings you joy and dedicate a few minutes each day to staying active. If you’re grappling with something that makes physical activity a challenge, I recommend checking out Power Plate – their whole-body vibration technology can give you all the benefits of a workout with a fraction of the effort.
• Replenish your gut with probiotics: Revitalize your gut health by incorporating a daily probiotic supplement. For optimal diversity, consider combining traditional Probiotic Essentials with Spore-Based Probiotics . To support these beneficial microbes, ensure they have an ample supply of nutrients by including Prebiotics in your routine.
• Strengthen your gut lining with supportive nutrients: Provide your gut with the necessary building blocks for a robust barrier. Integrate nutrients like? Gut Shield , Collagen , and Gut Calm to fortify and maintain a resilient gut.
• Reduce exposure to environmental toxins: Guard against toxins prevalent in everyday life by taking steps to minimize your exposure. Filtering your air , purifying your water , and making conscious choices to reduce your exposure to environmental toxins can go a long way in lowering your overall toxic burden.

Fighting, beating, and preventing cancer requires a sort of anti-cancer lifestyle that prioritizes your physical, mental, emotional, and environmental well-being. And making these shifts to promote gut health can jumpstart this lifestyle shift.

What Does the Link Between Gut Health and Breast Cancer Really Mean?

The answer to this question is – it’s hard to say. These findings of distinct microbial signatures are certainly promising and may give us new ammunition when it comes to fighting back against breast cancer. While more time and research are needed to truly understand how we can best utilize this information, these studies underscore one thing we already know – your gut health is a key player when it comes to defending yourself against any form of disease.?

Rebalancing your gut is certainly not some magic cure-all that’s going to solve the puzzle of cancer. But prioritizing the health of the microbial ecosystem that resides within you can stack the deck in your favor. If you or a loved one is in the trenches battling cancer, it’s important to know that while there are certainly no guarantees, there are tools and strategies (like optimizing gut health) you can use to fight back against this devastating disease. Here are some resources I recommend exploring:

• Breast Cancer Prevention: 11 Tips To Help Reduce Your Risk
• Are Chemicals in Plastics Increasing Your Risk of Breast Cancer?
• Could a Diverse Gut Microbiome Increase Your Chances of Surviving Cancer??
• Cancer and Fungi: Could Mold, Yeast, and Other Fungi Play a Role in Cancer?
• Are Your Wireless Headphones Causing Cancer?

As a cancer survivor myself, I also know that tactical action-based strategies can only go so far. Sometimes, you simply need to know you’re not alone and to know that there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel. This is precisely why I wrote my book Unexpected: Finding Resilience Through Functional Medicine, Science, and Faith – to help inspire you to keep overcoming no matter how bleak or challenging things may seem. Click here to order your copy today .

Are You Or A Loved One Grappling With Breast Cancer?

If you or a loved one has had a brush with cancer, I strongly encourage you to educate yourself as much as possible so you can make informed and empowered choices about your health. I also recommend partnering with an experienced Integrative and Functional Medicine Doctor . They will work alongside any other clinicians you may be working with and help you come up with a comprehensive, personalized lifestyle plan to fight back against cancer.

If you’re looking for more science-backed information to help you along your journey, I’ve got loads of resources for you. To get started, I recommend first downloading my Resource Roadmap so you can more easily zero in on the resources that will be most useful for you wherever you’re at in your unique journey. It’s free and available for you to download immediately – just click here to access it now !

Resources:

1. What is Cancer? | Cancer Basics | American Cancer Society
2. Distinct Microbial Signatures Associated With Different Breast Cancer Types – PubMed ( nih.gov )
3. Breast cancer types: What your type means – Mayo Clinic
4. Types of Breast Cancer: Triple Negative, ER-Positive, HER2-Positive ( webmd.com )
5. Part 1: The Human Gut Microbiome in Health and Disease – PMC ( nih.gov )
6. Human-associated microbial signatures: examining their predictive value – PMC ( nih.gov )
7. Frontiers | Distinct Microbial Signatures Associated With Different Breast Cancer Types ( frontiersin.org )
8. Analysis of the fecal metagenome in long‐term survivors of pancreas cancer – Kharofa – 2023 – Cancer – Wiley Online Library
9. Frontiers | New Insights Into the Cancer–Microbiome–Immune Axis: Decrypting a Decade of Discoveries ( frontiersin.org )
10. The microbiome and human cancer – PMC ( nih.gov )
11. Emerging role of human microbiome in cancer development and response to therapy: special focus on intestinal microflora | Journal of Translational Medicine | Full Text ( biomedcentral.com )
12. The role of gut microbiota in cancer treatment: friend or foe? | Gut ( bmj.com )

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The product mentioned in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ? The information in this article is not intended to replace any recommendations or relationship with your physician. ?Please review references sited at end of article for scientific support of any claims made.