Ron Grisanti, D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S., DIANM, CFMP

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, you've probably been told about treatment options like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy. These are powerful tools that aim to shrink or remove the tumor—often urgently and necessarily.

But here's the honest truth: focusing only on the tumor is like cutting a weed without changing the soil it grew in.

What if cancer isn't just about the tumor itself… but about the body that allowed it to grow in the first place?

What if your body's internal environment—what many doctors now call the “terrain”—is the real root of the problem?

And what if, by supporting and healing that terrain, you could not only help your body respond better to treatment… but also prevent the cancer from coming back?

This is the future of cancer care—and it starts with understanding your terrain.

What Is the Terrain?

Think of your body like a garden. The terrain is the soil, sunlight, water, nutrients, and environment that either helps healthy plants grow—or allows weeds and disease to take over.

In your body, the terrain includes:

• Your      immune system—how well your body can find and destroy abnormal cells
• Inflammation—your      body's internal “fire” that can quietly feed cancer
• Blood      sugar and insulin—fuel sources that cancer cells often feed on
• Hormones—like      estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol that can encourage or slow tumor      growth
• Detox      systems—how well your body clears out toxins, waste, and used-up hormones
• Nutrient      levels—like vitamin D, selenium, magnesium, and zinc
• Gut      health and microbiome—the bacteria in your digestive tract that influence      your immune system, mood, and detox
• Emotional      well-being—stress, trauma, grief, and anxiety don't just affect your mind;      they affect your biology

When this inner environment gets out of balance—when inflammation runs high, blood sugar is unstable, toxins build up, or your immune system is overwhelmed—it forms a perfect storm of biological imbalances that allows cancer to take root and grow.

That's why it's not enough to just attack the tumor.

We have to ask the deeper question: “Why did this tumor show up in this body, at this time?”

Why the Terrain Deserves More Attention

Doctors are trained to treat the disease, not always the person. But cancer doesn't just “happen.” It develops over time, often silently, as the body becomes more and more out of balance.

Most people don't know that cancer cells arise in our bodies every day. But a healthy immune system finds and destroys them.

So, when a tumor does form and grows unchecked, it's a red flag: something in the terrain has changed.

And if that terrain isn't corrected—even if the tumor is removed—cancer can return. In fact, many people who have had successful surgery, chemo, or radiation later find that the cancer has come back. That's because the soil wasn't healed. The body's environment was still vulnerable.

The good news? You can do something about it.

Your terrain can be tested. It can be strengthened. It can be healed.

What Happens When You Heal the Terrain

When you shift your focus from just killing cancer to rebuilding your body's defenses, amazing things can happen:

• Your      immune system gets stronger and more capable of fighting disease
• Inflammation      decreases, removing one of cancer's favorite fuel sources
• Blood      sugar and hormones stabilize, cutting off cancer's growth signals
• Detoxification      improves, helping your body remove harmful substances
• Energy      improves as your mitochondria (your cells' power plants) come back online
• Your      mood, sleep, digestion, and resilience begin to improve
• You      feel more in control—because you're no longer just fighting, you're      healing

In short, you stop just surviving… and start rebuilding a body where cancer struggles to survive.

It's Not “Either/Or”—It's “Both/And”

This doesn't mean you ignore conventional treatment. Not at all. In many cases, you need to shrink or remove the tumor to reduce the immediate threat.

But pairing medical treatment with a terrain-based approach gives you the best chance—not just at remission, but at long-term health.

It's the difference between mowing the weeds… and changing the soil so they don't come back.

Why You Should Get Your Terrain Evaluated

If you're facing cancer now… or if you've had it in the past and are worried about recurrence… or even if you have a strong family history—you deserve to know what's happening inside your body.

• Is      your immune system strong enough to fight off abnormal cells?
• Is      your inflammation high, silently feeding disease?
• Are      your hormones in balance?
• Are      toxins, mold, or heavy metals burdening your body?
• Is      your blood sugar feeding cancer without you knowing it?
• Is      your microbiome supporting you—or sabotaging you?
• Are      your mitochondria able to make enough energy to heal?
• Are      unprocessed emotional wounds keeping you in a stress state?

These are questions conventional scans and labs don't usually ask. But terrain testing does. It looks deeper. It looks earlier. It looks at you as a whole person.

You are more than your tumor.

You are a living, breathing ecosystem. When that ecosystem is supported—when the soil is nourished—healing becomes possible.

Why Patients with Cancer Often Die from Terrain Breakdown—Not Just the Tumor

When most people think about cancer, they imagine a tumor growing uncontrollably, invading organs, and ultimately taking over the body.

While that's partly true, it oversimplifies a much deeper reality: most patients with cancer do not die directly from the tumor itself—but from a compromised terrain that allows cancer to grow unchecked, spread, and resist treatment.

Cancer is not a standalone enemy. It is more accurately a symptom of systemic imbalance—a reflection of a biological environment (terrain) that has lost its ability to regulate inflammation, immunity, metabolism, detoxification, and repair.

Tumor vs. Terrain: A Clinical Perspective 

The Tumor Reflects the Terrain

Research shows that cancer cells form regularly, even in healthy individuals. A well-functioning immune system typically finds and eliminates these cells before they take hold. When a tumor grows unchecked, it's often a sign that terrain failure—especially involving immune suppression and inflammation—has already occurred.

Source: Schreiber RD, Science, 2011; Dunn GP et al., Nat Rev Immunol, 2002

Systemic Collapse, Not Just Tumor Size

Many patients ultimately die from terrain-mediated breakdown, not the tumor itself:

• Cachexia      (wasting) — driven by inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction
• Sepsis      or infections — due to cancer- or treatment-induced immunosuppression
• Multi-organ      failure — often a result of metabolic collapse, not just tumor mass
• Treatment      toxicity — when the terrain is too fragile to withstand chemotherapy or      radiation

These outcomes point to a failing internal environment—not just tumor aggression.

Clinical Evidence: Terrain Trumps Tumor Load

• Systemic      inflammation (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α) is a powerful predictor of mortality, even      more than tumor burden.
• Immune      markers like lymphocyte count and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio often      correlate more closely with survival than tumor size.
• Metastatic      potential is strongly influenced by the surrounding terrain—the cellular      microenvironment—not just genetic mutations.

Expert Insight

“You don't die because you have cancer cells. You die because your body is no longer capable of maintaining homeostasis in the presence of those cells.”

— Dr. Thomas Seyfried, Cancer Researcher, Cancer as a Metabolic Disease

Final Thought: Heal the Soil, Not Just Remove the Weed

You can cut out the tumor, radiate it, or poison it with chemotherapy—but if the terrain that allowed it to grow remains unhealed, you're only delaying its return.

That's why terrain-based medicine is not an alternative to conventional care—it's an essential complement. The future of cancer care lies not just in targeting the tumor, but in rebuilding the body's resilience—its immune intelligence, detox pathways, mitochondrial vitality, and emotional balance.

The tumor may initiate the crisis, but it's the failure of the terrain—the body's internal ecosystem—that most often determines whether the patient survives or dies.

Healing the terrain isn't a luxury—it's a necessity for true recovery and long-term survival.

The Next Step

Getting your terrain evaluated isn't scary. It's empowering.

It's not about rejecting treatment. It's about complementing it with personalized, root-cause healing.

Ask your healthcare provider—or seek out a practitioner who understands terrain-based care—to help you explore immune testing, inflammation panels, toxin screens, gut health evaluations, metabolic markers, and stress-hormone balance.

Because when you treat the terrain, you're not just trying to survive cancer.

You're building a body where cancer struggles to survive.

And that, more than anything, may be the most powerful medicine of all.

A Personal Message from Me to You

If you're reading this, it likely means cancer has touched your life in some way. Maybe you're newly diagnosed. Maybe you're navigating treatment. Maybe you're a survivor, a caregiver, or simply someone trying to understand what's happening in your body. Wherever you are on the journey, I want to tell you something from the heart:

You are not your diagnosis.

You are not just a body with a tumor. You are a whole person—with history, resilience, hope, and the power to influence your own healing. I've spent years walking alongside patients, friends, and loved ones facing cancer. I've seen the fear. I've seen the courage. And I've seen something else, too—something life-changing:

When we look beyond the tumor and begin to support the terrain—the soil in which health or illness takes root—things begin to shift. People feel stronger. They tolerate treatment better. Their labs improve. Their energy returns. Sometimes the tumors shrink. Sometimes they disappear. But always, healing becomes more possible.

This isn't about rejecting conventional medicine. It's about completing it.

If we only treat the tumor, we're missing the deeper story.

I'm sharing this because I believe every person deserves the chance to ask not just, “How do I get rid of cancer?” but also, “How do I create a body where cancer can't thrive?”

If you've never had your terrain evaluated—your immune system, your detox pathways, your inflammatory levels, your hormones, your toxic load, your gut health, your mitochondria—I urge you: take that step. It may be one of the most important things you do—not just for your recovery, but for your long-term vitality.

You are not powerless. Your body is not broken. With the right support, it knows how to heal.

Looking for a Deeper, Root-Cause Approach to Your Health?

Consulting with a graduate of Functional Medicine University (FMU) offers exceptional value for anyone seeking a second opinion or deeper insight into complex health concerns. FMU-certified practitioners undergo rigorous, science-based training rooted in systems biology and personalized care. FMU graduates are trained to uncover and address the underlying biochemical, genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors contributing to illness. Their comprehensive education includes in-depth modules on nutrition, gut health, detoxification, hormone balance, immune function, and chronic disease—grounded in peer-reviewed research and clinical application. If you're looking for a practitioner who views the body as an integrated system and can craft a strategy uniquely tailored to your physiology, an FMU graduate is an ideal resource. To find a qualified practitioner near you, visit: www.functionalmedicinedoctors.com

References:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21376230/

Introduces the idea that cancer is not just a cell-based problem, but a systemic one involving inflammation, immune evasion, and metabolic reprogramming.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2019.00348/full

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21436444/

Shows how a healthy immune system prevents cancer development through immune surveillance.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20303878/

Demonstrates how chronic inflammation promotes cancer initiation and progression.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20554718/

High insulin and glucose levels are associated with increased cancer risk and poorer outcomes.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11959894/

Demonstrates the link between hormone levels and cancer risk, especially estrogen and breast cancer.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8172117/

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased cancer incidence and mortality.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22381456/

Selenium's role in reducing cancer risk and supporting antioxidant enzymes.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25838377/

Explains how gut microbiota influences immune responses and cancer development.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15465465/
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(04)01597-9/abstract

Demonstrates how stress and unresolved trauma affect immunity and cancer progression.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23001348/

Describes mitochondrial dysfunction and altered energy metabolism in cancer.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22809841/

A comprehensive view of cancer as a terrain-based, bioenergetic disorder rather than purely genetic.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19523482/

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP

IGF-1 stands for insulin-like growth factor

Significant peer reviewed medical papers clearly show that excessively low or high IGF-1 levels could lead to health problems.

In adults, a high IGF-1 level is linked to accelerated aging and an increased risk of cancer and premature death.

The insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) appears to be associated with several types of cancer, according to a new study published today in Cancer Research. 

IGF-1 helps to support normal cell growth and development; processes which can lead to cancer if they become dysregulated. This study, a collaboration between the Cancer Epidemiology Unit (CEU) in NDPH, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, is the largest and most comprehensive investigation on IGF-1 and cancer risk to date. 

It has clearly been shown that maintaining relatively low levels of IGF-1 level throughout most of one's adult life is an important factor by which people living past 100 years old are able to live that long without developing cancer.

On the other side of the spectrum is the fact that low IGF-1 in the elderly is linked to frailty and disease risk.

So IGF-1 is somewhat complex. It really comes down to maintaining adequate IGF-1 levels to prevent cancer and also to maintain bone mass, muscle mass and brain function at later ages.

So to prolong our lifespan, the goal is to maintain a relatively low IGF-1 throughout most of our adult life, and then as we get into our eighties and beyond, to consume enough protein so that our IGF-1 level does not get excessively low.

It is important to pay attention to our diet, to ensure our IGF-1 levels are favorable throughout life.

Important Point to Understand About IGF-1

Circulating IGF-1 is regulated by dietary protein intake, especially animal protein. Animal protein is more biologically complete, meaning it has high levels of all essential amino acids, so it can trigger excessive body production of IGF-1, whereas plant protein does not.

So the argument to eat protein that is biologically complete can be a double edge sword.

Yes, it may be the thought by those who are proponents of the bodybuilding/fitness world. However is it absolutely necessary to eat protein that is biologically complete to be healthy and build lean muscle mass?

The answer is: No

You can still obtain all of the necessary high quality protein from plant based protein which is not considered biologically complete.

From my research and deep study of this important issue, high amounts of biologically complete proteins can lead to a number of serious health issues like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes etc.

Even High-glycemic, refined carbohydrates can also raise IGF-1.

Although there will be those that will present peer reviewed papers showing that elevated levels of IGF-1 can actually be somewhat therapeutic for those suffering with cardiovascular disease, the benefits are far outweighed with the negative consequences of developing cancer and diabetes.

Optimal IGF-1 levels

IGF-1 levels on the low end and the high end of the spectrum were associated with increased risk of premature death.

For most adults, keeping IGF-1 below 175 ng/ml is likely important, and below 150 ng/ml should be even more protective. Serum IGF-1 levels below 80 ng/ml may be detrimental, especially after the age of 75.

The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study reported that the amount of animal products consumed by most Americans drives their IGF-1 into this danger zone (above 200), increasing their risk of cancer.

Restricting animal protein during most of one's adult life to maintain a relatively low, but not excessively low IGF-1, is an important objective for those desiring superior health and life extension.  

Dr. Grisanti's Comments:

My deep dive into the issue of elevated IGF-1 and cancer clearly shows that excessive intake of animal protein although biologically complete is NOT necessary for optimal health and in fact could backfire leading to serious life threatening disease entities.

Some may say that I have joined the Vegan CAMP eating no more than 10 ounces of grass-fed protein per week. You would be correct. Since switching to a low animal vegan eating plan I have seen blood pressures, cardiovascular markers, diabetics markers, auto-immune markers improve better than I have ever witnessed.

The proof is just too overwhelming to go back to eating animal protein two times a day seven day a week.

Recommendations for those who want to learn more about nutritional excellence and longevity and the reversal of disease the following two books and video are worth studying:

Eat for Life: The Breakthrough Nutrient-Rich Program for Longevity, Disease Reversal, and Sustained Weight Loss by Joel Fuhrman M.D. 

How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger M.D. FACLM 

YouTube Video with Dr. Joel Fuhrman worth watching

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGP31HToALI

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8844108/
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/igf-1-as-one-stop-cancer-shop/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiuDwxMkbs0
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15959790/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15562834/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16087968/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4258605/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23015658/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00125-020-05190-9
https://cardiab.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12933-023-01916-2

** Always consult with a physician or healthcare practitioner with significant integrative or functional medicine training before starting any of the above recommendations.

You can find a qualified and certified functional medicine practitioner by going to: www.FunctionalMedicineDoctors.com

The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Grisanti and his functional medicine community. Dr. Grisanti encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com for more information on our training in functional medicine. Look for practitioners who have successfully completed the Functional Medicine University's Certification Program (CFMP) www.functionalmedicinedoctors.com. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Grisanti is required