Cancer is not one disease. So what is it?

Cancer is a word that can change the atmosphere in a room.

For many of us, it carries memories of someone we love, difficult treatments, uncertainty, or grief.

And yet, one of the most powerful ways we can respond to fear is with understanding.

In this episode of Master Stress with Dr S, I’m opening a new series on cancer — starting with the foundations.

What actually happens when a healthy cell loses its ability to regulate itself?

Cancer isn’t one single disease. There are more than 200 types, and while they differ in where they begin and how they behave, they share underlying patterns of disrupted cellular control.

We explore some of the key “hallmarks of cancer” — including uncontrolled cell growth, avoiding programmed cell death, creating new blood supply, escaping immune surveillance, and changing how cells produce energy.

But perhaps the most important point is this:

Cancer rarely comes down to one cause.

It is usually the result of multiple systems interacting and, over time, multiple protective mechanisms becoming disrupted.

We look at inflammation, genomic instability, immune function, mitochondrial health, metabolism, hormones and what I call the “terrain” — the environment in which our cells are functioning.

We also unpack some of the modern factors that can influence that terrain, from ultra-processed foods and insulin resistance to chronic stress, disrupted sleep, sedentary living, toxins, circadian mismatch and gut dysbiosis.

This isn't an episode designed to make you afraid of cancer.

Quite the opposite.

It’s about moving from fear to understanding.

Because when we understand how something works, we can begin to have more informed conversations, recognise risk factors, support our health, and ask better questions.

Listen here

With care,

Dr. Safia

Coach | Breathwork Facilitator | Doctor | Speaker

Bsc MBBS DCH DRCOG MRCGP MPH DipOccMed