Degrees of Health Cancer as a Metabolic Disease - Insulin, Keto, and Recurrence | Dr. Kristy Kessling
What if cancer isn’t primarily a genetic disease but a metabolic one?
In this episode, Ben sits down with radiation oncologist Dr. Kristy Kessling to explore a radically different lens on cancer, one that centers on mitochondria, insulin resistance, inflammation, and the internal “terrain” of the body.
Dr. Kessling explains why she believes cancer begins with mitochondrial stress not random bad luck and why insulin and IGF-1 may be more important drivers than most patients are ever told. We unpack the difference between attacking cancer cells and improving the body’s metabolic environment, and why those two approaches are not the same.
Topics covered:
- Why “cancer is a metabolic disease” is more than just a slogan
- The role of insulin, IGF-1, and glucose in tumour growth
- BRCA genes: why genes are not destiny
- The three biomarkers Dr. Kessling prioritizes for prevention and recurrence
- Ketogenic and carnivore diets, what matters, and common mistakes
- Fasting and ketosis alongside chemotherapy (and why some patients experience fewer side effects)
- Cancer stem cells and the importance of terrain
- Why recurrence prevention mirrors prevention itself
- The overlooked role of stress, mindset, and emotional health
This conversation challenges the conventional narrative and offers something deeply empowering the idea that metabolic health gives us more agency than we’ve been led to believe.
Whether you’re navigating a diagnosis, focused on prevention, or simply interested in the intersection of metabolism and chronic disease, this episode offers a hopeful and thought-provoking perspective.
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