Cancer Prevention

We assess your individual cancer risk through detailed testing and family history, then build a prevention protocol targeting your specific vulnerabilities.

• Inflammation control. Chronic inflammation is the single biggest modifiable cancer risk factor. We test inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, homocysteine, insulin) and address sources of chronic inflammation.
• Metabolic optimization. Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome significantly increase cancer risk. We optimize blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, and metabolic function.
• Immune support. Vitamin D optimization (levels above 50 ng/mL are associated with reduced cancer risk), zinc, selenium, and other immune-modulating nutrients that support cancer cell surveillance.
• Hormone balance. Both excess and deficiency in key hormones influence cancer risk. We optimize levels based on evidence-based ranges, not just avoiding deficiency.
• Toxin reduction. Environmental carcinogens (mold, heavy metals, pesticides) are testable and removable. We identify your toxic burden and support clearance.
• Gut health. The gut microbiome directly influences immune surveillance and inflammation. A healthy microbiome is part of cancer defense.

This is not a replacement for standard cancer screening. It's an addition. You still get your mammograms, colonoscopies, and check-ups. We layer proactive optimization on top of detection.

Cancer risk assessment goes beyond the standard physical. The markers below do not diagnose cancer. They identify the modifiable risk factors that functional medicine can address to reduce the likelihood of cancer developing.

• High-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) and homocysteine. These inflammatory markers indicate the level of chronic inflammation in your body. Persistent elevation signals an environment where DNA damage and immune suppression are more likely.
• Fasting insulin, glucose, and HbA1c. Insulin resistance creates a metabolic environment that favors cancer cell growth. These markers catch metabolic dysfunction years before it progresses to diabetes.
• Vitamin D. Research links vitamin D levels above 50 ng/mL with reduced cancer risk across multiple cancer types. Most conventional labs consider 30 ng/mL "sufficient." Functional medicine targets 50 to 80 ng/mL for optimal immune and cellular function.
• Zinc and selenium. Both minerals support immune cell function and act as cofactors in the body's antioxidant defense systems. Deficiency compromises the immune response to abnormal cell growth.
• Ferritin. Iron status affects cellular energy production and immune function. Both excess and deficiency create problems. Elevated ferritin can be an inflammatory marker in its own right.
• Full thyroid panel. Thyroid dysfunction affects metabolic rate, immune function, and cellular repair processes. An underperforming thyroid slows down the body's maintenance systems.
• Sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone). Hormonal imbalances influence cancer risk differently depending on the type. Testing provides a baseline for targeted optimization.
• Toxin burden markers. Urinary mycotoxin panels (for mold exposure), heavy metal testing, and environmental toxin assessments identify carcinogens that may be accumulating in your body.

All of these are included in or available through the initial testing process at Med Matrix. Your provider uses this data alongside your family history, lifestyle, and health goals to build a personalized prevention protocol. For patients who want to go further, we work with your oncologist or primary care doctor to coordinate screening schedules and share results.

If you are looking for advanced lab testing that goes beyond what a standard physical covers, your first visit at Med Matrix includes an 80+ biomarker blood panel and InBody 770 body composition scan.

Family history of cancer changes the conversation, but it does not determine the outcome. Genetic predisposition means your risk is elevated, not that cancer is inevitable. Genes load the gun. Environment and lifestyle pull the trigger.

If you have a family history of cancer (a parent, sibling, or grandparent diagnosed with cancer), proactive prevention becomes more important, not less. The modifiable factors that determine whether genetic risk becomes actual disease are the same ones functional medicine addresses:

• Inflammation levels. Chronic inflammation activates pathways that can trigger gene expression for cancer growth. Reducing inflammation through diet, gut health, stress management, and targeted supplementation shifts the environment away from cancer-favorable conditions.
• Metabolic function. Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome create conditions that favor abnormal cell growth. Optimizing blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, and body composition reduces this risk.
• Toxic burden. Environmental carcinogens interact with genetic vulnerabilities. Identifying and reducing exposure to mold, heavy metals, pesticides, and endocrine disruptors is especially important for patients with cancer in their family history.
• Immune health. A strong immune system catches and eliminates precancerous cells before they can establish themselves. Nutrient optimization (vitamin D, zinc, selenium), sleep quality, and stress management all support immune surveillance.
• Hormone balance. For patients with family history of hormone-sensitive cancers (breast, prostate, ovarian), monitoring and optimizing hormone levels becomes part of an ongoing prevention strategy.

At Med Matrix, your providers (Dr. Paul Laband and Dr. Sasha Rose) will review your family history alongside your lab work, lifestyle factors, and environmental exposures. The goal is to control everything that is controllable so your genetic risk stays dormant.

This is not alternative medicine. It is evidence-based prevention layered on top of the standard screening your oncologist or primary care doctor recommends. We coordinate with your existing care team. We do not replace them.