Exploring the claims, risks, and realities of binders in cancer care—from anecdotal buzz to scientific silence.

Researched and written by Keith Bishop, Integrative Cancer Educator, Cancer Coach, Clinical Nutritionist, Retired Pharmacist, and Founder of Prevail Over Cancer. 

What Are “Binders” in Cancer Circles?

In integrative and alternative cancer communities, “binders” refer to substances that claim to “bind” toxins, heavy metals, microbial byproducts, or treatment-related metabolites in the gut. Popular examples include:

These are often promoted alongside repurposed drugs like ...

Foods, supplements, and lifestyle habits that support your immune system’s interferon natural defense.

Researched and written by Keith Bishop, Integrative Cancer Educator, Clinical Nutritionist, Cancer Coach, Retired Pharmacist, and Founder of Prevail Over Cancer.

What Is Interferon?

Interferons are natural proteins your body makes to help fight infections and abnormal cells—including cancer. They act like messengers, telling your immune system to wake up, attack, and clean up. There are three main types:

• Type I (IFN-α and IFN-β): These help stop cancer cells from growing and spreading.
• Type II (IFN-γ): This type activates immune cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
• Type III (IFN-λ): Mostly helps protect surfaces like your skin and gut, with growing interest in cancer research.

Interferons are so powerful that some cancer treatments use them directly or try to boost their effects.[i]

Foods That May Help Your Body Make More Interferon

Eating certain foods can suppor...

Pizza’s dark side: burnt crust, processed meats, and blood sugar spikes can raise cancer risks—here’s what the science says.

Written by Keith Bishop, Integrative Cancer Educator, Clinical Nutritionist, Retired Pharmacist, and Founder of Prevail Over Cancer.

🔥Burnt Crust and Acrylamides: A Carcinogenic Combo?

When pizza crust is overcooked or charred, it can form acrylamides—chemical compounds linked to increased cancer risk. Acrylamides are especially prevalent in carbohydrate-rich foods cooked at high temperatures, such as baked goods and fried potatoes. Though research is ongoing, acrylamides are genotoxic (damage DNA) and carcinogenic in animal studies.

Additionally, the blackened edges of pizza crust may contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HCAs), both of which are formed during high-heat cooking and have been shown to damage DNA and promote cancer development.[i]

Learn more from the National Cancer Institute: Chemicals in Meat Cooked at ...

Exploring the Link Between pH Balance, Nutrient Buffering, and the Tumor Microenvironment

Researched and written by Keith Bishop, Clinical Nutritionist, Cancer Coach, Retired Pharmacist, and founder of Prevail Over Cancer.

Acidic Terrain: How pH Influences Cancer Risk and Progression

Cancer doesn’t grow in a vacuum—it thrives in environments shaped by metabolism, inflammation, and cellular stress. One of the most overlooked yet critical factors? pH balance. While blood pH is tightly regulated between 7.35 and 7.45, other body compartments, including the tumor microenvironment, can become significantly more acidic. This shift isn’t just a biochemical quirk; it may actively promote cancer growth, immune evasion, and treatment resistance.

Acidic Microenvironments and Cancer Progression

Cancer cells often rely on aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect), producing lactic acid even in the presence of oxygen. This leads to a localized drop in extracellular pH, often reaching 6.5–6.9 i...

Exploring the Mechanism, Promise, and Research Behind the Selective Anti-Cancer Agent PNC-27

Researched and written by Keith Bishop, Clinical Nutritionist, Cancer Coach, Retired Pharmacist, and Founder of Prevail Over Cancer

PNC-27 and Cancer Introduction

PNC-27 is an investigational anticancer peptide derived from the tumor suppressor protein p53. Unlike conventional chemotherapeutics that broadly target dividing cells, PNC-27 selectively binds to cancer cells expressing HDM-2 (also known as MDM2) on their outer membranes. This unique mechanism has sparked interest in its potential to induce rapid, necrotic cell death while sparing healthy tissue. Though not FDA-approved, PNC-27 represents a novel class of membrane-targeting peptides with implications for integrative oncology and terrain-based care.

PNC-27 Cancer Mechanism of Action

PNC-27 contains a p53-derived binding domain that targets HDM-2, a protein overexpressed on the surface of many cancer cells. Upon binding, PNC-27...

Evidence-Based Insights into Zinc’s Anticancer Mechanisms, Clinical Applications, Testing Methods, and Supplementation Strategies

Researched and written by Keith Bishop, Clinical Nutritionist, Cancer Coach, Retired Pharmacist, and Founder of Prevail Over Cancer

Zinc is an essential micronutrient that plays a crucial role in the metabolism of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, as well as in gene transcription. This micronutrient is critical for numerous physiological processes, including reproduction, immune function, and wound healing. At the cellular level, zinc is indispensable for the normal function of the immune system’s macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and the complement system. Zinc is a micronutrient, so it is not well stored in the body and has to be frequently replenished.

Zinc is an essential trace mineral involved in hundreds of biological processes that sustain cellular health, immune resilience, and metabolic balance. It serves as a cofactor for over 3...

Explore the science behind Akkermansia muciniphila—its role in cancer treatment, immune health, and how to support its function naturally.

Researched and written by Keith Bishop, Clinical Nutritionist, Cancer Coach, retired pharmacist, and founder of Prevail Over Cancer.

What is Akkermansia muciniphila?

Akkermansia muciniphila is a mucin-degrading bacterium that resides in the gut’s mucus layer. It plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, improving immune responses, and influencing metabolic health. Its presence has been linked to improved outcomes in cancer therapy, metabolic disorders, and immune regulation.

A decline in Akkermansia muciniphila abundance correlated with the development of intestinal inflammation, colorectal cancer, and even cognitive disorders such as depression and anxiety.[i]

How Akkermansia Supports Cancer Treatments

1.  Akkermansia muciniphila and Chemotherapy: Enhancing Efficacy Through Microbial Synergy

Emerging evidence sugges...

Soaking walnuts may sabotage your body’s ability to produce Urolithin A—a gut-derived compound with powerful anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and mitochondrial energy benefits. Here’s what science says and how to compensate.

Researched and Written by Keith Bishop, Clinical Nutritionist, Cancer Coach, Retired Pharmacist, and Founder of Prevail Over Cancer

In the evolving landscape of integrative oncology and precision nutrition, few compounds have sparked as much interest as Urolithin A (UA)—a gut-derived metabolite with compelling anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and mitochondrial-enhancing properties. Let’s unpack what it is, how it’s made, and how to harness its full potential.

What Is Urolithin A and Where Does It Come From?

Urolithin A is not found directly in food. Instead, it’s a postbiotic—a compound produced by your gut microbiota when they metabolize ellagitannins, polyphenols found in:

• Pomegranates
• Walnuts
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Pecans

Once consumed, ellagitan...

Discover how maitake mushrooms support immune function, enhance chemotherapy outcomes, and fit into integrative cancer care—backed by peer-reviewed research and practical dosing strategies.

Researched and written by Keith Bishop, Clinical Nutritionist, Cancer Coach, Retired Pharmacist, and Founder of Prevail Over Cancer

Maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondosa) have long been revered for thousands of years in natural traditional medicine. Still, modern science is now catching up—revealing potent anticancer properties that make them a compelling addition to integrative oncology protocols. From strengthening the body's defense system against cancer (immune modulation) to increasing the potency of chemotherapy drugs (synergy with chemotherapy), maitake’s bioactive compounds have been spotlighted in both clinical trials and laboratory studies published in peer-reviewed literature. This growing body of research demonstrates how maitake may play a multifaceted role in integrative cancer care. T...

Learn which cancers are linked to low magnesium, how it impacts pain, sleep, immunity, and the form I trust most.

Researched and written by Keith Bishop, Clinical Nutritionist, Cancer Coach, Retired Pharmacist, and Founder of Prevail Over Cancer

Flashier nutrients in discussions about cancer often overshadow magnesium, yet it plays a foundational role in cellular health, immune regulation, and metabolic balance. Emerging research reveals that magnesium deficiency may not only increase cancer risk but also impair recovery, worsen treatment side effects, and disrupt quality of life. Let’s explore the science behind magnesium’s anticancer benefits—and why it deserves a central place in integrative oncology.

Magnesium’s Role in Cancer Biology

Magnesium is a cofactor in over 600 enzymatic reactions, including DNA repair, RNA synthesis, and ATP production. It regulates oxidative stress, inflammation, and calcium signaling—all of which are tightly linked to cancer development and progress...