Dr. John Oertle of Envita Medical Centers Decodes the Infectious Causes of Breast Cancer on 'Resiliency Radio' Podcast

Even a tick bite may be carcinogenic enough to trigger changes in the human body, ultimately leading to various types of cancers, especially breast cancer. Decoding this complex connection, Dr. John Oertle, Chief Medical Director of Envita Medical Centers, said, “Lyme disease evades immunity and suppresses immunity as well, and those are the tell-tale signs that it can actually trigger cancerous presentation.” Speaking with Dr. Jill Carnahan, a breast cancer survivor herself, Dr. Oertle explained why this tick-borne disease makes patients vulnerable to cancer.

Lyme disease is caused by a tick bite, but if this infection is not diagnosed and treated early, it impacts the immune system, affecting its ability to control the uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells. “We need to understand why the immune system was not able to keep it in check,” said Dr. Oertle. In the process of doing so, Dr. Oertle and his team of specially trained physicians at Envita have uncovered various infectious causes of cancer, such as Lyme disease triggering breast cancer. He explained that the bacteria causing Lyme disease may reside in the breast tissues, creating inflammatory and immune-suppressive patterns, which in turn lead to cellular changes that contribute to the development of breast cancer.

Understanding the complex interplay of factors that may play a role in triggering cancers is critical for not just preventing the disease but also treating it comprehensively. The Envita team has been following the innovative precision integrative oncology approach to identify and treat the underlying causes of cancer in each individual patient while helping them recover holistically.

To learn more about how Lyme disease and its associated co-infections and secondary infections may influence the development of breast cancer or other types of cancer, tune into this podcast.