The Cancer Code

A Revolutionary New Understanding of a Medical Mystery

By: Dr. Jason Fung

Narrated by: Brian Nishii

Author of the international bestsellers The Diabetes Code and The Obesity Code Dr. Jason Fung returns with an eye-opening biography of cancer in which he offers a radical new paradigm for understanding cancer—and issues a call to action for reducing risk moving forward.

Our understanding of cancer is slowly undergoing a revolution, allowing for the development of more effective treatments. For the first time ever, the death rate from cancer is showing a steady decline . . . but the “War on Cancer” has hardly been won.

In The Cancer Code, Dr. Jason Fung offers a revolutionary new understanding of this invasive, often fatal disease—what it is, how it manifests, and why it is so challenging to treat. In this rousing narrative, Dr. Fung identifies the medical community’s many missteps in cancer research—in particular, its focus on genetics, or what he terms the “seed” of cancer, at the expense of examining the “soil,” or the conditions under which cancer flourishes. Dr. Fung—whose groundbreaking work in the treatment of obesity and diabetes has won him international acclaim—suggests that the primary disease pathway of cancer is caused by the dysregulation of insulin. In fact, obesity and type 2 diabetes significantly increase an individual’s risk of cancer.

In this accessible listen, Dr. Fung provides a new paradigm for dealing with cancer, with recommendations for what we can do to create a hostile soil for this dangerous seed. One such strategy is intermittent fasting, which reduces blood glucose, lowering insulin levels. Another, eliminating intake of insulin-stimulating foods, such as sugar and refined carbohydrates.

For hundreds of years, cancer has been portrayed as a foreign invader we’ve been powerless to stop. By reshaping our view of cancer as an internal uprising of our own healthy cells, we can begin to take back control. The seed of cancer may exist in all of us, but the power to change the soil is in our hands.

Most fascinating medical book I have read as a physician

I’m a practicing ophthalmologist with a friend who is CEO of biotech company that is doing clinical trials for a novel drug for brain cancer. I decided to read this book to have more intelligent conversations about his therapeutic. But I realized that almost everything I learned about cancer when in medical school 25 years ago is outdated and way off target for what cancer is. The entire medical profession was, and still is for the most part, way off base. If you are a seeker of knowledge this is a fascinating book even if you are not particularly interested in medical topics.

No More Sugar and Processed Carbs

Let me just quote a passage that show the level of this book:

"Specifically, long-term metformin use in women with type 2 diabetes was associated with a more than 50 percent reduction in breast cancer risk.30 Metformin works by reducing glucose to the growing cancer without the pro-growth effects of the insulin/IGF-1/PI3K pathway. It also activates AMPK, an important nutrient sensor and growth pathway, which rapidly inhibits cellular protein synthesis and growth."

I have read all of Dr.Fung' books. I watch his videos and interviews. As a science person I am always skeptical. in five years (2016-2021) I have nothing to make me doubt him. He is "popular" but never "info-mercial." He does use testimonials. they are not important to me. My personal experience is: A1C 8.7 to 5.9, lost 40 lbs at a rate of 1.7lbs/week in about 24 weeks. That was 3 years ago. Average over that time: about -30 lbs A1C 6.8. so no meds yet. Metformin looks like a great medicine. So, I am no longer afraid of it.

Eye Opening

Fulsome and accessible account of causes, problems, difficulties with treatments, and assorted issues surrounding the topic of cancer. I needed to go back and repeat several passages for my layman's ear, but think I grasped most of the essential points.

Narrator Nishii needs to review pronunciation of words he does not know before committing the text to audio. He stumbled over the name of John Maynard Keynes, (Kānes not Keenes), changed Wimbledon to Wimbleton, (unfortunately, a rather common error) and struggled with Madame Curie's surname, altering it to Cur-ée. However, he did correct himself when her name came around again in a later chapter. There were a few other quibbles with pronunciation but these were the most distracting. Otherwise ok.

GreAt coverage of cancer treatment history and current status.

I liked this and I'll check out other books by the same author. yeah I'm a cancer patient but this information is helpful to everyone.

So informative of the origin of cancer

I learned so much about cancer which I didn't know. Well researched and written. I couldn't stop listening.