Taking the Functional Approach to Cancer

What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine is a root-cause, systems-based approach to health that looks beyond symptoms to uncover why imbalances are occurring in the body. Unlike conventional care that often focuses solely on disease management, functional medicine asks:

➡️ “How do we restore balance, energy, and resilience to the whole system?”

Functional medicine is especially powerful in chronic illness care, offering valuable support for individuals navigating cancer recovery, immune challenges, and inflammation.

Functional Medicine for Cancer Support

At Progressive Medical Center, we support patients undergoing chemotherapy by offering integrative therapies that help reduce side effects, strengthen the immune system, and promote overall healing. Our goal is to walk alongside you with personalized care that nurtures the body and supports resilience through every step of your journey.

Our goal is to optimize your immune system, support detoxification, address nutritional deficiencies, and help you regain energy, strength, and clarity.

The Power—and Limits—of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy has long been a cornerstone in conventional cancer treatment, known for its ability to aggressively target and destroy rapidly dividing cancer cells. For many patients, it’s a life-saving intervention that offers a powerful tool in the fight against cancer.

However, as effective as chemotherapy can be, it doesn’t discriminate between cancerous and healthy cells. This means that while it works to eliminate tumors, it also affects fast-dividing healthy cells in the body—such as those in the digestive tract, hair follicles, and bone marrow. As a result, patients often experience a range of side effects, including:

Chronic fatigue
Digestive distress
Immune suppression
Nutrient depletion
Hair loss
Brain fog and mood changes

These side effects can significantly impact quality of life, not only during treatment but long after it’s completed.

Why Functional Medicine Matters During Chemotherapy

At Progressive Medical Center, we believe cancer care should support the whole person—not just fight the disease. That’s why we take a functional medicine approach to oncology support, which means we look for the root causes of imbalance and use natural, evidence-based therapies to help the body restore and maintain health.

For patients undergoing chemotherapy, this support is critical. Functional medicine can:

✅ Reduce the body’s toxic burden through gentle, supportive detoxification protocols
✅ Rebuild and protect the immune system
✅ Restore nutrient levels through customized IV therapy and supplementation
✅ Soothe inflammation in the gut and other organs
✅ Improve energy, mood, and resilience through personalized lifestyle guidance

We offer tools that work alongside traditional treatments—not against them—to help patients feel stronger and more supported on their healing journey.

Integrative Therapies Offered at Progressive Medical Center

We offer a wide range of integrative, non-toxic therapies that work alongside your oncology treatment to support your overall wellness and recovery.

1. Advanced Functional Diagnostics

Gut dysbiosis
Inflammation markers
Heavy metal burden
Nutrient deficiencies
Hormonal imbalances

This allows us to create personalized wellness protocols tailored to your needs.

2. IV Nutrient Therapy for Cancer Support

IV therapy provides direct cellular nourishment. Common infusions include:

High-dose Vitamin C (used in many functional oncology settings)
B-Complex for energy
Magnesium for cellular function
Glutathione for detoxification support

Cancer Beneficial IV Therapies:

1. High-Dose Curcumin IV Therapy

What it is:
Curcumin is the active compound found in turmeric, known for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. While turmeric is often taken orally, IV delivery allows for much higher bioavailability and systemic absorption.

How it supports the body in cancer care:

Reduces chronic inflammation, a major contributor to tumor growth and disease progression
Acts as a powerful antioxidant, helping to neutralize free radicals and protect healthy cells
Supports liver detoxification and may aid in reducing chemotherapy-induced toxicity
May enhance the effectiveness of conventional therapies by sensitizing cancer cells to treatment

Functional medicine benefit:
Addresses inflammation at the root level, which is a core tenet of functional medicine and vital in cancer support.

2. Ozone IV Therapy (Major Autohemotherapy)

What it is:
Ozone therapy involves infusing the blood with medical-grade ozone (O₃), a supercharged form of oxygen. The blood is removed, mixed with ozone, and reintroduced to the body via IV.

How it supports the body in cancer care:

Boosts oxygen utilization and energy production at the cellular level
Activates the body’s natural antioxidant systems
Supports immune system modulation, helping to balance overactive or weakened responses
Enhances the body’s ability to detoxify and eliminate pathogens

Functional medicine benefit:
Improves mitochondrial function and immune response—two foundational aspects of healing from a root-cause perspective.

3. Poly MVA IV Therapy

What it is:
Poly-MVA is a blend of lipoic acid, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids, specially designed to support mitochondrial function and cellular energy production.

How it supports the body in cancer care:

Replenishes and energizes the mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cells
Protects DNA and cell membranes from oxidative stress
May enhance the effects of radiation and chemotherapy while reducing side effects
Promotes healthy cellular repair and regeneration

Functional medicine benefit:
Focuses on cellular restoration and metabolic balance, key principles in functional healing and longevity support.

4. Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) IV Therapy

What it is:
Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that is both water- and fat-soluble, allowing it to work in every cell of the body. It helps recycle other antioxidants like Vitamin C and E.

How it supports the body in cancer care:

Protects against oxidative damage and supports glutathione production, the body’s master detoxifier
Supports liver health, a key player in processing toxins and chemotherapy drugs
Helps regulate blood sugar and reduce nerve-related side effects from chemo (neuropathy)
Supports healthy metabolic function

Functional medicine benefit:
Aligns with functional medicine’s core goal of enhancing detoxification, cellular protection, and metabolic health.

3. Personalized Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition & Detox

Why Nutrition Matters When You’re Fighting Cancer

When you’re battling cancer, what you feed your body matters more than ever. Every bite has the potential to either nourish your cells—or fuel the growth of cancer.

Cancer cells thrive on glucose, or sugar. Unlike healthy cells, cancer cells rely heavily on sugar to grow and multiply. This is why maintaining stable blood sugar levels and reducing carbohydrate intake can be a powerful part of an integrative approach.

One of the most recommended nutritional approaches is the Ketogenic (Keto) Diet, which is high in healthy fats, moderate in protein, and very low in carbohydrates. By lowering carbs, the body enters a state called ketosis, where it begins burning fat for energy instead of sugar. This metabolic shift deprives cancer cells of their primary fuel—glucose—while continuing to nourish healthy cells.

Benefits of a well-monitored Keto diet in cancer care include:

Lowered blood sugar and insulin levels, reducing inflammation and cancer growth signals
Increased energy and mental clarity for patients in treatment
Support for weight maintenance and muscle preservation during cancer therapy
Enhanced synergy with other functional medicine therapies such as IV vitamin C, curcumin, and immune support

At Progressive Medical Center, we personalize nutritional strategies—including Keto—for each patient’s unique diagnosis, lifestyle, and functional lab results. Nutrition isn’t just about food—it’s about fueling your fight with purpose.

We create individualized nutrition and detox protocols to support:

Liver function
Immune resilience
Microbiome balance

We also offer Food Allergy Panels and Stool Analysis Testing to evaluate your gut health and digestive function.

4. Oxygen & Light-Based Therapies

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy improves oxygenation and circulation
Red Light Therapy supports mitochondrial health and tissue repair These therapies complement healing by supporting energy production and recovery.

5. Mind-Body Therapies to Reduce Stress

Chronic stress contributes to inflammation and immune suppression.

We offer:

Neurofeedback
Lifestyle coaching
Infrared sauna to support emotional well-being and nervous system regulation during and after cancer care.

6. Specialty Tumor Markers: Tracking the Body’s Response

In functional medicine, understanding what’s happening beneath the surface is critical—and specialty tumor marker testing provides powerful insight. These advanced labs measure substances like proteins, enzymes, or antigens that may be produced by cancer cells or by the body in response to abnormal growth.

Unlike standard diagnostics, specialty tumor markers in functional medicine are used for more than detection. They can help:

Monitor treatment response over time
Detect early signs of recurrence or progression
Evaluate inflammation and immune system stress
Tailor therapies to optimize outcomes

At Progressive Medical Center, these markers are used alongside nutritional panels, immune assessments, and detoxification profiles to provide a full-body view of wellness. This allows patients and practitioners to track not just disease—but healing.

Rather than waiting for symptoms to emerge, specialty tumor markers allow a proactive and precise approach to support the body through its cancer journey.

7. The Greek Test: Personalized Immune Intelligence

One of the most innovative tools in functional oncology is the Greek Test, also known as the RGCC Test. This revolutionary blood test evaluates circulating tumor cells and the body’s immune system response to cancer—offering an unprecedented look at how to support the immune system in real time.

What makes the Greek Test so powerful?

It detects circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood—cells that may break away from a tumor and spread before imaging or symptoms arise.
It evaluates how the patient’s immune cells react to natural and pharmaceutical therapies—helping customize treatment plans.
It screens for chemosensitivity and natural compound sensitivity, identifying which treatments (like curcumin, resveratrol, or vitamin C) the cancer cells are most responsive to.
It enables highly individualized support for immune modulation and detox pathways.

At Progressive Medical Center, this test is often used to fine-tune IV protocols, supplement regimens, and detoxification therapies—providing data-driven confidence for both the patient and practitioner.

In the world of functional medicine, the Greek Test bridges the gap between cutting-edge science and deeply personalized care.

Why Choose a Functional Medicine Approach for Cancer Recovery?

Many patients ask, “What else can I do to feel better, faster?”

Functional medicine helps you:

✅ Rebuild immune strength
✅ Reduce side effects of chemotherapy or radiation
✅ Improve energy, sleep, and mental clarity
✅ Address root causes of inflammation
✅ Regain a sense of control and hope

These are powerful reasons to explore functional medicine for cancer support — especially in a personalized, compassionate environment like Progressive Medical Center in Atlanta.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Our team at Progressive Medical Center is here to help you rebuild, restore, and rethink your health. Whether you’re in treatment, in remission, or seeking preventative care, we offer the tools and guidance to help you thrive.

📍 Located in Atlanta, we support patients across Georgia and the Southeast.

📞 Call 770-676-6000
📅 Schedule an Appointment