Prevention Is Worth Far More Than a Pound of Cure
Oct 31, 2025 09:00AM ● By Linda Sechrist
Today, with cancer rates at an all-time high, prevention is worth far more than a pound of cure.
According to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures 2025 report, “excluding
non-melanoma skin cancers, more than 2 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed
in the U.S. in 2025.”
Dodging any type of cancer can be compared to walking between raindrops to avoid getting wet.
Escaping the cascade of toxic chemicals in our food, water, and air is nearly impossible.
However, according to Dr. Carol Roberts, a physician at the Naples Center for Functional
Medicine, there are precautionary steps we can take.
Prevention Beats Rescue
For 10 years Dr. Roberts was a board certified ear, nose, and throat surgeon. “Then I went
For 10 years Dr. Roberts was a board certified ear, nose, and throat surgeon. “Then I went
rogue,” she says. “I’d learned valuable things about healing beyond what I was taught in medical
school, and I naturally wanted to share that information with my colleagues—who were not
interested. One important thing I’d learned is that “prevention beats rescue”. We were never
taught anything about prevention in medical school. When I speak about preventive medicine,
I’m referring to how to never get the disease, how to detect it early, and what causes it.”
Mammograms
A mammogram is not preventive. Breast cancer is the fourth leading type of cancer, and
A mammogram is not preventive. Breast cancer is the fourth leading type of cancer, and
mammograms may actually induce cancer because they repeatedly radiate the same body part. “I
advise my patients to have a thermogram first, and only if there is an area of concern should they
then have a mammogram,” says Dr. Roberts.
Medical Thermography
Medical thermography can assist in determining physiologic risk factors and detecting deviations
Medical thermography can assist in determining physiologic risk factors and detecting deviations
from a normal baseline very early. Our thermal fingerprint, or unique breast pattern, develops
after puberty and remains stable and unchanged unless an evolving pathology is present. A
baseline is established by two imaging sessions taken three months apart. A preliminary risk
factor is assigned pending the three-month follow-up to ensure the patterns remain unchanged.
Preventive factors for breast cancer include maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating a proper diet,
achieving a healthy body mass index, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking, reducing alcohol
consumption, and managing stress. Uncontrollable risk factors include age and being
female—the largest risk indicator for breast cancer. Family or personal history of breast cancer,
race (Caucasians in particular), and long-term exposure to estrogen—either environmentally or
due to early menstruation and late menopause—are other contributing factors.
Eat Organic
“I advise patients to eat organic as much as possible because it’s better to avoid food with
“I advise patients to eat organic as much as possible because it’s better to avoid food with
pesticide residue,” says Dr. Roberts. She recommends that her patients consult the Clean 15 and
Dirty Dozen–Plus lists in the 2025 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, compiled by the
The Dirty Dozen–Plus list—apples, celery, sweet bell peppers, peaches, strawberries, grapes,
spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, blueberries, potatoes, green beans, and kale/greens—includes the
most contaminated produce. The Clean 15—onions, sweet corn, pineapple, avocado, cabbage,
sweet peas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplant, kiwi, domestic cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, grapefruit,
watermelon, and mushrooms—contain the least pesticide residue.
Take CoQ10 Supplements
Dr. Roberts also takes CoQ10 supplements herself. “Everyone who’s on statins should take
Dr. Roberts also takes CoQ10 supplements herself. “Everyone who’s on statins should take
CoQ10 because the body’s ability to produce it is altered and damaged by statin drugs,” she
explains
Toxic Chemicals
Toxic Chemicals
Once upon a time, we lived in a world that was nearly chemical-free. Not anymore. Toxic
chemicals are now virtually unavoidable. Researchers have even tested the cord blood of
newborn infants—which, of all things in the universe, should be pristine and clean—and found
an average of 254 chemicals present, all transferred through the mother. “Today, we’re all born
behind the eight ball,” she says.
Chelation
Chelation therapy is a medical treatment that uses chelating agents to remove heavy metals from
the body, which can accumulate from exposure to substances such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and
iron. Chelation is primarily used to treat heavy metal poisoning. Once bound, the metals are
excreted through the urine. The therapy can be administered intravenously or orally in pill form.
Common chelating agents include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), dimercaptosuccinic
acid (DMSA), and dimercaprol.
Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning can vary but may include neurological issues,
gastrointestinal problems, and organ damage. “I suggest that anyone over the age of 50 consider
chelation—particularly anyone who is ill, has lived in a city, or has had an occupation that
exposed them to heavy metals, such as a plumber or artist,” says Dr. Roberts. “It’s generally not
necessary to chelate children since they haven’t had enough time to accumulate heavy
metals—unless the mother was very toxic. Chelation is highly individual because it’s difficult to
know what someone’s lifetime exposure has been.”
When chelation therapy is complete, ask the administering physician to perform a urine test to
determine its effectiveness. A blood test for heavy metals won’t provide accurate results because
the body bioaccumulates them—meaning heavy metals don’t circulate freely, and the body lacks
efficient ways of eliminating them.
Naples Center for Functional Medicine is located at 1265 Creekside Pkwy, Ste. 200, in Naples.
For more information call 239-649-7400.
Naples Center for Functional Medicine - 800 Goodlette Rd Ste 270, Naples, FL
Dr. Lindsey Berkson MA, DC, CNS, DACBN, CAN is a hormone scholar and functional medicine specialist focusing on hormones, anti-aging and medical nutrition at Naples Center for Functional ... Read More »
