Phthalates and Chemo Resistance: Can Plastics Cause Cancer Treatments to Be Less Effective?

For millions of people, chemotherapy is a necessary and life-saving treatment.
Set your body up for the best possible chance of success. Avoid phthalates as much as possible, especially if you are undergoing chemotherapy. Phthalates are chemicals used in everything from packaging to fragrances to building materials. It’s been well-documented that there is a link between cancer and phthalate exposure [1]. However, now, research indicates that phthalates can interfere with the effectiveness of chemotherapy [2]! Make informed decisions about your product usage to improve chemotherapy outcomes. Here’s why you should avoid phthalates while undergoing chemo treatments. 

What Are Phthalates?

Phthalates are everywhere, and we can come into contact with them daily. They are plasticizers that enhance flexibility, making phthalates popular chemicals to use in food packaging, vinyl, medical devices, and even medications. They are also found in personal care products.

Phthalates are categorized into two main groups: high molecular weight phthalates, which are primarily used in polyvinyl chloride PVC plastic, construction materials, medical devices, and food packaging, and low molecular weight phthalates, commonly found in personal care products, especially in fragrances. 

The most common ways we are exposed to phthalates include:

• Food ingestion: Phthalates can seep into our food from plastic packaging, with fatty foods like meat and dairy having the highest concentrations.

• Inhalation: Breathing in phthalates that accumulate in household dust.

• Skin absorption: Using beauty and skin care products containing phthalates. Shop fragrance-free!

By being aware of these common sources, we can take steps to minimize our exposure to phthalates in our daily lives.

A Warning About Fragrance

Billions of people love the fresh aromas of clean laundry, setting the mood with a candle or the slight hint of fruits while washing dishes. While these aromas may be pleasant to the noses, they’re not so pleasant to our hormones. 

Fragrances can contain various phthalates. These are a class of plasticizer chemicals that hold scents that last longer. Don’t breathe in phthalates. Shop for fragrance-free products whenever possible. 

Is There A Link Between Phthalates and Cancer?

Yes, there is a link between phthalates and cancer, but it's important to remember that we can take steps to reduce our exposure and protect our health. Phthalates can mimic or block natural hormones like estrogen and testosterone [3].

Phthalates can affect the network of glands that produce hormones, potentially impacting growth, development, and metabolism [4]. These glands are part of the endocrine system, and in turn, phthalates are classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs confuse the body, causing it to produce too much or too little of certain hormones, including sex hormones. 

Many of us are constantly exposed to phthalates. Therefore, millions of people have hormonal imbalances. When the body remains in a state of imbalance, it becomes at greater risk of developing life-threatening conditions, including cancer. 

Cancers associated with phthalate exposure include:

• Colon cancer: Phthalates may increase the spread of colon cancer cells and make them more resistant to chemotherapy [5][6].

• Breast cancer: Some phthalates, like benzyl butyl phthalate, can make breast cancer cells less responsive to common chemotherapy drugs [7].

• Childhood cancers: Children exposed to phthalates may have a higher risk of developing certain cancers, such as osteosarcoma and lymphoma [8].

It's especially important to note that phthalate exposure can potentially affect families for multiple generations. If you're planning to conceive or are pregnant, consider taking steps to minimize your exposure to phthalates. 

Remember, small changes in our daily habits can make a big difference in reducing our exposure to these chemicals and protecting our health and the health of future generations.

Phthalate Exposure and Chemo Resistance

Increase your chances of successful chemo treatments. Avoid chemotherapy resistance by avoiding phthalates. 

When our bodies are exposed to phthalates, some surprising changes can happen in cancer cells that make them tougher to treat. It's like these phthalates give cancer cells a shield against the medications developed to stop them. Let's break this down in a way that's easier to understand.

First, phthalates can help cancer cells survive better and even make them resistant to drugs [6]. Imagine cancer cells as stubborn weeds in a garden. Phthalates act like a special fertilizer that not only helps these weeds grow stronger but also makes them resistant to weed killers. In the same way, phthalates can increase the number of proteins in cancer cells that help them resist chemotherapy drugs.

Secondly, phthalates can change cancer cells in ways that make them spread more easily and behave more like stem cells [6]. Stem cells have the unique ability to turn into different types of cells and renew themselves. 

When cancer cells gain these stem cell-like properties, they become harder to eliminate completely. It's as if the cancer cells are learning new tricks to survive and spread, making the disease more challenging to treat.

Phthalates In Medications

Phthalates slow down how your body absorbs medications. That’s why many pharmaceutical companies use phthalates in extended-release medicines. 

Phthalates are commonly used in enteric coatings. Their durable chemical structure protects drugs from stomach acid, ensuring they reach the intestines for proper absorption. 

With that said, taking medications containing phthalates can significantly increase urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations. Studies have shown that frequent use of personal care products and medications with phthalates leads to higher levels of these metabolites in urine. 

The presence of phthalates in medications becomes particularly problematic for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Research has shown that phthalate exposure can promote chemotherapeutic drug resistance in cancer cells. For instance, colon cancer cells exposed to phthalates exhibited increased viability and higher levels of proteins associated with drug resistance when treated with common chemotherapy drugs like oxaliplatin or irinotecan.

For some people, avoiding phthalates in medications is possible. Extended-release medications aren’t always necessary. So, discuss other alternative delivery methods for that specific medication with your doctor.

If you must take a medication with phthalates in it, don’t sweat it! Your body can eliminate phthalates from it naturally through urine, feces, and sweat. You just need to set it up for success by minimizing other phthalate exposures, such as using fragrance-free products and buying organic, whole foods over processed ones. 

How to Test for Phthalates

At Million Marker, we understand that knowledge is power when it comes to your health. That's why we've developed the Detect & Detox Test Kit, a comprehensive tool to help you learn what's inside your body. 

Our mail-in urine test is designed to detect 13 hormone-disrupting chemical metabolites, including phthalates, bisphenols, parabens, and oxybenzone. Simply collect your urine first thing in the morning with our biodegradable collection cup and mail it to our lab with the packaging materials provided.

After we analyze your sample, our experts generate a report with personalized recommendations to help you reduce your exposure to these harmful chemicals. Receive practical and individualized advice based on your levels and the products you use! 

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Chemotherapy

Phthalates are hidden in many everyday products, and they pose a double threat to our health. Not only can they contribute to cancer development, but they can also make cancer treatments less effective. These chemicals disrupt our hormones and have been linked to various cancers, with children being particularly vulnerable. Alarmingly, phthalates can make cancer cells more resistant to chemotherapy drugs, potentially reducing the effectiveness of life-saving treatments.

Now is the time to take action! Start by discussing phthalate exposure with your doctor, especially if you're undergoing cancer treatment. Consider testing your phthalate levels to understand your personal exposure. Most importantly, take steps to minimize your contact with phthalates and other EDCs in your daily life. By making informed choices about the products you use and the foods you eat, you can significantly reduce your exposure!

Resources

[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7351345/#
[2] https://cancerci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12935-024-03622-9
[3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3987027/
[4] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2020.00405/full
[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749123004785
[6] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5862569/
[7] http://nature.com/articles/s41598-022-06709-3
[8] https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2022/03/pervasive-phthalates-new-study-links-child-exposure-cancer