Rewriting the Cancer Playbook: Terrain Theory, Immune Health & Ozone Therapy

Can we really have more time than we think after a cancer diagnosis? In this eye-opening episode of Vitality Made Simple, Dr. Debbie Ozment, DDS, is joined by Dr. Michael Karlfeldt, ND, PhD—an expert in integrative cancer care and founder of the Karlfeldt Center. Together, they dive deep into the empowering concept of terrain theory—that by shifting your body’s internal environment, you can make it less hospitable to cancer. Dr. Karlfeldt walks us through the four key pillars he outlines in his book: strengthening the immune system, optimizing nutrition, reducing inflammation, and supporting detoxification. He stresses that patients don’t have to rush into conventional treatment without exploring supportive therapies that address the root cause. The conversation highlights the profound impact of mindset and emotional state on immunity, along with specific nutrients and immune-boosting compounds like Vitamin C, zinc, medicinal mushrooms (Reishi, Cordyceps, Turkey Tail, Maitake), Beta Glucans, and herbs such as Andrographis and Astragalus. Dr. Karlfeldt emphasizes that these tools support the immune system rather than deplete it—unlike traditional treatments that often leave patients weak and vulnerable. Dr. Karlfeldt also debunks the sugar-cancer myth, explaining that while cancer cells thrive on sugar, many oncologists lack the nutritional training to give accurate dietary guidance. Cutting sugar, he says, isn’t just about cancer—it’s also about reducing inflammation, boosting cellular energy, and enhancing immune response. Listeners will also get a crash course in ozone therapy, a lesser-known but powerful treatment that enhances immune function and cellular energy. Dr. Karlfeldt details several administration methods and how ozone can oxidize pathogens, rev up mitochondria, and reduce inflammation. Dr. Ozment even shares her personal success with ozone therapy in managing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and a compelling case where oral ozone reversed jaw necrosis caused by a chemotherapy-related drug. To wrap up, Dr. Karlfeldt reframes cancer as the body’s way of managing toxic overload, likening tumors to a “garbage dump.” Instead of only attacking the tumor, he emphasizes the importance of opening detox pathways—through the liver, lymphatic system, skin, lungs, colon, and kidneys—to clear the internal terrain and set the stage for true healing.