Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D.

Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D. Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D. is a prominent leader in the field of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Connealy began practicing medicine in 1986.

She is the Medical Director of Cancer Center for Healing and Center for New Medicine, and the author of The Cancer Revolution. Leigh Erin Connealy, MD attended the University of Texas School of Public Health, and then attended the University of Health Sciences Chicago Medical School. She completed her post-graduate training at the Harbor/UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Connealy soon realized that conventional medicine had very limited returns and did not always improve the health of her patients. Her patients were hungry for alternative approaches for improving their health. This led her to study integrative and complementary therapies, and since then she has revolutionized the landscape of medicine. Dr. Connealy feels that we must treat the patient with the disease and not the disease of the patient. She has discovered that many factors contribute to the disease process; therefore, many modalities must be used to reverse it. Dr. Connealy treats the WHOLE person, and is open to all potential treatment possibilities. She has over twenty years of experience in finding the ‘root cause of an illness’, and has taken numerous advanced courses, including homeopathic, nutritional and lifestyle approaches, while studying disease, chronic illness, and cancer treatments. She has a true passion to change her patients’ lives, and give them their life back. In 1992, she founded the Center for New Medicine in Irvine, California, where she serves as Medical Director. Her practice is firmly based in the belief that strictly treating the health problems with medications does not find the root cause of the illness. The Center offers a vast array of services for men, women and children, including detoxification, holistic dentistry, nutrition, fitness and weight loss, cosmetic/laser treatment, pain management, allergy therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, sleep disorders, and much more. We also provide specialized services in gynecology, natural fertility, menopause, hormone imbalances for all ages, healthy sexuality, healthy aging, and personalized preventive medicine. Some of the chronic conditions treated at the clinic include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, neurological and auto-immune disorders. Dr. Connealy writes and has been published in monthly health columns for "Coast" and "OC Health", Orange County based magazines and is published in "The Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association" (JANA), along with Healthy Aging Magazine. She is a frequent writer for Natural News. She is also a weekly co-host on Frank Jordan’s national radio show "Healthy, Wealthy and Wise" on Sirius/XM Channel 131 digital cable, KSPA 1510 AM, and WAVA 780. Dr. Connealy is a frequent guest speaker at professional organizations and on local cable television shows when highlighting health topics like KTBN or Know the Cause with Doug Kaufman airing across the country periodically. She has a weekly publication newsletter with Newport Natural Health and Eagle Publishing. To learn more about Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D. we invite you to visit www.centerfornewmedicine.com or www.perfectlyhealthy.com or www.connealymd.com or www.newportnaturalhealth.com.

6 Hughes • Suite 100 • Irvine • California • 92618 949.680.1880 • 949.680.1881 fax www.centerfornewmedicine.com • info@cfnmedicine.com

02/10/2026

Estrogen is treated differently in ER-positive cancers because estrogen can promote cancer growth.

Excessive estrogen disturbs the mitochondria. The stimulation opens calcium channels excessively, allowing calcium to flood into the cell. Over time, this calcium builds up in the mitochondria, overwhelming their capacity. High calcium levels trigger increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), damage mitochondrial enzymes (particularly in the electron transport chain), and impair the mitochondrial membrane potential. As a result, the mitochondria become less efficient at producing ATP through OXPHOS and are forced to rely on glycolysis in the cytoplasm.

+ Estrogen is a growth hormone. It plays a key role in puberty, breast development, and fertility. It even boosts growth hormone production, which is why young women have been found to have up to 80 times more growth hormone in the morning than men. In fact, women on birth control pills (containing estrogen) had median growth hormone levels that were 117 to 125 times higher than those of age-matched men. Growth without regulation is a recipe for cancer. And to grow, cells need a lot of quick energy, that’s why estrogen stimulates glycolysis.

The reality is, hormonally driven cancers still rely on controlling estrogen.

This doesn’t mean estrogen is bad, it just means it’s wise to be more cautious with estrogen exposure, especially during treatment. Every case is individual and we do everything we can to support quality of life when using estrogen blockers. :)

02/10/2026

People often ask me what hormones I take. Personally, I use progesterone, pregnenolone, DHEA, testosterone, and natural desiccated thyroid. I also apply Bi-Est (estradiol and estriol) when I feel I need it.

Estrogen is always a hot topic—and I get a lot of questions about whether it’s good or bad. It’s a fair question, and it’s important to look at the full picture when it comes to hormones.

This is why I’m not a fan of a one-size-fits-all approach, like automatically prescribing estrogen replacement the moment a woman experiences menopausal symptoms.

In my experience, many symptoms in menopause are due to low progesterone, not necessarily low estrogen. And starting with progesterone is a great strategy.

Of course, some women genuinely need estrogen therapy. But therapy should always be personalized and given within the context of the patient. I have a lower BMI, so I apply estrogen as needed and I listen to my body everyday to adjust my hormone ritual.

Before considering estrogen, I like to prioritize the protective hormones: progesterone, pregnenolone, DHEA, etc. If those are optimized and symptoms persist (brain fog, low energy, etc.), I think estrogen can be helpful.

I personally like Bi-Est cream rather than pills or patches. This allows me to adjust my dose when I feel I need it. I have a low BMI, so my tissue estrogen levels are lower, which impacts how much I need.

If you do choose to take estrogen, I think the most important thing is ensuring it’s balanced with sufficient bioidentical progesterone. 💗💗💗

02/10/2026

eing open-minded has served me well in my career. Especially in medicine, we risk becoming rigid by adhering strictly to established practices and conventional approaches, but I’m driven to find as many answers as possible to help my patients. I believe this is the best approach for helping others heal. New information is constantly emerging, and we all have something to learn from each other. We can only grow if we stay flexible and curious. ❤️

02/09/2026

Testing hormones is one of the most important steps in treating a patient. They regulate everything—energy production, mood, metabolism, immune function, and stress. When hormones are imbalanced, symptoms often appear long before disease is diagnosed. Objective testing takes out the guesswork.

I use serum blood testing, which is the gold standard for assessing circulating hormone levels. Blood tests show what is actually present and available to tissues at a given moment, allowing for accurate assessment of absolute levels, ratios, and physiologic ranges. Many people rely on saliva testing, but it has notable limitations: results can be affected by collection technique, oral inflammation, circadian variability, and do not reliably reflect total hormone burden or tissue availability. Saliva may capture free hormone fractions, but it often lacks the context needed for clinical decision-making and can be misleading when used alone. So I stick to measuring blood levels.

In some cases, urine testing can provide additional insight by measuring hormone metabolites and patterns of breakdown, particularly when liver clearance or estrogen metabolism is a concern. However, urine testing does not reflect circulating levels, is sensitive to hydration status, and can overemphasize metabolic pathways without indicating whether hormone production itself is adequate.

It’s important to remember that no test tells the full story. Hormones fluctuate, and any lab value is simply a snapshot in time. The most meaningful interpretations come from cross-referencing labs with symptoms, patient history, and trends over time, allowing us to identify patterns rather than chase isolated numbers. Testing guides treatment, but context determines understanding. Lab results guide us, but they only become meaningful when interpreted alongside symptoms and clinical history.

02/06/2026

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10%. Unlike many other cancers, which are often detected early and treated successfully, pancreatic cancer is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options are limited.

This is partly because of its dense, fibrotic barrier. A stiff matrix of collagen and connective tissue surrounds cancer cells, creating a scar-like shell, known as the tumor stroma, that physically blocks drugs from penetrating and reaching the cancer.

Even though pancreatic cancer is not an “endocrine” cancer like ER+ breast cancer or some prostate cancers, hormones still play a major role because they help shape the fibrotic matrix.

Cortisol and estrogen, in particular, drive fibrosis:

Cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, activates fibroblasts—the cells responsible for producing excess collagen and stiffening the tumor’s outer layer.

Estrogen has been linked to increased connective tissue growth and collagen cross-linking, reinforcing the structural rigidity that makes pancreatic cancer so difficult to treat.

Most conventional therapies focus on attacking the cancer cells themselves, but if those cells are locked behind a dense, fibrotic wall, chemotherapy and immunotherapy will face an uphill battle. Breaking down that barrier, by addressing the hormonal signals that drive fibrosis, could make existing treatments more effective.

Studies suggest that blocking cortisol signaling pathways may enhance the effectiveness of existing therapies. ​ PMID: 24650449

Again, I recommend yearly abdominal ultrasounds as a safe screening option. Out comes tend to be better when we catch it early.

02/06/2026

Symptoms and diagnoses are forms of feedback. They reflect how the body has been adapting to its environment over time.

Healing from cancer often requires a significant shift in lifestyle. Many patients say, “Cancer was a wake-up call.” In practice, cancer and other chronic symptoms can act as error-correction signals, forcing attention to what the system has been compensating for. Cells continuously respond to their surroundings, and that state is not permanent. Under different conditions, cells can regain regulation and tumor growth can be restrained. But healing requires addressing the full terrain: nutrient status, diet, hormones, metabolism, emotions, stress, and the environmental inputs the body is responding to. 💗💗💗

02/05/2026

I often get asked why I eat meat as a doctor who treats cancer.

Archeological evidence suggests that red meat has been a part of the human diet for 2 million years. Our ancestors thrived on it, and it remains one of the most nutrient-dense foods available. It’s rich in protein and essential vitamins and minerals, including zinc, iron, and B vitamins, taurine, etc. which are crucial for our health. In meat, these nutrients exist in their most bioavailable form, meaning our bodies can efficiently absorb and utilize them. Our stomachs are also well-adapted to digest meat. We have a very low stomach pH—one of the lowest in the animal kingdom—designed to effectively break down animal proteins.

The body is always clueing us in on what is good for us. We shouldn’t eat something we don’t enjoy just because we believe it is healthy. I believe there is a reason why red meat tastes good—the body wants all of those important nutrients. Health is also about enjoying what you eat!

As with everything, context is key. I believe the quality of the food we eat is so important & I prefer to buy grass-fed, organic meat. This ensures that the animals are raised on an evolutionarily consistent diet, which can affect quality and nutrient density. 🥩❤️

02/05/2026

High blood sugar and type 2 diabetes is usually treated with insulin or GLP agonists to lower blood sugar, but these treatments are band-aids that fail to address the deeper question: why is the body unable to process glucose in the first place? Something deeper is always going on:

- 70-90% of type 2 diabetics are deficient in thiamine
- 48% are deficient in magnesium
- 1 in 4 have hypercortisolism
- 80% are deficient in vitamin D
- 87-91% have elevated free fatty acids in the blood
- 30% are potassium deficient

Managing blood sugar isn’t about constant suppression or micromanagement. We need to create an internal environment where glucose can be used effectively, stress hormones quiet down, and energy production remains steady. This is true metabolic health. 🍯💛

02/04/2026

Meet my dear friend and patient Terri!
We’ve worked on optimizing her health and preventing cancer for nearly 30 years together. ❤️🩺

02/04/2026

Cancer is your own tissue. It is cells that once functioned normally, now reshaped by time, inflammation, and metabolic stress. It’s not an invader or a mistake, but a reflection of how adaptable the body truly is.

Even in cancer, your cells are doing what they were designed to do: respond to their environment and try to survive. When faced with chronic stressors like nutrient deprivation, hormonal imbalances toxin exposures, etc., they shift their behavior to survive, even if that means losing their original identity. Cancer is simply a system under pressure, adapting to conditions that no longer support balance. And under the right conditions, those same cells can be guided back.

💜🌎

02/02/2026

Conventional cancer treatment typically involves chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery to remove the tumor.

A growing tumor can press on organs, block blood flow, interfere with digestion or breathing, and produce large amounts of lactic acid that stress the body. In these situations, reducing the tumor load is necessary for safety, relieving symptoms caused by tumor growth, and for preventing emergencies.

But after treating thousands of patients, I’ve seen that removing the tumor does not automatically restore health. Cancer is the outcome of deeper imbalances throughout the body. The terrain—hormones, metabolism, acidity, hypoxia, inadequate immune system, inflammation, etc.—is what creates a cancer kingdom. If the underlying contributors aren’t addressed, the body is still operating in the same environment that allowed the cancer to develop.

A truly effective approach to cancer treatment must involve restoring the entire body. Cancer is a SYSTEMIC disease.

There are many ways to strengthen the body. These approaches are not always discussed in standard care, but they can make a meaningful difference. Addressing the entire internal environment, the terrain in which cancer developed, is just as important as addressing the tumor.

Each patient and cancer case is unique. We all have different needs, so I encourage patients to be proactive and find what works best for them. My hope is that people understand there are many effective options available, and they shouldn’t feel limited by a single approach.

When we treat the whole person, not just the tumor, we give the body the best chance to recover fully and prevent recurrence.

I believe that a diagnosis can be an invitation to connect with ourselves on a deeper level. In many diseases, the body is calling to us to explore all areas of our health– physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. There is more than one way to heal. ❤️💊

01/30/2026

Autoimmunity has many drivers, which is why a holistic approach is necessary rather than just suppressing the immune system. We need to ask why the immune reaction is occurring. Interestingly, many people don’t realize that hormones play a major role. Estrogen increases immune activation, inflammatory signaling, and keeps tissues in a heightened repair state. Many people today are functionally estrogen-dominant due to environmental exposures, which can keep the immune response chronically turned on. Autoimmunity is not the body attacking itself—it can be understood as a prolonged, unfinished healing process. The body never makes mistakes; it simply needs the right conditions to resolve and return to balance.

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Lake Forest, CA

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