ROS & Cancer: Why “Antioxidants Prevent Cancer” is Too Simple (and How Tumors Use Oxidation to Survive)

The Energy Code · Mar 28, 2026 · 19m

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) sit at the center of modern cancer biology and the conversation around them is often wildly oversimplified. In this Deep Dive, Dr. Mike Belkowski explains why ROS are not “bad molecules,” but cellular signaling messengers that can be hijacked by tumors. The core framework is the one you need to remember: ROS has a dual role in cancer —moderate ROS can support tumor growth and therapy resistance, while excessive ROS can push cancer cells into programmed death (including ferroptosis).

You’ll learn the major ROS species (signaling vs damage), where ROS comes from…