01/08/2026
Twenty years ago today, I lost my Dad to one of the most aggressive forms of cancer: glioblastoma multiforme, a Stage IV brain cancer. It was a defining moment in my life, because up until that point I treated medicine as a sure thing, a cure-all. Walking through treatment with him and watching his decline in real time, I realized medicine did not have all the answers. It could not explain why this happened, and especially why it happened to him. My dad was gone in fifteen short months.
As time passed, I grew increasingly curious about cancer, about metabolism, and about alternative approaches to healing. Discovering functional medicine and systems biology opened my eyes to how derailed metabolic patterns can drive cancer growth through changes at the cellular level, especially in the mitochondria. Part of the reason I became a nutritionist was to help prevent as many cancer diagnoses as possible by addressing these underlying patterns. Metabolic health is now the heart of my practice, because whether someone is facing cancer or navigating midlife mayhem, metabolism is always part of the story. Supporting it takes time, patience, and curiosity, and so much of the work comes back to daily food patterns and practices.
On the outside, my Dad looked healthy—strong and active—but his love of sugar, constant hyper stress responses, and ongoing exposure to toxins all likely contributed to his vulnerability to cellular change. Today, when I support clients, I think of him. His story is why I am so passionate about helping people understand that their everyday choices are powerful levers for metabolic health, resilience, and longevity. Honoring his memory means doing this work – thanks Dad, I love you and miss you.
—
Margaret Stoklosa, MS, CNS, LDN
Functional Medicine Nutritionist
https://margaretstoklosawellness.com/
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