Atypical Dormant Cells (ADCs): A Different Diagnosis

When a man is told he has prostate cancer, everything changes. The word alone is enough to create fear, urgency, and pressure to act. But what if we’ve been mislabeling something that’s actually normal? What if many of these diagnoses aren’t cancer at all—but simply age-related changes that don’t require treatment?

At Intellectual Medicine, I refer to these as Atypical Dormant Cells (ADCs)—and understanding them may help thousands of men avoid unnecessary harm.

Cancer Cells as a Normal Part of Aging

Cadaver studies—where researchers analyze the prostate glands of men who died from unrelated causes—have shown something remarkable. As men age, the likelihood of finding prostate cancer cells increases dramatically:

• 40% of men over 80 had prostate cancer cells

• Up to 80% of men over 90 had them as well

Yet none of these men died from prostate cancer.

What does that tell us? It tells us that the presence of abnormal cells in the prostate is not the same as a deadly disease. These were coincidental findings, not causes of suffering or death.

If those men had been biopsied while alive, many would have been diagnosed—and likely treated—for a condition that posed them no threat.

ADCs: A More Accurate Diagnosis

The truth is, not all “cancer cells” are dangerous. Some are simply atypical—they look abnormal under a microscope, but they’re dormant, confined, and held in check by the body’s immune system.

Here’s what we know about Atypical Dormant Cells:

• They remain inside the prostate gland, where they can’t spread harm

• The body often builds collagen barriers around them to contain their movement

• They exist as a part of normal aging, not as an imminent threat

• They do not cause symptoms, spread, or affect lifespan unless they evolve—which they rarely do

In short, ADC is not cancer—it’s a cellular aging pattern.

Diagnosis Without Biopsy

You don’t need a biopsy to make a rational clinical decision. In fact, many men are better off avoiding a biopsy altogether.

Instead, we can evaluate for ADCs using:

• PSA levels and Free PSA/PHI scores

• Prostate MRI, preferably without contrast to avoid gadolinium exposure

• Clinical context (age, symptoms, prostate size, family history)

MRI can tell us the shape and structure of the prostate, and whether anything has spread beyond the gland. When there’s no evidence of spread—and no symptoms—why take the risk of poking holes in the prostate?

The Biopsy Problem

Pathology is subjective. The same slide can yield different interpretations from different pathologists. And even if the cells appear aggressive, we can’t predict the future just by looking at them.

This is why early intervention with radiation or surgery—especially in asymptomatic men—has not been shown to reduce the death rate from prostate cancer. But it does cause:

• Incontinence

• Erectile dysfunction

• Psychological distress

• Permanent lifestyle changes

When we treat ADCs as if they’re cancer, we cause real harm.

Changing the Narrative

I believe we must split the concept of prostate cancer into two distinct diagnoses:

1. Atypical Dormant Cells (ADCs) — common, often harmless, and best monitored

2. Active, Invasive Cancer — rare, serious, and deserving of aggressive treatment

Only when cells have spread beyond the prostate or are clearly growing should we consider definitive intervention. Until then, we monitor and we optimize the terrain—through targeted supplements, repurposed medications, and hormone balance.

Conclusion

If you’ve been told you have prostate cancer based on a biopsy or MRI alone, pause. Seek a second opinion. Ask if it might be ADCs.

This isn’t denial—it’s clarity. And it might be the most important decision you make for your long-term health, vitality, and quality of life.

-Dr. Stephen Petteruti
Author, Fight Cancer Like a Man

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