Thursday, March 29, 2012

Understanding Cancer Treatment Options

Understanding Chemotherapy: Choosing Your Cancer Weapons

Chemotherapy is, for some, scarier than the thought of cancer.  While the cancer grew slowly in your body, and sometimes has no symptoms, we are all painfully aware of the side effects of chemotherapy: loss of color in the skin, hair loss, memory loss, fatigue, nausea...

Taking chemotherapy to fight cancer, is like asking your weakened body to fight two enemies at the same time.  We are prepared to fight cancer, but our body is also fighting the chemotherapy - to the point where we want to reject it - we don't want it, and we fight with ourselves just to get in for our treatment.

That's not the feeling we want to have for something that is there to 'cure' us.  It's a far cry from the idea of healing, nurturing, restoring our health.

So, although chemotherapy has become a standard treatment for cancer, it is not a decision to be taken lightly.  Like everything else, it is ONE weapon against cancer.

As you prepare for battle, choose your weapons wisely.  If you feel that your treatment will do more harm than good, then meet with as many doctors as you can to get a number of opinions.

As of now, our cancer treatment is still our choice.  It's a difficult battle - educate yourself - know your options - make sure you are fighting in the way that works best for YOU.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Vitality in a Blender

I have not done any of the Green Smoothie retreats, but after recovering from aggressive cancer treatments, I was inspired by the book Green for Life
 - a year after radiation I was still overwhelmed with fatigue, and green smoothies were the ONLY thing that brought my energy back.  Now I feel younger than I did years before the cancer hit.

But in an article about green smoothies and diabetes: About Diabetes and the Power of Observation - the issue of 'taste' comes up - how taste evolves after drinking green smoothies (ie. tasting natural sugars)  - something I observed in myself, although I always liked the taste of the green smoothies, was that I began to taste more of the other foods I ate.

This made staying with a healthy diet easy, because my taste buds were so sensitive, it helped in two ways: 1) the subtle differences in fruits, veggies, nuts, rice all were wonderful to me - such delightful tastes in nature - who needs a candy bar?  and 2) junk food tasted like greasy petroleum - it tastes really gross to me now.

There is something in the green smoothie - maybe many things happening.  As you cleanse your body, it just works better.  As your body gets the nutrients it needs, you can trust your cravings.

But something about the green smoothies is vital to health, in ways I never got before, regardless of how careful I was about my diet.

They are so easy to prepare.  It's a great way to make sure you get your raw fruits and veggies in your diet.  If you haven't tried green smoothies yet, do it.

It's better than any nutrition pill or energy drink.




Monday, March 26, 2012

Preventing Infertility in Cancer Survivors Still a Difficult Choice

Young Cancer Survivors Rarely Take Steps To Prevent Infertility | Stronger Than Cancer

Another challenging topic.  Yes, some doctors are counseling their patients about fertility issues, but patients are already overwhelmed just hoping to survive, they are not thinking clearly about their future.

Also, young women in this position don't want to burden their families with the cost of preserving fertility.

This may also go beyond the role of insurance companies.

I think this will be a subject that gets heated debates in the coming years.  There is already the debate about birth control and who is responsible for this - adding cancer to the discussion is more complicated.  Now we have mixed our personal decisions about family into politics.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Most Anal Lesions Don't Cause Cancer in Men

Most Anal Lesions Don't Cause Cancer in Men, Research Shows | Stronger Than Cancer

The HPV virus which increases a woman's risk of ovarian cancer, does not have the same risk for men.

The progression rate from high-grade anal lesions to anal cancer was about one in 600 per year for HIV-positive men and about one in 4,000 per year for HIV-negative men. In comparison, the progression rate from high-grade cervical lesions to cervical cancer is about one in 80 per year.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Wade Hayes battles stage IV colon cancer

Musician battles stage IV colon cancer | Stronger Than Cancer

Musician Wade Hayes battles stage IV colon cancer.

Colon cancer grows slowly, and is highly preventable, but often goes unnoticed because it has few symptoms.

This is one cancer that should be screened regularly, as unappealing as a colonoscopy seems - it is worth it.  They catch many cancers in time with this procedure!!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Pregnancy Safe for Women With Estrogen-Sensitive Breast Cancer

Pregnancy Safe for Women With Estrogen-Sensitive Breast Cancer | Stronger Than Cancer

This is great news.  We don't always plan pregnancies, and this will ease some of the anxiety associated with pregnancy after a diagnosis of breast cancer.

And young women who have early breast cancer can work toward a future family.

Always good to be careful.  Susanne Somers was criticized for her bio-identical hormones (promoted for their anti-aging effects), and she has been fine with her breast cancer.

The biggest concern is the effect of cancer treatments: radiation, and chemotherapy, and tamoxifen - these have an affect on the rest of the body, and can affect overall health, which can further complicate a pregnancy.

Although the research is encouraging, if do you hope to get pregnant after cancer treatment, do everything you can to detox the body of all residual chemicals.

A clean healthy body will produce a clean healthy baby!!

New Evidence Strengthens Link Between Opioids And Cancer Growth

New Evidence Strengthens Link Between Opioids And Cancer Growth | Stronger Than Cancer

There's always potential interactions when you put drugs in the body.  Yes, we are trying to fight the cancer, but even drugs used to treat other complications are contributing to future cancers.

With everything, try to use the least amount of drugs for the job.

And after any medical treatment, cleanse the body - do a detox - flush those chemicals out!!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

PrimalCon 2012 - an unusual retreat

Peak health just took a new direction - away from drugs and junk, and back to our roots:

Check out PrimalCon - a 3 Day Health and Fitness Retreat



PrimalCon 2012 - 3-Day Health and Fitness Retreat

Primal Con is a 3-day Primal Blueprint health and fitness retreat held at the beautiful Oxnard Beach Park in Southern California. PrimalCon is a total immersion weekend experience of expert-guided workouts, play, leisure time, lectures and presentations with assorted expert presenters on Primal-related topics, camaraderie with fellow Primal enthusiasts, and extraordinary Primal feasts - an experience that you will never forget for the rest of your life.


Not just fitness - a life changing experience for everyone!!


Check it out - looks very cool!!

Efforts to Establish National Standards for Survivorship Care

FCCC Leads Efforts to Establish National Standards for Survivorship Care 

A happy trend in cancer care is addressing the unique needs of cancer survivors, and those living with metastatic cancer.

There are important physical and emotional challenges that are faced every day.  Handling this well, and providing the right support, is an important direction in medical care.

Monday, March 19, 2012

"Working Out is the New Cancer Wonder Drug"

Activating the body in your fight against cancer is an important part of Survival.
Start with a simple plan. Do something you like to do, or would like to learn. Then go from there.


http://strongerthancancer.com/resources/shop-fitness

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Cadmium in diet is linked to higher breast cancer risk | Stronger Than Cancer

Cadmium in diet is linked to higher breast cancer risk | Stronger Than Cancer

Excellent study shows link of breast cancer with cadmium in the diet, but this is far less risk than the toxic levels of estrogenics in our environment!!

Hopefully, this leads to more research on the subject!!