It has been almost a year since my second diagnosis. Life is pretty good and I'm well on my way to normality again. A new chapter begins! Chapter 6: Cancer survivor. Case closed, end of story? Or cursed with constantly wondering if/when it will return. I fall somewhere in the middle, but I definitely don't feel cursed. In fact, although it seems morbid to those who have never faced a serious illness, I am actually a little relieved to have that horrible dx out of the way in my life. Don't take that the wrong way- any actuary will give you the statistics (I know this all too well, because of life insurance denials) and although my Oncotype Scores say the chance of recurrence is low, the fact remains that I had bi-lateral breast cancer. Twice in one year I was told I had cancer. It's about the worst thing you could ever hear. And I was told twice. I want to hear that diagnosis again right around...NEVER, so I am doing everything in my (will)power to keep it from coming back.
(Will)power, because I'm really trying makes some serious dietary changes and that means cutting out a lot of the really bad food I was eating, mostly processed sugar and refined flour. Cancer feeds on sugar. The German biologist Otto Heinrich Warburg won a Nobel Prize for his discovery that the metabolism of malignant tumours is largely dependent on glucose consumption. Insulin production triggers inflammation. Those who eat low-sugar Asian diets tend to have five to ten times fewer hormonally driven cancers than those with diets high in sugar and refined foods. If you want to protect yourself from cancer, you should reduce your consumption of processed sugar and bleached flour.
Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, who wrote, Anticancer: A New Way of Life, said, "It is up to us to use our body's natural defenses." In his book (a must-read), he talks of superfoods. Here are some cancer-fighting super-foods which contain precious anti-cancer molecules:
GREEN TEARich in polyphenols that reduce the growth of the new blood vessels needed for tumour growth, green tea is also a powerful antioxidant and activates mechanisms in the liver which help to eliminate cancerous toxins from the body more rapidly. In mice it has been shown to block the effects of chemical carcinogens responsible for breast, lung, oesophageal, stomach and colon cancer.
TURMERIC
The most powerful natural anti-inflammatory identified today. In the laboratory it enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy and reduces tumour growth. To be assimilated by the body turmeric needs to be mixed with black pepper and, ideally, it should be dissolved in oil.
GARLIC, ONIONS, LEEKS, SHALLOTS and CHIVES
These all help to regulate blood sugar levels, which in turn reduces insulin secretion and thus the growth of cancer cells. They promote the death of cancer cells in colon, breast, lung and prostate cancer.
MUSHROOMS
Shiitake, crimini, portabello and oyster mushrooms stimulate the reproduction and activity of immune cells. They are often used in Japan as a complement to chemotherapy to support the immune system.
Shiitake, crimini, portabello and oyster mushrooms stimulate the reproduction and activity of immune cells. They are often used in Japan as a complement to chemotherapy to support the immune system.
CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES
Cabbages, sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower contain powerful anti-cancer molecules. But boiling will destroy them — steam briefly or stir-fry rapidly in a little olive oil.
Cabbages, sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower contain powerful anti-cancer molecules. But boiling will destroy them — steam briefly or stir-fry rapidly in a little olive oil.
Carrots, yams, sweet potatoes, squash, tomatoes, apricots, beets and all the brightly coloured fruits and vegetables contain vitamin A and lycopene, which have the proven capacity to inhibit the growth of particularly aggressive cancers.
HERBS AND SPICES
Rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil and mint are rich in essential oils of the tarpene family which reduce the spread of cancer cells by blocking the enzymes they need to invade neighbouring tissues.
CITRUS FRUIT
Oranges, tangerines, lemons and grapefruit contain anti-inflammatory flavonoids which are also present in the skin. So buy organic, unwaxed citrus fruit and add the zest to salad dressing or steep the skins in hot water or tea.
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| Beet Carnage |
I'm not a breakfast eater, so every morning I make a juice concoction with 1 large beet, 2 kiwis, 1 orange, and an apple. I always say, "a beet a day keeps the cancer away." (All those other fruits I mentioned are added to take away the dirty, beety taste).
Stay tuned for Lent! I'm thinking about 40 days of a Vegan diet as my sacrifice. And you guessed it....I'll blog about it! It'll be a true challenge, especially with my travel schedule during that time. BTW, my very concerned and caring friend, Judi, pointed out that Guinness is NOT Vegan :0
In the meantime, my "wtf" attitude is still in full force. Although responsibilities (lots of them....LOTS of them) preclude me from an EAT PRAY LOVE scenario...damn that Julia Roberts...I still try to find a little time for myself everyday. Selfishly, that happens oftentimes to the detriment of my poor kids who are forced to fend for themselves while 'mommy can run' or 'mommy can go to the gym.' Too often women put everyone else's needs ahead of their own. I am very lucky that that my breast cancer dx forced me to wake up and put me first. My kids need their mentally and physically-well Mama!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on a Vegan diet, dietary tips, or anything else you'd like to share! Email me at amymariesmith93@gmail.com . Follow me on Twitter @amysmith70.
