You may have a desire for improving your health and fight off cancer? You may be a cancer survivor or there may be a history. Maybe you’re dealing with cancer yourself or trying to prevent a recurrence. Whatever the situation is your eating habits matter. Some foods in fact increase your risk of cancer, while others build up your body and improve your immune system. By making healthy diet choices, you can safeguard your health, feel better, and improve your capability fight off cancer and diseases.

Of course not all cancer or health problems are preventable, but you have more power over your health than you may think. It is well known that a large percentage of cancer-related deaths—maybe even the majority—are directly linked to lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking, a lack of exercise, and an unhealthy diet. Avoiding smoking, minimizing alcohol, and exercise are enormously helpful to an anti-cancer lifestyle. But to best support your health, you also need to look at your eating habits.

I have been successful in the first two items above.  I quit smoking.  I also quit drinking alcohol.  Not only has my health, and stamina improved, my bank account has improved too.  I’m still working on the 3rd step, exercise and have made significant chances to Dr. Hull’s book.  I definitely recommend you reading it.

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Yesterday I had an appointment with my oncologist to review my recent PET
Scan, chest ex-ray and blood work.  He congratulated me by saying,

“you are now an “official” Cancer Survivor“.  I was diagnosed in 2005 and
now it’s 2010.  I guess five years is the accepted time span for being an
official cancer survivor.  I don’t necessarily believe that.  I
believe if you have been diagnosed with cancer, even if the
diagnosis was just five minutes ago, and you are still alive, you are an
official cancer survivor.

I realize that after five years, your chances for remaining cancer free
improves considerably.  If you were diagnosed with cancer yesterday, five
years ago, or 10 years ago , and you are still alive, you
are a cancer survivor.  Do you wants to continue
being a official cancer survivor?  If so, it’s up to you; not your doctors.
It’s like your stock broker told you when he was presenting an investment
opportunity, “Past results do not guarantee future results.”  You
need to take responsibility for your continued survival.  You need to be
proactive.  You know, things like having a healthy diet, exercise, avoiding
cancer risks and things like that.

Prevent Cancer by living a healthy lifestyle

I know I just said that you can prevent cancer from coming back by living a
healthy lifestyle.  I also know that for some people, that is easier said
than done.  But did you know that living a healthy lifestyle can become a
habit.  It can become automatic.  You can live a healthy style
completely automatically without even thinking about it.  Let me give you
an example.  Let’s say that you are driving your car and another car or a
pedestrian suddenly darts out in front of you.  Dou you consciously weigh
all your options?  Do you think, “I should bear left?  Or, “I
should veer right? or “I should hit the breaks”?  No, of
course you don’t.  You do what is best robotically without even thinking
about it. How did you learn to do that?  By driving every day for a period
of time.  The more you drive safely the more it becomes a habit.  You
become a safe driver.  The same thing is true developing the habit of
living healthy.  How many people are nervous about or even fail their first
driving test?  Most of us.  Most of us will falter and forget things
we should do as we embark on a healthy lifestyle.  But like driving skills
living a healthy lifestyle will become habitual.

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Ignoring Cancer Warnings

This article is to point out the folly of ignoring cancer warnings just because we don’t believe them and consider those making them as “Prophets of Gloom”, Alarmist, or Conspiracy Theorists.

I ignored the warnings concerning skin cancer.  From my pre-teen years I seldom used sun protection even though I practically lived on the beach for the entire summer months.  As an adult, I seldom if ever used any type of sun protection.  I’m not alone.  Men are two times more likely than women to not protect their skin in the sun.

We ignore warnings from dermatologists that shade and clothing should be the first line of defense against sun damage.  I know I did. And I was recently treated for Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

I should have heeded the cancer warnings signs.

Almost all of my life I suffered heartburn, a sour, burning sensation in the back of my throat, and other symptoms such as chronic cough, laryngitis, and nausea.  Did I take heed and talk with a doctor about it?  NO, I just bought a lot of over-the-counter anti-acid remedies.  I’ve read that that people over the age of 40 who have a long-term history of heartburn be screened for Barrett’s esophagus.  I knew a history of current or past smoking is a factor in developing Barrett’s Esophagus.  Years ago my doctor wanted to perform an upper endoscopy and biopsy.  It didn’t sound like a very pleasant procedure so I declined.

Now I have Barrett’s Esophagus which increases the risk of developing Esophageal Aden Carcinoma, which is a serious, potentially fatal cancer of the esophagus.

I should have heeded the warnings signs.

I ignored the cancer warnings concerning smoking.  I was diagnosed and treated for Stage Four cancer and almost died.  The treatment and their complications were terrible.  The cancer started in my tonsils and there is absolutely do doubt that my smoking was the cause of my cancer.

I should have heeded the cancer warnings signs

I remember the warnings about lead paint. Not too many people heeded them.  Not even government health agencies.  Not until children started dying due to lead poising.
We should have heeded the warnings signs.

Health warnings are not the only warnings that we ignore.  There were many warning concerning the business practices of Bernard Madoff.
We should have heeded those warnings.

Warnings Lehman Brothers were ignored.  According to the Bloomberg Report: The warning was ominous: “Massive global wealth destruction.”  We ignored those warnings resulting in the biggest bankruptcy in U.S. history.

Cancer Warnings That Are Too Often Ignored

Let’s get back to cancer warnings that are too often ignored.

Women are taught the importance of detecting bodily changes and seeking medical care.  Too many will either miss the early warning signs of cancer or ignore them.

Celebrated photographer Terry O’Neill lived with bowel cancer for ten years without knowing it.  He said, “I ignored cancer warning signs…it nearly killed me.”

Many people ignore the early warning signs of cancer out of fear or a lack of knowledge about warning signs. And, by the time some people realize something is definitely wrong, it’s often too late to prevent the continued spread of the cancer.

It’s not so much that we ignore the warnings.  It’s that we don’t know the health risks and dangers of many products.  Why does it tale so long for us to be warned about the health dangers of so many products?”

Lobbyist Prevent Cancer Warnings From Being Published

America’s healthcare industry has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to influence congress.  Right now there are six lobbyists for every member of Congress.  It was the lobbyist who kept health warnings about smoking away from the American people and the entire world for years.

Are lobbyist influencing researches and governments concerning the risk of developing brain cancer by using cel phones?  Here’s what leading researchers are saying:
Mobile Phones Are More Dangerous Than Smoking.

Mobile phones could kill far more people than smoking or asbestos, a study by award-winning cancer expert Dr. Vini Khurana has concluded.

Vini Khurana, a top Australian neurosurgeon says the world’s heavy reliance on mobile phones could be a greater threat to human health than smoking and even asbestos.

As cell phone use increases, the potential risk of health problems from cell phones continues to grow.  Teenagers and children are at the greatest risk as their brain tissues continue to grow and radiation penetrates deeper into their skull.

Cell Phone Cancer Warning

Maine to consider cell phone cancer warning

A Maine legislator wants to make the state the first to require cell phones to carry warnings that they can cause brain cancer, although there is no consensus among scientists that they do and industry leaders dispute the claim.The now-ubiquitous devices carry such warnings in some countries, though no U.S. states require them, according to the National Conference of State Legislators. A similar effort is afoot in San Francisco, where Mayor Gavin Newsom wants his city to be the nation’s first to require the warnings.

Maine Rep. Andrea Boland, D-Sanford, said numerous studies point to the cancer risk, and she has persuaded legislative leaders to allow her proposal to come up for discussion during the 2010 session that begins in January, a session usually reserved for emergency and governors’ bills.

Protect Yourself.  Heed the Cell Phone Cancer Warning.  I am.  I am no longer keeping my head in the sand.  I am now paying close attention to the many warnings concerning cancer, including the warnings concerning the cancer risks of using cel phones.  I am now protecting myself

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Yesterday, as part of my cancer follow up, I had a PET Scan at the Sandwich, MA Health Center.  Pet Scans are not too bad unless you are claustrophobic.  Or, if you are like me and have very hard veins to find or access.  A PET scan requires the technician to inject a chemical into your vein prior to the scan.

As usual, they had a very difficult time trying to find a vein they could access.  They examined the entire length of both of my arms without any luck.  Then they examined the backs of my hands.  I was hoping they wouldn’t be able to use any of those veins.  The times when those veins were used for injections or blood samples, the back of my hand was horribly bruised for a week or more.  Very ugly.  They were not able to find a vein they could access on the back of either hand.

They discussed the possibility of sending me to the Falmouth Hospital’s IV Department.  I was not crazy about that.  I just wanted to get the procedure over with.  The technicians were very thorough.  They put hot towels on my arms to see if that would expand my veins.  That didn’t work.  As I said, these technicians were very professional and did not give up.

Finally they found a vein on my wrist they thought they could access and asked my permission to try.  I gave it to them.  Bingo, it worked and I had my Pet Scan.

As I mentioned, the staff of the Sandwich, MA Health Center were very professional, competent and caring.  My thanks to all of them.  I wish I had taken their names so I could publically thank them.

When I got home I had an email from my ex-wife asking how it went.  She also said she was worried about the results of the PET scan.  Personally, I am not worried.  If it shows the cancer has not come back, obviously I will be happy.  If it shows that it has come back or they find a new one, I will accept that too.  Surviving Stage 4 Cancer with multiple complications as a result of the Cancer Treatment, I have learned not to worry about things I have no control over.  In a previous post, I wrote that I won the battle with my Stage 4 Cancer, not by fighting it but by surrendering.   Today, I believe that I am a better person as a result of going through my battle with Cancer.

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When I was first diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and the shock, fear and depression lessened, I did a great deal of research about cancer.  I wanted to know everything I could about the horrid disease called cancer.  I began to do as much cancer research as I could.

I’m still doing research and there is still an awful lot that I don’t know.  There is still a lot that the professional don’t know yet.  But thankfully, the research goes on.  And still there is much that we do not know.

Forms of Cancer

There are countless diverse forms of cancer and new discoveries are being uncovered on a daily basis. What we do know about cancer is what it is and how it affects the body.  We also know what the risk factors are. I am learning everyday about habits and behaviors to lessen the risk of cancer developing.  I am also learning about new treatments.  I created this blog help lower your risk of going through the turmoil of being diagnosed and treated for cancer.

Cancer education and research has given those in the medical community the skills to diagnose and treat cancer in the early stages.

All cancer is the result of cells that increase in an unseemly fashion.  They all begin from bad cell growth; it doesn’t matter where it is located within the body.  Normal cells divide and grow in the body on a regular, healthy basis everyday.

Cancer cells, however do not act this way; they divide more rapidly.  Then they mass forming, a tumor and sometimes they travel to other areas of the body and start taking over the normal cells. This is called metastasis.

Primary Cancer

Cancers are named for the part of the body in which the originated; this is called the primary cancer.  This fact is important because cancer treatment is based upon where the cancer starts.  My cancer first showed visible signs of a large growth on the right side of me neck.  The doctors told me they thought my cancer started in my tonsils but they wouldn’t be certain until they did tonsillectomy and biopsy. I responded by asking, “You think it started in my tonsils?”  I followed that question with, “I don’t care where it started, just get rid of it.”  That’s when I learned that cancer treatment is based upon the primary cancer; where the cancer starts even if it travels elsewhere in the body.

Lowering The Risk Of Developing Cancer

Today I focus much of my research on lowering the risk of developing cancer.  From the professional research I have read, I have discovered many things we can do to lower the risk of developing cancer.  By using these discoveries, we can adjust our lifestyles and diets to avoid things that increase our risk for developing cancer.  However, there is NO guaranteed way to avoid cancer.  Even doctors do not know every thing about cancer, so being able to avoid it all together is, to all intents and purposes, impossible.  Lowering your risks, however, is much better than not doing anything at all.  Research has shown that the less risk factors we have, the less of a chance we have for developing cancer.

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They almost killed me and then told me to go back to the cape for my treatment because I didn’t respond well to their chemotherapy.  I mentioned (on the My Story) page, that although my primary cancer was in my tonsils, they performed a colostomy on me because of negative effects of my chemotherapy.

I did not mention the name of the of the “very well known” Cancer Treatment Center because they have such a wonderful.  Then a friend of mine went to that hospital to be treated for Breast Cancer.  She too had to have a colostomy.

A colostomy for Head and Neck cancer?  A colostomy for Breast Cancer?  Something is wrong there.  So I decided to reveal the name of that “very well known” Cancer Treatment Center in Boston.  It is the Dana Farber/Bringham Women’s Hospital.

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I was more concerned with my mental deterioration than with my physical exhaustion.  For almost two years after my treatment my mind was constantly in a fog  I had great difficulty concentrating, focusing and remembering things.  I honestly thought I had Alzheimer’s disease.  I jokingly used to say, “I have chemobrain”.  I don’t know where I picked up that term but I thought it was a non-medical vernacular term.

Some time later, I discovered  it is a real medical condition.  A recent UCLA study shows that chemotherapy causes changes to the brain’s metabolism and blood flow that can linger at least 10 years after treatment.  According to that study, chemotherapy patients experience disrupted thought processes and confusion.

Hospitals and cancer organizations are unanimous in recognizing chemobrain as a very real medical condition.   Recently oncologist Dr Patricia Ganz received a grant from the National Cancer Institute to conduct a five year study on chemo brain.

Researchers from New York’s University of Rochester found several types of key brain cells were highly vulnerable to the drugs used in chemotherapy. According to Dr Mark Noble of the University of Rochester, “This is the first study that puts chemo brain on a sound scientific footing.”

From the Science Daily, “Cancer survivors, take note. The mental fog and forgetfulness of “chemo brain” are no figment of your imagination.”

Now that we recognize that chemobrain is very real medical condition, what can we do about it?   Here are some suggestions:

Establish routines.
Use a daily planner
Exercise your brain. Read, get a hobby, do volunteer work Take some courses.,
Get sufficient rest and sleep.
Don’t dwell on your chemobrain symptoms.
Be absolutely certain that you are getting a sufficient amount of oxygen.
Talk about it to family, friends, and your healthcare team about your chemobrain symptoms..
Remember, you are not dim-witted or nuts; you have a real side-effect to chemotherapy.

Researchers are also looking at different medications as possible treatments for chemobrain.

Personally, I’m not waiting for them to come up with a medicine to treat the side effects of another medicine.  From my research and personal experience in overcoming chemobrain, I discovered the following things are working for me:
Living my life based on spiritual principles.
Getting out of myself and helping others
Exercise.  Its a known fact that exercise can improve you mood, increase your energy and help your concentration.
A healthy diet.  (I’m still working on that)

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Today, January 13th, I received a letter from my Dermatologist stating that the lesion was in fact a squamous cel carcinoma.  The doctor stated that the procedure he performed was curative but scheduled follow-up appointment to be certain.  It’s a good thing I had him perform that procedure.

For most of my life I was blessed with good health.  I was already 60 years old before I saw the inside of a hospital as a patient.  I took my good health for granted and did very little in the way of prevention.  I did not have a healthy diet and I didn’t exercise.  I didn’t even have a Primary Care Physician.  By the time my original cancer was diagnosed, it was already stage IV.

I urge you to develop and maintain a healthy life-style.  Had I done so earlier, I would have avoided a lot of pain, suffering and medical procedures.

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