A CONVERSATION WITH RICHARD

As I have stated many times when I have been interviewed, my cancer battle left me feeling somewhat isolated.  From that isolation I developed the goal of helping others through volunteering, my blog, website and a radio show which I hope to get back on the air waves soon.

Though it has been 5 years since my odyssey, I still strive to find new ways to reach out and support others. Earlier this year I completed training and became an official volunteer for the Cancer Hope Network. Their mission is to utilize cancer survivors like myself and put them in contact with individuals who are facing a similar battle.

Head and Neck Cancer is considered a rare form of cancer as less then 200,000 cases are reported each year.  Through my journey in the last five years I had never met or spoke with anyone who had a diagnoses equal to mine.  After I became a volunteer with Cancer Hope, I was immediately put in contact with another Head and Neck Cancer patient named "Richard".   Richard is quite a bit older then me and the treatment and recovery process were much more difficult for Richard to endure.  Also like me, Richard is a very physical person who fills his time doing hours of yard work around his estate which he says has benefited him in his recovery both physically and mentally.

It was so insightful for Richard and I to speak with one another and be able to compare and contrast our journeys.  During one of our conversations we must have spoke for an hour just about the reaction(s) we had attempting to eat certain foods.  What many people fail to understand is the traumatic effect the radiation treatment has on one's throat and saliva glands.  To this day I still cannot eat anything with the slightest of spice.  Food still continues to get stuck in my throat as I must constantly take a sip of water as I eat. Richard tells me he experiences similar issues as well. He frequently mentions to me that his skin is looking worn from all the radiation treatment.

It has been such a blessing to talk with Richard and provide encouragement and feedback to one another.  Cancer patients share a truly unique bond with one another and it provides hope in knowing we can all get through this. If you know someone facing cancer, research and reach out to support groups like the Cancer Hope Network because no-one has a better understanding of what a cancer patient is dealing with then another cancer advocate.


http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org/

Here is an article UC Davis published regarding my niece Lina and her incredible story chronicling her battle of overcoming Brain Cancer:

GUANABANA SHOWN TO KILL CANCER CELLS

For quite some time now I have often wondered if everything we need to fight cancer is right here in front of us. New research is always showing how combining certain foods have a synergistic effect in fighting cancer cells.  Now there is a lot of hype regarding the benefits of guanabana and its proven in destroying cancer.

You may not be aware of the amazing health benefits of Guanabana fruit. New research is showing it can cure cancer.

Guanabana is a fruit that grows on evergreen trees where climates are warm and humid. Its flavor consists of a combination of pineapple, strawberry with citrus sour.

This fruit has been examined and researched to show that it is a proven cure for cancer.  Studies are showing it is 10,000 times more potent than any other cancer treatment minus side effects. The components in guanabana are more efficient than Adiamycin which is an agent used in chemotherapy.


Guanabana consists of a broad spectrum of antibiotic properties including anti-fungal and anti-parasitic.  It has also been used to regulate blood pressure, nerve disorders, depression and stress.

You want toe at the pulp raw to absorb it's health benefits. You can also make tea by taking 2 to 3 leaves with a half cup of boiled water.

This is just more evidence to show that everything we need to fight cancer might be right here in front of us.

Here is a link with further information:

http://www.processedfreeamerica.org/resources/health-news/887-theres-a-new-super-fruit-in-town-the-health-benefits-of-guanabanahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF7w2ZsObhQ

EXCESS WEIGHT EQUALS MORE RISK FOR CANCER

There's yet another reason to maintain a healthy weight as we age. An international team of researchers has identified eight additional types of cancer linked to excess weight and obesity: stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, ovary, meningioma (a type of brain tumor), thyroid cancer and the blood cancer multiple myeloma.
 

Limiting weight gain over the decades could help to reduce the risk of these cancers, the data suggest.
The findings, published Aug. 25 in The New England Journal of Medicine, are based on a review of more than 1,000 studies of excess weight and cancer risk analyzed by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Cancer on Research (IARC), based in France.

"The burden of cancer due to being overweight or obese is more extensive than what has been assumed," said cancer prevention expert Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, who chaired the IARC Working Group. "Many of the newly identified cancers linked to excess weight haven't been on people's radar screens as having a weight component."

The findings could have a significant bearing on the global population. Worldwide, an estimated 640 million adults and 110 million children are obese, including one-third of adults and children in the United States.

In 2002, the same group of cancer researchers found sufficient evidence linking excess weight to higher risks of cancers of the colon, esophagus, kidney, breast and uterus.
"Lifestyle factors such as eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising, in addition to not smoking, can have a significant impact on reducing cancer risk," Colditz said. "Public health efforts to combat cancer should focus on these things that people have some control over." "But losing weight is hard for many people," he added. "Rather than getting discouraged and giving up, those struggling to take off weight could instead focus on avoiding more weight gain."

For most of the cancers on the newly expanded list, the researchers noted a positive dose-response relationship: the higher the body-mass index, or BMI, the greater the cancer risk.

The cancer risks associated with excess weight were similar for men and women and, when data were available, were consistent across geographic regions -- North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
There are many reasons why being overweight or obese can increase cancer risk, the researchers noted. Excess fat leads to an overproduction of estrogen, testosterone and insulin, and promotes inflammation, all of which can drive cancer growth.

"Significant numbers of the U.S. and the world's population are overweight," Colditz said. "This is another wake-up call. It's time to take our health and our diets seriously."

TURMERIC: A NATURAL CANCER REMEDY

Curried dishes around the world wouldn’t be as delicious without turmeric. Turmeric is an orange-colored spice native to India and Indonesia, revered for its culinary and therapeutic benefits. Turmeric gives the curry its bright yellow or orange color and contributes to its peppery, warm, and mildly bitter taste. It also provides a tangy and ginger-like fragrance.

Turmeric is a root crop known for its tough brown skin and bright orange flesh. For more than 5,000 years, this root crop has been cultivated in the tropical regions of Asia. During the 13th century, turmeric was introduced to western countries by Arab traders.

Its popularity has slowly spread across the globe. Today, the leading producers of this aromatic spice are India, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Haiti, and Jamaica.
Turmeric has been used in the Chinese and Indian pharmacopoeia for thousands of years. It is known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, used in treating several conditions such as toothache, chest pain, urinary tract infection, flatulence, jaundice, menstrual discomforts, bruises, hemorrhage, and colic.

Today, researchers are investigating the countless benefits of turmeric and it has shown incredible promise in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Curcumin versus Cancer

Turmeric’s active ingredient is an extracted compound called curcumin. Studies have shown that curcumin helps prevent several forms of cancer including breast, lung, stomach, liver, and colon because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It stops the development of cancer by interfering with the cellular signaling aspects of the chronic disease.
Lab results have found curcumin capable of…

• Inhibiting COX-2, an enzyme that causes negative inflammation, which can lead to cancer.
• Impeding vascular epithelial growth (a polypeptide that stimulates new blood supply) to starve cancer cells of their oxygen and fuel source.
• Inducing a tumor suppressor gene.
• Stopping metastasis (spread from one organ to another) of cancer cells.
• Killing large cell B-cell lymphoma cells (the most common reason for non-Hodgkin lymphoma).
• Preventing regrowth of cancer stem cells.

Based on a 2011 study conducted by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, researchers found that the curcumin extract effectively differentiates between cancer cells and normal cells while activating cancer cell death (apoptosis).

 Investigators concluded, “Curcumin exerts its biological influence through epigenetic modulation, a process that continues downstream staying one step ahead of adverse genetic influences.”
One study was conducted to investigate how much curcumin colorectal patients could safely take. In the trial, participants took 3.6 grams, considered to be a high dose of curcumin. Results revealed that high doses of curcumin didn’t cause ill effects among colorectal patients.
Curcumin is not well absorbed in the blood but it is absorbed well into the colon lining, giving it an advantage against cancerous tissues in the colon. It can help prevent prostate cancer because of its ability to interfere with the spread of cancer cells and inflammatory responses that are considered to be the precursors of cancer development. Curcumin also fights prostate cancer by reducing the expression of sex hormone receptors in the prostate gland.
It has shown incredible promise in the prevention of cervical cancer, the leading cause of cancer death among women in developing nations. Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory property blocks the factors that induce human papilloma virus and activates cancer cell death within the uterine lining.

Incredible Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric is powerful and effective against more than cancer cells. Researchers are fascinated by the broad range of conditions it is capable of helping.

• Combats arthritis. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties aids in managing arthritic conditions. Those who suffer from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have found relief by consuming turmeric on a regular basis, especially when eaten raw. Turmeric neutralizes harmful free radicals that can damage the cells of the body and lead to inflammation.
• Regulates blood sugar. Turmeric has the ability to improve the effects of diabetic medications and help in controlling the disease. It reduces the risks of developing insulin resistance, a physiological condition in which the cells fail to respond to the normal actions of the insulin hormone.
• Helps you lose weight. Adding turmeric to your diet helps increase the production of bile, a necessary factor in the breakdown of dietary fat. To help obtain your ideal body weight, a teaspoon of turmeric powder in your meals boosts this process. More efficient bile production aids in better digestion and prevents liver disease.
• Makes wound heal faster. You can use turmeric as a natural disinfectant because of its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. To heal wounds, sprinkle turmeric powder on the affected area. It has also been shown that turmeric can be used to treat psoriasis and other skin conditions.
• Prevents Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is believed to be caused by rampant inflammation within the brain. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory property removes accumulated plaque and fats in the brain, improving oxygen flow.

The health benefits of turmeric have only been recognized by the medical community in the past decade but researchers are wasting no time in conducting trials on this amazing spice.
Turmeric is for more than just curry. You can add turmeric powder to your classic egg salad, in soups, to season meats, and added to sauces and dressings. A little goes a long way and it adds a unique and delicious undertone to common foods.
Add this spice to your grocery list, include it in your nutrition plan, and enjoy the far-reaching health benefits of turmeric right now.