Topic: cancer prevention

5 Foods That May Fight Cancer (But You Should Eat Regardless)

5 Foods That May Fight Cancer (But You Should Eat Regardless)

By now, we all know that there are some aspects of cancer prevention that are simply beyond our control. Breast density, genetics, sometimes even stress–there’s little we can do about some things. But we also know that there’s mounting data that states that there are also things we can do to be proactive in the fight against cancer. Specifically, we can eat healthfully. These foods are considered to be “cancer fighting”. And whether or not they actually can battle potential cancer cells in your system, the fact is, they’re foods you should be eating anyway. More »

7 Surprising Foods To Avoid For Breast Cancer

7 Surprising Foods To Avoid For Breast Cancer

We hear a lot about which nutrients and foods can help prevent breast cancer, like strawberries, blueberries, green tea and fish oil, but what about certain foods to avoid? Yes, we know alcohol (like we talked about last week) and coffee have made the list in the past, but did you know that other foods like avocados and peanut butter are also considered to affect our risk for breast cancer?

According to an interesting site, FoodForBreastCancer.com, there are at least several dozen foods that make the “don’t eat” list. Here are seven that I found most interesting–and completely unexpected:
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Think Pink: Why Thermograms Might Be The Best Breast Cancer Screening Test

Think Pink: Why Thermograms Might Be The Best Breast Cancer Screening Test

Mammograms and breast self exams get all kinds of media play this time of year, but thermograms, a type of heat imaging test, might be an even better way to test for early signs of breast cancer. According to some doctors—like Dr. Christiane Northrup, who hosted a radio show this afternoon all about breast health—the test may be even more effective than mammograms. Plus, the tests are quick, don’t involve the discomfort or radiation exposure that mammography does. More »

Think Pink: Breast Cancer Deaths Shift From Rich To Poor

Think Pink: Breast Cancer Deaths Shift From Rich To Poor

Traditionally, statistics have shown that breast cancer mainly affects affluent, white American women, but a new report from the American Cancer Society says that breast cancer death rates are now higher among the poor. While socioeconomic status itself may not be related to cancer risk, it does correlate with screening rates. In 2008, 51.4% of poor women aged 40 and over had received a mammogram in the past two years, while 72.8% of non-poor women had. Breast cancer research receives much more publicity and funding than most other cancers, but these and other statistics show that, despite all the celebrity-studded fundraisers and pink ribbon products, there’s still progress to be made when it comes to real-life screening and treatment of the disease. More »

Washington Poo-Poos “What’s Up Your Butt” Billboards

Washington Poo-Poos "What's Up Your Butt" Billboards

“What’s Up Your Butt?” asked a Washington state-area billboard, and it wasn’t a rhetorical question (or an advert for a fetish dating site). The cheeky poster was part of a colon cancer awareness campaign, encouraging residents to get tested for the third most deadly form of cancer in the United States. Humor lends itself well to such campaigns, as the thought of having your tuckus examined can bring on the giggles (and SO.MANY.PUNCHLINES!), but apparently the people of Washington weren’t laughing. After several complaints, the health board reversed its approval of the campaign.
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The Diet Is Dead and Multivitamins Will Kill You Sooner

The Diet Is Dead and Multivitamins Will Kill You Sooner

It’s spring, which quickly leads to summer, so naturally many of us are thinking more and more about losing that winter weight and shaping up for the season, as is our annual custom. But this year, let’s try to implement our strategy differently and more effectively. Here’s help. Personal trainer and fitness expert Daniel Reynen is the author of the controversial new book The Diet Is Dead: Why Traditional Diets Fail and How You Can Succeed. This guy is seriously down on diets and dieting, and all for healthy and lasting lifestyle changes. And he’s a firm believer that there are four pillars to any weight-loss program that guarantee success. End of story. They are: behavior shifts, assessment, monitoring, and ongoing support. Reynen really tells it like it is (which we appreciate), so I asked him five pointed questions about dieting and weight-loss myths, strategies, and techniques that he brings up in his book:
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Raw Detoxing Recipe: Sweet Chili Pecan “Paté”

Raw Detoxing Recipe: Sweet Chili Pecan "Paté"

Pecans may conjure images of sugary, Thanksgiving pies, but they’re also a high-protein nut that research indicates could have the ability to fight prostate cancer in men. They’re also antioxidant rich and, for all those low-carb fiends out there: Just one serving (seven to eight nuts) contains the same amount of protein found in a one-ounce serving of meat. In this “paté” recipe, they’re combined with cilantro, which helps the body detox and chelate heavy metals from the blood. Happy spring cleaning! More »

The C Word‘s Pam Murphy on How Breast Cancer Is Hilarious

The C Word's Pam Murphy on How Breast Cancer Is Hilarious

Pam Murphy is a professionally funny lady currently starring in her own solo comedy show, The C Word (which she wrote), at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City. What’s it about? Oh, you know, just her getting diagnosed with breast cancer — that’s all. Drawing room comedy stuff. No big deal. Actually, you’re about to get a sense of just how hilarious Pam makes cancer become while she’s onstage, and why it’s so important for our mental health that we laugh about the worst thing that’s ever happened to her in her life. (C’mon, she wants us to!)

You had cancer and made it funny with your solo show, “The C Word.” Pretend that I’m also professionally hilarious. Is it okay for me to make fun of cancer and cancer survivors, even if I’ve never had the disease myself? More »

Flashback Friday: Rocky III Training Montage

Flashback Friday: Rocky III Training Montage

I just found out that a very good friend of mine is having major surgery next week to remove a mass of something bad from his stomach, which will require a hospital stay of at least five days. This friend is one of those very annoying people who can do anything and everything irritatingly well (cooking, writing, singing, joke-telling, listening, etc.), so it’s apt that this funny friend referred to the mass of something in his stomach as his vestigial twin, Rocky. (However, if the mass in my friend’s stomach turns out to be malignant, then it’s more like his vestigial twin Mr. T. or the Russian boxing opponent in Rocky IV.) Not surprisingly, I got to thinking about one of the greatest (and cheesiest) movie training montages ever (or at least during the 80s), with Rocky and Apollo Creed in Rocky III, and how I know my friend would fully appreciate said montage, especially during a time of health crisis such as this. Hence, this week’s installment of Flashback Friday. And the thing is, as hackneyed as it sounds, my friend shares many of Rocky’s finer qualities (albeit not the ripped muscles or mumbling habit), so I know he’ll come out of this surgery thing a winner. Unforch, we can’t embed the actual Rocky III training montage video here (it’s been disabled), but you can watch it on YouTube. In the meantime, here’s a photo montage I put together of a few of my favorite highlights. Just try not to be inspired. More »

Why Young Women Need to Worry About Fibromyalgia

Why Young Women Need to Worry About Fibromyalgia

Twelve years ago I was in my dermatologist’s waiting room, thinking about how lucky I was. Five years before that, I had breast cancer, but was now cancer-free. I had a good job that I enjoyed and afforded me a great lifestyle. I had two children who were happy and doing well. I had many friends in my office. We went out to dinner and dancing at least once a week.

I lived in the inimitable city of New Orleans in an apartment facing the bayou. I could walk across the street to City Park and surround myself with lush flowers and oak trees draped with moss. The enormous park is home to an amazing number of ducks, geese, and other colorful of species of birds and water fowl that were so domesticated they would eat from my hands. Amidst the wildlife was a first-class museum that looked like a royal palace from the distance.

My name was called and I stopped daydreaming and walked into my doctor’s office. After she removed several pre-cancerous spots from my arms and legs, I showed her my knee, which was causing me great pain whenever I put weight on it or bumped it. I could only describe the pain level as a number eight – akin to a hot knife prodding my skin. More »

6 Ways Living Like the Jersey Shore Cast Is Bad for Your Health

6 Ways Living Like the Jersey Shore Cast Is Bad for Your Health

MTV’s Jersey Shore is the guiltiest of guilty pleasures, and I shamelessly confess to my crime of being an avid viewer. However, my reactions to the cast members’ antics has progressed from an amused: “Whoa, I can’t believe Snooki and Vinny made out in the hot tub,” to: “Whoa, I’m afraid that Ronnie may actually physically harm Sammi.” As the show has progressed, the risky behaviors of cast members seem to have become more pronounced, or maybe it’s just that as their drinking-clubbing-fist-pumping schtick has become a little stale, I’m paying closer attention to all the stupid, unhealthy things they do. So, here’s a breakdown of six ways that living like a Jersey Shore cast member is hazardous to your health: More »

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