Best anti-cancer precautions...

[Cascadian]

These days it seems that everyone I know has been touched by cancer. I've lost several family members to it, and DH is about to lose his brother to lung cancer (young, non-smoker). We are going through chemo and radiation horrors right now, and I never want to see myself or my partner go through this

I've been thinking about compiling a cheat sheet here of info about cancer prevention, for us, for our kids...dietary, via supplements or what not. Please feel free to add your own ideas.

- DON'T SMOKE! Try not to work in smoky places. This includes pot!
- limit processed meats and red meat, or eat leaner red meat
- limit refined flours and sugar
- limit salt
- EXERCISE
- maintain a healthy BMI
- limit fruit and veggies with pesticides if not organic (esp berries)
- limit alcohol (linked to breast, colon, mouth, liver cancers)
- NO TANNING BEDS!!
-

'Alt' stuff:

- meditate! stress reduction is a must
- antioxidants!! Vit C, dark berries and veggies
- CoQ10

...I'll be back with more!

[herenow2]

maintain good vitamin D levels

[tanyalynn]

I don't know if most/all cancers are related to blood folate levels (or dietary folate) or not, but I'm pretty sure some are.

It would be worthwhile to read about the MTHFR gene variant, it involves how some people use folate, and it's relatively common, albeit a minority of the population. Some people seem to need more folate than others, and they seem to be inefficient at converting synthetic folic acid into actual folate that our bodies can use.

Here's a short page on folate...
http://www.detoxpuzzle.com/folate.php

and check out the other page on MTHFR as well (the left sidebar).

[isabchi]

Breastfeed as much is possible!!

[dogmom327]

Vitamin D!!!

[Cascadian]

Keep 'em coming!!

[KimPM]

Keep your distance from radio transmitters, such as cell phones. Don't wear them on your body.
Keep your distance from high electromagnetic fields.
Don't wear underwires in your bras; they are signal receivers (not what I want around delicate tissue).
Wear constraining bras as little as possible anyway. The lymphatic system needs to drain.

Drink clean water.
Breathe clean air.
Use gas-powered stuff as little as possible. Eliminate altogether if feasible.
Use good ventilation and/or N-95 NIOSH masks, and gloves when handling carcinogenic chemicals, if you must handle them at all.
Use natural cleaners around the home. Use products with the least impact possible.
Eat organic when possible.
Don't use chemical lawn care and chemical pesticides.
Be aware of what's going on around where you live and work. Are you next door to a golf course (lots of pesticides, etc)? Are you directly under high power lines? Are you under a cell tower?

[nycmom18]

i believe that inflammation is a big factor. so eliminating those foods you listed earlier like sugar and processed stuff.

and de-stress!

[Traceround]

Do NOT skip yearly paps and pelvic exams.

Please. If I manage to save one woman the horror of ovarian cancer by nagging about getting regular checkups, it will be worth it.

Granted, not so much prevention as it is early detection. Learn the early symptoms and get it checked out. I was at stage 3c when I was diagnosed after going two years without a pelvic.

[Addy's Mom]

Two of my relatives got cancer (different types) recently. Both their regular doctors (oncologists, etc.) and their naturapaths told them to significantly increase their Vitamin D and to cut way back on sugar intake, (with naturapath saying to) include natural sugars like lactose and white starches (breads, potatoes, etc.).

[CorasMama]

Originally Posted by KimPM

Don't wear underwires in your bras; they are signal receivers (not what I want around delicate tissue).

how's that? Got a source?

[KimPM]

...more...

Avoid taking synthetic hormones....estrogen and progestins. Instead of hormonal contraception, use fertility awareness (FAM) or natural family planning (NFP). Instead of synthetic hormone replacement therapy, and only if necessary, use bioidentical hormones.

Test the radon levels in your home and mitigate if necessary.

Use fragrance-free and unscented products. Fragrances can be made up of more than 100 ingredients, none of which have to be disclosed, and some of which can be carcinogenic.

[KimPM]

Originally Posted by CorasMama

how's that? Got a source?

A wire is basically an antenna. Just stop and think about it. And having wire there is just not necessary. Not worth even a minute risk, IMO.

If you find underwires necessary, you can find plastic replacements in fabric stores.

[Beauchamp]

flax oil?

[Mamja]

Originally Posted by KimPM

A wire is basically an antenna. Just stop and think about it. And having wire there is just not necessary. Not worth even a minute risk, IMO.

If you find underwires necessary, you can find plastic replacements in fabric stores.

What about metal snaps?

[KimPM]

Originally Posted by Mamja

What about metal snaps?

Yes, those too. But usually they are smaller and not positioned near the breast. They would concentrate signals to a lesser degree.

I went to a conference about 12 years or so back on the health effects of cell phone energy. A woman had done some research on how energy radiates from a cell phone. The one big thing that sticks in my memory is when she showed that on a person wearing metal frame eyeglasses, the power radiates from one side of the head to the other, moving easily across the metal glasses frame. The power also radiates into the head of the user. Wearing a wired remote connecton from the cell phone to the ear wasn't any better...and even possibly worse. Worse, because it brought the energy inside the ear...even closer into the brain. She also had photos showing how the energy radiates inside the head. This wasn't a theoretical computer model...she took actual measurements. I believe she did use a simulated head, so it wouldn't be invasive on any person. I wish I could remember the conference name or her name.

Unfortunately every time I put on my metal frame glasses, I think about this study. I don't really have an alternative for this...plastic frames just don't fit me at all. So, I just don't use my cell phone very much (emergency or very important stuff), and when I'm just walking around with the phone in my purse, I keep its power off, unless absolutely necessary.

Personally, I'd like to see a study on how all kinds of wearable metal radiates cell phone energy. Metal barettes, metal jewelry, belt buckles, and anything else you can think of.

I'm also reminded that there are signals everywhere...not just from cell phones. It's just that cell phones typically get higher energy levels closer to the body than most anything else I can think of.

[~Heyokha~]

Great thread. I'm turning 30 this year and cancer prevention has been on my mind a lot lately.

We were considering buying a house out in the country surrounded by corn fields but after thinking about all the pesticides they would use, we changed our mind.

Another thing to consider is parks, lawns, etc that spray herbicides, insecticides. Do you really want dc rolling around on that?

Anything that you spread on your skin use with caution. Read the ingredients. Whatever is listed will be absorbed. Makes me cringe at the thought of sunscreen and lotions!

Plastics! yikes. We try to avoid plastics as much as possible.

exercise

eat healthy, natural foods.

avoid red meat. If you do eat it, make sure your bowel movements are regular. You don't want that meat sitting in your colon for prolonged periods

avoid lunch meat and nitrates

[zjandosmom]

These are all great ideas but sometimes it just doesn't matter. Sometimes you just get cancer and there is nothing you can do. sometimes it just happens.

[californiajenn]

After reading about many cultures that rely heavily on red meat, I don't agree that we should not eat it. I do think it should always be pastured as grain fed animals are changed when not eating grass.

My step-mother had cancer and even her mainstream doc said to stay away from sugar.

[Traceround]

Originally Posted by zjandosmom

These are all great ideas but sometimes it just doesn't matter. Sometimes you just get cancer and there is nothing you can do. sometimes it just happens.

Exactly. And that is why learning the early warning signs and early cancer detection are absolutely vital.

You can try and prevent all you want but that isn't going to help much if you are among the very unlucky to hear those dreaded words, "You have cancer and it is too far gone."

I go back to my earlier post. Do NOT skip your pelvic exams. Ovarian cancer kills and often silently.

The warning signs are very often mistaken for other problems like gas or indigestion or other things like that.