Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Beth Marlow, Certified Professional Cancer Coach, Certified Holistic Nutritional Counselor & Cancer Survivor in Ft. Myers, FL
Cancer is quickly becoming the # 1 killer in the world today and the latest projections are alarming. The statistics for breast cancer are currently sitting at 1 in every 7 women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis during their lifetime. About six years ago, I was one of those women.
Those of you who have been diagnosed with cancer know exactly what I mean when I tell you that it felt like a 9.5 earthquake shook my world the day I was told I had cancer. Back then, I knew more about what cancer could do than what it couldn’t, like…it could kill me, and that was a terrifying thought. Well, I asked myself, “What do warriors do when preparing for a big fight?” Answer: Study their opponent’s weaknesses. And that’s exactly what I’ve done for the past six years. I have spent countless hours researching every aspect of what I affectionately call cancer’s “wimpy side”, and I can tell you with great confidence that there are many more items on the list of things that cancer CAN’T handle than on the list of things it can. In fact, I have just completed my first book titled “The Cancer Can’t List™…Exposing Cancer’s Wimpy Side”, outlining each and every Achilles heel that cancer has. Let’s go over a few of the items on that list right now so you can get acquainted with cancer’s wimpy side too:
1. CANCER CAN’T…
DEAL WITH ALKALINITY
Cancer hates an Alkaline environment. Since everything we eat leaves either an acid or Alkaline residue in our body, it’s vitally important to monitor what you’re putting in your mouth when you are fighting cancer. There is a great deal of research showing the link between an overly acidic pH and cancer. Cancer thrives in an acidic environment and cannot survive in an Alkaline environment. Taking swift action to make your body more Alkaline is crucial in the battle against cancer. The majority of food and drinks in a typical American diet are acidic, such as meats, grains and refined sugars, with colas and other soft drinks being highly acidic. To become more Alkaline and stay that way, we MUST start with dietary changes. It’s also been proven that severe stress and chronic emotional trauma can also lead to an acidic state in the body, therefore, addressing any emotional issues is always a part of the process when fighting cancer.
2. CANCER CAN’T…
DEAL WITH OXYGEN
Cancer also hates Oxygen! The link between oxygen and cancer is clear and well documented. One of the primary underlying causes of cancer is low cellular oxygenation levels. In 1931, Dr. Warburg won his first Nobel Prize for proving that cancer is caused by a lack of oxygen respiration in cells. He stated in an article titled The Prime Cause and Prevention of Cancer that “the cause of cancer is no longer a mystery, we know it occurs whenever any cell is denied 60% of its oxygen requirements.” One great way to infuse large amounts of oxygen into your system is regular use of oxygen therapy, such as a hyperbaric oxygen machine. Recent research studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can reduce cancer growth in some cancer types, like breast cancer. Another great way to oxygenate your system is through daily Aerobic exercise. This will help your body utilize oxygen and remove waste through the lymphatic system. The circulatory system has the heart to pump blood throughout the body, but the lymphatic system has no pump. Lymph gets circulated and flushed primarily through movement. If you are unable to exercise then try Infra-Red saunas and/or body wraps to mimic the effects of exercise and stimulate your metabolic function and blood oxygenation. Dr. Warburg also discovered that an alkaline pH in the body meant higher levels of oxygen uptake.
3. CANCER CAN’T…
DEAL WITH VITAMIN D
Research published in the Journal of Cell Biology has shown that Vitamin D can adjust almost everything in the cancer cell, from its genetic messaging to its cytoskeleton. It can switch genes on and off, and it can reduce cell division, and it can calm the cancer cells so that they settle rather than spread. Basically, Vitamin D targets a protein that cancer depends upon for cell division. Saint Georges Hospital in London calculated from their studies that women with low levels of vitamin D in their breast tissue have a 354 per cent greater risk of breast cancer. New research suggests that having an optimal blood level of Vitamin D could cut your risk of getting ALL types of cancers by as much as 60%! Vitamin D can help suppress tumor growth and development. Vitamin D increases the self-destruction of mutated cells, reduces the spread and reproduction of cancer cells, and reduces the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. Research shows 40-70% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D. When was the last time you had your Vitamin D level checked? And do you know what your level should be at when you’re fighting cancer?
4. CANCER CAN’T…
DEAL WITH CURCUMIN
Curcumin is a derivative of the spice Turmeric. Among all of the available nutrients, Curcumin has the most evidence-based studies which support its use against cancer. Curcumin has the ability to affect genetic activity and expression—both by destroying cancer cells and by promoting healthy cell function. It can also prevent the development of additional blood supply needed for cancer cells to grow. Curcumin also works by reducing internal inflammation and by helping your body destroy mutated cancer cells, therefore, slowing or completely halting the cancer cell’s ability to spread throughout your body. This little spice has some big cancer fighting muscle behind it! But remember that relatively high doses are required and Curcumin is not absorbed that well, so you need to make sure you are choosing one of the few brands (only 2 that I trust) that can prove its potency and bio-availability.
5. CANCER CAN’T…
DEAL WITH INFRA-RED HYPERTHERMIA
In a recent article at Cancer Defeated, they noted that cancer clinics in Germany and Mexico routinely treat patients with hyperthermia, where the body is exposed to Infra-red heat. Often, these clinics are using Infra-red saunas and/or body wraps for their patients. In a clinical study published in the Journal of Cancer Science and Therapy in which scientists studied far Infra-red’s effects on human cancer cells in vitro and on cancer cells in mice, Infra-red therapy reduced tumor volumes 86% in 30 days. The tumor-suppressing effects were even seen without high temperatures, even as low as 77 degrees Fahrenheit. In another study cited by Cancer Defeated, researchers in Japan discovered that whole-body hyperthermia with far Infra-red strongly inhibited the growth of breast cancer tumors in mice without harmful side effects. Researchers believe this therapy is promising for long-term studies of a noninvasive treatment of breast cancer.
As a Professional Cancer Coach AND a Cancer survivor, I have built a battle plan that puts you in the driver’s seat on the road to your recovery. I am a member of The National Association of Professional Cancer Coaches, which is a qualified group of professionals providing comprehensive, evidence-based strategies for cancer patients and those interested in cancer prevention. Certified Cancer Coaches are the new weapons in the war against cancer. We are registered and licensed health care professionals and Nutritionists who are trained and Certified in both conventional and holistic cancer therapies, otherwise known as “Integrative Cancer Therapy”, offering Customization of specific Supplement/Vitamin programs for your individual health issues and/or type of cancer, as well as Alkaline pH testing and monitoring, full body Detoxification Programs, using such therapies as Infra-Red Therapy, Red Light Therapy, Detox foot baths, Herbal supplements and specific nutritional protocols such as Macro Juice nutrient smoothies and recipes, as well as referrals for adjunct therapies.
Let me help you find your inner WARRIOR!
Beth Marlow – Certified Organic Cancer Coach
239-939-7789
