I am terrified of tornadoes. Their uncontrollable, possibly lethal power of destruction is beyond our control and that is what makes them so fearsome. The diagnosis of cancer is a storm is not just seen in the distance, it is here. You are afraid, possibly angry, and don't know what to do, but unlike with the tornado, there really IS something you can do! I know the thoughts and feelings rushing over you right
now are overwhelming, but I can assure you the answer is very, very simple and
makes all the sense in the world. My own story of healing from cancer may
inspire you to at least consider other options before committing to the body mutilating surgery, poisonous chemo, and toxic radiation the oncologist is undoubtedly urging you to do.
In June of 2011, I was where you are now. I had already been researching nutrition
extensively and had chosen a vegan diet (no animals; no meat, no dairy, no
eggs) for health and ethical reasons when I found a breast lump. As you know, by the time
you find one yourself, it is pretty far along, and mine turned out to be stage 4. I
had read The China Study, and I had also seen the documentary Forks Over Knives,
where Dr T. Colin Campbell explains the research proving that animal protein turns
cancer cells off and on like a light switch! I was quite confident that if I were
not consuming animal protein, the cancer would go away, so I refused surgery
and chemo. I took it further, and took a long hard look at everything in my
life that I never thought about being carcinogenic, because I had always
figured if it was harmful, the "government" would not allow it .....
WRONG. Through research, I discovered common household things in my home and
probably yours, were the likely cause of my cancer, so I eliminated all that I
could. Here is my list of what I did, and continue to do; and by the way, 3
weeks after they biopsied my tumor, they could not find the tumor, it was gone. Gone at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years later, still NOTHING. Of course, they
don't say I am "cured" only "in remission". I call it GONE,
that is all that matters to me!
Only put ON your body or IN your body what
you recognize as safe and pure.
Here is my personal regimen of what I do in a nutshell:
1. Eliminate ALL dairy. Milk, cheese, butter, margarine,
milk chocolate, yogurt, ice cream, sherbet, etc. Read labels on everything:
milk, whey, casein, lactose, etc. is in everything! The safest thing to do for the
next month (or until you are found to be "in remission") is eat no processed food. There are healthy plant based alternatives to all of these items, so don’t panic!
2. Eat no meat, meat products, no chicken broth, etc. including
avoiding gelatin (it is made from animal bones, yuck!) Read labels, look for
the word 'vegan' if you are not sure. Don’t worry about protein, the meat and dairy
industry created the myth that we need tons of protein because it sells their
product. Vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains contain protein, and you
will get plenty.
3. Eliminate eggs. It has animal protein too, and like
all meat, chickens are injected with huge amounts of steroids, antibiotics, and
bunch of crap that gets into their bodies and the eggs as well, it can't
possibly be good for us! Vegetarian products may be meat free, but can contain milk or eggs.
4. Eat all organic. ALL! Certified organic
produce is grown in very closely monitored conditions with no toxic chemicals
used for fertilizer or pest control. Organic also means the seed must be
organic, which precludes any possibility of genetically modified organisms
(GMOs) which you probably know can also cause multitudes of health problems
including horrendous cancerous tumors in lab rats. Only buy organic produce and only buy organic corn meal, oats, soy milk, etc. everything that goes in your
body for the next few months at least must be organic. The easiest way is to only eat at
home, things you prepared, no processed food or restaurant food for now. Eat as
much as you can raw: salads, smoothies, juices, raw recipes for raw soups,
dishes like raw lasagna, cookies, etc. Tons of free raw recipes are on the
internet, get a raw cookbook, or just do what I did and entirely smoothies and
juices for a few weeks. raw organic produce is alive with cancer fighting
minerals, enzymes, vitamins, and antioxidants that are destroyed in cooking. If
you need a juicer, here is my blog post on how to choose one:
WATER. Our body is 98% water. Most of us live in a constant state of dehydration because we don't drink enough. We need a half ounce per pound of body weight daily (that means for a 150 pound person, 75 ounces of water). When we are sick and especially when cancer is present, we need to double that, 1 ounce per pound. I keep my BPA free water bottle beside me constantly (and take it with me when I leave the house) and sip frequently, it is easy to get your water needs met this way. I fill my containers every morning that I know hold the number of ounces I must drink a day, that way I don’t forget. When I only had one container and refilled it, I would lose track of where I was, could not remember how many ounces so far I had ... it was hard to keep track of until I got all my 'duckies in a row' as my husband calls it, and line up my three huge bottles on the counter! I have one bottle that holds 75 ounces by itself that I use at home and travel with my others.
Many researchers believe disease of ALL kinds stem from dehydration. It is very important to drink enough water, but even more important that it be alkaline water. Disease and especially cancer, thrive in an acid environment. There is so much on this subject I shall not try to explain it, you can read up on it: Read the book, The pH Miracle, or visit their website. I have never used any of their products, but they are plenty to try that are organic and promote alkaline health. The longest lived humans on earth are the Okinawans, who drink water from their area that is naturally high in alkalinity and minerals, and is thought to be the "fountain of youth"!
Also, I use Kangen water. It is a machine that sits on top of the counter and both ionizes and alkalizes your water. Here is a video of a water demo that you will find very interesting. The ph miracle website also sells water ionizers, and they are less expensive than the one I use. Kangen is the "cadillac" of them all, I believe it far superior but the important thing is to drink alkaline water any way you can! I can help you get a Kangen machine on a payment plan if you want one, just send me a message. There are many documented stories of persons who cured cancer with Kangen water. Japan uses only Kangen in their hospitals, and cure many patients with the water and no medicines.
Other Resources
Don't just take my word for it that you can help your body heal itself of cancer. There are many doctors (shunned by mainstream doctors of course, they threaten their livlihood!) L ook into The Gerson Institute, and/or read The Gerson Miracle, or The Gerson Method .Insurance won't pay for the therapy, but the Gerson Method has been curing cancer for 80+ years. Their therapy is all I am telling you, plus huge IV doses of vitamin C, and detoxing with coffee enemas. You need to rid the body of the toxins and cancer as fast as possible, juicing and coffee enemas will do it!! I did my best to mimic the therapy at home, on their website are lists of foods to eat and to avoid, all organic and vegan. Basically the idea is get tons of organic healing foods from nature in your body!! We cannot possibly eat enough, so the premise is juicing. You can juice 60 pounds of produce a day and get mega health benefits from it, or you can eat at most 15 pounds. Juicing makes more sense, eh? I add 5 or 6 (organic of course) apples to vegetable mixtures and it always tastes better. After just a few days your body gets over sugar cravings (we all have them) and the veggies start tasting better, trust me!
I was also greatly inspired by each of these books: Crazy, Sexy, Cancer, and Waking The Warrior Goddess; Dr. Christine Horner's Program to Protect Against and Fight Breast Cancer
Detoxing
Everyone is different, but when you eliminate all the dead foods and toxic, acidic food, you will experience detox symptoms. This can be unpleasant, but stick with it as the liver begins pulling toxins from the body into the blood, kidneys, and intestines and you will feel like you have the flu. The more you juice and do the coffee enemas, the faster this will end. Expect to feel yucky for 4-7 days. Then, you will feel amazing! You will have tons of energy, sleep better, and actually feel happier. Your every cell will be thanking you!!
Dry brush your body daily before you shower or bathe. If you haven't heard of this, it is just what it sounds like. You get a natural bristle bath brush, stand unclothed in your shower or tub, and brush your skin towards the heart in quick, one direction strokes. Repeat in each area 8-10 times, and move to the next area. Do not forget the soles of your feet! Dry brushing helps shed dead skin, stimulates the lymph system all over your body to detox, unclogs pores, stimulates skin to renew, improves circulation, and helps rid cellulite.
Becoming alkaline and detoxing also means avoiding acidity like animal products, highly acidic fruits such as pineapple and tomatoes, and some very toxic things we like to drink are super acidic and must be avoided. These include coffee, decaf or regular (don't worry about your "caffeine fix, you will absorb your caffeine from the mucosa of the bowel during your daily coffee enemas!), avoid all tea except green tea (Matcha tea powder is optimum!) sodas, so-called sports drinks, etc. Remember, no plastic bottled or canned drinks!
STOP using chemicals on
your body NOW.
Chlorine
is used by municipalities to kill bacteria in our water. It is absorbed in a
few seconds when we touch it - whether it is washing dishes, bathing, brushing
our teeth, or drinking it. Showers are a double whammy because the heated
chlorine is causing a concentrated chlorine gas as it steams and we inhale that
too. You must get chlorine filters for ALL faucets and your shower. They are
not very expensive. I have Aquasana shower filters, supposedly the best, and I
bought various brands of a water filter for the kitchen & bathroom faucets.
There is even a ball type for the bathtub faucet. If you are on well water,
then you dont have to do this step, if you test your water and its chlorine
free (simple pool test kit for like $10) This also means avoid pools unless
they are salt water or a silver filter is employed instead of chlorine.
Paraben.
A high rate of cancer comes from this common ingredient, particularly breast
cancer. It is an endocrine disruptor and neurotoxin as well. It is in your makeup, deodorant, lotions, etc.
Stop using all immediately. You can find paraben free cosmetics, deodorant,
shampoo, etc. online and in your Health Food Store or Whole Foods Market. You can also make your own deodorant like I do, for pennies. Here
is my recipe on how to do this: Remember to buy only organic ingredients! Find organic coconut oil here. I use either organic arrowroot or organic tapioca starch with the same results.
SLS
or Sodium Laurel Sulfate. It is a foaming agent added to
everything we buy: detergent, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and surfactants that
pose serious health threats. Also used in car washes, garage floor cleaners and
engine degreasers – and the label of these products recommend OSHA protective
gear when using! Animals exposed to SLS experience eye damage, depression,
labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation, and even death. Young eyes
may not develop properly if exposed to SLS because proteins are dissolved. SLS
may also damage the skins immune system by causing layers to separate and
inflame. When combined with other chemicals, SLS can be transformed into
nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens. Your body may retain the SLS for
up to five days, during which tie it may enter and maintain residual levels in
the heart, liver, the lungs, and the brain.
I looked until I found a toothpaste free of SLS, which
is Sensodyne, used it at first then just went to pure baking soda. I get my toothbrush wet and dip it in the baking soda, and that is all I use for brushing my teeth (for over 2 years now) and I
never had such pretty white teeth as I do now! I wash my clothes with baking soda only, and I buy pure fragrance free Castille soap or
Ivory soap only for bathing and hand washing. Castille soap liquid form makes great shampoo as well, I ad about 20 drops of my favorite essential oil (lavender!) to the bottle, or you could add a different oil with a few drops each time you shampoo for a variety of heavenly scents. I
use only pure organic coconut oil as a conditioner for my naturally curly hair,
and it never looked better. Getting all those chemicals out of my life has saved me tons of money, and my skin, hair, nails, and teeth reflect how much
healthier my body is not having to try to filter and get rid of all the junk I used
to bombard myself with.
Aluminum.
A major carcinogen. It is the active ingredient in antiperspirants that work;
STOP using it! Check out my recipe on how to make a healthy safe deodorant for
pennies. It is worth noting here that when you eliminate all acidic food (meat, dairy, & eggs, mainly)
your body has less need to rid toxins through sweat; in other words you
perspire far less so you won't need the heavy duty antiperspirant! Also avoid
aluminum cookware, food from cans, and don't cook in aluminum foil.
Teflon, or nonstick cookware: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)—also known as C-8—a chemical used to bond the nonstick coating to the pan. PFOA has been shown to cause cancer, low birth weight and a suppressed immune system in laboratory animals exposed to high doses of PFOA. Studies have shown the chemical to be present at low levels in the bloodstream of 9 out of 10 Americans, and in the blood of most newborns.I first became concerned about non stick cookware when my daughter wanted a pet bird, and we were told not to cook with it, that it would kill the bird. What? You have heard of the canary in the coal mine, haven't you? Then why on earth would we want these chemicals in our body and air if they are deadly? The EPA has ordered DuPont and other makers of nonstick coating pans to eliminate PFOA—which they labeled a likely carcinogen—by 2015. Meanwhile our kitchens are filled with the stuff, and poisoning us regularly. I threw all of mine out and bought 1 good stainless saucepan and 1 good iron skillet at first, later added a stainless skillet, and a ceramic skillet that I really love. It performs like a nonstick pan without the dangers.
BPA.
It is in many plastics, and lines a lot of aluminum cans (to protect us from
aluminum poisoning, but BPA poisoning is just as bad!) For the rest of your
life you want to avoid all these things I am pointing out, and for your whole
family's sake, throw out the tupperware, the rubbermaid, etc!!! Invest in some
nice glass containers for storing leftovers, they are heavy glass and dont
break, dont worry about that. Saran wrap, glad wrap, etc has BPAs too, stop
using it! (This was my major use of BPA, I cooked all the time in the microwave
with saran wrap). I use a glass cover to cook in the microwave now. This also
saves you money, don't need foil or saran wrap anymore! BPAs are in plastic
bottles of water. If you buy bottled water, STOP. Get a couple of BPA free water
bottles and refill them with chlorine free water, preferably alkaline water
(will talk about this later in detail)
Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40): a
very drying and irritating solvent and dehydrator that strips your skin’s
moisture and natural immune barrier, making you more venerable to bacteria,
molds and viruses. It is made from propylene, a petroleum derivative and
is found in many skin and hair products, fragrance, antibacterial hand
washes as well as shellac and antifreeze. It can act as a “carrier”
accelerating the penetration of other harmful chemicals into your skin. It
may promote brown spots and premature aging of skin. A Consumer’s
Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients says it may cause headaches, flushing,
dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis, anesthesia, and coma. Fatal
ingested dose is one ounce or less.
DEA (diethanolamine), MEA
(Monoethanolamine) & TEA (triethanolamine): hormone-disrupting
chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates and nitrosamines. These
chemicals are already restricted in Europe due to known carcinogenic
effects. In the United States however, they are still used despite the fact
that Americans may be exposed to them 10-20 times per day with products
such as shampoos, shaving creams and bubble baths. Dr. Samuel Epstein
(Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois) says
that repeated skin applications…. of DEA-based detergents resulted in
major increase in incidence of liver and kidney cancer. The FDA’s John
Bailey says this is especially important since “the risk equation
changes significantly for children”.
Phthalates: Found in most cosmetics and personal care items.Research indicates phthalates disrupt hormones, cause birth defects and fertility problems, and have been shown to cause a proliferation of breast cancer cells.
DMDM Hydantion & Urea (Imidazolidinyl): just
two of many preservatives that often release formaldehyde which may cause
joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains,
ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep. Exposure
may also irritate the respiratory system, trigger heart palpitations
or asthma, and aggravate coughs and colds. Other possible side effects
include weakening the immune system and cancer.
FD&C Color Pigments: synthetic
colors made from coal tar, containing heavy metal salts that deposit
toxins into the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Absorption
of certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and
death. Animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic.
Fragrances: mostly
synthetic ingredients can indicate the presence of up to four thousand
separate ingredients, many toxic or carcinogenic. Symptoms reported to
the FDA include headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration,
violent coughing and vomiting, and skin irritation. Clinical observation
proves fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing
depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other
behavioral changes.
Mineral Oil: petroleum
by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging the
pores. Interferes with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne
and other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting
in premature aging. Used in many products such as baby oil which is 100%
mineral oil!
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG): potentially
carcinogenic petroleum ingredient that can alter and reduce the skin’s
natural moisture factor. This could increase the appearance of aging and
leave you more vulnerable to bacteria. Used in cleansers to dissolve oil
and grease. It adjusts the melting point and thickens products. Also used
in caustic spray-on oven cleaners.
Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol: gaseous
hydrocarbons which in a liquid state act as “surfactant”
(wetting olagents and solvents). They easily penetrate the skin and
can weaken protein and cellular structure. Commonly used to make
extracts from herbs. PG is strong enough to remove barnacles from boats!
The EPA considers PG so toxic that it requires workers to wear protective
gloves, clothing and goggles and to dispose of any PG solutions by burying
them in the ground. Because PG penetrates the skin so quickly, the EPA
warns against skin contact to prevent consequences such as brain, liver,
and kidney abnormalities. But there isn’t even a warning label on
products such as stick deodorants, where the concentration is greater than
in most industrial applications.
Triclosan: a
synthetic “antibacterial” ingredient – with a chemical structure similar
to Agent Orange! The EPA registers it as a pesticide, giving it high scores
as a risk to both human health and the environment. It is classified as a
chlorophenol, a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans.
Its manufacturing process may produce dioxin, a powerful
hormone-disrupting chemical with toxic effects measured in the parts
per trillion; that is only one drop in 300 Olympic-size swimming pools!
Hormone disruptors pose enormous long-term chronic health risks by
interfering with the way hormones perform, such as changing genetic
material, decreasing fertility and sexual function, and fostering birth
defects. It can temporarily deactivate sensory nerve endings, so
contact with it often causes little or no pain. Internally, it can lead to
cold sweats, circulatory collapse, and convulsions. Stored in body fat, it
can accumulate to toxic levels, damaging the liver, kidneys and lungs and
can cause paralysis, suppression of immune function, brain hemorrhages, and
heart problems. Tufts University School of Medicine says that triclosan is
capable of forcing the emergence of “super bugs” that it cannot kill. Its
widespread use in popular antibacterial cleaners, tooth pasts and
household products may have nightmare implications for our future.
BHA
& BHT: Preservatives that are common in processed foods.
Toxic to liver, brain, nervous system, endocrine disruptor, and carcinogens,
and linked strongly to ADHD and Autism.
Whole healing includes the mind
Make time for yourself to pray or meditate, and make it a routine. Do it every
day at the same time, make an appointment with YOU! First thing in the morning,
last thing at night, after your chores are done each day, during your lunch
hour, whenever works for you. This quiet time is vitally important to overall
balance and peace, and in itself can be extremely healing.
Taking up an exercise routine if you don't already have one is also critical.
Our American lifestyles are so busy and so sedentary that we are depriving our
bodies of the ability to oxygenate and move toxins out of the body. Take a
daily walk, do yoga, Tai Chi, aerobics, go to the gym, whatever you like, just
do something, and do it daily!
Lastly, but most importantly, is your emotional health. I truly believe that you can't get better with toxic relationships in your life. For some people this may be a friend who is a "Debbie Downer" or it may be a family member that always manages to upset you. For me, it was a person who loves to fight with me and put me down. Whomever it may be, and most of us have at least 1 toxic person in their life - if you don’t you are truly blessed - cut the tie with this (these) person(s) at least for now. Don't be around them at all while you are healing yourself.
How long do you need to do this? Until your MRI is
clear, and the doctor says you are in remission at least. For myself, I could
not go back to eating meat, dairy, egg, or using toxic chemicals in my home and
on my body knowing doing so could cause
cancer, heart disease, etc. even knowing I am cancer free, because I want to stay that way! I continue to be a whole foods, organic, gluten
free, vegan who makes homemade deodorant, cleaners, toothpaste, and uses pure
ingredient soap and detergent. I fragrance my home and clothes with essential
oils, or by simmering a sliced organic orange or lemon, not chemicals, and of course I drink plenty of alkaline water; and I will do all this
for life, because I love life, and love living healthy without the worry or
threat of cancer!! Cancer is not the only "boogie man" I got rid of,
either. I had advanced heart disease, Lupus, high blood pressure, diabetes, and
migraines. ALL are completely GONE with this lifestyle.
I know I said it was simple, and then went on to
explain all these changes and you are no doubt overwhelmed. Yes, it is a
complete lifestyle change, but this is not as radical as surgery and chemo, and
I know you are like me, and willing to do whatever you have to in order to live
healthy, and keep your beautiful body intact.
Start your Journey to Wellness
This works. You have just been
made aware, now give yourself time to
understand and accept all of the new information here and everywhere you can
read more about alkaline diet, natural cancer therapy, vegan or raw diets,
juicing, etc. Read all you can, and glean what you will, but in the end the
answer really is simple: avoid toxins everywhere, drink enough alkaline water,
and consume as many raw organic foods as possible!
I know you are going to do whatever you need to do to
get better, and I hope and pray my story and advice has given you what you need
to make the best decision for you. I wish you peace, light, love, and God’s
blessings.
Namaste ~
