What if...you could cure cancer? Even better, what if you could actually PREVENT it? That would be pretty huge, wouldn't it? Think about what that might mean for your life, the lives of your loved ones, and generations to come. Wow, it's pretty staggering to think about.
What if...I suggested, hinted or told you that you already have this ability? Would you think I'm crazy? Maybe. But, what if I'm not?
What if...each of us has the power to prevent cancer?
Let's explore this together.
Firstly, what is cancer? There are many different types of cancer (cancer of this, that and the other thing), but plainly stated: Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Fortunately, medical science has come a long way in the recent past with treatments, and cancer is far more survivable than it used to be. But for the most part, the very mention of the word "cancer" evokes fear and panic. Most of us know first-hand that fear when we hear the news that a loved one, or we, ourselves, has cancer. It's scary stuff-- fear of the unknown, medical procedures, tests, treatment, etc.
So, if cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in our body, shouldn't we have the ability to stop that?
Dr. David Servan-Schreiber discusses that possibility in his book Anticancer, A New Way of Life. Through his research and the discovery of his own cancer, Dr. David Servan-Schreiber discusses the possibility that we can, in fact, turn off the cancer genes in our body and stop them from growing. He proposes that we all have cancer cells in our bodies. Some get "turned on" or become activated while others lie dormant.
What if... Making small changes in what we eat (taking eco-steps, if you will) can prevent those cancer cells from waking up?
What if... "The fight against cancer starts in the kitchen?" What if... it's really that simple??
Of course, I am not minimizing the need for medical intervention, appropriate treatments and proper medical care. But the whole point would be to minimize or eliminate the need for them altogether.
Below is a chart that lists some things to consider for an "anti-cancer" lifestyle:
The whole point would be to consider making those small changes (or big) to our lives so that we can live happier, longer, healthier lives. We can share this information with our friends, coworkers, family and most importantly, our children.
Here's a little more from Dr. Servan-Schreiber:
Thanks for coming along on my What if... journey. I hope you enjoyed it and found it helpful, informative and at the very least, thought provoking.
What if... we could greatly reduce the incidences of cancer and people lived happier, healthier, longer and more vibrant lives?
What if... indeed.
That is an interesting idea. I do think that each of us is unique in our constitution and requirements. The key is to be aware of your specific needs and be able to dynamically address the changes that you notice with the appropriate response. I think it is analogous to one's financial situation: You have to constantly monitor and fine tune, and adjust, if there are deficits and surplus' that require attention then you must change accordingly. The hard part is finding the correct way to measure your 'healthiness'. Is it how tired you feel , how often you get sick, how you heal from injury, your vitals (BP, pulse rate ..). How deep do you need to go to get your true measurement of health ?
ReplyDeleteHm, neat theory. Considering we live in a toxic environment, we probably all carry cancer cells in our bodies all the time. The question is what pushes us over the edge to actually develop tumours? I like that he incorporates laughter, lightheartedness, serenity, and the support of loved ones in his theory. There's nothing like stress, raging emotions, and unresolved issues to promote physical illness!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to hear from you, Andrea! It's definitely a different way of thinking about cancer and our ability to influence its development (or hopefully lack thereof!). I agree that stress definitely takes us to an unhealthy place and may have long lasting consequences.
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