Cancer
by author Joey Shulman, DC, RNCP

The Canadian Cancer Society’s slogan is, “Let’s make cancer history.” With cancer affecting thousands–among them friends, family, and loved ones–each and every year, this slogan has become the goal for many dedicated and hardworking researchers, scientists, and healthcare practitioners.

From pink ribbons and 10k runs to hospital gala events and daffodils in April, funds are being raised Canadawide to put an end to the disease that has unnecessarily taken the lives of so many.

While there is great merit in allotting a percentage of funds toward conventional treatment methods, diagnoses, and research, natural healthcare is another area that is equally as deserving of our attention and budget. Natural health approaches have proven to be one of the most powerful steps in slowing the growing number of cancer cases occurring every year.

A word that strikes terror in many, cancer can be defined as uncontrolled, abnormal cell division that can be spread into other areas of the body through the blood or lymphatic
systems. While certain cancers are more likely genetic, the modifiable factors that are mentioned above can “tip the scales,” providing the disease with the perfect environment to proliferate.

Unfortunately, cancer is a major cause of death in the Western world with staggering numbers of Canadians affected by the disease. Because of the large numbers of men, women, and youth now diagnosed with cancer, natural healthcare research, education, and integration into regular cancer treatment plans becomes even more prudent.

Preventing Cancer Naturally

Although there are no guarantees, it appears one of the most effective preventive steps to avoiding cancer is to become informed about how to positively affect your modifiable risk factors. Because cancer is a multi-faceted disease with several underlying causes, the “dos and don’ts” list includes some, not all, of the most powerful approaches documented by research. If you have a family history of cancer, I highly recommend speaking to a natural healthcare practitioner for a one-on-one consultation.

Evidence of Progress

The tides are slowly turning. Several cancer centres are now working to find ways to prevent cancer from developing in the first place. For example, in 2004, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey devoted some four million dollars, or approximately 8 percent of its budget to cancer prevention efforts. With more money and attention dedicated to natural prevention, the slogan “let’s make cancer history” will certainly have more meaning.

“Dos”

Do maintain a healthy body weight. A report from the American Cancer Society states that being overweight or obese could cause as many as one in seven cancer deaths in men and one in five in women. Having a high body mass index (BMI) increased death rates for 11 types of cancer in men and 12 types in women.

Do eat your fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals (plant chemicals) that have been shown to have antioxidant and cancer protective effects. While research has documented several of these phytochemicals, new discoveries are being made daily.

• Tomatoes contain lycopene, which has been shown to provide protection against cancer of the prostate, stomach, and lung.
• Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower contain indole-3-carbinol, which has been shown to reduce the risk of bladder cancer.
• Apples and onions contain phytochemicals called flavonoids that appear to have cancer-fighting effects.

Do go organic. There are over 7,000 different herbicide and pesticide products currently available in Canada. Many of these chemicals were approved prior to 1960 when their long-term effects were unknown. There is a strong body of evidence linking various cancers (for example, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma), asthma, and neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s to the increase in use of herbicides and pesticides.
Childhood cancers are also on the rise. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60 percent of all herbicides (weed killers), 90 percent of all fungicides (mould killers), and 30 percent of all insecticides (insect killers) are potentially cancer causing.

Joey Shulman, DC, RNCP, is author of Winning the Food Fight (Wiley, 2003) and The Natural Makeover Diet (Wiley, 2005). For more information, visit www.drjoey.com.

Source: alive #282, April 2006