Setting a Guinness Record to Fight Cancer

KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather


Here's another story of a family and a community joining together in a fight against cancer. You really can't hear too many of these stories.  They are so great and so necessary.

No one can do this alone.

Fighting Cancer with Cookies

About 10 years ago, Laura Stachler's husband and daughter were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease, more or less back to back. It had to be devastating. To put her mind on something else -- and to give her family something they could keep down while undergoing chemo -- Susan put her skills as a caterer and baker to good use.

She developed a really good ginger snap recipe. "I had heard in passing that ginger is a stomach soother," Stachler said.

A decade later, husband and daughter have both recovered, and Susansnaps -- the company started by Stachler and named for both her sister, who died of cancer at age 28, and her daughter, who had been named for her aunt -- is a business that makes up to 10,000 cookies daily and ships nationwide.

It's true. You can order your own right here.

Good for them.

You can't leave the table till you finish those veggies!

I can remember these words coming from my Mother's mouth as if it were yesterday. At the time, I found her insistence on eating my greens infuriating. Today, I'm more thankful than ever.

Research from the University of Illinois shows that broccoli contains "sulforaphane, the powerful cancer-fighting agent" (EurekAlert). This compound is released by beneficial bacteria in the digestive track, and our bodies then absorb it, helping us to stay cancer-free. Other veggies high in sulforaphane include carrots, collard greens and cabbage.

It isn't just a form of cruel and unusual torture; insisting on veggies is an important thing for every parent to do!

Your Pet Food May Contain Carcinogens

To wrap up this week's discussion of cancer in pets, I want to highlight Mike Adams' guide, "Pet Health: How to secure your pet’s long-term health, safety and welfare." Adams' believes he's uncovered some startling findings regarding the pet food industry, and he's out to spread the word. For example, Adams claims that several common pet food preservatives have been linked to cancer. Furthermore, he says, "diabetes and cancer have skyrocketed in pets over the last ten years. That's because pet food is now filled with many of the same unhealthy ingredients that are causing these diseases to reach epidemic proportions in the human population" (NaturalNews Insider Alert). The guide also discusses pet exercise and other healthful tips. It's not free, but if you feel like spending $10 to own this guide, click here. I will leave you with this final quote from Adams:

If you saw the headlines about the recent Diamond Pet Food scandal, you know that pet food toxins can be deadly. Nearly 100 dogs died from eating contaminated dog food before the company recalled 34 million pounds of poisonous kibble. That story made headlines around the world, but the real story on pet food remains untold: That common pet food ingredients -- even those found in expensive, brand-name foods -- may be harming your pet right now. (NaturalNews Insider Alert)

Today's Lesson: Acrylamide

Acrylamide is a chemical compound that occurs in cooked, starchy foods. Cooking techniques that expose foods to high temperatures, such as frying, roasting and grilling, form acrylamide naturally. Because this chemical is a byproduct of standard cooking practices, it is essentially impossible to cut from a diet altogether.

And studies now show that acrylamide is a probable carcinogen, particularly for women. Specifically, a direct link has been established between acrylamide consumption and ovarian and womb cancer. With this lovely scientific revelation, what's a girl to do?

The European Union has released number of dietary suggestions to reduce the intake of acrylamide. For example,

The EU has now advised people to avoid burnt toast or golden brown chips because they contain higher levels of the substance acrylamide.

The EU called on people not to overcook their food.

They have also recommended eating home-cooked meals which contain much lower amounts of the chemical than processed products, fast food and restaurant meals.

-The Telegraph

Goofy Rap Video with a Real Message

October is Non-Genetically Modified Organism Month, according to Natural News, and in the celebratory spirit of awareness, Natural News activist Michael Adams just released an anti-GMO music video of sorts.

"I'm really excited to be able to sing about the dangers of GMOs and help alert people to what's really in their foods," Adams said. "This is an issue that touches the lives of virtually everyone. Genetically engineered foods have invaded our food supply, and people have a right to know what that means to their health."

-Natural News

Now, I appreciate when passionate advocates embrace alternative means of reaching the public with their message. Sometimes, they can take it to far. I'll let you decide where this viral video falls on the spectrum:

Cancer Awareness: Genuine or Hype?

Breast cancer awareness has received a great deal attention over the past several years (much more than NHL), and the color pink has become virtually synonymous with breast cancer awareness. Marketers have done an excellent job promoting awareness campaigns and countless companies now sell pink products, with a portion of the proceeds going towards breast cancer research. While I have to admit that the level of attention this community receives is impressive, there seems to be a lot of hypocrisy and hype going on. Here are a few examples to demonstrate my point:

• Earlier this year, KFC launched a 'Buckets for the Cure' campaign that promised to donate 50 cents from every bucket of fried chicken sold to 'end breast cancer forever.' Too bad KFC's chicken is loaded with cancer-causing chemicals like monosodium glutamate (MSG) and fried in trans-fat oils.


• Back in 2002, both Yoplait and Dannon painted their yogurt products pink, even though the milk used in their production came from cows treated with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH). Despite reassurances from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that rBGH is safe, the artificial hormone chemical actually contributes to causing cancer.


• A Canadian gas station chain covers their stations in pink ribbons every year, even though the pollution caused by burned gasoline is linked cancer as well.

-Exceprts from Nautral News

I think that the amount of attention and funding that breast cancer receives is tremendous, and I hope that NHL will reach that level of support someday. However, we need to be cautious of companies simply looking to bolster their PR. Instead of buying a bracelet that proudly claims that you support cancer awareness, why not donate the same amount of money straight to the cause?

McDonald's Strikes Again

Cadmium is a carcinogenic chemical that has been linked to diarrhea, stomach pains, severe vomiting, bone fracture, psychological disorders, reproductive failure and possibly even infertility. Additionally, cadmium damages to the central nervous system and the immune system (Lenntech). This highly toxic chemical can be found in batteries, paints and most recently in your McDonald's toys!



McDonald's recently promoted the animated children's film Shrek with a line of kid-sized glasses featuring characters from the movie. When cadmium was found on the glasses, 12 million of them were recalled. While McDonald's claims that the glasses were not necessarily hazardous, and simply recalled out of caution, "government scientists concluded a 6-year-old could be exposed to hazardous levels of the carcinogen after touching one of the glasses eight times in a day" (The Chicago Tribune).

Bad move McDonald's. They are still refusing to admit the exact levels of cadmium found in their product, which leads me to be even more leery of this corporate food chain that I was before. How can we trust any of their products if they're refusing to responsibly respond to this mess?

-Photo Source: AP photo by Paul Sakuma, The Chicago Tribue

Got Natural Milk?

For decades, Monsanto has been claiming that there is no difference between natural milk and milk from cows injected with their genetically engineered drug rBGH (also called rBST). When dairy farmers who refused to use Monsanto's GMO drug labeled their products as such, Monsanto would take them to court and file complaints with the FDA. For nearly two decades, Monsanto and the FDA got away with it. An Ohio court, however, decided to review the facts and after surveying 20 years of research, they're finally countering Monsanto's claims. According to GenerationGreen.org,

The court noted that scientists have found at least three significant differences that make rBGH milk inferior to natural milk:

• Milk from cows injected with rBGH has higher somatic cell counts; in other words, there’s more pus in the milk. The court notes that this can lead to milk that sours more quickly (not to mention that most people would prefer to avoid pus-filled milk).


• The use of rBGH “induces an unnatural period of milk production,” during which injected cows produce inferior milk that has lower protein and higher fat content.


• Milk from injected cows contains higher levels of a hormone called IGF-1; several studies have linked high levels of IGF-1 in blood with breast and prostate cancer, among other health hazards.

This marks a significant change in direction for US food policy. Up until now, regulatory agencies showed a willingness to accept Monsanto's false claims. In fact, there is evidence that the FDA knew about the inferiority of GMO milk, yet they never acted on it.

It took one Midwestern court to stand up to the FDA and expose the truth about GMO milk. Hopefully they're going to set the trend!

Kicking cancer again and again...

Battling cancer once in your life is more than enough for most people. Relapse is relatively common, and all too often, people are forced to face their demon a second time. Deny Dallaire has fought and defeat Hodgkin’s Lymphoma six times, and he is still with us today. According to Dallaire, there are only a dozen people on the entire planet who have experienced those odds and came out on top. Something changed in Dallaire on his sixth round of cancer, and he thinks he's finally figured out the key to warding off his disease. Below is his story:

My journey with cancer started in 1987. At 20 years old I was diagnosed with stage II Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. All my doctors told me that it was “very curable” and that treatments would last about 10 months total. What else could I do but put my life on hold for a year? Despite responding extremely well to the treatments, my cancer recurred again in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and again in 2004. Every time it recurred, the cancer responded well to treatment … but it kept coming back.

When my cancer recurred the last time, it was my wife Theresa’s first experience with cancer since we had only met two years prior. Not being one to idly sit by, she quickly did research on proper nutrition, vitamins and supplements, relaxation methods, exercises – you name it! Then, one day while reading a book, it hit me like a bus. I finally realized something that all the chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries and bone marrow transplants never taught me — In order for someone to be completely well, one needs to be healed on all three levels: body, mind and spirit.

When one of these components suffers, our entire being suffers. I soon took an even deeper interest in completely transforming my life. Theresa and I started running, completely overhauled our diet and began incorporating ways of keeping our mind and spirit healthy. Very quickly, I felt better than ever before. I wondered why I hadn’t already thought of this. Why had it taken me six kicks in the pants for me to realize this? I can only surmise that God sends us angels to guide us in the right direction. My wife is just such an angel, and because of her guidance, I am where I am today. (CrazySexyLife.com)

Dallaire pooled the knowledge gained from his six recoveries into a book, titled Many Shades of Green: Running Toward the Finish Line, One Cancer at a Time. He is alive and well, residing in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada with his wife Theresa. Dallaire continues to spread his inspirational message to others and lead the healthy, balanced life that saved him from his final round of cancer.

Corn Sugar - The Latest Rage

Yesterday, we heard some of the dangers of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). According to Yahoo News, "Americans' consumption of corn syrup has fallen to a 20-year low on consumer concerns that it is more harmful" and the Corn Refiners Association is trying to revamp their image. Last week they applied with the Food and Drug Administration to officially use the phrase corn sugar, instead of high fructose corn syrup, on food labels.

While the federal government decides on the case, the HFCS industry has moved forward with an online marketing campaign promoting the safety of corn sugar.

An effective name change has worked well for other food products in the past. For example, "low eurcic acid rapeseed oil became much more popular after becoming 'canola oil' in 1988. Prunes tried to shed a stodgy image by becoming 'dried plums' in 2000" (Yahoo News).

There's a great deal of controversy over HFCS and their impending publicity makeover. Some, such as the Corn Refiners Association, insist that "sugar is sugar" and there's nothing dangerous about HFCS. Others claim that these renaming efforts are a sly attempt to hoodwink the public and HFCS is truly dangerous. I will let you make your own decision on the matter, but in general, it is the natural food enthusiasts who warn against HFCS and the corn industry that supports its consumption. Regardless of which camp you trust, everyone can agree that we need to consume less sugars, and that includes corn sugar.

Stay away from fructose!

According to NaturalNews.com, fructose is an "inexpensive sweetener used in many processed foods and drinks and is most frequently found in its super-charged form, high fructose corn syrup." Fructose has also been linked to many types of cancer.

Fructose is widely thought to be responsible for the dramatic rise in obesity over the past several decades. Aside from preventing cancer, cutting fructose out of your diet will help you maintain a healthy weight, as well as reduce your risk of diabetes.

The real challenge lies in avoiding fructose. It is added to nearly all soft drinks and processed foods. Label checking never hurts, but in general, the surest way to avoid fructose is to eat organic produce and other non-processed foods.

Vitamin D Fights Cancer

Vitamin D can reduce cancer risk by 50%, according to NaturalNews.com. This miracle vitamin battles cancer by assisting with proper gene expression for more than 3,000
individual genes.

According to a study published in Genome Research, Vitamin D regulates genes which provide protection against many forms of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D specifically binds with these genes to provide a protective shield which dramatically reduces our risk of disease. Vitamin D also acts as a master blueprint for cellular replication, guiding the DNA strands with instructions to accurately divide during mitosis and provides critical guidance to prevent cellular proliferation, a hallmark of cancer metastasis. (NaturalNews.com)

However, approximately 85% of the population is Vitamin D deficient.
Simple blood tests can easily reveal your Vitamin D levels. If you are
Vitamin D deficient, sunlight and multivitamins are minor sources of
Vitamin D, but NaturalNews.com suggests an oil-based gelcap form
of Vitamin D instead.

All Hail Cinnamon!

According to a recent article in NaturalNews,

The USDA in Maryland has reported cinnamon`s ability to stop or minimize the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.

Make sure you're using organic cinnamon, and not irradiated. If so, cinnamon also has the following healing properties:

• stops medication resistant yeast infections
• inhibits food spoilage with its anti-bacterial properties
• anti clotting properties
• regulates glucose
  

Veggie-Based Diets Reduce Buildup of Industrial Chemicals

For all you meat lovers out there (myself included), I have some unfortunate news. As we all know, PCBs and other industrial chemicals are stored in fat tissue, resulting in bioaccumulation up the food chain. Vegetarian diets avoid this pitfall altogether by staying away from meat in the first place. A recent study showed that "just five days on a vegetarian diet can significantly reduce the levels of antibiotics and toxic chemicals in the human body."

According to NaturalNews.com,

Scientists recruited 25 people to stay at a Buddhist temple for five days, living the same lifestyle as the monks residing there. This lifestyle included adhering to a strictly meat-free diet... Researchers took urine samples from all participants both 48 hours before and immediately after the five-day Temple Stay. This urine was tested for antibiotics and their metabolites, as well as six chemicals produced by the body upon the breakdown of phthalates. Phthalates are industrial chemicals used in the manufacture of pesticides and soft plastics.

Researchers found that the levels of five of the six phthalate metabolites tested for significantly dropped after going meat free for five days. To read more about this depressing discovery, click here.

Steak, I am going to miss you dearly.

Fighting Cancer at the BBQ

I never knew grilling food could be so dangerous, but the effects of charring, grilling or blackening food can produce cancerous chemicals. Here are 5 simple things you can do at the next grill out to cut down on the production of harmful chemicals:

1. Cook at Lower Temperatures


2. Avoid Char-Grilling or Blackening Your Meat


3. Prevent Flaring


4. Use Grass-Fed Meat Sources


5. Marinate the Meat in Anti-Oxidant Rich sources: lemon/lime, red wine, apple cider vinegar & herbs
   

To read about this in more detail, click here.

Seafood and PCBs

Eating seafood can be dangerous because all too often they swim, eat and breed in water that's been contaminated. Recently, dangerously high levels of PCBs have been found in certain seafood. Obviously, avoiding these species is a good idea, as PCBs can lead to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other deadly diseases.

Below is a list of seafood contaminated with PCBs according to villagevoice.com:

1. American eel


2. Atlantic and farmed salmon


3. Atlantic bluefin tuna

Man, this is going to make going out for sushi difficult!

Fighting Cancer with your Diet

I'm learning that there's a lot of minor dietary adjustments that can help prevent cancers. Today, I want to review 10 of the more interesting suggestions I've uncovered. Although diet is just one of many factors that can contribute to the likelihood of cancer, it is one that is easy to control.

1) Eat sauerkraut: "A Finnish study found that the fermentation process involved in making sauerkraut produces several other cancer-fighting compounds, including ITCs, indoles, and sulforaphane. To reduce the sodium content, rinse canned or jarred sauerkraut before eating" (usaeu.net).

2) Eat brocolli raw or steamed, not microwaved: Microwaving brocolli kills the cancer-fighting flavonoids.

3) Add garlic to everything! Garlic has been shown stimulate the immune system and is very powerful for combating cancer.

4) Eat cantaloupe: They're a great source of carotenoids.

5) Eat blueberries: They are powerful antioxidants.

6) Smother barbecue food with a thick layer of sauce: "Grilling meat can create a variety of cancer-causing chemicals. But researchers from the American Institute for Cancer Research found that coating the meat with a thick marinade and thereby preventing direct contact with the charring flames reduced the amount of such chemicals created. Another tip: Precook your meat in the oven and then throw it on the grill to finish" (usaeu.net).

7) Drink lots of water

8) Eat kiwis: They are a powerhouse of vitamins and antioxidants.

9) Cut fat and high-fat protein out of your diet

10) Eat artichokes: They are a great source of antioxidants.

When Lucy finally kicks NHL, I think we'll both be sure to follow these dietary suggestions in our daily lives!

Fish Oil Supplements with PCBs

OK, now I am totally freaked out. Lucy hasn't been eating much due to the chemo treatments and, as some of you know, I've been looking into ways to help her maintain her weight. One good strategy is high-nutrient, vitamin supplements. I have been reading a lot about fish oils, and thought they would be a beneficial thing to include in her diet.

But now, I've just stumbled across an article revealing that PCBs have been detected in fish oil supplements! This makes sense, because fish are prime targets for PCB bioaccumulation. Nature Made, Twinlab, Now Foods, Solgar and GNC are among the fish oil brands tested in this case.

Read more on this here. Now I'm even scared of vitamins! This is not good.

Lucy needs to eat!

Lucy's appetite has majorly gone away since her chemo began and the Doctors say it's important that she doesn't lose too much weight. They also gave me some tips for helping her eat.

First, they say she should try eating small amounts more frequently. And when she is eating, she should avoid drinking fluids because that can fill her up. (But they also said she should drink lots of fluids when she's not eating!)

When Lucy is hungry, the Doctors say she should go for super high-calorie and high-protein food. That means lots of butter, cheese, sugars, meats and avacodos, Lucy's favorite! Basically, I get to encourage her to pig out on a lot of foods that Mom says we should chill out on.

Sometimes Lucy gets nauseous at the smell of foods, but the Doctors say that's to be expected. They suggested experimenting with different foods and trying to figure out what sits well with Lucy's stomach during the treatments. Apparently it's natural for chemo patients to suddenly dislike foods that they use to love (like when I tried to make Lucy her beloved avacado omlette in bed). Well, hopefully I can find Luce a new fav meal!