The Big "C"…What's It All About?

By Sherry Lancaster, RN, LAc

Sherry Lancaster, RN, LAc

More Cancer Awareness Articles

The Big "C"…What's It All About?

Thankfully, there have been many wonderful advances in the treatment of cancer and more people are surviving and surviving well. Surgery is less radical, chemotherapy is more easily tolerated than it was years ago, and radiation therapy is more specific with less side effects. This is great, however, these advances are at the end of the spectrum after detection and diagnosis has been done. But, why are there are so many new diagnoses of cancer every day?

Current understanding of cancer is that some of the cells in the body mutate and become abnormal. These abnormal cells literally take on a life of their own and grow into a tumor with its own blood supply. The tumor becomes invasive to the vital organs of the body; this is what leads to death. The cells in our body depend on communication with each other. One cell will say “lets repair the tissue in the tongue because it has just been burnt with hot coffee.” The other cells will say “Okay, let's get to it.” And the repair occurs and the tongue tissue is back to normal. Sometimes the message gets mis-communicated like in the game of gossip. One cell will say “lets make a repair,” but the other cells will hear a different message. When this happens in the body, an attempt is made to comply with the message right or wrong. This is how cells mis-communicate and mutations occur.

Cellular communication is interrupted by minute substances that get in the way. These substances can be biological or chemical. Examples of biological substances are viruses and bacteria. Examples of chemical substances are pesticides, herbacides, water and air pollutants, food additives including dyes, preservatives, and chemically changed foodstuffs such as hydrogenated oils. Free radicals are formed in the body that actually destroy normal cells. How can we protect ourselves when it seems that we are surrounded by potential carcinogens?

A healthy diet contains an abundance of certain compounds that fight free radicals they are called antioxidants. A healthy diet is also low in potential carcinogens. If you want to avoid the big “C,” you must not just settle for early detection and state-of-the-art treatment. You must set yourself into the prevention mode prevent cellular miscommunication in the first place. Work with an experienced nutritional expert to determine which dietary guidelines you must follow. Get nutritional coaching so you can bypass the barriers to staying on a healthy diet. Change your eating style and change your lifestyle to stay healthy and avoid cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other life-threatening illnesses. Do it today to insure the health and happiness of yourself and your family.