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Halloween and Cancer?

In Uncategorized on October 19, 2012 at 7:55 pm

Can’t wait until Halloween?  Me too…it marks the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and breast cancer is spooky and scary.  Turning on the lights in a spooky room might detect that there is or is not something to fear, but like mammography, it won’t protect you from danger; it will not prevent the danger; and sadly, it doesn’t always detect the danger–ghosts hide and so does cancer.  I think we are all aware of breast cancer.  Mammograms neither determine the cause nor cure the disease.  It’s time we found cures; it’s time to study the causes and prevent this deadly disease before it takes hold.

For those who don’t have cancer, know that there are many small things we can do to lower our risk.  For those diagnosed early stage—remember, if cancer liked your body once, it may like it again.  Changing the environment to one which is unfriendly to cancer may help reduce your risk of recurrence.   For those with advanced or metastatic cancer, I don’t have the answers, but many find that changing the terrain extends survival.

 “The Terrain is everything.” ~ Louis Pasteur 

As I am writing this post, I glanced at a message from Helayne Waldman.  In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she is sharing a chapter of her book, The Whole-Food Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors.  The book is not just for survivors; the authors have written this for prevention of recurrence as well as primary prevention. So I’ll let her tell you the story today.   You can read it here.  Thank you, Helayne for sharing what we need to be aware of; Prevention.  To listen to Helayne on the Survive and Live Well show, please click here.

Oh, and Halloween and Cancer? May I suggest you skip the candy; that’s one trick not to treat yourself to, unless it’s a bit of super dark chocolate.

For more tips on eating to thrive, please visit Food; is it Good for Our Health or Our Cancer?

Elyn

www.elynjacobs.wordpress.com

Want to talk about your specific needs for an anti-cancer life? Visit my website to schedule an appointment for one-on-one coaching.

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. Find Elyn at www.elynjacobs.wordpress.com. To tune into the Survive and Live Well show, visit www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm, EST.

Click here to view my Tips on Nutrition and Cancer YouTube Video with www.BreastCanceranswers.com.

Click here to read my story on Integrative Oncology Essentials –Integrative Answers to Cancer.

Click here to view my story on CNN Money–Seven cancer survivors confronted life-threatening diseases and turned their experiences into successful small business ideas.

To read about the first ever Preventive Breast Cancer Vaccine, Please view this Video.

Follow Elyn on Twitter @elynjacobs and @survivelivewell Facebook @Elyn Jacobs Consulting and LinkedIn @Elyn Jacobs

 

 

 

 

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Food; is it Good for Our Health or Our Cancer?

In Uncategorized on October 13, 2012 at 6:20 pm

As a cancer survivor, I wanted to do more than just the suggested surgery.  I felt that if cancer liked my body once, then it might like it again. I wanted to do everything I could to prevent the cancer from coming back. What I discovered was that the best thing that I could do to improve my health was to improve my diet, and maybe support that diet with some supplements– especially for some nutrients that are hard to get in one’s normal diet, or certainly in the amounts I felt were necessary.

So what do I eat?  Tons of fruits and vegetables, including a bounty of fresh herbs,  beans, healthy fats such as  nuts (walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, brazil), flax and chia seeds, avocado, olives and olive and coconut oil,  green tea, some organic eggs and occasionally, some grass fed Elk or local fish.  If I eat cheese, it is locally produced, organic and full fat.  When it comes to produce, I believe a wide variety is critical, eating the rainbow, so to speak, but I also believe it is a good idea to pack in a few key items daily.  Crucifers (kale, broccoli, cauliflower, arugula, radish, Brussels sprouts, etc.) are essential as they have compounds that are very powerful against cancer; try to eat a wide variety and focus a bit on broccoli.  Celery and parsley can stop certain breast cancer tumor cells from multiplying and growing; carrots are free-radical scavengers and can be eaten cooked, raw or juiced. Doc had it right; an apple a day does keep the doctor away.  For more of my favorites, please visit Eating to Cheat Cancer .

I don’t like the word ‘no’.  I have two kids, so I have tried to perfect this, but words such as no, never, don’t and can’t—these are very negative words and are not helpful when you are trying to make healthful changes.  I like to ask my clients to start with small changes and aspire to eating well 80% of the time; I find that this allows them the flexibility they need and before you know it, they are more like 90-100%, to the point when they no longer consider food choices to be a diet, but rather naturally gravitate to healthier options.

The easiest way to transition to a healthier diet is to find foods that you enjoy, and build the diet around those.  In other words, if you don’t like broccoli, don’t start there, but maybe throw a few sprouts into your smoothie; small change, powerful response.  Like almond butter but trying to avoid grains?  Smear it on raw carrots or apple slices. 

Ok, so back to the topic.  Is eating bad for your health?  We know that what we eat greatly affects our health and our risk for cancer.  However, we hear so many conflicting stories, and read so many articles on the perils of what we thought were healthy choices.  Plus, there are so many different strategies when it comes to choosing a dietary protocol.  It is no wonder we are all confused.  I often just want to throw my hands up in the air and say…eating is bad for your health!  But before you do that and give up the quest, know that food matters and know that the best strategy is the one that works for you.

So let’s take a look at some of the controversies.

In our quest to avoid dairy, many of us switched to almond, soy or hemp.  But a peek at the ingredients sends us right back to our local dairy farm. Make our own almond milk?  Not likely if you have kids or a full time job.

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/coconut-and-almond-milk-in-cartons-not-a-healthy-buy/

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/the-ingredient-allowed-in-organic-food-that-can-cause-cancer/

http://elynjacobs.blogspot.com/2012/10/beyond-treatment-for-cancer-taking.html

Gave up the full fat as you heard the bad stuff is mostly in the fat?  Think again, take out the fat and lose the health promoting naturally occurring CLA.  Traded beef for chicken?  Ever read what they feed chicken these days?  Plus, chicken (eggs and meat too) are inflammatory; consider organic grass- fed meats.  Get the rod out and catch dinner?  Ah, the PCB’s and red tides; think again.  Like shrimp?  Consider the source; farmed shrimp from much of Asia is raised in a toxic environment.  Grains and wheat?  Dr Mark Hyman calls the wheat today Frankenwheat  and suggests we avoid eating it, and so much has been written on the perils of gluten and grains.  However, think gluten-free is the way to go?  Only if the food is naturally gluten free….not some chemical substitute for the real thing.

http://www.townsendletter.com/Oct2012/against1012.html#.UHiDattxixA.facebook

http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2012-10-12/gm-wheat-may-damage-human-genetics-permanently/

So what can we do?  Relax. Eating a small amount of anything isn’t going to kill you.  Eat as close to nature as you can, and employ food as your ally.  Worried about the sugar in carrots and fruit?  Start your day with cinnamon.  Just one to two teaspoons can help regulate blood sugar.  Worried about BPA exposure?  Add more probiotics (and a few other agents) to your diet.  Concerned about heavy metals such as mercury?  Eat more cilantro. Food really is thy medicine.

Want to know more about specific anti-cancer diets and protocols? Over the next few weeks, I will have several health experts on Survive and Live Well.  We will hear from Elaine Cantin, survivor and author of The Cantin Ketogenic Diet;  Ellen Kamhi, RN, The Natural Nurse;  Wellness Coach, Jan Jargon; Dr Christopher Nagy;  Dr Michael Schachter; and author Sarto Schickel, whose wife  utilized the best of conventional medicine alongside the Gerson therapy to treat her stage IV cancer. All will share valuable insight on food and its impact on healing.

Food, it is good for our health, and if done right, can be downright unfriendly to cancer.  Eat like your life depends on it, and yes, enjoy a bit of red wine–if that is something that gives you great pleasure. In fact, have it with some dark chocolate.  Sure, chocolate has some sugar, but it is loaded with antioxidants and reduces inflammation, so if you crave dessert—have one that comes with benefits.

Want to talk about your specific needs for an anti-cancer diet? Visit my website to schedule an appointment for one-on-one coaching.

Elyn

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. Find Elyn at www.elynjacobs.wordpress.com. To tune into the Survive and Live Well show, visit www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm, EST.

Follow Elyn on Twitter @elynjacobs and @survivelivewell, Facebook @Elyn Jacobs Consulting and LinkedIn @Elyn Jacobs

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Ending Breast Cancer; One Woman’s Dream

In Uncategorized on October 1, 2012 at 1:54 pm

This post is written for my dear friend, Toni Turchi, and her dear friend, Christi; may somehow, by the grace of god, a cure be found now, before it is too late.

On December 23, 1971, President Richard Nixon officially declared war on cancer. Since then, more than 12 million Americans have died from cancer–Approximately 1500 people each day.  That’s 45,000 each month.  Despite all, despite upwards of $45 billion spent since the war on cancer began, cancer still exists and kills. The problem is that each form can require a different approach to treatment, and it takes more than just treatment to beat the disease. Even when one therapy works, cancer has a habit of returning in a new and more virulent form.  Apparently cancer is a far more formidable foe than the Nixon administration realized.

That some progress has been made is great; targeted therapies as well as the delivery methods of these treatments have reduced the damage they inflict and improved survival. However, the solution is not to have to treat cancer…it is to prevent it entirely. The drastic increases in cancer rates over the past century are not due to chance.  They are due most likely to the lifestyle that has become standard in the modern world; poor diet, exposure to industrial pollutants, tainted and modified food sources, pesticides, toxic plastic and personal care products and a host of other things.

Experts agree that many, if not most, forms of cancer are preventable. We can do this with integrative, complementary and alternative approaches.  Cancer prevention entails doing what one can to avoid the  triggers and by reinforcing the body’s innate ability to defend itself against cancer with the best possible combination of diet, exercise, supplements, and mind-body therapies—always keeping in mind that carcinogenesis and cancer promotion are a combination of nature (genetic and biological factors) and nurture (environmental factors).  A great book to read on this is Nurture Nature/Nurture Health, by Dr Mitch Gaynor.

Some people are more vulnerable to cancer than others because of biological predispositions or genetic factor; still, there is much that can be done to prevent cancer within those parameters.

But for many, this is not enough, or is too difficult or costly to implement; further, it is no guarantee that cancer will not develop or recur.

In many cases, cancer prevention just isn’t an option; it isn’t enough.  The disease may have already taken hold as is the case for millions of people….many individuals have genetic or biological predispositions to cancer that have little to do with their lifestyle choices.  We need treatments that work; treatments that do not cause side effects, or resulting effects, that jeopardize health and survival.  We need treatments that work with the body’s natural healing processes without harming the immune and lymphatic systems, two of the body’s most important natural defenses against cancer; treatments that do not harm our vital organs.  And we need these treatments right now.

Current cancer therapies focus on the use of highly toxic therapies to try to kill off as many cancerous cells as possible; they are designed to target rapidly dividing cells, and so often the cells of the body that divide the quickest—including those at the roots of the hair and teeth, in bone marrow, and in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract—may also be attacked; heart muscles are damaged. In addition to the extreme fatigue and anemia resulting from the harsh chemical destruction of the cells, the patient’s immunity suffers and the patient becomes vulnerable to life-threatening infections; the collateral damage from this approach is considerable. Radiation, while helpful in this war, is in itself, a carcinogen.

Alternative cancer medicine seeks less toxic ways to treat cancer.  It makes use of a holistic view of this disease, and tries to figure out what tools the body needs to reverse the growth of tumors while minimizing collateral damage.  However, these treatments vary in efficacy, are costly, and are not covered by most insurance companies.

The key to winning the war on cancer is to fight it intelligently, with the best tools available.  However, here we are forty-one years later, and we still lack that intelligence.  It’s not for lack of trying; it’s not for lack of funding. Perhaps it is time to change the paradigm.

                                      A vaccine may well be the answer

My vision, my hope, is to end cancer through the use of safe and effective vaccines.  This may take years, years many of us do not have, but for the sake of our children and our grandchildren, I implore you, keep an open mind to the idea—fund the vaccines that are in the works, put research dollars towards this effort. Yes, these vaccines must not come with baggage, and therefore must be tested extensively prior to mainstream usage–but we can’t wait any longer to begin these trials. We absoutlely need a cure for those with advanced cancer and mets; no doubt.  I just don’t think that new treatments, while critical now,  are the ultimate goal. Ultimately, we want to prevent cancer so that we don’t have to treat it. Fund vaccines to prevent recurrence, vaccines to halt the spread and yes, vaccines to prevent the disease entirely.  Throw down the gauntlets….let’s see one world without cancer.

In good health,

Elyn

If history presents, roughly 230,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the US in 2012…Please donate to the Toni Turchi Fondation; help fund the first ever preventive breast cancer vaccine.

Same Guys, Different Room: Why we don’t have a Breast Cancer Vaccine

Revolutionary breast cancer vaccine 100% effective in mice: awaits human trials

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs.  She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys.  Find Elyn at www.elynjacobs.wordpress.com. To tune into the Survive and Live Well show, visit www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm, EST.

 Follow Elyn on Twitter@elynjacobs, Facebook @Elyn Jacobs Consulting and LinkedIn @Elyn Jacobs

 

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The Mind-Body Connection to Beating Breast Cancer

In Uncategorized on September 27, 2012 at 8:47 pm

Much has been written about the importance of the mind-body connection as it relates to a patient with cancer. Unfortunately, many physicians still don’t understand or appreciate the importance. And in fact, many of us patients struggle with it too.  We want to take care of ourselves, but often we focus most on the urgent task at hand, our cancer.

Tuesday, on Survive and Live Well, Dr Deanna Attai and I spoke about the mind-body connection to breast cancer.  We spoke about hope; “A physician is in a powerful position to influence the outcome of disease”, says Dr Attai. “Even in the face of the most advanced of cancers, there is usually room for some words of encouragement, which can make all the difference in the patient’s attitude towards their disease and its treatment”. If a patient is told, “there is no hope; there’s nothing I can do for you”, likely the patient will give up or certainly would not agree to a potentially life-saving, but grueling surgery or treatment, or for that matter, might not investigate alternative options and second opinions.

We spoke about healing the patient with the cancer instead of just the disease of the patient; that in addition to needing hope, “Disease does not happen in a vacuum, you need to understand the whole person before you can even begin to focus on the disease, a patient’s entire situation – diet, lifestyle, feelings about complementary/alternative versus traditional medicine all come into play.”

We shared some thoughts on how words such as the infamous “positive attitude” and ”you’re going to be fine”  mean different things to everyone and how they can often be painful to the breast cancer patient; small words, big impact.

Thank you Dr Attai for sharing your wisdom and experience to help us understand that treating cancer involves the whole person. Cancer is a complex situation….but it gets better when we connect the head bone to the neck bone… …all the way to the ankle bone.  To replay this conversation please visit:  http://hipcast.com/podcast/H1J8NTpQ.

Join us Tuesday, October 2nd, when I will chat with Dr Kathleen Ruddy as she clarifies the efficacy and potential of the first ever breast cancer vaccine and talks about the three different types of breast cancer, the genetic profiles that appear to distinguish them, and how this information can be used to tailor treatment for those currently battling breast cancer.

You can listen live, Tuesday, October 2nd at 1pm EST, on www.W4CS.com.  Have questions or want to join in the conversation?  Join us in the chat room!

For a show schedule and archives, please visit:  https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/survive-and-live-well-schedule/.

Elyn

www.elynjacobs.wordpress.com

 

Words are a hot topic these days. Rachel Pappas and I also had a great conversation about words, tone and social graces in Cancer Etiquette 101.  Check it out if you haven’t read it.

 

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs.  She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. To learn about Elyn’s coaching services, please visit:  https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com.  To tune into the Survive and Live Well radio show, please visit http://www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm (EST). To view info on upcoming topics and guests, please visit: https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/elyns-blog/.

Twitter@elynjacobs

Facebook @Elyn Jacobs Consulting

LinkedIn @Elyn Jacobs

 

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Natural Alternatives to Aromatase Inhibitors

In Alternative Cancer Therapies, Alternatives Cancer Treatment, Alternatives to Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer, Uncategorized on September 20, 2012 at 5:49 pm

This Post was updated on October 26th, 2016. To read the new version please Click Here.

So, the doctor told you that you need an aromatase inhibitor. Are you concerned about the side effects or the resulting effects? Or have you started on one and feel terrible? It might be time to look at alternatives. Just because your doctor prescribed an AI, doesn’t mean that it is right for you. Making the right decision for you, for your body, is bigger than just accepting doctor’s orders.

Aromatase inhibitors, drugs such as Fermara, Aromasin and Arimidex, stop the production of estrogen in postmenopausal women; more specifically, they block the enzyme aromatase, the enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis and balance of estrogens. As we age, our hormones become out of balance, and often make us more vulnerable to cancer. Estrogen can be metabolized in two different pathways in the liver, which results in two different kinds of estrogen, “good” and “bad” estrogen. “Good” estrogen metabolites are released into the bloodstream there they cause many of the benefits estrogen provides, such as prevention of heart disease, and strong, healthy bones. “Bad” estrogen, in large quantities, causes trouble. By blocking estrogen, less “bad” estrogen is available to stimulate the growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer cells. However, this also means that you have less of the protective “good”. So, the question is, do they increase survival and prevent the cell mutations that contribute to cancer? Or do they come with too many resulting effects?

I remember when I first read about Tamoxifen; I learned that Tamoxifen does not increase survival; it’s just that you don’t die of your cancer, but rather the toxicity of the drug. Hum….what a trade off. It may well be the case with AI’s as well….or worse. Although AIs were found to prevent breast cancer recurrence, they were not found to prolong life, due to the resulting effects—as I like to call them—particularly the heart problems (think less “good” estrogen), and reduce quality of life due to the side effects, such as the never ending flu symptoms, hair thinning and loss, vaginal bleeding, skin rashes, joint pain, stiffness and swelling (severe enough to require pain medication), hot flashes and night sweats, vaginal dryness, nausea and headaches. Women may also feel tired and lethargic while on the drug, experience breathing difficulties, depression and mood swings, tightness in the chest, and again, because of the loss of the “good” estrogen, bone thinning (think broken bones). Osteoporosis is a major concern, and women should have the health of their bones checked before they begin aromatase therapy. If the bones are already showing signs of deterioration, an osteoporosis drug will probably be prescribed (more drugs, and drug interactions; wonderful).

Geez, where can I get some of this stuff? Okay, so is there a natural alternative to aromatase inhibitors?

Again, as I said in my post about Tamoxifen, there is not an easy answer. However, there are many powerful natural aromatase inhibitors in your local grocery store. Look for button mushrooms, celery, parsley, mushrooms,  basil, artichokes, oranges, red grapes, onions, garlic, olives, olive leaves and extract and members of the cruciferous family. The key is to eat these foods every day, and several times a day—here’s where supplementation may be helpful if you can’t make this work with your schedule. Supplements can be in powered form or capsule, but as always, look for quality and choose organic when possible. Dindolylmethane (DIM) is a phytonutrient and plant indole found in cruciferous vegetables that has the ability to increase anti-cancer estrogen metabolites while decreasing cancer promoting estrogen metabolites; DIM can be taken in supplement form, and this is something I highly recommend. Juicing is also a great way to get these nutrients, as consuming more than one variety at a time, especially in the case of the crucifers, can increase the effectiveness of any one type. Keep in mind that the thousands of chemical compounds in plants, some known and some yet identified, work synergistically to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and overall anti-cancer benefits, so eat a wide variety of fruits and veges each and every day, several times a day.

Feeling a bit dull? Spice up your food, herbs and spices contain powerful anticancer agents, and “hot” spices, such as cayenne pepper and mustard have been found to boost the cancer-fighting properties in foods like broccoli, so spice up your life!

Natural AI’s may well be the best choice for an AI for preventing breast cancer. Not only do they work as effectively as drugs, but have no side effects and carry a host of other benefits. Remember, estrogen is not the only factor with breast cancer…so an overall anti-cancer strategy along with the boost of natural aromatase inhibitors is your best bet. Think of fruits and vegetables as soldiers doing double duty, as nutrients and plant-based chemicals are capable of halting or slowing the spread of cancer. While no one is suggesting that the compounds in food will single-handedly eradicate cancer, each provides a powerful punch in addressing  the various mechanisms that drive cancer, and can synergistically interact to create an inhospitable microenvironment for cancer. For more on the ability of nutrients to fight cancer and block its pathways, please visit: https://elynjacobs.com/2012/06/02/why-we-are-not-winning-the-war-on-cancer/.  For more information on specific foods to manage estrogen, please visit: https://elynjacobs.com/2012/01/15/natural-alternatives-to-tamoxifen/. For more information about food as an anti-estrogen, anti-cancer protocol, please visit:http://elynjacobs.blogspot.com/2012/09/food-natural-alternative-for-tamoxifen.html

Seem like too much? Consider the alternative. That said, have two stalks and call me in the morning…doctor’s orders.

A few more tips:

Remember to limit alcohol–as while recent studies have found red wine to be mildly protective against breast cancer, this may not be so for post menopausal women, and other types of alcohol don’t share this benefit. If you drink, enjoy red wine conservatively.

Limit sugar; avoid junk food and hormone laced animal products such as meat and dairy.

Nothing in this post represents medical advice, and I encourage you to discuss this information with your integrative oncologist or naturopathic doctor. I have compiled this information solely for those seeking an alternative to aromatase inhibitors and cannot endorse either protocol.

Elyn
http://www.elynjacobs.com

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. To learn about Elyn’s coaching services, please visit: http://elynjacobs.com. To tune into the Survive and Live Well radio show, please visit http://www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm (EST). To view info on upcoming topics and guests, please visit: https://elynjacobs.com/elyns-blog/.

Twitter@elynjacobs
Facebook @Elyn Jacobs Consulting
LinkedIn @Elyn Jacobs

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The End of Breast Cancer

In Uncategorized on September 8, 2012 at 3:23 pm

The End of Breast Cancer; ending all cancers would be an amazing thing.  Is it possible? President Nixon declared war on cancer in 1971, and little has happened towards this goal. Forty-one years and billions of dollars later, we have yet to win the war. In fact, mortality rates have declined by less than 5% in the last 60 years. Billions are raised each year to research treatments for cancer; billions are spent on the treatment of cancer. Clearly treatment does not offer a cure. Prevention is the answer, but is a hard ticket to sell.  A preventive vaccine, one that is effective and safe, may well be what it takes. In the scheme of things, the $6 million needed to fund a breast cancer vaccine seems like small potatoes.  Why, you ask is this vaccine not funded?  I wish I knew.  Ever heard of Pink Ribbons? If you haven’t seen the trailer, check it out…the movie is out this month. It’s an eye-opener.  Think before you Pink. 

What I do know is that getting a vaccine in the hands of doctors does not happen overnight.   There are many who are investigating potential vaccines, but why, I ask, why not fund one that is ready to go through the trial phase now; what are we waiting for?  If it works for breast cancer, doors may open for vaccines to be developed for other cancers.  If it doesn’t work, we learn from it, and that too will speed up the process. Time is not on our side; we need the collaboration of clinicians and researchers; we need funding. Oddly, those who rally endlessly for donations for the breast cancer cause choose not to fund the vaccine, yet they offer no explanation other than to say they agree we need collaboration, to have barriers removed…well then, let’s see collaboration, let’s remove the barriers and make this vaccine we have now become a reality; let’s see the end of breast cancer…while we are all still alive.

Want to know more?  Check out this post by Cindy Sullivan. The following is an excerpt:

Breast Cancer PREVENTION Is Knocking On Our Door. Who will answer?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is just around the corner and while we are encouraged to run, walk and wave our pink ribbon, The Pink Vaccine, the world’s first PREVENTIVE breast cancer vaccine awaits funding. This vaccine could potentially save more than $86.44 Billion in healthcare costs in this country, per year.

A preventive vaccine, developed by Dr. Vincent Tuohy of the Cleveland Clinic was found to be 100% effective in preventing breast cancer in mice. Even mice bred for a high incidence of breast cancer failed to develop it when the vaccine was administered. Further, researchers found that mice already infected with breast cancer saw a marked reduction in tumors after being given this vaccine.

Funding for The Pink Vaccine would have a tremendous affect on millions of lives as well as on spiraling health care costs in our country. The $6 Million needed to move forward….read more.

Want to donate now?

Elyn Jacobs

Twitter@elynjacobs

Facebook @Elyn Jacobs and @Elyn Jacobs Consulting

Linkedin @Elyn Jacobs

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs.  She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. To learn more about Elyn’s coaching services and radio show, please visit:  https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com.  To tune into the Survive and Live Well radio show, please visit www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm (EST).

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Can Cell Phones Cause Cancer, Infertility; Are Our Children at Risk?

In Uncategorized on August 21, 2012 at 11:28 pm

Cell phones; we can’t live without them, but are they safe for you, for your children?  Can they cause cancer, infertility?  Contrary to firmly held beliefs, invisible radio frequency radiation can alter living cells and increase the risk of cancer and neurological disease. If it were true, we’d know about it; such a logical statement. We all have cell phones and if the FDA and others had reason to think they are unsafe, they would tell us, right?  No. And I guess the last thing the cell phone industry wants is for us to know about the serious biological damage radiation is causing.

Today, on Survive and Live Well, I had a great discussion on this topic with Dr Devra Davis.  Dr Davis gave clarity to the issue of radiation, and offered suggestions on how to reduce risk from not just cell phones, but also the cordless and wireless technology we all know and love.

Cell phones are two-way microwave radio that changes brain cells and alters glucose levels (the brain’s main fuel).  Since a brain tumor utilizes excessive amounts of glucose, changes in glucose utilization may be a key mechanism to support tumor growth.  Even short-term exposure to nerve cells from cell phones can increase glucose in the brain.  Thankfully, our DNA works to repair and prevent damage to our cells from becoming permanent.  So, if the body is capable of repairing itself, then why worry? The system can fail, become overwhelmed, and cancers develop.  However, and you knew this was coming, a diet rich in antioxidants is an excellent tool for combating or minimizing the damage from radiation (cell phone, dental, scan-related, etc). Remember, that distance is your friend.  Do not carry your phone on your body or place it against your head.  Use handsets and speaker phones, and do not use your phone when the signal is weak.  Set your phone to airplane mode when not in use.

Medical science now understands that because the causes of chronic diseases can take decades to be detected (sometimes up to 40 years, as in the case of brain cancer), we should not wait for definitive human evidence.  It is better to prevent harm than wait for proof that harm has happened. In fact, there are a few dozen compounds that we know cause cancer in humans, and these cancers developed after years of exposure (think tobacco, asbestos)…I, for one, do not wish to be the proverbial guinea pig, and our children are not to be science experiments.

Please donate today to further the research. Pick up a copy of Disconnect…I promise you, you will be inspired, informed, and armed with the information you need to protect yourselves and your children. Knowledge is indeed power; I sincerely hope that we have empowered you.

If you missed the show, I post archives on my website, or visit www.W4CS.com as shows are replayed on the network.

For more information:

http://environmentalhealthtrust.org/

http://www.saferphonezone.com/

http://environmentalhealthtrust.org/cell-phone-myths-and-facts/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNNSztN7wJc

http://environmentalhealthtrust.org/about-dr-davis/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/cellphone-safety-advocate-hopes-congress-forces-the-fcc-to-update-its-regulations/2012/08/03/e534b0ca-da7f-11e1-a3f5-b4e7667a8298_story.html?wprss=rss_business

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qgRiuALpLk&feature=share

https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/cell-phones-and-cancer-the-absence-of-evidence-is-not-evidence-of-absence/

Join us Tuesday, August 28st, as I chat with John Coleman, who lost his youngest son to testicular cancer.  John works tirelessly to bring awareness of early detection of testicular cancer to the forefront. Likely radiation is playing a role here too, so let’s get those cell phones out of our pockets. We will also chat with Rachel Papas when she talks about her experience with breast cancer, mental illness, and what she learned and what you can learn from her.

You can listen live, Tuesday at 1pm, on http://www.W4CS.com, the internet radio show for cancer.

Elyn Jacobs

www.elynjacobs.wordpress.com

Twitter@elynjacobs

Facebook @Elyn Jacobs and @Elyn Jacobs Consulting

Linkedin @Elyn Jacobs

 Devra Davis founded Environmental Health Trust in 2007 in Teton County, Wyoming to provide basic research and education about environmental health hazards and promote constructive policies locally, nationally and internationally. Dr. Davis lectures at Georgetown, Harvard, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and other universities, and was Founding Director, Center for Environmental Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, and Professor of Epidemiology at the Graduate School of Public Health (2004-2009).The Secret History of the War on Cancer was a top pick by Newsweek, is forming the basis for national cancer policy revisions by the South African Cancer Society, and is being used at major schools of public health, including Harvard, Emory, and Tulane University. Dr. Davis also was the founding director of the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology of the U.S. National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences and Scholar in Residence, 1983-1993. Her new book, Disconnect, selected by TIME magazine as a top pick, provides shocking detail about cell phone radiation and your health, is receiving kudos from experts and policy makers around the world, and is the subject of broad multi-media coverage.

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs.  She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. To learn more about Elyn’s coaching services, please visit:  https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com.  To tune into the Survive and Live Well radio show, please visit www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm (EST).

 

 

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An Herb Garden to Fight Cancer

In Uncategorized on July 27, 2012 at 4:55 pm

Did you know that herbs contain powerful anti-cancer protection? Using herbs for cancer prevention and treatment is by no means a novel, modern or alternative practice. Herbs have been used in the treatment of cancer for many, many years and the constituent chemicals of plants have been the starting point for research and the creation of many modern medicines. However, today’s post will be on reaping the benefits from common garden herbs. Herbs are nature’s medicine cabinet.  So whether you grow your own or stop at the local farmers market, eat them daily for a powerful anti-cancer boost.

herb garden twoRosemary. The two key ingredients in rosemary, caffeic acid and rosemarinic acid, are potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents, which help protect the body’s cells from damage by free radicals.  Rosemary has been found to detoxify substances that can initiate the breast-cancer process and it stimulates liver enzymes which inactivate estrogen hormones. Rosemary can inhibit the formation of HCAS, the carcinogenic compounds that form when you cook protein.

Dill contains antioxidant properties, and it also deactivates free radicals and neutralizes carcinogens that might find their way into our bodies.

Cilantro helps to remove heavy metals like Mercury from the body.

Mint has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory properties, helps prevent damage from radiation, and it cuts off the blood supply to tumors.. and may protect your liver too.

Parsley has potent anti-inflammatory and anticancer abilities. The phytochemicals in parsley can slow the speed of cell division, leaving time for the cell to correct DNA mistakes and activate apoptosis, and recent research shows that one particular compound, apigenin, found in celery, artichokes and herbs such as parsley may well be the key agent for killing breast and pancreatic cancer cells.

Basil has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It contains flavonoids that help shield cell structures from radiation and oxidative damage, and may protect liver cells. Both fresh basil and basil oil have strong antibacterial capabilities, so by adding the herb or oil to your salad, you can help ensure your vegetables are safe to eat.

Oregano possesses anti-bacterial as well as anti-inflammatory properties, and encourages cell death making it a powerful anti-cancer herb; but what is really exciting is that may be particularly effective against prostate cancer and may even become part of the treatment for this cancer.   

Thyme possesses terpenoids which are recognized for their cancer preventive properties. Rosmarinic and ursolic acids are major terpenoids in thyme that possess anti-cancer properties. Thyme contains an essential oil that is rich in thymol, a powerful antiseptic, antibacterial, and a strong antioxidant.

In my house we eat a lot of tabouleh.  Tabouleh, tabouli, no matter how you say or spell it, is both delicious and good for you. What I love about it too is that it is versatile; for as many ways there are to spell it, there are just as many ways to make it. For this I head to the farmers market as I put A LOT of herbs in mine, far more than I can grow in my small garden.  Keep in mind that ideally, the salad should be green with specks of white, but make it whatever way you prefer.

Bulgur Tabouleh

1 cup Bulgur wheat (or Quinoa, see notes below)

1 1/2 cups boiling water

1 ½ tsp salt

¼ cup lemon juice (or more)

¼ cup olive oil, plus more (I like lemon infused, but any good quality, extra virgin is fine)

Parsley, mint, dill, cilantro (several cups/bunches of these, chopped, and any combination, created to taste)

Chopped tomatoes (optional)

Chopped, seeded cucumber (optional)

Finely chopped red onion or scallions (optional)

Chick peas (optional)

Pour boiling water over bulgur wheat and salt.  Cover wheat for 30 minutes and let sit on the counter.  Stir in lemon juice and oil, chill for 2-3 hours.  Add chopped herbs, and other ingredients of your choice and toss gently, adding more oil as desired.

I add chickpeas to make this salad a meal.  You can also substitute quinoa in this recipe.  For quinoa, bring 1 cup quinoa (rinsed well), ½ tsp salt and 1¼ cups water to a boil over high heat.  Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.  Fluff with a fork.    If you want, you can spread the quinoa out on a large rimmed platter or baking sheet; let cool.  Transfer to a bowl and mix in the lemon juice and oil, then the remaining ingredients.

I love to marinate chicken, turkey, fish, zucchini and eggplant in olive oil and rosemary, and oregano and chicken are great together too.  Thyme is delicious on eggs. Dill is fantastic on cucumbers, fish and zucchini. Basil, well who doesn’t like basil and fresh ripe tomatoes? Add some onion too!  And don’t forget pesto; make some with basil or try cilantro (or spinach, kale, or arugula); use them on grilled foods, spread them on your sandwich.  Fighting cancer never tasted so good…oh, do I love summer.

Want to see more cancer-fighting foods and the recipes?  Please visit:

https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/2012/03/28/cancer-fighting-farm-stand-recipes/

http://www.tamiboehmer.com/2012/07/beating-cancer-can-be-delicious-2/

Like these tips?  Join me on my radio show, Survive and Live Well, for tips to treat and beat cancer. Join me weekly as we chat with the experts about treatment options and lifestyle choices that can help you not just treat cancer, but beat cancer, survive, thrive and live well.   At the end of each show I give my cancer fighting tip of the day, so tune in Tuesdays at 1pm, EST.

Elyn

www.elynjacobs.wordpress.com

Twitter@elynjacobs

Facebook @Elyn Jacobs Consulting

LinkedIn @Elyn Jacobs

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs.  She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. To learn about Elyn’s coaching services, please visit:  https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com.  To tune into the Survive and Live Well radio show, please visit www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm (EST). To view info on upcoming topics and guests, please visit: https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/elyns-blog/.

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Introducing … Champions for the Pink Vaccine

In Uncategorized on July 17, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Thank you Dr Ruddy, for your energy and drive to see this vaccine change the world.
July 16 2012

To the best of my recollection, this is how it happened.

I read about the world’s first preventive breast cancer vaccine, developed by Professor Vincent Tuohy of the Cleveland Clinic in 2010.  I read his paper, published in “Nature Medicine” May 2010, and called his lab to introduce myself  as Founder and President of the only breast cancer foundation whose mission is primary prevention of the disease – and, so, his vaccine was like a dream come true!  I left a message with Tuohy’s secretary and twenty minutes later, as I was grocery shopping, he called.  We talked for over an hour.

Then Toni Turchi, a breast cancer survivor who lived in Cleveland, found out about Tuohy’s vaccine and started a foundation to support his work.  Tuohy told Toni to get in touch with me, which she did; we talked and became friends and colleagues.

Then Elyn Jacobs, a breast cancer survivor living in New York City, found me on the Internet, contacted me through Facebook, and we met in NYC to chat.  She had never heard of the breast cancer virus or Tuohy’s vaccine.  And so we became friends and colleagues in the fight to change the tawdry race for the cure into something more substantial – primary prevention of the disease.  Elyn introducted me to Janet Hanson, who invited me to join 85 Broads – which I happily did.  Thank you Elyn and Janet, and all the wonderful, wonderful women I’ve met through 85 Broads.

Then Judy Fitzgerald got breast cancer.  Shei’s a retired teacher in Rhode Island.  She learned about Tuohy’s vaccine, contacted Tuohy to tell him she was going to help suppport his work, and he told her to get in touch with me.  Judy and I became friends and colleagues in this enlarging grassroots movement to fund Tuohy’s vaccine.

Then Elyn Jacobs invited me to join her on her weekly radio show two weeks ago, and Cindy Sullivan, a breast cancer survivor living in Colorado was listening in and went berserk when she learned of Tuohy’s vaccine and the total lack of funding for it.  Cindy got in touch with me and suggested that this small band of women supporting Tuohy’s vaccine gather together on a Skype conference call to put our heads together to what would happen, which we did this past week.  Thank you Cindy, that was brilliant.  So obvious, but so brilliant.

And now, three days later, we have organized ourselves to support each other’s individual efforts, but with the common goal – to see that Tuohy’s vaccine gets funded.  And here in the United States not in China.

We’ve got a brand:  the Pink Vaccine.   It’s the world’s first preventive breast cancer vaccine.  It doesn’t need reinventing as the National Breast Cancer Coalaition would like you to think.  It already exists.  It’s in Cleveland.  It just needs to be funded to see if it’s safe in women; and if safe, whether it is effective.

We’ve chosen a name for our group:  Champions for the Pink Vaccine.

We have a domain:  pinkvaccine.com

We have  a Pinterest site:  The Pink Vaccine.

We’ve got groups on Facebook and LinkedIn:  The Pink Vaccine.

And we’re going to create a CPU for information about the Pink Vaccine:  a blog where the Champions can post and share hard facts, dispel falacies, promote awareness, and generate ideas for how to fund the Pink Vaccine – the world’s first preventive breast cancer vaccine.

Stay tuned.  According to complexity theory, it only takes two individuals to move a crowd in any one direction.  (Did you know that? It’s true.)    But we have five women who intend to move the crowd toward the Pink Vaccine.  Think how fast we can move it now.

Please join us.  We’re going to have a blast; we already have.  And we’re going to do great things for the world, starting with funding the world’s first preventive breast cancer vaccine.

Take a break from racing.  Take a peek at us.  Thanks!

 Dr Kathleen Ruddy
Please watch this powerful video, the movie comes out here in the US in September, you can pre-order it at Amazon.  Pink Ribbons
Dr Kathleen Ruddy is a MSKCC trained breast cancer surgeon.  She is also the Founder and President of the Breast Health & Healing Foundation, the only non-profit organization whose specific mission is to discover the causes of breast cancer and use that knowledge to prevent the disease.  She created the iPhone app, Breast Health GPS in 2010, the iPad app, Breast CA 411 in 2011, and the smart phone app, Lobby Me Pink in 2011. Kathleen’s focus is to answer the question, “Does a virus cause breast cancer in women? “ She is also committed to help fund Professor Vincent Tuohy’s first preventive breast cancer vaccine (Cleveland Clinic.) Kathleen believes that the PURE CURE is prevention.

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs.  She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. To learn more about Elyn’s coaching services, please visit:  https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com. 

 

Read more at http://www.85broads.com/public/blogs/kathleen-ruddy/articles/introducing-champions-for-the-pink-vaccine#wGmCke7Bhf9f1Eud.99

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Healing Cancer Naturally, Dental Toxins and More!

In Uncategorized on July 4, 2012 at 12:21 am

Choosing the best path for treatment is a very individual process.  Many people choose conventional treatment for their cancer, and many do not.  It’s all about finding and choosing the right treatment for you, for your body and your cancer.  Knowing your options is key, but equally as important is knowing the pros and cons of each treatment.  While there are no guarantees, we need to know –what are the chances the protocol will treat the cancer? And will it come with temporary or life threatening side effects?  I don’t like that word, side effect.  If treatment can cause serious damage, I am not so sure the damage can be referred to as a side effect.  But anyway, can these so called side effects be avoided? What are the chances for recurrence?  Will the treatment encourage or discourage the return of the cancer or new cancer? The recent news about Robin Roberts only brings awareness to the subject; sadly, she is hardly alone in her plight. Last week we spoke about a potential vaccine for cancer, but until we have that, we still have to treat our cancer. So today on the show, my guest, Bill Henderson, talked about healing cancer naturally, by means of a gentle, non-toxic therapy with no side effects (other than improved health and less cancer.)

Cancer is not a symptom, a random tumor that must simply be removed.  It is an imbalance in the body, a cry for help, if you will, that we need to take care of ourselves; that our body and soul require attention.  If we do not fix the imbalance or the reason for the cancer, the cancer will likely recur and/or spread, and certainly will not go away. 

I loved Bill’s answer to “If your wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, what would you recommend she do?” First, he would send her to the dentist. Routine dental work, such as root canals, tooth extractions (especially the removal of wisdom teeth), etc. can cause massive infections in the mouth that spread throughout the lymph system and contribute to cancer, especially breast cancer. To learn more about dental concerns and cancer, please view: http://www.cancertutor.com/Other/Breast_Cancer.html.  He also spoke at length about choosing the right dentist, one who is trained in the safe correction of dental culprits. “In the U.S., there are 160,000 dentists in the American Dental Association and another 7,400 dentist who are oral surgeons.  Of those, there are less than 50 I would trust.”  For a list of dentists that Bill recommends, please email me. 

Second, he would address her stress issues, as often times repressed stress can lead to and fuel cancer. This stress-reaction can stem from an event that took place years prior to our diagnosis. He strongly recommends that we read Dr Brad Nelson’s The Emotional Code, to uncover and resolve stress issues or events that are causing our cancer, and preventing us from healing.

Lastly, he would change her diet, although he avoids that word “diet” as it implies something temporary. Eating well is a lifelong commitment, not something we do for just a few weeks.

 All of these actions are important in our quest for wellness.

What he stressed was the importance of addressing the cause of the cancer as a means to cure it. What he didn’t do was suggest that his wife head off to a cancer clinic.  For some people, some cancers, this may be the way to go.  However, no matter what treatment we choose, if we don’t change the environment in which our cancer was permitted to grow, it will be very difficult to cure it. Bill’s argument for treating cancer naturally is a compelling one.  To learn more about it, please visit Bill’s website or read his book, Cancer-Free. To replay this show: http://hipcast.com/podcast/HDQvbCgQ.

The best thing we can do is to consider the origin of our cancer, address it, and choose the best possible treatment for our cancer, our body, our needs.

To read more on changing the cancer environment, please visit: https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/changing-the-cancer-environment/. For more information, or to schedule an appointment for coaching, please email me or send me a message.

Please join me next week on Survive and Live Well as I talk with my guests about two important topics: mesothelioma and early detection of lung cancer.  

Have a happy 4th and see you next week!

Elyn

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs.  She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. To learn more about Elyn’s coaching services, please visit:  https://elynjacobs.wordpress.com.  To tune into the Survive and Live Well radio show, please visit www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm (est).