Take Control: Cancer

    Cancer, also known as malignant tumor and carcinoma,  is a disease that is caused by mutated cells.  These changed cells have no purpose in the body except to cause havoc.  Left untreated, they will reproduce and spread preventing normal healthy cells from doing their job and destroying organs along the way. 

     Cancer can be caused by a variety of condition some referred to as carcinogenic agents:  certain chemicals, radiation, some poisons, even some processing agents used to produce food!   Other causes:  prolonged sun exposure, tobacco, asbestos, and certain viruses.  This list can cause even the most optimistic to be nervous! Unfortunately, scientists are still discovering more ways to develop cancer, but the good news is that  they are also discovering more ways to treat cancer and prolong life.

       They are ways to reduce your changes of developing cancer that also has a positive effect on a healthier lifestyle.    Here is a short list:

         1.  Get a good night's sleep.  When you sleep your immune system is doing very important work!  It is during sleep that your body performs self-maintenance and the immune system recharges itself.   This is important because the immune system is what protects you from cancer, among other illnesses.

         2.  Eat a variety of foods from a variety of sources and keep those foods as close to nature as possible.  The body is like your car, you must give it a good source of fuel in order to function optimally.  If your food is loaded with chemicals and preservatives, then the body has to work harder to process and remove those toxins.

         3.  Reduce and eliminate stress.  Stress can trigger many conditions including cancer.  Read more on this in my lense on stress.

         4.  Be happy, have some fun!  It is true that people who are happier and have a more positive outlook on life have stronger immune systems and recovery periods. 

          5.  Practice prevention!  Don't wait to seek medical care until it is too late.  Cancer is almost 100% treatable when caught early on.   Just like maintaining your car so should you maintain your body by having annual checkups:  PAP smears, mammograms, skin checks (of moles and suspecting skin changes), and oral checks of the inside of the mouth and under the tongue.

      The sad truth is that you can develop cancer at anytime, at anyplace in the body.  So be attentive!  Report any of the following changes to your doctor immediately:   bloody stools, cough that won't go away, lumps or bumps, mouth sores, unexplained fevers, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, and changes in moles or birth marks.   Cancer is not the death sentence it once was.  

Don't be a participant in your health but an active partner.  You'll be glad you did!