Seeking advice

Hi Emily,

I agree with you completely and applaud your efforts to find and address an underlying cause.  Cancer is really a symptom of the body not working properly.  Cancer cannot exist in a person with a perfectly healthy immune system.  Our bodies manufacture mistakes (possible cancers) regularly but most of the time, our immune system recognizes these bad guys and disposes of them.  When the immune system is compromised, that's when these mutant cells can gain a foothold.  There are many factors that can compromise the immune system – chronic stress and/or grief, poor nutrition, lack of exercise among others.  Allergies also tax the immune system spreading it thin and making it harder for it to go after the really bad guys.  You want to keep your immune system strong and focused (not wasting time on that chocolate you just ate that you happen to be allergic to – yes, sadly, I am allergic to chocolate).

There is a worthwhile community called Whole9 which focuses on 9 key features to maintain health.  As for diet, they tend towards a Paleo diet (whole natural foods, nothing processed) and offer many recipes and community support.  Google either Whole9 or Paleo and you will see lots of hits.  The idea behind "eating clean" is twofold:  1) stop putting chemicals and toxins into your body – found in most processed foods and 2) Add nutritious foods that fuel your body.  The reasons for giving up sugar and carbs according to Paleo is that our bodies have not evolved to digest them well and they consequenty make us sick (and fat).  I'm not sure about that but I've read plenty of other sites that also advise giving these two up for other reasons.  It's consistent enough advice that I decided to give it a try.  Whole9 also offers up a challenge called Whole30 where you are challenged to eat this way for 30 days.  I was surprised how much better I felt afterwards.  I thought my random aches and pains were just due to getting older.  They vanished.  And my chronic morning sneezing fits disappeared (I thought they were due to airborne allergens).  Much more energy and a clearer head is another welcome side effect.  So there could be something to it.  At least for me.

Apart from googling health information, you might consider a visit to a Naturopath, or other Holistic practitioner.  A Naturopath can order tests and write prescriptions but takes your whole body health into consideration.  Mine diagnosed a thyroid problem, anemia and a viatmin D3 deficiency  two of which are risk factors for melanoma..  She also had me keep a food diary and suggested modifcations to my diet as a result.  She asked lots of questions about my overall life.  She was even covered by my insurance!

[I apologize for any typos in the above paragraph – the facebook/twitter/google bar that is supposed to stay at the bottom of the screen jumped up and is in the way so I was "typing blind" there.]

I'm sure others will offer better advice than I have but that should get you started.

Kudos to you for seeking to take charge and responsibility for your health!  You are welcome to contact me directly through my contact page on this site if you want to chat more on this topic.

Be well,

Maggie

Hi Emily,

I agree with you completely and applaud your efforts to find and address an underlying cause.  Cancer is really a symptom of the body not working properly.  Cancer cannot exist in a person with a perfectly healthy immune system.  Our bodies manufacture mistakes (possible cancers) regularly but most of the time, our immune system recognizes these bad guys and disposes of them.  When the immune system is compromised, that's when these mutant cells can gain a foothold.  There are many factors that can compromise the immune system – chronic stress and/or grief, poor nutrition, lack of exercise among others.  Allergies also tax the immune system spreading it thin and making it harder for it to go after the really bad guys.  You want to keep your immune system strong and focused (not wasting time on that chocolate you just ate that you happen to be allergic to – yes, sadly, I am allergic to chocolate).

There is a worthwhile community called Whole9 which focuses on 9 key features to maintain health.  As for diet, they tend towards a Paleo diet (whole natural foods, nothing processed) and offer many recipes and community support.  Google either Whole9 or Paleo and you will see lots of hits.  The idea behind "eating clean" is twofold:  1) stop putting chemicals and toxins into your body – found in most processed foods and 2) Add nutritious foods that fuel your body.  The reasons for giving up sugar and carbs according to Paleo is that our bodies have not evolved to digest them well and they consequenty make us sick (and fat).  I'm not sure about that but I've read plenty of other sites that also advise giving these two up for other reasons.  It's consistent enough advice that I decided to give it a try.  Whole9 also offers up a challenge called Whole30 where you are challenged to eat this way for 30 days.  I was surprised how much better I felt afterwards.  I thought my random aches and pains were just due to getting older.  They vanished.  And my chronic morning sneezing fits disappeared (I thought they were due to airborne allergens).  Much more energy and a clearer head is another welcome side effect.  So there could be something to it.  At least for me.

Apart from googling health information, you might consider a visit to a Naturopath, or other Holistic practitioner.  A Naturopath can order tests and write prescriptions but takes your whole body health into consideration.  Mine diagnosed a thyroid problem, anemia and a viatmin D3 deficiency  two of which are risk factors for melanoma..  She also had me keep a food diary and suggested modifcations to my diet as a result.  She asked lots of questions about my overall life.  She was even covered by my insurance!

[I apologize for any typos in the above paragraph – the facebook/twitter/google bar that is supposed to stay at the bottom of the screen jumped up and is in the way so I was "typing blind" there.]

I'm sure others will offer better advice than I have but that should get you started.

Kudos to you for seeking to take charge and responsibility for your health!  You are welcome to contact me directly through my contact page on this site if you want to chat more on this topic.

Be well,

Maggie

Hi Emily,

I agree with you completely and applaud your efforts to find and address an underlying cause.  Cancer is really a symptom of the body not working properly.  Cancer cannot exist in a person with a perfectly healthy immune system.  Our bodies manufacture mistakes (possible cancers) regularly but most of the time, our immune system recognizes these bad guys and disposes of them.  When the immune system is compromised, that's when these mutant cells can gain a foothold.  There are many factors that can compromise the immune system – chronic stress and/or grief, poor nutrition, lack of exercise among others.  Allergies also tax the immune system spreading it thin and making it harder for it to go after the really bad guys.  You want to keep your immune system strong and focused (not wasting time on that chocolate you just ate that you happen to be allergic to – yes, sadly, I am allergic to chocolate).

There is a worthwhile community called Whole9 which focuses on 9 key features to maintain health.  As for diet, they tend towards a Paleo diet (whole natural foods, nothing processed) and offer many recipes and community support.  Google either Whole9 or Paleo and you will see lots of hits.  The idea behind "eating clean" is twofold:  1) stop putting chemicals and toxins into your body – found in most processed foods and 2) Add nutritious foods that fuel your body.  The reasons for giving up sugar and carbs according to Paleo is that our bodies have not evolved to digest them well and they consequenty make us sick (and fat).  I'm not sure about that but I've read plenty of other sites that also advise giving these two up for other reasons.  It's consistent enough advice that I decided to give it a try.  Whole9 also offers up a challenge called Whole30 where you are challenged to eat this way for 30 days.  I was surprised how much better I felt afterwards.  I thought my random aches and pains were just due to getting older.  They vanished.  And my chronic morning sneezing fits disappeared (I thought they were due to airborne allergens).  Much more energy and a clearer head is another welcome side effect.  So there could be something to it.  At least for me.

Apart from googling health information, you might consider a visit to a Naturopath, or other Holistic practitioner.  A Naturopath can order tests and write prescriptions but takes your whole body health into consideration.  Mine diagnosed a thyroid problem, anemia and a viatmin D3 deficiency  two of which are risk factors for melanoma..  She also had me keep a food diary and suggested modifcations to my diet as a result.  She asked lots of questions about my overall life.  She was even covered by my insurance!

[I apologize for any typos in the above paragraph – the facebook/twitter/google bar that is supposed to stay at the bottom of the screen jumped up and is in the way so I was "typing blind" there.]

I'm sure others will offer better advice than I have but that should get you started.

Kudos to you for seeking to take charge and responsibility for your health!  You are welcome to contact me directly through my contact page on this site if you want to chat more on this topic.

Be well,

Maggie