Cancer 101
Posted on July 2, 2008 4:32 PM
What exactly is cancer, anyway? What makes it so widespread and so difficult to defeat?
When we say "cancer," we"re actually referring to a group of over 100 diseases. Some - like breast cancer, skin cancer or prostate cancer - you've probably heard of. Others, like, may not sound so familiar. But they all have one thing in common: they all involve the uncontrolled mutation of cells that used to be healthy.
Here's how it works. Every day the cells that make up your body divide again and again; cells that have outlived their usefulness die, only to be immediately replaced by fresh, healthy cells. It sounds like a lot of activity, but it's all part of the normal processes that come with being alive. Cells divide millions of times over the course of a human life, and 99.9999999999999% of the time they do so flawlessly. That makes them better and more efficient at what they do than any computer ever invented. But once in a blue moon, there's a problem. And that's when cancer begins to take root.
It starts with a genetic abnormality in the material that makes up a dividing cell. Sometimes these abnormalities are passed from generation to generation (that's why women with a family history of breast cancer are at a greater risk themselves). Sometimes they're caused by carcinogens, like cigarette smoke or certain chemicals. And sometimes they just happen with no explanation at all. As you can imagine, the more times your cells divide, the more likely it becomes that an abnormality will pop up. That's why 77% of all cancers are diagnosed in people 55 and older.
Abnormalities sometimes go on to activate oncogenes, which give cells new and frightening abilities. Suddenly they're capable of dividing incredibly rapidly, far faster than is necessary for normal growth. They are capable of invading and destroying nearby tissue if it gets in their way. And they can travel through the blood to new areas of the body, taking root wherever they please in a process known as metastasis. That's what makes cancer such a daunting opponent - it harnesses the power of the human body, then turns it on itself.
For a long time people thought the only way to impede cancer's progress was to hurt the entire body with radiation or chemotherapy in hopes that the cancerous cells would die and the healthy cells would pull through. Today we're looking at targeted treatments (like Herceptin) that are safer, easier on the body and more effective - a killer combination. But there won't be new treatments without new research. And there won't be new research without new funding.
Ready to graduate to a more scientific explanation of cancer? Check out "What Is Cancer" in the Science section of SU2C Mag! And for a great explanation of why we need to support cancer research now more than ever, let leading luminaries in the field give you the lowdown on SUTV's Lab channel.
--Cat Vasko
Preventative Tactics: The Food Edition!
Posted on July 8, 2008 5:54 PM
Here's a confession: I love to eat. I love steak and I love tofu; I love a hot dog with relish and I love a falafel sandwich with tahini; I love a piece of chocolate cake and I also love an even bigger piece of chocolate cake.
That's why I was heartbroken when I read that recent studies have linked unhealthy diets to an increased risk of cancer. To hell with alcohol and cigarettes; I'm happy to work out every day; but please don't take away my food.
The research is just so disheartening. Eating red meat ups your chance of developing colon cancer. Cooking food on the grill can lace it with smoke-related carcinogens. Processed meats are, unsurprisingly, bad - so bye-bye, hot dogs. Sugar can indirectly increase cancer risk by upping calorie intake without adding any nutrients or vitamins. Oh, and anything that makes you gain weight is bad for you. Obesity ups your risk of developing several different kinds of cancer. See ya later, chocolate cake.
Obviously what you eat matters. But you might be surprised at what you can (and should!) eat to stave off cancer. I used to think it was all quinoa and celery sticks, and the prospect of facing a life without my favorite foods in the name of good health was just too depressing to bear. Fortunately I did a little research before losing hope.
My very favorite website is Chef MD. This week's featured recipe is "Smoky & Hot Four Chili Tostadas with Cool Queso Fresco," which frankly sounds a lot better than the reheated Trader Joe's quiche I had for dinner last night. And forget about the dark chocolate and raspberry breakfast shake. Anyone who tells me to have chocolate for breakfast - in the name of good health - has my undying allegiance.
But of course there are a zillion resources available for the health-conscious gourmand. Below, just a few favorites:
The American Cancer Society offers a shopping list for a healthy kitchen
Health Castle breaks down its dietary recommendations by specific cancer - handy for patients who are currently in the fight
The American Institute for Cancer Research has a "recipe corner" that includes desserts like apple crisp and pumpkin pie
It was through sites like these that I found out that my dirty little habit of ordering yellow curry from the Thai restaurant down the street at least two times a week isn't so dirty after all. Turmeric, a key ingredient in curry, is a serious cancer fighter. Who knew?
So instead of descending into a nadir of despair over everything you shouldn't eat, focus on the things you should. And bon appétit!
--Cat Vasko, associate editor of SU2C Mag
The First "C" in C-A-N-C-E-R: Carcinogens
Posted on July 25, 2008 3:10 PM
Most people know the "C" word--cancer, that is. But what about the other "C" word?
Carcinogens.
The American Cancer Society defines carcinogens as "Substances that can cause changes that can lead to cancer. Some carcinogens do not act on DNA directly, but lead to cancer in other ways, such as causing cells to divide at a faster rate, which could increase the chances that DNA changes will occur."
There are some well-established and long recognized carcinogens, or items with carcinogenic qualities, like Aresenic, Asbestos, Diesel Exhaust, Formaldehyde, Radiation, Secondhand Smoke, and of course, Tobacco Products (This doesn't just include cigarettes, people. If you chew it, it's dangerous, too. Plus, have you ever watched someone spit tobacco into a cup? It's probably the most unattractive thing on the planet.)
These carcinogens are all pretty undisputed by scientists.
But there are a lot of disputes out there, many of them fueled by dueling studies and scientific opinions. Just in the past week, more news broke about the argument concerning the threat of cell phones. This is a dispute that has been ongoing for some time, and doesn't seem likely to let up soon.
Take a look at both sides of the argument, and tell us what you think:
Cell phones cause cancer!
No they don't!
-Amanda Rossie
Why is Prostate Cancer Hiding in the Shadows?
Posted on August 20, 2008 5:04 PM
Breast cancer is both the most infamous and the most famous cancer in the US. Sounds contradictory until you think about it - breast cancer gets the most press and the most attention, despite being statistically comparable to prostate cancer, its fraternal twin. Approximately 250,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, while approximately 200,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to American Cancer Society stats. Around 40,000 women will die of breast cancer; around 30,000 men will die of prostate cancer. Both are leading causes of cancer deaths in this country. But only one has become a household word. Why?
My guess is that it has to do with differences between the genders. While both breast and prostate cancer affect people's very intimate personal regions, women in our society don't tend to be ashamed of talking about their bodies, especially when their health is at stake. Just last week I sat in the middle of the crowded SU2C office talking to a coworker about our gynecologists. We didn't think twice about comparing notes on everything from office décor to Pap smear technique. But I've never once overheard two men comparing their doctors' rectal exam methods in public, and I'd be surprised to hear it's a commonplace practice in private.
I know that as a woman it's easy for me to generalize, but I'm not the only one who's noticed that men are a little hesitant to even talk about prostate exams, much less get them. This 1999 Senate testimony from Bob Dole speaks to the same point:
People ask me how I can be so open about my own experience with prostate cancer. I must admit, when I first started speaking out about this disease there were plenty awkward moments. But, then I decided that the alternative -- silence -- can be deadly. So, when I am fortunate enough to be asked to testify before Congress on this issue, I do it.
After finally beating prostate cancer in 2003, Minister Louis Farrakhan issued a similar call to arms. In his announcement of the Louis Farrakhan Prostate Cancer Foundation he tailored his message specifically to black men, who are statistically more likely both to develop and to die from the disease:
"I realized that this disease was killing black men at terrific rates, and that as men, we are difficult in terms of allowing ourselves to be tested. But, my dear brothers, let me encourage you. In fact, I'm going to spend the rest of my days encouraging men in general, and black men in particular: don't wait."
And singer Harry Belafonte came right out and addressed the two is of prostate cancer that most men don't even want to think about, much less talk about - impotence and incontinence.
Yes, he had surgery to remove it. Yes, he had problems with incontinence "but, because I was tenacious about doing the [curative] exercises, after one year it no longer existed," he said. And yes, he and his wife still enjoy a level of physical affection that "unifies our lives" . . . Men were just too "macho," he said. "The prostate is something that attacks that central part of the male body that men are very preoccupied with. Somehow, any disorder there means your life is over, you can't be a man anymore, you are now something less."
All three prostate cancer survivors made the same point: that a little squeamishness over the affected area is no reason to risk losing your life to cancer - especially to a cancer that is nearly 100% preventable if caught early enough.
--Cat Vasco
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Are you a prostate cancer survivor? Connect with others over in the SU2C Forums!
Comedy Cures . . .
Posted on August 22, 2008 12:29 PM
Why do we tell jokes? Do we do it in order to make the tedious bearable, to build community, to laugh at our lives, to reveal the ridiculous?
Isn't comedy a courageous examination, shining light on dark times? Why is humor called an invisible weapon? Is it because our sense of humor is like gravity -- a powerful force that cannot be observed directly by the five senses, but whose effects are consistent and undeniable? You can't see, taste, touch, smell or hear a sense of humor, but you sure can feel its effects. Whether you believe in it or not, it works! You don't have to believe in gravity. Just step off of a diving board and splash - you're wet. Likewise, you don't have to believe in the power of humor and laughter. Just start laughing and every system in your body acts as if a master switch has been turned in the direction of better health.
Listening to or seeing something really humorous can do many things for you. Just watch an episode of Seinfeld or listen to the thought-provoking antics of George Carlin and notice how good you feel. Start looking at your life and noticing the silliness around you as well.
There are many sites on the internet that are dedicated to humor and healing. One that has recently caught my attention is that of Saranne Rothberg, comedycures.org. Saranne was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999. After her first bout of chemotherapy, she went directly to her nearest video store and rented every stand-up comedy tape she could get her hands on.
This motivated her to implement the power of laughter as part of her healing regime. Since her diagnosis, Saranne has created her own non-profit, Comedy Cures. It's an award-winning national organization that brings joy, hope and laughter to kids and grown-ups living with cancer, chronic illness, trauma, depression and disabilities. Through live events and digital outreach, Comedy Cures entertains and educates patients, families and care-givers around the globe.
You can tune in to The ComedyCures LaughingLunch Break Daily at 12:35pm ET on 1010 WINS-AM! Comedy Cures also has a laugh line at 1-888-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha. You can call daily for an updated joke, or post your own.
One of Saranne's inspirations is the pioneer of therapeutic humor, "Norma Cousins." Norma is associated with the ideology of "Laughter is the best medicine." After all, laughter benefits the immune system and helps strengthen the mind-body connection. Laughter can be nourishment.
One of Saranne's visions is to "help you find joy in your journey." She and her organization are making a difference one joke at a time.
Helpful hints:
Take time each day to LAUGH, it is like oxygen for your soul.
Dare to be silly.
Rent a good comedy.
See the funny within your life.
Smile even if you have to force it, it changes the way you feel.
Go on, no one's looking, and even if they are, who cares? Just laugh for the sake of laughing. AHHH!!!!!! Doesn't that feel good?
-Yael Canavan, a proud member of the SU2C web team and a hearty laugher.
So the question has been: What do you stand for?
Posted on September 4, 2008 9:58 PM
Well, for me, there is an easy answer. I stand up to cancer for not only myself as a young metastatic cancer survivor, but for my peers who are also in the battle of their life, and especially for those who did not survive.
I have been blessed. After being given one year to live, I have passed my "expiration date" and am now heading towards my three year marker of kicking the shit out of cancer so it doesn't have a voice in my body. I have been lucky. Some of my friends have not.
During the past two years, I have unfortunately been a witness to several of my young girlfriends heartbreaking end. Some died slowly. Others... it happened so fast. First, there was Marcela. She died from breast cancer within 10 months after being diagnosed. She was only 31. Then, after a long two-year suffering battle (breast cancer again), Kim died. She was only 34. The most devastating loss for me personally, just because she was one of my best friends, was the loss of Michele. Michele had a nasty battle with leukemia. She fought so long and so hard to stay alive. I was always enamored by her strength (aka: FUCK CANCER attitude), her resilience to keep bouncing back after docs told her she would not, and her deep, unconditional love she expressed for her family and friends. She embodied grace and gratitude. Right up until the very end. She was only 34.
I could go on and on about all the young survivors who lost their precious lives to a cancer diagnosis. It is a shame there are so many to remember. But, I feel it is our job to remember them, all of them, young and old, and honor the lives they once lived by sharing their stories. Hopefully, the more we talk about it, the more lives that can be saved. Word of mouth is very powerful. It is one of the most effective marketing tools. Everyone has a story to tell. It is how we learn. By sharing. So at the end of the day, that person goes home to tell their partner, their spouse, their family and/or friends what they learned as probably the most educational lessons of the day.
Like I said before, I stand up to cancer for myself, for Marcela, Kim and Michele, and for all others who have had to endure the ugliness of this devastating disease. I for one am tired of seeing my friends suffer and die miserable deaths, basically having little quality of life. Examples of low quality of life for us younger patients/survivors are infertility, early menopause, side effects from menopause, scarring from surgeries, being single, no insurance, more aggressive cancers, lower chance of surviving, and, if we do we have many more years, enduring reoccurrences, treatments and side effects. Oops! Did I forget anything?? Where is the quality of life in all that? Well, it is what we make of it. It is our choice to wake up every day after being dealt a "dirty hand" believing that we can prevail and move forward in the most positive light possible. Even though it's normal and oayk to have your moments of "pissed off-ness," sadness, etc., the important thing is to feel it, express it and not deny it and then... GET OVER IT! Hopefully, by taking your mind back to a positive place and living in that every day (GRATITUDE) you will have survived a longer, more rewarding life that others will have been honored to be a part of. This is my wish. For all of us.
Thank you to all of the courageous warriors who have fought this disease and to the co-survivors who have had to put up with us because that, my friends, is one the most challenging jobs/roles.
I would love to know more of your stories if you feel inclined to share and welcome your comments.
Thank you for your valued time reading my blog. It is deeply appreciated.
Stefanie LaRue - www.myspace.com/cancerwarrior
Why not eat healthy?
Posted on October 6, 2008 2:13 PM
Here are some excuses you might be familiar with:
- "I don't have time." Tell me about it! I just ate half of a BBQ chicken pizza, and - as if that wasn't healthy enough - I chased it with a handful of cheese puffs...all because those were the closest foods to my mouth when I was hungry. It happens.
- "The chemo is making me nauseous." There are a few tips that help for some people, but for others, eating while in treatment isn't easy. We all just do the best we can.
- "I don't know what is and isn't healthy. " That excuse is history! Read on.
What's healthy? Here's a simple formula that you can use to pick the right foods:
- Eat a little protein each meal. Meat, fish, eggs, cheese, tofu, beans. Pick lean sources whose protein to fat ratio is 1:1 or greater (i.e. at least one gram of protein for every one gram of fat).
- Eat something green. Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Romaine lettuce. General rule of thumb: the darker the green, the better it is for you.
- Eat something orange. Oranges, sweet potatoes, squash, cantaloupe, mango, papaya. If orange is not available, red is your second choice: tomatoes, red peppers, strawberries.
- Eat whole grains. Whenever available, pick whole foods over processed foods: all kinds of beans, brown rice over white, whole wheat flour instead of white flower, chicken barley soup instead of chicken noodle soup.
- Choose fresh fruits for dessert instead of cakes and cookies.
Sometimes everyone gets too busy to eat healthy - it's a fact. As best as possible, you have to have a plan in advance for how you handle those days. Sure, every once in a while you have no choice but to stop for a burger and fries or risk imminent starvation. Knowing that you can eat the fun stuff sometimes might help you balance your meals the rest of the time. But, in general, try the local grocery store salad bar for a cheap, quick, healthy meal instead of the drive-thru.
Although I've never gone through it myself, I know several people who lost their appetites during chemo. There are no magical new healthy eating rules with chemo: it's a matter of figuring out how to keep the same good foods down. Here are a few tips:
- Eat small meals at no less than three-hour intervals, up to six per day.
- Even if you don't want to put yet another drug in your body, some of the anti-nausea medicine can help you keep food down. If it works for you, take it.
- Sometimes a short walk before trying to eat can prep your system to receive the food. In any case, even sometimes at the peak of the chemo, it is good to keep your system pumping with a little walk.
- Even if you might have been a salad fanatic before, sometimes you have to switch over to well-cooked foods during chemo in order to make them easier to digest. Steaming is a good way to cook foods and maintain their nutritional value.
Eating healthy can be a real pain in the neck and, even harder, sometimes you can't see the results right away. Over time, however, you will notice a big difference in your energy and your health.
-- Jules, SU2C.org
My Crazy Sexy Healing Adventure
Posted on October 17, 2008 11:59 AM
New York City, February 14, 2003. I should have been out with friends, or better yet, with that hot guy from yoga class. Instead I was at the doctor's office, lying on an exam table while a concerned nurse passed an ultrasound scanner across my belly. I'd come in with shortness of breath and abdominal cramps. I just thought I'd overdone it partying at a film festival. Showing off for that guy in yoga class probably didn't help.
When I asked the nurse what she saw, she said, "You'll have to speak with the doctor." The mood in the room immediately changed. Something was wrong. "The surface of your liver is covered with tumors," she told me. "It's so bad it looks like Swiss cheese." I panicked! After a biopsy, more blood tests, and body scans, the doctor found ten more tumors in my lungs. My family came to be with me as I got the diagnosis: epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, a rare, inoperable and incurable sarcoma.
I was only 31, an up-and-coming photographer and actress. Just a few weeks ago I'd starred in two Bud Light commercials that had aired during the Super Bowl. How could I have cancer? It seemed so unreal. I didn't look sick, I didn't feel sick. Luckily the cancer was slow-moving. Since I was asymptomatic, the specialist recommended a "watch and wait" approach for the next two months.
No way could I casually sit on a time bomb! "Is there anything I can do?" I pleaded.
"Just try and live a normal life," the doctor said.
What? How could I live with cancer without thinking of dying every day? No thanks. Instead I decided to take a "watch and LIVE approach" and make a plan of action.
The only thing I knew I could control was what I put in my body, and by that I mean what I ate, drank and thought. So I immediately began to focus on building my immune system through diet and lifestyle. To prepare myself for my journey, I made a little sacred space in my apartment. I covered a table with pictures of my favorite people, candles, my grandma's rosary, a rock from my mom's garden. Twenty minutes a day I sat there, giving myself pep talks and saying prayers. For the first time in my life I could hear my inner voice. "Totally renovate your life," it said. Yes! Soon after my revelation, I quit my job to become a full-time healing junkie. My old idea of nutrition was what to eat to whittle away my figure for acting jobs: PowerBars, coffee, fat-free this, takeout that. Now I had to learn how to eat to nourish my body. I read books, took seminars and certification holistic health programs. Finally, I gravitated toward a raw and living foods approach to cleanse and repair my body. The more I flooded my cells with fresh green vegetable juices, flushed my body of toxins and eliminated all processed foods, refined sugar and animal products, the better I felt.
To strengthen my attitude and spirit, I looked for books or movies about young women with cancer. But everything was geared toward either kids or people much older than me, and most of it was really sappy or depressing.
Cancer needed a makeover, and I decided I was just the gal to do it. I began writing and filming my journey. I documented everything and everyone. The video camera was my buddy. I talked, it listened. It made cancer a project. It made me an artist, not a victim; a director, not a patient.
I longed to hear stories from other women, but I wasn't into support groups. (In truth, I was too chicken.) So I called everyone in my address book and asked, "Do you know any young women with cancer?"
I got connected to women who understood me in a way no one else could. Cancer Babes, I call them. Some of them even let me interview them for my documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer, and for my first book Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips.
By August I needed a break, so my best friend and I took a road trip to New Mexico. "Inward Bound," we called it. Our spiritual adventure. We went on daily pilgrimages to churches and monasteries and took in the soulful sights of the desert.
One day, walking through the Santa Fe Indian Market, I came upon two little girls chasing each other, their laughter bursting through the air.
"My heart is jumping," one said to the other. "Is yours?"
"Yes," I said softly. "Yes."
I watched them twirl and spin, wondering what would happen if I let go like that. Maybe my heart would jump so high it would shatter everything that was holding me back. I knew in that moment that everything I needed for the light to shine through was inside me; I just needed to break open.
That sense of possibility must have been what drew me to spend the rest of that summer at Upaya, a beautiful Zen monastery. My mind was cluttered with fear, unable to harness the full spectrum of my healing potential. Getting still was the only solution. Meditation had never been my thing. Those last five minutes of yoga class, where you breathe deeply and meditate, were torture.
My first evening at the monastery was embarrassingly painful. All my emotional junk came pouring out in a flood of tears. But it felt good to release the weight I'd been carrying. As the weeks went by I blossomed. Beneath my junk lay a wealth of healing potential. A new zest for life and mountains of creativity were pouring out of me and I was so grateful. Plus the monks were kinda sexy. Just kidding!
I think all that emotional release opened me up to meeting my soul mate. Brian was an acquaintance, a film editor I asked to help me shoot and edit my documentary. Pretty soon we were together constantly, 16-hour editing sessions full of creativity, laughter and a blossoming friendship.
I knew I was really falling for the guy when I tried to protect him by breaking up with him. "This is my burden," I said. "You have your whole life ahead of you. Find a healthy chick and be normal."
He refused. "I love you, you are healthy, and I'm staying," he said. "Let's take it one day at a time and work with what we've got, okay?"
Brian and I got married and moved to a little house in Woodstock, NY. The cancer is stable, not growing and I am proud to call myself a survivor - with cancer.
Cancer is no gift, but for me, it was a catalyst. It gave me the freedom to dump my baggage, to learn to eat properly and take care of myself, to take risks, to really live a life full of sass and fireworks.
-- Kris Carr
Kris Carr has an online forum at crazysexylife.com. Check out the Crazy Sexy Cancer site at crazysexycancer.com.
