Pretty Girls Don’t Get Cancer. 

Wait, what?

Yeah, that was my reaction, too, when I first saw it in print. What kind of doctor says this to reassure a patient? While I’m sure it was meant to console, we all know the statement simply isn’t true. We all know a pretty girl who has been diagnosed with cancer, don’t we? 

My sister was a pretty girl diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I have two aunts and a cousin who are pretty girls and also breast cancer survivors. 

Unfortunately, cancer doesn’t pick and choose, it spreads its ugly roots without discrimination of gender, race, nationality, size, age, or even looks. 

Meet Patricia Diaz

Pretty Girls Don’t Get Cancer is the title of a self-published memoir by Patricia Diaz. A touching story of Patricia’s journey as a stage four cancer survivor. The title is based on the statement a physician made to reassure her. Sadly, he had overlooked the signs of adolescent and young adult cancer. (AYA)

I imagine no one is ever prepared for a cancer diagnosis. 

This was certainly true for Patricia. She was a high school student, intent on spending time with friends and family and enjoying a certain quality of life in Venezuela. 

Losing weight rapidly, barely able to breathe as one of her lungs was not even functioning, yet still unaware that cancer was growing inside of her, Patricia struggled on.

Severe nosebleeds, headaches, a persistant cough, and other signs had her parents worried. They took her to a different doctor, who after examinations and testing, diagnosed Patricia with stage four Liposarcoma. Several labs confirmed the results; a diagnosis of Stage IV Adolescent terminal cancer.

Cancer Treatment

Of course, Patricia received the dreaded cancer treatment, chemotherapy. The side effects of which made her violently ill. She later found out that the dose she was given during that first round of chemo was many times stronger than it needed to be.

Unfortunately, she’s not the only cancer patient to experience the horrific side effects of cancer treatment. Although, this was thirty years ago, and health care and the cancer experience have progressed somewhat, chemo and radiation are still first-line treatments in oncology.

Hopefully, someday, cancer care will evolve to a gentler method. 

While Patricia continued to receive conventional treatment for her cancer, she also supplemented her care with alternative therapies. This is the topic of this episode of A Healthy Bite. 

We are certainly not debating whether cancer survivorship was dependant upon one or the other. Anyone who is diagnosed with any type of cancer should be treated as an individual, unique in their experience, environment, and care plan.

Alternative Therapies for Cancer Treatment

Patricia’s story involves not only her care team, her doctors and nurses but also her friends and family. Her loved ones are an integral part of her story, and each of her family members had a role in her healing process.

In many ways, these alternative therapies appear to have become part of Patricia’s new normal day to day habits. 

Support Groups

Patricia found help through learning meditation and through the process of self-discovery. She was able to become more self-aware and see some stories she’d been telling herself and sort of rewriting them in a more positive way. You might find support through chatting with a therapist, a group in a cancer center, meditation, or prayer.

Caregivers may also want to seek a support group as providing care for a cancer patient takes an emotional toll on everyone. The American Cancer Society has a full section for caregivers here.

As we Patricia mentioned, she continues to see a functional medicine doctor and sees health and wellness as a fun part of her life now. Part of her survivorship care plan means that she continues to get regular checkups and follow-up tests, which while they can be scary, she had learned to alleviate that anxiety. 

Another thing she mentioned were the long-term effects of her treatments, which is another thing that a cancer survivor will need to adapt to and be informed of after treatments end. Patricia shares plenty of ideas for staying healthy in the podcast episode.

Primarily Plant-Based Diet

We see studies of Blue Zones, areas where a high percentage of the population lives longer, healthier lives, that eating a diet that consists primarily of plants is conducive to longevity. Not only are plant-based diets good for lengthening years of life, but also healthspan, the years we live healthily.

The American Cancer Society recommends following a healthy eating plan that limits or excludes: (1)

• Red and processed meats
• Sugar-sweetened beverages (Quit Soda!)
• Highly processed foods and refined grain products 

Physical Activity

Mindful physical exercise was one of the things Patricia noted in her memoir. For her, this was practicing yoga. Tai Chi is another great option. According to cancer research, physical activity is linked to a lower risk of several types of cancer. This includes colon, breast, endometrial,  bladder, esophageal, and stomach cancers. It may even reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, lung cancer as well as prostate cancer. (2)

Laughter

Patricia mentions that she was fairly serious-minded and that her family’s jokes were usually scientific in nature. She had to learn to find things humorous. Laughter is the best medicine, they say, but how much of an effect does it have on your health?

Research has found that laughter has long and short-term positive effects on your health. “Mirthful laughter can stimulate our immune system, increase our protection against viruses, bacteria, and even cancer.” (4)

Risk Factors

In one section of Patricia’s book, she shares some of her own risk factors through the lens of hindsight. While it is impossible to determine why one person gets cancer and another one doesn’t, certain risk factors have been identified which increase the potential for cancer. 

Some Patricia mentions in her memoir include emotional upheaval, toxins in the environment, and food allergies. These, along with genetics, can all be risk factors. 

Genetic testing can be useful in determining your risk factors as well as what you can do to turn off those variants. For example, the COMT gene encodes a protein that breaks down not only catecholamine neurotransmitters but also estrogens and their byproducts. Variants with low activity have been associated with increased rates of some cancer types. Genetic testing can determine if you have these variants and if so, what steps you can take to lower your risk.

Carrying excess weight is a major risk factor for many cancers, although the long-term effect of obesity that begins as early as in childhood requires more research. Children should get at least an hour of physical activity daily. (3)

Take Away’s from Pretty Girls Don’t Get Cancer

• One of my top takeaways from this book is that it is important not to dismiss symptoms. Patricia admits that she and her family, and even her doctors dismissed and overlooked important clues that could have helped her with an earlier diagnosis.
• Another key realization for me was not to be afraid of finding out what’s going on. Being fearful of a diagnosis to the point that you avoid seeking answers only delays your ability to treat a problem before it gets out of hand. (This is one of the main reasons I’ve always avoided the BRCA testing up until recently.)
• Follow-up on abnormalities, and when something doesn’t feel right, get a second opinion.
• We live in a toxic world and we all would do well to incorporate a bit of cancer prevention into our daily healthy habits. It’s impossible to avoid all toxins, as I mentioned in my most recent email, even though I’ve eaten organic and avoided spraying my yard, etc. I tested positive for elevated glyphosate levels (broad-spectrum systemic herbicide in products such as round up.)
• Deal with your emotions, don’t stuff them, ignore them, or invalidate them. 
• Stress is the enemy, learn to manage it in a healthy manner.

Adult cancer survivors, as well as childhood cancer survivors, should check with their care team for follow-up care, in particular, in designing an eating plan as well as food restrictions.

This post and podcast are not meant to be medical advice, always check with your health care provider before implementing any changes in your diet, exercise, or health plans.

Resources

Two-thirds of all survivors will experience one or more late effects from their disease and/or treatment. Late Effects After Treatment Tool gives you results that will tell you about potential late effects, symptoms to look for, provide recommendations for follow-up care, and offer prevention tips that may help reduce your risk for further health issues. Consider sharing your results with your doctor and always seek medical advice if you have any concerns.

Sources

1,2,3, American Cancer Society

4 – Mindful laughter: A mind-body health practice https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/laughter_can_benefit_your_physical_and_mental_health

The post A Cancer Survivor Shares Memoir + Alternative Therapies appeared first on .