Cancers: 95% of Most are from Environment! Change what you put in your mouth, on skin, use in your home

The Jig is Up, Cancer industry! Changing the toxins your body is exposed to is "the name of the NEW game"!

Below you'll find what I created and added to beginning in 2011, related to cancer.

From 2011: This is the middle of October -- smack dab in the middle of breast cancer awareness month.  I've gotten my pink seat belt purse out, I normally carry a purple one, since that's 'the Lumigrate color' and it strikes up a lot of conversations so I can turn people "on" to know about Lumigrate's amazing cadre of progressive health information providers.  No matter what you're promoting, innovation can be an important part of making it successful, integrating it with the tried and true marketing things. (That 'bread and butter' is the business card, I've switched to a sheet of paper, something printed from Lumigrate which I rotate based on what might be 'timely' at that time of year. In fall it likely will be something about cold and flu prevention, cancer prevention, etc., and after New Years it would likely be about diet or life coaching/making changes, it's the time a lot of people get motivated to make change in their lives and diet and exercise are the most common things they're 'resolving' to do.)  

As we teach here, it's up to YOU to do what you can with what you have to work with, so to speak. You have your genes to work with, and your history up to this point, but the control that we're demonstrating in our YOU! model is for the person to have that power, not the 'others'.<Our YOU! Model

On the subject of cancer, though, I'd simply not had anything to PRINT and put in the pink purse I would carry that was about cancer if someone struck up the conversation. Many people are concerned about cancer, it's a significant health issue in terms of commonality anymore, and obviously can be very serious, with a high mortality rate. I just hadn't heard of anything related to "the big C" that resonated for what I look for to link out/promote related to cancer. There are tons of great sources that people know about from the conventional model, what I call 'inside the box' system. I work to bring things to Lumigrate that people might not otherwise find, which I think are valid and fit with our overall model and cache of information YOUsers might return to again and again as they continue learning more about outside the box medicine approached with the YOU model concept. 

Finally, today I found it!  Oddly enough, it was Fran Dresher on Rosie, Rosie O'Donnell's new show on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network).  I found her extremely knowledgeable, valid, and FUN, and she covered the highlights in a streamlined way -- the criteria I hold for Lumigrate! I was never a fan of Fran Dresher's, her voice is so irritating, the shows I've seen her on that she stars in were goofball in my opinion, and it just wasn't my 'thing'. But I'm a fan of hers now, over how she spoke about proactivity of the person and making it simple. She has real life experience about cancer which I do not have personally (I do professionally though), to stand upon as a platform. And I hope I do my part to help the message the organization she's part of get to people. YOU! 

She was followed in a segment with Cheryl Hines, who has starred as Larry David's wife on the HBO comedy about his life, Curb Your Enthusiasm.  Her mother joined them onstage to make a cocktail her mother has become known for making while having little parties related to Cheryl's new television show: It was mind blowing to me: Same recipe MY mother shared with me in high school, setting me up to have a very wild party at my boyfriend's house when we were in high school.  

("Skip and Go Nakeds" are made with pink lemonade so really ARE a wonderful drink idea for breast cancer awareness: A: They're pink. B: while naked a person can do a good breast (or testicular) exam, particularly in the shower with the wetness and slipperyness of soap. c) WHERE DOES THE PINK COME FROM? If it's artificial coloring, y'all might want to rethink that recipe! I've put the recipe for MardyRitas in the nutrition section/recipe forum and it's had a LOT of reads.  We must have some cocktail-lovers in the audience, just as Rosie did! Perhaps a healthier version of Skip and Go Nekked's is in order! (And naturally these can be made 'virgin' or lower alcohol content for those with different wellness goals and ways of going about it.)  

But see, there's an example of ONE thing you can change today, artificial colorings -- so this week, per the way Cancer Schmancer teaches it, when you go to the store next, this trip you focus on that and buy differently based on that one thing. Don't relax on that keep that up after this but then the next trip it's onto something else, maybe sweeteners.

It'll take a week to research each one of these things in the average amount of time an empowered, dedicated health consumer takes every day to study and change their habits.  If a person has a motivation to make change, they'll at least attempt, sometimes they need some more professional assistance getting that into action steps long term. But think of all you're able to accomplish in the amount of time it takes you (and everything else) to make a trip around the sun!  

"The Nanny", a popular TV show she starred in, was a co-creation of Fran Drescher, I learned. I learned today that she and her husband co-created and produced the show, and one day after they'd been married for decades, he told her he was gay and they divorced and "split" (meaning they were NOT friendly).  

She then was diagnosed with cancer, and jokes that she made it a 'cottage industry' with the nonprofit she created and all she does for publicizing cancer. (Read between the lines, this is about money that is simply how the world goes 'round, how the system works. So all those pink ribbons you see on advertising and all the 'think pink' stuff, I suggest YOU think about the marketing of that. Hence I wove in some thoughts about marketing into this topic thread.  

She truly went on to be funny about the number of times her feet were in the stirrups compared to Roy Rogers. (You can see this at the website link I provide, below -- it's very funnily done. ).  One of my greatest professional and then personal teachers about cancer was someone I'll just gall Gee here. Gee and I shared some intense moments when I was their in-home health care occupational therapist. At the end, G knew that I liked music and appreciated classical music, as that was frequently playing on an incredible sound system they had in their home. G asked if we could stay in touch, and specifically perhaps go to the symphony as her family members didn't enjoy it particularly and many were very busy and she didn't want to impose upon them. I agreed. This kept me in touch with them and one day I got a call from the spouse (through an assistant) that G was at hospice. I was able to be there at a time that I learned a little about hospice 'from the inside', and learned that they had separated. "How many people do you know that get divorced from their death bed?" G said and laughed.

And then G went into serious mode and talked respectfully of the spouse. It had simply just been time to end their relationship. It was going to end anyway, G knew, at the time. I learned so much from G. I hope what I learned overall can translate into educating YOUsers and others I come into contact with in the future, I consider it a gift to share. And keep in mind, the spouse called me when they felt I could help G once again. G primarily, and to a lesser extent the spouse, were the only two people who were around for all my therapy time with each of them, and fully 'got it', the family memebers and G in their moment of need didn't necessarily think to call this now concert-going 'pal'. I connected with the family after G passed, as I was called about the memorial service which I unfortunately could not attend. I think it was the right thing to have done, become friends with someone. 

In Fran Drescher's case, she and her husband reconciled when she was ill and needing assistance, and they have gone on to create and put forth another show about a couple that goes through the husband 'coming out' as being gay.  So she had a dual purpose in her being on the show, as she was promoting the new show and her cancer awareness work. 

Fran Drescher went on to put a funny twist on the sad realities of the poor medical advise she received when she had UNdiagnosed cancer and knew things were changing in her body and seeking out medical advice.  Rosie said that she'd figured that as a celebrity, Fran would have gotten good advise, and the response was, hysterically, "no doctor wanted to put his finger in John Wayne's ass and tell him he had cancer."  (I never thought of it that way ... I gotta say, and that humorous saying she related 'struck and stuck' to me)

They went on to do something similarly funny, and a bit 'baudy' related to her recent photographic safari to Africa -- it really was a humorous segment, and kept people's attention while they worked in the 'hard information'/learning related to health. This is why it's necessary to have different stars from different types of shows and music in the media doing information to the public on the same item, what will appeal to one person won't appeal to the next necessarily. I tuned in because of the topic, not the guest, but I hope her millions of fans will perk up their ears to the information provided at Cancer Schmancer. 

I want people to consider following her website (and products, etc.) called  "Cancer Schmancer".  She also suggested a website, TrashCancer.org, but I've had difficulties finding that online as of the time of this writing. 

The main concept is that Stage 1 is the cure.  Slogan: "If you catch it on arrival, 95% survival." 

Other tips --

• Don't go into denial because then you miss the Stage 1 window.  
• Get out of being a 'patient' and a 'medical consumer' (naturally I LOVED this one since it's completely congruent with what Lumigrate teaches) and put yourself in the empowered position.

I agree with Fran's statement that it is unconscionable in this society, that we have the number of people who are getting undiagnosed or 'missed diagnosed', as I call it, and having the problems getting treatment. In my opinion, we need to recognize that is currently simply the reality, and do our part to make the future be better in that regard as a society, and first take responsibility for our health and just go forward each present moment. Have a long term intention and do what you need to do to envision that, makes goals, get assistance along the way from people you know personally or contact for their professional assistance. But THIS, what her nonprofit promotes is a good concept. (But remember to "consider the source and follow the money" (my new mantra) ... as with EVERYTHING you support by giving money to whether a donation or a product or service purchase.)  

AGAIN, I love this because this is congruent with the foundation of Lumigrate, as I said before.  (In driving, it's called 'potholism' when you look at the pothole and not the solution to the problem -- look in the direction you want to go and steer in that direction. You'll reduce the chances of hitting the pothole. Do that with wellness! Don't look at it as 'I did my family history and I'm destined to have what runs in the family', look at it as that's something to focus on NOT having happen, and use that for motivation along with other things, to do the hard work involved in making lasting change in your lifestyle.)

Considering all the things I've related, above, about how the system works with these nonprofits, celebrities, and causes, I was still unsure about if I was going to create a topic and commit to Cancer Schmancer being the direction for me to send the Lumigrate guests/users/readers to, and essentially 'suggest' them related to cancer-focused information. Then Fran said:

"95% of most cancers is environmental.  Reduce our risk for ourselves and our families by making better choices for your home.  What you clean with, what you put on your skin, what you put in your mouth."  She suggested every time you go to the store, just make one additional better choice with what you purchase.  I liked that advise and I concur! So "I Like it, I Link it!", and created this topic.    

As she said: TrashCancer.... the jig is up! (The 'jig' is carcinogens in household products).  LOVE the website, it's FUN and there's great deals on nontoxic fingernail polish in pinks for the season! please go check it out! www.cancerschmancer.org/

I like the piece at The Huffington Post to substantiate this and add more if you're looking for another piece about it (which also has the link to Cancer Schmancer and explains Fran's reasons for using 'schmancer' -- some apparently think she's being flippant (I LIKE it, I could remember it! Grins).  www.huffingtonpost.com/fran-drescher/cancer-schmancer_b_58951.html

Link to the "Cancer and it's Prevention, Preferably" forum here at Lumigrate, where there is other information about cancer/prevention www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/cancer-and-its-prevention-preferably

Update from 2012: Cancer Awareness 2012 is one I 'went a little wild over' this year!  I believe the way things occurred was meant to be, though not easy, after creating this topic thread about Cancer Schmancer and the approach of shifting shopping trip by shopping trip to implementing change in what you're purchasing that has an impact on whether you will get cancer or not, or others who are in your home such as pets and family or friends.

It reinforced my commitment to including information at Lumigrate about the various forms of illness prevention. Ultimately these are environmental illnesses in most cases, things we have created and have the control over, though sometimes it's a manking and societal toxin that we cannot avoid. But there is a guideline in natural, traditional medicine circles that basically says if you do 80% right, the body can handle the 20% that's getting to it by the person's volition or not.

I intend to keep cancer 'in mind' EVERY DAY that I work on information at Lumigrate and with people in health information conceirge/navigation consultations .  

         I am posting this photograph today, Halloween, the last day of "Cancer Awareness Month 2012", hoping to have a bit of FUN with it all, underscoring the information we present here about toxins by posting in front of the Maroon Bells and the wilderness area.  This is one of the most photographed places in Colorado, located just a short drive outside Aspen, Colorado (USA).  

What happened this year: I was made ever so aware of cancer on October 1 when I received an email from one of our professional contributors, saying his cancer was not responding to treatment and his oncologist agreed with him (yes, a 'take-charge patient' indeed) to stop treatment, and that hospice and palliative care was going to be called that week. (From after 2012 I add this: We did a tribute piece to Gary King just before he passed so that our experts could not only speak to him with their thoughts, but also exemplfy for others how to address people who have any condition that will be ending their time on Earth soon. It was really great, again, a bit of creativity of thought which was appreciated by our experts.)

I was already 'regrouping' from one of our original 'lay contributors' and longtime 'user of Lumigrate's information', Alice Franklin, having shared in late September that she had breast cancer and would be having surgeries and other treatment starting in October. "Amazing Alice" is a woman from Mobile, Alabama (USA) who has written in the past about fibromyalgia, faith, and how she kept her functional status as high as possible by continuing to do what she is able to do, though it's very much impaired by her physical status. Body. Mind. Spirit. (Integrative Medicine).

The above photograph of me was taken the next day after learning of both of these dear people's cancer realities; the mountains are where I go to regroup, having been raised and lived almost every day for the first 18 years of my life surrounded by them, and never ever having lived out of eyeshot of them. (And never have seen a wild cat when out on a hike, so hopefully I didn't scare anyone! -- )

I encourage you to read what we had created in 2011, below, I am more committed to this information and the providers who helped me create it than ever! Thank you ALL, including readers who help us spread the word.  

ALSO, many from 'The Grate Group' of providers shared their words for Alice's support at the blog about her announcement which is at this link: www.lumigrate.com/blog/our-amazing-alice-asks-grate-groups-support-re-cancer-and-continue-giving-teacher  THANKS TO ALL WHO WRITE, READ, PRAY - You're all GRATE!

We have some interesting and diverse information about how to deal with cancer from two of our experts on Lumigrate who have experience, which you'll see below in comment if you scroll down:  Beth Patterson (Certified Spirituality Coach and long-time chaplain and administrator for hospice, elder care, and outpatient care clinic) had several topics at her blog which we put at Lumigrate so people would know about her and all she does via her blogsite. One is heart wrenching and is titled about the conversation among the trees she had with her beloved friend when she was realizing she was not going to be alive much longer. Another piece is from the friend before that time when she herself was blogging about her and her mother and their having misplaced their prosthetic breasts, cleverly titled about the 'wandering boob' they joked about.

Then Karen Richardson, our Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialist expert/writer, who provided content so that people know about that kind of expert to add to the Team YOU, who has gone through breast cancer treatment three times, started her first piece at Lumigrate off about brain fog and how she understood that as she had 'chemo brain'. She talked about the use of humor that helps her so much, and was a great introduction for our YOUsers to Karen.  

I'm happy to say that her last cancer was found in 2000, ironically having been discovered by her that morning in the shower when she was preparing for her first day of work where I had recruited her to come work and take over the 'job baton' from me that I was vacating at a driving school that had a lot of need for occupational therapy for those with special needs due to physical or mental impairment. An experience that was two years from start to finish for me, very difficult as I had no formal education in driving rehabilitation from inside the sysem, the owner and manager of the company showed me the ropes as they'd learned them, along with ALL the support staff and instructors.

And I'd made it a successfull program with more revenues by a long shot than when I started -- they hired one of my classmates from occupational therapy school too, so I was replaced by 1.75 people. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger .. and wiser. And their program was better for having had now three occupational therapists working with it, then they added another.

Sadly, with the economic downturn in 2008, they discontinued their occupational therapists and reverted to the long-time managers and owner working with those needing special expertise for increasing their driving skills and safety. I visited their offices in 2013 when on a visit to the area, and was pleased to see the company offices having moved to better pastures, close to the skills training facility that back in my day was a lot of driving to/from where I couldn't be with a client and adding to the inefficiencies that were just part of the growth at the time. Things that were planned hadn't yet come to fruition.

You see, the owner of the company had been a real estate developer whose daughter was killed as a 16 year old passenger, the crash entailed two inexpierienced, youthful drivers. His commitment because of the pain that caused him and his family and friends/others provided him seemingly unstoppable commitment to creating a successful business that was helping people every day since it's inception.

I hope that if YOU have a personal history with cancer, you can use that similarly to motivate you to push through all the hard work involved in changing your lifestyle and having better wellness and less illness as a result. 

 (This topic was edited and modified slightly on May 16, 2014)