Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Here we are again.  As if you didn't know, it is one again breast cancer awareness month.  This has been going on for close to 30 years.  What has all these awareness gotten us?  Breast cancer is currently
the second leading cause of death in North American women, right behind heart disease.  Despite all
of our modern cancer detection and treatment methods and the tons of money spent supposedly for research, the number of women dying from breast cancer hasn't changed a whole lot in the last 30 years.

Seems to me, we need to focus in a different direction.  It is currently my opinion that breast cancer awareness is more about profits for the drug and mammogram industries then it is about saving women's lives.  Regardless of what the American  Cancer Society says, there are steps that we can take,
things we can avoid that will increase our chances of being cancer thrivers instead of survivors.

An excellent resource is a book "Five To Thrive" written by Dr Lise Alschuler and Karolyn Gazella.
Their book gives a straight forward, scientifically based plan for possible cancer prevention.  The idea
is not rocket science stuff.  It is simply about taking charge of your health, so if you are diagnosed
with cancer, you will be in a much better position to deal with it, or any of the other lifestyle
diseases.

The rocket science stuff is about getting close to your ideal weight, eating a colorful variety of fruits
and vegetables, AVOIDING PROCESSED AND FAST FOODS, getting exercise, having a spirtual connection, or maintaing a great attitude. Dah?

So how about focusing on cancer prevention instead of cancer awareness.  There are many things we can do to help ourselves.  We are not helpless victims.  Let's take charge of our health and live life with vitality.

Carol VanScyoc( 15 year  cancer thriver)
Health and Wellness Coach