Warning Signs of Breast cancer

The Warning Signs or Symptoms of Breast Cancer

• A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm that persists through the menstrual cycle 
• A mass or lump, which may feel as small as a pea 
• A change in the size, shape, or contour of the breast 
• A blood-stained or clear fluid discharge from the nipple 
• A change in the feel or appearance of the skin on the breast or nipple (dimpled, puckered, scaly, or inflamed) 
• Redness of the skin on the breast or nipple 
• An area that is distinctly different from any other area on either breast 
• A marble-like hardened area under the skin 

These changes may be found during a breast self-exam.For instruction on how to do a self exam go to www.checkyourboobies.org


On a personal note, I remember being extremely tired the months preceding my BC diagnosis. My routine and diet had not changed but my energy level was remarkably less. I found a hard pea lump through self-examination of the left breast, which turned out to be benign (no cancer). The right breast however had a shadow seen through an ultrasound which later disclosed a cancerous growth by an MRI and a biopsy.


Go figure? This is not an uncommon occurrence either.

Eat More Vegetables

Great Tips on Getting More Vegis into Your Daily Diet:

-buy ready-made for instant snacks. Cherry tomatoes, mini carrots, snow and snap peas are great examples.

-buy frozen vegis for maximum nutritional content. These are packaged when the vegetables are at their prime and don't lose their goodness travelling long distances to get to your table. They are also quick to heat and serve.

-buy seasonal fruits and vegetables within a 100 mile radius for freshness and best prices. Freeze them cut, cleaned and ready to serve.

-double everything. Do you usually eat four  asparagus spears or Brussels sprouts? Try doubling that each meal.

-cover half your plate in vegetables, one quarter in meat and one quarter in brown rice or other wholesome carb like quinoa.

-  pick up pre-washed bags of salad greens and add baby carrots or grape tomatoes for a salad in minutes

  - vary your veggie choices to keep meals interesting.

  -   try crunchy vegetables, raw or lightly steamed

  - make kale or lettuce smoothies with banana, chocolate whey powder and ice. Look for vegi smoothie recipes on line and find one you love.

-have a vegi stir fry twice a week varying meats and vegis

Vitamin D Decreases Cancer Risks

With over 800 scientific papers published on the relationship between vitamin D and cancers, there is ample evidence that maintaining adequate vitamin D levels is an effective strategy for protection against cancer. 

Vitamin D can also block cancer cell growth in a number of ways: it alters the expression of genes that regulate inflammation, cell death and cell proliferation, and also interferes with the growth-promoting actions of IGF-1 and other growth factors. 

Additional anti-cancer effects of vitamin D include enhanced DNA repair and immune defenses, and angiogenesis inhibition.

Although Health Canada sticks to recommending 600 IU per day for people 9-70 years old, it takes about 2000 IU of Vitamin D daily to bring most people to a favourable blood range. Maximum tolerable levels are 4000 IU daily. After that, it might be harmful.

Unfortunately, most multivitamins contain only 400 IU. 

 Getting about 30 minutes of sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. twice a week usually leads to sufficient vitamin D synthesis, according to the National Institutes of Health but it can promote the growth of skin cancer cells.

It's best to ingest your Vitamin D which is found in eggs, fortified cereals, salmon, tuna, shrimp, mushrooms and cod liver oil. 

Your doctor can order a blood test  to see if you are currently getting enough. 

Although I get plenty of sun and eat all the above foods, I still take a daily supplement of 2000 IU of D3 everyday. Best to be safe is my motto.

Unagi For Stamina

Unagi is one of my favourite combo ingredients at the Blue Fin Sushi bar in Smithers. Its grilled eel and a favourite “replenisher” for the Japanese who hold an annual festival at the end of summer called "doyou-no ushi-no hi" or Eel Day. The tradition was started to replete the dehydrated and possibly stamina-deprived people after a long hot summer.

Nutritionally speaking, unagi contains vitamins A, B1, B2, D and E, which are effective agents for rejuvenating the body.  Unsaturated fatty acids like DHA and EPA are more abundant in unagi than in other seafood. The benefits of these unsaturated fatty acids are decreased cholesterol, lower blood pressure, prevention of vascular diseases, reduced risk of developing arthritis and the promotion of normal brain development, nervous system function and good eyesight.

The best way to eat eel is to barbeque it with a sweet sauce basted on.  Serve on sticks, on crackers with cream cheese or in your favourite California roll.

Bake Your Tomatoes with Oil

Tomatoes are good for us, but did you know cooking your tomato for 15 minutes greatly increases its health benefits?

Its all about the anti-oxidant, cancer fighting lycopene. The darker the tomato or tomato product, the higher the percent of lycopene you will find.

Tomatoes are also high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium and Potassium, some of which you lose in a cooking process. But the benefits of the lycopene far outweigh the negative.

 Lycopene can stall the growth of cancer tumors. It can protect against skin cancers and sunburns and reduce the risk of prostate, breast, endometrium and lung cancers when heated  with dietary fats ( like extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil). That means your salsas, tomato sauce, ketchup and tomato soups are healthier than you thought!. Low sodium and no sugar added products even more so.

While great for the eyes, a daily, normal intake of oil and tomatoes can protect against sunburn from the inside out. It also boosts the levels of procollagen, a protein that plays a crucial role in preserving skin structure.

So its an apple and a tomato (baked with olive oil) for me, a day to keep the wrinkles and the doctor away.

Throw Tomatoes at Cancer

Tomat (oe) or tomat (a), fruit or vegetable? Call it what you will but the lovely red tomato is one powerful food item that really packs an anti-cancer punch.

It’s called  Lycopene; a carotinoid, a pigment that is found in tomatoes, red carrots, watermelon, papaya, pink grapefruit, guava and certain other red colored fruits and vegetables. When lycopene is consumed as a supplement, it doesn’t have the same effect as eating a whole tomato which also contains beta-carotene, vitamin C and phenols, The synergy of this combination is what really packs the anti-cancer one-two.

Lycopene is water soluble meaning your body will absorb it easier when heated with oil. Toss warmed tomatoes with a TBSP of olive oil and spices before pouring over your favourite whole grain or rice pasta. Blend your tomatoes into a sauce or soup or eat stewed on the side.

Lycopene has strong antioxidant properties, which means that it helps to remove free radicals from your body. Free radicals can harm cells and DNA and are thought to cause many different types of cancers, and other diseases as well as some signs of aging. Free radicals can result from smoking, alcohol, excessive sun exposure and exposure to pollution. They are also a by-product of natural metabolic functions.

As lycopene isn't used by the body in other ways, it is left to mop up free radicals. For example, lycopene can collect in the tissues of the lungs, and '"quench" free radicals there, stopping them before they can damage the cells. Lycopene is thought to be particularly effective in preventing prostate cancer, but it may also be effective in preventing lung, stomach, breast and endometrial cancers. Lycopene may be able to provide internal protection from damaging sun radiation and thus helps to prevent sunburn and skin cancer. It is also thought to help prevent heart disease.

Lycopene is non-toxic and although it is not an essential nutrient for human life, it doesn't appear to do much harm in higher doses. At worst, people who have excess lycopene in their blood will turn an orange color, but limiting consumption generally returns the skin to normal in a few weeks.

That’s a tomato a day, an apple a day, a piece of seaweed and flax seed a day. It’s a good thing I’m hungry all the time.

Toxins Can Be Flushed

T is for Toxin

Everyday our bodies are bombarded with toxins. They get breathed in or absorbed by our skin from household cleaners, beauty products, plastics and cash register receipts to name a few. These can make you feel tired and sluggish.

Add to that the radiation toxins from medical tests like x-rays and cat scans, environmental toxins floating in our air, the chlorine in our pools, our drinking water, even from the sun above. Some toxins your body stores, like the radiation. Others can be flushed. There are boxed “de-tox” kits available on the market, but Dr. Oz recently suggested they may be abrasive or corrosive to your colon.

The longer these toxins stay in your body, the better the chance of them wreaking havoc on your organs. Your body fights these contaminants, but there are things you can do to give it a hand:

  

  1)    Drink lots of liquids every day to aid in the flushing process

2)      Drink the juice of half of one lemon every day. It will help your liver cleanse itself.

3)      Try Dr. Oz’s gentle weekend detox program here: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/48-hour-weekend-cleanse-shopping-list

4)      Try eating the occasional meal without meat to give your digestive system a break. Use nuts and beans to give you protein.

5)      Once a month soak in a warm bath with Epsom salts and a few drops of your favourite scent. Lavender is particularly popular for this. Relaxing is also very good for you.