Blog Masonry Home - The Cancer Detox

3 Things To Do When First Diagnosed With Cancer Your Oncologist Won’t Tell You

October 10, 2017

You've Been Diagnosed with Cancer, Now What? Cancer patients describe feeling like they've been “hit by a sledgehammer" after hearing these three words: ‘you have cancer.’ Most patients describe going into a “mental shut-down” or “brain fog,” unable to process anything after that. As cancer patient advocates, we say it’s “ok” to shut-down when you receive a cancer diagnosis. It’s a normal response. Plus, it’s not the time to take notes or try to understand every word being told to you. However, your very next few steps are important for your health outcomes and survival. Below is a list of 3 things your oncologist may not tell you to do when you first get a cancer diagnosis. Top 3 Things to Do Immediately After a Diagnosis 1) Get a...

How Cancer Patients Can Get Better Healthcare in 4 Easy Steps

October 5, 2017

Healthcare

What Does Good Healthcare Look Like? Healthcare that’s personal, specific to your needs, and has your health goals in mind is what we call patient-centered healthcare. It improves your chances of survival. Basically, you want to get the doctor to treat you as if they would treat their own family. Sometimes you have to force them to do it and you'll see how below. 4 Easy Steps to Getting Better Healthcare A recent study from Brigham Women’s Hospital looked at ways to improve the healthcare experience of cancer and ICU patients. They used an online tool to improve doctor-patient communication. Here's what they discovered: 1)Patients Need a Dedicated Person the Doctor Can Call. A "healthcare proxy" is a fancy term for an emergency contact or caregiver. Patients may be in...

atlanta cancer patient advocate cancer cancer patient cancer patients get better healthcare end health disparities get better healthcare Patient Advocate

3 Conversation Starters to Use at Your Next Doctor’s Visit

October 4, 2017

Healthcare

Force Your Doctor to Slow Down and Talk To You, Not At You Improving your chances of survival is the name of the game when fighting cancer. Patients often feel like they’re on a conveyer-belt being shuttled from one doctor to the next, unable to really speak to a doctor for longer than a few minutes at a time. So here are 3 ways the patient (that's you) can start conversations with the doctor rather than the doctor taking the lead as the conversation starter. This will force the doc to slow down, answer your questions (make sure they avoid answering it with a "yes" or a "no"), and look you in the eyes. 3 Great Conversation Starters to use with Your Doctor 1) Ask the doctor (or...

better conversations with your doctor health education for cancer patients how to get better healthcare how to have better talks with your doctor

7 Nutrition Facts Every Breast Cancer Patient Should Know (Medical Minute #8)

September 15, 2017

breast cancer

In typical Bedside Manners fashion, we’ve scoured the medical literature and came across this gem of an article specifically for breast cancer patients. It was published in the medical journal Advances in Nutrition, and the authors are nutritionists who reviewed 15 years of medical studies on nutrition in the breast cancer patient. Below is a convenient summary of their 7 science-backed nutritional recommendations for breast cancer patients. As always, consult your healthcare practitioner and a qualified nutritionist when making dietary changes. See disclaimer below. #1 – Get expert guidance from a nutrition expert. The nutritionists in this study recommend seeking a qualified nutritionist who can develop individualized nutritional guidelines for you. These days your nutrition can be just as tailored to your body as your chemotherapy. Ensure...

breast cancer breast cancer patients diet for breast cancer patient nutrition for breast cancer patients

5 Ways Exercise Fights Cancer (Medical Minute #7)

August 31, 2017

Natural Ways to Cure Cancer, Natural Ways to Prevent Cancer

Learn to Love Exercise, It Can Save Your Life I think 99% of us have a love/hate relationship with exercise. I personally hate it when I take that first step. The gasping for air as I try to find a comfortable breathing pattern, all the while my muscles screaming to me that I should stop takes mental fortitude to overcome. It’s just dreadful the first 2 minutes! But a minute or two after that, I find the rhythm of my breath and my muscles get used to the pounding. And 30 min later, I’m on a high and am in love with this thing called exercise. Science has shown that exercise helps prevent and possibly fight cancer. Cancer patients and survivors benefit from frequent exercise. This is something...

cancer patients cancer survivors exercise increases immune system exercise prevents cancer

Medical Minute #6: 3 Plant-based Diets that Lower Risk of Colon Cancer + Summer Sweet Salad

August 1, 2017

anti-cancer, cancer, Uncategorized

Poop. It’s something we avoid talking about in normal day-to-day conversations. But when the organ that houses said substance becomes diseased, such as in the case of colon cancer, everyone wants to talk about it then. Are you pooping enough? What is the color? Smell? Prevention Strategies Colon cancer is estimated to have caused approximately 49,000 deaths in 2016. In the U.S. it’s the 3rd leading type of cancer. Can it be prevented? Yes, but you must do the following: Get screened by getting a colonoscopy, preferably starting at age 50 (talk to your HCP about the appropriate age) If you have evidence of early-disease (e.g. polyps, or pre-cancerous lesions), then talk to your HCP about getting them removed And of course, lifestyle changes It's a Little Late,...

colon cancer DASH diet and colon cancer diet that treat colon cancer HEI diet and colon cancer Mediterranean diet and colon cancer

Med Min #5: 4 Ways Spinach Kills Cancer Cells + Strawberry Muscle Mylk Shake

July 19, 2017

Uncategorized

How Certain Foods Can Assist Chemotherapy We can’t talk about all the positive effects some foods have on cancer prevention without addressing the cancer patient who is actually on a standard medical treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Cancer patients often want to switch their diets while on standard treatments because they heard about the positive effects certain foods have on cancer prevention. Indeed, certain foods attack cancer cells in similar ways as chemo drugs. Chemotherapy and radiation kill cancer cells by destroying their DNA. As you may recall from high school biology, DNA is the “manna of life” for a cancer cell, allowing the cell to grow and produce new cells. When cancer cells are hit with a dose of chemotherapy they can certainly fight back! ...

4 Easy Vegan Recipes for Summer

July 13, 2017

Uncategorized

Is it me or does anyone else feel like kicking up their heels because it's summer time? The excitement of bar-b-ques, fireflies, longer (and hotter) days, more chill work schedules and an abundance of fresh foods has me feeling rather...

3 Surprising Ways to Lower Risk of a Breast Cancer Recurrence Naturally

July 11, 2017

breast cancer, Uncategorized

Over 2.9 million women in the U.S. have a history of breast cancer. Health challenges can continue for some women who have conquered their breast cancer treatment and are now living cancer free. And there is still the risk of a breast cancer recurrence or the development of a new cancer at a different body site. However, science now shows that helpful lifestyle changes can lower the risk of a breast cancer recurrence. The good news is that these same changes can also lower the risk of any type of new cancer developing as well. So to all the breast cancer survivors out there, here are 3 surprising facts on lowering your risk of a breast cancer recurrence… #1 – Cut The Fat Eating less fat helps lower risk...

breast cancer prevent a breast cancer recurrence holistically prevent a breast cancer recurrence naturally

How African American Women Can Reduce Their Risk of Breast Cancer by 40%

June 29, 2017

breast cancer, Cancer, Medical Minute, Uncategorized

The good news is that African-American women eat a lot of cruciferous vegetables (e.g. collard greens, cabbage and broccoli). The bad news is that we don’t eat enough total servings of fruits and vegetables every day, which has been scientifically shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer. A sampling of 59,000 African American women (known as the “Black Women’s Health Study,” aka BWH) found that on average the number of fruits and vegetables eaten every day was 1 serving or less (0.7 servings of fruit and 1 serving of vegetables). This study found some interesting trends in less risk of getting breast cancer and how this relates to the number of fruits and vegetables eaten: For postmenopausal African American women. 4 or more servings a day of fruits...

African American women African American women and breast cancer cruciferous vegetables cruciferous vegetables and cancer Latino women Latino women and breast cancer

How to Stay Bikini Fit and Say “No” to Sweet Foods this Summer

June 27, 2017

Health Hacks, Plant Based Nutrition, Uncategorized

We’re all tempted by loads of sugary, salty and cheesy foods when we turn on the t.v. or simply drive down the street. Instead of giving into these foods wouldn’t it be nice if we could keep our cravings in check and willpower high? Well here’s a simple cravings hack that will have you saying no to pizza, French Fries, burgers, and cupcakes placed in front of our eyeballs 16/7 (hey, I’m assuming you get 8 hours of sleep 7 nights a week). Eat spinach. A recent study in 30 men and 30 women who were overweight found that: Spinach kept them feeling FULL 2 HOURS after eating it. If you’re struggling with weight gain or food cravings (especially salty foods), this hack is tailor-made for you. So start...

less food cravings spinach and food cravings spinach and sugar cravings spinach green smoothie

How to End Cravings for Salty Foods (Cravings Hack #1)

June 23, 2017

Health Hacks, Uncategorized

We’re all tempted by sugary, salty, and cheesy foods when we watch t.v. and leave our homes. A simple hack so you stop craving pizza, French Fries, burgers, and cupcakes that are placed in front of our eyeballs 16/7 (hey, I’m assuming you get 8 hours of sleep 7 nights a week) is to eat spinach. A recent study found that: Spinach kept overweight or obese people feeling FULL 2 HOURS after eating it. If you’re struggling with weight gain or food cravings (especially salty foods), this hack is tailor-made for you. So stir-fry, steam and even get FREE spinach smoothies in this mini-guide (page 9 has a must-try green smoothie). Here's More on How Spinach Reduces Cravings: The researchers gave 30 men and 30 women either a super-concentrated spinach...

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