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How Low Vitamin D Increases Risk of Prostate Cancer in African-American Men

November 23, 2017

Natural Ways to Prevent Cancer, Prostate Cancer

I recently attended a doctor’s visit with a prostate cancer client serving as his Patient Advocate. I was there to help ask questions my client didn’t feel comfortable asking or might not have thought to ask. We discussed his recent lab results and lifestyle interventions with his healthcare provider and I asked ‘what about his Vitamin D level?” After a quick glance, the HCP said they were on the low end (less than 30 ng/mL), but not too low. I decided to share recent research suggesting low levels of Vitamin D could impact prostate cancer risk. The HCP responded that his patient currently has prostate cancer and there’s no research on if Vitamin D could slow the progression of prostate cancer (read my response in the...

Does Losing Weight Reduce the Risk of Prostate Cancer in African-American Men?

November 22, 2017

Natural Ways to Prevent Cancer, Prostate Cancer

During a recent coaching session with a prostate cancer client, I listened closely as he explained how his weight had decreased while eating more plant-based on our program. He asked, “why didn’t you tell me that I’d lose weight on your program?” I thought for a second and replied, “it never crossed my mind to tell you that. I’m more concerned with you eating more plants and improving your health outcomes than promoting a weight loss program.” Facts on Obesity and Prostate Cancer Obesity is now linked to over 13 cancers and prostate cancer is no exception. Prostate cancer has dire consequences in African American men that are obese. Their risk of low-grade prostate cancer increases by 122% Their risk of high-grade prostate cancer increases 88% Estimates...

Want to slow prostate cancer tumor growth?

November 21, 2017

Natural Ways to Prevent Cancer, Prostate Cancer

In a previous post, I discussed how men who adopted a vegan diet and exercise could help reverse the signs of prostate cancer. That study included men who were vegan for 1 year. After 1 year all the men who went vegan saw their PSA levels stay the same, while men who did not adopt a vegan diet had an increase in their PSA. As previously mentioned, PSA (prostate specific antigen) is a marker in the blood that indicates the presence of prostate cancer. So what if the men ate vegan for more than one year? Well, Dr. Dean Ornish extended the study for two years and the results are still promising for men on active surveillance and want to adopt a vegan lifestyle: How can 2 years of eating...

How a vegan diet slows spread of prostate cancer

November 20, 2017

Natural Ways to Cure Cancer, Natural Ways to Prevent Cancer, Prostate Cancer

Recently I was consulting with a gentleman newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. While his cancer was diagnosed as “early stage” (doctors put him on “active surveillance”) he wanted more facts on how changing his eating habits could help slow the progression of cancer. When I shared with him data on how a vegan diet can reverse the progression and blood markers for prostate cancer he was intrigued but skeptical. As most cancer patients are when they hear news like this since these scientific studies are not shared in mainstream news outlets as commonly as that shiny new drug that is the cure for cancer (so we think...

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

October 10, 2017

Healthcare

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...

avoid medical errors cancer health education get a 2nd opinion after a cancer diagnosis get a copy of your medical record medical errors and cancer patient advocate for cancer patients what to do when diagnosed wtih cancer

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...

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