Category Archives: Health & Wellness

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

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As it stands, skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in the United States, with close to 4 million new cases diagnosed each year! Skin cancer has no preference, it affects people of all colors and ages. If you have been spending a lot of time out in the sun with no protection, then you could be at risk of developing some form of skin cancer. The American Cancer Society… estimates that there are more cases of skin cancer diagnosed than prostate, breast, lung, and colon cancers combined If you didn’t already know, May is Skin Cancer

Top 10 Breast Cancer Fighting Foods

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The Relationship Between Diet & Disease What, exactly, is the relationship between diet and disease? Can the food that you ingest on a daily basis really make a difference? Avoid Meat, Eat Plants Eat plants. This is the general consensus in cancer research today. Through a 20-year research project, commonly referred to as The China Study… (or China-Oxford-Cornell Diet and Health Project), researchers identified 8,000 significant associations between diet and disease. What you put into your body matters. It can create health or disease. The China Study found that “most people who had plant-based diets were healthier” than their

Being There to Lend a Helping Hand

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One cannot overlook the emotional toll that cancer can have on a patient and his or her family. After receiving a diagnosis, there are many emotions which can make it very difficult for the cancer patient to cope with the situation at hand. Often, they need some more help, because their illness can make them feel isolated even from their loved ones. Fortunately, there are various groups and services available which can help cancer patients and their families… through this most difficult of times. Actually, there have been a number of studies which have shown just how important emotional support

Ten Foods That Can Help Lower Your Risk of Cancer

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There are a number of foods that contain high amounts of antioxidants… and agents that help reduce your chances of getting cancer. Below is a list that contains the names of these foods and there benefits to the body. Turmeric This brightly yellow colored spice is a first rate anti-inflammatory herb. It has been proven to aid in cancer prevention, skin damage, cataracts and Alzeihmers. Chia seeds Chia seeds contain the highest amount of omega-3 and fiber than any other seeds or plants known to man. These seeds are great for lowering cholesterol, normalizing blood pressure, and improving digestion. The

Which Industries are the Biggest Health Risks to Work In?

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No matter what industry you work in, you will inevitably face some kind of danger or health risk. Some industries are much worse than others when it comes to health risks, though. If you are trying to decide what type of career to get into, here are some industries that have the biggest health risks associated with them. Mining Working as a miner is one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. Not only do you have to work down in a mine shaft that could collapse at any moment, you also have to be subjected to fumes that…

How Pollution Affects Your Chances of Getting Cancer

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Did you ever think that what you are breathing in every second of everyday could affect your future? Evidence shows that pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels causes the death of 30,000 to 50,000 Americans each year. The causes of these deaths were from multiple diseases such as heart disease, lung cancer… and many other respiratory diseases. According to the American Lung Association, an estimate of 141 million Americans live with the presence of unhealthy air. Air intake is very important when it comes to health. It can affect the way you think, sleep, and feel just like

Eating Right Can Save Your Life

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Did you know that what you’re eating could play a significant role in your treatment of cancer? There have been multiple studies and an abundance of research done to show that consuming a healthy nutritional diet could reduce the effects of cancer causing cells…. According to the book “The China Study” by Dr. T. Colin Campbell “Eating right can save your life”. T. Colin Campbell is a well-known health studies research scientist, graduated from Cornell University with a PHD in nutritional biochemistry. He has spent most of his life researching the effects of health and has written a

The Effect of Free Radicals & Antioxidants on Your Body

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Free radicals don’t just cause wrinkles and aging; they damage immune function and cause cell mutations. According to some researchers, free radicals are behind almost every known disease…, including alzheimer’s, cancer, parkinson’s and heart disease. Free radicals form incessantly and rapidly in the human body. Free radicals develop as follows. Cells are made up of atoms, and each atom is made up of a nucleus surrounded by a cloud of electron pairs. A “stable” molecule is one in which every atom has paired electrons, whereas a “free” radical is one carrying an electron in desperate search of a mate.

Antioxidants, Free Radicals…and Cancer

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What are antioxidants and free radicals?… Free radicals (don’t you just love the name of these things?) are molecules in our bodies that have lost an electron and as a result are considered to be unstable. Free radicals affect other molecules in our bodies causing damage to DNA. It is suggested that free radical damage may lead to cancer. Sounds like an enemy to me. Enter the superhero to fight these villains: the Amazing Antioxidants. Antioxidants can help prevent damage to cells caused by free radicals. How, you ask? They neutralize the free radicals by providing the lost electrons to

Tidbits from the Know Cancer Forum – Take 3

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As you’ve probably heard by now from our last 2 posts…the Know Cancer Forum is a little over 2 years old now and is populated with fabulous little tidbits of information and inspiration! This is post #3 in the series here on our cancer blog… – where we are sharing some of what’s been said when we let you guys "Tawk amongst Ya'selves". :) Once more a LOUD KC SHOUT OUT to everyone who shares here on Know Cancer!!! Together we are changing the way we collectively & individually deal with cancer.  Check out some more posts and discussions

Nutrition for Cancer Survivors

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As you may already know from previous mention, Moffitt Cancer Center is based out of Tampa, Fla., and focuses on the prevention and cure of cancer. However, for those of you who haven’t heard, they are one of the world’s most sophisticated cancer centers and have a staff of physicians & medical researchers who are among the best in their respective fields. We recently did a Moffitt post about their take on proper “Diet During Cancer Treatment,”… and if you have not read it yet, you should! However, this time they are back to let us survivors know a

Diet During Cancer Treatment

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We are extremely excited to introduce Moffitt Cancer Center to the Know Cancer Community!   Moffitt is based out of Tampa, Fla., and focuses on the prevention and cure of cancer. It is one of the world’s most sophisticated cancer centers and has a staff of physicians & medical researchers who are among the best in their respective fields. As someone who has been through cancer, I fully recognize the role that diet plays in overall health and its importance during cancer treatment. … Most of us recognize that food represents much more than nourishment and plays an important role

Can changing your diet change your lungs?

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Everyone knows smoking can cause lung cancer. In fact, smokers are ten times more likely to be diagnosed than non-smokers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Quitting smoking at any time decreases your risk of developing lung cancer,” says Christopher Azzoli, an oncologist at Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center in New York….  “Quitting smoking after a diagnosis of lung cancer can improve chance of cure, improve tolerance of and decrease side effects of treatment.” But besides trashing the Marlboros, a change of diet may also improve respiratory health, suggests research at the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute

Beyond Chemo: Reducing Stress Gives You an Edge Against Cancer

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It may come as no surprise that happy people are healthy people (and vice versa). Researchers are finding that this may be especially important when it comes to cancer. Although treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation are typically essential for combating cancer, recent research shows that psychological health may be just as important to surviving—and perhaps even preventing—the disease. Eleven years ago, researchers at Ohio State University in Columbus began a clinical study called the Stress and Immunity Breast Cancer Project. Women with breast cancer… were divided into two groups: Some received counseling on topics such as learning

Doctors Make Progress On Personalized Cancer Prevention

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With a cure for cancer still frustratingly absent, doctors argue that the best defense is prevention. In a press release from the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C., in April, Ernest Hawk, an oncologist with The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, stated that maintaining a healthy lifestyle… could effectively prevent “at least half of all cancer deaths”. It’s an impressive number and one that could potentially be even larger if doctors are able to create personalized lifestyle recommendations for each patient in their care. New research presented at last week’s meeting brings

Cancer Doctors Recognize the Potential Benefits Of Yoga Therapy

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Physicians are beginning to understand the relationship between stress and cancer. As a result, a growing number are advising patients to practice their downward and upward dogs as they undergo conventional cancer treatments like surgery and chemotherapy. By complementing the state-of-the-art biomedical therapies of Western medicine with practices like yoga and counseling, oncologists… hope to improve quality of life and symptoms while aggressively attacking cancer cells. There are many factors to consider when deciding which type of yoga therapy is best. Here are some guidelines that cancer patients can discuss with their physicians. Finding a Yoga Instructor A properly

Orlando Executive Health – VIP Healthcare

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Dr. Hennessy and the Orlando Executive Health team were a phenomenal addition to our Martini’s for Mammograms breast cancer awareness… event @ Blue Martini Orlando last month! We are very grateful for their support as they helped to make it a pink tie affair to remember!! Orlando Executive Health (OEH) is a new type of primary care practice where the focus is strictly on YOU. Their facility was conceived, designed and built around the healthcare needs of busy people who value their time and health, but are tired of not being able to get timely appointments and sitting endlessly in

The Center for Natural and Integrative Medicine

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I met Dr. Kirti Kalidas M.D., N.D., last year through a friend who recommended that I speak with him about his overall approach to cancer treatment…and wow was she right! Dr. Kalidas is the founder and medical director of  The Center for Natural and Integrative Medicine (TCNIM) in Orlando. He is a leading proponent of blending conventional medical practices with scientifically validated alternative and natural therapies – and he has the experience to back it up…! Read on to see how his incredible approach can help… Dr. Kalidas is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and a Licensed Naturopathic Physician. He

40 ways to live a Happy, Meaningful Life!

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Just had a little inspiration thrown our way from our old friend Steph and figured we’d share! It’s called LifeBook and was originally posted here…. There’s some great rules to live by…enjoy! Health: 1. Drink plenty of water. 2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar. 3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. 4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy. 5. Make time for prayer and reflection 6. Play more games. 7. Read more books than

Freedom Pharmacy…not your everyday pharmacy!

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When was the last time you walked into your local pharmacy and had a genuine and meaningful conversation with your pharmacist? Most of us don’t have this type of relationship with our pharmacist, where they take a vested interest in our health and go the extra mile. I believe it is important to have this level of care… and this is where my good friend Lois Adams and the one of a kind Freedom Pharmacy team comes in.  Freedom Pharmacy and Wellness Center… have been providing specialty retail pharmacy services since 1984. What makes them so unique is their passion

Incredible Dance Routine on the Impact of Breast Cancer

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It can be hard to put into words the impact breast cancer has had on so many.  With that said, Tyce Diorio…, a choreographer from So You Think You Can Dance put together a powerful dance piece displaying the impact it’s had on him.  It’s incredibly touching, and dancers Melissa and Ade performed it beautifully commanding your attention to this very hard-hitting topic. Enjoy! (…and don't forget your tissues)

Anti-Up! A Quick View into Antioxidants, Free Radicals, and Your Body

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Recently there has been a ton of build up about antioxidants: drink green tea, eat pomegranates, try acai juice! All the hype is not totally overrated, evidence has been shown that antioxidants slow or reduce cancer… and other diseases by fighting free radicals. Most of us already know that antioxidants are good cancer fighting agents, and free radicals are bad cancer causing molecules. What most of us don’t understand is what these guys actually do for… or to the body, and the science of it all. Let’s take a look and comprehend how antioxidants and free radicals work. Free

“Cancer”…no such thing in Chinese Medicine!

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Constance Fraatz is a dear friend of mine and a skilled acupuncture specialist. In her lifetime she has unfortunately had to deal with cancer in some of her closest family members. Constance was kind enough to offer her expertise at our Know Cancer “Community Awareness Fair” on February 22nd of this year…and her display of dedication to giving back through health, well being and Chinese Medicine was truly inspiring. Here is some insight she provided for the Know Cancer Community……enjoy! “Cancer” is a modern day term and has no parallel word in Chinese Medicine.  However, the recognition and study