I have been following a website called Chris Beat Cancer. He has a great story. Make sure you read it! He beat cancer with diet ONLY. Through this site, I became aware of a series of documentaries. I cannot vouch for it, but if you are interested, here is the link. Sign up and you will get an email reminder to watch.
www.thetruthaboutcancer.com
Let me know what you think!
#fancer
Monday, March 30, 2015
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Dawn's Daily Diet
I have been getting tons of requests to blog about EXACTLY what I am eating in a day. And what products I am using. It is very timely because my sister and I planned out a day's worth of food recently. It took me about 2 weeks to actually follow it to a tee. Like I said, being healthy is hard. But worth it.
It is a rough draft and still in the works. The times that we chose to eat revolved around my schedule on a Monday. I have since made one of these for each day of the week. I modified it according to what I typically have going on that particular day.
I am putting in a disclaimer that we are still learning EVERY day. We are constantly finding out that something we thought was free of the nasties has a hidden ingredient or we just missed something. So stay tuned for improvements.
According to http://foodbabe.com, I start off the morning with 8 ounces of warm water with half a lemon and some cayenne pepper. This is to start up my metabolism and is supposed to curb your appetite for sweets. I immediately follow that with 12 ounces of water. Then I drink a green smoothie. Right now that consists of only vegetables. Green smoothies are better on an empty stomach. I feel the energy boost when I drink it on an empty stomach.
Next I eat 1.5 cups of quinoa with 2.5 cups of raw veggies. I get organic when I can. Kroger is getting more and more organic. That is where I shop. I top it off with Chia seeds. I get my quinoa from Whole Foods or Amazon. Chia seeds from Amazon also.
My protein shakes are delicious. I use Whole Foods 365 Almond Milk. (Please make sure your almond milk doesn't have carrageenan in it!!) I add a scoop of protein powder (I only drink the vanilla because the chocolate adds sugar. They have a coffee one, but I don't like coffee.), quinoa cereal flakes, and shake. Sometimes I add ice, cinnamon, and nutmeg and put in in my NutriBullet. So good.
Next is my wheat grass shot. This consists of 2 ounces of juiced wheat grass, 1 ounce of lemon, and ginger to taste. I love these shots! I actually crave them. I cannot wait to get my taste buds back as I am sure they will make them even better. We purchased our juicer from Amazon. The link is below. Their customer service is wonderful! We get the grass from Whole Foods. Lemons and ginger from Kroger.
It is a rough draft and still in the works. The times that we chose to eat revolved around my schedule on a Monday. I have since made one of these for each day of the week. I modified it according to what I typically have going on that particular day.
I am putting in a disclaimer that we are still learning EVERY day. We are constantly finding out that something we thought was free of the nasties has a hidden ingredient or we just missed something. So stay tuned for improvements.
According to http://foodbabe.com, I start off the morning with 8 ounces of warm water with half a lemon and some cayenne pepper. This is to start up my metabolism and is supposed to curb your appetite for sweets. I immediately follow that with 12 ounces of water. Then I drink a green smoothie. Right now that consists of only vegetables. Green smoothies are better on an empty stomach. I feel the energy boost when I drink it on an empty stomach.
Next I eat 1.5 cups of quinoa with 2.5 cups of raw veggies. I get organic when I can. Kroger is getting more and more organic. That is where I shop. I top it off with Chia seeds. I get my quinoa from Whole Foods or Amazon. Chia seeds from Amazon also.
 |
| Boil water and quinoa. Once boiling, put top on and cook on low for 15 minutes. Let sit for 5 and enjoy. |
 |
| These powerful little seeds aren't a strong taste. |
My protein shakes are delicious. I use Whole Foods 365 Almond Milk. (Please make sure your almond milk doesn't have carrageenan in it!!) I add a scoop of protein powder (I only drink the vanilla because the chocolate adds sugar. They have a coffee one, but I don't like coffee.), quinoa cereal flakes, and shake. Sometimes I add ice, cinnamon, and nutmeg and put in in my NutriBullet. So good.
 |
| I purchase this at Goodness Grocery or Whole Foods. Whole Foods is about $7 more. |
 |
| You can make your own almond milk too. Or just use water. |
 |
| I purchase this from Kroger. Have to compare the price on Amazon. |
http://www.amazon.com/Omega-J8006-Nutrition-Center-Juicer/dp/B001L7OIVI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426778191&sr=8-1&keywords=omega+J8006
My sewer water is my alkalizer and detoxify drink that is not that good.
For lunch I get to eat my lentil pasta. There is quinoa pasta, but I don't like it. Also, one of the packages said it contained a corn, which my body does not like. Lentil pasta is so good and makes me feel normal when I eat it! While it is cooking, I cut up avocados and tomatoes and place them in a bowl. I top that with the pasta and a dressing my friend, JR, shared with me. You will love it as much as I do! I then put 1.5 cups of quinoa and 2.5 cups of veggies on top and chia seeds. I have also used marinara sauce instead of the dressing. Both ways are delicious!
Here is an article on the benefits of chia seeds: http://authoritynutrition.com/11-proven-health-benefits-of-chia-seeds/
I love Brussel sprouts. That is great because they are great cancer fighters. I make a bunch and keep in the fridge. I will eat the cold, but will warm up depending on my mood. I put coconut oil and salt on them and bake at 350 until the tops turn slightly brown. I have also sautéed onions in coconut oil. Let them cool down. Add the Brussel to coat with the onion and oil and then baked. You can add all types of spices.
For dinner it is a big salad. And I mean big! We had to purchase bigger glass bowls (just used mixing bowls). Lately I have been using cabbage instead of lettuce. It takes time, but I have cut up uncooked Brussels sprouts (most veggies are better for you raw) and add them. Then 1.5 cups of quinoa (I make a huge pot at the beginning of the week.), 2.5 cup of raw veggies. Thanks Chop and Talk friends! Most nights I add a wild caught 6 ounce piece of salmon also. I use the above dressing and top with more chia seeds.
My husband makes us another wheat grass shot after we put the boys down.
At 9, I have a snack of seeds or nuts. I am usually still full, but try to get a couple handfuls down. If you are going through chemo, you DO NOT want to go bed with a less than full belly. That is when nausea will strike.
I drink at least 4 cups of tea a day. I only drink teas that are USDA Certified. I usually do 2 tea bags and lots of water at one time. Makes it easier to get more in that way.
I also drink at least 100 ounces of Kangen water. Nothing else besides my protein shakes. I lucked out because I was a big water drinker before. Not 100 ounces worth of a water drinker, but just carry around a (glass!!) water bottle wherever I go.
And there you have one day in the life of me. It is a lot and preparation is key. Having that sheet of paper hanging on my cabinet wall helps more than I can say. If I am going to be gone for 3 or 4 hours, I can just look at the sheet to see what and when I should be eating. That way I can pack it up and take it with me.
And, yes, with this #fancer diet, there is not much variety. Which I think makes it easier. It is about eating to live instead of living to eat. When you have that mindset, the cravings aren't as big. I will post some pictures and recipes of other types of food I have been eating while kicking cancer's behind.
I know some friends have said they want to try this. Let's do it together. Let's share what has worked and what hasn't. Comment below so we can all learn together!
Happy eating and enjoy the way you feel. It is pretty awesome.
My sewer water is my alkalizer and detoxify drink that is not that good.
 |
| You can get this at Whole Foods and pay more or get it on Vitacost.com like I do. |
For lunch I get to eat my lentil pasta. There is quinoa pasta, but I don't like it. Also, one of the packages said it contained a corn, which my body does not like. Lentil pasta is so good and makes me feel normal when I eat it! While it is cooking, I cut up avocados and tomatoes and place them in a bowl. I top that with the pasta and a dressing my friend, JR, shared with me. You will love it as much as I do! I then put 1.5 cups of quinoa and 2.5 cups of veggies on top and chia seeds. I have also used marinara sauce instead of the dressing. Both ways are delicious!
Here is an article on the benefits of chia seeds: http://authoritynutrition.com/11-proven-health-benefits-of-chia-seeds/
 |
| I have found this at Kroger, Costco, and on Amazon. |
 |
| Make sure your vinegars don't have bad ingredients. I searched for a Red Wine Vinegar with no sulfates. Found it at Kroger. I usually skip the olive oil. But if I do want to add something more, I substitute melted coconut oil. The last time I made this dressing, I added basil. So good! |
For dinner it is a big salad. And I mean big! We had to purchase bigger glass bowls (just used mixing bowls). Lately I have been using cabbage instead of lettuce. It takes time, but I have cut up uncooked Brussels sprouts (most veggies are better for you raw) and add them. Then 1.5 cups of quinoa (I make a huge pot at the beginning of the week.), 2.5 cup of raw veggies. Thanks Chop and Talk friends! Most nights I add a wild caught 6 ounce piece of salmon also. I use the above dressing and top with more chia seeds.
 |
| Mine is the bigger one. LOL. |
At 9, I have a snack of seeds or nuts. I am usually still full, but try to get a couple handfuls down. If you are going through chemo, you DO NOT want to go bed with a less than full belly. That is when nausea will strike.
I drink at least 4 cups of tea a day. I only drink teas that are USDA Certified. I usually do 2 tea bags and lots of water at one time. Makes it easier to get more in that way.
I also drink at least 100 ounces of Kangen water. Nothing else besides my protein shakes. I lucked out because I was a big water drinker before. Not 100 ounces worth of a water drinker, but just carry around a (glass!!) water bottle wherever I go.
And there you have one day in the life of me. It is a lot and preparation is key. Having that sheet of paper hanging on my cabinet wall helps more than I can say. If I am going to be gone for 3 or 4 hours, I can just look at the sheet to see what and when I should be eating. That way I can pack it up and take it with me.
And, yes, with this #fancer diet, there is not much variety. Which I think makes it easier. It is about eating to live instead of living to eat. When you have that mindset, the cravings aren't as big. I will post some pictures and recipes of other types of food I have been eating while kicking cancer's behind.
I know some friends have said they want to try this. Let's do it together. Let's share what has worked and what hasn't. Comment below so we can all learn together!
Happy eating and enjoy the way you feel. It is pretty awesome.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
To Use Inhibitors or Not
Calling all researchers. I have to make a very hard decision in the next week or so.....
Every three weeks, I take 3 drugs. Herceptin, Perjeta, and Taxol. Taxol is a chemo and the other two are inhibitors. They act as shields to keep estrogen (which fuels my type of cancer) away from my cells.
I did Herceptin every 3 weeks for a year my first time. I was also on Tamoxifen which does the same thing for a year and a half before my rediagnosis. The obvious conclusion is that they didn't work for me.
But that is if we are assuming that at one point I was cancer free. I no longer believe that. My gut tells me that the cancer was in me the whole time. Recall, they took out the tumor found in my breast, tested my lymph nodes, and when they came back clear, deemed me cancer free. They assumed it hadn't spread anywhere else. They never did a scan. The doctor at MD Anderson agreed with me that it had been in me the whole time.
So we have 2 scenarios:
1) I was cancer free after my surgery and the cancer came back. With this scenario we can DEFINITELY say that the inhibitors did not work for me.
2) I always had cancer in me. I haven't done my research, but it seems that the inhibitors should have blocked the estrogen and my cancer wouldn't have grown.
On Feb. 28, we got the wonderful news that I was cancer free. I was in such a surreal place. When she said she would still like to do 3 more months of chemo to make sure we got everything, I said sure. But by the next day, it wasn't sitting right with me. My gut was telling me that I didn't need it. I whole heartedly feel that all the cancer is gone. We got results that we were not supposed to get. And certainly not that soon! The cancer is gone.
But while I pondered this, I did 2 more rounds. The first round after the news was a bad week. My rash was back. I was nauseous. I had some twinges of nausea the very first week, but nothing like this. And all I keep thinking was, "The chemo has nothing to attack so it is attacking me." My gut was telling me that doing more chemo was now going to do damage to my body. (Chemo can cause leukemia.) So I have decided that yesterday's taxol was the last dose I was going to do. I am very comfortable with that decision.
What I am trying to decide is whether to go with my doctor's suggestion of doing the inhibitors (perjeta and herceptin) every three weeks FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
I have met a wonderful lady who has been kicking cancer's a*^ since her first diagnosis in 1993. She has had 3 reoccurrences. We are on the same three drugs. She was on herceptin for 8 years before cancer reared its ugly head again. I have asked her if she truly believes the herceptin kept it away. She says yes. But my thinking is so different now. My first thought was, "But the cancer came back so how can you say it worked?" I just feel like if it was doing its job, it would continue to do it. I feel that these drugs are also doing damage to our bodies. Beating them down. So we can't fight off the cancer ourselves. And that is where the diet comes in again...
If we believe that my diet and Eastern medicine practices played a major part in me kicking cancer's ass (which I do!), then we have to believe that my diet can be my inhibitors. I have been praying about it. I have been journaling about it. I have been talking to my body about it. I have been talking to anyone I feel might have an opinion on the subject.
I am 95% there. 95% sure that is the road I should take. 95% sure that continuing to eat my strict diet, doing wheat grass shots, breathing, resting, journaling, drinking lots of Kangen water, taking my supplements, exercising, laughing, visualizing, acupuncture, yoga, praying, and all the other crazy stuff I am doing, will continue to create an environment where cancer cannot grow.
For almost 43 years, I have been "brainwashed" to believe that doctor's know everything. That doctor's are out for my best interest. That the standard food pyramid is how you stay healthy. That drugs are the only way to cure sickness and diseases. Etc. Etc. It is a hard leap of faith. And we are talking about a life and death decision here.
And that is where you, my friends, come in. You have amazed me with your knowledge and research skills. I need stories about people who have taken the path I want to take. Used diet as their drugs. Aren't on maintenance drugs. And are years out from being cancer free.
Let's share this information. I would love to think that there are others out there who will benefit from what we have done and are continuing to do. Respond in the comments section so everyone can learn with us.
I am due to start doing the inhibitors on March 24. That gives me a little under 2 weeks to decide. Ugh. This might be the hardest decision I have had to make thus far in my life.
I will leave you with one website I found. http://www.chrisbeatcancer.com/she-healed-breast-cancer-with-nutrition-then-won-iron-man/ The website is www.chrisbeatcancer.com, but the link is an interview with an amazing lady who beat stage IV cancer purely with diet. If I have done the math right, she is 32 years out! That's what I am talking about!!! And what I am looking for more of, please.
Every three weeks, I take 3 drugs. Herceptin, Perjeta, and Taxol. Taxol is a chemo and the other two are inhibitors. They act as shields to keep estrogen (which fuels my type of cancer) away from my cells.
I did Herceptin every 3 weeks for a year my first time. I was also on Tamoxifen which does the same thing for a year and a half before my rediagnosis. The obvious conclusion is that they didn't work for me.
But that is if we are assuming that at one point I was cancer free. I no longer believe that. My gut tells me that the cancer was in me the whole time. Recall, they took out the tumor found in my breast, tested my lymph nodes, and when they came back clear, deemed me cancer free. They assumed it hadn't spread anywhere else. They never did a scan. The doctor at MD Anderson agreed with me that it had been in me the whole time.
So we have 2 scenarios:
1) I was cancer free after my surgery and the cancer came back. With this scenario we can DEFINITELY say that the inhibitors did not work for me.
2) I always had cancer in me. I haven't done my research, but it seems that the inhibitors should have blocked the estrogen and my cancer wouldn't have grown.
On Feb. 28, we got the wonderful news that I was cancer free. I was in such a surreal place. When she said she would still like to do 3 more months of chemo to make sure we got everything, I said sure. But by the next day, it wasn't sitting right with me. My gut was telling me that I didn't need it. I whole heartedly feel that all the cancer is gone. We got results that we were not supposed to get. And certainly not that soon! The cancer is gone.
But while I pondered this, I did 2 more rounds. The first round after the news was a bad week. My rash was back. I was nauseous. I had some twinges of nausea the very first week, but nothing like this. And all I keep thinking was, "The chemo has nothing to attack so it is attacking me." My gut was telling me that doing more chemo was now going to do damage to my body. (Chemo can cause leukemia.) So I have decided that yesterday's taxol was the last dose I was going to do. I am very comfortable with that decision.
What I am trying to decide is whether to go with my doctor's suggestion of doing the inhibitors (perjeta and herceptin) every three weeks FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
I have met a wonderful lady who has been kicking cancer's a*^ since her first diagnosis in 1993. She has had 3 reoccurrences. We are on the same three drugs. She was on herceptin for 8 years before cancer reared its ugly head again. I have asked her if she truly believes the herceptin kept it away. She says yes. But my thinking is so different now. My first thought was, "But the cancer came back so how can you say it worked?" I just feel like if it was doing its job, it would continue to do it. I feel that these drugs are also doing damage to our bodies. Beating them down. So we can't fight off the cancer ourselves. And that is where the diet comes in again...
If we believe that my diet and Eastern medicine practices played a major part in me kicking cancer's ass (which I do!), then we have to believe that my diet can be my inhibitors. I have been praying about it. I have been journaling about it. I have been talking to my body about it. I have been talking to anyone I feel might have an opinion on the subject.
I am 95% there. 95% sure that is the road I should take. 95% sure that continuing to eat my strict diet, doing wheat grass shots, breathing, resting, journaling, drinking lots of Kangen water, taking my supplements, exercising, laughing, visualizing, acupuncture, yoga, praying, and all the other crazy stuff I am doing, will continue to create an environment where cancer cannot grow.
For almost 43 years, I have been "brainwashed" to believe that doctor's know everything. That doctor's are out for my best interest. That the standard food pyramid is how you stay healthy. That drugs are the only way to cure sickness and diseases. Etc. Etc. It is a hard leap of faith. And we are talking about a life and death decision here.
And that is where you, my friends, come in. You have amazed me with your knowledge and research skills. I need stories about people who have taken the path I want to take. Used diet as their drugs. Aren't on maintenance drugs. And are years out from being cancer free.
Let's share this information. I would love to think that there are others out there who will benefit from what we have done and are continuing to do. Respond in the comments section so everyone can learn with us.
I am due to start doing the inhibitors on March 24. That gives me a little under 2 weeks to decide. Ugh. This might be the hardest decision I have had to make thus far in my life.
I will leave you with one website I found. http://www.chrisbeatcancer.com/she-healed-breast-cancer-with-nutrition-then-won-iron-man/ The website is www.chrisbeatcancer.com, but the link is an interview with an amazing lady who beat stage IV cancer purely with diet. If I have done the math right, she is 32 years out! That's what I am talking about!!! And what I am looking for more of, please.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Prom
My wonderful chemo nurses started a program called Pennies With A Purpose The are hosting a prom on March 28 to raise money. The money is used to help patients who need financial help with copays, rides to treatmet, etc.
I love this kind of stuff. When I see pictures on FB of themed parties, I would think how much I would have enjoyed that party. So prom is right up my alley. I got a sitter before I asked Jason. My thought was that he wasn't going to be that into going so I would get a group of girlfriends to go with me. He surprised me and not only said he wanted to go, he suggested we really have fun with it and dress up in 70s attire. Yes!
Patients are free and guests are $20. They will have food and drinks and a DJ. Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/198937626815437/photos/pb.198937626815437.-2207520000.1425995886./881920248517168/?type=1&theater
If you think this sounds fun and want to join us, please let me know. We would love to get a group to
go with us!
I love this kind of stuff. When I see pictures on FB of themed parties, I would think how much I would have enjoyed that party. So prom is right up my alley. I got a sitter before I asked Jason. My thought was that he wasn't going to be that into going so I would get a group of girlfriends to go with me. He surprised me and not only said he wanted to go, he suggested we really have fun with it and dress up in 70s attire. Yes!
Patients are free and guests are $20. They will have food and drinks and a DJ. Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/198937626815437/photos/pb.198937626815437.-2207520000.1425995886./881920248517168/?type=1&theater
If you think this sounds fun and want to join us, please let me know. We would love to get a group to
go with us!
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Perfect Environment
I am still getting questions about what and why we are continuing on the same path as far as diet and chemo. When can I finally meet them out to eat? Can I eat sugar now? And messages saying they are so glad that I can go back to living the life I used to before my rediagnosis.
If I go back to the way I was eating, living, and breathing, cancer could come back. Truthfully, I believe it WILL come back. Right now, I have created an environment where there is no cancer. Cancer does not like what I am putting in my body. Cancer does not like that I have stopped putting things in my body that it likes to thrive on. Cancer doesn't like that I have worked on getting rid of anger and resentment and will continue to do for the rest of my life. Cancer likes that kind of stuff rolling around inside. Cancer uses that negativity to grow and thrive. Cancer doesn't like that I have introduced lots of oxygen because it can't grow in that environment. It does not like that I now take time to take care of me. I consciously breathe during the day. I mediate. I read bible verses EVERY day. I am teaching my body to relax and be still during yoga.
I have created an environment where cancer cannot grow. I MUST continue to nurture that perfect environment. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
Friends have asked if I would eventually SLOWLY introduce certain things back in my diet. Minimal is my answer. Again, keep this environment like it is today.
I have heard stories about people who have done this diet. They became cancer free, and after a couple years of clear scans, they start adding things back into their diet. I just don't get that. I mean, I get the reasoning. I sure wish I could do that. But no. I don't understand why you would start putting the very stuff you deemed so bad that you stopped eating it to get rid of cancer. Think about that.
Think about that again.
I think eventually there will be cheat meals. Not days, but single meals. But very little.
So, no, there aren't going to be many changes to my diet. This diet created an environment that tld cancer to get out. I will happily eat the good stuff, not eat the bad stuff, and live long and happy.
So nothing has changed except, of course, I am cancer free! I am able to breathe more. More ammunition against cancer. Chemo is dripping into me as I type this. I have my Kangen water. I just finished a protein shake with my homemade almond milk (Thank you, DM!) and I have a green shake calling me name.
Dozers are still working so I am going to continue helping them by only sending good stuff down to them. Get ready, guys, here comes some more good green stuff.
If I go back to the way I was eating, living, and breathing, cancer could come back. Truthfully, I believe it WILL come back. Right now, I have created an environment where there is no cancer. Cancer does not like what I am putting in my body. Cancer does not like that I have stopped putting things in my body that it likes to thrive on. Cancer doesn't like that I have worked on getting rid of anger and resentment and will continue to do for the rest of my life. Cancer likes that kind of stuff rolling around inside. Cancer uses that negativity to grow and thrive. Cancer doesn't like that I have introduced lots of oxygen because it can't grow in that environment. It does not like that I now take time to take care of me. I consciously breathe during the day. I mediate. I read bible verses EVERY day. I am teaching my body to relax and be still during yoga.
I have created an environment where cancer cannot grow. I MUST continue to nurture that perfect environment. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
Friends have asked if I would eventually SLOWLY introduce certain things back in my diet. Minimal is my answer. Again, keep this environment like it is today.
I have heard stories about people who have done this diet. They became cancer free, and after a couple years of clear scans, they start adding things back into their diet. I just don't get that. I mean, I get the reasoning. I sure wish I could do that. But no. I don't understand why you would start putting the very stuff you deemed so bad that you stopped eating it to get rid of cancer. Think about that.
Think about that again.
I think eventually there will be cheat meals. Not days, but single meals. But very little.
So, no, there aren't going to be many changes to my diet. This diet created an environment that tld cancer to get out. I will happily eat the good stuff, not eat the bad stuff, and live long and happy.
So nothing has changed except, of course, I am cancer free! I am able to breathe more. More ammunition against cancer. Chemo is dripping into me as I type this. I have my Kangen water. I just finished a protein shake with my homemade almond milk (Thank you, DM!) and I have a green shake calling me name.
Dozers are still working so I am going to continue helping them by only sending good stuff down to them. Get ready, guys, here comes some more good green stuff.
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