Cinco Vidas

Have you heard about this film? It’s a new documentary, sponsored by the Foundation for the Advancement in Cancer Therapy (F.A.C.T.). It follows the lives of five men and women who used biological therapies to overcome serious illness. Definitely caught our attention!

According to the F.A.C.T. website, four of these people had been diagnosed with cancer, and the fifth with a severe case of Lyme disease. All have outlived their diseases, between 15 and nearly 40 years so far. They are part of a group of survivors who sought guidance from Ruth Sackman, past-president of F.A.C.T., and her book, Rethinking Cancer, published in 2003.

Amazon reviewer Gordon Ledford says of that book, “Traditional medicine offers three choices: Surgery (I had 57 “places” removed before I said, ‘Enough is enough!’); Chemotherapy (who really benefits from a destroyed immune system?); and Radiation (which actually CAUSES cancer). I highly recommend this book plus The China Study by Collin Campbell. These two books have changed my life for the better. I am healthy once again, I have more energy than when I was in my 30’s, I sleep better (the body heals, primarily, during restful sleep), and I enjoy life with no fear of cancer any longer.”

Another reviewer from Maryland agrees: “Ruth Sackman is among this century’s most diligent and authentic health pioneers swimming against the tide to get the word out that cancer is a degenerative disease at whose root is a sick immune system that just said, ‘OK, I quit.’”

Sackman doesn’t strive to go against the advice of physicians. In fact, she advises readers to work with a qualified doctor to manage their illness, but to include nutritional and immune-boosting therapies. The new documentary takes alternative therapies a step further, examining the lives of those who sought out other ways of dealing with their illnesses, some after conventional therapies failed, and some after surgery or diagnosis. It includes an interview with Sackman, as well as disscussions with two physicians (one an oncologist) about the results experienced by the people documented. Types of cancer covered include renal cell carcinoma, breast cancer, and bone and lymph cancer.

What is F.A.C.T.? According to their site, a non-profit organization that supports non-toxic, biologically sound approaches to cancer prevention and treatment. “F.A.C.T.’s goal is to educate practitioners and patients about a different concept of cancer and other chronic degenerative disease in the hope that the public will gain an understanding of all viable medical options.” Sackman co-founded the organization after watching her daughter suffer through chemotherapy and eventually succumb to leukemia, and spent nearly 40 years of her life helping cancer patients return to healthy lives. F.A.C.T. advocates a balanced diet of whole, preferably organic foods, detoxification, hormonal balance, stress management, and optimal functioning of all body organs and glands.

The choices these people made may not be for everyone, but they do get you thinking. “Our goal is really to educate the public about alternative cancer treatments,” said F.A.C.T. vice president Jim Oakar. “We want to be a hub of information for people seeking other methods.”

“I’m not anti-medicine,” adds Dr. Sheryl Leventhal, a former New York oncologist featured on the film. “I try to get to the roots of problems and fix the roots.”

If you’re interested in watching this film, you can get it at Food Matters TV.

Have you seen this film? What did you think?

We posted an earlier article on the potential dangers of aluminum in deodorant, but today, we wanted to expand on that a bit. We’ve been talking a lot about materials that can act like estrogen in the body, which may encourage cancer cells to form. Did you know that aluminum is one of them?

Like parabens, phthalates, and pesticides, aluminum can act like estrogen in the body, affecting estrogen receptors and increasing breast cancer risk. Laboratory research shows that aluminum salts, common in most deodorants, can directly bind to estrogen receptors, and can affect estrogen-regulated gene expression in breast cancer cells. Read More »

We love stories of triumph over tragedy, so here’s another one for you. What would you do if you were told you were going to die of cervical cancer? If somehow you skirted that diagnosis, what would you do after years of harrowing treatment that included chemotherapy, radiation, and the removal of one of your kidneys?

For Meaghan Edelstein, the answers are “keep fighting” and “reach out to help others.” Diagnosed with stage 3B cervical cancer in February 2007, she wasn’t given much hope for survival. For two months prior, doctors insisted her symptoms were caused by stress. When they finally realized what was going on, they thought it was too late. Read More »

If you have a loved one with cancer, you may automatically (or by choice) be placed in the role of advocate. If so, what can you do to be sure he/she gets the best treatments and care?

Your loved one will probably be going through all types of emotions and physical hardships, making your help invaluable as he/she fights to recover. We’ve gathered a few tips here to help make your journey a little easier to navigate. Try not to be overwhelmed as you review this list. Remember to take things one step at a time, and to do your best to continue to exercise, eat right, and get enough sleep. Maintaining your  own health is equally as important during this difficult time.
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The First Lady, Michelle Obama, is talking about food. She’s encouraging children to eat healthier, and parents to offer more nutritious meals and snacks. We have an obesity epidemic to deal with, and it’s great that we have some leadership in helping our children to overcome this dangerous trend.

Isn’t it interesting, though, that as we grow more and more conscious of the food we’re putting in our mouths, we’re still applying all kinds of chemicals to our bodies on a daily basis? The skin has the potential to absorb the toxic ingredients in those products, but many still haven’t gotten the message that what’s listed on the bottle could end up inside the body. Hopefully, Cinco Vidas readers are being more careful!

Women are especially at risk, as we use so many more products than men, particularly make-up products. Let’s talk about three of the most concerning items—these may be in your makeup bag right now. Read More »

Growing up, most of us learn to equate dirt with disease. A clean house is a healthy house, right?

Maybe not! It all depends on what you’re using to clean. According to the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia, “Many chemicals contained in household cleaning products are the same as those used in industrial settings. Many scientists are becoming concerned that long-term, low-level exposure to chemicals may be just as dangers as short-term, high-dose exposures. They also worry that we do not understand the impact of exposure to the cocktail of chemicals found in household air and dust.”

We researched a few common household cleaning products and found some surprising information. If you’ve got some of these items in your cupboards, you may want to consider replacing them. Read More »

We’ve been talking about various ingredients in your everyday personal-care products that can be harmful. We’ve mentioned phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde, talc, 1,4 dioxane, and more. But when it comes to your health, it’s not about any one particular ingredient.

You’ve probably heard about radiation exposure—radiation that you may encounter through x-rays, or even as a part of your occupation. It’s not about radiation, necessarily, but about how much radiation your body is exposed to over your lifetime. Read More »

Your doctor has told you to “eat a balanced diet,” but when you’re going through cancer treatments, sometimes food just doesn’t taste right. You can lose your appetite, easily get sick to your stomach, or find that eating most foods is similar to chewing cardboard. Maybe you’ve seen a nutritionist, and you’ve got a list of vitamins and minerals running around in your head, but no idea how to start turning that information into something you’d actually like to eat.

Enter Rebecca Katz, your personal culinary translator. Consultant, teacher, speaker, author, and first and foremost—cook—Rebecca has created (with co-author Mat Edelson) a book just for cancer patients and their caregivers. It’s called Cancer-Fighting Kitchen, and inside, she shares delicious recipes sure to get you eating again, as well as tips on what foods battle various side effects.
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In a previous post, we talked about the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics study that revealed 1,4-dioxane in nearly two-thirds of children’s bath products tested. 1,4-dioxane—typically produced as a byproduct during manufacturing—has been linked to skin allergies and is considered by the Environmental Protection Agency as a probable carcinogen.

The danger is still out there, but we’re happy to report that a few people are doing something about it. In 2008, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) conducted their own study and found 1,4-dioxane in leading organic personal-care products. In June of 2008, in part because of the OCA’s findings and in part because of their own studies, the state of California filed a major lawsuit against body care household-cleaning product companies whose products tested highest for 1,4-dioxane. California’s Attorney General alleged the companies should have put warning labels on their products telling consumers of the 1,4-dioxane content, since they knew it was present.
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We’ve all seen the term “ph-balanced” on skin-care products. Most of us know it has something to do with the natural acid in the skin, and that if the product is pH-balanced, it won’t dry out the skin.

But pH goes a lot further than that. In fact, the entire body is affected by pH, and a body out of balance is more likely to be at risk for disease—including infections, bone and joint deterioration, digestive disturbances, and cancer.
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