Cinco Vidas

What fruit can trace its history to Biblical times, Greek mythology, Arab caravans, Indian ceremonies, Jewish customs, and the Muslim Qu’uran? The seeded apple, as the Middle French called it, or as we know it, the pomegranate. Ancients used the skin and bark for medicinal purposes, but only the seeds are edible, and today, scientists are finding many health benefits from eating those seeds, even a protective effect against cancer.

At the basic level, pomegranate seeds are rich in vitamin C and potassium, and loaded with potent antioxidants like polyphenols, tannins, and anthocyanins that protect the health of cells. (more…)

Imagine you have an open wound on your back. The area feels sensitive, and you’re especially careful what you put on it. You probably wear softer fabrics against it, like cotton, or keep the area uncovered completely. Most likely you baby it, applying only lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser to clean.

Would you want to pour alcohol or other chemicals on top of it? Probably not.

If you’re going through cancer treatments, however, and you use personal-care products that contain synthetic fragrance, (more…)

These days, you don’t have to risk skin cancer by tanning your face. Bronzers are a quick and easy way to get that sun-kissed look without the harmful UV rays. But there are so many out there, it can be difficult to choose. Since you’re going through chemotherapy, maybe this is the first time you’ve thought of using one. How do you know which is right for you?

Here’s a quick run-down of the common types of bronzers and the pros and cons of each.

Powder: Powders are the easiest to use. (more…)

“I have an incision from breast cancer surgery that will not heal,” says forum-contributor ysqueen. “It’s been over 4 weeks. My Dr. says to just give it time, but it is getting bigger not smaller.”

“My sis-in-law had the surgery,” says caregiver Anna, “and she will begin chemo but her deep wound won’t heal….”

Chemotherapy, radiation, and lack of nutrition during cancer can cause delayed wound healing, where typical cuts, scrapes, scratches, and punctures—and particularly surgical incisions—take much longer than normal to repair themselves. (more…)

Your first chemotherapy treatment looms on the calendar, dark and mysterious like an oncoming storm. What can you do to help prepare yourself?

We’ve gathered a list of tips—things you can do in the days and moments before treatment to get the help you need, make sure you’re in the best health you can be in, and make the treatment as hassle-free as possible. (more…)

Concealers are wonderful, no doubt, but all of them don’t work well for all skin types. If you have mature skin, for instance, you probably want to steer clear of solids, and dry skin types will be disappointed in powders. If you’re going through cancer treatments, you’re probably noticing changes in your skin—mainly, that it’s dryer. In that case, you may need to shop for a new concealer. (A safe, toxin-free one, that is!)

No matter your skin type or shade, concealer can do a lot to create a flawless appearance. Here are some tips on the various kinds you have to choose from. (more…)

When you were growing up, you probably had some favorite smells. Fresh bread, home-baked cookies, your mother’s perfume, or the spring air after a soft rain. Inhale these scents again and they can take you right back to a sweet memory.

“The sense of smell is by far the most powerful of all our senses,” says Steve Pearce, one of the UK’s top experts on smells. “There is nothing between [the nerve receptors] and the brain, unlike other senses. Its direct contact means we get a very quick, very intensive reaction to odours.” (more…)

For those of us who’ve struggled or are struggling with cancer, we sure don’t need any additional reasons to blame ourselves. Anyone can get cancer at any time, so even the thought that somehow our personalities might have something to do with it can be dangerous to our recovery and our future health.

But bear with us here a moment. What if certain parts of our personalities put us at a higher risk of contracting cancer? Wouldn’t we want to know, so we could address those parts? Surely just as we improve our diets and incorporate exercise into our daily lives, if there were something else we could do to either prevent cancer or increase our odds of beating it, we’d want to do it, right? (more…)

Cancer treatments cause sun-sensitivity. It’s a fact. So in addition to your regular routine of skin protection, you need to be extra vigilant if you’re going through chemotherapy or radiation. However, all sunscreens aren’t created equal. Which is the best for sensitive skin?

Basically, we have two camps in the sunscreen world—the chemical and the physical. The story has been that physical sunscreens (or so-called mineral, which include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), reflect or scatter UV radiation before it damages skin. (more…)

A lot of fun things happen in September. State fairs, back-to-school, the Labor Day holiday, last camping trips, and the melancholy beauty of the approaching fall. As you’re breaking out the evening tea and watching the burning sunsets, how about a delicious cookie to go with the experience? Better yet, how about holding a bake sale?

September is Pediatric Cancer Month. Each year, nearly 13,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer. The Pediatric Cancer Foundation continues to work to raise money to battle this devastating disease, and this month, you can help, just by baking some cookies! (more…)