Cinco Vidas

You thought when you finished cancer treatments your hair would go back to its healthy, shiny, normal self. You waited, as patiently as you could, but 2 months, 4 months, even 6 months later you’re still dealing with dry, brittle, frizzy, unmanageable hair. What to do?

“I underwent brain radiation and my last treatment was 12 months ago,” says survivor D.S. “Although my hair finally started growing back after nine months, the hair growing back in the center of my head is of a total different texture and length.” (more…)

Cinco Vidas – a lifestyle brand of products and services – is working on groundbreaking projects to make life better for cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers, and we need your help.

You can participate by being part of a focus group, taking a survey, or sharing your story through a personal interview. It will mean a lot to others who are now, or may one day be sharing the journey of cancer.

Write to info@cincovidas.com and tell us if you’re a fighter, survivor or caregiver (or combination of these), your phone number, and what state/province you live in. Don’t worry- we won’t release your information to anyone else. (more…)

It’s hard to believe, but the Environmental Working Group (EWG) released a new study that found 232 chemical contaminants in the umbilical cord blood samples taken from 10 newborn American babies. Nine out of ten had bisphenol A (BPA), a plastic component and synthetic estrogen. Two synthetic musks, components of fragrance, were found in 7 out of 10.

BPA, as we mentioned in another post, has been linked to breast cancer (because of its ability to mimic female hormones), as well as to prostate cancer. The National Institutes of Health found evidence that it may have adverse affects on childhood development.
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It’s a trend that’s catching on—sun-protective clothing. Manufacturers claim their products protect the wearer from UV exposure (thereby reducing the risk of skin cancer), remain effective after several washings, and wear comfortably even for those with sensitive skin.

“Our goal is to provide the highest UV protection in a lightweight garment,” says Sun Protective Clothing’s web site, “while maintaining style, comfort, and durability.”

Can certain types of clothes really protect our skin better than others? According to skincancer.org, they can. “As a rule,” the organization says, “light-colored, lightweight and loosely-woven fabrics do not offer much protection from the sun. That white T-shirt you slip on at the beach when you feel your skin burning provides only moderate protection from sunburn, with an average ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 7.”
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Whether you’re after a healthy glow in the winter months or want to erase unsightly tan lines in the summer, self-tanners can be life savers for your best look. However, did you know that many contain chemicals that could be harmful to your health?

Lots of people choose self-tanners hoping to lower their exposure to UV rays and thereby reduce their risk of skin cancer. However, it doesn’t pay to exchange one cancer risk for another, so let’s look at some of the things you want to avoid when purchasing these golden goodies. (more…)

Three out of four deaths from colon and breast cancer could be prevented. That’s approximately 58,000 new cases of breast cancer, and 49,000 new cases of colorectal cancer each year. How? By increasing vitamin D levels in the blood.

That’s the conclusion reached by a group of researchers who examined epidemiological findings and over 3,000 research studies on vitamin D and cancer. According to their published paper, “It is projected that raising the minimum year-round serum 25(OH)D level to 40 to 60 ng/mL would prevent approximately 59,000 new cases of breast cancer and 49,000 new cases of colorectal cancer each year, and three fourths of deaths from these diseases in the United States and Canada….Such intakes also are expected to reduce case-fatality rates of patients who have breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer by half.” (more…)

We’ve been talking about several of the ingredients that are best to avoid when shopping for personal-care products. We’ve mentioned things like phthalates, parabens, synthetic fragrances, and formaldehyde. But we wanted to take a moment to put an even bigger warning behind four of the most dangerous—talc, powdered titanium dioxide, sunscreens, and certain dark hair dyes.

We posted recently about talc—how studies have shown that women who used talc had a 33% higher risk of ovarian cancer, and how mothers using talc powder on babies could also be at higher risk. According to Samuel Epstein, MD, author of Toxic Beauty (Benbella Books, Inc., 2009), one in five premenopausal women continues to use talc as a dusting powder or on tampons. With such a strong connection to cancer, even the American Cancer Society says the findings are cause for concern. To protect your health, use talc-free ointments on babies and avoid powders in your personal care. (more…)

While debate rages over Gardasil, the vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer in women—and whether or not it does what it’s supposed to do—studies continue to support a natural solution showing promise against the disease: broccoli.

Specifically, broccoli (and similar vegetables like kale and cabbage) contains a compound called indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which has been isolated from the veggie for its anti-cancer properties. Animal studies with DIM, a chemical made from I3C, has stopped the growth of certain cancer cells in animal studies. Other studies have found that it boosts the immune system, activating cells that kill tumor cells. I3C has also been found to combat breast cancer by converting a cancer-promoting estrogen into a more protective variety. In addition, a 2004 study found that women who consumed broccoli were less likely to get breast cancer. (more…)

Heidi Floyd, breast-cancer survivor, and her son, Noah.

Breast cancer was in her family. Her mother had passed away when she was only in her 40s. So she knew she was at risk—but she never expected to be diagnosed while she was pregnant.

Her name is Heidi Floyd, and today she serves as Breast Cancer Development Ambassador for the Very Bradley Foundation, traveling the nation raising money for breast cancer research. But when she was diagnosed, she was working in IT sales, and didn’t know where to turn. “The first oncologist I spoke to didn’t know how to treat a pregnant patient,” she says. “He told me my options were to terminate the pregnancy, or carry the baby to term while not addressing the cancer.” (more…)

Guys, if a woman you love has breast cancer and you’re feeling lost and alone, there’s help. We know most of the books and support materials out there are targeted toward women, with good reason. However, male caregivers face their own challenges, and now, author, editor at “U.S. News and World Report”, and caregiver Marc Silver has written a book just for them. It’s called, Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) During Diagnosis, Treatment, and Beyond.

In 2001, Marc’s wife, Marsha, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Like most people, he didn’t know what to do. He looked for resources that would help, but found nothing that spoke to the unique perspective of a male caregiver. So he decided to write his own book. According to “Publisher’s Weekly,” Marc helps men weed through the confusion and anxiety of breast cancer with practical tips on what to do and what not to do, gives examples of how to best help a loved one, explains different types of treatments, and even explores ways for finding intimacy after mastectomy. (more…)