Cinco Vidas

You’d think with all of our advanced technology and medicines, cancer patients wouldn’t have to experience high-level pain anymore. But according to a recent survey commissioned by the American Pain Foundation, many still are—with some being told by their physicians that they just have to tough it out.

“I see patients who are seriously under-medicated and do have pain,” says Colleen O’Neil, RN, breast cancer survivor, and peer counselor to cancer patients. “It makes me very frustrated. There are many approaches to pain control and they should all be considered in an effort to ease the suffering of cancer patients. People shouldn’t have to be in pain just because they have a cancer diagnosis.” (more…)

We’ve talked about some of the harsh ingredients in shampoo, and how they can be drying to your hair and irritating to your skin. A recent study, however, has found something even more concerning—some ingredients in shampoo can react with disinfectants at U.S. wastewater treatment plants to form cancer-causing substances.
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Know those manicures and pedicures you just love, that help you feel more relaxed and put together? They could be causing salon workers—and perhaps even customers—serious health issues.

A trio of chemicals is most likely to blame—toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyle phthalate (DBP) found in most polishes and removers. We told you about them in a former post—how they’ve been linked to reproductive abnormalities, nausea, headaches, dizziness, eye and lung irritation, shortness of breath, and even cancer. As with most things, low exposure may not hurt you, but salon workers are coming in contact with these chemicals 8-10 hours a day, up to six days a week. (more…)

Enjoy the occasional morning grapefruit? Then you’re in luck. It’s full of health benefits, including the ability to help your liver clear toxins out of the body. However, you’re probably aware of the debate about this fruit—does it help prevent cancer or contribute to it? We’ve gathered some information here to help you decide.

According to The World’s Healthiest Foods (WHFoods), “grapefruit juice increases the production and activity of liver-detoxification enzymes responsible for preparing toxic compounds for elimination from the body.” Apparently it works in two steps—first, it increases the activity of stage-1 enzymes that work on toxins to make them more attractive to stage-2 enzymes. Then, it increases the activity of stage-2 enzymes that protect cells against toxins and oxidative stress. So if you’re looking for a natural detox, you may want to start with this tasty fruit.
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We all know that too much stress is bad for us. But if you fail to control the stress in your life, could you be encouraging your own cells to malfunction?

Some studies show a link. In 2004, The Lancet Oncology published one that found chronic stress weakens the immune system, which in turn may affect the incidence of virus-associated cancers like Kaposi sarcoma and some lymphomas. In 2006, Nature Reviews Cancer published another study—this time, scientists found that stress releases hormones that can affect DNA repair and regulation of cell growth, reducing the body’s own defenses against cancer. A 24-year study of women in Sweden showed that those who reported high levels of stress, including tension, fear, anxiety, and sleeplessness, were twice as likely to develop breast cancer as those with low levels of stress. (more…)

David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University of Albany, has made a powerful statement: “Almost all cancers come from some kind of environmental exposure.”

We know that our systems are bombarded by toxins every day, from pesticides in our food to pollution in the air to dangerous chemicals in our personal-care products. Carpenter believes it’s time to pay closer attention to the affect this cumulative chemical assault has on our health. Donald Hassig of Cancer Action agrees: “We need to present this message stronger and louder.” (more…)

Are you a yoga teacher looking for inspiration? Would you like to learn how to use yoga to help cancer survivors? Then mark July 15-20 on your calendar (2010). On those days, Laura Kupperman—certified yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and Cinco Vidas expert—will be hosting a “Yoga for Survivors™” teacher-intensive course in Boulder, Colorado.

“The course is for yoga teachers of any tradition,” Laura says, “who want to make a difference in the lives of cancer survivors.” A breast-cancer survivor herself, Laura found that yoga helped her recover from her bilateral mastectomy. “During my first class, I could barely move. After only a few classes, my body was totally different.” (more…)

We’ve all heard about the power of belief—that what we believe to be true can have a huge impact on our lives and on our health. But how many of us actually take this to heart? Especially when we’re facing a disease like cancer, which feels so scary and powerful?

“Once, we believed that it was the ‘doctor’s job’ to help us get better,” says Whole Science writer Kerry Needs. “Now, research shows that we play a part in that too. Our belief, our attitude, determines the outcome of our health.”

What else but belief can explain the “placebo effect,” in which a sugar pill helps people get better? “In the health industry,” writes Connie Saindon, MA, MFCC, CTS, “studies showed that treatments later found to be misguided, worked 70-90% until they were no longer believed.” (more…)

“My husband had chemo last year and he still has pain in his feet caused by it,” says caregiver Lpfiner. “Is there anything that can help him?”

“I completed my chemo 1/4/09,” says fighter CTML. “For the last 5 days I have been having numbness/tingling in my feet.”

Foot problems and discomforts that linger after treatment is over are fairly common in the post-chemo world. They differ from person to person, however, depending on the drugs that were used, how long chemo treatment is given, and the person’s individual response to the treatment.

Here are a few side effects you may experience in the feet after treatment, and some potential solutions. (more…)

After chemotherapy treatments, you can have lingering side effects. Several, unfortunately, seem to hit the hands—things like numbness and tingling, rough skin, split nails, and even carpal tunnel syndrome.

To help you deal with these troubling symptoms, we’ve gathered a few recommendations. Whatever you may be experiencing, be sure to tell your doctor. Even if you don’t think it could be connected to your cancer treatments, it often is, and your doctor may be able to help.

Lingering Numbness & Tingling: According to Dr. V. K. Gadi, writing for Everyday Health, Taxol (paclitaxel) is associated with neuropathy (numbness), and also weakening of the reflexes. Sometimes just waiting it out will result in an improvement. Physical therapy may also help. Other survivors recommend massage, acupuncture, and supplements like vitamin B and glutamine (10 grams 2-3 times a day). Mark Stengler, MD and contributor to Daily Health News, recommends acetyl-L-carnitine, a natural substance that can have a regenerative affect on the nerves, along with a B-complex vitamin, vitamins E and C, selenium, and pycnogenol (an antioxidant). Read our other post for more natural recommendations. (more…)