Last thought for breast cancer awareness month. - YouLookFab Forum

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Last thought for breast cancer awareness month.

gryffin

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I was following the posts of so many of you who wore pink today in honor of breast cancer awareness month. I don't think there are many of us who have not been touched in some way by this horrific disease. The search for a cure must be a number one priority for all, but it occured to me, that even more important than curing disease, is preventing it in the first place. Although it is not my area of expertise, I was literally blown away by a book I read over three years ago. It is Joel Fuhrman's, "Eat to Live." His premise is that a whole food plant based diet can not just prevent but can reverse disease. Although I have been vegetarian for over 30 years this book radically changed my approach to food and the importance of nutrition. I just wanted to respectfully present this to the group before the end of the month in case anyone was unfamiliar with this work. (PS many other books of this ilk if anyone is interested.)

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14 replies

Latest reply was from gryffin

Anonymous

Thank you for the rec. I am looking into healthier diets right now.

Sharon

Veteran

My only problem with this sort of book is the implication that all disease can be prevented if only you live your life right. Therefore, if you DO experience cancer it is in some way your own fault for living life wrong.

I know this is not your intention in posting this and I am a big fan of healthy diet and exercise. And I certainly acknowledge the role of a healthy lifestyle in cancer prevention. But it's not the whole story,

I just get a little sensitive because so many people asked me questions when I was diagnosed that were clearly about working out what I did to get cancer. The answer is obviously nothing and everything.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I really agree with Sharon - some things are just out of our control. So I guess it depends on how these things are presented Thanks for sharing.

MsMary

Veteran

I am all for a plant-based diet (I'm a fan of Dr. McDougall) but I also couldn't agree more with Sharon's viewpoint.

Did anybody ever read Tom Wolfe's awesome book "The Right Stuff," about the original Gemini astronauts? The original astronauts all started out as test pilots for military jets, which was obviously a very hazardous occupation with a pretty high mortality rate. In order to be able to get into those planes and go up every day, the pilot developed a culture that said anybody who crashed must have done so because he made a mistake, or "screwed the pooch" in their jargon. That made everybody feel better, and like their lives were in their own hands rather than in the hands of Fate or the mechanics of the aircraft. And of course it wasn't quite true!

I think it's a lot like that when we try to figure out what a cancer patient may have done to bring it on herself. The answer, of course, is "nothing and everything." (And, more to the point, "none of your business!") But it makes us feel safer if we think we can control it with diet or exercise or whatever.

And that's my long philosophical essay for the day!

Parsley

Veteran

Gryffin, thanks for the link to the book. I am 100% in favor of eating healthily, and in practicing preventive medicine.

But I am also 100% in agreement with Sharon (and MaryK). We mustn't let ourselves believe that people are unlucky enough to have cancer because they did something wrong.

I am reminded of Barbara Ehrenreich's book Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America , where she talks about the way that people whose cancer isn't responding well to treatment are made to feel that it's because they aren't thinking positively enough.
Here's an excellent exerpt:
http://www.theguardian.com/lif.....ehrenreich

gryffin

Veteran

Please let my humbly say that it was never my intention to cause offense in any way to any one. If this post has or causes anyone pain in any way I am sincerely and utterly sorry. My only intent was to put forth information that might be beneficial. So many factors in our life our beyond our control. Where we are born, who we are born to, what advantages or disadvantages of situation we will all find ourselves in. Diet is simply an area where we have choice. I personally have no use for blame in my life because I don't find it constructive. I have tried, however imperfectly, to make a conscious effort to live a problem focused life. Bad things of all kinds happen to really good people for reasons that are often utterly out of their control. My only thought was to share information that I feel can have a positive impact on our lives. Again, if sharing this was inappropriate or hurtful to anyone, please accept my deepest and most sincere apology. My motives were well intended if perhaps misguided.

Parsley

Veteran

Speaking for myself, Gryffin, no offense taken whatsoever!

It's just good to look at the other side of the coin as well.

MsMary

Veteran

Gryffin, I know I'm not offended. As I said, I'm a fan of plant-based diets! And I think you've sparked an interesting discussion here!

Parsley, LOVE the Barbara Ehrenreich excerpt!

Isabel

Veteran

Gryffin, first, I want to say thank you for presenting this book so thoughtfully. Second, I agree with what the other women said. I am still dealing with the aftermath of breast cancer. My mom had breast cancer and skin cancer and endometrial cancer.

Food is incredibly important. But nothing is a prevent-all or a cure-all. Breast cancer is very complicated and there appear to be connections between it, prostate, ovarian and endometrial cancer. There is a molecular component that cannot just be chalked up to food. Good eating and nutrition help keep us healthy ( so that we have strength to fight disease ). But it doesn't prevent cancer. This doctor is very thoughtful, but his main area is controlling obesity and diabetes. Which is connected to food.

As a cancer patient, I have always disliked the term "fighter" or "survivor". I really didn't do much to survive or fight. I had amazing doctors, good insurance, access to top notch facilities, great people supporting me and I didn't need to work. It was easy to show up every day.

At this point, screenings seem to be more important for certain cancers than a plant based diet.

And your intentions were NOT misguided. They were touching. It touches me that you care enough to share anything and everything in an effort to help. And I speak as a cancer patient. : )

Anonymous

I don't really have a strong take on this topic, since there seem to be a thousand diverging conclusions when it comes to this, but I still appreciate the book rec, as well as the other information presented here. Thanks again!

Sharon

Veteran

Gryffin, please don't feel that anyone thinks your original post was offensive or believes that your motives were anything other than thoughtful and caring.

My intention in sharing my experience was not to express disapproval of the information or of your kindness in sharing it, but more an observation and critique of some aspects of the attitudes that exist about cancer. As MaryK said, it sparked an interesting discussion and gave some of us the opportunity to clarify our feelings about them.

Please don't feel bad. You were being kind and helpful and I appreciate the sentiment. xx

gryffin

Veteran

Sharon, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I did think I had offended you and that was so far from my intent that I was totally mortified. I have lost very close friends to cancer, people who I miss every single day. I was horrified that anyone would intimate that it was anyone's "fault" that they had an illness. I can never know how much hurt attitudes like that must have caused you, but I am aghast, speechless, simply beyond word that at time you needed unconditional support, love, and strength you felt judgement and blame. I appreciate you taking the time to express your thoughts because I was unaware that my words and this topic could have been seen in a judgemental way. Know that I will take this forward and try and tread with greater sensitivity and many thanks for understanding my heart was in the right place.

Aquamarine

Veteran

gryffin, I am familiar with the book and read his website Disease Proof. Of course there is no guarantee, no magic bullet to prevent illness. But I understand the need to try to control what we can control, and that's how I read your post! Like most everyone else, my family too has been rocked by cancer and I admit there is always a little voice whispering, "What can I do differently to better the odds to keep this horrible disease at bay?" For me, food/nutrition is just a weapon at my disposal to wage war against illness....a proactive way to keep healthy, if that's at all possible. Doesn't mean we will win the fight, but I don't believe we can throw up our hands and ignore the impact of food to help fight this odious disease at the molecular level.

gryffin

Veteran

Aquamarine - you are so eloquent. That was exactly what was in my heart. Thank you for saying that so clearly and articulately.