When I consider all the changes in my life since Cancer, many days it’s hard for me to even recognize that they’re there anymore…it’s really amazing how God created us to be so flexible. Other people, though, seem to still have many questions about what I’m doing and why I’m doing it… sometimes the questions feel like more of a judgment. And sometimes, I think, the questions are others feeling judged by me – and that’s never good. So, once again, in case you missed it, I will explain.
When I was spending all that time in a doctor’s office getting answers to the questions we’d waited weeks and weeks to get – my Mom posed one in particular, “What causes lymphoma?” My oncologist’s answer was, “well, everyone’s body processes toxins differently…” That’s as much of an answer as he could give. And I thought, “Well, ok. But I need more than that.” I was already researching hours and hours at night about cancer, prevention, treatment options, alternative options, and causes. Now, I added the word “toxins” to my list.
It wasn’t really a new word. I had already moved away from conventional cleaning supplies and started making my own. I had already been feeding Jack as close to all organic food as possible, but most of my focus hadn’t included myself. I was always sacrificing my own body for the needs of my family. That’s not to say I was suffering. I just always put my own health - aka: what went into my body – second to everyone else’s. That is, until the “C” word. Now, my body had betrayed me. Now, I knew I had a real, serious weakness. Now, I HAD to think about myself. And so began the journey of devouring anything and everything I could read on nutrition and environmental toxins, as it relates to cancer – sustaining me through treatment, preventing a relapse, and ultimately curing.
Many people don’t realize that in the medical community, “curing” cancer is only preventing a relapse for 5 years. That’s the statistical definition. It actually means nothing, because, I would not consider myself cured if my cancer relapses 5 years and 1 day after my treatment ended, but my oncologist will still record me as “cured”. I can get pretty worked up when I think about how misleading those statistics are, and how people will believe they are “Cancer-free” for good when they hear it, but essentially, they’re on their own after that. A doctor has done everything he or she is capable of doing, and anything after 5 years is a clean slate, so-to-speak. At least, that’s how I choose to look at.
But, that means I can’t do what I was doing that created an environment fit for cancer. (And after suffering through the horror that is chemo and radiation therapy, I will never let such an environment exist again.) And this brings me to my point. It’s. Just. Not. Worth. It.
I emphasize this statement because that’s what I hear a lot now. “But, I want to LIVE”. Meaning, I want to do what makes me feel good. Of course, I want to live too – in the LITERAL sense of the word. Hearing you have a lethal illness is definitely life-changing, so, I get that most (Thank God) will never truly empathize, but I’m plagued by this idea that people believe I’ve given up something (or many somethings) wonderful, to make the changes necessary to avoid cancer.
It’s just not true.
You know, God is so good, and so just, and so merciful – I wouldn’t change one moment of my life since last April 11th. Not one. Every last second has made my life better today. Made me better today. Closer to God – most importantly – but I’m not miserable! And I desperately want others to know what I know. This is my mission. I want everyone to AVOID the pain, angst, uncertainty, fear and stress I’ve endured. And that begins with my own family. (If I believe something directly contributed to my cancer, how could I ever let it come anywhere near Jack?) But, mostly, this journey and these changes, have opened my eyes to God’s plan, His perfect design, and His boundless love for us. I want others to be closer to what God intended too.
And yes, that means I gave up sugar. And processed foods. And most dairy & meat. (That’s not to say never, ever. I do occasionally splurge on real, homemade, unprocessed treats.) But all packaged foods, with ingredient lists that are incomprehensible, are gone. The majority of my daily intake is green, raw vegetables. I’ve added juicing once/twice a day to help make that happen, but I eat a salad almost everyday, and the major portion on my plate at night is vegetables. Everything in my fridge will spoil in a week, and the only things in my freezer are fruits for Jack’s “juice”. And I don’t miss any of the foods I used to eat. Truly. It’s so good on the other side. Eating real, whole, organic food, given from God, is THE best! I crave it! I relish it! And when I can’t get it, I miss it - I feel cruddy, and slow, and gross, and my body dispels it immediately ;) Not to mention the incredible, tangible benefits I’ve experienced: 25lbs lighter, all my previous chronic conditions disappeared, more energy, and a truly boosted immune system – even during treatment for an immune-compromising cancer.
(My entire list of lifestyle changes would take up another 3 pages, so for the purpose of this post, I’m only referencing the larger food points.)
We have all been fed a big, fat marketing lie. I can say this because I’m a Marketer :) We’ve all been brain-washed into believing convenience is everything, and that what we’re sold at the supermarket is good for us. It’s not. And I’m not for one minute judging anyone who eats/buys it. It’s been a brilliant strategy, backed by billions of dollars, and fed by our ridiculously busy lives. But, I will make it my mission - for whatever time I have left - to open as many eyes to the truth as will hear me. We, as a society, are sicker now than we ever have been before in history. And what do we all have in common? What has changed dramatically in the U.S. in the last 20 years? Yep. Our food.
So, while I know most people dislike change, we have got to embrace some. Cancer is on the rise – the numbers now are 1 in 3 in this country – and our current treatment methods are brutal and faulty. Prevention is key, and every one of us has the ability to alter our chances. And I’m telling you – the added rewards of such change are endless. Whatever you think you have to give up, what you have to gain is so much greater. I want to live too. I just want to do it without Cancer. And without fear. And with God’s purpose in mind.
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