This month (September) is Ovarian Cancer Awareness, so we are wearing our teal for our friends affected all this month on EGL . This subject, like many other families and loved ones affected by any sort of cancer, has reached us through a close family friend, that we frankly call family. Every person handles this news differently, but from all that I have seen, my friend has been brave, positive and a light for others as always. I sometimes wish she would take more help, but then again this may be her best way to recover, she may need to stay strong on her own. However, she knows, as we have often been there for her before, we are always waiting to help and comfort with open arms, and a great chick flick when needed. 😉 (Update: since I wrote this blog she has recently finished her treatment and is happily on the road to recovery). With that said I am writing this blog this month in her honor. If this blog reaches even one woman and makes her aware of what may be happening to her and she catches this disease early, I feel it will have done its honor to my friend.
The Signs:
(One of the dangerous things about Ovarian Cancer is there are often no signs or it is very subtle. Only 20 percent of ovarian cancer is detected in the early stages. Because, of this it is very important to be preventative in your health choices.).
- Pain in the abdomen or pelvis.
- Gastrointestinal: bloating, a change in bowel habits, indigestion, or nausea
- Abdominal fullness, fluid or a lump in abdomen.
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Weight Loss
- Abnormal fullness after eating
- Increased urination as well as the urge to urinate.
- Painful intercourse
- Menstrual irregularities
- Constipation
- Heartburn
- Back Pain
Most of these symptoms are typical symptoms that women have due to other causes and can be remedied easily and gone in a few days. However, if two or more symptoms persist for a significant time with no relief contact your doctor immediately. If symptoms are severe tumors are usually larger and the cancer is more severe, which is harder to treat.
The Risk Factors:
- A family history of ovarian cancer
- Genetic mutations of genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2)
- Personal history with other cancers like, breast, uterine, or colon cancer
- Obesity
- The use of fertility drugs or hormone therapies
- No history of pregnancy
- Endometriosis
What produces ovarian cancer in the body?
There are three types of cells in the ovary that can develop tumors. Epithelial cells on the outer layer are called epithelial tumors and are the most prolific at 90 percent. Hormone cells cause stromal tumors, at 7 percent, and germ cell tumors are from the egg producing cells, these are very rare. The other risk lay in the ovarian cyst, although most ovarian cysts do not cause cancer, but are a naturally occurring process in ovulation. Very few become cancerous, but the risk rises when ovulation stops for menopause. If you have a cyst after menopause your doctor may wish to find out what may have caused the cyst, and if it does not go away in a few months he or she may wish to take it out just in case.
How to find out if you have Ovarian Cancer?
There is no way to tell if it is cancerous until it is taken out and biopsied. There are no routine diagnostic screenings for ovarian cancer and small tumors are difficult to feel deep in the abdomen. However there are a few things your doctor may choose to do to get a better idea like a transvaginal ultrasound. There are a few other options but the only way to know for sure is a sample of the area, which we already talked about, called a biopsy.
What can you do?
So this can be a lot to take in. First you are hearing that there are not many warning signs and those that there are, are typical symptoms for minor bodily disruptions. Then you hear it is hard to find and nearly impossible to diagnose with out a biopsy. So where is the hope you ask?
- Well one answer is to stay in tune with your body and it’s normalcy. This is a first good key to awareness. Know thyself, and when something is off and persistent do not push it off as ‘in your head.’
- Next take the steps to help your doctor identify it by making him or her aware of the symptoms, and there times and length. Keeping a diary or journal of your daily activities, foods and times and duration of symptoms can be very helpful. Use adjectives and write in the moment how you feel, this can be helpful later when you are trying to explain your symptoms but can not quit find the words or remember the exact feeling.
- Talk to your doctor about options of diagnoses if you agree together that ovarian cancer is a possibility. If diagnosed talk about treatment options being fully aware of the risks and benefits for each of the four stages of cancer.
- Work on prevention, through diet and exercise and using healthy home and body care products without harmful chemicals.
Natural prevention and healthy healing ideas:
- Treatments from a naturopathic doctor if you have cancer it is a option that has had some surprisingly good tract records, and can include things as simple as herbal extracts and teas, acupuncture, diet, and exercise.
- NO refined sugar: Cancer research has found links to sugar consumption and cancer. The cancer feeds off of sugar and speeds the metastasis process. Lewis Cantley a professor or Cancer Biology at Cornell was asked to head a cancer research team, and is finding that the excess insulin release in sugar causes cancer cells to gobble up glucose in the body and thrive! They have found that cancer cells have been able to produce insulin receptors and often trick the body into giving the cancer the glucose rather then the organs in your body that need it to survive.
- No dairy: Lactose has scientifically been linked specifically to ovarian cancer increasing it at 13%. If you have cancer stop eating this altogether, and if working on prevention at least limit your intake. Dairy releases a insulin-like growth factor in the body a product that stimulates cancer growth.
- Avoid wheat and grains: By now you know how I feel about wheat/grains if not read my blog “Why Wheat Free.” German research at the University Hospital of Wurzburg shows one of the largest reviews on the benefits of low carb diets with cancer patients. A couple quotes from this document that stood out to me “Over the last years, evidence has accumulated suggesting that by systematically reducing the amount of dietary carbohydrates (CHO) one could suppress, or at least delay, the emergence of cancer, and that proliferation of already existing tumor cells could be slowed down,” “High fat, low CHO diets aim at accounting for these metabolic alterations. Studies conducted so far have shown that such diets are safe and likely beneficial, in particular for advanced stage cancer patients,” and “Usually, CHO restriction is not only limited to avoiding sugar and other high-GI foods, but also to a reduced intake of grains. Grains can induce inflammation in susceptible individuals due to their content of omega-6 fatty acids, lectins and gluten [159, 160]. In particular gluten might play a key role in the pathogenesis of auto-immune and inflammatory disorders and some malignant diseases.”
- Eat lots of vegetables: Colorful vegetables are natural repellents to cancer causing free radicals with their high levels of antioxidants and other helpful nutrients, like spinach, kale, tomatoes, and carrots. The common suggestion is five or more serving a day.
- Juicing: Because the above can be difficult to get in one day and take a while to reach the blood stream, juicing is a terrific option of getting your daily intake of veggies. Juicing reaches the bloodstream faster then digestion through chewing and will have your cells healing at faster rates.
- Eating Foods that cause anti-angiogenesis: Research in the Netherlands showed a 75% reduction in ovarian cancer from eating endives. This is from a process called anti-angiogenis caused by the Kaempferol in this vegetable. What this means is the Kaempferol stops cancer from being able to grow by cutting off its blood supply. Anti: against or opposing, Angio: Blood or Lymph vessels, Genisis: creation or origin. So it stops the growth of blood vessels to feed the cancer. Ok, so I totally geeked out when I first learned about this in regards to cancer research from a man named Dr. William Li, president of the Angiogenesis Foundation, on a Ted Talk. He is truly inspiring. He speaks on how through food we can starve cancer by cutting off it’s oxygen and nutrients, through ridding it of it’s blood supply. A healthy body maintains blood vessels in balance, however cancer’s abnormal cells upset this balance and new blood vessels grow to feed these cells, feeding and causing cancer to go from Benign (Harmless, non cancerous cell, and staying in one space) to Malignant (cancerous) and later then moving through the blood streams of these new vessels into other areas other the body (metastasizing). Eating vegetables with Kaempferol, is the easiest way to stop this process. Foods with high levels of Kaempferol, include canned capers, raw broccoli, raw kale, fresh dill weed, raw garden cress, raw dock, raw chives, and raw turnips also a terrific source to stop ovarian cancer cells from thriving. A great source for amounts and type of vegetable is nutrition merschat in the links below. Foods with Lycopene are also anti-angiogenic, like tomatoes. Unlike most vegetables cooking tomatoes to about 190 degrees F is the best way to bring out the lycopene for healthy absorption in the body. (Look into more news on how to eat to beat cancer with Dr. Li at http://www.eattobeat.org/. The only thing I really disagree with them on is grain.)
- Eat Fish: Reduce your risk 30% by eating fish 2 to 3 times a week. The same omega 3’s fish that help keep your heart healthy and prevent stroke help prevent cancer.
- Two lifestyles that support this way of life are Paleolithic Diet and Wheat Belly Diet: and will be helpful to finding recipes to support eating a healthier ovarian cancer free life. “Paleolithic-type diets, that by definition exclude grain products, have been shown to improve glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors more effectively than typically recommended low-fat diets rich in whole grains [162]. These diets are not necessarily very low CHO diets, but focus on replacing high-GI modern foods with fruits and vegetables, in this way reducing the total GL.”- another quote from German research see below link.
- Get plenty of sleep: a sleep-deprived body will release stress hormones and cause havoc to a body trying to heal.
- Drink lots of water and teas: some teas have high levels of Kaempferol and there are studies on green teas effects on ovarian cancer as well. Also water and healthy fluids help flush the body of toxins.
- Keep stress levels low: this may sound obvious to you, but to many stress is just a normal everyday occurrence that they train themselves to just get use too. However just look at the term disease, dis-ease that says it all right there. There are many lines of research proving links to disease and stress. So, try to avoid stress at all costs, or at least find ways of coping in a healthy way. Write in a journal, meditate, pray, get out in nature, get vitamin D in the sun, exercise, laugh (watch comedies), and keep negative people out of your life.
Cancer of any type can be a devastating diagnosis to anyone and their loved ones. However, it is important to stay positive even when given the grimmest of reports. A great attitude towards healing will go a long way, and encourage others to to stay positive about your outcome as well, sending wonderful energy that is much needed your way.
Have you or a loved one been affected by any type of cancer? What were natural ways you or your loved one helped to heal themselves? Share below.
Until Next time, enjoy the good life,
Woman on the Journey
Resources:
http://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/ovarian-cancer-early-signs#Overview1
http://www.livestrong.com/article/77548-anticancer-foods-ovarian-cancer/
http://nutrition.merschat.com/foods-by-nutrient.cgi?Nutr_No=786&Measure=&page=1
http://www.doctoroz.com/article/anti-ovarian-cancer-diet?page=2