Okay..it is just me or is the Oprah show getting better and better. Like I have said before, I am NOT an Oprah fan but I am now blogging for the third time about a topic covered recently on Oprah. First it was Jenny McCarthy and autism, then it was Jessica Sienfeld and Deceptively Delicious and now Kris Carr and Crazy Sexy Cancer. WTH?
Yesterday’s show was about cancer and the first guest was the reason I tuned in…Kris Carr. She created the documentary Crazy Sexy Cancer and wrote the book Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips. I picked up the book at Whole Foods only to find in delight that she turned to raw foods in her healing journey. I know, I know…I keep dropping these raw foods hints…I will get to that later I promise.
Kris was diagnosed with a rare cancer in her liver and lungs at the age of 31. Her cancer was so rare in fact that medical professionals told her they really had no idea what to do as far as treatment so one of her doctors suggested building her immune system and becoming as healthy as she possibly could under the circumstances. As she said she “took that morsel” of hope and “made a cake”. This event lead her on one action packed journey and she made a movie and wrote a book along the way. It seems one of her objectives was to reach out to young people with cancer (hello…me) and show them that you can still be beautiful and sexy and just plain awesome while surviving cancer. I wish this book had been around when I was diagnosed because as Kris pointed out, most cancer books are grim and depressing.
The book is basically a step by step guide for organizing your schedule in cancer college and finding ways to heal that perhaps most conventional doctors will not talk about. I REALLY liked this section as I have long been thinking that IF I were to come out of remission I just might not go with conventional treatment again. I guess I did kinda back out of the original treatment as well and quit Chemo a full month early.
Kris’s cancer is now in a kind of dormant state. It is still there but it is not progressing in any way. It has been stopped in its tracks but it is still there. On the Oprah show she talked about why she wasn’t depressed about her condition. She said “How can I be sad or depressed when I feel this good!” She has a point there!
Anyway…the book has a bunch of awesome pictures and insights from Carr and several other young cancer survivors. If you know if a young adult that has developed cancer this book would make a great gift.
I have never been a big fan of Oprah’s show – she makes me angry! hostile! – and have often found myself yelling at the screen whenever I happen across it and try to watch for a bit.
But you’re absolutely right. This season has been spectacular on so many levels – her guests and topics have been interesting, open and I’ve found myself ENJOYING the show.
Clearly the world is gonna’ end. :)
I missed this episode, but I’ve seen the Crazy Sexy Cancer show on TLC. I’m inspired by Kris, and I’m like her. I don’t let my diagnosis stand in the way of my life. I’ve also turned to natural remedies/foods. I’m excited to read your blog. I’m a new subscriber!
I just sat there and cried at that show.
Her perspective on life was truely inspring.
I agree Oprah this season has been so good!
My kids had the tv on and when I heard the topic on Oprah, told them that I wanted to watch at least that part of the show. “But it’s about dying!”, my oldest whined. I told her no, it was about *living*! :-)
A friend of mine has three types of cancer, having been diagnosed over three years ago with them (breast, bone, and lymph). Back then, they gave her 6 months to live. I called and left a message for her to tune in to the show. Her docs don’t know what to do for her, now, because, in their words, she’s a miracle as their longest living patient with these cancers.
She’s still doing Chemo weekly, but all along has also done alternative things through two nutritionists, one being a cancer survivor himself. A long detox with Metagenics products, Indian Black Salve on her breast to draw the cancer out, acupuncture, and, yes, eating organic, fresh veggies has been part of her treatment, some of which her regular docs first balked at. They’ve since changed their tune! :-)
Raw IS best because you don’t have all the nutrients cooked out, and its easier for our bodies to digest and absorb more. The enzymes are intact, which is extremely important. In this day and age, our food supply is depleated of vitamins and minerals due to over-worked soil, and so much processed food. If your body isn’t getting the proper nutrition, you’re going to pay for it with poor health. This comes from personal experience–among a long list of health issues, I used to have severe mal absorption and was literally dying. My doc to this day still has me stay away from processed foods and cautions me to do the same for my kids.
Here’s to healthier eating!
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Oops! Also left out that movement is extremely important, too, even if “all” you can do are floor exercises, Tai Chi, modified Pilates, etc. To quote my docs, “the important thing is to keep moving!”
Tiffany, I love your blog! :-)
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Violet, she makes me angry too. Every show she makes all about race or she makes rude remarks.
Thanks Leza. That is inspiring….I love hearing about raw foods..I am very excited to be starting a raw diet myself.
Hi, Tiffany! I wish I were better at eating raw veggies outside of salads! Some make me gassy…, so unless I cook them ’til they’re mushy, they have to be avoided! You know, I have a friend who eats raw meet!!! I don’t know about that… .
I think the best route when going raw is juicing. You get a whole lot more than you could ever try and eat. (My jaw gets tired from chewing, but then again, I have TMJD). You could add spices to it to give it better flavor. Most spices and herbs are more alkaline, too, which is very good. Not as good as doing it yourself, but good, non-the-less, are the Naked juices. They have the right idea! :-)
Good, natural detoxifying things to eat are avocadoes, bok choy, garlic, and most leafy green veggies. They are also more alkaline which is better for you. Spinach is a little more acidic, but still good. Leeks are even more acidic. Onions, sea veggies, and sweet potatoes are the highest on the alkaline list. All meats and fish are acidic, beef and lobster topping the list. My doc in IL used to have a chart up on his website listing which foods fell into what catagory, but I can’t find it, now. Here is a link to the importance of pH in our bodies. When it’s out of wack, we get sick/diseases set in. The website itself needs a lot of help, but the info is good, and the docs are even better: http://www.healthquestradio.com/prc_phbalance.htm
You can get a roll of pH paper and test your saliva (before you eat or even drink water) and 1st urine of the day (catch it in a cup!) every morning when you roll out of bed. Sad to say, I’m on the acid side.
If you ever tune into any of their radio shows via the internet, they can be a bit zany, but both docs are super. Right now, my doc has been doing the shows solo. (Drs. Pletcher and Kolbaba are brother-in-laws.) An older broadcast they did on cancer is here: http://www.healthquestradio.com/hq_radioarchives.htm They could do more on this. Dr. Kolbaba is one of the two docs that have been helping my friend with her cancers.
Hope this helps! :-)
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Great resources Leza! I keep meaning to buy those pH tester strips because I know how important pH is in keeping your body free of cancer growth, I am sure that I have been acidic for most of my life.
And I know what you mean about raw foods making you gassy but as someone that had colon cancer I know what it is like to not be physically able to “work” that whole area of your body so I am not sqeamish about those functions at all anymore. They are a sign that things are working as they are supposed too.
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Let us know how it goes with the raw diet! I’d like to get more into it, and it helps when you know of others who have gone that route and *survived*! :-) As with anything, I’m sure it takes some getting used to–taste-wise and getting into the habit of actually *doing* it.
Unfortunately, along with most some of the gas I personally get, cramps come with it. Fennel, or some other herb, is supposed to help with that. But, yes, I agree, the plumbing is working! In our home, someone will joke and look out the window, saying, “Wow! Did you hear how low that plane was flying?!” when someone “lets” one rip. It’s harder when you’re out in public!
Oh! I bought Kris’ book @ Borders for $17.95 for my girlfriend. Today, I saw it for $16 something at Target. Amazon prob even has it for less, and prob has more in stock. I plan on getting a book for myself, as well. Right now, I’m a little unnerved because my cystic breasts are really hurting, and of course I’m thinking the worst. I had a mammogram, last year, and all they ever say is, “It’s in the normal range”–whatever that means. Mammograms don’t show cancer ’til it’s been in your body for 4-5 years, and it won’t even show a deadlier form of breast cancer called Inflammatory Breast Cancer.
I had been praying for a near-by place to have a thermogram done (the closest ones listed were 3 and 4 hours away) when my chiropractor heard of a lady who travels the upper midwest doing them! She’ll be in our area (actually right in our town!) starting tomorrow, and I scheduled an appointment for Tuesday am. Thermograms can detect cancer even before it actually “starts”, and because no radiation is used, you can have them done as often as you like or need. I need that peace of mind!
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Hello Ladies,
I am 33 y old Palestinian mom (Tala 18 months old!) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer few months back. Till I have watched the Oprah show on Kris’s case, I have always wondered why I had it that early?!! things were just about to be perfect in my life, got married to the man i love, started a great career with the UN, moved to Egypt and had a wonderful baby girl. Could not it just wait another ten years!have met and known women who had different types including breast cancer but the youngest never been older than 45!
I am so inspired by kris’ spirit and zest for life and will deifinately now take the nutrition route. First thing on the road I will fast two days a week, funny enough have always wanted to catch up with my “un-fasted” days of holy Ramadan, I guess now it is time! salaam
I’m *so* glad you have such a super attitude, Rula! It will really help you on your road to *recovery*! :-)
The nutrition is extremely important, and so is moving–dancing, pilates, yoga, belly dancing, or even bouncing/jumping on one of those little trampolines. Movement will help get the lymph fluids moving so you can get toxins and cancer moving out of your body.
Walking is good, too. Also, when you’re sitting, rotate your ankles in little circles. That helps the lymph fluids to move, too.
*Very* light massaging of your breasts can be beneficial with getting the lymph fluids moving there, too. Light meaning the same amount of pressure you’d use if you were touching your eyelid. Please do *not* use hard pressure, especially where the cancer is–it can potentially make it spread.
It’s also super to do when you have cysts–something I kept on doing after breastfeeding. It helped keep the milk flowing, and makes cystic breasts feel better, too. :-) Light meaning the same amount of pressure you’d use if you were touching your eyelid. Please do *not* use hard pressure, especially where the cancer is.
When I recently went for a thermogram (instead of a mammogram–I blogged about this a while ago), I learned about this lady and her site: http://www.cherylchapman.com/
Best wishes! I am praying for you, too!
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Forgot to mention: That site I gave is about “Phluffing” the “Girls” (your breasts). Gently “jiggling” your breasts is really good, too, which if you’ve seen this done, is kind of like.
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Here we go again! I would not do the Phluff #2, Rula, that Cheryl has in her brochure that you can download off of her site. I would–and I do–gently massage (in circular motion) above your breasts. That is where I found a lot of milk ducts that would get clogged when I was breast feeding. Also on both outer sides below your armpit.
You can also *very* gently lightly brush your fingers down and away from your nipple (using the nipple as the center point, but not touching them), all the way around them. All this really feels good! :-) –This coming from someone whose breasts do *not* like being touched!
Make sure your bra doesn’t mush you, too much–under your breasts, and on your breasts, as well. I stopped wearing a bra after my breasts shrunk (I was a D!) because my breasts didn’t like being squished. My hubby was not too happy (he liked the look wearing a bra gave!), but two of my gyns and another doctor said it was fine going braless, and one even applauded me, telling me that bras aren’t good because they restrict the lymph flow.
Sorry–I’ve researched a lot on breast cancer for several reasons. One is I have a good friend that has it (I have had 6 friends who’ve had this, four of whom are survivors :-)) and I really care about all of my sisters out there, and the other because I wrote a bit about it in an article (which is on thermograms) for a local woman’s magazine. The third reason is because we as women I don’t think ever not think about it for long, especially when the girls whine and complain like mine do!
A very aggressive form of breast cancer that few women know about is Inflammatory Breast Cancer. A thermogram is the only screening tool that can pick this form of cancer up–loud and clear!
Thanks so much for you blog, Tiffany!
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