Here is a brief history of cancer on my mother’s side of the family.
Her father Edward died in 1986 from lymphoma at a relatively young age. He was about 55-60. His son Eddie, my uncle, died at the very young age of 42 from colon cancer, in 2002. To my knowledge, he did not exercise or consciously eat healthy. His sister, my aunt Kathy, died seven years later from stomach cancer. She was only 53. She also did not exercise and may have had a poor diet. All three of them were smokers, but I believe Eddie and Kathy had quit before getting cancer.
There is not as much evidence for a genetic basis of cancer as people believe. Others in my family have smoked far more, and some have worse diets. (One had horrible constipation for years, another suffers from heart disease, which is generally more related to diet than cancer). My own mother smoked for 20-30 years and binged on sweets for an even longer period. She did have some polyps removed from her colon a few years ago, however, as I learned recently, cancer is pervasive in every single living body. The immune system is constantly fighting off rogue cells that want to be individuals in even the healthiest of people. Sweets or smoking may have been the culprit in my mom’s polyps- sweets more likely, since smoking is more highly associated with lung cancer. She seems to be eating less sweets since having them removed.
Otherwise, several in my family have shown absolutely no signs of cancer, including Julie, Mary, and the twins.
Statistically I don’t believe there is enough evidence to remove randomness from the cause of these people in our family dying from cancer, though it is surprising that all three were young. Perhaps there was a carcinogen (other than smoking) that all three were exposed to earlier in their lives, having lived under the same roof.
I’m not going to worry too much about “inheriting” this disease and I hope my children won’t either. The biggest risk factors for cancer are: smoking, alcohol, obesity, carcinogens, UV rays, physical inactivity and diet (excessive red meat, low fiber). All three of my family members ate red meat and probably did not eat enough fiber. As long as we are following these healthy life habits, there is nothing to worry about.
PS: I’ve read that cancers feed off glucose, so excess carbs and sugar should be avoided, but not if one is exercising a lot. Intuitively, I still believe the best way to deal with a cancer diagnose is to start fasting, immediately. Starve the cancer of the glucose it needs.
Her father Edward died in 1986 from lymphoma at a relatively young age. He was about 55-60. His son Eddie, my uncle, died at the very young age of 42 from colon cancer, in 2002. To my knowledge, he did not exercise or consciously eat healthy. His sister, my aunt Kathy, died seven years later from stomach cancer. She was only 53. She also did not exercise and may have had a poor diet. All three of them were smokers, but I believe Eddie and Kathy had quit before getting cancer.
There is not as much evidence for a genetic basis of cancer as people believe. Others in my family have smoked far more, and some have worse diets. (One had horrible constipation for years, another suffers from heart disease, which is generally more related to diet than cancer). My own mother smoked for 20-30 years and binged on sweets for an even longer period. She did have some polyps removed from her colon a few years ago, however, as I learned recently, cancer is pervasive in every single living body. The immune system is constantly fighting off rogue cells that want to be individuals in even the healthiest of people. Sweets or smoking may have been the culprit in my mom’s polyps- sweets more likely, since smoking is more highly associated with lung cancer. She seems to be eating less sweets since having them removed.
Otherwise, several in my family have shown absolutely no signs of cancer, including Julie, Mary, and the twins.
Statistically I don’t believe there is enough evidence to remove randomness from the cause of these people in our family dying from cancer, though it is surprising that all three were young. Perhaps there was a carcinogen (other than smoking) that all three were exposed to earlier in their lives, having lived under the same roof.
I’m not going to worry too much about “inheriting” this disease and I hope my children won’t either. The biggest risk factors for cancer are: smoking, alcohol, obesity, carcinogens, UV rays, physical inactivity and diet (excessive red meat, low fiber). All three of my family members ate red meat and probably did not eat enough fiber. As long as we are following these healthy life habits, there is nothing to worry about.
PS: I’ve read that cancers feed off glucose, so excess carbs and sugar should be avoided, but not if one is exercising a lot. Intuitively, I still believe the best way to deal with a cancer diagnose is to start fasting, immediately. Starve the cancer of the glucose it needs.
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