Cancer Seems to be Everywhere - Does it seem that way to you, too?

On the flight home from Toronto yesterday, I overheard the passengers behind me talking almost the entire flight home. They didn’t know each other at the beginning, but by the end of the conversation they were comparing cancer treatment war stories - their own. I’m guessing they may have been in their 30’s or 40’s.

About 12 years ago, I had my first close encounter with cancer when my close friend died at a young age, in her mid 30s. She left behind a husband and 2 little girls, and it was such a tragedy for her and her young family.

My own family is having battles with cancer now, too. Eight years ago, pancreatic cancer took my mother-in-law at the young age of 68. My father has just finished radiation treatments for lung cancer and is fighting pneumonia. Another very dear relative has just been hit with news of lung cancer, and my father-in-law was just diagnosed with mesothelioma. I have another list of relatives who lost their fights before I started taking notice of the epidemic. Colleagues at work have family members or themselves in treatment, too. My next door neighbor was, very recently, treated for breast cancer.

Think of the celebrities who were taken from us by cancer: Farrah Fawcett, Dana Reeve, Gilda Radner, and many others.

Does it seem more prevalent in my life because of my age? I don't think that’s all it is. My daughter had skin cancer removed while in her 20’s. Over the years, children in my neighborhood had leukemia, one survived, another did not.

A few years ago I learned that plastics contain carcinogenic chemicals. I assumed that plastic is harmless in its normal condition, but decided that microwaving in plastics might release some of those chemicals, so I forbade my family from using plastic in the microwave.

Petroleum-based products are carcinogenic. When we think of petroleum products, we normally think of gasoline and motor oils, but plastics are made from petroleum. Not only plastics, but also wax. Our food touches wax in all kinds of places: paper plates and cups and fast food containers, waxed paper, wrappers, and so on. How do we know these items are not hazardous to our health? WE DON’T, we only assume that to be the case.

We assume that companies will only sell benign ingredients and that there is some watchdog agency looking out for us. This is absolutely not true. Just like cigarettes, companies will do whatever benefits their bottom line until they are made to do otherwise. It is up to consumers to force them to behave, and that occurs when we don't buy the offending products.

A couple of months ago, our grandson seemed to have bouts of vomitting much too frequently. We finally noticed that it seemed to happen after he had eaten chicken nuggets from McDonald’s. Granda did some research and found that there is an ingredient used for cooking the chicken (and maybe other things) called an anti-foaming agent that contains petroleum-based chemicals.

http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/07/22/what-do-silly-putty-and-chicken-mcnuggets-have-in-common/

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/25/a-tale-of-2-nuggets/?hpt=Sbin

We must take more responsibility for reducing our exposure to known carcinogens. Use fewer petroleum based products, such as wax and chemically treated paper products. A side benefit of this one is that we can be more "green" at the same time.

Be aware of the ingredients in our foods. I've been on a personal campaign against processed meats containing carcinogens such as hot dogs. I haven't been 100% successful, but I have definitely reduced my family's exposure to this one.

Share your knowledge with others in your day to day interactions. For example, if you are planning lunch with colleagues, explain why you prefer not to eat in certain restaurants or why you avoid certain foods. It is a great opportunity for conversation and raising awareness.

CNN Article: http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/25/a-tale-of-2-nuggets/?hpt=Sbin

Another food site: http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/07/22/what-do-silly-putty-and-chicken-mcnuggets-have-in-common/