Surviving Cancer

We have been slotted to air our show Tuesdays from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Our first show will be Tuesday October 9, 2007 The topic for our first show will focus on cancer survivors.

There will be some tips on what you can do nutritionally to lower your risk of getting cancer and lifestyle options that can either put you at higher risk or lower your risks.

Our Guest for this show are: 

Photo when available	Linda Balmese:  BC Cancer Foundation, researcher from UBC on alternative therapies for Cancer will be sharing the current thought on alternative therapies.
	Susan Deborah King: Breast Cancer survivor, Author, Former Presbyterian minister and psychotherapist, and writing instructor will be talking about Can Writing Save Your Life?
Tara Taggert	Tara Taggart: Health Promotion Coordinator, Vancouver Island Region Canadian Cancer Society. Will be sharing some prevention strategies.
Photo when available	Judi Ruffle Ovarian cancer survivor talking about her ordeal
Holly Trainor	Holy Trainer: Ovarian Cancer Survivor, diagnosed with ovarian cancer in January 2001.

Judi Ruffle Ovarian cancer survivor Judi has broadcast background and has worked for WCAU-TV, in Philadelphia and a CBS-TV station in Texas until joining the U.S. Navy where she worked for the Navy's Civilian Personnel Office and is now the Station manager for CHLY 101.7 FM in Nanaimo, BC. She has also been a staff trainer for Hilton Hotels. Judi is a bit of a world traveler. She finished High School in Europe. College in Texas, Lived in several places in the US, Lived in England from 94-96 and is now a resident of Nanaimo. Judi is an overian cancer survivor.


Susan Deborah King: Breast Cancer survivor, Author, Former Presbyterian minister and psychotherapist, and writing instructor will be talking about Can Writing Save Your Life?

Susan Deborah King (Author of the One Breasted Woman) The Bottom Line: Poet Susan King faces breast cancer and transforms her raw emotions into “vessels of words” which hold her terror, hope, and victory. She writes of changes in body and spirit, relationships with family and friends, facing “death’s hot, bad breath” and the blessing of recovery, with its small everyday pleasures. Nothing is omitted –- sex, breast prostheses, surgical scars, pain, loss and permanent change. This book makes fine reading late at night when fears resurface, or when you need the fellowship of survivors.

Susan King was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy at age 51. She has been a Presbyterian minister, a psychotherapist, she taught writing at the University of Minnesota, She has written two other poetry books, and currently leads retreats on creativity and spirituality. Susan and her husband have grown twin daughters.

When you’re faced with the diagnoses of a terrifying illness, such as breast cancer, it’s not uncommon to feel angry, alone and afraid. But how can you move toward recovery if you are consumed by these feelings? For Susan Deborah King the only way to regain her life after mastectomy was to write about it. She’ll discuss how writing in the midst of a life crisis can help you find courage, connection and healing.

Tara Taggart: Health Promotion Coordinator, Vancouver Island Region Canadian Cancer Society. Will be sharing some prevention strategies.

Linda Balmese:  BC Cancer Foundation, researcher from UBC on alternative therapies for Cancer will be sharing the current thought on alternative therapies.

Holy Trainer: Ovarian Cancer Survivor, diagnosed with ovarian cancer in January 2001. Courtney/Comox

In 2004, She decided that she wanted to start the first Walk of Hope in B.C. She got in touch with the National Ovarian Cancer Association and got the ball rolling. With a wonderful Committee they raised awareness about this disease! It was a huge success with funds raised over $20,000.

 Breast cancer stats

• Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women.
• In 2007, an estimated 22,300  women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,300 will die of it.
•  An estimated 170 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 50 will die of it.
• On average, 429 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every week.
• On average, 102  Canadian women will die of breast cancer every week.
• One in 9 women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime. One in 27 will die of it.
• Breast cancer death rates have declined in all ages combined and in every age group since at least the mid 1990s.
• Incidence and death rates for breast cancer have declined since 1969 in women aged 20-39.

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Health tips:

Iodine: from 1990-1993, the US had 22.3 deaths per 100,000 women of breast cancer, placing them in 45th place in the world, while in Japan, where they have high dietary iodine, there were 6.6 deaths per 100,000, placing them in 13th place (Cancer Statistics, 1997). These findings tally with studies finding that the low intake of dietary iodine, found due to geographical differences, leads to a risk of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer.

Trans fats and cancer: Trans fats are from two primary sources; hydrogenated oils added by food manufacturers to increase shelf life and from cooking methods. The food labeling is more about the wishes of food manufacturers than it is about good science. Transformed fatty acids (Trans fats) are produced any time fatty acids are exposed to high temperatures such as frying, grilling and can also be produced by exposure to light, air and age. There are two major issues with trans fats. Trans fats act like saturated fats and raise cholesterol and they add free radicals to the diet.

Anti oxidants:

Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention
We often hear the word antioxidant in magazines, in the news, and even on the labels of ketchup bottles! What are exactly are antioxidants and can they effectively prevent or slow down cancer?

In order to understand antioxidants and cancer prevention, we must know what exactly antioxidants are and how they help our bodies.

Antioxidants are substances that prevent damage to cells caused by free radicals. Free radicals are cells that have lost an electron, thus are unstable cells. These free radicals basically steal electrons from other cells in effort to heal themselves, ultimately creating new free radicals in the process. By stealing electrons, it can cause damage to DNA, leading to the possible development of cancer.

Antioxidants search for these free radicals and lend them an electron. This stabilizes the molecule, thus preventing damage to other cells. Antioxidants also turn free radicals into waste by products, and they eventually get eliminated from the body. They also have the ability to repair previous damage to cells.

The best sources of anti oxidants are things like blueberries, nuts seeds and dark green or brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Studies suggest there is a higher incidence of death among people who try to supplement for anti oxidants rather than select the best natural food sources.

Alcohol: Recent studies making news are linking alcohol consumption of more than two drinks per day to a higher risk for breast cancer.

Smoking: Cigarette smoke is linked to many health concerns including higher risk for lung cancer as well as many other cancers. Cigarette smoke is a source of free radicals as well as other toxins.