Each year since 1999, we have achieved a decline in cancer-related deaths, an encouraging trend which is poised to carry on as experts learn more and more about the causes of cancer, cancer prevention and the development of new and better treatment options. Nonetheless, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in Canada – making it important to continue to push forward with persistence to find a cure.
Here is what we have observed up to now:
- Diet makes a difference. Although a diet abundant in antioxidants can help minimize cell damage (and protect against cancer), a recently available research study showed that in some cases, cancers reap the benefits of a nutrient-rich diet, leading to hastened metastasis. As a result, the advice is to avoid antioxidant supplements except when your physician prescribes them. Get your antioxidants from fruits, veggies, and beans instead, as the added molecules in whole food has an impact. On top of that, a connection is suspected between sugary beverages (soda, artificially sweetened drinks, and even 100% fruit juice) and a heightened danger of cancer.
- Cancer may develop before birth. Most notably, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is believed to stem from a mutation that develops in utero, triggered when infection is first introduced. The suggestion is to make certain children are exposed to germs in the first year of life, to teach the immune system to deal with pathogens and prevent the secondary mutation that creates leukemia.
- The emphasis is moving toward immunotherapy. People who have experienced the ravages of chemotherapy’s side effects will probably be relieved at the latest treatment advances, which emphasize immunotherapy, targeting just the cancer cells themselves. A clinical trial of a “cancer vaccine,” in conjunction with a light dose of radiation, has already shown promising results.
If you or someone you love is going through the challenges of cancer, let us help. Our reliable Windsor-Essex in-home care team can prepare healthy meals, pick up prescription medications, provide accompaniment to scheduled appointments, and offer the emotional encouragement essential to focus on healing. Contact us at 519.915.4370 to schedule an in-home assessment and to learn more about out top-rated in-home care services.
