So often when I tune into to hear the news or even read social media posts, often there are organizations, individuals, pharmaceuticals, etc. all on the hunt for the ‘cure for cancer.’ And while many of these groups and persons are honorable and noble in their causes and purpose, I have to say that unfortunately I think many of their efforts are actually in the wrong place.
Now this may sound like a shock or insensitive to some, but what I mean by this is that we already know what causes the vast majority of cancers and how to prevent the vast majority of them: which is largely through educated, mindful living! What does that entail? Well first off, consider this statistic: Reputable organizations such as the World Health estimate that nearly 95% of cancers are not due to genes but rather due to exposures, poor lifestyle habits (including smoking, lack of exercise, diet, not enough sleep, etc). Approximately 15% of these cases may be directly linked to viral infections such as Hepatitis and HPV. Furthermore, cancer is, admittedly, a HUGE industry and a profitable one at that. If you think that drug companies don’t consider the profits they make off of chemotherapy drugs and other treatments, unfortunately you are sorely mistaken. So we must also keep in mind that some powerful forces may truly not want a ‘cure’ to see the light of day…because that would be bad for business…as horrific as that may sound!
That’s just one of a number of reasons why it is so important for us to take our jobs SERIOUSLY as being good stewards of our health and being mindful about not taking detrimental risks to our health like smoking, unprotected sex, excessive drinking, etc., as the vast majority of all kinds of cancers can be prevented before they are even started! So this is where I find cause for adjusting the focus on ‘curing cancer’: When cancer is complex and there are many competing theories and perspectives on its origins, contributing causes, and competing agendas when it comes to the ‘business of medicine’ etc., why shouldn’t we be putting the bulk of the campaign into cancer prevention, when science already suggests we can avoid the vast majority of cases if we do this??
Of course we still want to help those that get cancer no matter what good habits they have or via unfortunate scenarios that have led to its development (such as excessive radiation exposure). But imagine eliminating 95% of cases if individuals lived near optimal lifestyles?? What if community and public policy encouraged and rewarded individuals more for buying and eating healthy foods, not smoking (maybe a tax credit?), not eating excess amounts of sugar (or conversely, taxing sugary, junk foods!)?! We used to tax sugar in this country hundreds of years ago. Maybe it’s time to think about that again and stop encouraging people to buy junk food and rather encourage health food to be ubiquitous in every convenience and grocery store across America by way of financial incentive(s)!
While some of these things may take some negotiating and time, some of them really aren’t that hard, especially when we start on a grassroots level or even in your own family! Replacing those junk foods, filtering that water, working on better sleep habits, making your home more ‘green’ and eliminating harsh and potentially toxic chemicals found in household cleaners, cosmetics, carpets, detergents, and more, cutting that smoking habit, getting regular exercise, avoiding plastic compounds such as BPA that can mimic internal hormones and contribute to potentially certain types of cancers… These are all very doable and feasible steps that all of us can indeed do and work on, with just a bit of effort and most of all, conscientiousness.
As the saying goes, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ And in the case of cancer, where a cure is never going to be a certainty and is likely many millions of dollars away, why not start with really focusing on what already can dramatically lower our risk of ever even having to contemplate dealing with cancer in the first place–such as all of our habits and exposures in our own homes and lives!
As Judy Garland famously said, “There’s no place like home” but in reality perhaps this is really only true if your home is indeed free from dangerous chemicals, nurturing, and full of nourishing foods and habits! Then you can truly relax and rest easy, perhaps like in no other place! So remember, you have the power to make it so… and it doesn’t have to be somewhere over the rainbow!