so in preparation for tomorrow morning, i did some research into environmental links to breast cancer. i dread the coming of tomorrow. so i hope some of these ideas will stick with some of you...and hopefully you won't have to go through what i'm about to go through.
okay. here's the deal. i am going to make a cheat sheet for all of you. it will be a cheat sheet to work on avoiding some of the environmental toxins that are showing to cause/help breast cancer along. do as much as you can.
1. don't smoke
2. eat organically grown foods as much as financially possible
3. do not microwave food in plastic containers
4. if you drink water from plastic bottles, do not drink water from warm bottles
5. avoid beauty products that contain parabens or phthalates - esp. hair products
6. avoid deodorant with aluminum
7. avoid cleaning products with alkylphenols - like octyphenol, nonylphenol
(and air out your house as often as possible, open windows and doors)
8. try killing weeds with boiling water, vinegar, or alcohol
9. especially in adolescence, avoid use of fragrances
10. especially for kids, try to buy organic apple juice
because organic foods are so much more expensive...i wanted to also give you a list of fruits and vegetables that tend to have the highest amounts of pesticides in them when grown nonorganically. it's important, then, to buy these items organic if possible:
1. peaches
2. apples
3. pears
4. winter squash
5. green beans
6. grapes
7. strawberries
8. raspberries
9. spinach
10. potatoes
so.
it can feel overwhelming to really think about all of this, to really learn about it.
but i hope that these lists make it a little easier.
maybe just make a goal of making 3 little changes to your lives based on this information.
in honor of me?
resources:
http://erbc.vassar.edu
http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/education/index.asp
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
-Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi 1207-1273, written in 1230
4 comments:
Dearest Meg,
We are holding you in our hearts today as you start chemotherapy. (I added -therapy to remind us that this IS a therapeutic appproach.) Have faith in your body's strength and wisdom to know how to make the most of this powerful boost you are giving it towards restoring you to total wellness. Trust your process.
Love and comfort,
sandy :-)
Meghan,
Even as you aproach this next challenge/phase of your recovery, you do so with grace and ease. And in the process you even teach us-your adoring fans! You are to be commended. We are all thinking of you and waiting to hear from you again.
With all our love and support,
erica
You are amazing, Megs - in this crazy time you still take a moment to help us all out. Truly extraordinary, you are. I hope today goes as well as it can, and know I'm here thinking about you.
xoxo
miller
As your friendly neighborhood social worker, I also feel it incumbent to mention that sometimes cancer just happens, despite all efforts to "follow the rules" - - and it sucks, and it's unfair, and it makes us think How the hell did this happen, and it's good to live a clean and healthy lifestyle to try and stay well, but...also...it can be a dangerous road to go down, thinking What could I have done to prevent this, because then we can slip into all sorts of self-doubt and self-blame and guilt and etc etc etc. Not that that's true of you, but...just to be safe. Because you're one of the healthiest people I know. Other than the Swedish fish.
xoxox
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