Listening to the presentations and engaging with researchers, scientists, and patients raised an important question: how do we communicate findings and data in ways that advance patient care while also fostering trust and meaningful relationships between industry and community?

No one-size-fits-all digital solution

Some of the most recent developments in data and research presented in San Antonio are worth recognizing, not only for what they found, but also for what they can teach us. For example, the YES (Young, Empowered & Strong) study demonstrated the potential of a mobile health (mHealth) app to address quality of life issues and reduce key symptoms in young breast cancer survivors.

While the study presented promising information for this group of patients, it also highlighted some persistent challenges, indicating that there is no one-size-fits-all digital solution. First, it highlighted the continued existence of a digital divide, indicating that equitable patient access to digital devices cannot be assumed. The YES study also pointed out valuably that while improvements were seen in some areas of treatment as a result of mobile technology use, several menopausal and psychological challenges for patients remained that were not significantly addressed.

More information is needed

Data from the oral SERD study are exciting. The study validates the oral SERD (Selective Estrogen Receptor Degrader) approach and sets the stage for further development of novel SERDs and combination strategies. This represents a potentially transformative advance in endocrine therapy for HR+ HER2‑breast cancer. While the study’s findings are promising, longer follow-up, survival data, and subgroup analyses are still needed. In addition, data from a hormone therapy in BRCA1/2 carriers study suggest that while hormone therapy may not increase breast cancer risk, treatment remains highly individualized and requires personalized care and shared decision-making to be as effective as possible.

The Cleveland Clinic’s early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) vaccine trials showed promising immune responses and good safety in small studies. These preliminary results are promising, but larger trials are necessary to confirm any real clinical benefit.

Finally, the results of a study on neoadjuvant strategies with radiation + Keytruda showed promise in shrinking tumors and boosting immune responses before surgery. These findings challenge the traditional surgery-first paradigm and further support more personalized care. But these approaches remain early and complex, and are not yet standard.

Wellness doesn’t have to be complicated

While early-phase, the results of trials on acupuncture and integrative therapies suggest that these approaches may help survivors with cognitive symptoms (“chemo‑brain”) and improve their quality of life with minimal side effects. These studies highlight that integrative care can complement, not compete with, conventional treatment.

The broader adoption of these approaches will require clinicians to be aware of, sensitive to, and supportive of personalized wellness. Like with other therapies, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but these promising findings remind us that wellness doesn’t have to be complicated, overwhelming or inaccessible.

How do we better communicate scientific updates?

The researchers, scientists, funders, and patients who participate in these studies are critical to advancing care and creating a healthier tomorrow. I’m honored to be part of this ecosystem.

This year’s symposium has also prompted me to reflect: How do we best communicate, rather than commercialize, scientific updates? How can we inform, not inflate? How do we continue to educate without exaggerating? What will allow us to better inspire, not deflate?

While thousands of abstracts are presented each year, only a small fraction ultimately changes clinical practice. So, what can we do to ensure they receive a broader hearing?  I believe that as researchers, scientists, and physicians who rely on communicating the promise and potential of our work and its ability to improve patients’ lives, we should follow these four communication imperatives.

• Prioritize the heart of the story, not the headlines. Headline-first news stories are the norm for those consuming news. While the temptation may be to present your work in the best possible light, including caveats (“early stage,” “with limitations”) that accurately convey the current state of a study or research program can help curb misinformation and limit premature hype.

• Encourage dialogue. It’s crucial to establish connections with disease communities to foster collaborative partnerships that facilitate improved communication and outcomes. Intentionally creating channels for questions or feedback on published studies fosters transparency between the industry and the community.

• Non-updates are still updates. Patients who are waiting for effective treatments rely on honest and open communication to base their decisions on. However, it’s essential to recognize that both positive and negative findings contribute to innovation. Breaking down wins and losses in clear language helps bridge the trust gap between the industry and the community.

• Support for replication and wellness research. Currently, there is no large, dedicated Federal program funding large-scale repeat clinical trials solely for confirmation purposes. Greater investment in replicating research in prevention, while advancing breakthrough therapies, could help actualize a whole-person health approach.

The proceedings of SABCS 2025 and the research presented remind us that progress in cancer treatment and care is iterative, collaborative, and deeply human. They also emphasized that, even as we celebrate exciting breakthroughs, we must recognize that honestly communicating the nuances and limitations of research is also our responsibility. As communicators, that is how we translate the most promising research into meaningful, equitable patient care.

The post Promise, Progress and Perspective: Key Takeaways from SABCS 2025 appeared first on Medika Life.

No phone.

No watch.

No distractions.

Just her presence — so quiet, it filled the room.

She had metastatic cancer, but that wasn’t what she came to talk about.

“I spent my whole life moving,” she said. “Rushing, fixing, solving. Even when I sat still, my mind didn’t stop. But cancer… cancer taught me something else.”

“It taught me how to be still.”

She didn’t say it with resignation. It felt like a victory.

Most people come into the clinic with questions about what to do.

They want a treatment plan, a supplement list, a way forward.

She came in with something simpler, and somehow, deeper — a way to be.

“I used to think stillness was laziness,” she told me.

“But now I think it’s wisdom. Sitting in the garden with my tea, letting my dog nap beside me.”

No music.

No news.

Just being there.

“That,” she said, “was the first time I really lived.”

Want more quiet insights from the exam room?
Follow me on Medium → https://medium.com/@drmichaelhunter

She wasn’t being poetic.

She was just telling the truth.

Stillness

Stillness is a challenging concept to sell in our culture.

We equate motion with progress.

We blur productivity and purpose.

We fill every space with noise.

But healing, aging, grieving, and loving — all require stillness.

I’ve seen patients search for answers in pills, scans, and data.

But sometimes the answer comes in silence.

A deep breath.

A quiet morning.

A patient who learned to stop chasing life long enough actually to feel it.

She asked me no questions.

She just said thank you.

And as she left, I realized I was the one who’d been given something.

Final Thoughts

I’ve met thousands of patients.

But the ones who stay with me are rarely the ones who fought the hardest or read the most studies.

They’re the ones who discovered a truth we forget in our rush: That stillness isn’t the opposite of life.

It’s the quiet space where life shows up.

If this story moved you, you might appreciate my free guide:
10 Daily Habits That Quiet the Noise
Simple shifts to reclaim your focus, calm, and clarity — no meditation required.
👉 Download it free → https://achievewellness.gumroad.com/l/nzjqr

The post Clinic Notes: She Taught Me Stillness appeared first on Medika Life.

“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves…”
— William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar.

That quote haunted me for years, long before I ever held a linear accelerator’s joystick or delivered radiation to a tumor curled around someone’s spine.

Back then, I didn’t fully grasp its relevance to my work.

Now, after decades in oncology, I see it with stark clarity.

Because here’s the truth:

Up to 42% of cancers are preventable — not through miracle drugs or genetic luck, but through modifiable, everyday choices.

This observation isn’t about blame.

It’s about power.

And it’s time we stopped whispering about it.

Even through the fog of risk, we can walk toward healing. 42% of cancers are preventable, and every step counts.

🔁 Why Cancer Isn’t Just Bad Luck: The Myth of Randomness

When patients hear “cancer,” the next question is often whispered:

Did I cause this?

It’s a painful, complicated moment.

I always remind them: no one deserves this, and no one gets cancer from one bad meal or missed screening.

But I also tell them we know that cancer is not a lightning strike.

Yes, some cancers come from sheer genetic chaos.

But others arise from a slow, silent drift, shaped by inflammation, environment, and habit.

🔁 Inflammation and Obesity: The Hidden Cancer Risks

You don’t see inflammation in the mirror. But it shapes your fate.

Low-grade, chronic inflammation — often fueled by excess fat, poor diet, poor sleep, and stress — is a known contributor to several cancers, including colorectal, breast, and liver.

Chronic inflammation in the etiology of disease across the life span – Nature Medicine

www.nature.com

We once thought of obesity as a cosmetic issue. Now we understand it as a biological amplifier of cancer risk:

• Fat cells release cytokines and estrogen-like compounds
• These can trigger DNA damage and tumor-promoting environments

I’m not judging anyone’s weight. I’m inviting a deeper understanding of how the body works — and how we can gently steer it.

Diseases desperate grown,
By desperate appliance are relieved,
Or not at all.”
— Shakespeare, Hamlet.

Sometimes, small daily shifts are our most potent medicine.

🔁 How Alcohol, Smoking & Diet Tip the Scales

If you asked me what four lifestyle changes would make the biggest impact on global cancer rates, I’d say this:

1. Stop smoking
2. Drink less alcohol
3. Eat more plants and fewer processed foods
4. Move

🥃 Alcohol

Alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen, the same class as tobacco and asbestos.³

It increases the risk for at least seven cancers, including breast and colorectal.

And even “moderate” drinking has risks, especially for those with other risk factors.

No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health

. www.who.int. int.

🍽️ Diet

Ultra-processed foods cause inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and now, higher cancer risk.

A 2023 study in The Lancet tied them to a 29% increased risk of colorectal cancer.⁴

It’s not about moral purity. It’s about stacking the odds in your favor.

Prevention Isn’t Perfection. It’s Daily Poetry.

When I talk to patients, I don’t hand them guilt. I hand them a possibility.

• A walk after dinner to quiet insulin spikes
• A decision to swap soda for tea
• A full night of sleep instead of doomscrolling

These things may seem small, but they are acts of devotion, not just to the body, but to the life it still wants.

Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.”
— Hamlet.

Health is not about perfection. It’s about rhythm.

About small, quiet methods repeated until they shape destiny.

The Truth I Wish More People Knew

When people find out I’m a cancer doctor, they usually ask about treatments.

But the conversation I wish we had more often is this:

What can I do now, before the diagnosis, to change the story?

The answer isn’t sexy. It’s not a pill or a breakthrough headline.

It’s this:

Cancer isn’t always random. And your choices — however small — are not meaningless.

You deserve to know that.

A Gentle Invitation

I don’t write this to scare you.

I write it because knowledge is power, and silence is not protection.

Here’s the truth:

• Cancer is common.
• Up to 42% is preventable.
• That prevention is made of ordinary acts repeated with quiet courage.

What’s one habit you’ve changed for your long-term health? I’d love to hear.

The post Cancer Isn’t Random: What 42% of Diagnoses Have in Common — and How You Can Lower Your Risk. appeared first on Medika Life.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths.

About one in 44 American men will die of the disease.

Although some prostate cancers are aggressive — and can lead to death — the majority of them are low-grade and never spread (metastasize) to distant sites like bones.

What if I told you that there is a male behavior that raises prostate cancer risk by nearly half?

What’s your guess?

Smoking?

Too much alcohol?

Not enough exercise?

No, the answer is simpler: Get prostate cancer screening.

Today, I’ll review the disturbing recent increase in prostate cancer incidence.

We’ll then turn to a new study highlighting the power of prostate cancer screening.

Prostate Cancer Rates Are Spiking

The U.S. state of California is a good example of what happens when men don’t get prostate cancer screening.

A University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) study included nearly 388,000 men who had prostate cancer between 2004 and 2021.

This California statistic caught my eye:

The incidence rate of prostate cancer cases increased by seven percent per year on average between 2011 and 2021.

Around one in six of the 72,460 men invited to the screenings skipped every appointment.

The unscreened men had a 45 percent higher risk of dying from prostate cancer compared with those who attended screening appointments.

Let’s turn to why this spike rise in incidence (and plateau in gains against prostate cancer deaths) occurred.

Prostate Screening Stops (and Deaths Rise)

The incidence of advanced prostate cancer rose.

The mortality rate plateaued in most regions across the state of California.

These changes occurred following the decision to stop routinely screening all men for the disease.

The prostate cancer increase is associated with the 2012 U.S Preventative Task Force decision to stop recommending routine PSA screenings.

Guidelines Changed Over Time

Let’s look at how prostate cancer screening guidelines have evolved:

• 2008. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against PSA screening for males over 75.
• 2012. The USPSTF extends the “no PSA screening” recommendation to men 55 to 69.
• 2018. “Males aged 55 to 69 years discuss the possible benefits and harms of PSA screening with their health care provider and make an individualized decision about whether to get screened.”

Prostate Cancer: Screening

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: All authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential…

www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org

The 2008 and 2012 changes, designed to prevent overtreatment, may have inadvertently led to a higher number of cases going undetected (and potentially advanced, lethal prostate cancer).

My Take

The rising incidence of prostate cancer alarms me.

The increase occurred across age groups, ethnicities, and races.

According to the researchers,

The freeze in screenings “unfortunately may have led to one of the largest subsequent rises in incidence of distant stage disease.”

The problem is urgent, and determining the optimal way to screen for prostate cancer remains a challenge.

Screen!

If we don’t screen, the number of men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer — an incurable condition — increases fast.

If you are a male, you should strongly consider prostate cancer screening with the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men have a chance to make an informed decision with their healthcare provider about whether to be screened for prostate cancer.

After learning about the possible benefits, risks, and uncertainties of prostate cancer screening, you can make a decision.

The discussion about screening should take place at:

• Age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and have a life expectancy of at least 10 years.
• Age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This group includes African American men and those who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).
• Age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age)

The post The Surprising Behavior That Raises Prostate Cancer Risk by Nearly Half appeared first on Medika Life.

Higher scores for diet quality and greater consumption of shortfall nutrients, especially nutrients of public health concern, are associated with dietary patterns that are rich in canned and dry beans. Improved weight-related outcomes are also linked to bean dietary patterns. In essence, dietary recommendations for the United States should consider the nutritional and health advantages of encouraging more people to eat canned and dry beans.

But plant-based diets have some benefits that may surprise many. Reduced mortality from prostate cancer and improved ecological sustainability are only two of the several advantages of plant-based diets.

According to a recent study conducted by academics, beans, and peas are the most cost effective and environmentally friendly alternatives to meat and milk. Given the current emphasis on environmental and climate change, we must consider alternatives to our current meat-based diet and assess their value.

The study published in the PRNAS found that soybeans, peas, and beans, as well as other legumes, performed better than processed foods like veggie burgers and plant milks.

Even after considering possible savings and investments, lab-grown meat was the most ineffective substitute due to its expensive price tag and the absence of health advantages.

What’s This About “Pulses?”

Pulses have become less common in people’s everyday diets and the prevalence of chronic diseases has increased during the last century, both of which have altered people’s eating patterns. Whole grain and legume consumption is associated with improved cardiovascular, metabolic, and cognitive health as well as longer life expectancy, according to both a priori and a posteriori dietary patterns. Contrarily, cardiovascular disease and premature death have been linked to diets heavy in sugar, processed foods, and red meat.

Some examples of pulses are peas, beans, and lentils. As an illustration, while pea pods are legumes, the peas within them are the pulse. While most of us eat legumes for their seeds or pulses, the whole plant is used in agriculture for cover crops, cattle feed, and fertilizers. Pulses include beans of many varieties, including kidney, black, pinto, navy, chickpeas, and many more. (This information was sourced from: https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/legumes-pulses/). But pulses aren’t the only thing to consider. For example, beans are “resistant starches” and that is the importance they bring to our diet.

Everyday foods often contain starch, a type of carbohydrate. After cellulose, it is the chemical component found in plants in the highest abundance. In its chemical form, starch consists of two molecules of monosaccharide. Starch falls into one of three types according to its physical and physiological characteristics: quickly digestible, slowly digested, or resistant starch. It was also discovered that resistant starch remained undigested. Research has shown that the gut microbial communities make use of these undigested carbohydrates. Here is where all the magic starts.

Resistant starch does not produce an increase in blood sugar levels since it is not broken down in the small intestine. Beneficial bacteria proliferate while harmful bacteria deplete as a result of fermentation in the large intestine, leading to an improvement in gut health. Glycemic management (especially important for diabetic patients) can be enhanced by promoting healthy gut bacteria. A reduction in cholesterol levels and the danger of colon cancer are among the other advantages of resistant starch. It also helps with constipation and both treats and prevents it. Because of its long fermentation process, resistant starch produces less gas than other fiber types.

Our best sources of resistant starch foods include:

• Plantains and green bananas (as a banana ripens, the starch changes to regular starch)
• Beans, peas, and lentils (white beans and lentils are the highest in resistant starch)
• Whole grains, including oats and barley
• Cooked and cooled rice. Why “cooled” rice? Because it increases the resistant starch content.

So, beans aren’t the only food with resistant starch qualities, but they are the easiest to obtain and least expensive when prepared in dried form. Canned beans may seem fine for quick meals, and that’s true, but they also may contain high levels of salt, which is unsuitable for anyone’s diet.

Concerned about your health and that of the plant? Reconsider a plant-based diet and beans as a staple in your meals.

The post Beans Are Now the Super Food That We All Need, So Get Ready for a New Diet appeared first on Medika Life.

That’s the tantalizing possibility raised by new research published in Academic Radiology.

Scientists have developed an AI algorithm that shows promise in identifying breast cancer on MRI scans up to 12 months sooner than current methods.

Could this be a game-changer in the fight against this prevalent disease?

As a radiation oncologist who is annually involved in the care of hundreds of patients with breast cancer, the news caught my eye.

The Promise of AI to Improve Cancer Detection

Researchers trained a convolutional neural network AI model using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 52,598 breasts.

To refine the model, they used a retrospective dataset of 3,029 MRI scans from 910 high-risk patients (ages 18 to 88; average 52), which included 115 cancers diagnosed within one year of a negative MRI.

The AI model detected cancers one year earlier.

Researchers found that radiologists’ retrospective review of the 10 percent of MRIs the AI deemed highest risk could potentially increase cancer detection by up to nearly one-third (30%).

Study Details

A radiologist could identify visual signs in 83 (72%) biopsy-proven cancer cases.

The AI model correctly identified the anatomical region where the cancer would eventually be detected in 66 (57 percent) of the 115 cases.

My cancer center’s radiologists are remarkably capable of detecting cancer.

The idea that AI can retrospectively find a malignancy from the previous year is exciting.

The breast imaging technology today is remarkable.

AI may allow us to use the device’s output more effectively.

Summary — The Future of Breast Cancer Detection is Here (and AI Powers It).

This novel AI-assisted re-evaluation of “benign” breasts shows promise for improving early breast cancer detection with MRI.

As datasets grow and image quality improves, this approach will be more impactful.

As a radiation oncologist, I’ll end with this: “Cool.”

The post The Future of Breast Cancer Detection is Here (and AI Powers It). appeared first on Medika Life.

On one hand, these pots, pans, and air fryers have become indispensable in our kitchens, offering convenience that makes cooking and cleaning a breeze.

The idea of perfectly cooked eggs gliding seamlessly onto my plate, all thanks to that slick coating, is undeniably appealing.

But then there’s that nagging voice whispering about potential health risks and the dreaded “Teflon flu.”

We’ve all heard the rumors: nonstick coatings degrade over time, releasing harmful chemicals into our food.

Is there any truth to these claims?

Like many of you, I’ve found myself caught in this culinary conundrum, weighing the convenience of nonstick against the potential health concerns.

In this essay, I’ll discuss the latest scientific research on nonstick coatings, their benefits, and their drawbacks.

I’ll also share practical tips for safely using nonstick cookware and offer compelling alternatives for those looking to avoid it altogether.

Nonstick Coatings

I recently read about how nonstick coatings can increase my plastic consumption.

While this raises concerns, I do not know how it will affect my health.

Researchers used a special imaging approach (Raman spectroscopy) to see what occurs in nonstick coatings during cooking.

They used wooden and metal utensils with old or new nonstick cookware. Here are the findings:

All approaches resulted in tiny abrasions to the nonstick coating, releasing micro- and nanoplastics.

Microplastics, Nanoplastics, and Health

The problem? Some studies hint that swallowing these plastic particles may damage our breathing tracts, causing problems such as bronchitis, asthma, and scarring (fibrosis).

Scientists described an incident in northern Italy where small plastic particles contaminated the water between 1980 and 2019.

This pollution affected about 150,000 individuals.

There was higher mortality from cardiovascular disease and certain cancers (including kidney and testicular malignancies) in the population affected by plastic particles.

Micro- and nanoplastics affect health.

What About Your Nonstick Teflon Pans?

My clinical literature review leads me to believe that most nonstick pans are safe.

Here are some tactics I employ:

• Avoid using metal utensils, turning to silicone or wooden ones.
• Avoid using nonstick cookware at temperatures above 250°C (482°F) or longer than 45 minutes.
• Replace pans if the coating starts to flake or is scratched.
• Don’t clean with abrasive tools, such as steel wool, as they can damage the utensil surface coating.

Alternatives to Nonstick Pans

I find nonstick cookware to be quite convenient, but I know there are alternatives, including the following:

• Cast iron
• Stainless steel
• Ceramic-coated cookware

While I still have some concerns, my clinical literature review suggests that nonstick coatings are relatively safe.

Provided you use the utensils properly, nonstick cookware can be a safe and reliable option for your kitchen.

The post Nonstick Pans: The Truth About Safety and How to Use Them Right appeared first on Medika Life.

We already know about the microplastics that have been found everywhere, including the rivers, lakes, and the deep oceans, and our bodies’ blood. It is inescapable at this time, but the PFAS chemicals may be something that can be controlled in some manner.

Some of the health damage is begun through our constant dependence on plastics—that “miracle” product of the 1940s that has become so entrenched in our lives that we can’t seem to exist without it. Discarded and broken down consumer goods such as single-use plastic bottles, food packaging, and plastic pellets — tiny bits of plastic utilized to create packaging, automotive components, toys, and other things — give rise to microplastics, which are defined as fragments of plastic shorter than 5 millimeters in length.

Microplastics end up in human water sources because of ocean dumping and landfills. These bits also make it into the air when plastic-filled bubbles burst at the surface of the ocean, according to the World Health Organization, and into lakes, rivers, and estuaries. They have even found microplastic in the breath of dolphins.

Additionally, humans can consume microplastics more directly, most frequently through food. For example, a study conducted in Italy found plastics in fish meant for human consumption, while scientists in China discovered thousands of tons of microplastics on farmland and in crops. Another study found that containers, especially those subjected to high temperatures, can leach microplastics into the food they contain.

Have you ever considered that your disposable container or cup might be filling your food or drink with dangerous plastic or chemicals? Most of us would never have had that thought, but now we cannot escape it. Each sip and each bit of food is another opportunity on a journey toward illness.

In this age of prioritizing health, we have complete control over this area without needing a gym or exercise. All we need to do is to try to eliminate certain items from our lives. While you’re at it, consider all those non-stick cooking utensils you use and research them and what they might put into your body. Would you rather have material that wasn’t so resistant to sticking and save your health in the process? Of course, this is a rhetorical question because we all want to remain healthy for as long as possible.

What PFAS Chemicals Do

PFAS has been used in various products since the 1950s because they effectively repel water and grease. Water, soil, plants, sludge, serum from humans and animals, and tissues are just some of the matrices where they have been found, attesting to their environmental durability. But in addition to their ability to withstand adverse environmental conditions, they remain serious neurotoxins. These toxic chemicals have even been found in menstrual pads and may contribute to reproductive issues in the future

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, an initiative run by the CDC in the United States, reports that the typical American has a blood level of about 4.7 ppb.

A number of major health issues have been linked to exposure to high amounts of PFAS, according to studies. These include cancer, liver and immune system damage, developmental effects on fetuses during pregnancy or on breastfed infants, thyroid issues, and high cholesterol.

More than two years after a Maine dairy farmer and his wife stopped drinking the milk and water from their farm, blood tests on both showed levels of the “forever chemicals” 20 times the national average.

The family doctor had submitted blood tests for them to a lab. There was 111 ppb of PFAS in his blood, and 93.5 ppb in his wife. A blood level of about 4.7 ppb is typical for Americans. What caused this? The farm used contaminated sludge from a paper factory.

One example of how this sludge may get into our water system and air is illustrated by an investigation in Florida where sludge is used in a variety of ways. According to the Florida DEP, over 40 facilities produce an estimated 350,000 tons of biosolids. Of that, 100,000 dry tons go straight to landfills. On land, another 100,000 are dispersed.

About 200,000 tons of biosolid “fertilizer” is made from the remaining 150,000 dry tons by mixing and mulching it with landscape material. How safe is fertilizer in the rest of the states that might be producing similar products from sludge? It might be an interesting area to explore wherever you may live and buy fertilizer.

Various health problems like cancer, liver damage, and developmental issues can occur at high levels. When we see blood results like this, we cannot overstate the danger of PFAS. It might lead us to wonder if we should have our blood tested and what the result would be if we were to test. This is not to say that everyone needs to run out and have a blood test for PFAS, but if there is concern about certain serious and or neurologic disorders, perhaps this would be indicated as a rule-out possibility.

I once evaluated a young man whose wife complained that he was having severe bouts of depression, rages, and sleep problems. Once I delved into his lifestyle, I discovered he was a landscaper and frequently used a variety of pesticides and fertilizers. He was, of course, then referred for further evaluation by a neurologist and a hematologist. He had elevated levels of chemicals in his blood and his “mental disorder” was the result of close, daily interaction with these materials, where he both inhaled and had these products on his skin.

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that if you have questions about your household drinking water, whether it comes from the town water supply, or private wells, you might want to have the water tested. When purchasing items that are indicated to be water resistant or have some other form of protection, that protection may contain PFAS. It is, therefore, on the consumer’s part that each individual can make changes in their life. It’s not easy, but isn’t your health worth it?

Certain PFAS may still be present in indoor air or dust, even if there have been recent attempts to remove them from commerce, reducing the probability of exposure. Call (301) 504–8120 or email ConsumerOmbudsman@cpsc.gov to reach the Consumer Ombudsman, who is part of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. You can also visit their website.

Technology has made wonderful advances and has improved our lives, but some of the changes may not be as beneficial as we had hoped. As before, each of us must remember that phrase “caveat emptor,” “let the buyer beware.“

The post Forever Chemicals and Microplastics in Water More Dangerous to Health Than Thought appeared first on Medika Life.

It encouraged me to not only accept, but to normalize, and even embrace a cancer diagnosis. I counted how many times the word cancer was repeated as I waited.

Twenty. The words “your cancer” was repeated so many times, my head was swirling.

For cancer treatment to get an ok with the patient, it must first get the patient to be ok with the presence and word cancer; to even give it a home in the thoughts, body, and present awareness.

There is nothing about an adverse health condition that merits giving it permission to take up residence in your body. Disease comes and goes in our lives, but to remain healthy and to stay in perspective of the value and length of life we want, even with the worst physical diagnosis, never do we simply accept a diagnosis and NEVER do we call it our own.

Whether chronic or acute, sickness is not a natural state of the body and does not belong in it.

I have read many a breast cancer patient post on “supportive” websites vehemently owning a breast cancer diagnosis, at the behest and example of their medical providers.

Breast cancer patients are not taught by and large that breast cancer is an unwelcome enemy.

Rather, it is inundated into society for women to expect a diagnosis of breast cancer and then accept it and “fight” it. This is a propaganda technique designed to perpetuate an illness mindset.

Truthfully, there is only ONE fight to be had when it comes to illness, terminal or not and that is the fight to convince your mind that that disease process does not belong in you.

Disease is a separate, dangerous enemy from your body.

As a woman who is still feeling the effects of subsequent treatments and undergoing surgeries post treatment for breast cancer, I can say firsthand that I have lived this truth since diagnosis. I have refused to allow myself to call this attack on my life and purpose my own. It is not from God, so it is not mine.

Our healing is in the unseen, supernatural realm, not in the unseen physical, natural realm. Complete healing is brought into the natural realm through our realizing and believing in the Unseen. The Unseen truths are materialized in the Seen realm through our holding firm to that faith that we possess cancer-free, pain-free and complication-free bodies, spirits and souls (mind, thoughts, emotions, will and all things) in this realm where God our Father lives and has manifested this miraculous freedom from (all) earthly symptoms and diagnoses. Healing is every one of our’s destiny, through faith in His powerful healing desires for us.

No one was destined to be born to die from cancer, addiction, chronic illness, sudden tragedy or ANYTHING else. The Lord, our God, designed us to live long, beautiful lives.

His gentle, but firm command is for us to align ourselves, our thinking and beliefs, with HIS diagnosis of LIFE…not with the enemy’s of Death.

Let every ache and pain be crushed under your feet, under the weight of His promise of complete healing, but stand as a reminder that what we feel (fear, fright, apprehension, ruminations, death visions) is not what we are or where we are going.

Believe this moment that you will live. Looking over your shoulder only in expectation to see great Love running toward you, not to cringe with fear. See your long and healthy life in front of you and begin planning for it.

He has you. He has us.

Believe HIS prescription for health, not Oncology’s for death.❤️

The post Stop Owning a Cancer Diagnosis appeared first on Medika Life.

The probability of suicide attempt and suicide death was 1.48 and 1.47 times higher, respectively, for wives of cancer patients compared to those whose spouses never had the disease, according to data from Denmark’s national patient databases.

Some variables affected the severity of that risk. Suicide attempts and fatalities among patients’ spouses were more common among those whose tumors were more aggressive, but this was not the case for cancers with better prognoses. This highlights the seriousness of the situation for cancer caretakers. Suicide attempts and fatalities were more common among people with a history of mental illness following a spouse’s cancer diagnosis. But we need to remember that not all individuals with mental illnesses seek treatment, so not all of them receive a diagnosis, and that means they get left out of the statistical calculations.

Caregiving for a loved one with cancer is fraught with difficulties on many fronts, including the physical, mental, and practical. Cancer treatments have a profound impact on patients, but they also place heavy financial and emotional strains on loved ones, who may already have quite a bit on their plates with which they must contend.

Witnessing a loved one’s suffering, on top of the challenging nature of caring, can induce severe psychological discomfort. Few studies have examined the rates of suicide, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm among cancer patients’ caregivers, even though depression is the leading cause of suicide.

Because of shorter hospital stays, more outpatient therapy, improved survival rates, and patients’ preferences for at-home care, the primary care environment for cancer patients has moved from hospitals to patients’ homes. Therefore, more people will need to pitch in to take care of cancer patients’ day-to-day needs, especially those who are close to the patients, such as friends and family. Caregivers play a crucial role in the treatment journey of cancer patients. Currently, there are an estimated six million of these caregivers worldwide.

Nearly 40.1% of men and 38.7% of women in the nation will develop cancer in their lives. Its effects on poor countries are equally significant and warrant investigation.

What About the Caregiver’s Quality of Life?

For cancer caregivers, the relationship between stress and well-being runs counter to what one would expect. Caring for someone reliant on you increases your chances of anxiety by 86% and sadness by 65%. The majority of unpaid caregivers are women (45–65 years old), who stay at home and are the patient’s daughter or husband, according to studies that have profiled this demographic. Among the 7663 caregivers who made up one overall sample, women made up 66.72%. The majority of research agrees that female caregivers outnumber male caregivers for cancer patients.

If women are the primary caregivers of cancer patients and provide assistance in the home, and research has not adequately assessed their quality of life, what can we learn from the current body of research?

Among all relatives, 11% felt a heavy burden as a caretaker, and the median number of hours spent caring for a loved one each week was 15. Family members who reported a low or medium caregiver load were more resilient and engaged in self-care more frequently than those who reported a high caregiver burden. Caregivers who reported carrying a heavy load were more likely to be younger, better educated, and less knowledgeable about the value of self-care. They also frequently reported acting as an informal caretaker for the patient.

Nearly half (43.5%) of caregivers said they had to deal with high financial costs, and almost a third (35.0%) said they experienced isolation or the loss of friends due to caring for someone else. Comparatively, 33% said they had unfavorable effects on their bodies. Starting at 13%, the percentage of people experiencing overwhelming or severe stress increased to 59.5% as the disease progressed, substantially quintupling from the baseline.

Relatives of people with advanced cancer may cope better with the caregiving load they face if they practice self-care and build resilience. However, little attention has been paid to these ideas. What is the motivation for caregivers of cancer patients?

In a survey asking about their primary drivers, 75% of people mentioned love as a driving element, while 50% cited a sense of duty. While 3.5 percent cited remorse as their driving force, 8% cited financial gain as their primary motivator. Tragic loss accounted for 30.5% of caregivers’ responsibilities, followed by mental health issues at 28.0%, and financial concerns at 15.5%.

Considering the research or lack thereof, caregivers for cancer patients who go through increasing stages of the disease must feel like they are trying to push the ocean back with a broom.

Their sentiments are understandable, but there is help available, and I am listing both groups and other available resources for these individuals. We cannot leave them feeling hopeless and helpless. We must employ all our abilities, too, in a larger sense, to support these individuals in their valiant efforts.

I understand the demands and the difficulties, the strain, and the stress of caring for someone with metastatic cancer that marches on to become ever more ravaging because my mother died of cancer. She was fortunate because she had four daughters, including a granddaughter who, in managerial fashion, set up a schedule for each person’s involvement.

We were all given a shift (day and night) and time for respite care and self-care so we would not burn out. It was a time of great stress, but we are all proud of our involvement. Fortunately, this was when hospice care was in its infancy in the US, but we could find a major hospital that had cobbled together a knowledgeable cancer hospice team. They provided both care and medication for us, and we are forever grateful to them and the wonderful oncologist who took care of my mother in the hospital.

Groups and Resources

The American Cancer Society: downloadable guide

National Coalition for Cancer Survivors

Cancer Care Resources

National Cancer Institute

Cancer Support Community (Gilda’s Club)

National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

Cancer Hope Network

Ovar’s Coming Together (ovarian cancer)

Colon Cancer Foundation

Cancer care can be overwhelming for anyone, so don’t think you are in any way weak if you are feeling the task is grinding you down and you are having suicidal thoughts.

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. For TTY users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

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