My Next Steps

As part of this new reality of treating cancer, I researched cancer-causing substances and exposures in my everyday life. Some common carcinogens are not ones I’m exposed to: tobacco, alcohol, radiation in excess, chemicals (heavy metals, asbestos, production environments, etc), tanning beds or excess UV rays. Something that made the list that have been part of my history are birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy (more on that in another post).

So I looked at the less obvious carcinogens and began to update dozens of products that I put ON and IN my body. A site called EWG.org helped identify carcinogen-free products (body soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, face cream, makeup, detergents, etc). Similar to when we began our Ketogenic eating habits and cleaned out a huge portion of our pantry (rice, wheat, corn, beans, pasta, potatoes, sugars, canola oil), I modified the contents of my kitchen and bathroom cabinets, shower caddy, and laundry room.

In the spirit of cutting out microplastics, our kitchen took on a new set of rules. We removed old non-stick pans and substituted both stainless or ceramic pans. We used cast iron for a bit, but found them harder to clean/care for. We swapped out all plastic left-over food containers for glass or stainless ones. Then replaced plastic utensils with wooden or stainless. Tossed the plastic cutting boards (ones we thought were so much more hygienic than wooden ones) and reverted back to wood boards. Here’s how to clean them properly.

In the bathroom, I confirmed that the Castille soap I used for showering is healthy, and I’ve always been careful about facial soap due to my sensitive skin. For soaps and lotions, think paraben-free and phthalate-free and typically without fragrance. Soaps using coconut oil, chamomile, avocado work well.

As for my shampoo and conditioner, I searched EWG.org again — always look for sulfate-free, silicone-free, and paraben-free. For body lotion, I like Medline Remedy. My make-up drawer got a hefty make-over (pun-intended) with even my Laura Geller foundation going in the trash (just because something is expensive doesn’t mean it’s healthy). I like the products from Well People and avoid products with silica in them.

Conventional wisdom always tells us all to stay sufficiently hydrated and I do that by carrying a lidded, metal insulated glass with me everywhere. Adding a slice of lemon helps make me thirsty for more water. And staying hydrated during this 12-month trek was crucial since my body would be battling so many treatment chemicals. So, another big change was to dig out our Berkey drip water filter system and use that water for everything (drinking, coffee, cooking, dog’s water, etc). The water from our faucets wreak of chlorine. We stopped using the Berkey a couple of years ago because we thought it was a pain in the neck to refill it multiple times a day – and the drip system is fairly slow. Our filter has double filters but still leaves some important minerals in tact. We love it! Another option is a Reverse Osmosis system. Those are great, but remove all the minerals, too…and might be cost-prohibitive for some people.

Two ways to meet difficulties: Alter the difficulties or alter yourself to meet them. Phyllis Bottome

Truth carries with it confrontation. Truth demands confrontation; loving confrontation, but confrontation nevertheless.         Francis Schaeffer