I titled my blog “It’s a Strong Tree that Withstands a Hurricane” as I believe that a strong, healthy body is a formidable defense against cancer, similar to how a strong tree can withstand the fierce winds of a hurricane. A body that lacks nutrients or that suffers relentless stress is at a disadvantage. Stress, particularly when perceived as inevitable and uncontrollable, is a key factor in vulnerability to cancer. I will discuss nutrients later, but for now, I want to talk more about stress and trees, specifically the redwood trees in Northern California. These trees are the tallest trees on earth, yet the roots are actually quite shallow. The tallest trees on the earth have a shallow root system. They stand tall because they stay close and intertwine their roots with the trees around them. This strong support system allows them to stand tall whilst otherwise they would fall. In order to avoid the beast called cancer and in order to beat this beast, we need to intertwine ourselves with a solid support system of friends and loved ones.
Some women are lucky enough to have a built in support system of family and friends. Others find that their current circle just doesn’t understand or are even involved in toxic, draining relationships. The immune system is often suppressed in people who feel they are not able to change the negative conditions of their lives. Situations in which a woman has a physically or emotionally abusive man in her life or is stuck in a non-nurturing marriage or even in one where a husband is unable or unwilling to support his wife’s emotional needs can trigger a cascade of biochemical changes that help create a fertile field for breast cancer to grow.
This is not to say that everyone involved in a toxic relationship or who has relentless, unaddressed stress will develop cancer. However, to avoid a recurrence of breast cancer, you need to change the environment in which cancer was permitted to grow. If you suspect negative relationships to be part of the cause, it’s time to make some changes. Make a commitment to yourself and eliminate the toxic relationships in your life, celebrate you and make sure you are a priority in life, not an afterthought. Consider stress reducing therapies such as Reiki, yoga, meditation, or kinesiology. Join a support group to talk through your frustrations and to connect with others.
Support groups and online support groups and chat rooms give cancer patients a new place to belong. Many of us have joked “once you have breast cancer, you become a member of the club…the initiation is rough, but the women are amazing.” Since my diagnosis, I have met the most amazing people, met so many wonderful new friends. Friends who understand what is like to live with cancer, to be declared NED but who still look over their shoulder every day, and who understandably fret over every scan, odd symptom and toxin that might cross their path. If your husband says he doesn’t know you anymore, that cancer has changed you, take him along; let him see that your cancer fears and insecurities are not unique to you. If he still doesn’t get it and is unable to support you, divorce him (ouch, did I say that?). Embrace life, live life and love life….it’s yours and it can be gone with a blink. 
May your tree stand tall.
Elyn Jacobs
elynjacobs.blogspot.com
elynjacobs.wordpress.com
Many thanks to Julia Fikse for reminding me of the redwoods….and more to come on beating cancer, not just treating cancer….
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Elyn Jacobs is President of Elyn Jacobs Consulting, Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation, a certified cancer coach and a breast cancer survivor. Elyn helps women diagnosed with cancer to navigate the process of treatment and care, and educates to prevent recurrence and new cancers. She is passionate about helping others get past their cancer and into a cancer-free life. To learn more about Elyn’s coaching services, please visit: http://elynjacobs.wordpress.com
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Reposted from facebook: The redwood forest inspires us to strengthen ourselves by uniting in our resolve to overcome cancer. Thanks for a great blog. Subodh Abbhi
ReplyDeleteCertainly surrounding oneself with positive relationships beats the alternatives hands down but don't think it will cure your cancer. But it will make life more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteIt’s not that the positive relationships will cure you, although it helps, it is more that eliminating the toxic ones will empower our immune system to do its job…to fight cancer. Toxic relationships challenge the immune system. The stress response generated by suppressed emotions, resentment and anger can negatively affect nervous system function, alter immunological responses, and wreak havoc on the body’s hormone levels and endocrine system. By changing our emotional status, our biography, we can change our biology and help our bodies to slow the growth or even reverse breast cancer, and yes, it will surely make life more enjoyable! Thanks for your comments, whoever you are.
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